A sensor apparatus includes a housing attachable to a vehicle and including a panel, a sensor window, a liquid nozzle fixed relative to the housing, and a tunnel. The panel includes a port. The sensor window is positioned in the port. The liquid nozzle is aimed at the sensor window. The liquid nozzle is positioned in a first horizontal direction from the port along the panel. The tunnel extends along the panel and is positioned in a second horizontal direction from the port, the second horizontal direction being opposite the first horizontal direction. The tunnel terminates at an opening positioned to receive fluid outputted by the nozzle.

A sensor apparatus includes a housing attachable to a vehicle and including a panel, a sensor window, a liquid nozzle fixed relative to the housing, and a tunnel. The panel includes a port. The sensor window is positioned in the port. The liquid nozzle is aimed at the sensor window. The liquid nozzle is positioned in a first horizontal direction from the port along the panel. The tunnel extends along the panel and is positioned in a second horizontal direction from the port, the second horizontal direction being opposite the first horizontal direction. The tunnel terminates at an opening positioned to receive fluid outputted by the nozzle.

An assembly for reducing the conveyance of material on a top surface of a secondary structure movable into and out of an opening in a primary structure includes a mounting member including a first portion coupled to an upper interior surface of the opening of the primary structure and a second portion situated on an exterior of the primary structure adjacent the opening. The assembly further includes a pivotable member coupled to the second portion of the mounting member and being pivotable between an open position and a closed position corresponding to an extended position and a retracted position of the secondary structure with respect to the primary structure, and a flexible seal member coupled to the pivotable member and movable therewith such that when the secondary structure is extended the seal member engages the top surface of the secondary structure at a location offset from the opening.

An assembly for reducing the conveyance of material on a top surface of a secondary structure movable into and out of an opening in a primary structure includes a mounting member including a first portion coupled to an upper interior surface of the opening of the primary structure and a second portion situated on an exterior of the primary structure adjacent the opening. The assembly further includes a pivotable member coupled to the second portion of the mounting member and being pivotable between an open position and a closed position corresponding to an extended position and a retracted position of the secondary structure with respect to the primary structure, and a flexible seal member coupled to the pivotable member and movable therewith such that when the secondary structure is extended the seal member engages the top surface of the secondary structure at a location offset from the opening.

Systems and methods for cleaning vehicle sensors are disclosed that optimize sensor cleaning fluid usage. An exemplary vehicle sensor cleaning system includes a sensor cleaning fluid delivery system that delivers sensor cleaning fluid to a sensor of a vehicle and a sensor cleaning control system in communication with the sensor cleaning fluid delivery system. The sensor cleaning control system determines a target cleanliness level for the sensor based on sensor cleaning data associated with the sensor. The target cleanliness level is less than a maximum cleanliness level indicating indicates a contaminate-free sensor. The sensor cleaning control system further monitors a cleanliness level of the sensor and initiates a sensor cleaning operation when the cleanliness level of the sensor is less than an operational cleanliness threshold, such that the sensor cleaning fluid delivery system delivers sensor cleaning fluid to the sensor to clean the sensor to the target cleanliness level.

Systems and methods for cleaning vehicle sensors are disclosed that optimize sensor cleaning fluid usage. An exemplary vehicle sensor cleaning system includes a sensor cleaning fluid delivery system that delivers sensor cleaning fluid to a sensor of a vehicle and a sensor cleaning control system in communication with the sensor cleaning fluid delivery system. The sensor cleaning control system determines a target cleanliness level for the sensor based on sensor cleaning data associated with the sensor. The target cleanliness level is less than a maximum cleanliness level indicating indicates a contaminate-free sensor. The sensor cleaning control system further monitors a cleanliness level of the sensor and initiates a sensor cleaning operation when the cleanliness level of the sensor is less than an operational cleanliness threshold, such that the sensor cleaning fluid delivery system delivers sensor cleaning fluid to the sensor to clean the sensor to the target cleanliness level.

A vehicle includes a body, a rear bumper, and a sweeper assembly is provided. The body has a forward end, a rear end, and a cavity provided therein extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The cavity has an opening at the rear end of the body. The rear bumper has an upper surface and is provided at the rear end of the body of the vehicle. The sweeper assembly includes a push plate movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The push plate is stored within the cavity of the body when in the retracted position and extends over the upper surface of the rear bumper when in the extended position to clear debris off the upper surface of the rear bumper.

A vehicle includes a body, a rear bumper, and a sweeper assembly is provided. The body has a forward end, a rear end, and a cavity provided therein extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The cavity has an opening at the rear end of the body. The rear bumper has an upper surface and is provided at the rear end of the body of the vehicle. The sweeper assembly includes a push plate movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The push plate is stored within the cavity of the body when in the retracted position and extends over the upper surface of the rear bumper when in the extended position to clear debris off the upper surface of the rear bumper.

An apparatus and method for melting snow and/or ice on a vehicle comprises a precipitation sensor, a surface temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, a heater, and a programmable controller. The programmable controller comprises a memory unit to store a cut off surface temperature Tc, and a set of program modules. The programmable controller further comprises a processor to execute the set of program modules. A heater control module, executed by the processor, is configured to deactivate a heater based on a surface temperature being greater than the cut off surface temperature. Further, heater control module is configured to activate the heater based on an ambient temperature being lower than freezing point of water and precipitation being present outside the vehicle, thereby melting snow and/or ice on the vehicle. The snow melts off because of heat generated by the heater upon activation.

An assembly includes an inlet tube and an outlet tube. The assembly includes a solenoid assembly having a plunger movable between an open position in which fluid is permitted to flow from the inlet tube to the outlet tube and a closed position in which fluid is inhibited from flowing from the inlet tube to the outlet tube, the solenoid assembly having an induction coil surrounding the plunger. The assembly includes a Hall effect sensor that detects a magnetic field of the solenoid assembly. The assembly includes a computer in communication with the Hall effect sensor, the computer having a processor and memory that stores instructions executable by the processor to identify a resistance of the induction coil based on data from the Hall effect sensor, and to determine whether the plunger is at the closed position based on the identified resistance of the induction coil.