WO2023138928A1

WO2023138928A1 - Sensor cleaning system, pneumatic system, vehicle, and method for operating a pneumatic system

Info

Publication number: WO2023138928A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/050270
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan-Christoph VON DER BEEKE
Original assignee: Zf Cv Systems Global Gmbh
Priority date: 2022-01-19
Filing date: 2023-01-09
Publication date: 2023-07-27
Also published as: DE102022101139A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor cleaning system (200) for a vehicle (1000), preferably for a commercial vehicle (1002) or for a passenger car (1004) or for a trailer (1006), wherein the vehicle (1000) comprises a pneumatic system (800) having at least one compressed-air consumer (700) which is independent of the sensor cleaning system (200), wherein the sensor cleaning system (200) has at least one cleaning nozzle (318) which is designed to apply compressed air (DL) to at least one sensor surface (310) of a sensor (300) of the vehicle (1000). According to the invention, in the sensor cleaning system (200) the at least one cleaning nozzle (318) is or can be pneumatically connected to a consumption compressed air connection (280) of the compressed-air consumer (700), wherein consumption compressed air (DLE) of the compressed-air consumer (700) is applied to the consumption compressed air connection (280).

Description

Sensor cleaning system, pneumatic system, vehicle, method of operating a pneumatic system

In a first aspect, the invention relates to a sensor cleaning system according to the preamble of claim 1 . The invention further relates in a second aspect to a pneumatic system, in a third aspect to a vehicle and in a fourth aspect to a method for operating a pneumatic system.

Sensor cleaning systems for vehicles are well known. A sensor cleaning system can be used to clean surfaces on a vehicle, in particular sensor surfaces of sensors, using at least one cleaning fluid.

By means of cleaning sensor surfaces on the vehicle, which is carried out in particular regularly, it can be achieved that sensors are less soiled and therefore function more reliably. A clean sensor surface thus advantageously increases the reliability of driver assistance functions and/or semi-autonomous and/or autonomous driving functions of a vehicle. The safety of the vehicle, its occupants and other road users is thus advantageously increased by a sensor cleaning system.

Generally advantageous generic sensor cleaning systems already exist. DE 11 2017 006 621 T5 describes a vehicle cleaning system for cleaning an object to be cleaned, the vehicle cleaning system having a tank that holds a cleaning liquid, a liquid pump that supplies the cleaning liquid inside the tank under pressure, a high-pressure air generating unit that generates high-pressure air, a a first discharge port that sprays the cleaning liquid toward a cleaning surface of the object to be cleaned, a second discharge port that sprays the high-pressure air toward the cleaning surface, and a controller and a vehicle control ECU that control the spraying of the cleaning liquid and the spraying of the high-pressure air; and the controller and the vehicle controller perform control to start spraying the high-pressure air from the second ejection port after starting spraying the cleaning liquid from the first ejection port.

DE 103 32 939 B4 also describes a device for cleaning a front area, which is located in front of a distance sensor installed in a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle, the front area being pressurized with compressed air which is supplied via a line from at least one compressed air source present in the vehicle, the compressed air supply being controlled as a function of specific time intervals during vehicle operation.

DE 10 2018 126 091 A1 describes a cleaning device for selectively impinging a surface with a first medium, comprising: a high-pressure reservoir designed to store the first medium that is under a reservoir pressure, an impulse nozzle, designed to impinge on the surface in pulses with the first medium that is under the reservoir pressure, a switching valve having a nozzle connection and a high-pressure reservoir connection, designed to selectively establish a first connection between the high-pressure reservoir and the impulse nozzle, and a feed connection for producing a second Connection of the high-pressure accumulator to a first medium source. In the cleaning device described there, it is provided that the high-pressure accumulator and the switching valve are structurally integrated in an accumulator valve module, with the switching valve being designed as a solenoid valve to switch between the first and second connection when the high-pressure accumulator connection is under the accumulator pressure. Despite these fundamentally advantageous approaches, sensor cleaning systems are still in need of improvement with regard to energy-efficient sensor cleaning, in particular against the background of cleaning sensor surfaces on the vehicle as regularly as possible, ie frequently, and with as little equipment as possible.

It would therefore be desirable to improve sensor cleaning systems, in particular with regard to the efficient use of energy and/or cleaning fluids, as well as the lowest possible expenditure on equipment.

