CN113508061A

CN113508061A - Cleaning system for vehicle and cleaning method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN113508061A
Application number: CN202080017379.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 足立尚太; 山内雄介; 青山贵裕
Original assignee: Denso Corp
Current assignee: Denso Corp
Priority date: 2019-03-07
Filing date: 2020-02-28
Publication date: 2021-10-15
Also published as: DE112020001114T5

Abstract

A vehicle cleaning system (20) removes and cleans foreign matter adhering to cleaning objects (11, 12, 15, 16, 17) of a vehicle (10). The vehicle cleaning system includes: an air pump (23) driven to generate injection air (CA1, CA 2); a washer pump (13b) that is driven to supply a washer fluid (Ws); an ejection nozzle (31) that ejects a gas-liquid mixed fluid (X) in which ejection air and a cleaning liquid are mixed onto a cleaning object; a cleaning liquid storage section (22b) configured to store the cleaning liquid supplied from the washer pump and to discharge the stored cleaning liquid when the cleaning liquid is mixed with the jet air; and a mixing output section (22c) configured to blow a gas-liquid mixed fluid, in which the jet air and the cleaning liquid introduced from the cleaning liquid storage section are mixed, toward the cleaning object from the jet nozzle.

Description

Cleaning system for vehicle and cleaning method thereof

Citation of related applications

The present application is based on japanese patent application 2019-.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a cleaning system for a vehicle and a cleaning method thereof, which blow a fluid to a cleaning object of the vehicle to remove foreign matter.

Background

In recent years, advanced driving assistance and automatic driving techniques for vehicles have been developed, and sensors for grasping the surrounding conditions of vehicles have been increasing (see, for example, patent document 1). As one of them, there is known, for example, LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging: Light Detection and Ranging, or Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging: Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging) as a Ranging system using an optical sensor, which performs distance measurement based on emission and reception of Light between a host vehicle and a subject.

A sensing surface (e.g., an outer surface of a lens, a cover glass, or the like) of a sensor for grasping a condition around the vehicle is formed in a form exposed to an outside of the vehicle. Therefore, foreign matter such as raindrops adheres to the sensing surface of the sensor, and in the distance measuring system and the like, the distance measuring accuracy may be lowered because the foreign matter is located on the optical path of the optical sensor.

Therefore, the following techniques have been developed and studied: a gas-liquid mixed fluid in which gas (air) and a cleaning liquid are mixed is blown onto a sensing surface of a sensor (for example, see patent document 2), and foreign matter adhering to the sensing surface is removed and cleaned.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2018-37100

Patent document 2: japanese patent laid-open No. 2016 & 222074

Disclosure of Invention

In order to more reliably remove and clean foreign matter adhering to the sensing surface of the sensor, a large pump may be used as a pump for blowing gas or cleaning liquid to the sensing surface to strongly blow the gas or cleaning liquid to the sensing surface. Therefore, the following research issues have been made as developers: the cleaning force for removing foreign matters can be improved without enlarging the pump, and the stability of the cleaning force for removing the foreign matters can be improved.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a vehicle cleaning system and a cleaning method thereof, which can improve a cleaning force for removing foreign matter adhering to a cleaning target of a vehicle and ensure stability of the cleaning force.

In a first aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle cleaning system performs removal cleaning of foreign matter adhering to a cleaning target of a vehicle. The vehicle cleaning system includes: an air pump driven to generate injection air; a washer pump driven to supply a cleaning liquid; a jet nozzle that blows a gas-liquid mixed fluid in which the jet air and the cleaning liquid are mixed to the cleaning target; a cleaning liquid storage portion configured to store the cleaning liquid supplied from the washer pump and to discharge the stored cleaning liquid when the cleaning liquid is mixed with the jet air; and a mixing and discharging unit configured to blow the gas-liquid mixed fluid, in which the jet air and the cleaning liquid introduced from the cleaning liquid reservoir are mixed, toward the cleaning target from the jet nozzle.

According to the vehicle cleaning system, the cleaning liquid is mixed with the jet air by including the cleaning liquid storage portion and the mixing output portion, and the gas-liquid mixed fluid in which the jet air and the cleaning liquid are mixed is blown toward the cleaning target. Thus, the removal and cleaning of foreign matter adhering to the cleaning object can be improved by a small amount of cleaning liquid. Further, since the cleaning liquid mixed with the jet air is temporarily stored in the cleaning liquid storage portion and supplied, a small amount of cleaning liquid necessary for cleaning can be stably supplied as compared with direct supply by a washer pump.

In a second aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle cleaning system performs removal cleaning of foreign matter adhering to a cleaning target of a vehicle. The vehicle cleaning system includes: an air pump driven to generate injection air; a washer pump driven to supply a cleaning liquid; a jet nozzle that blows a gas-liquid mixed fluid in which the jet air and the cleaning liquid are mixed to the cleaning target; an injection air generating unit that includes the air pump and a valve device, and that generates the injection air in a high-pressure and pulse-like state based on an operation of the valve device that stores a compressed air supplied from the air pump to a pressure higher than a discharge pressure of the air pump and discharges the stored compressed air to a downstream side; a cleaning liquid storage section configured to include a chamber that stores the cleaning liquid supplied from the washer pump, and to be capable of discharging the cleaning liquid stored in the chamber when mixed with the jet air; and a mixing and discharging unit configured to blow the gas-liquid mixed fluid, which mixes the high-pressure and pulse-like jet air generated by the jet air generating unit and the cleaning liquid introduced from the cleaning liquid storage unit, toward the cleaning target from the jet nozzle.

According to the vehicle cleaning system, the injection air generating unit generates the high-pressure pulse-like injection air by operating the valve device so as to use the compressed air supplied from the air pump, store the pressure to a pressure higher than the discharge pressure of the air pump, and discharge the pressure to the downstream side after the pressure storage. That is, the generation of the jet air with the foreign matter removal performance improved can be realized without increasing the size of the pump. The cleaning liquid is mixed with the high-pressure pulse-shaped jet air generated by the jet air generating unit by including the cleaning liquid storage unit and the mixing output unit, and the gas-liquid mixed fluid in which the high-pressure pulse-shaped jet air and the cleaning liquid dispersed into small particle diameters are mixed is blown toward the cleaning target. Thus, the removal and cleaning of foreign matter adhering to the cleaning object can be improved by a small amount of cleaning liquid. Further, since the cleaning liquid mixed with the jet air is temporarily stored in the cleaning liquid storage portion and supplied, a small amount of cleaning liquid necessary for cleaning can be stably supplied as compared with direct supply by a washer pump. The "discharge pressure of the air pump" described above refers to a pressure in the flow path when the air pump is driven by directly connecting the air pump and the injection nozzle via the hose.

In a third aspect of the present disclosure, a cleaning method of a vehicle cleaning system performs removal cleaning of foreign matter adhering to a cleaning target of a vehicle. The sweeping method of the sweeping system for the vehicle comprises the following steps: driving an air pump to generate jet air; driving a washer pump to supply a cleaning liquid; blowing a gas-liquid mixed fluid in which the jet air and the cleaning liquid are mixed from a jet nozzle to the cleaning target; an injection air generating unit including the air pump and a valve device, the injection air generating unit generating the injection air in a high-pressure pulse shape based on an operation of the valve device that stores a compressed air supplied from the air pump to a pressure higher than a discharge pressure of the air pump and discharges the compressed air to a downstream side after the pressure storage; discharging the cleaning liquid stored in the chamber when mixed with the jet air in a cleaning liquid storage portion including a chamber that stores the cleaning liquid supplied from the washer pump; and a mixing output unit configured to blow the gas-liquid mixed fluid toward the cleaning object from the jet nozzle, the gas-liquid mixed fluid mixing the high-pressure pulse-shaped jet air generated by the jet air generating unit and the cleaning liquid introduced from the cleaning liquid storage unit.

According to the cleaning method of the vehicle cleaning system, as in the vehicle cleaning system, the generation of the high-pressure pulse-like jet air having the improved foreign matter removal performance can be realized without increasing the size of the pump, and the removal and cleaning of the foreign matter adhering to the cleaning target can be improved by a small amount of the cleaning liquid by blowing the gas-liquid mixed fluid in which the jet air and the cleaning liquid dispersed into small particle diameters are mixed toward the cleaning target. Further, since the cleaning liquid mixed with the jet air is temporarily stored in the cleaning liquid storage portion and supplied, a small amount of cleaning liquid necessary for cleaning can be stably supplied as compared with direct supply by a washer pump.

In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle cleaning system performs removal cleaning of foreign matter adhering to a cleaning target of a vehicle. The vehicle cleaning system includes: an air pump driven to generate injection air; a washer pump driven to supply a cleaning liquid; a jet nozzle that blows a gas-liquid mixed fluid in which the jet air and the cleaning liquid are mixed to the cleaning target; an injection air generating unit that includes the air pump and a valve device, and that generates the injection air in a high-pressure and pulse-like state based on an operation of the valve device that stores a compressed air supplied from the air pump to a pressure higher than a discharge pressure of the air pump and discharges the stored compressed air to a downstream side; a cleaning liquid introducing portion configured to introduce the cleaning liquid supplied from the washer pump; and a mixing output portion configured to blow the gas-liquid mixed fluid, which mixes the high-pressure and pulse-like jet air generated in the jet air generating portion and the cleaning liquid introduced from the cleaning liquid introducing portion, toward the cleaning object from the jet nozzle.

According to the vehicle cleaning system, the injection air generating unit generates the high-pressure pulse-like injection air by operating the valve device so as to use the compressed air supplied from the air pump, store the pressure to a pressure higher than the discharge pressure of the air pump, and discharge the pressure to the downstream side after the pressure storage. That is, the generation of the jet air with the foreign matter removal performance improved can be realized without increasing the size of the pump. The cleaning liquid is mixed with the high-pressure pulse-shaped jet air generated by the jet air generating unit by including the cleaning liquid introducing unit and the mixing and discharging unit, and the gas-liquid mixed fluid in which the high-pressure pulse-shaped jet air and the cleaning liquid dispersed into small particle diameters are mixed is blown toward the cleaning target. Thus, the removal and cleaning of foreign matter adhering to the cleaning object can be improved by a small amount of cleaning liquid. The "discharge pressure of the air pump" described above refers to a pressure in the flow path when the air pump and the injection nozzle are directly connected.

In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a cleaning method of a vehicle cleaning system performs removal cleaning of foreign matter adhering to a cleaning target of a vehicle. The sweeping method of the sweeping system for the vehicle comprises the following steps: driving an air pump to generate jet air; driving a washer pump to supply a cleaning liquid; blowing a gas-liquid mixed fluid in which the jet air and the cleaning liquid are mixed from a jet nozzle to the cleaning target; an injection air generating unit including the air pump and a valve device, the injection air generating unit generating the injection air in a high-pressure pulse shape based on an operation of the valve device that stores a compressed air supplied from the air pump to a pressure higher than a discharge pressure of the air pump and discharges the compressed air to a downstream side after the pressure storage; introducing the cleaning liquid supplied from the washer pump into the cleaning liquid introducing portion; and a mixing output unit configured to blow the gas-liquid mixed fluid toward the cleaning object from the jet nozzle, the gas-liquid mixed fluid mixing the high-pressure pulse-shaped jet air generated by the jet air generating unit and the cleaning liquid introduced from the cleaning liquid introducing unit.

According to the cleaning method, as in the vehicle cleaning system, since the gas-liquid mixed fluid in which the high-pressure pulse-like jet air and the cleaning liquid dispersed into small particle diameters are mixed is blown toward the cleaning target, the removal and cleaning of foreign matter adhering to the cleaning target can be improved by a small amount of the cleaning liquid without increasing the size of the pump.

Drawings

The above objects, other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description. The drawings are as follows.

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle cleaning system according to a first embodiment and a second embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device used in the vehicle cleaning system of the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a valve device used in the cleaning device of the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the valve device of the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the valve device according to the first and second embodiments.

Fig. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the valve device according to the first and second embodiments.

Fig. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning device of the first embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning device of the first embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning device of the first embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning device of the first embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning devices according to the first and second embodiments.

Fig. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device used in the vehicle cleaning system of the second embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning device of the second embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning device of the second embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning device of the second embodiment.

Fig. 16 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning device of the second embodiment.

Fig. 17 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device used in the vehicle cleaning system of the third embodiment.

Fig. 18 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning liquid storage device used in the third embodiment.

Fig. 19 (a) and (b) are schematic configuration diagrams for explaining the operation of the cleaning liquid storage device according to the third embodiment.

Fig. 20 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning liquid storage device used in the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 21 (a) and (b) are schematic configuration diagrams for explaining the operation of the cleaning liquid storage device according to the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 22 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning liquid storage device used in the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 23 (a) and (b) are schematic configuration diagrams for explaining the operation of the cleaning liquid storage device according to the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 24 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device used in the vehicle cleaning system of the sixth embodiment.

Fig. 25 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device used in the vehicle cleaning system of the sixth embodiment.

Fig. 26 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device used in the vehicle cleaning system of the seventh embodiment.

Fig. 27 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning device of the seventh embodiment.

Fig. 28 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning device of the seventh embodiment.

Fig. 29 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning device of the seventh embodiment.

Fig. 30 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning device of the seventh embodiment.

Fig. 31 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the cleaning device according to the modification of the seventh embodiment.

Fig. 32 (a) and (b) are waveform diagrams for explaining the operation of the cleaning device according to the modification of the seventh embodiment.

Fig. 33 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device according to a modification of the seventh embodiment.

