Patent Application
20250026315
The present disclosure relates to the field of fluid distribution systems, in particular, for the cleaning of surface sensors of vehicles.
More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a fluid distribution system designed to allow continuous operation while limiting the amount of fluid actually stored under pressure in the vehicle.
Motor vehicles are now equipped with numerous sensors or cameras (hereinafter “sensors”) for driving assistance purposes. These sensors are located around the entire perimeter of the vehicle, for example, in the bumpers and/or side skirts, and thus provide the driver or driving software with a complete view of the environment in which the vehicle is located.
However, these sensors, exposed to the environment, are likely to be covered with dirt or dust and, consequently, may see their performance degraded. Frequent cleanings of these sensors are therefore necessary to guarantee their performance.
In this respect, motor vehicles can be equipped with a cleaning system, in particular, with ducts and nozzles for the distribution of cleaning fluids. The nozzles are located at the ends of the fluid distribution ducts and in the vicinity of the sensors. These cleaning systems can also include automatic valves allowing the selection of the sensor(s) to be cleaned and thus limiting the consumption of cleaning fluid.
In this regard, the document [1] cited at the end of the present disclosure discloses a system configured to clean, in particular, automatically, the sensor surfaces of an autonomous vehicle.
Notably, and as depicted in
The main tank 202 is configured to store a cleaning fluid at reduced pressure, such as atmospheric pressure, and is particularly implemented when cleaning surfaces that do not require consideration of high pressures. For example, the main tank 202 can be used for cleaning a windshield or a rear window of a motor vehicle.
The tank 208, for its part, is configured to store the cleaning fluid and to maintain it under pressure by means of a pressurized gas and is used, in particular, when the cleaning of surfaces requires pressures well above atmospheric pressure, for example, above 4.8 bar. As an example, the tank 208 can be used for cleaning the surfaces of sensors of the motor vehicle.
The system 200 also includes a pressurized gas source 206 and a pressure transfer means 204. In particular, the pressurized gas source 206 and the pressure transfer means 204 are configured to allow the tank 208 to be filled with cleaning fluid, from the main tank, and to pressurize the cleaning fluid by injection of pressurized gas.
However, such a system is not satisfactory.
Indeed, the system 200 disclosed in document [1] requires the implementation of a large capacity tank 208 in order to ensure sufficient autonomy for sensor cleaning. Also, maintaining a large volume of cleaning fluid under high pressure represents a danger for the vehicle housing it.
The document [2] cited at the end of the present disclosure also discloses a system configured to clean sensor surfaces of a vehicle.
This system, particularly illustrated in
Nevertheless, this system is not satisfactory either.
Indeed, the system described in document [2] requires the implementation of a large gas tank 50B, which, like the system described in document [1], also represents a danger.
Moreover, the system described in document [2] includes a relatively large number of components/elements, which consequently makes it more complex to assemble and to use.
It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a fluid distribution system for cleaning vehicle sensors in which the amount of cleaning fluid maintained under pressure is reduced in comparison with solutions known in the prior art.
Another purpose of the present disclosure is also to provide a fluid delivery system for cleaning sensors of a vehicle that has sufficient autonomy.
Another purpose of the present disclosure is also to provide a fluid delivery system for cleaning sensors of a vehicle that has a reduced footprint compared to known solutions of the prior art.
Another purpose of the present disclosure is also to provide a fluid delivery system for cleaning sensors of a vehicle that has a reduced number of components compared to known solutions in the prior art.
The present disclosure relates to a fluidic delivery system for cleaning surfaces of a vehicle, the delivery system comprising:
According to an embodiment, the fluidic distribution system comprises control means configured to control the compression means and the filling means so as to allow the filling with cleaning fluid and then the injection of air on one of the two secondary tanks, while the other of these two secondary tanks is operated to distribute cleaning fluid and/or air via the dispensing means.
According to an embodiment, the filling means comprises a first conduit and a second conduit fluidly connecting the main tank with, respectively, the first tank and the second tank.
According to an embodiment, the filling means comprises a pump, referred to as a filling pump, interposed between the main tank and, respectively, the first conduit and the second conduit.
According to an embodiment, the filling means comprises a multi-way valve, referred to as a filling valve, configured to allow selective filling of cleaning fluid into either of the first tank and the second tank from the main tank.
According to an embodiment, the filling means comprises a first valve and a second valve disposed on the first conduit and the second conduit, respectively.
According to an embodiment, the compression means comprises an air compressor configured to inject air into both the first tank and the second tank, and so as to impose on the cleaning fluid likely to be present in either of the first tank and the second tank a pressure in a range extending from 2.5 bar to 15 bar, advantageously in a range extending from 5 bar to 12 bar, more advantageously in a range extending from 5 bar to 8 bar.
