DEVICE FOR CLEANING AN OPTICAL SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cleaning device for cleaning at least one optical system of a vehicle, comprising an actuator which has an actuator body which delimits a chamber, a piston with the ability to move in the chamber, and a rod connected to the piston, one end of the rod emerging from the actuator body, said rod comprising at least one cleaning-fluid-spraying element formed at the end of the rod, the rod comprising at least one cleaning-fluid circulation duct which connects the chamber to said at least one spraying element, characterized in that the cleaning device comprises at least one switch activated according to the position of the piston.

Claims

1- A cleaning device (2) for cleaning at least one optical system (5) of a vehicle, comprising a cylinder (3) which comprises a cylinder body (31) which delimits a chamber (32), a piston (33) capable of moving in the chamber (32), and a rod (34) connected to the piston (33), one end of the rod (34) emerging from the cylinder body (31), said rod (34) comprising at least one cleaning fluid spraying element (36) provided at the end of the rod (34), the rod (34) comprising at least one cleaning fluid circulation channel (35) which connects the chamber (32) to said at least one spraying element (36), characterized in that the cleaning device (2) comprises a switch (4) activated according to the position of the piston (33).

2- The cleaning device (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch (4) comprises at least two electrical terminals (41) integral with the cylinder body (31) and a contacting member (42) carried by the piston (33), the switch (4) being configured to be activated when said at least two electrical terminals (41) are electrically brought into contact by the contacting member (42).

3- The cleaning device (2) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cylinder body (31) comprises a tubular portion (37) having two ends, and two end walls (381, 382) arranged respectively at said two ends, said at least two electrical terminals (41) being carried by one of the end walls (381, 382).

4- The cleaning device (2) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switch (4) comprises at least one magnet (43) carried by the piston (33) and at least one magnetic sensor (44) carried by the cylinder body (31), the switch (4) being configured to be activated when said at least one magnet (43) is facing said at least one magnetic sensor (44).

5- The cleaning device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the cylinder body (31) comprises a tubular portion (37) comprising two ends, and two end walls (381, 382) arranged respectively at said two ends, said at least one magnetic sensor (44) being arranged in the tubular portion (37).

6- The cleaning device (2) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the switch (4) comprises a plurality of magnetic sensors (44) configured to be arranged in a plurality of positions along the tubular portion (37).

7- A cleaning system (1) for cleaning at least one optical system (5) of a vehicle, comprising at least one cleaning device (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, a cleaning fluid reservoir (11) and a pump (12) which transfers the cleaning fluid from the reservoir (11) to the chamber (32) of the cylinder (3), the operation of the pump (12) being placed under the dependence of the switch (4).

8- The cleaning system (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein the operation of the pump (12) is interrupted upon activation of the switch (4).

9- A method for cleaning an optical system (5) of a vehicle implementing a cleaning system (1) as claimed in claim 7 or 8, in which: the pump (12) is put into operation so as to cause a movement of the piston (33) and spraying of the cleaning fluid onto the optical system (5), the switch is activated according to the position of the piston (33), and the operation of the pump (12) is interrupted when the switch (4) is activated.

Description

[0025] Further features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the following description, on the one hand, and from a plurality of exemplary embodiments, which are provided by way of nonlimiting indication with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, on the other hand, in which drawings:

[0026] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a cleaning device included within a cleaning system for cleaning an optical system, the cleaning system being inactive,

[0027] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the first embodiment, the cleaning system being active and the cleaning device spraying a cleaning fluid,

[0028] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the first embodiment, when activating a switch of the cleaning device,

[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the first embodiment, after activating the switch of the cleaning device,

[0030] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the cleaning device included within the cleaning system for cleaning the optical system, the cleaning system being active and the cleaning device spraying a cleaning fluid,

[0031] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the second embodiment, when activating the switch of the cleaning device.

[0032] FIG. 1 represents a cleaning system 1 suitable for cleaning an optical system 5. The optical system 5 can be of various kinds and is liable to be dirty. The cleaning system 1 has the function of cleaning the optical system 5 by spraying a cleaning fluid thereon. Such an optical system is for example a reversing radar, a reversing camera or a LIDAR-type optical system.

[0033] To do this, the cleaning system 1 comprises a cleaning device 2. The cleaning device 2 consists of a cylinder 3 which comprises at least one cylinder body 31 in the form of a tubular portion 37 closed at each of its ends by an end wall. The tubular portion 37 is of substantially cylindrical hollow shape. The end walls close each end of the cylindrical shape of the tubular portion 37. The end walls therefore have dimensions adapted to the diameter of the tubular portion 37. The tubular portion 37 and the end walls of the cylinder body 31 together delimit an internal volume termed chamber 32.

