Patent Application
20200086832
The present disclosure relates to a washing device for washing a washing target.
Techniques of autonomous driving employing a camera are now broadly known. The camera is mounted in vehicles as an optical sensor. During such autonomous driving, camera images are analyzed to recognize the surrounding conditions. Such operation requires clear camera images and thus may cause low accuracy in case of camera lens surface contamination. For this reason, employing a washing device for such autonomous-driving vehicles has been contemplated. The washing device is capable of spraying fluid such as water to decontaminate the lens surface (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2007-53448).
One such washing device is configured to project a nozzle section through piston actuation for washing. However, such configuration requires great accommodation space for the washing device, which may limit flexibility in installment of the washing device.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present disclosure to provide a washing device capable of reducing its size.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In a general aspect, a washing device is provided that includes a nozzle portion reciprocally movable between an accommodating position and a washing position. The washing device is configured to wash a surface of an external washing target by supplying fluid to the nozzle portion, moving the nozzle portion from the accommodating position to the washing position using pressure of the fluid, and spraying the fluid from a spray port of the nozzle portion onto the surface of the washing target. The nozzle portion is configured to reciprocate along one of a curved path and a bent path between the accommodating position and the washing position.
Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims.
Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. The drawings may not be to scale, and the relative size, proportions, and depiction of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience.
This description provides a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described. Modifications and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described are apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Sequences of operations are exemplary, and may be changed as apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, with the exception of operations necessarily occurring in a certain order. Descriptions of functions and constructions that are well known to one of ordinary skill in the art may be omitted.
Exemplary embodiments may have different forms, and are not limited to the examples described. However, the examples described are thorough and complete, and convey the full scope of the disclosure to one of ordinary skill in the art.
A washing device 5 according to a first embodiment will now be described with reference to
As illustrated in
With reference to
The tubular portion 8 has a curved shape. A pipe attachment portion 10 is formed in one end of the tubular portion 8. A pipe portion 11 is connected to the pipe attachment portion 10 to supply fluid. A flow passage 12 for the fluid extends through the tubular portion 8. The flow passage 12 is defined by a curved path shaped to conform to the outline of the tubular portion 8. An extended piece 13 is formed on a wall surface of the tubular portion 8 and extends in a direction crossing the tubular portion 8. Two shaft portions 14 are arranged at the distal end of the extended piece 13 and support the nozzle portion 9 such that the nozzle portion 9 is pivotal about the axis L1.
The nozzle portion 9 has such a curved shape to be fitted to the tubular portion 8. A hole 15 is formed in the nozzle portion 9. The nozzle portion 9 is arranged around the tubular portion 8 such that the tubular portion 8 is received in the hole 15. A projection 16 is formed on the bottom surface of the hole 15 and closes the flow passage 12 when the nozzle portion 9 is located at an accommodating portion. Two arm portions 17 are formed on a wall surface of the nozzle portion 9 and each extend in a direction crossing the nozzle portion 9. The distal ends of the arm portions 17 are supported by the shaft portions 14 of the tubular portion 8. A spray port 18 is formed in the distal end of the nozzle portion 9 and supplies fluid from the nozzle portion 9 to the outside. A stopper portion 19 projects from the basal end of the nozzle portion 9 and positions the nozzle portion 9 at a washing position.
An accommodating portion 22 is arranged on the backside of the lens surface 4, which is the washing target 2. The washing device 5 (the nozzle portion 9) is located in the accommodating portion 22. The accommodating portion 22 is defined by the region surrounded by an outer wall 23 and an inner wall 24. The lens surface 4, which is the washing target 2, is attached to the outer wall 23. The inner wall 24 extends upright to be opposed to the back surface of the outer wall 23. In the first embodiment, the outer wall 23 corresponds to the garnish 7. The inner wall 24 is formed by a metal plate arranged in the vehicle 1. The camera 3 is attached to the garnish 7 with the lens surface 4 exposed to the outside. A bottom wall 25 is disposed below the garnish 7 and extends in a horizontal direction of the vehicle body. The bottom wall 25 configures the bottom section of the accommodating portion 22. An open hole 26 extends through the bottom wall 25. The nozzle portion 9 is exposed from the open hole 26.
