Telescopic Vehicle Cleaner With Integrated Piston Check Valve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional telescopic cleaning devices for vehicles are bulky due to the need for multiple parts to control movement and fluid flow, making them impractical for newer vehicle designs with increased camera and sensor systems, particularly in self-driving or autonomous vehicles where space is a constraint.
Innovation Solution
A compact telescoping device with a housing, an extendable piston, and a check valve integrated into the piston, which moves from an inactive to an active position at a predetermined pressure, allowing the cleaning fluid outlet to retract into the housing when not in use and extend for cleaning, utilizing a return spring and an elastomeric sleeve for fluid control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional telescopic cleaning devices use separate valves placed proximally of the spraying element to control fluid flow, then fluid flow control is achieved, but the device becomes bulky and requires elongated space
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve is integrated directly into the piston body, merging the valve function with the piston structure. This eliminates the need for separate proximal valves and reduces the overall device length while maintaining fluid flow control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston body serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical movement for telescoping and simultaneously houses the check valve mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, making the device more compact.
2Reliability
If conventional telescopic cleaning devices include multiple parts for controlling movement and fluid flow, then reliable operation is achieved, but the device becomes bulky and impractical for space-constrained vehicle designs
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve is merged with the piston body into a single integrated component. This reduces the total number of parts while maintaining the reliability of both movement control and fluid flow regulation functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated piston-valve assembly performs multiple functions (mechanical telescoping and fluid flow control) within a single component, reducing part count while ensuring reliable operation through combined functionality.
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 solution provides a compact and efficient cleaning system that minimizes space usage while effectively cleaning vehicle surfaces, including cameras, sensors, and headlights, by integrating the check valve into the piston and using a return spring for retraction, ensuring reliable operation and ease of integration into vehicle designs.
Implementation Method 1
a return spring biasing the piston toward the inactive position
Implementation Method 2
a check valve coupled with the piston body for movement therewith and comprising a cracking pressure that is greater than the predetermined extension pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a telescoping device for cleaning a vehicle surface. The telescoping device includes an extendable piston moveable from an inactive position to active position at a predetermined extension pressure. The piston includes a supply tube, a cleaning fluid outlet provided at a distal end of the supply tube, and a check valve comprising a cracking pressure that is greater than the predetermined extension pressure. Vehicles and systems incorporating a telescoping cleaning device are also provided.