Fig. 34 is a schematic configuration diagram of a cleaning device according to a modification of the seventh embodiment.

Detailed Description

(first embodiment)

A first embodiment of a vehicle cleaning system and a cleaning method will be described below.

In the vehicle 10 shown in fig. 1, a first distance measuring sensor 11 is provided at a front end center portion, and a second distance measuring sensor 12 is provided at a rear end center portion. The first and second

distance measuring sensors

11 and 12 are configured using optical sensors that perform transmission and reception of light of a prescribed wavelength toward the front and rear of the vehicle 10, respectively. The first distance measurement sensor 11 and the second distance measurement sensor 12 are used in a distance measurement system (LIDAR or the like) that measures the distance between the host vehicle and the front object and the rear object, respectively, and are used in a system that performs advanced driving assistance, automated driving, and the like of the vehicle 10.

The sensing surfaces (e.g., outer surfaces of lenses, cover glasses, and the like) 11a and 12a of the first distance measuring sensor 11 and the second distance measuring sensor 12 are formed to be exposed to the outside of the vehicle 10. That is, since foreign matter such as raindrops may adhere to the sensing surfaces 11a and 12a to reduce the distance measurement accuracy, the vehicle 10 is equipped with the vehicle cleaning system 20 for removing and cleaning the foreign matter adhering to the sensing surfaces 11a and 12 a.

The vehicle cleaning system 20 includes a first cleaning device 21a and a second cleaning device 21 b. The first cleaning device 21a is a cleaning target of the first distance measuring sensor 11 provided at the center of the front end of the vehicle 10, and the second cleaning device 21b is a cleaning target of the second distance measuring sensor 12 provided at the center of the rear end of the vehicle 10.

Here, the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b of the present embodiment are configured to cooperate with the washer device 13 that is generally mounted on the vehicle 10. The washer device 13 is configured to be able to supply the cleaning liquid Ws stored in the tank 13a to the windshield glass or the like by driving the washer pump 13b, and to supply the cleaning liquid Ws to the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b of the present embodiment.

As shown in fig. 2, the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b include a jet air generating portion 22a, a cleaning liquid storage portion 22b, and a mixing output portion 22c, respectively. The injection air generating portion 22a has an air pump 23, a valve device 24, and a check valve 25. The injection air generator 22a generates high-pressure pulse-like injection air CA2 from compressed air (injection air) CA1 supplied from the air pump 23 by the operation of a valve device 24, a check valve 25, and the like, which will be described later. The cleaning liquid storage section 22b has a flow path switching valve (flow path switching section) 26, a check valve (flow path switching section) 27, a storage section joint 28, and a chamber 29, and is provided in parallel with the jet air generating section 22 a. The cleaning liquid storage section 22b stores a predetermined amount of the cleaning liquid Ws pressure-fed from the washer pump 13b in the chamber 29 via the flow path switching valve 26 and the check valve 27. The mixing output section 22c includes a mixing section joint 30 and a spray nozzle 31. The mixing output portion 22c mixes the jet air CA2 generated in the jet air generating portion 22a and the cleaning liquid Ws introduced from the cleaning liquid reservoir portion 22b by the mixing portion joint 30, and blows the mixture from the jet nozzle 31 toward the

respective sensing surfaces

11a and 12a as cleaning targets. Further, the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b have the same structure. Therefore, the specific configurations of the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b will be described in common below.

In the jet air generating portion 22a, the air pump 23 and the valve device 24 are connected to each other by a connecting hose 32a, and the valve device 24 and the check valve 25 are connected to each other by a connecting hose 32 b. The

connection hoses

32a and 32b are made of a flexible material such as a rubber hose. The connection hoses 32c to 32j described later are also made of the same material. The air pump 23 is constituted by an electric air pump capable of generating compressed air CA 1. The valve device 24 converts the compressed air CA1 continuously supplied from the air pump 23 into a high-pressure pulse-like (intermittent) state, and outputs the high-pressure pulse-like injected air CA2 toward the check valve 25, that is, toward the mixing output portion 22c via the check valve 25.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the valve device 24 includes a base member 41, a cover member 42, a diaphragm 43, and an urging spring 44. The valve main body 40 is composed of a part of the base member 41, the lid member 42, the diaphragm 43, and the biasing spring 44 among the above-described structural components. Hereinafter, the description will be given with the base member 41 on the lower side and the lid member 42 on the upper side, but the orientation of the valve device 24 in use is not limited to this.

The base member 41 is made of resin, and has a base portion 41a on an upper side and a connection portion 41b on a lower side. The base portion 41a constitutes a lower portion of the housing of the valve main body portion 40, and has a circular bottom wall portion 41c and an annular side wall portion 41d standing upward from a peripheral edge portion of the bottom wall portion 41 c. In contrast, the cover member 42 constitutes an upper portion of the housing of the valve main body 40, and includes a circular upper wall portion 32a and an annular side wall portion 42b extending downward from a peripheral edge portion of the upper wall portion 32 a. The base member 41 and the cover member 42 are assembled by opposing the upper end surface of the side wall portion 41d and the lower end surface of the side wall portion 42b to each other. At this time, the peripheral edge portion 43x of the diaphragm 43 is sandwiched between the

members

41, 42, and the

members

41, 42 can be sealed while holding the diaphragm 43. The diaphragm 43 divides a space formed by itself and the bottom wall portion 41c and the side wall portion 41d of the base portion 41a into a valve chamber 45, and a space formed by the upper wall portion 42a and the side wall portion 42b of the lid member 42 into a back pressure chamber 46.

The connecting portion 41b is provided on the lower surface side of the base portion 41a, and has an inverted T shape that extends downward from a bottom wall portion 41c of the base portion 41a and further extends in two lines. A portion of the connecting portion 41b on the side of the air pump 23 divided into two is referred to as an introduction-side connecting portion 41e, and a portion on the side of the check valve 25 divided into two is referred to as a discharge-side connecting portion 41 f. The introduction-side connection portion 41e is connected to the air pump 23 using the connection hose 32 a. The introduction flow path 47 formed inside the introduction-side connecting portion 41e and the discharge flow path 48 formed inside the discharge-side connecting portion 41f are independent from each other, and the opening 47a of the introduction flow path 47 and the opening 48a of the discharge flow path 48 are formed in the bottom wall portion 41c of the base portion 41a, respectively. The opening 47a of the introduction flow path 47 is located at a substantially central portion of the bottom wall portion 41c in the base portion 41a of the base member 41, and protrudes cylindrically. On the other hand, the opening 48a of the discharge flow path 48 is provided at the peripheral edge of the bottom wall 41c and is set at a position lower than the opening 47 a. The opening area of the opening 48a is larger than the opening area of the opening 47 a.

The diaphragm 43 is formed into a substantially disc shape by a flexible material, and has substantially cylindrical valve bodies 43a at substantially central portions thereof at positions facing the opening portions 47a of the introduction flow passages 47. The valve body 43a is set to have a diameter slightly larger than the opening 47a of the introduction flow path 47. The valve body 43a and the peripheral edge portion 43x of the diaphragm 43 have a predetermined thickness, and a portion between the valve body 43a and the peripheral edge portion 43x is configured as a thin portion 43b thinner than the valve body 43a and the peripheral edge portion 43 x. That is, the valve body 43a of the diaphragm 43 connected to the fixed peripheral edge portion 43x via the thin portion 43b is configured to be displaceable. By such displacement operation of the valve body 43a, the valve body 43a is brought into contact with or separated from the opening 47a of the introduction flow path 47, and the flow path is opened and closed between the air pump 23 and the valve chamber 45.

The cover member 42 is made of resin, and has a projection 42c at a position facing the valve body 43a, which is a central portion of the upper wall portion 42 a. The projecting portions 42c are projections for regulating the position of the biasing spring 44 formed of a compression coil spring, and the upper side of the biasing spring 44 is inserted into each of the projecting portions 42 c. The upper end of the biasing spring 44 abuts against the upper wall 42 a. On the other hand, the lower end of the biasing spring 44 abuts against the valve body 43 a. That is, the biasing spring 44 guides the valve body 43a to the projecting portion 42c and biases it downward, that is, biases the valve body 43a toward the opening 47a of the introduction flow path 47, with the upper wall portion 42a as a starting point. The upper wall portion 42a has, for example, two communication holes 42d that communicate the back pressure chamber 46 with the outside of the lid member 42 and open to the atmosphere, at positions outside the projecting portions 42c, so that the displacement operation of the valve body 43a is not affected by the pressure in the back pressure chamber 46. In this way, the valve device 24 includes the valve portion 40a, and the valve portion 40a opens and closes the opening 47a of the introduction flow path 47 by the valve body 43 a.

As shown in fig. 2, the check valve 25 includes a valve housing 25a, a valve core 25b, an urging spring 25c, and a seal ring 25 d. The valve housing 25a has an introduction-side connecting portion 25e and a discharge-side connecting portion 25f, and an introduction flow path 25x inside the introduction-side connecting portion 25e and a discharge flow path 25y inside the discharge-side connecting portion 25f are configured to communicate with a valve chamber 25z in the valve housing 25a, respectively. The introduction-side connection portion 25e is connected to the discharge-side connection portion 41f of the valve device 24 by the connection hose 32 b. The discharge-side connection portion 25f is connected to the first introduction-side connection portion 30a of the mixing-section joint 30 by a connection hose 32 c.

In the valve chamber 25z in the valve housing 25a, a seal ring 25d is fixed around the opening of the introduction flow path 25x, and is biased by a biasing spring 25c so that the spherical valve body 25b is in close contact with the seal ring 25 d. That is, when the inflow pressure of the fluid from the introduction flow path 25x becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined pressure, the valve body 25b of the check valve 25 is operated against the biasing force of the biasing spring 25c, and is switched from the closed state to the open state, and the injection air CA2 of the valve device 24 is output toward the mixing section joint 30 of the mixing output section 22 c.

The flow path switching valve 26 for the cleaning liquid storage section 22b includes a first housing member 51, a second housing member 52, and a diaphragm 53. The first case member 51 is made of resin, and is configured such that the first introduction-side connection portion 51b extends from the bottom of a first cylindrical body portion 51a having a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape, and the first discharge-side connection portion 51c extends from the peripheral wall portion. The first introduction-side connection portion 51b is connected to a connection hose 32d extending from the washer pump 13 b. A first valve chamber 51x is provided inside the first cylindrical body portion 51a, and a first introduction flow path 51y inside the first introduction-side connecting portion 51b and a first discharge flow path 51z inside the first discharge-side connecting portion 51c can communicate with each other through the first valve chamber 51 x. The opening 51d of the first introduction flow path 51y in the first valve chamber 51x protrudes cylindrically from the bottom of the first cylindrical body portion 51 a. The second case member 52 is made of resin, and the second introduction-side connection portion 52b extends from a peripheral wall portion of a second cylindrical body portion 52a having a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape, and the second discharge-side connection portion 52c extends from the bottom portion. A second valve chamber 52x is provided inside the second cylindrical body portion 52a, and a second introduction flow path 52y inside the second introduction-side connecting portion 52b and a second discharge flow path 52z inside the second discharge-side connecting portion 52c can communicate with each other through the second valve chamber 52 x. The opening 52d of the second discharge flow path 52z in the second valve chamber 52x protrudes cylindrically from the bottom of the second cylindrical body portion 52 a. The first and

second housing members

51 and 52 are configured to have the same shape, although the fluid introduction and discharge settings are reversed.

Then, the first case member 51 and the second case member 52 are assembled to each other so that the opening end surfaces of the

cylindrical body portions

51a and 52a face each other. In this case, the first introduction-side connecting portion 51b and the second discharge-side connecting portion 52c provided at the bottom of each of the

tubular body portions

51a, 52a are aligned in a straight line and face in opposite directions to each other. The first discharge-side connecting portion 51c and the second introduction-side connecting portion 52b provided on the peripheral wall portion of each of the

tubular body portions

51a, 52a are arranged in parallel with each other and face in the same direction. When the first housing member 51 and the second housing member 52 are assembled, the peripheral edge portion 53x of the diaphragm 53 is sandwiched between the opening end surfaces of the

cylindrical body portions

51a and 52a, and the first valve chamber 51x and the second valve chamber 52x can be defined by sealing the

members

51 and 52 while holding the diaphragm 53.

The diaphragm 53 is formed into a substantially disk shape by a flexible material, and has a substantially cylindrical valve body 53a at a substantially central portion thereof at a position facing the opening 51d of the first introduction flow path 51y and the opening 52d of the second discharge flow path 52 z. The valve body 53a is set to have a diameter slightly larger than the opening

portions

51d and 52 d. The valve body 53a and the peripheral edge portion 53x of the diaphragm 53 have predetermined thicknesses, and a portion between the valve body 53a and the peripheral edge portion 53x is configured as a thin portion 53b thinner than the valve body 53a and the peripheral edge portion 53 x. That is, the valve body 53a of the diaphragm 53 connected to the fixed peripheral edge portion 53x via the thin portion 53b is configured to be displaceable. The valve body 53a is displaced from a neutral position separated from both the opening 51d of the first introduction flow path 51y and the opening 52d of the second discharge flow path 52z to a position separated from only the opening 51d of the first introduction flow path 51y by coming into contact with the opening 52d of the second discharge flow path 52z, or a position separated from only the opening 52d of the second discharge flow path 52z by coming into contact with the opening 51d of the first introduction flow path 51 y.