Referring to
The tubular portion 8 has two plate-like attachment pieces 28 and is attached to the vehicle body by means of the attachment pieces 28. The attachment pieces 28 are located on the left and right sides of the tubular portion 8 (the extended piece 13). The tubular portion 8 is fixed to the vehicle body by attaching the attachment pieces 28 to the vehicle body using fasteners such as bolts (not shown). Two shaft portions 14 project from the distal end of the extended piece 13 of the tubular portion 8. The arm portions 17 of the nozzle portion 9 are pivotally attached to the shaft portions 14.
The operation and advantages of the washing device 5 of the first embodiment will now be described with reference to
When fluid is not supplied to the washing device 5 (the tubular portion 8), the nozzle portion 9 of the washing device 5 does not receive the pressure of the fluid. Therefore, as shown in
The fluid is supplied to the washing device 5 (the tubular portion 8) using, for example, a pump (not shown) of the washing device 5. At this stage, the pressure of the fluid supplied to the tubular portion 8 pivots the nozzle portion 9 about the shaft portions 14 in the projecting direction (as indicated by arrow A1 in
After a predetermined amount of fluid is supplied to the washing device 5, the pump of the washing device 5 is deactivated. When the supply of fluid is stopped, the pressure of the fluid gradually decreases. As the fluid pressure decreases, the urging force of the urging portion 27 pivots the nozzle portion 9 about the shaft portions 14 in the returning direction (as indicated by arrow A2 in
In the first embodiment, the movement path of the nozzle portion 9 from the accommodating position to the washing position is defined by the curved path. This reduces the size of the space necessary for mounting the nozzle portion 9. The washing device 5 thus becomes compact.
When at the accommodating position, the nozzle portion 9 is located in the accommodating portion 22, which is arranged on the backside of the lens surface 4, which is the washing target 2. When the nozzle portion 9 projects from the accommodating portion 22 and is located at the washing position, the spray port 18 is located outward of the lens surface 4 and thus capable of washing the lens surface 4. Therefore, by projecting the nozzle portion 9 from the backside of the lens surface 4 to the washing position when necessary, the lens surface 4 is washed by the nozzle portion 9 from a position in the vicinity of the lens surface 4.
The accommodating portion 22 is defined by the region surrounded by the garnish 7, to which the camera 3 is attached, and the inner wall 24, which extends upright as opposed to the back surface of the garnish 7. The washing device 5 thus can be arranged in the accommodating portion 22, which is a limited space in the region surrounded by the garnish 7 and the inner wall 24, which is located in the backside of the garnish 7.
When the nozzle portion 9 is located at the accommodating position, the nozzle portion 9 is hidden by the garnish 7. This ensures the aesthetic appearance of the washing device 5.
The washing target 2 is the camera 3 and the nozzle portion 9 washes the surface of the camera 3 (the lens surface 4) using fluid. In this manner, the washing device 5 decontaminates the surface of the camera 3 (the lens surface 4), thus ensuring a desirable output of the camera 3.
The washing device 5 includes the tubular portion 8, the nozzle portion 9, and the urging portion 27. The nozzle part is thus selectively extended and retracted, or, in other words, the nozzle portion 9 is moved relative to the tubular portion 8. This further contributes to the size reduction of the washing device 5.
A second embodiment will now be described with reference to
As shown in
The nozzle portion 31 includes a body portion 33 and a distal section 34. The body portion 33 extends in the height direction of the washing device 5 (in Z-axis direction in
The device body 32 includes a housing 41 and a middle member 42. The housing 41 has a recess 43. The middle member 42 is disposed between the nozzle portion 31 and the housing 41. The nozzle portion 31 is movably accommodated in the recess 43 of the housing 41. When located at the washing position, the nozzle portion 31 is exposed from an opening 44 in the bottom of the recess 43. The housing 41 has two side walls 45. Each of the side walls 45 has a guide 46 to guide the nozzle portion 31 along the curved path. Each of the guides 46 is substantially L-shaped.