This is where the invention comes in, the object of which is to provide an improved sensor cleaning system which, in particular, has improved efficiency with regard to the required cleaning fluids and/or the required energy, as well as the lowest possible outlay on equipment.

The object relating to the sensor cleaning system is solved by the invention in a first aspect with a sensor cleaning system of claim 1 .

The invention is based on a sensor cleaning system for a vehicle, preferably for a commercial vehicle or for a passenger car or for a trailer, the vehicle having a pneumatic system with at least one compressed air consumer which is independent of the sensor cleaning system, the sensor cleaning system having at least one cleaning nozzle which is designed to apply compressed air to at least one sensor surface of a sensor in the vehicle.

According to the invention, the sensor cleaning system provides for the at least one cleaning nozzle to be pneumatically connected or connectable to a compressed air consumption connection of the compressed air consumer, the compressed air consumption connection being designed to receive compressed air consumption of the compressed air consumer. The invention is based on the finding that compressed air is advantageously suitable as a cleaning medium because it can be generated on board the vehicle and thus has a relatively high, in particular unlimited, availability.

The invention includes the knowledge that the generation of compressed air, despite its high availability, is also associated with energy expenditure, since it must first be compressed to the required air pressure. Compressing compressed air, in particular by operating a compressor, also leads to noise emissions.

The invention has therefore recognized that compressed air from a compressed air consumer of the vehicle can advantageously be used to supply a sensor cleaning system. Consumption compressed air can thus be understood as compressed air that has been “consumed” by the compressed air consumer and is no longer required by the compressed air consumer in particular. The term “consumable compressed air” includes, in particular, ventilation air. Within the scope of the invention, a compressed air consumer is understood to be a consumer of compressed air that is different from the sensor cleaning system and serves a different primary purpose in particular.

The invention has further recognized that consumption compressed air can in particular be used directly by the at least one cleaning nozzle being pneumatically connected to the consumption compressed air connection. In particular, the invention includes the finding that no further pneumatic components, such as switching means, are necessary, but advantageously in the simplest case the consumption compressed air at the point in time at which it is provided by the compressed air consumer can be routed through the sensor cleaning system to the cleaning nozzle and finally to a sensor surface. In particular, in this way the dependency on additional pneumatic switching means is advantageously reduced and the outlay on equipment is advantageously kept low. The use of consumable compressed air also advantageously reduces the dependency on additional compressed air generation means, for example a compressor for the sensor cleaning system. This has an advantageous effect on the installation space, the costs and/or the weight of the sensor cleaning system, which represent important design parameters of a vehicle.

Advantageous developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims and specify advantageous possibilities in detail for realizing the concept explained above within the scope of the task and with regard to further advantages.

The sensor cleaning system preferably has no further connection for accepting compressed air in addition to the consumption compressed air connection. In such developments, the consumption compressed air connection is therefore the only connection with which the sensor cleaning system is supplied with compressed air.

As part of a preferred development, it is provided that the sensor cleaning system has a liquid tank and/or a liquid pump for providing a cleaning liquid to the at least one cleaning nozzle. The liquid source preferably comprises a combination of a liquid tank and an electric or electronically controllable liquid pump. The liquid source is preferably designed to supply other consumers in the vehicle with cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid is preferably water or another liquid suitable for cleaning. The invention is further developed in that the sensor cleaning system has an electronic control unit or is connected to an electronic control unit in a signal-carrying manner, the electronic control unit being designed to control the liquid pump, preferably by means of an electronic or electric pump signal. An electrical pump signal can preferably be in the form of a supply voltage for the liquid pump. In a further development of this type, the liquid pump is therefore electrically supplied by the electronic control unit. In other developments, the electronic control unit can be assigned to the compressed air consumer or be comprised by it.

As part of a preferred development, it is provided that the electronic control unit is designed to provide a request signal to the compressed air consumer in order to request consumption compressed air. For this purpose, the electronic control unit is particularly preferably connected by means of a control line to the compressed air consumer, in particular a consumption air valve of the compressed air consumer, in order to provide an electrical or electronic request signal. An electrical request signal can preferably be in the form of a supply voltage for the compressed air consumer, particularly preferably for a valve of the compressed air consumer. In such a development, the compressed air consumer and/or a valve of the compressed air consumer is therefore supplied with electricity by the electronic control unit.