That is, in the primary valve opening state (secondary valve closing state) in which the valve body 53a closes the opening portion 52d of the second discharge flow path 52z and opens the opening portion 51d of the first introduction flow path 51y, the first introduction flow path 51y and the first discharge flow path 51z communicate with each other via the first valve chamber 51 x. That is, in a secondary side open-valve state (primary side closed-valve state) in which the valve body 53a closes the opening portion 51d of the first introduction flow path 51y and opens the opening portion 52d of the second discharge flow path 52z, the second introduction flow path 52y and the second discharge flow path 52z communicate with each other via the second valve chamber 52 x. The diaphragm 53 operates to complementarily open and close the primary-side flow path and the secondary-side flow path.

The check valve 27 is the same as the check valve 25 of the jet air generating unit 22 a. That is, the check valve 27 includes a valve housing 27a, a valve body 27b, an urging spring 27c, and a seal ring 27d, and is configured such that an introduction flow path 27x inside the introduction-side connecting portion 27e and a discharge flow path 27y inside the discharge-side connecting portion 27f communicate with a valve chamber 27z in the valve housing 27a, respectively. The introduction-side connection portion 27e is connected to the first discharge-side connection portion 51c of the flow path switching valve 26 by the connection hose 32 e. The discharge-side connection 27f is connected to the introduction-side connection 28a of the reservoir joint 28 by a connection hose 32 f. When the inflow pressure of the fluid from the introduction flow path 27x becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure, the valve body 27b of the check valve 27 is operated against the biasing force of the biasing spring 27c, and is switched from the closed state to the open state, and the cleaning liquid Ws that is pressure-fed is output from the washer pump 13b toward the storage section joint 28 via the flow path switching valve 26.

The reservoir joint 28 is, for example, a Y-shaped joint, and includes an introduction-side joint 28a, a discharge-side joint 28b, and a relay joint 28 c. The discharge-side connection 28b and the intermediate connection 28c of the reservoir joint 28 are arranged on a straight line, and the introduction-side connection 28a is arranged in the discharge-side connection 28b so as to be close to and inclined. The introduction flow path 28x, the discharge flow path 28y, and the relay flow path 28z inside the introduction-side connector 28a, the discharge-side connector 28b, and the relay connector 28c communicate with each other. The relay connection unit 28c is connected to the input/output connection unit 29e of the chamber 29 by a connection hose 32g, and the discharge side connection unit 28b is connected to the second introduction side connection unit 52b of the flow path switching valve 26 by a connection hose 32 h.

The chamber 29 includes a reservoir housing (housing member) 29a, a piston 29b, and an urging spring (urging member) 29c, and further includes an annular packing 29d on the outer peripheral portion of the piston 29 b. The storage case 29a has a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape, and has an input/output connection portion 29e on one end surface side. The piston 29b is housed inside the reservoir housing 29a so as to be movable in the axial direction of the reservoir housing 29 a. The piston 29b can move while being in liquid-tight contact with the inner peripheral surface of the storage case 29a via the gasket 29 d. That is, the piston 29b is configured to divide the storage chamber 29y inside the storage case 29a, which communicates with the input/output flow path 29x inside the input/output connection portion 29e, and to increase and decrease the volume thereof. A communication hole 29f for opening the back pressure of the piston 29b to the atmosphere is provided on the other end surface side of the reservoir housing 29 a.

The chamber 29 expands the volume of the reservoir chamber 29y by the cleaning liquid Ws from the washer pump 13b pumped from the first discharge-side connection portion 51c of the flow path switching valve 26 retracting the piston 29b against the biasing force of the biasing spring 29 c. That is, the chamber 29 stores a predetermined amount of the cleaning liquid Ws in the storage chamber 29 y. Thereafter, when the pressure feeding of the cleaning liquid Ws is stopped, the piston 29b is pushed out of the chamber 29 by the biasing force of the biasing spring 29c, and the volume of the reservoir chamber 29y is reduced. Then, the cleaning liquid Ws stored in the reservoir chamber 29y is discharged toward the second introduction-side connection portion 52b of the flow path switching valve 26, and is used for ejection from the ejection nozzle 31 at the tip end thereof. Further, the more detailed operation of the chamber 29 will be described later together with the operation of the flow path switching valve 26.

The mixing section joint 30 for the mixing output section 22c is, for example, a T-shaped joint, and includes a first introduction-side joint 30a and a second introduction-side joint 30b on the introduction side, and a discharge-side joint 30c on the discharge side. The first introduction-side connector 30a and the discharge-side connector 30c of the mixing section joint 30 are arranged on a straight line, and the second introduction-side connector 30b is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the

respective connectors

30a, 30 c. The first introduction flow path 30x inside the first introduction-side connection portion 30a and the second introduction flow path 30y inside the second introduction-side connection portion 30b communicate with the discharge flow path 30z inside the discharge-side connection portion 30 c. As described above, the first introduction-side connecting portion 30a is connected to the jet air generating portion 22 a. The second introduction-side connection portion 30b is connected to the second discharge-side connection portion 52c of the flow path switching valve 26 of the cleaning solution storage portion 22b by a connection hose 32 i. The discharge-side connection portion 30c is connected to the spray nozzle 31 with a connection hose 32 j.

Then, the injection ports 31a of the injection nozzles 31 included in the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b are arranged toward the sensing surface 11a of the first distance measuring sensor 11 and the sensing surface 12a of the second distance measuring sensor 12 shown in fig. 1, respectively. The predetermined amount of the cleaning liquid Ws supplied from the cleaning liquid reservoir 22b to the mixing output portion 22c is injected from the injection nozzle 31 together with the high-pressure and pulse-like injection air CA2 generated by the valve device 24 and the air pump 23, and is blown as the gas-liquid mixed fluid X to the appropriate range of each of the

sensing surfaces

11a, 12 a.

As shown in fig. 1, the air pumps 23 of the first and

second cleaning devices

21a and 21b and the washer pump 13b of the washer device 13 are controlled by various ECUs (Electronic Control units) installed in the vehicle 10, that is, a high-level ECU 100, a front-side ECU 101, and a rear-side ECU 102. The upper ECU 100, the front ECU 101, and the rear ECU 102 are included in the cleaning system 20 as control devices of the vehicle cleaning system 20. The front ECU 101 includes a function of controlling the air pump 23 of the first cleaning device 21a and the washer pump 13b, and the rear ECU 102 includes a function of controlling the air pump 23 of the second cleaning device 21 b. The host ECU 100 performs overall control of the front ECU 101 and the rear ECU 102. As the vehicle cleaning system 20, the first and

second cleaning devices

21a and 21b and the cleaner device 13 are controlled in cooperation with each other.

The operation and action of the present embodiment will be explained.

[ operation of the valve device 24 alone ]

As shown in fig. 4, in the non-operating state of the valve device 24, the valve portion 40a is in a completely closed state, that is, the valve body 43a of the diaphragm 43 is in a closed state at the opening 47a of the introduction flow path 47.

When the compressed air CA1 is continuously supplied by the driving of the air pump 23, the pressure P1 on the introduction side including the introduction flow path 47 of the valve device 24 and the connection hose 32a is increased by the maintaining action of the closed valve state of the valve body 43a by the biasing force of the biasing spring 44 (see fig. 11). As shown in fig. 3, the pressure P1 on the introduction side acts on a portion of the valve body 43a corresponding to the area S1, that is, a relatively narrow portion corresponding to the area of the opening 47 a. The pressing force F1 acting on the valve body 43a is the product of the pressure P1 on the inlet side and the area S1, and F1 is P1 × S1. Then, the pressure P1 in the valve-closed state on the inlet side rises to a pressure sufficiently higher than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23. Here, the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23 is not a discharge pressure when the discharge port of the air pump 23 itself is closed (the discharge flow rate from the air pump 23 is 0), but a pressure in the connection hose 32a when the air pump 23 is driven when the air pump 23 and the injection nozzle 31 are directly connected by the connection hose 32a (hereinafter, simply referred to as "discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23").

As the pressure P1 on the inlet side increases, a slight gap is formed between the valve element 43a and the opening 47a in the valve portion 40a, and a part of the compressed air CA1 in the valve chamber 45 slightly leaks as a leakage CAx, as shown in fig. 5. That is, since the valve chamber 45 includes the check valve 25 at the discharge flow path 48 on the downstream side and the tip of the connection hose 32b, the pressure P2 in the valve chamber 45 also gradually rises. As shown in fig. 3, the pressure P2 in the valve chamber 45 acts on a portion of the thin-walled portion 43b of the diaphragm 43 corresponding to the area S2, that is, a relatively wide portion corresponding to the area of the entire thin-walled portion 43b excluding the area of the opening 47a (strictly, including the peripheral edge portion of the valve body 43 a). The pressing force F2 acting on the thin portion 43b is the product of the pressure P2 in the valve chamber 45 and the area S2, and F2 is P2 × S2. Since the area S2 of the thin-walled portion 43b on which the pressure P2 acts is wider than the area S1 of the valve body 43a on which the pressure P1 acts, the influence as the pressing force F2 is large even if the pressure P2 is lower than the pressure P1.

Next, when the pressure P1 on the inlet side and the pressure P2 in the valve chamber 45 are simultaneously increased to a predetermined pressure sufficiently higher than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23, the pressing force "F1 + F2" of the diaphragm 43, which is the sum of the pressing force F1 acting on the valve body 43a and the pressing force F2 acting on the thin portion 43b, exceeds the predetermined pressing force by the biasing force of the biasing spring 44. Then, as shown in fig. 6, the entire diaphragm 43 is greatly displaced, and the valve portion 40a is opened. That is, the valve body 43a is separated from the opening 47a, and the introduction flow path 47, the valve chamber 45, and the discharge flow path 48 are brought into a conductive state. The pressure P1 on the inlet side immediately before the valve is opened is sufficiently higher than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23, and the high-pressure compressed air CA1 introduced into the flow passage 47 immediately flows into the discharge flow passage 48 through the valve chamber 45 when the valve is opened. The discharge-side pressure P3 sharply increases (see fig. 11), and high-pressure injection air CA2 is output from the discharge flow path 48 toward the check valve 25 and further toward the injection nozzle 31 of the mixing output portion 22c on the downstream side of the check valve 25.

On the other hand, the pressure P1 on the inlet side sharply decreases (see fig. 11), and eventually the diaphragm 43 switches from the open valve to the closed valve. That is, the pressure P2 in the valve chamber 45 also decreases, and the predetermined pressing force by the biasing force of the biasing spring 44 exceeds the pressing force "F1 + F2" of the diaphragm 43 by the two pressures P1 and P2, and the valve element 43a of the valve portion 40a closes the opening 47a of the introduction flow path 47. The discharge-side pressure P3 becomes sufficiently low, and the introduction-side pressure P1 turns to rise again. The pressure P1 on the inlet side rises again until the diaphragm 43 opens due to the leakage CAx. Then, by repeating the above operation, high-pressure pulse-like injection air CA2 (see fig. 11) is generated in the injection air generating portion 22a including the valve device 24.

[ operation of vehicle cleaning system 20 ]

As shown in fig. 2, in the non-operating state of the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b of the vehicle cleaning system 20, the valve portion 40a of the valve device 24 of the injection air generating portion 22a is in the closed state, and the valve body 43a closes the introduction flow path 47 (see fig. 4). The check valve 25 of the jet air generating unit 22a and the check valve 27 of the cleaning liquid reservoir 22b are also closed. The valve body 53a of the flow path switching valve 26 of the cleaning liquid storage section 22b is in the neutral position. The chamber 29 is in a state in which the piston 29b is maximally pushed out, and the cleaning liquid Ws is not stored in the storage chamber 29 y.

Then, in the host ECU 100, when a cleaning command is issued to the corresponding first cleaning device 21a and second cleaning device 21b at predetermined time intervals based on foreign matter such as raindrops adhering to the sensing surface 11a of the first distance measuring sensor 11 and the sensing surface 12a of the second distance measuring sensor 12, or whether or not foreign matter is present, the air pump 23 of each of the

cleaning devices

21a and 21b and the washer pump 13b of the washer device 13 are sequentially driven by the front ECU 101 and the rear ECU 102.

As shown in fig. 11, in the present embodiment, for example, the washer pump 13b is first driven for a predetermined period T1, and then, after the washer pump 13b is stopped, the air pump 23 is driven for a predetermined period T2.

That is, first, the washer pump 13b is driven for a predetermined period T1 from time T1 to time T2 based on the cleaning command. As shown in fig. 7, when the washer pump 13b is driven to pressure-feed the washer fluid Ws from the washer pump 13b, the diaphragm 53 of the flow path switching valve 26 of the washer fluid reservoir 22b deflects to the secondary side to open the opening 51d of the first introduction flow path 51y, and the valve body 53a is displaced to close the opening 52d of the second discharge flow path 52z, so that the flow path switching valve 26 is in the primary-side open valve state. The cleaning liquid Ws having passed through the flow path switching valve 26 then opens the check valve 27, and is introduced into the chamber 29 through the introduction flow path 28x and the relay flow path 28z of the storage unit joint 28. The cleaning liquid Ws having passed through the check valve 27 is also introduced from the discharge flow path 28y of the storage joint 28 into the second introduction flow path 52y of the flow path switching valve 26.

