Automated Vehicle Component Cleaning With Sequenced Applicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cleaning systems struggle to effectively remove contaminants from vehicle components with complex geometries, leading to poor coating adhesion and increased manufacturing delays during the PVD process.
Innovation Solution
An automated cleaning system using multiple cleaning applicators and a control unit to deliver a cleaning agent, such as dry ice pellets, to vehicle components in a predetermined sequence, ensuring thorough cleaning of internal and external surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple cleaning applicators are used to clean complex geometries, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is divided into multiple independent cleaning applicators (first cleaning applicator, second cleaning applicator, third cleaning applicator), each responsible for cleaning specific surfaces of the vehicle component. This segmentation allows each applicator to be optimized for its specific cleaning task while collectively achieving thorough cleaning of complex geometries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a temporal dimension to the cleaning process by controlling applicators to project cleaning agents in a predetermined sequence rather than simultaneously. This sequential operation adds a time dimension to the multi-applicator system, coordinating their operations to maintain effectiveness while managing complexity through temporal organization.
2Manufacturing precision
If cleaning agents are projected in a predetermined sequence, then coating uniformity is improved, but cleaning time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning applicators operate in a periodic sequential manner rather than continuously simultaneously. The control unit instructs applicators to project cleaning agents for predetermined periods in sequence, creating a rhythmic cleaning pattern that ensures uniform coverage while allowing for coordinated timing that may reduce overall process duration compared to uncoordinated simultaneous operation.
3Ease of operation
If manual handling is used, then operational flexibility is improved, but contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system performs the cleaning operation automatically without requiring manual handling of the vehicle component. The multiple cleaning applicators are positioned to directly contact and clean the component surfaces, eliminating the need for human operators to touch or handle the component and thereby preventing contamination from manual handling while maintaining operational flexibility through automated control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively removes contaminants, improving coating adhesion and reducing manufacturing delays by ensuring uniform coating thickness and quality.
Implementation Method 1
delivering a cleaning agent, such as dry ice pellets
Implementation Method 2
remove contaminants from vehicle components
Data Source
AI summary
A system is provided for performing a cleaning process of a component of a vehicle. The system includes a first cleaning applicator configured to deliver a cleaning agent to a first surface of the component of the vehicle, a second cleaning applicator configured to deliver the cleaning agent to a second surface of the component of the vehicle, a third cleaning applicator configured to deliver the cleaning agent to a third surface of the component of the vehicle, and a control unit configured to instruct each of the first, second, and third cleaning applicators to project the cleaning agent onto the respective surface of the component for a corresponding predetermined period. The first, second, and third applicators are instructed to project the cleaning agent in a predetermined sequence.