[0034] The cylinder 3 also comprises a piston 33 and a rod 34. The piston 33 has a substantially cylindrical shape whose diameter is substantially smaller than the diameter of the tubular portion 37 of the cylinder body 31 so that the piston 33 moves in translation within the chamber 32. The piston 33 is located at one end of the rod 34. The rod 34 has a main dimension parallel to an axis of revolution of the tubular portion 37. The rod 34 is capable of emerging from the cylinder body 31 by passing through a first end wall 381. As such, the first end wall 381 has an opening made for the passage of the rod 34. One end of the rod 34 emerging from the cylinder body 31 comprises a spraying element 36. The spraying element 36 can for example take the form of a spraying nozzle which sprays the cleaning fluid onto the optical system 5. The spraying element 36 is oriented with respect to the rod 34 so as to spray the cleaning fluid in the direction of the optical system 5. For the cleaning fluid to reach the spraying element 36, a circulation channel 35 is arranged within the rod 34 and extends from the spraying element 36 to emerge in the chamber 32 while passing through the rod 34 and the piston 33.

[0035] The cylinder 3 also comprises a spring 39. The spring 39 extends within the chamber 32, from the first end wall 381 to the piston 33. The spring 39 therefore exerts a mechanical force on the piston 33. In FIG. 1, the spring 39 is in its initial position, fully relaxed.

[0036] In addition to the cylinder 3, the cleaning device 2 also comprises a switch, for example an electrical switch. In this first embodiment, the switch is divided into two parts: a first part composed of two electrical terminals 41 and a second part composed of a contacting member 42. The electrical terminals 41 are both arranged on the first end wall 381, more particularly on a face of the first end wall 381 oriented toward the chamber 32. The contacting member 42, for its part, is arranged on a face of the piston 33 oriented toward the first end wall 381. The two electrical terminals 41 are electrically connected to an electrical circuit 16, which will be detailed later. The contacting member 42 covers the entire face of the piston 33 on which it is arranged. The contacting member 42 can for example be made of aluminum or any other conductive material. The switch is activated when the two electrical terminals 41 are in contact with the contacting member 42. In FIG. 1, the switch is inactive, the two electrical terminals 41 and the contacting member 42 being distant from one another.

[0037] The cleaning system 1 also comprises a cleaning fluid reservoir 11. The reservoir 11 has a capacity allowing the storage of the cleaning fluid and can for example be accessible in the context of manual refilling. The reservoir 11 is connected to a cleaning fluid pipe 13. The pipe 13 is equipped with a pump 12 and extends from the reservoir 11 to the cylinder 3, where it passes through a second end wall 382 of the cylinder body 31 to open into the chamber 32.

[0038] The pump 12 is supplied by a supply circuit 15 whose electric current is generated by an electric generator 14. The electrical circuit 15 comprises a first switch 151 and a second switch 152. The first switch 151 can for example be operable manually by a user of the vehicle, or else can be operable automatically if the optical system 5 is provided with a device for detecting impurities. It is the passage of the first switch 151 into the closed position which authorizes circulation of an electric current in the supply circuit 15 of the pump 12. In FIG. 1, the first switch 151 is in the open position. The cleaning system 1 is therefore inactive.

[0039] The electric generator 14 also supplies the electrical circuit 16 mentioned above. The electrical circuit 16 extends to each of the two electrical terminals 41 of the switch, passing through the structure of the tubular portion 37 and the end walls 38 of the cylinder body 31. For an electric current to flow within the electrical circuit 16, the latter must be closed for example by a conductive bridge between each of the two electrical terminals 41, as will be described later. The electrical circuit 16 also comprises an electrical relay 17 able to act on the second switch 152 of the supply circuit 15 of the pump 12. The second switch 152 is here in the closed position.

[0040] FIG. 2 shows the cleaning system 1 as described above. In FIG. 2, the cleaning system 1 is engaged, either manually or automatically. The first switch 151 therefore switches to the closed position and an electric current generated by the electric generator 14 can circulate in the supply circuit 15 and supply the pump 12. The latter starts up and pumps the cleaning fluid from the reservoir 11 to the chamber 32 of the cylinder 3 via the pipe 13. The cleaning fluid accumulates within the chamber 32 and exerts a pressure on the piston 33, the latter having a seal such that the cleaning fluid cannot infiltrate between the piston 33 and the tubular portion 37. The pressure exerted by the cleaning fluid on the piston 33 forces its movement in the direction of the first end wall 381. Said pressure has a higher force than the force exerted by the spring 39 on the piston 33. The spring 39 is therefore compressed under the effect of the movement of the piston 33. The movement of the piston 33 also causes the emergence of the rod 34 out of the cylinder body 31.