Here, in the flow path switching valve 26, the cleaning liquid Ws flows into the primary side and also flows into the secondary side, but the primary side open valve state is maintained by the pressure balance between the primary side on which the delivery pressure of the valve body 53a and the thin portion 53b that deliver the cleaning liquid Ws to the diaphragm 53 acts and the secondary side on which the delivery pressure of the cleaning liquid Ws alone to the thin portion 53b acts. That is, in order to maintain the secondary-side valve-closed state, in the chamber 29, the retraction operation against the biasing force of the biasing spring 29c of the piston 29b by the cleaning liquid Ws is performed, and sufficient cleaning liquid Ws is stored in the reservoir chamber 29y and the surrounding

connection hoses

32h, 32g, and 32f, the second valve chamber 52x of the flow path switching valve 26, and the like. Further, since the secondary-side closed valve state is maintained, even if the washer pump 13b continues to be driven in a state where sufficient cleaning liquid Ws has been stored in the above-described flow path including the chamber 29, further storage of the cleaning liquid Ws can be suppressed. In other words, if the washer pump 13b is driven unnecessarily for each change in the ambient temperature, the driving voltage, the viscosity of the cleaning liquid Ws, and the like, the same amount of the cleaning liquid Ws can be stored for each time.

Next, as shown in fig. 8, when the pressure feeding of the cleaning liquid Ws is stopped by the stop of the washer pump 13b, the check valve 27 is closed. That is, when viewed from the chamber 29, the state in which both the primary side and the secondary side of the flow path switching valve 26 are open is switched to a state in which the primary side of the flow path switching valve 26 is closed and only the secondary side is open. In the chamber 9, the piston 29b receiving the urging force of the urging spring 29c starts the extruding operation. The flow path switching valve 26 is switched to the secondary side open valve state by eliminating the delivery pressure of the cleaning liquid Ws to the primary side and applying the delivery pressure of the cleaning liquid Ws by the pushing-out operation of the piston 29b from the chamber 29 to the secondary side. That is, in the flow path switching valve 26, the diaphragm 53 is deflected to the primary side, and the valve body 53a is displaced so as to close the opening portion 51d of the first introduction flow path 51y and open the opening portion 52d of the second discharge flow path 52z, thereby bringing the secondary side valve opening state and the primary side valve closing state.

By the above operation, the cleaning liquid Ws pushed out of the chamber 29 is not returned to the primary side of the flow path switching valve 26 by the check valve 27, but is led out to the mixing output unit 22c via the secondary side of the flow path switching valve 26. In this case, the mixing flow path 33 including the introduction flow path 30x and the discharge flow path 30z of the mixing section joint 30 is filled with a predetermined amount of the cleaning liquid Ws, and waits for the jet air CA2 supplied from the jet air generating section 22 a. As described above, the drive of the washer pump 13b of the present embodiment, which is a starting point for filling the cleaning liquid Ws into the mixing flow path 33, can suppress the driving period, the driving power, and the like, and can suppress the amount of the cleaning liquid Ws to be used, unlike the general purpose of use in which the cleaning liquid Ws is directly ejected from the ejection nozzle 31 to remove and clean foreign matter. Further, the filling amount of the cleaning liquid Ws to be filled into the mixing channel 33 can be easily set by changing the size of the reservoir 29y of the chamber 29.

Next, as shown in fig. 11, the air pump 23 is driven during a predetermined period T2 from time T3 to time T4 after the washer pump 13b is stopped. When the compressed air CA1 is supplied from the air pump 23 by driving the air pump 23, the valve device 24 operates as shown in fig. 4 to 6, and generates high-pressure pulse-like injection air CA2 having a pressure higher than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23. The state shown in fig. 9 is a state before the valve device 24 is fully opened, as shown in fig. 5, in which the pressure of the compressed air CA1 is increased to a pressure sufficiently higher than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23 by the driving of the air pump 23. The state shown in fig. 10 is a state in which the valve device 24 is in the fully open state shown in fig. 6 and air at a pressure sufficiently higher than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23 is output as the injection air CA 2. Then, the high-pressure pulse-like injection air CA2 generated in the valve device 24 by repeating the above operation is introduced into the mixing output portion 22c via the check valve 25.

At this time, as shown in fig. 10, since the cleaning liquid Ws is filled in the mixing flow path 33 of the mixing and delivering unit 22c, when the high-pressure pulse jet air CA2 is introduced into the mixing flow path 33, the gas-liquid mixed fluid X in which the jet air CA2 and the cleaning liquid Ws dispersed into small particle diameters by the jet air CA2 are mixed is ejected from the ejection port 31a of the ejection nozzle 31. The gas-liquid mixed fluid X in which the cleaning liquid Ws and the ejection air CA2 are mixed is blown to the sensing surface 11a of the first distance measuring sensor 11 and the sensing surface 12a of the second distance measuring sensor 12 shown in fig. 1.

That is, in the present embodiment, unlike the case where only the cleaning liquid Ws is simply blown and only the injected air CA2 is simply blown, the high-pressure injected air CA2 itself and the cleaning liquid Ws dispersed into small particle diameters by the injected air CA2 can be blown to the

respective sensing surfaces

11a, 12a at a fast speed. Therefore, foreign matter such as raindrops adhering to the sensing surfaces 11a and 12a can be effectively removed, which contributes to maintaining the distance measurement accuracy. Further, since the injection air CA2 having a sufficiently higher pressure than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23 can be generated, the air pump 23 can be also used in a small size.

The effects of the present embodiment will be described.

(1) The

cleaning devices

21a, 21b of the vehicle cleaning system 20 according to the present embodiment generate the high-pressure pulse-shaped injection air CA2 by operating the valve device 24 in the injection air generating portion 22a so as to store pressure to a pressure higher than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23 using the compressed air CA1 supplied from the air pump 23, and to discharge the stored pressure to the downstream side. That is, the generation of the injected air CA2 with improved foreign matter removal performance can be realized without increasing the size of the air pump 23. The cleaning liquid Ws is mixed with the high-pressure pulse-shaped injected air CA2 generated in the injected air generating unit 22a by including the cleaning liquid reservoir 22b and the mixing output unit 22c, and the gas-liquid mixed fluid X in which the high-pressure pulse-shaped injected air CA2 and the cleaning liquid Ws dispersed into small particle diameters are mixed is blown at high pressure and high speed toward the sensing surfaces 11a and 12a of the respective

distance measuring sensors

11 and 12. Therefore, the removal and cleaning of foreign matter adhering to the sensing surfaces 11a and 12a can be improved by a small amount of the cleaning liquid Ws. Further, since the cleaning liquid Ws mixed with the injected air CA2 is supplied while being temporarily stored in the cleaning liquid storage portion 22, a small and constant amount of the cleaning liquid Ws necessary for cleaning can be stably supplied as compared with the direct supply by the washer pump 13 b. In other words, a small amount of the cleaning liquid Ws may be used, and the small drive (short-time drive) of the washer pump 13b may be used to cope with the small amount of the cleaning liquid Ws, and the stable supply of the cleaning liquid Ws may be affected by each change in the ambient temperature, the drive voltage, the viscosity of the cleaning liquid Ws, and the like. Therefore, the same amount of the cleaning liquid Ws can be supplied each time, contributing to improvement in stability of the cleaning force.

(2) In the injection air generating portion 22a, the valve portion 40a of the valve device 24 closes the introduction flow path 47 of the compressed air CA1 by the valve body 43a, and accumulates the compressed air CA1 supplied from the air pump 23 to a pressure higher than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23. The valve portion 40a and the check valve 25 also function as an auxiliary mechanism, and during the pressure accumulation, a leak CAx of the compressed air CA1 is generated from the introduction flow path 47, and the pressure is accumulated on the leak side (the valve chamber 45 and the like). Next, the valve body 33a is opened based on the two pressures P1, P2 accumulated in the introduction flow path 47 and the leakage side (the valve chamber 45, etc.), and the compressed air CA1 accumulated in the introduction flow path 47 is output to the discharge flow path 48. Thereafter, the valve body 43a is returned to the closed state so that the pressure can be accumulated in the introduction flow path 47 again. That is, the air pump 23, the valve device 24, and the check valve 25 can generate the high-pressure pulse-like injection air CA 2.

(3) The chamber 29 constituting the cleaning liquid reservoir 22b can be realized by a simple structure using the reservoir housing 29a, the piston 29b, and the urging spring 29 c. Further, by using the biasing force of the biasing spring 29c included in the chamber 29 itself to lead out the stored cleaning liquid Ws, it is possible to improve the independence of the chamber 29 other than the flow path of the cleaning liquid Ws, and to expect effects such as an increase in the degree of freedom in arrangement of the chamber 29.

(4) The primary-side flow path between the washer pump 13b and the chamber 29 and the secondary-side flow path between the chamber 29 and the mixing output portion 22c, which constitute the flow path switching valve 26 of the cleaning liquid storage portion 22b, can be complementarily opened and closed by the common diaphragm 53, and thus constitute one valve. The cleaning liquid storage section 22b can be switched between flow paths at various times, such as when the cleaning liquid Ws is supplied from the washer pump 13b, when the supply is stopped, and when the cleaning liquid Ws is discharged from the chamber 29, with a simple configuration using two valves, i.e., the flow path switching valve 26 and the check valve 27.

(5) By including the check valve 25 on the downstream side of the valve device 24 of the injection air generating portion 22a, the pressure accumulation (increase in the pressure P2) on the downstream side of the valve portion 40a can be performed more reliably.

(6) The end time of the period T2 for driving the air pump 23 is controlled to be later than the end time of the period T1 for driving the washer pump 13 b. That is, since there is a possibility that the cleaning liquid Ws may remain on the

sensing surfaces

11a, 12a as foreign matter, the drive of the air pump 23 is terminated after that by the drive of the washer pump 13b, and only the injected air CA2 can be blown to the

sensing surfaces

11a, 12a after that. This can suppress the cleaning liquid Ws from remaining on the sensing surfaces 11a and 12 a.

(second embodiment)

A second embodiment of the vehicle cleaning system and the cleaning method will be described below. In the present embodiment, the structure of the chamber 29 of the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b and the operation thereof are slightly different from those of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the difference will be mainly described.

As shown in fig. 12, the chamber 29 of the present embodiment omits the biasing spring 29c, and on the other end surface of the reservoir housing 29a, an air introduction connecting portion 29g is provided, and the operation is changed from the operation by the biasing force of the biasing spring 29c to the operation by the pressure of the compressed air CA1 from the air pump 23. The introduction flow path 29z inside the air introduction connecting portion 29g communicates with a space on the back surface side of the piston 29b, that is, a space on the opposite side of the piston 29b from the storage chamber 29y for storing the cleaning liquid Ws with the piston 29b itself interposed therebetween.

The flow path of the compressed air CA1 between the air pump 23 and the valve device 24 and the chamber 29 are connected to each other by an air branch joint 34, which is a T-joint, for example. The air branch joint 34 is configured to have an introduction-side connection portion 34a and first and second discharge-

side connection portions

34b and 34c, the introduction-side connection portion 34a and the first discharge-side connection portion 34b being on a straight line, and the second discharge-side connection portion 34c being orthogonal thereto. The introduction flow path 34x inside the introduction-side connection portion 34a communicates with the first discharge flow path 34y inside the first discharge-side connection portion 34b and the second discharge flow path 34z inside the second discharge-side connection portion 34 c. The connection hose 32a used in the first embodiment for connecting the air pump 23 and the valve device 24 is divided into two parts, i.e., the connection hoses 32a1 and 32a2, the introduction-side connection portion 34a is connected to the air pump 23 using the connection hose 32a1, and the first discharge-side connection portion 34b is connected to the valve device 24 using the connection hose 32a 2. The second discharge-side connection portion 34c is connected to the air introduction connection portion 29g of the chamber 29 by a connection hose 32 k. As described above, the connection hoses 32a1, 32a2, and 32k are also made of a flexible material such as a rubber hose.

The operation and action of the present embodiment will be explained.

[ operation of vehicle cleaning system 20 ]

As shown in fig. 11, in the present embodiment, for example, the washer pump 13b is first driven for a predetermined period T1, and then, the air pump 23 is driven for a predetermined period T2 after the washer pump 13b is stopped.

First, as shown in fig. 13, when the washer pump 13b is driven to pump the washer fluid Ws from the washer pump 13b, the diaphragm 53 of the flow path switching valve 26 of the washer fluid reservoir 22b is deflected to the secondary side, and the flow path switching valve 26 is maintained in the primary-side open state and the secondary-side closed state, which is the same as the first embodiment. The cleaning liquid Ws having passed through the flow path switching valve 26 is introduced into the chamber 29 through the check valve 27 and the joint 28 for storage unit. In the chamber 29, the piston 29b retreats by the cleaning liquid Ws, and sufficient cleaning liquid Ws is stored in the storage chamber 29y or the

connection hoses

32h, 32g, and 32f around it, the second valve chamber 52x of the flow path switching valve 26, and the like. Further, since the reservoir chamber 29y of the chamber 29 can be configured to be increased in accordance with the omission of the biasing spring 29c, the chamber 29 can be reduced in size when the reservoir amount of the cleaning liquid Ws is increased or the same reservoir amount as that of the first embodiment is used. Further, since the biasing force of the biasing spring 29c does not act on the retraction of the piston 29b, the pressure required for the retraction may be small.

Next, as shown in fig. 14, when the pressure feeding of the cleaning liquid Ws is stopped by the stop of the washer pump 13b, the check valve 27 is closed, which is the same as the first embodiment. On the other hand, as a different operation, the chamber 29 of the present embodiment is configured to omit the biasing spring 29c and to perform the pushing-out operation of the piston 29b by receiving the pressure of the compressed air CA1 from the following air pump 23, and therefore the pushing-out operation of the piston 29b is not performed at the present time. In the flow path switching valve 26, although the transport pressure of the cleaning liquid Ws is not applied to the primary side, the transport pressure of the cleaning liquid Ws from the chamber 29 is not applied to the secondary side, and therefore, for example, the deflection of the diaphragm 53 is restored, and the valve body 53a is set to the neutral position. In this case, although a slight gap is formed between the valve body 53a and the opening 52d of the second discharge flow path 52z, the cleaning liquid Ws does not leak from the second valve chamber 52x to the second discharge flow path 52z in a large amount.