In a second aspect, the invention leads to a pneumatic system for a vehicle, having a compressed air source, in particular a compressor and/or a pressure reservoir, and at least one sensor cleaning system according to the first aspect of the invention, and at least one compressed air consumer, which is independent of the sensor cleaning system. The pneumatic system consequently comprises a compressed air consumer, which in particular serves another primary purpose independent of the sensor cleaning, as well as the sensor cleaning system, which advantageously generates a further utilization stage for the compressed air consumer, and in particular used by this, compressed air used as consumption compressed air for cleaning at least one sensor surface.

In a preferred development of the pneumatic system, it is provided that the compressed air consumer is an air spring system with at least one air spring, or a brake system, in particular a parking brake system with at least one parking brake cylinder, or a service brake system with at least one service brake cylinder, or a pneumatic steering axle lock, or an immobilizer, or a container locking system, or a lift axle system. In further developments, the compressed air consumer can be designed as a further pneumatic consumer, or can be formed as a combination of at least two of the above-mentioned or further pneumatic consumers.

In a further preferred development of the pneumatic system, it is provided that the compressed air consumer has a consumption air valve, preferably an axle modulator or an air suspension control valve or a parking brake module or a steering axle lock valve or an immobilizer lock valve or a locking valve or a lift axle valve, designed for the controllable provision of consumption compressed air. The consumption air valve can preferably be controlled electrically or electronically. The consumption air valve is particularly preferably a magnetic valve or comprises a magnetic valve.

In a third aspect, the invention leads to a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle or a passenger car or a trailer, having a sensor cleaning system according to the first aspect of the invention and/or a pneumatic system according to the second aspect of the invention.

In a preferred development of the vehicle, it is provided that the compressed air consumer, preferably the consumption air valve, and the cleaning nozzle are arranged in one area of the vehicle, preferably in a front area or in a rear area. In a preferred development of the vehicle, the area has a maximum extent of less than or equal to 3 m, preferably less than or equal to 2 m, particularly preferably less than or equal to 1 m. The area is in particular a fictitious cuboid or a fictitious sphere or similar fictitious space which is arranged in and/or on the vehicle and within which both the compressed air consumer or a consumption air valve of the compressed air consumer and the cleaning nozzle are arranged. In particular, the maximum extent describes the largest straight line that can be placed within the area. The smaller the area, the lower the pressure losses of the consumption compressed air provided. The larger the area, the more distant and/or more cleaning nozzles or sensor surfaces can be supplied with a sensor cleaning system.

In a fourth aspect, the invention leads to a method for operating a pneumatic system for a vehicle, the pneumatic system having a sensor cleaning system and at least one compressed air consumer, having the steps: determining a cleaning requirement; Requesting consumption compressed air from the compressed air consumer, preferably by a request signal; Provision of consumption compressed air by the compressed air consumer; Conducting the consumption compressed air provided through the sensor cleaning system onto a sensor surface of a sensor of the vehicle. The method is preferably designed to operate a pneumatic system according to the second aspect of the invention.

In a preferred development of the method, the step is provided: providing cleaning liquid, preferably as a function of the received request signal and/or a pump signal.

In a further preferred development of the method, the step is provided: carrying out a sensor routine with at least one pneumatic actuator movement, which is carried out by the compressed air consumer, preferably by an air spring system, the compressed air consumed by the pneumatic actuator movement, preferably by lowering a chassis nes vehicle, is generated. The sensor routine preferably includes a structure-from-motion method or the like, in particular a method based on photogrammetry. In particular, the sensor routine is such that the pneumatic actuator movement is generated to change a perspective of the sensor, in particular the camera.