[0041] While causing the piston 33 to move, the cleaning fluid also flows within the circulation channel 35. The small diameter of the latter allows the cleaning fluid to increase its pressure at the outlet of the circulation channel, that is to say at the spraying element 36. The cleaning fluid circulates within the entirety of the circulation channel 35 before being sprayed by the spraying element 36. The cleaning fluid is therefore sprayed in a direction relative to the positioning of the spraying element 36 but also according to the emergence of the rod 34. The optical system 5 is arranged so that the cleaning fluid is necessarily sprayed onto it when the rod 34 emerges.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the cleaning system 1 as shown above. From a chronological point of view, FIG. 3 represents the logical continuation of FIG. 2. The piston 33, still subjected to the pressure exerted by the cleaning fluid, continues its movement within the cylinder body 31 until it comes close to the first end wall 381. With the electrical terminals 41 emerging from the latter, the piston 33 comes into contact with the electrical terminals 41. The spring, not shown here, is compressed to its maximum.

[0043] As mentioned above, the contacting member 42 is carried by the piston 33. It is therefore the contacting member 42 which comes into contact with the electrical terminals 41, the assembly forming the switch 4. It is in this situation that the latter is activated. Specifically, the electrical circuit 16 is initially interrupted between the two electrical terminals 41 because the latter are not directly connected to each other. The contacting member 42 being electrically conductive when the latter comes into contact with the two electrical terminals 41 simultaneously, the electric current is then capable of flowing from one electrical terminal 41 to the other, which causes the activation of the switch 4 and the closure of the electrical circuit 16.

[0044] When the electrical circuit 16 is closed, the electrical relay 17 is then supplied with electric current and modifies the position of the second switch 152. The latter then switches to the open position and therefore cuts the passage of electric current within the supply circuit 15. This cut causes the pump 12 to be put out of operation.

[0045] At this precise moment, with the cleaning fluid no longer exerting pressure on the piston 33, the cleaning fluid is no longer sprayed by the spraying element 36. When the piston 33 and the rod 34 are in such a position, that is to say so that the switch 4 is activated, the spraying element 36 is sure to have sprayed cleaning fluid onto the optical system 5. It is therefore unnecessary to continue spraying cleaning fluid, which in this situation would be wasted. With the activation of the switch 4 causing the stopping of the spraying of the cleaning fluid, the latter is then saved, and this all while having the certainty that the optical system 5 has been cleaned during the movement of the rod 34 such as shown in the previous figure.

[0046] FIG. 4 still shows the same cleaning system 1, after activation of the switch. Thus, the spraying element 36 no longer sprays cleaning fluid, the pump 12 is stopped, and the cleaning fluid present in the chamber 32 no longer exerts pressure on the piston 33. Without cleaning fluid pressure, it is the spring 39 which has the greatest force. The latter is therefore able to relax in order to resume its initial position as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the spring 39 exerts a pressure on the piston 33 and causes it to move in the opposite direction to what has been described above, that is to say in the direction of the second end wall 382.

[0047] The cleaning fluid contained in the chamber 32 is subjected to the pressure exerted by the movement of the piston 33 and is then forced into the pipe 13. The pipe 13 has a larger diameter than the diameter of the circulation channel 35. Thus, the cleaning fluid flows naturally within the pipe 13 and the pump 12 rather than within the circulation channel 35. The cleaning fluid, in the absence of the activity of the pump 12, thus returns to its starting point, namely the reservoir 11.

[0048] The movement of the piston 33 also causes the deactivation of the switch, the contacting member 42 being carried by the piston 33. The electrical circuit 16 is therefore again interrupted between the two electrical terminals 41, which causes the passage of the second switch 152 into the closed position. With the first switch 151 having reopened in the meantime, the closing of the second switch 152 does not cause the reactivation of the pump 12. The movement of the piston 33 continues until the spring 39 has resumed its initial shape.

[0049] FIG. 5 represents a second embodiment of the cleaning device 2 within the cleaning system 1, after activation of the pump 12. The only difference between the two embodiments lies in the nature and in the positioning of the switch. Reference will therefore be made to the description of FIG. 1 for the general presentation of the cleaning system 1 and to the description of FIG. 2 for the progression of the cleaning method at the stage as shown in figure s. According to the second embodiment of the cleaning device 2, the switch is divided into two parts, by reason of a magnet 43 and a magnetic sensor 44.