Next, when the compressed air CA1 is supplied from the air pump 23 by driving the air pump 23, the valve device 24 operates as shown in fig. 4 to 6, and high-pressure pulse-shaped injection air CA2 higher than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23 is generated, as in the first embodiment. The state shown in fig. 15 is a state before the valve device 24 is fully opened, as shown in fig. 5, in which the pressure of the compressed air CA1 is increased to a pressure sufficiently higher than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23 by the driving of the air pump 23. The state shown in fig. 16 is a state in which the valve device 24 is in the fully open state shown in fig. 6 and air at a pressure sufficiently higher than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23 is output as the injection air CA 2. Then, the high-pressure pulse-like injection air CA2 generated in the valve device 24 by repeating the above operation is introduced into the mixing output portion 22c via the check valve 25.

In addition, as shown in fig. 15, a part of the compressed air CA1 from the air pump 23 is also supplied to the chamber 29, and is used for the pressing action of the piston 29 b. When the pressing operation of the piston 29b is started, the flow path switching valve 26 is switched to the secondary side open-valve state by the delivery pressure of the cleaning liquid Ws based on the squeezing operation, and a predetermined amount of the cleaning liquid Ws is led out via the secondary side of the flow path switching valve 26 and filled into the mixing flow path 33 of the mixing output portion 22 c.

As shown in fig. 16, when the high-pressure pulse-shaped injection air CA2 is introduced into the mixing passage 33, the gas-liquid mixed fluid X in which the injection air CA2 and the cleaning liquid Ws dispersed into small particle diameters by the injection air CA2 are mixed is injected from the injection nozzle 31, as in the first embodiment. Thus, in the present embodiment, it is also possible to effectively remove and clean foreign matter adhering to the sensing surfaces 11a and 12a of the respective

distance measuring sensors

11 and 12 shown in fig. 1.

The effects of the present embodiment will be described.

(1) In the present embodiment, the same effects as the effects (1), (2), (4) to (6) of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(2) The chamber 29 of the present embodiment constituting the cleaning liquid reservoir 22b is configured to derive the stored cleaning liquid Ws using the reservoir case 29a and the piston 29b and using a part of the compressed air CA1 from the air pump 23. Therefore, it can be realized by a simple structure in which the urging spring 29c is omitted.

(third embodiment)

A third embodiment of the vehicle cleaning system will be described below. In the present embodiment, the configuration of the cleaning liquid reservoir 22b of the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b and the operation thereof are different from those of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the difference will be mainly described.

The cleaning liquid storage section 22b of the first embodiment shown in fig. 2 is configured such that the flow path switching valve 26, the check valve 27, the storage section joint 28, and the chamber 29 are connected to each other by connecting

hoses

32e, 32f, 32g, and 32 h. In contrast, the cleaning liquid reservoir 22b of the present embodiment shown in fig. 17 and 18 is a cleaning liquid reservoir (cleaning liquid reservoir) 60a in which members having the same functions as those of the cleaning liquid reservoir 22b of the first embodiment are configured as a single unit.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 18, the cleaning liquid storage device 60a of the present embodiment includes a substantially bottomed cylindrical case body 61 and a lid member 62 that closes an opening of the case body 61, and has an introduction-side connecting portion 61a at the bottom center of the case body 61 and a discharge-side connecting portion 62a at the center of the lid member 62. The introduction-side connecting portion 61a and the discharge-side connecting portion 62a extend in opposite directions to each other in the axial direction of the housing main body 61. The inlet-side connection portion 61a is connected to a connection hose 32d extending from the washer pump 13b, and the discharge-side connection portion 62a is connected to the second inlet-side connection portion 30b of the mixing-section joint 30.

The introduction flow path 61x inside the introduction-side connecting portion 61a communicates with a reservoir chamber 65 defined by a piston 70 described later in the housing main body 61, and the discharge flow path 62x inside the discharge-side connecting portion 62a communicates with the reservoir chamber 65 through an inner cylindrical portion 62b extending from the inner center of the cover member 62 to the vicinity of the bottom of the housing main body 61 in the axial direction. A valve body 66 made of a substantially disk-shaped rubber sheet or the like is disposed between the opening 62c of the inner cylindrical portion 62b (the discharge flow path 62x) and the opening 61b of the introduction flow path 61x so as to be displaceable between the

openings

62c and 61 b.

The valve body 66 has a flange portion 66 a. A washer 67 is attached to the valve body 66 so as to abut against a surface of the flange portion 66a facing the discharge-side connection portion 62 a. Further, a gasket 68 is attached to the front end of the inner tube portion 62 b. The

washers

67 and 68 have the same structure, are annular, and have through

holes

67a and 68 a. The washer 68 abuts against a surface of the locking portion 62d provided on the outer peripheral surface of the distal end portion of the inner tube portion 62b, the surface facing the introduction-side connecting portion 61 a. An urging spring 69 is interposed between the

washers

67 and 68. The biasing spring 69 biases the valve body 66 via the washer 67 starting from the washer 68 locked with the locking portion 62d of the inner tube portion 62 b.

An annular piston 70 is disposed around the inner tube portion 62b in a space close to the discharge-side connecting portion 62a with respect to the gasket 68. The piston 70 includes an annular rubber packing 71 and a gasket 72 disposed at a portion of the rubber packing 71 facing the discharge-side connecting portion 62 a. The piston 70 is provided with an urging spring 73 disposed around the inner tube portion 62b between its washer 72 and the cover member 62. The biasing spring 73 biases the piston 70 so that the piston 70 faces the washer 68, that is, so that the cleaning liquid Ws (see fig. 19 a) flowing in from the through hole 68a of the washer 68 faces. In a vertical cross section (axial cross section) of the rubber packing 71 constituting the piston 70, a pressure receiving portion 71a as a portion receiving the inflow pressure of the cleaning liquid Ws is in an inverted Y shape branched into two toward the gasket 68. The pressure receiving portion 71a is also in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the housing main body 61 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner tube portion 62b, and receives the pressure from the cleaning liquid Ws and suppresses leakage of the cleaning liquid Ws from between the both peripheral surfaces.

When no cleaning liquid Ws flows in from the opening 61b of the introduction flow path 61x by the washer pump 13b, the valve body 66 receives the urging force of the urging spring 69 to close the opening 61b of the introduction flow path 61 x. At this time, the opening 62c of the inner tube portion 62b is not closed by the valve body 66 and is in an open state. The piston 70 receives the biasing force of the biasing spring 73, and the pressure receiving portion 71a is disposed at a position abutting against the engagement portion 62d of the inner tube portion 62 b. In this case, the volume of the reservoir chamber 65 partitioned by the piston 70 is the smallest.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 19 (a), when the washer pump 13b is driven to pump the washer fluid Ws, the valve body 66 that closes the opening 61b of the introduction flow path 61x is displaced so as to be pushed up against the biasing force of the biasing spring 69, and the opening 61b is in a sufficiently open state, and the opening 62c of the inner tubular portion 62b is closed. The cleaning liquid Ws flowing in from the opening 61b of the introduction flow path 61x advances to the inside through the through hole 67a of the gasket 67, does not leak from the opening 62c of the inner tube 62b, and further advances to the back side of the piston 70 through the through hole 68a of the gasket 68. The piston 70 is subjected to the pressure of the cleaning liquid Ws, retreats against the urging force of the urging spring 73, and the volume of the reservoir chamber 65 is expanded as the piston 70 retreats. Then, the piston 70 (the washer 72) is retracted to a position where it abuts against the restricting wall 62e of the cover member 62, whereby the volume of the storage chamber 65 becomes maximum, and a constant amount of the cleaning liquid Ws is stored in the cleaning liquid storage device 60 a.

Further, when the washer pump 13b is stopped in a state where the piston 70 is retracted and a constant amount of the cleaning liquid Ws is stored, the inflow pressure of the cleaning liquid Ws from the opening 61b of the introduction flow path 61x is also eliminated, and as shown in fig. 19 (b), the valve body 66 returns to a state where the opening 61b of the introduction flow path 61x is closed, thereby suppressing the reverse flow of the cleaning liquid Ws from the opening 61b to the introduction flow path 61 x. On the other hand, since the opening 62c of the inner tubular portion 62b is opened as the valve body 66 is restored, the piston 70 receiving the urging force of the urging spring 73 presses the cleaning liquid Ws stored in the storage chamber 65. At this time, the opening 61b close to the introduction flow path 61x is closed, and the cleaning liquid Ws is discharged from the opening 62c of the inner tube 62b through the discharge flow path 62x by the pushing-out operation of the piston 70. In order to smoothly perform the pushing-out operation and the retreating operation of the piston 70, the space on the rear surface side of the piston 70 is opened to the atmosphere through a communication hole 62f provided in the cover member 62.

In this way, the cleaning liquid storage device 60a of the present embodiment operates as follows: the constant amount of the cleaning liquid Ws is stored based on the driving of the washer pump 13b, and the constant amount of the cleaning liquid Ws is discharged to the mixing output portion 22c based on the stopping of the driving of the washer pump 13 b. That is, the cleaning liquid storage device 60a of the present embodiment is configured to perform the same operation as the cleaning liquid storage portion 22b of the first embodiment, and includes, in one unit: a function as a flow path switching valve for switching the opening and closing of the

flow paths

61x and 62x by the operation of the valve body 66; a function as a check valve for suppressing the reverse flow of the cleaning liquid Ws to the introduction flow path 61 x; and a function as a chamber for storing or extruding the cleaning liquid Ws by the operation of the piston 70.

The effects of the present embodiment will be described.

(1) In the present embodiment, while the same effects as those of the first embodiment are obtained, a simple system configuration can be realized by using the cleaning liquid storage device 60a that is formed as a unit of the cleaning liquid storage portion 22 b.

(2) In the cleaning liquid storage device 60a of the present embodiment, a disk-shaped valve body 66 which is easy to manufacture can be used.

(fourth embodiment)

A fourth embodiment of the vehicle cleaning system will be described below. In the present embodiment, the cleaning liquid storage device (cleaning liquid storage section) 60b is slightly different in structure from the cleaning liquid storage device 60a of the third embodiment. Hereinafter, the difference will be mainly described.

The substantially disk-shaped valve body 66 and the biasing spring 69 used in the third embodiment shown in fig. 18 are used to provide functions as a flow path switching valve and a check valve. In contrast, in the cleaning liquid storage device 60b of the present embodiment shown in fig. 20, the valve body 66 and the biasing spring 69 are replaced with the diaphragm 75, and the structure around the piston 70 is the same.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 20, the cleaning liquid storage device 60b of the present embodiment first has a cylindrical housing main body 61, uses a lid member 62 used in the third embodiment on the discharge side, and uses a lid member 63 on the introduction side. The

cover members

62, 63 close the respective openings of the case main body 61. The cover member 62 includes the discharge-side connecting portion 62a, the discharge flow path 62x, the inner cylindrical portion 62b, and the like, as in the third embodiment. The cover member 63 has an introduction-side connecting portion 63a at the center, and an introduction flow path 63x inside. The opening 63b of the introduction flow path 63x on the inner surface of the cover member 63 protrudes cylindrically so as to face the inner cylindrical portion 62b of the cover member 62. Further, a cylindrical holding wall portion 63c is provided on the inner surface of the cover member 63 at a position intermediate between the opening portion 63b and the case main body 61. The holding wall 63c holds the peripheral edge portion 75x of the diaphragm 75 by fitting the peripheral edge portion 75x of the diaphragm 75 into a holding groove 63d provided in the vicinity of the axial intermediate portion. The diaphragm 75 has a valve body 75a in the center, and a thin portion 75b between the valve body 75a and the peripheral edge portion 75 x. The valve body 75a of the diaphragm 75 is disposed between the opening 62c of the inner tube 62b (discharge flow path 62x) and the opening 63b of the introduction flow path 63x so as to be displaceable.

Further, a through flow passage 76 that penetrates in the radial direction is provided in a portion of the holding wall portion 63c on the base end side of the holding groove 63d (the holding portion of the peripheral edge portion 75x of the diaphragm 75), and a peripheral flow passage 77 that communicates with the through flow passage 76 is provided between the outer peripheral surface of the holding wall portion 63c and the inner peripheral surface of the case main body 61. In the peripheral surface flow path 77, the movable plate portion 75c protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral edge portion 75x of the diaphragm 75. The movable plate portion 75c is inclined so that the distal end portion (radially outer portion) is located downstream of the base end portion (radially inner portion), and the distal end portion thereof abuts against the inner peripheral surface of the case main body 61. The reservoir 65 of the cleaning liquid Ws in the present embodiment is a space defined by the piston 70 and the diaphragm 75 on the downstream side of the movable plate portion 75c protruding into the circumferential surface flow path 77. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the locking portion 62d (see fig. 18) of the inner tube portion 62b is omitted, and the position of the extrusion side of the piston 70 is regulated by the abutment of the pressure receiving portion 71a of the rubber packing 71 constituting the piston 70 with the front end portion of the holding wall portion 63 c.