It should be understood that the sensor cleaning system according to the first aspect of the invention, the pneumatic system according to the second aspect of the invention, the vehicle according to the third aspect of the invention and the method according to the fourth aspect of the invention have the same and similar sub-aspects as particularly laid down in the dependent claims. In this respect, for the development of one aspect of the invention, reference is also made to the developments of the other aspects of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention are now described below with reference to the drawing in comparison to the prior art, some of which is also shown. This is not necessarily intended to represent the embodiments to scale, rather the drawing is in schematic and/or slightly distorted form where it is useful for explanation. With regard to additions to the teachings that can be seen directly from the drawing, reference is made to the relevant state of the art. In this context, it must be taken into account that a wide variety of modifications and changes relating to the form and detail of an embodiment can be made without deviating from the general idea of the invention. The features of the invention disclosed in the description, in the drawing and in the claims can be essential both individually and in any combination for the further development of the invention. In addition, all combinations of at least two of the features disclosed in the description, the drawing and/or the claims fall within the scope of the invention. The general idea of the invention is not restricted or confined to the exact form or detail of the preferred embodiment shown and described below to subject matter which would be limited in comparison to the subject matter claimed in the claims. In the case of specified design ranges, values within the specified limits should also be disclosed as limit values and be usable and stressable as desired.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of the preferred embodiments and from the drawing; this shows in:

1 shows a preferred embodiment of a sensor cleaning system according to the concept of the invention,

2 shows a preferred embodiment of a vehicle according to the third aspect of the invention,

3A, 3B, 3C, 3D each possible embodiment of a compressed air consumer of a pneumatic system according to the second aspect of the invention,

4 shows a preferred embodiment of a method according to the fourth aspect of the invention.

1 shows a preferred embodiment of a sensor cleaning system 200 according to the concept of the invention. The sensor cleaning system 200 is arranged in a vehicle 1000 , not shown in detail here, which has a pneumatic system 800 . The sensor cleaning system 200 has a consumption compressed air connection 280 which is pneumatically connected to a compressed air consumer 700 of the pneumatic system 800 .

The compressed air consumer 700 is shown here very schematically and is formed here by a braking system 708 in the form of a service braking system 710 . In other embodiments, the additional compressed air consumer 700, as indicated here by dotted lines, can also be designed as a parking brake system 712, or as another pneumatic consumer, such as an air spring system 730 or a pneumatic steering axle lock 740 or an immobilizer 742 or a container locking system 744 or a lift axle system 746, or similar compressed air consumers or as a combination of the aforementioned compressed air consumers.

The compressed air consumer 700 can, as shown here, comprise a compressed air source 600 or can be connected pneumatically to such a source. Compressed air source 600 preferably includes a compressor 602 and/or a pressure reservoir 604.

A compressed air consumer 700 is a pneumatic device which requires or generates or processes compressed air DL in its operation and can provide this as consumption compressed air DLE, in particular ventilation air, in particular after a primary purpose has been fulfilled. In the present case of service brake system 710, venting service brake cylinders 728 (not shown here) leads to braking of vehicle 1000, with service brake cylinders 728 and/or an axle modulator 705 being vented via a venting connection 3 after braking. Because the consumption compressed air connection 280 is pneumatically connected to the venting connection 3 , the consumption compressed air DLE produced when the service brake system 710 is vented is made available to the sensor cleaning system 200 .

In other exemplary embodiments, the consumption compressed air DLE is provided in accordance with the mode of operation of the compressed air consumer 700 . If the compressed air consumer 700 is embodied as a parking brake system 710, for example, compressed air in the form of the compressed air consumption DLE can be made available at the compressed air consumption connection 280 when a spring-loaded brake cylinder (not shown here) is vented.

The sensor cleaning system 200 also has a cleaning nozzle 318, which is a compressed air cleaning nozzle 320 with a compressed air nozzle connection 102, which is pneumatically connected to the consumption compressed air connection 280 via a compressed air nozzle line 702. The cleaning nozzle 318 is arranged and designed in such a way that it can conduct cleaning fluids, in particular compressed air DL and/or a cleaning liquid F, onto a sensor surface 310 of a sensor 300 for the purpose of cleaning.

The sensor cleaning system 200 further has a liquid source 660 with a liquid tank 662 and a liquid pump 670 . The liquid tank 662 is designed to receive cleaning liquid F. The liquid pump 670 is designed to deliver the cleaning liquid F from the liquid tank 662 in a controllable manner as a function of an electronic pump signal SP. The liquid pump 670 is connected to a liquid cleaning nozzle 322 of the cleaning nozzle 318 by means of a liquid nozzle line 609 and a liquid nozzle connection 104 in order to guide the cleaning liquid F onto the sensor surface 310 for cleaning.