According to an embodiment, the compression means comprises a third conduit and a fourth conduit fluidly connecting the air compressor to the first tank and the second tank, respectively.
According to an embodiment, the compression means comprises a multi-way valve, referred to as a compression valve, configured to allow selective injection of pressurized air by the air compressor into either of the first tank and the second tank from the air compressor.
According to an embodiment, the compression means comprises a third valve and a fourth valve disposed on the third conduit and the fourth conduit, respectively.
According to an embodiment, the third valve and the fourth valve are configured to pressurize the one and/or the other of the secondary tanks by pressure difference. Advantageously, the third valve and the fourth valve are check valves.
According to an embodiment, the dispensing means comprises a plurality of distribution conduits and a plurality of nozzles fluidly connected to either of the first tank and the second tank, the nozzles being configured to project cleaning fluid and/or pressurized air drawn from either of the first tank and the second tank.
According to an embodiment, the main tank and/or the first tank and/or the second tank comprises heating means configured to heat cleaning fluid likely to be present in the considered tank among the main tank, the first tank and the second tank to a temperature above a predetermined temperature.
According to an embodiment, the dispensing means are arranged to allow recirculation, into the main tank and/or the first tank and/or the second tank, of the cleaning fluid susceptible to being present in the dispensing means.
According to an embodiment, the secondary volume is less than half the primary volume. Advantageously, the secondary volume is less than 700 mL, more advantageously less than 500 mL.
Further features and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the attached figures, in which:
The present disclosure relates to a fluidic distribution system for cleaning the surface of sensors in a motor vehicle, and more particularly in an autonomous vehicle.
In this regard, the fluidic distribution system according to the present disclosure is particularly suitable for removing dust and/or dirt that may be present on the surface of the sensor(s) of a vehicle.
These sensors may include, but are not limited to, a camera, LIDAR, RADAR, or any other type of sensor that may be implemented in a motor vehicle. In particular, the fluidic distribution system according to the present disclosure may comprise nozzles configured to project cleaning fluid and/or pressurized air onto the surfaces of the sensors. In this regard, the nozzles are arranged in proximity to the surfaces and may be static or movable.
Thus, the present disclosure relates to a fluidic delivery system for cleaning surfaces of a vehicle, the delivery system comprising:
In particular, the fluidic distribution system 1 comprises a main tank 2 intended to store cleaning fluid at a pressure referred to as a main pressure. In particular, the main tank 2 has a volume, referred to as the main volume, of several liters, for example, more than 3 liters, or even more than 4 liters. The main pressure may be less than 1.5 bar, and, in particular, equal to the atmospheric pressure.
The fluidic distribution system 1 also includes two secondary tanks, referred to as a first tank 3 and a second tank 4, respectively. The secondary tanks each have a volume, referred to as a secondary volume, that is smaller than the main volume.
More particularly, the secondary volume is advantageously less than half of the primary volume, advantageously, less than one third of the primary volume, even more advantageously, less than one fifth of the primary volume. For example, the secondary volume is less than 700 mL, advantageously less than 500 mL.
The secondary volumes of each of the secondary tanks may be equal. However, embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to this aspect, and the consideration of a first tank and a second tank of different volumes is within the scope of the present disclosure.
The fluidic distribution system 1 according to the present disclosure also comprises means for filling the secondary tanks 3 and 4. More particularly, the filling means are configured to allow selective filling of either of the first tank 3 and the second tank 4 with cleaning fluid from the main tank 2.
By “selective filling” is meant a filling that allows one of the secondary tanks to be filled independently of the other of the secondary tanks. In other words, the filling means are notably configured to allow the filling with cleaning fluid of one of the first and second tanks while the other of these two secondary tanks does not receive any cleaning fluid.
In particular, the filling means may comprise conduits fluidly connecting the main tank 2 with one and the other of the first tank 3 and the second tank 4. Thus, the filling means may comprise a first conduit 5 and a second conduit 6 fluidly connecting the main tank 2 with, respectively, the first tank 3 and the second tank 4.
The filling means can also comprise a pump, referred to as a filling pump 7, interposed between the main tank 2 and, respectively, the first conduit 5 and the second conduit 6. The filling pump 7 can notably comprise a low-pressure pump, and more particularly, a pump configured to take cleaning fluid from the main tank 2 and inject it into one or the other of the first conduit 5 and the second conduit 6 at a pressure lower than 1.5 bar.