In a state where no cleaning liquid Ws flows in from the opening 63b of the introduction flow path 63x by the washer pump 13b, the valve body 75a of the diaphragm 75 is positioned at an intermediate position between the opening 62c of the inner cylindrical portion 62b and the opening 63b of the introduction flow path 63x, and the two openings 62c and 63b are not actively closed. The piston 70 receives the biasing force of the biasing spring 73, and the pressure receiving portion 71a is disposed at a position abutting against the distal end portion of the holding wall portion 63 c. In this case, the volume of the reservoir chamber 65 partitioned by the piston 70 is the smallest.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 21 (a), when the washer pump 13b is driven to pump the washer fluid Ws, the valve body 75a of the diaphragm 75 is displaced so as to be pushed up, and the opening 63b of the introduction flow path 63x is in a sufficiently open state, and the opening 62c of the inner tube portion 62b is closed. The cleaning liquid Ws flowing in from the opening 63b of the introduction flow path 63x passes through the diaphragm 75, once toward the radial outside, the through flow path 76 and the circumferential flow path 77, and advances toward the back side where the piston 70 is located without leaking from the opening 62c of the inner tubular portion 62 b. At this time, when the movable plate portion 75c protruding to the peripheral surface flow passage 77 flows from the introduction flow passage 63x toward the piston 70, the distal end portion thereof is separated from the inner peripheral surface of the case main body 61 to open the flow passage. The piston 70 is retracted by the pressure of the cleaning liquid Ws, and the volume of the reservoir chamber 65 is increased as the piston 70 is retracted. Then, the piston 70 (the washer 72) is retracted to a position where it abuts against the restricting wall 62e of the cover member 62, whereby the volume of the storage chamber 65 becomes maximum, and a constant amount of the cleaning liquid Ws is stored in the cleaning liquid storage device 60 a.

Further, when the drive of the washer pump 13b is stopped in a state where the piston 70 is retracted and a constant amount of the cleaning liquid Ws is stored, the inflow pressure of the cleaning liquid Ws from the opening 63b of the introduction flow path 63x is also eliminated. At this time, the piston 70, which receives the urging force of the urging spring 73, attempts to push out the cleaning liquid Ws stored in the storage chamber 65, thereby displacing the valve element 75a of the diaphragm 75 to the opposite side. Then, as shown in fig. 21 (b), the valve body 75a closes the opening 63b of the introduction flow path 63 x. At this time, the distal end of the movable plate 75c protruding to the peripheral surface flow path 77 is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the case main body 61, and closes the flow path. This suppresses the reverse flow of the cleaning liquid Ws from the opening 63b to the inflow passage 63 x. On the other hand, the opening 62c of the inner tube 62b is opened by the displacement of the valve body 75a of the diaphragm 75, and the cleaning liquid Ws is discharged from the opening 62c of the inner tube 62b through the discharge flow path 62x by the pushing-out operation of the piston 70.

As described above, the cleaning liquid storage device 60b of the present embodiment also has a function of operating as follows: the flow path switching valve, the check valve, and the chamber function are included in one unit, as in the third embodiment, while the washer pump 13b is driven to store a constant amount of the cleaning liquid Ws, and the washer pump 13b is stopped to discharge the constant amount of the cleaning liquid Ws to the mixing and discharging unit 22 c.

The effects of the present embodiment will be described.

(2) In the cleaning liquid storage device 60b of the present embodiment, the diaphragm 75 is used, so that the biasing spring for biasing the valve body can be omitted.

(fifth embodiment)

A fifth embodiment of the vehicle cleaning system will be described below. In the present embodiment, the cleaning liquid storage device (cleaning liquid storage section) 60c is slightly different in structure from the cleaning liquid storage device 60b of the fourth embodiment. Hereinafter, the difference will be mainly described.

The diaphragm 75 used in the fourth embodiment shown in fig. 20 is provided with the functions of a flow path switching valve and a check valve. In contrast, in the cleaning liquid storage device 60c of the present embodiment shown in fig. 22, the diaphragm 75 is replaced with the umbrella valve 80, and the structure around the piston 70 is the same.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 22, the cleaning liquid storage device 60c of the present embodiment includes a cylindrical case body 61 and

lid members

62 and 63 that close respective openings of the case body 61. A plate-shaped holding wall portion 61c for holding the umbrella valve 80 in a direction (radial direction) orthogonal to the axis is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the housing main body 61. The umbrella valve 80 has a shaft portion 80a and a movable circular plate portion 80b located at one end of the shaft portion 80 a. The holding wall portion 61c holds the shaft portion 80a of the umbrella valve 80 by fitting the shaft portion 80a of the umbrella valve 80 into a holding hole 61d provided in the central portion. Further, the holding wall portion 61c is provided with an opening portion 61e around the holding hole 61d (the holding portion of the shaft portion 80a of the umbrella valve 80). The opening 61e communicates with the introduction flow path 63x, and functions as a substantial opening of the introduction flow path 63 x. The movable disk portion 80b of the umbrella valve 80 is disposed between the opening 62c of the inner tube portion 62b (discharge flow path 62x) and the opening 61e communicating with the introduction flow path 63x so as to be displaceable. The displacement of the movable disk 80b at this time is such that the outer peripheral portion of the movable disk 80b connected to the shaft portion 80a comes into contact with or separates from the holding wall portion 61c, with the central portion serving as a fulcrum. The reservoir chamber 65 for the cleaning liquid Ws in the present embodiment is a space defined by the holding wall portion 61c, the movable circular plate portion 80b of the umbrella valve 80, and the piston 70.

In a state where no cleaning liquid Ws flows in from the opening 61e communicating with the introduction flow path 63x by the washer pump 13b, the opening 62c of the inner cylindrical portion 62b and the opening 61e communicating with the introduction flow path 63x are closed by the movable disc portion 80b of the umbrella valve 80, but are not actively closed. The piston 70 is biased by a biasing spring 73 and is disposed at the maximum extrusion position. In this case, the volume of the reservoir chamber 65 partitioned by the piston 70 is the smallest.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 23 (a), when the washer pump 13b is driven to pump the washer fluid Ws, the outer peripheral portion of the movable disc portion 80b of the umbrella valve 80 is displaced so as to be pushed up, and the opening portion 61e communicating with the introduction flow path 63x is opened, and the opening portion 62c of the inner cylindrical portion 62b is sufficiently closed. The cleaning liquid Ws flowing in from the opening 61e communicating with the introduction flow path 63x advances toward the rear side of the piston 70 without leaking from the opening 62c of the inner tubular portion 62 b. The piston 70 is retracted by the pressure of the cleaning liquid Ws, and the volume of the reservoir chamber 65 is increased as the piston 70 is retracted. Then, the piston 70 (the washer 72) is retracted to a position where it abuts against the restricting wall 62e of the cover member 62, whereby the volume of the reservoir chamber 65 becomes maximum, and a constant amount of the cleaning liquid Ws is stored in the cleaning liquid reservoir 60 c.

Further, in a state where the piston 70 is retracted and a constant amount of the cleaning liquid Ws is stored, when the driving of the washer pump 13b is stopped, the inflow pressure of the cleaning liquid Ws from the opening 61e communicating with the introduction flow path 63x is also eliminated. At this time, the piston 70, which receives the urging force of the urging spring 73, attempts to push out the cleaning liquid Ws stored in the storage chamber 65, thereby displacing the movable disc portion 80b of the umbrella valve 80 to the opposite side. Then, as shown in fig. 23 (b), the movable disk portion 80b closes the opening 61e communicating with the introduction flow path 63x, and suppresses the reverse flow of the cleaning liquid Ws from the opening 61e to the introduction flow path 63 x. On the other hand, when the movable circular plate portion 80b receives the pressure from the cleaning liquid Ws, the umbrella valve 80 itself is also pushed in the axial direction, and the opening 62c of the inner cylindrical portion 62b is opened. The cleaning liquid Ws is discharged from the opening 62c of the inner tube 62b through the discharge flow path 62x by the pushing-out operation of the piston 70.

As described above, the cleaning liquid storage device 60c according to the present embodiment also has a function of operating as follows: the flow path switching valve, the check valve, and the chamber function are included in one unit, as in the fourth embodiment, while the washer pump 13b is driven to store a constant amount of the cleaning liquid Ws, and the washer pump 13b is stopped to discharge the constant amount of the cleaning liquid Ws to the mixing output portion 22 c.

The effects of the present embodiment will be described.

(1) In the present embodiment, while the same effects as those of the first embodiment are obtained, a simple system configuration can be realized by using the cleaning liquid storage device 60c that is formed as a unit of the cleaning liquid storage section 22 b.

(2) In the cleaning liquid storage device 60c of the present embodiment, the umbrella valve 80 is used, so that the biasing spring for biasing the valve body can be omitted.

(sixth embodiment)

A sixth embodiment of the vehicle cleaning system will be described below. The present embodiment is a simplified configuration version of the first or second embodiment in which the connection structure of the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b is changed and the components used are omitted. Hereinafter, the difference will be mainly described.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 24, the discharge-side connection portion 25f of the check valve 25 and the relay connection portion 28c of the reservoir joint 28 are connected by the connection hose 32c, and the second discharge-side connection portion 52c of the flow path switching valve 26 and the injection nozzle 31 are connected by the connection hose 32 i. Therefore, the chamber 29, the mixing section joint 30, and the connection hoses 32g and 32j used in the first embodiment can be omitted, and the air branch joint 34 and the connection hose 32k can be omitted in the second embodiment.

With such a configuration, the entire flow path that communicates the flow path switching valve 26, the connection hose 32h, the joint 28 for a storage unit, the connection hose 32c, the check valve 25, and the like functions as a chamber (storage chamber), and the washer pump 13b is driven to store a constant amount of the washer fluid Ws. Further, since the injection air CA2 from the valve device 24 also flows through the flow path in which the cleaning liquid Ws is stored, the storage-unit joint 28 also functions as a mixing-unit joint, and the gas-liquid mixed fluid X in which the cleaning liquid Ws and the injection air CA2 are mixed can be injected from the nozzle 31. That is, in the present embodiment, the connection portions of the flow path switching valve 26, the connection hose 32h, the storage portion joint 28, the connection hose 32c, the check valve 25, and the like are used as the cleaning liquid storage portion 22b and the mixing output portion 22c of the first or second embodiment, and thus the configuration is simplified.

In the case where the first cleaning device 21a (or the second cleaning device 21b) of the connection type shown in fig. 24 is configured by a plurality of sets, for example, four sets shown in fig. 25, the connection hose 32d connected to the first introduction-side connection portion 51b of the flow path switching valve 26 can be connected to one washer pump 13b at a time, and the washer pump 13b can be shared. The timing of injecting the gas-liquid mixture fluid X from the injection nozzle 31 is the driving timing of the air pump 23, and the storage operation of the cleaning liquid Ws by the driving of one washer pump 13b can be performed at a time.

The effects of the present embodiment will be described.

(1) In the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the chamber 29, the mixing section joint 30, and the connection hoses 32g and 32j used in the first embodiment can be omitted, so that a simple system configuration can be realized.

(2) As shown in fig. 25, the connection structure can realize a simple system configuration by collectively supplying the cleaning liquid Ws from one washer pump 13b to the plurality of cleaning devices 21a (21 b).

The above embodiment can be modified as follows. The above-described embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other within a range not technically contradictory to the present invention.

The configurations of the jet air generating unit 22a, the cleaning liquid storage unit 22b, and the mixing output unit 22c may be appropriately changed.

For example, the injection air generating unit 22a may be configured by integrating the valve device 24 and the check valve 25. Further, if two valve devices 24 are connected in series and the downstream valve device 24 is caused to function as a check valve, the check valve 25 may be omitted. Further, if another valve body is provided in addition to the valve body 43a of the diaphragm 43 of the valve device 24 to open and close the opening 48a of the discharge flow path 48, the newly provided valve body functions as a check valve, and therefore, the check valve 25 is omitted and only one valve device 24 may be used.

In the injection air generating unit 22a, the valve device 24 may be omitted, and the compressed air CA1 generated by driving the air pump 23 may be used as the injection air CA2 as it is for injecting the gas-liquid mixture fluid X from the injection nozzle 31. In this configuration, the removal and cleaning of foreign matter adhering to the cleaning target can be improved by a small amount of the cleaning liquid Ws. Further, since the cleaning liquid Ws mixed with the injected air CA2 is supplied while being temporarily stored in the cleaning liquid storage portion 22, a small amount of the cleaning liquid Ws necessary for cleaning can be stably supplied as compared with the direct supply by the washer pump 13 b.

In the cleaning liquid storage portion 22b, the storage portion joint 28 may be integrally formed with the chamber 29, the check valve 27, or the flow path switching valve 26. The flow path switching valve 26 may be integrally formed with the check valve 27. The flow path switching valve 26 may be formed of two valves separated into a primary functional part and a secondary functional part.

In the mixing output section 22c, the injection nozzle 31 and the mixing section joint 30 may be integrally formed. The mixing-section joint 30 may be integrally formed with the check valve 25 of the jet-air generating section 22a or with the flow-path switching valve 26 of the cleaning-liquid storage section 22 b.

In addition to the above, the configurations of the jet air generating unit 22a, the cleaning liquid storage unit 22b, and the mixing output unit 22c may be changed as appropriate.

As for the cooperative control of the washer pump 13b and the air pump 23, the driving timings of each other may also be changed as appropriate. In the above embodiment, the air pump 23 is driven after the washer pump 13b is driven, but the washer pump 13b may be driven while the air pump 23 is driven, for example. In this case as well, it is preferable to perform control such that the end time of driving the air pump 23 is later than the end time of driving the washer pump 13 b.