Sensor cleaning system 200 has an electronic control unit 780, which is connected via a compressed air control line 781 to compressed air consumer 700 to provide an electrical or electronic request signal SA, and via a pump control line 782 to liquid pump 670 to provide an electrical or electronic pump signal SP.

The electronic request signal SA is such that when it is received by the compressed air consumer 700, and in particular if other conditions are also present, a process is triggered in the compressed air consumer 700, which leads to the provision of the compressed air for consumption DLE at the compressed air consumption connection 280. In the present example of the service brake system 710, the service brake is engaged, ie the service brake cylinders are pressurized, and released again, ie the service brake cylinders and/or a service brake axle modulator are vented again. As a necessary boundary condition for such an engagement of the service brake applies in particular that the vehicle 1000 is stationary. In this way, it is advantageously ensured that braking to generate consumption compressed air DLE for sensor cleaning system 200 does not trigger braking of vehicle 1000, and thus no unwanted intervention in the driving behavior.

A preferred method for operating the sensor cleaning system 200 includes providing the electrical or electronic pump signal SP by the electronic control unit 780, whereupon the liquid pump 670 delivers cleaning liquid F, which is conducted onto the sensor surface 310 via the liquid cleaning nozzle 322. The sensor surface 310 is already being cleaned as a result, and/or any soiling V on the sensor surface 310 is soaked by the cleaning liquid F.

Subsequent to the provision of the electronic pump signal SP or to the application of cleaning fluid F, the method advantageously includes providing the electronic request signal SA to the compressed air consumer 700 for requesting the consumption compressed air DLE. The used compressed air DLE is then directed onto the sensor surface 310 via the compressed air cleaning nozzle 320 .

Another preferred method includes providing the pump signal SP by the electronic control unit 780 when a compressed air consumer 700 embodied as a service brake system 710 is actuated to brake the vehicle 1000 . Subsequently, after the actuation of the service brake system 710, when the service brake cylinders 728 are vented and consumption compressed air DLE is provided at the venting connection 3, the sensor surface 310 is thus already advantageously treated with cleaning fluid F and any dirt V is softened.

2 shows a vehicle 1000 in the form of a trailer 1006 for a commercial vehicle 1002, not shown here. In other embodiments, the vehicle 1000 can also be designed differently, for example as a passenger car 1004. The trailer 1006 includes a pneumatic system 800 with a sensor cleaning system 200 according to the concept of the invention. The sensor cleaning system 200 includes a cleaning nozzle 318 which is arranged and designed to clean a sensor surface 310 of a sensor 300 designed as a camera 302 .

One cleaning nozzle 318 is connected via a liquid nozzle line 609 to a liquid source 660 that carries a liquid, which includes a liquid tank 662 for accommodating cleaning liquid F and an electric liquid pump 670 . The cleaning nozzle 318 is also pneumatically connected to a compressed air consumer 700 via a compressed air nozzle line 702 . The compressed air consumer 700 is embodied here as an air spring system 730 of the trailer 1006 and comprises a number of air springs 732 which can be controllably aerated and deflated by means of a consumption air valve 704 which is embodied as an air suspension control valve 706 . The air suspension control valve 706 has a vent port 3 which is pneumatically connected to the compressed air nozzle line 702 . The functioning of the air spring system 730 is such that a chassis 1007 of the trailer 1006 can be raised by filling the air springs 732 through the air suspension control valve 706 . For this purpose, the air suspension control valve 706 is pneumatically connected via a line, not shown, to the air springs 732, of which only one air spring 732 is also shown schematically. In order to lower the chassis 1007, the air springs 732 can be vented via the air suspension control valve 706, with compressed air DLE being used being routed to the cleaning nozzle 318 via the vent connection 3 and the compressed air nozzle line 702.

The air suspension control valve 706 is signal-connected via a control line 781 to an electronic control unit 780 for receiving an electronic request signal SA. In the present case it can be seen that the consumption air valve 704 and the cleaning nozzle 318 are arranged in a region 1010 of the trailer 1006, namely in a rear region 1014. An area 1010 describes a spatially connected volume, in particular an imaginary cuboid or an imaginary sphere, with an extension 1020. In the present case, the extension 1020 is approximately between 4 m and 6 m. The extension 1020 describes a maximum diagonal or a diameter of the area 1010. The smaller the extension 1020, the smaller the corresponding fluid-carrying lines, in particular the compressed air nozzle line 702, which advantageously results in low pressure Losses and thus a relatively high pulse of the consumption compressed air DLE impinging on the sensor surface 310 arise. In other specific embodiments, the area 1010 can be in any other area of the vehicle 1000 and can preferably be arranged in the vicinity of a consumption air valve 704 of a compressed air consumer 700, preferably include such a valve.