The filling means may further comprise a main conduit 8 fluidly connecting an outlet, referred to as a main outlet Sp, of the main tank 2 with, respectively, the first conduit 5 and the second conduit 6. In this respect, the filling pump 7 may be connected (disposed) on the main conduit 8.
The filling means may also include one or more valves, in particular, solenoid valves, to allow the flow of cleaning fluid into either of the first conduit 5 and the second conduit 6 for the purpose of filling the first tank 3 and the second tank 4, respectively.
In this regard, the one or more valves may be configured to allow selective flow into either of the first conduit 5 and the second conduit 6.
In particular, and as illustrated in
The first valve 9 and the second valve 10 can each comprise a solenoid valve, and more particularly a solenoid valve provided with a check valve.
According to a variant of the present disclosure, instead of implementing the first valve 9 and the second valve 10, the person skilled in the art will be able to consider filling means provided with a multiway valve connecting the main conduit with, respectively, the first conduit 5 and the second conduit 6. More particularly, and according to this variant, the multiway valve can be configured to adopt a closed position, a first open position and a second open position.
The closed position is a position that prevents fluid flow into either of the first and second conduits, while the first open position and the second open position allow fluid flow from the main conduit to the first and second conduits, respectively.
The fluidic distribution system also includes compression means configured to inject air selectively into one and the other of the first and second tanks, and so as to impose a working pressure, higher than the main pressure, on the cleaning fluid likely to be present in the secondary tank in question.
By “selectively injecting air” is meant injecting air into one of the secondary tanks independently of the other of the secondary tanks. In other words, the compression means are notably configured to allow the injection of air into one of the first and second tanks while the other of these two secondary tanks does not receive air.
The compression means may comprise an air compressor 11 configured to inject air into either of the first tank 3 and the second tank 4. In particular, the air compressor may be configured to impose on the cleaning fluid likely to be present in either of the first tank 3 and the second tank 4 a pressure in the range extending from 2.5 bar to 15 bar, advantageously in the range extending from 5 bar to 12 bar, more advantageously in the range extending from 5 bar to 8 bar.
The compression means may also include a third conduit 12 and a fourth conduit 13 fluidly connecting the air compressor 11, respectively, to the first tank 3 and the second tank 4.
The compression means may also comprise one or more valves, and, in particular, check valves, allowing the injection of pressurized air into either of the first tank 3 and the second tank 4 via, respectively, the third conduit 12 and the fourth conduit 13.
In this regard, the one or more valves may be configured to allow the injection of pressurized air selectively into one or the other of the first tank 3 and the second tank 4.
In particular, and as illustrated in
The third valve 14 and the fourth valve 15 may each comprise a check valve and are therefore configured to pressurize the one and/or the other of the secondary tanks by pressure difference, advantageously, the third valve and the fourth valve are check valves.
According to a variant of the present disclosure, instead of implementing the third valve 14 and the fourth valve 15, the person skilled in the art will be able to consider compression means provided with a multiway valve connecting the air compressor 11 with, respectively, the third conduit 12 and the fourth conduit 13. More particularly, and according to this variant, the multi-way valve can be configured to adopt a closed position, a first open position and a second open position.
The closed position is a position preventing the injection of air into either of the first tank 3 and the second tank 4, while the first open position and second open position allow an injection of pressurized air into the first tank 3 and the second tank 4, respectively.
The fluidic distribution system 1 further comprises dispensing means configured to selectively distribute from either of the first tank and the second tank cleaning fluid and/or air for cleaning surfaces.
In this regard, the dispensing means comprises a plurality of dispensing conduits and a plurality of nozzles. In particular, and according to a first embodiment, the plurality of nozzles comprises air nozzles 17A, 17B and cleaning fluid nozzles 18A and 18B fluidly connected to either of the first tank 3 and the second tank 4. Notably, the air nozzles 17A and 17B are fluidly configured to spray air provided from one or the other of the first tank 3 and the second tank 4. In this regard, the air nozzles 17A and 17B are fluidly connected to the first tank 3 and the second tank 4 via air distribution means. The air distribution means can comprise air conduits 16 connected to the first tank 3 and the second tank 4 and configured to distribute the pressurized air to the air nozzles 17A and 17B. The air distribution means can further comprise valves, referred to as air valves 19A and 19B, each air valve 19A and 19B being dedicated to a specific air nozzle 17A and 17B. The air conduits 16 can further comprise check-valve configured for preventing a back flow of the pressurized air into the first tank and the second tank.