The

distance measuring sensors

11 and 12 are disposed in the front center portion of the vehicle 10 and the rear center portion of the vehicle 10, respectively, but may be disposed on the left and right side surfaces of the vehicle 10.

The distance measuring sensors 11 and 12 (sensing surfaces 11a and 12a) are used as cleaning targets, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in addition to a camera for capturing an image of the periphery of the vehicle 10, a sensor or a sensor other than the optical sensor, for example, a headlight 15, a tail light 16, a mirror 17, and the like shown in fig. 1 may be used as the cleaning target.

(seventh embodiment)

A seventh embodiment of a vehicle cleaning system and a cleaning method thereof will be described below. In the present embodiment, the configuration for supplying the cleaning liquid and the operation related thereto in the configuration on the upstream side of the mixing output portion 22c of the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b are different from those in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the difference will be mainly described.

As shown in fig. 26, the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b each have a jet air generating portion 22a, a cleaning liquid introducing portion 122b, and a mixing and discharging portion 22 c. The injection air generating portion 22a has an air pump 23, a valve device 24, and a check valve 125. The injection air generator 22a generates high-pressure pulse-like injection air CA2 from compressed air CA1 supplied from the air pump 23 by the operation of a valve device 24, a check valve 125, and the like, which will be described later. The cleaning liquid introduction portion 122b has a check valve 126, and is provided in parallel with the jet air generation portion 22 a. The cleaning liquid introduction portion 122b introduces the cleaning liquid Ws pressure-fed from the washer pump 13b via the check valve 126. The mixing output section 22c has a mixing joint 127 and a spray nozzle 31. The mixing output portion 22c mixes the jet air CA2 generated in the jet air generating portion 22a and the cleaning liquid Ws output from the cleaning liquid introducing portion 122b through the mixing joint 127, and blows the mixture from the jet nozzle 31 toward the

respective sensing surfaces

11a, 12a as cleaning targets. Further, the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b have the same structure. Therefore, the specific configurations of the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b will be described in common below.

In the jet air generating portion 22a, the air pump 23 and the valve device 24 are connected to each other by a connecting hose 129a, and the valve device 24 and the check valve 125 are connected to each other by a connecting hose 129 b. The

connection hoses

129a and 129b are made of a flexible material such as a rubber hose. The connection hoses 129c to 129f described later are also made of the same material. The air pump 23 is constituted by an electric air pump capable of generating compressed air CA 1. The valve device 24 converts the compressed air CA1 continuously supplied from the air pump 23 into a high-pressure pulse-like (intermittent) state, and outputs the high-pressure pulse-like injected air CA2 toward the check valve 25, that is, toward the mixing output portion 22c via the check valve 25.

As shown in fig. 26, the check valve 125 includes a valve housing 125a, a valve core 125b, an urging spring 125c, and a seal ring 125 d. The valve housing 125a has an introduction-side connecting portion 125e and a discharge-side connecting portion 125f, and an introduction flow path 125x inside the introduction-side connecting portion 125e and a discharge flow path 125y inside the discharge-side connecting portion 125f are configured to communicate with a valve chamber 125z in the valve housing 125a, respectively. The introduction-side connection 125e is connected to the discharge-side connection 41f of the valve device 24 by a connection hose 129 b. The discharge-side connection portion 125f is connected to the first introduction-side connection portion 127a of the mixing joint 127 by a connection hose 129 c.

In the valve chamber 125z in the valve housing 125a, a seal ring 125d is fixed around the opening of the introduction flow path 125x, and the spherical valve body 125b is urged by an urging spring 125c so as to be in close contact with the seal ring 125 d. That is, when the inflow pressure of the fluid from the introduction flow path 125x becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure, the valve body 125b of the check valve 125 is operated against the biasing force of the biasing spring 125c, and is switched from the closed state to the open state, thereby outputting the injection air CA2 of the valve device 24 to the mixing joint 127 of the mixing output portion 22 c.

The check valve 126 for the cleaning liquid introduction portion 122b is the same as the check valve 125 of the jet air generation portion 22 a. That is, the check valve 126 includes a valve housing 126a, a valve body 126b, an urging spring 126c, and a seal ring 126d, and an introduction flow path 126x inside the introduction-side connecting portion 126e and a discharge flow path 126y inside the discharge-side connecting portion 126f are configured to communicate with a valve chamber 126z in the valve housing 126a, respectively. The introduction-side connection portion 126e is connected to a connection hose 129d extending from the washer pump 13 b. The discharge-side connection portion 126f is connected to the second introduction-side connection portion 127b of the mixing joint 127 by a connection hose 129 e. When the inflow pressure of the fluid from the introduction flow path 126x becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined pressure, the valve body 126b of the check valve 126 is operated against the biasing force of the biasing spring 126c, and is switched from the closed state to the open state, and the cleaning liquid Ws pumped from the washer pump 13b is output toward the mixing joint 127 of the mixing output portion 22 c.

The mixing joint 127 for the mixing output portion 22c is a Y-type joint, and includes a first introduction-side connecting portion 127a and a second introduction-side connecting portion 127b on the introduction side and a discharge-side connecting portion 122c on the discharge side. The first introduction-side connection portion 127a and the discharge-side connection portion 127c of the hybrid joint 127 of the present embodiment are arranged on a straight line, and the second introduction-side connection portion 127b is connected at an acute angle, for example, at an angle of 45 ° close to the first introduction-side connection portion 127 a. The first introduction flow path 127x inside the first introduction-side connection portion 127a and the second introduction flow path 127y inside the second introduction-side connection portion 127b communicate with the discharge flow path 127z inside the discharge-side connection portion 127c, and have the same outer shape, the first introduction flow path 127x and the discharge flow path 127z are on a straight line, and the second introduction flow path 127y communicates at an acute angle close to the first introduction flow path 127x, for example, at an angle of 45 °. The first introduction-side connecting portion 127a is connected to the valve device 24 and the air pump 23 via a check valve 125, and the second introduction-side connecting portion 127b is connected to the washer pump 13b via a check valve 126. The discharge-side connection portion 127c is connected to the spray nozzle 31 with a connection hose 129 f.

Then, the injection ports 31a of the injection nozzles 31 included in the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b are arranged toward the sensing surface 11a of the first distance measuring sensor 11 and the sensing surface 12a of the second distance measuring sensor 12 shown in fig. 1, respectively. The cleaning liquid Ws supplied from the washer pump 13b in advance and accumulated in the mixing output portion 22c is ejected from the injection nozzle 31 together with the high-pressure and pulse-like injection air CA2 generated by the valve device 24 and the air pump 23, and is blown to an appropriate range of each of the

sensing surfaces

11a, 12 a.

The operation and action of the seventh embodiment will be described.

[ operation of vehicle cleaning system 20 ]

As shown in fig. 26, in the non-operating state of the first cleaning device 21a and the second cleaning device 21b of the vehicle cleaning system 20, the valve portion 40a of the valve device 24 of the injection air generating portion 22a is in the closed state (see fig. 4). The check valve 125 of the jet air generating unit 22a and the check valve 126 of the cleaning liquid introducing unit 122b are also closed.

cleaning devices

That is, first, the washer pump 13b is driven for a predetermined period T1 from time T1 to time T2 based on the cleaning command. As shown in fig. 27, the one-way valve 126 of the cleaning liquid introduction portion 122b is opened by driving the washer pump 13b to introduce the cleaning liquid Ws into the mixing and discharging portion 22c downstream of itself, and as shown in fig. 28, the one-way valve 126 is closed by stopping the washer pump 13 b.

At this time, since the injection port 31a of the injection nozzle 31 functions as a throttle portion, the cleaning liquid Ws is filled in a part or all of the flow path from the check valve 126 to the injection nozzle 31, specifically, the connection hose 129e, the mixing joint 127, and the connection hose 129f, and the connection hose 129c, and the check valve 125 of the injection air generating portion 22 a. In other words, if the flow path is the filling flow path 140, the washer pump 13b is driven before the air pump 23 is driven to fill the filling flow path 140 with the cleaning liquid Ws. Since the washer pump 13b is driven not for the purpose of ejecting the cleaning liquid Ws from the ejection nozzle 31 but mainly for the purpose of filling the filling flow path 140 with the cleaning liquid Ws, the driving is performed in a short time or the driving force thereof is suppressed, and the amount of the cleaning liquid Ws used is also suppressed to a very small amount.

Next, as shown in fig. 11, the air pump 23 is driven during a predetermined period T2 from time T3 to time T4 after the washer pump 13b is stopped. When the air pump 23 is driven, the valve device 24 is operated, and the high-pressure pulse-shaped injection air CA2 having a pressure higher than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23 is introduced into the mixing output portion 22c, in this case, the filling flow path 140 filled with the cleaning liquid Ws, through the check valve 125 of the injection air generating portion 22 a.

The state of the

cleaning devices

21a and 21b shown in fig. 28 is a state in which the valve device 24 is in the closed state shown in fig. 4 before the injection air generating unit 22a is operated. The state shown in fig. 29 is a state in which the valve device 24 is raised to a sufficiently higher pressure than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23 shown in fig. 5 based on the driving of the air pump 23. The state shown in fig. 30 is a state where the valve device 24 outputs air sufficiently higher than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23 shown in fig. 6. When the air having the high pressure is output from the valve device 24, the check valve 125 of the jet air generating portion 22a is opened, and the air having the high pressure is introduced into the mixing output portion 22 c. That is, the operations of fig. 4 to 6 and 28 to 30 are repeated, and the high-pressure pulse-like injection air CA2 generated by the valve device 24 is introduced into the mixing output portion 22c through the check valve 125.

At this time, since the cleaning liquid Ws is filled in the filling flow path 140 of the mixing and discharging unit 22c, when the high-pressure pulse jet air CA2 is introduced, the gas-liquid mixed fluid X is ejected from the ejection port 31a of the ejection nozzle 31 as a mixture of the high-pressure pulse jet air CA2 and the cleaning liquid Ws dispersed into small particle diameters by the jet air CA 2. The gas-liquid mixed fluid X in which the cleaning liquid Ws and the ejection air CA2 are mixed is blown to the sensing surface 11a of the first distance measuring sensor 11 and the sensing surface 12a of the second distance measuring sensor 12 shown in fig. 1. This enables foreign matter such as raindrops adhering to the sensing surfaces 11a and 12a to be effectively removed, and thus enables the distance measurement accuracy to be maintained satisfactorily.

Further, since the injection air CA2 having a sufficiently higher pressure than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23 can be generated, the air pump 23 can be also used in a small size. Further, by blowing the gas-liquid mixed fluid X as the cleaning liquid Ws mixed therewith, the amount of the cleaning liquid Ws used is small as compared with a method of simply blowing only the cleaning liquid Ws and simply jetting only the air CA2, and the self air and the cleaning liquid Ws dispersed into small particle diameters can be blown at a high speed by the high-pressure jetted air CA 2. Therefore, the foreign matter on the sensing surfaces 11a and 12a can be removed and cleaned very efficiently.

The effects of the present embodiment will be described.

(1) The

cleaning devices

21a, 21b of the vehicle cleaning system 20 according to the present embodiment generate the high-pressure pulse-shaped injection air CA2 by operating the valve device 24 in the injection air generating portion 22a so as to store pressure to a pressure higher than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23 using the compressed air CA1 supplied from the air pump 23, and to discharge the stored pressure to the downstream side. That is, the generation of the injected air CA2 with improved foreign matter removal performance can be realized without increasing the size of the air pump 23. The cleaning liquid Ws is mixed with the high-pressure pulse-shaped injected air CA2 generated in the injected air generating unit 22a by including the cleaning liquid introducing unit 122b and the mixing and outputting unit 22c, and the gas-liquid mixed fluid X in which the high-pressure pulse-shaped injected air CA2 and the cleaning liquid Ws dispersed into small particle diameters are mixed is blown toward the sensing surfaces 11a and 12a of the respective

distance measuring sensors

11 and 12. This enables the removal and cleaning of foreign matter adhering to the sensing surfaces 11a and 12a to be improved by a small amount of the cleaning liquid Ws.

(2) In the injection air generating portion 22a, the valve portion 40a of the valve device 24 closes the introduction flow path 47 of the compressed air CA1 by the valve body 43a, and accumulates the compressed air CA1 supplied from the air pump 23 to a pressure higher than the discharge pressure P0 of the air pump 23. The valve portion 40a and the check valve 25 also function as an auxiliary mechanism, and during the pressure accumulation, a leak CAx of the compressed air CA1 is generated from the introduction flow path 47, and the pressure is accumulated on the leak side (the valve chamber 45 and the like). Next, the valve body 33a is opened based on the two pressures P1, P2 accumulated in the introduction flow path 47 and the leakage side (the valve chamber 45, etc.), and the compressed air CA1 accumulated in the introduction flow path 47 is output to the discharge flow path 48. Thereafter, the valve body 43a is returned to the closed state so that the pressure can be accumulated in the introduction flow path 47 again. The air pump 23, the valve device 24, and the check valve 25 can generate the high-pressure pulse-like injection air CA 2.

(3) The jet air generating unit 22a includes

check valves

125 and 126 on the downstream side of the valve device 24 and on the flow path of the cleaning liquid introducing unit 122b, respectively. The check valve 125 functions as an accumulated pressure (a rise in the pressure P2) on the downstream side of the valve portion 40a, and the cleaning liquid Ws can be more reliably filled in the filling flow path 140 on the downstream side of the

check valves

125 and 126.