The electronic control unit 780 or another electronic control device of the vehicle 1000 can advantageously be designed as shown here for carrying out a sensor routine RS. The sensor routine RS is preferably a sequence of at least one pneumatic actuator movement BA and evaluation steps of the sensor 300 or the electronic control unit 780 or the further electronic control device. In the present case, the sensor routine RS includes the implementation of what is known as a structure-from-motion method. In the present case, the pneumatic actuator movement BA comprises an approximately vertical movement of the chassis 1007, which is brought about by pressurizing and/or venting the at least one air spring 732. In particular, the pneumatic actuator movement BA causes the at least one air spring 732 to be vented. The pneumatic actuator movements BA generate different perspectives of at least one object 3000 by the camera 302, as a result of which the camera 302 in particular is calibrated. At the same time, according to the concept of the invention, at one - that Pneumatic actuator movement BA that lowers chassis 1007 by venting the at least one air spring 732 for consumption compressed air DLE via cleaning nozzle 318 onto sensor surface 310 .

Preferably, before one or more of the pneumatic actuator movements BA lowering the chassis 1007, cleaning fluid F can be directed onto the sensor surface 310 by providing the pump signal SP, in order to improve the cleaning effect.

3A, 3B, 3C, 3D show, by way of example, different configurations of a compressed air consumer 700 for providing consumption compressed air DLE for a sensor cleaning system according to the concept of the invention. In all of the embodiments, an electronic control unit 780 for providing a request signal SA can be formed as part of the compressed air consumer 700 or as part of the sensor cleaning system 200 or as part of a further, in particular higher-level electronic control device of a vehicle 1000 .

A compressed air consumer 700 in the form of a brake system 708, namely a service brake system 712, is shown in FIG. 3A. The service brake system 712 has an axle modulator 705 for the controllable provision of a brake pressure PB to at least one service brake cylinder 728 to bring about a braking effect. The axle modulator 705 can be controlled via an electronic control unit 780 and a control line 781 . The axle modulator 705 can be used to vent the service brake cylinder 728 via a venting port 3 and is therefore a vented air valve 704 within the scope of the invention. In particular, an electronic request signal SA can be provided to the vented air valve 704 in order to subsequently provide vented compressed air DLE to the venting port 3 or the post-consumer compressed air port 280.

In Fig. 3B another compressed air consumer 700 is shown, which in contrast to the embodiment shown in Fig. 3A as a parking brake system 710 is trained. Correspondingly, the consumption air valve 704 is designed as a parking brake module 707 . The parking brake system 710 has at least one parking brake cylinder 722, which has a spring accumulator for generating a mechanical braking effect. To release the parking brake cylinder 722 , it can be pressurized with a parking brake pressure PF provided by the parking brake module 707 . When the parking brake cylinder 722 is bled, the bleed air is provided by the parking brake module 707 as consumption compressed air DLE at the bleed port 3, as shown here. As an alternative or in addition, the consumption compressed air DLE can also be made available directly from the parking brake cylinder 722 to the ventilation connection 3 (indicated here with a dot-dash line).

FIG. 3C shows a further compressed air consumer 700 which, in contrast to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, is designed as an air spring system 730 . The compressed air consumer 700 shown here thus essentially corresponds to that shown in FIG. 2 . Accordingly, the consumption air valve 704 is designed as an air suspension control valve 706 that can controllably provide an air spring pressure PL to at least one air spring 732 for raising a chassis 1007 of a vehicle 1000, not shown here.

