Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
  • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
  • B60S1/56—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
  • B08B3/02—Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B5/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use of air flow or gas flow
  • B08B5/02—Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
  • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
  • B60S1/46—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices using liquid; Windscreen washers
  • B60S1/48—Liquid supply therefor
  • B60S1/52—Arrangement of nozzles; Liquid spreading means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60S—SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B60S1/00—Cleaning of vehicles
  • B60S1/02—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices
  • B60S1/54—Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices using gas, e.g. hot air
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B27/00—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00
  • G02B27/0006—Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups G02B1/00 - G02B26/00, G02B30/00 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of cleaning devices in the automotive field. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cleaning device for an optical element intended to be fitted to a motor vehicle.
• optical elements such as cameras.
• these optical elements or at least the surface of their lenses are placed outside the vehicle and are exposed to bad weather and dirt that can degrade their vision.
• a known solution is to place near the surface of the lens of the optical element a nozzle of cleaning liquid that can spray this surface in order to rid it of dirt and dust.
• droplets of cleaning fluid or even dirt may remain on the surface of the lens.
• One of the aims of the present invention is therefore to at least partially remedy the drawbacks of the prior art and to propose an improved optical element cleaning device.
• the present invention therefore relates to a cleaning device for an optical element in particular intended to be fitted to a motor vehicle, said cleaning device comprising a base configured to be arranged on at least one of the sides of the lens of the optical element, said base comprising an air duct in which a jet of air is intended to circulate between an air inlet and an air outlet formed within said base, the air outlet protruding from the base and forming a first ejection nozzle air arranged on the periphery of the lens of the optical element and configured to project a jet of air onto the surface of the lens, the cleaning device further comprising a liquid pipe coupled to the base and in which a cleaning liquid is intended to circulate between an inlet and a liquid outlet, the liquid outlet protruding from the base and forming a second ejection nozzle of liquid disposed on the periphery of the objective of the optical element and configured to project a jet of cleaning liquid on the surface of the objective.
• the base includes at least one curved portion configured to surround at least a portion of the lens.
• the base is configured to surround the entire lens.
• the base has a cylindrical shape.
• the lens is arranged at least partly inside the base.
• the optical element is arranged at least partly inside the base.
• the base can also have a function of protective box for the optical element and/or the lens.
• the air outlet of the first nozzle and the liquid outlet of the second nozzle are arranged relative to each other so that the relative direction of ejection of the liquid forms a angle between 70 and 110° with respect to the relative direction of ejection of the air jet.
• the air outlet is configured so that the air jet is an air knife, the air outlet having the shape of a slit.
• the air ejection nozzle is arranged in the extension of at least part of the base.
• the air ejection nozzle is arranged around part of the circumference of the lens.
• the air outlet nozzle has a concave shape.
• the air outlet nozzle extends over a curved portion whose center of curvature is the center of the lens.
• the air outlet nozzle has the shape of an arc of a circle having, for example, a center coinciding with the center of the lens, the arc of a circle being delimited by the ends of the nozzle in a circumferential direction .
• the angle at the center of the arc of a circle is between 10 and 110°.
• the angle at the center of the arc of a circle is between 45 and 100°.
• the angle at the center of the arc of a circle is between 60 and 90°.
• the central angle of the arc is between 75° and 100°.
• the cleaning device is configured to fit around a circular lens, the base being curved and having an axis of curvature configured to be concentric with the axis of revolution of the lens of the optical element.
• the relative direction of ejection of the liquid and the relative direction of ejection of the air jet both pass through the axis of curvature of the base.
• the base has the shape of an arc of a circle configured to partially surround the lens of the optical element.
• the base has a circular shape configured to completely surround the lens of the optical element.
• the base is configured so that only the air outlet and the liquid outlet protrude from the plane formed by the surface of the lens of the optical element.
• the cleaning device comprises a supply tube connected on the one hand to the air inlet of the base and on the other hand to a fan.
• the liquid inlet of the base comprises a device for connection to a circulation circuit for a cleaning liquid of the motor vehicle.