[0050] The magnet 43 is carried by the piston 33. More particularly, the magnet 43 is arranged on a portion of the piston 33 located in contact or substantially in contact with the tubular portion 37 of the cylinder body 31. The magnet 43 is crossed by a first transverse plane 101 passing through the center of the magnet 43. By transverse is meant a direction perpendicular to the rod 34. The magnet 43 is connected to the piston at an outer peripheral portion of the piston 33.

[0051] The magnetic sensor 44 is arranged around or within the tubular portion 37, as close as possible to the chamber 32. Like the electrical terminals of the first embodiment of the cleaning device 2, the magnetic sensor 44 is also connected to the electrical circuit 16. The magnetic sensor is connected to the two ends of the electrical circuit 16 and keeps the latter open. The magnetic sensor 44 is crossed by a second transverse plane 102 passing through the center of the magnetic sensor 44. By transverse is meant a direction perpendicular to the rod 34.

[0052] Just as has been previously described, the piston 33 moves in the direction of the first end wall 381 under the pressure of the cleaning fluid which fills the chamber 32 of the cylinder 3. At the same time, the cleaning fluid is sprayed against the optical system 5 via the spraying element 36. For the explanations relating to the supply circuit 15 and to the electrical circuit 16, reference will be made to what has been described in relation to FIGS. 1 to 4, such a description applying, mutatis mutandis, to the second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0053] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the second embodiment of the cleaning device 2 within the cleaning system 1 as shown above. From a chronological point of view, FIG. 6 represents a stage which immediately follows that illustrated in FIG. 5. Thus, the piston 33 continues its movement in the direction of the first end wall 381. The movement of the piston 33 logically causes a movement of the magnet 43 carried by it.

[0054] This movement continues until the piston 33, more precisely the magnet 43, comes opposite the magnetic sensor 44 arranged within the tubular portion 37. For the magnet 43 and the magnetic sensor 44 to face each other, it is necessary that the first transverse plane 101 passing through the center of the magnet 43 and the second transverse plane 102 passing through the center of the magnetic sensor 44 coincide with each other.

[0055] When the magnet 43 and the magnetic sensor 44 face each other, the switch 4 is activated. The magnetic capacity of the magnet 43 causes the attraction of an electrically conductive blade arranged within the magnetic sensor 44 which makes it possible to close the electrical circuit 16. Like the first embodiment, an electric current then flows in the electrical circuit 16, thus supplying the electrical relay 17 which opens the second switch 152 in order to interrupt the supply circuit 15 and to stop the operation of the pump 12. Thus, the activation of the switch 4 causes the stoppage of the pump 12, and therefore the stoppage of the movement of the piston 33 as well as of the spraying of cleaning fluid via the spraying element 36. The piston 33 is then moved in the opposite direction, toward the second end wall 382, by the force exerted by the spring 39 on the piston 33, as depicted in FIG. 4.

[0056] Regarding the second embodiment of the cleaning device 2, it is possible to arrange the magnetic sensor 44 at a plurality of positions along the tubular portion 37 of the cylinder body 31. Thus, depending on the position of the magnetic sensor 44 chosen, it is possible to determine at what level of the chamber 32 the movement of the piston 33 is interrupted. Consequently, it is therefore also possible to determine to what extent the rod 34 emerges from the cylinder body 31. In summary, it is possible to determine the field of action of the spraying of the cleaning fluid by the spraying element 36 according to the position chosen for the arrangement of the magnetic sensor 44. The second embodiment of the cleaning device 2 is therefore customizable, whether as original equipment or as a retrofit, which facilitates the adaptation of the latter, for example according to the vehicle model, the size of the optical system 5 or the position of the optical system 5 relative to the cleaning system 1.

[0057] It is also possible, for example, to imagine a plurality of magnetic sensors 44 arranged within the tubular portion 37 of the cylinder body 31, coupled to an electronic assembly making it possible to determine at which magnetic sensor 44 the movement of the piston 33 must be interrupted. The second embodiment of the cleaning device 2 therefore ensures that cleaning fluid savings are maximized when cleaning the optical system 5.

[0058] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described, and numerous modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0059] The invention, as it has just been described, successfully achieves the aim it had set itself, and makes it possible to propose a cleaning device for an optical system comprising a switch serving to stop the spraying of a cleaning fluid so as to save it. Variants not described here could be implemented without departing from the context of the invention, provided that, in accordance with the invention, they comprise a cleaning device in accordance with the invention.