3D shows another embodiment of a compressed air consumer 700 designed as a pneumatic steering axle lock 740 with an electronically controllable steering axle locking valve 741 . In particular, when the pneumatic steering axle lock 740 is released, the steering axle locking valve 741 provides a consumption compressed air DLE at the vent connection 3 through a venting process. In other embodiments, the compressed air consumer 700 can be designed differently, for example as a pneumatic immobilizer 742 with an electronically controllable immobilizer valve 743, or as a pneumatic container locking system 744 with an electronically controllable locking valve 745, or as a pneumatic lifting axle system 746 with an electronically controllable lifting axle valve 747. In particular when a lifting axle is lowered by the pneumatic lifting axle system 746, consumption compressed air DLE can be provided at the venting connection 3 by the electronically controllable lifting axle valve 747 during an associated venting process.

4 shows a preferred embodiment of a method for operating a pneumatic system according to the concept of the invention.

A cleaning requirement BR is determined in a first step S1. The determination of the cleaning requirement BR includes, in particular, as here, a determination as to whether cleaning of a sensor surface 310 of a sensor 300 is necessary or can be carried out advantageously based on the current vehicle situation. In the case of a sensor designed as a camera 302, such a check can be carried out in particular as a function of a sensor signal SE provided by the camera 302. For example, image areas that do not change despite a movement of vehicle 1000 can be interpreted as contamination V located firmly on sensor surface 310, which requires cleaning. Nevertheless, other methods familiar to the person skilled in the art for detecting contamination V can be used within the scope of the method.

If a cleaning requirement BR was determined in the first step S1, ie that cleaning is required, the sensor surface 310 can be acted upon with cleaning liquid F in an optional second step S2. This is done by providing an electronic or electrical pump signal SP by an electronic control unit 780 to a liquid pump 670, not shown here, of a liquid source 660. As a result of the pump signal SP being provided, the liquid pump 670 delivers the cleaning liquid F from a liquid tank 662 to the cleaning nozzle 318. The cleaning nozzle 318 correspondingly directs the cleaning liquid F onto the sensor surface 310 in order to clean it and/or to clean it and/or to clean it on the sensor surface 310 to soften any dirt V present. In a subsequent third step S3, consumption compressed air DLE is requested by an electronic control unit 780 providing an electronic requirement signal SA.

The provision of the request signal SA results in a process being triggered in the compressed air consumer 700 which leads in particular to the fulfillment of a primary purpose of the compressed air consumer 700 and as a result of which consumption compressed air DLE is made available for the sensor cleaning system 200 . Such a primary purpose depends on the type of compressed air consumer 700 and can be, for example, braking by a compressed air consumer designed as a brake system or level control by a compressed air consumer designed as an air spring system.

The used compressed air DLE that is provided is directed from the cleaning nozzle 318 onto the sensor surface 310 in order to remove the soiling V to be cleaned and/or the soiling that has been softened from the sensor surface 310 .

Accordingly, in a fourth step S4, the consumption compressed air DLE is made available at a consumption compressed air connection 280 of the sensor cleaning system 200. As a result, the consumption compressed air DLE is routed via the cleaning nozzle 318 onto the sensor surface 310 for the purpose of cleaning.

As indicated here by dotted lines, in optional specific embodiments method 300 can be formed as part of a sensor routine RS, or can be carried out as a function of such a sensor routine RS. List of reference numbers [part of the description]

3 vent port

102 compressed air nozzle connection

104 liquid nozzle connection

200 sensor cleaning system

280 consumption compressed air connection

300 sensors

302 camera

310 sensor surface

318 cleaning nozzle

320 compressed air cleaning nozzle

322 liquid cleaning nozzle

609 liquid nozzle line

660 liquid source

662 liquid tank

670 liquid pump

700 compressed air consumers

702 compressed air nozzle line

704 consumption air valve

705 axle modulator

706 Air Suspension Control Valve

707 parking brake module

708 braking system

710 service braking system

712 parking brake system

722 parking brake cylinder

728 service brake cylinder

730 air suspension system

732 air spring

740 steering axle lock

741 steering axle lock valve

742 immobilizer 43 Immobilizer blocking valve 44 Container locking system 45 Locking valve 46 Lift axle system