• the present invention also relates to an optical element comprising a cleaning device as described previously.
• the present invention also relates to a method for cleaning an optical element, said cleaning method comprising the following steps: - a first step of projecting a continuous jet of air onto the surface of the lens via the air outlet, - a second step of projecting a jet of cleaning liquid onto the surface of the lens through the liquid outlet, during this second step, the intensity of the air jet decreases, - A third stage, during which the jet of liquid is interrupted and the jet of air resumes in intensity, said jet of air being maintained until a new second stage of ejection of cleaning liquid.
• The shows a schematic representation in perspective of a cleaning device
• first element or second element as well as first parameter and second parameter or else first criterion and second criterion, etc.
• first criterion and second criterion etc.
• it is a simple indexing to differentiate and name elements or parameters or criteria that are close, but not identical. This indexing does not imply a priority of one element, parameter or criterion over another and it is easy to interchange such denominations without departing from the scope of the present description. Nor does this indexing imply an order in time, for example, to assess such and such a criterion.
• This optical element 100 can for example be a driving or parking aid camera and is intended to equip a motor vehicle.
• the cleaning device 1 comprises a base 3 configured to be placed on at least one of the sides of the lens 110 of the optical element 100.
• the base 3 comprises an air duct 50 (visible on the ) in which a jet of air is intended to circulate between an air inlet 51 and an air outlet 52 formed within said base 3.
• the air outlet 52 protrudes from the base 3 and thus forms a first nozzle 5 of ejection arranged on the periphery of the lens 110 of the optical element 100.
• the air outlet 52 is in particular configured to project a jet of air onto the surface of the lens 110.
• the air outlet 52 can in particular be configured so that the air jet is an air knife.
• the air outlet 52 has a slot shape. This slit can more particularly be parallel to the surface of the object 110 of the optical element 100 so that the air gap generated is more or less grazing with this surface of the lens 110.
• the cleaning device 1 can in particular comprise a supply tube 53.
• This supply tube 53 is connected on the one hand to the air inlet 51 and on the other hand to a fan 54.
• This fan 54 can be for example a dedicated fan for generating an air flow for one or more cleaning devices 1.
• This fan 54 can also be the fan of a heating, ventilation and air conditioning system of the motor vehicle .
• the cleaning device 1 further comprises a liquid pipe 60 coupled to the base 3 and in which a cleaning liquid is intended to circulate between an inlet 61 and an outlet 62 of liquid.
• the liquid outlet 62 protrudes from the base 3 and forms a second liquid ejection nozzle 6 arranged on the periphery of the lens 110 and configured to project a jet of cleaning liquid onto the surface of the lens 110.
• The shows in more detail an optical element 100 with a cleaning device 1. More particularly on the , the optical element 100 and the cleaning device 1 are shown in cross section passing through the liquid line 60. As shown by the , the liquid pipe 60 can be an added part and attached to the base 3.
• the liquid inlet 61 may in particular comprise a device for connection to a circulation circuit for a cleaning liquid of the motor vehicle.
• This connecting device can in particular be an attachment end piece for a cleaning liquid pipe allowing connection to a circuit for circulating a cleaning liquid of the motor vehicle.
• This circulation circuit can be a dedicated circuit or else be a motor vehicle cleaning fluid circuit already present such as for example the windscreen cleaning fluid circuit, traffic lights or other elements of the motor vehicle .
• This circulation circuit may in particular comprise a reservoir of cleaning liquid, a pump in order to set the cleaning liquid in motion and one or more solenoid valves in order to manage the circulation of the cleaning liquid.
• the cleaning device 1 comprises both a first air ejection nozzle 5 and a second liquid ejection nozzle 6 allows cleaning of the objective 110 of the optical element 100 by the liquid of cleaning and also an evacuation of dirt and drops of cleaning liquid by the air jet. The cleaning efficiency is thus improved. Moreover, the fact that these two nozzles 5 and 6 are grouped together at the level of the base 3 of the same cleaning device 1 facilitates the mounting of the cleaning device 1 on the optical element 100.