The middle member 42 is shaped substantially like a plate. The middle member 42 is mounted in the recess 43 of the housing 41 such that the nozzle portion 31 is located between the housing 41 and the middle member 42. The middle member 42 has two side walls each having a guide projection 47. The guide projections 47 guide the middle member 42 to move in the height direction of the washing device 5 (in Z-axis direction in
An urging portion 50 is located between the housing 41 and the middle member 42 and accommodated in the recess 43 of the housing 41. In the second embodiment, the urging portion 50 is formed by a coil spring and urges the middle member 42 in a pressing manner in the returning direction (as indicated by arrow C in
The operation and advantages of the washing device 5 of the second embodiment will now be described with reference to
When fluid is not supplied to the washing device 5 (the nozzle portion 31), the nozzle portion 31 does not receive the pressure of the fluid. Therefore, with reference to
The fluid is supplied to the washing device 5 (the nozzle portion 31) using, for example, a pump (not shown) of the washing device 5. In the second embodiment, when the fluid is supplied to the washing device 5 (the nozzle portion 31), the nozzle portion 31 is moved by the pressure of the fluid flowing into the pipe portion 11 in the projecting direction (as indicated by arrow B1 in
After a predetermined amount of fluid is supplied to the washing device 5, the pump of the washing device 5 is deactivated and the fluid supply is stopped. Then, the pressure of the fluid gradually decreases. As the fluid pressure decreases, the urging force of the urging portion 50 presses the middle member 42 in the returning direction (as indicated by arrow C in
In the second embodiment, the washing device 5 includes the nozzle portion 31, the device body 32, and the urging portion 50. The nozzle part is thus configured by a single component (the nozzle portion 31). This contributes to the simplified configuration of the device.
The above-described embodiments may be modified as follows. The above-described embodiments and the following modifications can be combined as long as the combined modifications remain technically consistent with each other.
In the first embodiment, the nozzle portion 9 does not necessarily have to be arranged around the tubular portion 8 and may be fitted to the interior of the tubular portion 8.
In the first embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the tubular portion 8 does not necessarily have to be circular and may be modified to any other shape including a rectangular shape. In this case, the nozzle portion 9 must also be modified to a matching shape with the tubular portion 8.
In each of the embodiments, the fluid may be, for example, water or compressed air or a mixture of water and compressed air. Any fluid may be employed as long as the washing target can be washed using the fluid.
In each embodiment, the washing device 5 does not necessarily have to be configured to spray fluid from below through the nozzle portion 9, 31 onto the washing target 2. That is, for example, the washing device 5 may have such a configuration that the nozzle portion 9, 31 is located above the washing target 2 when at the washing position, thus spraying fluid onto the washing target 2 from above.
In each embodiment, the nozzle portion 9, 31 may be shaped in various manners as long as the nozzle portion 9, 31 is capable of spraying fluid onto the washing target 2 when the nozzle portion 9, 31 is located at the washing position.
In each embodiment, the nozzle portion 9, 31 may have a section exposed to the outside when located at the accommodating position.
In each embodiment, the washing device 5 does not necessarily have to be located on the backside of the camera 3 (the lens surface 4). For example, the location of the washing device 5 may be changed to any other positions such as a position below the camera 3 (the lens surface 4).
In each embodiment, the accommodating portion 22 does not necessarily have to be defined by the region (space) surrounded by the garnish 7 and the inner wall 24 on the backside of the garnish 7. The accommodating portion 22 may be any section as long as the section can receive the washing device 5. That is, various components may replace the outer wall 23 and the inner wall 24 as the components of the accommodating portion 22.
In each embodiment, the washing device 5 does not necessarily have to be accommodated on the backside of the garnish 7 and may be located at any other position than the position on the backside of the garnish 7.
In each embodiment, the washing device 5 does not necessarily have to be located forward of the washing target 2 in the vehicle front-rear direction and may be located rearward of the washing target 2.
In each embodiment, the washing target 2 is not restricted to the camera 3 (the lens surface 4) and may be any component that needs washing such as a sensor.
In each embodiment, it is preferable that the pipe portion 11 be a flexible component.
In each embodiment, the washing device 5 does not necessarily have to be employed in the vehicle 1 and may be used in any other devices.
In each embodiment, the movement path of the nozzle portion 9, 31 between the accommodating position and the washing position is not restricted to a curved path and may be, for example, a bent path.
The washing device 5 is not restricted to the configurations of the above-described embodiments and may be configured in any other manner as long as the nozzle portion 9, 31 moves along a curved path or a bent path.
Various changes in form and details may be made to the examples above without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. The examples are for the sake of description only, and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features in each example are to be considered as being applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achieved if sequences are performed in a different order, and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined differently, and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. The scope of the disclosure is not defined by the detailed description, but by the claims and their equivalents. All variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are included in the disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-174485 | Sep 2018 | JP | national |