The cleaning fluid nozzles 18A and 18B are fluidly configured to spray the cleaning fluid provided from one or the other of the first tank 3 and the second tank 4. In this regard, the cleaning fluid nozzles 18A and 18B are fluidly connected to the first tank 3 and the second tank 4 via fluid distribution means. The fluid distribution means can comprise fluid conduits 23 connected to the first tank 3 and the second tank 4 and configured to distribute the pressurized cleaning fluid to the cleaning fluid nozzles 18A and 18B. The fluid distribution means can further comprise valves, referred to as fluid valves 20A and 20B, each fluid valve 20A and 20B being dedicated to a specific cleaning fluid nozzle 18A and 18B. The fluid conduits 23 can further comprise a check-valve configured for preventing a back flow of the cleaning fluid into the first tank and the second tank.
The first tank 3 and the second tank 4 may also include heating means configured to heat the cleaning fluid that may be present in the relevant secondary tank, to a temperature above a predetermined temperature.
The main tank can comprise heating means configured to heat cleaning fluid likely to be present in the main tank to a temperature above a predetermined temperature.
The heating element, whatever the tank considered, may comprise a PTC (“Positive Temperature Coefficient Thermistor”) element.
Advantageously, the dispensing means are arranged to allow a recirculation, in one and/or the other of the secondary tanks, of the cleaning fluid likely to be present in the dispensing means.
Finally, the fluidic distribution system may comprise control means 21 configured to control the compression means and the filling means so as to allow the filling with cleaning fluid and then the injection of air into one of the two secondary tanks, while the other of these two secondary tanks is operated to distribute cleaning fluid and/or air via the dispensing means.
The control means may include a computer, a processor, or any other means capable of controlling and/or commanding the execution of steps such as a step of filling a secondary tank, or a step of injecting pressurized air into one of the secondary tanks.
The control means according to the present disclosure controls, in particular, and independently, the valves, the solenoid valves, the pumps or compressors and any constituent element of the fluidic distribution system.
In particular, the device according to the present disclosure allows the filling of cleaning fluid and/or pressurized air into both the first tank and the second tank and independently.
In particular, in
As soon as the cleaning of a sensor surface is necessary, the control means 21 control the distribution of cleaning fluid and/or pressurized air from one of the secondary tanks.
For example, cleaning fluid may be drawn from the first tank to clean the surface of a sensor with nozzle 18A. The same operation can also be conducted for cleaning other sensors with nozzle 18B. In parallel, pressurized air may be drawn from the first tank to clean the surface of a sensor with nozzle 17A.
At the end of several successive cleaning operations, the first tank may have a cleaning fluid level below a threshold level Ns (
The arrangement according to the present disclosure allows, despite the consideration of relatively small volume tanks, the continuous distribution of cleaning fluid and/or pressurized air for the cleaning of surfaces, especially sensor surfaces.
In addition, secondary tanks of relatively small volume limit the risks associated with the presence of pressurized fluid in a motor vehicle.
In this regard,
In this regard, the nozzles 22A and 22B are fluidly connected to the first tank 3 and the second tank 4 via the air distribution means and via the cleaning fluid distribution means. In other words, each nozzle 22A and 22B is fluidly connected to both the air conduits 16 and the fluid conduits 23. The air distribution means can comprise air conduits 16 connected to the first tank 3 and the second tank 4 and configured to distribute the pressurized air to the nozzles 22A and 22B.
The nozzles 18A and 18B are fluidly connected to the first tank 3 and the second tank 4 via fluid distribution means. The fluid distribution means can comprise fluid conduits 23 connected to the first tank 3 and the second tank 4 and configured to distribute the pressurized cleaning fluid to the cleaning fluid nozzles 18A and 18B.
According to this configuration, the nozzle 22A is associated with both air valve 19A and fluid valve 20A. In addition, a multiway valve 24A can be interposed between the nozzle 22A and both air valve 19A and fluid valve 20A.
Similarly, the nozzle 22B is associated with both air valve 19B and fluid valve 20B. In addition, a multiway valve 24B can be interposed between the nozzle 22B and both air valve 19B and fluid valve 20B.
The invention is not limited to two nozzles and the skilled in the art, on the basis of this disclosure, will be able consider a fluid distribution system comprising more than two nozzles.
Of course, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described and alternative embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21315269.7 | Dec 2021 | EP | regional |
This application is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application PCT/EP2022/083354, filed Nov. 25, 2022, designating the United States of America and published as International Patent Publication WO 2023/104551 A1 on Jun. 15, 2023, which claims the benefit under Article 8 of the Patent Cooperation Treaty to European Union patent application Ser. No. 21/315,269.7, filed Dec. 8, 2021.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2022/083354 | 11/25/2022 | WO |