747 lift axle valve

760 supply line

780 electronic control unit

781 compressed air control line

782 pump control line

800 pneumatic system

1000 vehicle

1002 utility vehicle

1006 followers

1007 chassis

1010 area

1014 rear area

1020 Extension of the area

3000 object

BA pneumatic actuator movement

BR cleaning needs

DL compressed air

DLE consumption compressed air

F cleaning liquid

PB brake pressure

PF parking brake pressure

PL air spring pressure

RS sensor routine

S1 -S4 first to fourth step

SA request signal

SE sensor signal

SP pump signal

V Pollution

Claims

patent claims

1 . Sensor cleaning system (200) for a vehicle (1000), preferably for a commercial vehicle (1002) or for a passenger car (1004) or for a trailer (1006), the vehicle (1000) having a pneumatic system (800) with at least one compressed air consumer (700) which is independent and/or different from the sensor cleaning system (200), wherein: the sensor cleaning system (200) has at least one cleaning nozzle (318) which is designed for Applying compressed air (DL) to at least one sensor surface (310) of a sensor (300) of the vehicle (1000), characterized in that the at least one cleaning nozzle (318) is or can be connected pneumatically to a compressed air consumption connection (280) of the compressed air consumer (700), the compressed air consumption connection (280) being designed to receive compressed air consumption (DLE) of the compressed air consumer (700).

2. Sensor cleaning system (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor cleaning system (200) has a liquid tank (660) and/or a liquid pump (670) for providing a cleaning liquid (F) to the at least one cleaning nozzle (318).

3. Sensor cleaning system (200) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the sensor cleaning system (200) has an electronic control unit (780) or is connected to an electronic control unit (780) in a signal-carrying manner, the electronic control unit (780) being designed to control the liquid pump (670), preferably by means of an electronic or electrical pump signal (SP).

4. Sensor cleaning system (200) according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the electronic control unit (780) is designed to provide a request signal (SA) to the compressed air consumer (700) in order to request consumption compressed air (DLE).

5. Pneumatic system (800) for a vehicle (1000), comprising: a compressed air source (600), in particular a compressor (602) and/or a pressure reservoir (604), at least one sensor cleaning system (200) according to one of the preceding claims, and at least one compressed air consumer (700) which is independent of the sensor cleaning system (200).

6. Pneumatic system (800) according to claim 5, characterized in that the compressed air consumer (700) is an air spring system (730) with at least one air spring (732), or a brake system (708), in particular a parking brake system (710) with at least one parking brake cylinder (722), or a service brake system (712) with at least one service brake cylinder (728), or a pneumatic steering axle lock (740) or a drive-away lock (742) or a container locking system (744) or a pneumatic lifting axle system (746).

7. Pneumatic system (800) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the compressed air consumer (700) is a consumption air valve (704), preferably an axle modulator (705) or an air suspension control valve (706) or a parking brake module (707) or a steering axle lock valve (741) or an immobilizer lock valve (743) or a locking valve (745) or a lift axle valve (7 47), designed for the controllable provision of consumption compressed air (DLE).

8. Vehicle (1000), in particular commercial vehicle (1002) or car (1004) or trailer (1006), having a sensor cleaning system (200) according to one of claims 1 to 4 and/or a pneumatic system (800) according to one of claims 5 to 7.

9. Vehicle (1000) according to claim 8, characterized in that the compressed air consumer (700) is a compressed air consumer (700) with or in the form of the consumption air valve (704), and/or

- the compressed air consumer (700) and the cleaning nozzle (318) are arranged in a region (1010) of the vehicle (1000), which preferably has a front region (1012) and/or a rear region (1014).

10. A method for operating a pneumatic system (800) for a vehicle (1000), the pneumatic system (800) having a sensor cleaning system (200) and at least one compressed air consumer (700), comprising the steps:

Determination of a cleaning requirement (BR),

Requesting consumption compressed air (DLE) from the compressed air consumer (700), preferably by a request signal (SA),

Provision of consumption compressed air (DLE) by the compressed air consumer (700),

Conducting the consumption compressed air (DLE) provided by the sensor cleaning system (200) onto a sensor surface (310) of a sensor (300) of the vehicle (1000).

1 1 . Method according to Claim 10, characterized by the step: providing cleaning liquid (F), preferably as a function of the received request signal (SA) and/or a pump signal (SP).

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by the step: Carrying out a sensor routine (RS) with at least one pneumatic actuator movement (BA), which is carried out by the compressed air consumer (700), preferably by an air spring system (730), the consumption compressed air (DLE) being generated by the pneumatic actuator movement (BA).