(4) The end time of the period T2 for driving the air pump 23 is controlled to be later than the end time of the period T1 for driving the washer pump 13 b. That is, since there is a possibility that the cleaning liquid Ws may remain on the

sensing surfaces

11a, 12a as foreign matter, by terminating the drive of the air pump 23 after the drive of the washer pump 13b, only the injected air CA2 can be blown to the

sensing surfaces

11a, 12a thereafter. This can suppress the cleaning liquid Ws from remaining on the sensing surfaces 11a and 12 a.

(5) The period T2 during which the air pump 23 is driven is controlled to be shifted rearward from the period T1 during which the washer pump 13b is driven. Thus, after the cleaning liquid Ws is sufficiently filled in the filling flow path 140, the gas-liquid mixed fluid X including the cleaning liquid Ws can be ejected by the ejection air CA 2. Further, since only the ejection air CA2 not including the cleaning liquid Ws can be ejected behind the pulse-shaped ejection, the cleaning liquid Ws can be suppressed from remaining on the

respective sensing surfaces

11a, 12 a.

The seventh embodiment can be implemented by the following modifications. The present embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within a range not technically contradictory.

As for the cooperative control of the washer pump 13b and the air pump 23, the driving timings of each other may also be changed as appropriate. For example, the control method shown in fig. 31 may be such that the period T2 from the time T11 to the time T12 for driving the air pump 23 includes the period T1 from the time T13 to the time T14 for driving the washer pump 13b, which are overlapped with each other. In this case, the end time of the period T2 for driving the air pump 23 is also controlled to be later than the end time of the period T1 for driving the washer pump 13 b. By inserting the drive of the washer pump 13b in the drive process of the air pump 23, it is also possible to perform the injection of only the injection air CA2 first, perform the injection of the gas-liquid mixture fluid X in the middle, and then perform the injection of only the injection air CA2 again.

As shown in fig. 32 (a) and 32 (b), the drive period and drive voltage of the washer pump 13b may be changed. Fig. 32 (a) shows a mode in which the period for driving the washer pump 13b is set to the normal period T1 and the driving voltage is set to the low voltage V1a, and fig. 32 (b) shows a mode in which the period for driving the washer pump 13b is set to the period T1a longer than the normal period and the driving voltage is set to the normal voltage V1. That is, fig. 32 (a) is a system in which the driving capability of the washer pump 13b is relatively reduced, and fig. 32 (b) is a system in which the driving capability of the washer pump 13b is relatively improved.

For example, since the viscosity of the cleaning liquid Ws increases as the ambient temperature decreases, even a highly viscous cleaning liquid Ws can be transported without difficulty by switching from the normal control of fig. 32 (a) to the control of fig. 32 (b) when the temperature is low.

Further, if the non-driving period of the washer pump 13b is long, bubbles are likely to be generated in the flow path of the cleaning liquid Ws, for example, in the connection hose 129d shown in fig. 26, and therefore, when the non-driving period of the washer pump 13b is long, for example, one month, the control is switched from the normal control of fig. 32 (a) to the control of fig. 32 (b). That is, the air discharge is performed to release the bubbles contained in the cleaning liquid Ws from the injection nozzle 31.

As shown in fig. 33, the mixing and discharging unit 22c may be provided with a throttle portion 127d in the introduction flow path 127y of the cleaning liquid Ws immediately before the injected air CA2 is mixed with the cleaning liquid Ws. In the cleaning system 20, since the washer pump 13b is driven not for the purpose of ejecting the cleaning liquid Ws from the ejection nozzle 31 but mainly for the purpose of filling the filling flow path 140 with the cleaning liquid Ws, the cleaning liquid Ws may be slowly introduced into the filling flow path 140 through the throttle portion 127d in order to suppress leakage of the cleaning liquid Ws from the ejection nozzle 31 due to the driving of the washer pump 13 b.

As shown in fig. 34, flat plate-shaped

valve bodies

125g and 126g may be used as the valve bodies of the

check valves

125 and 126. The

valve bodies

125g and 126g are provided with

seal surfaces

125h and 126 h. The

check valves

125 and 126 can be made smaller.

In addition, the configurations of the jet air generating unit 22a, the cleaning liquid introducing unit 122b, and the mixing and discharging unit 22c may be appropriately changed. For example, in the injection air generating unit 22a, if two valve devices 24 are connected in series and the downstream valve device 24 functions as a check valve, the check valve 125 may be omitted. Further, if another valve body is provided in addition to the valve body 43a of the diaphragm 43 of the valve device 24 to open and close the opening 48a of the discharge flow path 48, the newly provided valve body functions as a check valve, and therefore, the check valve 25 is omitted and only one valve device 24 may be used.

The

distance measuring sensors

The injection nozzle 31 and the mixing joint 127, or the mixing joint 127 and the

check valves

125 and 126 are configured independently, but they may be integrally configured. For example, the injection nozzle 31 may be formed integrally with the mixing joint 127, or the mixing joint 127 may be formed integrally with the check valve 125.

Although the present disclosure has been described based on the embodiments, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments and the configurations described above. The present disclosure also includes various modifications and variations within an equivalent range. In addition, various combinations and modes, including only one element, one or more other combinations and modes, also belong to the scope and the idea of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A vehicle cleaning system that performs removal cleaning of foreign matter adhering to a cleaning target of a vehicle, characterized by comprising:

an air pump driven to generate injection air;

a washer pump driven to supply a washer fluid;

a spray nozzle that blows a gas-liquid mixed fluid in which the spray air and the cleaning liquid are mixed to the cleaning object;

a cleaning liquid storage portion configured to be capable of storing the cleaning liquid supplied from the washer pump and to lead out the stored cleaning liquid when mixed with the jet air; and

a mixing output portion configured to blow the gas-liquid mixed fluid in which the jet air and the cleaning liquid introduced from the cleaning liquid reservoir portion are mixed, from the jet nozzle toward the cleaning object.

2. A vehicle cleaning system that performs removal cleaning of foreign matter adhering to a cleaning target of a vehicle, characterized by comprising:

an air pump driven to generate injection air;

a washer pump driven to supply a washer fluid;

an injection air generating portion that includes the air pump and a valve device, and that generates the injection air in a high-pressure and pulse-like state based on an operation of the valve device that stores a compressed air supplied from the air pump to a pressure higher than a discharge pressure of the air pump and discharges the stored pressure to a downstream side;

a cleaning liquid storage portion configured to include a chamber that stores the cleaning liquid supplied from the washer pump, and to be capable of leading out the cleaning liquid stored in the chamber when mixed with the jet air; and

a mixing output portion configured to blow the gas-liquid mixed fluid, which mixes the high-pressure and pulse-like jet air generated in the jet air generating portion and the cleaning liquid introduced from the cleaning liquid storage portion, toward the cleaning object from the jet nozzle.

3. The sweeping system for a vehicle according to claim 2,

the jet air generating section includes:

a valve portion that includes a valve body that closes an introduction flow path of the compressed air, and that accumulates the compressed air supplied from the air pump to a pressure higher than a discharge pressure of the air pump; and

an assist mechanism configured to operate as follows: generating leakage of the compressed air from the introduction flow path at the time of pressure accumulation of the valve portion and performing pressure accumulation caused at a leakage side due to the leakage; opening the valve body based on two pressures accumulated in the introduction flow path and the leakage side; outputting the compressed air accumulated in the introduction flow path to the discharge flow path based on opening of the valve body; and performing valve closing recovery of the valve body based on an output of the compressed air to the discharge flow path so as to enable pressure accumulation in the introduction flow path.

4. The vehicle sweeping system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the cleaning liquid storage portion is configured to include a chamber that stores the cleaning liquid supplied from the washer pump, and is capable of discharging the cleaning liquid stored in the chamber when mixed with the jet air,

the chamber includes: a housing member; a piston movably disposed within the housing member; a reservoir chamber partitioned by the piston inside the housing member and for storing the cleaning liquid; and an urging member that urges in a direction to narrow the storage chamber,

the cleaning liquid storage portion is configured to store the cleaning liquid in the storage chamber by retracting the piston in the chamber against the urging force of the urging member based on the supply of the cleaning liquid from the washer pump, and to discharge the cleaning liquid stored in the storage chamber to the mixing and discharging portion by pushing out the piston in the chamber by the urging force of the urging member based on the stop of the supply of the cleaning liquid from the washer pump.

5. The vehicle sweeping system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the chamber includes: a housing member; a piston movably disposed within the housing member; and a reservoir chamber defined by the piston in the housing member and configured to store the cleaning liquid, the chamber being configured to operate in a direction in which the reservoir chamber is contracted by compressed air supplied from the air pump,

the cleaning liquid storage portion is configured to store the cleaning liquid in the storage chamber by retracting the piston in the chamber based on the supply of the cleaning liquid from the washer pump, and to push out the piston in the chamber and to lead out the cleaning liquid stored in the storage chamber to the mixing and outputting portion based on the supply of the compressed air supplied from the air pump.

6. The vehicle sweeping system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

the cleaning liquid storage section includes a chamber for storing the cleaning liquid supplied from the washer pump and a flow path switching section,

the cleaning liquid storage unit is configured to be switchable as follows:

opening a flow path between the washer pump and the chamber and closing a flow path between the chamber and the mixing output unit based on the supply of the cleaning liquid from the washer pump,

the flow path between the washer pump and the chamber is closed based on the stop of the supply of the cleaning liquid from the washer pump, and the flow path between the chamber and the mixing output unit is opened based on the derivation of the cleaning liquid from the chamber.

7. The vehicle sweeping system according to claim 6,

the flow path switching unit includes:

a flow path switching valve including a primary side flow path having a first introduction flow path communicating with the washer pump and a first discharge flow path communicating with the chamber, a secondary side flow path including a second introduction flow path communicating with the chamber and a second discharge flow path communicating with the mixing output section, and a common diaphragm configured to be capable of opening and closing the primary side flow path and the secondary side flow path complementarily; and

a check valve disposed between the first discharge flow path and the chamber.

8. The vehicle sweeping system according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

the cleaning liquid storage unit is configured to be capable of storing the cleaning liquid supplied from the washer pump at a constant amount for each storage.

9. The vehicle sweeping system according to any one of claims 1 to 8,

the cleaning liquid storage portion is configured as a single cleaning liquid storage device having a function of storing the cleaning liquid supplied from the washer pump and guiding out the stored cleaning liquid when mixed with the jet air.

10. A cleaning method of a vehicle cleaning system for removing and cleaning foreign matter adhering to a cleaning target of a vehicle, the method comprising:

driving an air pump to generate jet air;

driving a washer pump to supply a cleaning liquid;

blowing a gas-liquid mixed fluid in which the jet air and the cleaning liquid are mixed from a jet nozzle to the cleaning object;

generating the high-pressure pulse-shaped injection air in an injection air generating portion including the air pump and a valve device, based on an operation of the valve device that stores a pressure of compressed air supplied from the air pump to a pressure higher than a discharge pressure of the air pump and discharges the stored pressure to a downstream side;

in a cleaning liquid storage portion including a chamber that stores the cleaning liquid supplied from the washer pump, the cleaning liquid stored in the chamber is led out when mixed with the jet air; and

in the mixing and discharging unit, the gas-liquid mixed fluid, which mixes the high-pressure and pulse-like jet air generated in the jet air generating unit and the cleaning liquid introduced from the cleaning liquid storage unit, is blown from the jet nozzle toward the cleaning object.

11. A vehicle cleaning system that performs removal cleaning of foreign matter adhering to a cleaning target of a vehicle, characterized by comprising:

an air pump driven to generate injection air;

a washer pump driven to supply a washer fluid;

a cleaning liquid introduction portion configured to introduce the cleaning liquid supplied from the washer pump; and

a mixing output portion configured to blow the gas-liquid mixed fluid, which mixes the high-pressure and pulse-like jet air generated in the jet air generating portion and the cleaning liquid introduced from the cleaning liquid introducing portion, from the jet nozzle toward the cleaning object.

12. The sweeping system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 11,

the jet air generating section includes:

13. The vehicle sweeping system according to claim 11 or 12,

the vehicle cleaning system further includes check valves provided on a downstream side of the valve device in the jet air generating unit and on a flow path of the cleaning liquid introducing unit, respectively.

14. The vehicle sweeping system according to any one of claims 11 to 13,

the mixing output portion has a throttle portion provided in an introduction flow path of the cleaning liquid immediately before the jet air is mixed with the cleaning liquid.

15. The vehicle sweeping system according to any one of claims 11 to 14,

the sweeping system for a vehicle further includes a control device that controls the air pump and the washer pump,

the control device controls the air pump and the washer pump such that an end time of a driving period of the air pump is at least later than an end time of a driving period of the washer pump.

16. The sweeping system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 15,

the control device controls the air pump and the washer pump such that a drive period of the air pump is shifted rearward from a drive period of the washer pump.

17. The sweeping system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 15,

the control device controls the air pump and the washer pump such that a drive period of the washer pump is included in a drive period of the air pump.

18. The vehicle sweeping system according to any one of claims 15 to 17,

the control device performs control in such a manner that the drive period and the drive voltage of the washer pump are changed based on at least the ambient temperature or the non-drive period.

19. A cleaning method of a vehicle cleaning system for removing and cleaning foreign matter adhering to a cleaning target of a vehicle, the method comprising:

driving an air pump to generate jet air;

driving a washer pump to supply a cleaning liquid;

introducing the cleaning liquid supplied from the washer pump to the cleaning liquid introduction portion; and

in the mixing output portion, the gas-liquid mixed fluid, which mixes the high-pressure and pulse-like jet air generated in the jet air generating portion and the cleaning liquid introduced from the cleaning liquid introducing portion, is blown from the jet nozzle toward the cleaning object.