• the optical element 100 with its cleaning device 1 can thus be more easily installed together during the same assembly step within the motor vehicle.
• the base 3 is advantageously configured so that only the air outlet 52 and the liquid outlet 62 protrude from the plane formed by the surface of the lens 110 of the optical element 100.
• a complementary orifice in the shape of the objective 110 of the optical element 100 with the cleaning device 1 can be formed on, for example, a bodywork element 200 of the motor vehicle.
• the surface of the lens 110 can thus be at the same level as the surface of the bodywork element 200 and only the air outlet 52 and the liquid outlet 62 protrude from the surface of the bodywork element 200.
• the height of overrun of the air outlet 52 and the liquid outlet 62 is calculated so as not to enter the field of vision of the optical element 100.
• the air outlet 52 of the first nozzle 5 and the liquid outlet 62 of the second nozzle 6 can more particularly be arranged with respect to each other so that the relative direction of ejection of the liquid forms an angle ⁇ between 70 and 110° relative to the relative direction of ejection of the air jet.
• the relative ejection direction of the liquid and the relative ejection direction of the air jet are perpendicular to each other. Such an angle between these two directions means that the two jets do not interfere with each other or little and therefore that the jet of air and the jet of liquid remain as effective as possible.
• lens 110 may be circular.
• the cleaning device 1 is then configured to fit around this circular lens 110.
• the base 3 can in particular be curved and have an axis of curvature concentric with the axis of revolution A of the lens 110.
• the relative direction of ejection of the liquid and the relative direction of ejection of the air jet both pass through the axis of curvature of the base 3.
• the air jet as well as the liquid jet therefore pass through the center of the lens surface 110 and can effectively clean the entire surface directly above the field of view of the optical element 100.
• the base 3 can have the shape of an arc of a circle configured to partially surround the lens 110 of the optical element 100.
• the base 3 can have a circular shape configured to completely surround the lens 110 of the optical element 100.
• the base 3 of the cleaning device 1 then has an annular shape that can surround the lens 110.
• the lens 110 of the optical element 100 then fits into the ring formed by the base 3 which facilitates assembly.
• a jet of air is projected continuously onto the surface of the lens 110 through the air outlet 52.
• This jet of air is continuous, in particular in the form of a blade of air, allows protection of the surface of the 110 lens and limits the deposit of dust and dirt.
• a jet of cleaning liquid is projected onto the surface of the lens 110 through the liquid outlet 62.
• the intensity of the air jet decreases so that the jet of cleaning liquid can reach the surface of the objective 110 and extend over its entire surface. This jet of liquid cleans the surface of the lens in order to remove any dust and dirt.
• This second step 302 can be triggered for example by a user who notices that the image returned by the optical element 100 has dirt. This second step 302 can also be triggered automatically by a management device of the motor vehicle according to an analysis of the image or else periodically.
• a third step 303 the jet of liquid is interrupted and the jet of air resumes in intensity in order to evacuate the cleaning liquid which may still be present on the surface of the lens 110 at the end of the second step 102.
• the jet of air is then maintained until a new second step 102 of ejection of cleaning liquid.
• the cleaning device 1 allows, by the presence of an air outlet 52 and a liquid outlet 62, effective cleaning of the surface of the lens 110 of an optical element 100.
• the fact that these two outputs 52 and 62 are combined within a common base 3 allows easier mounting of the cleaning device 1 on the optical element 100 as well as the mounting of the optical element 100 itself within the motor vehicle.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Nozzles (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)
• Studio Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=74860304

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2021
  • 2021-02-11 FR FR2101301A patent/FR3119588B1/fr active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-02-11 KR KR1020237030692A patent/KR20230142600A/ko unknown
  • 2022-02-11 CN CN202280013220.0A patent/CN116802094A/zh active Pending
  • 2022-02-11 WO PCT/EP2022/053443 patent/WO2022171839A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2022-02-11 JP JP2023548756A patent/JP2024508730A/ja active Pending
  • 2022-02-11 EP EP22704778.4A patent/EP4291450A1/fr active Pending

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