AUTONOMOUS CLEANING SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

An electronically regulated cleaning system independently adjusted of the driver and adaptively to continuously variable operating conditions, for installation in a vehicle for cleaning at least one transparent element with a fluid cleaning agent, includes: at least one additive container storing additive for mixing with the cleaning agent, at least one electrically switchable metering device controlling mixing of the additive and cleaning agent, at least one electronic control unit adaptively controlling the electrically controllable components of the cleaning system, at least one cleaning agent filling level sensor monitoring the filling level of the cleaning agent and communicating with the electronic control unit, at least one freezing point sensor monitoring the mixture-dependent freezing point of the cleaning agent in the container and communicating with the electronic control unit, at least one surroundings temperature sensor monitoring the temperature of the surroundings outside the vehicle and communicating with the electronic control unit.

Claims

1. An electronically controlled cleaning system for installation in a vehicle for cleaning at least one transparent element with a fluid cleaning agent, comprising: at least one cleaning agent container for storing the cleaning agent; at least one outlet opening for spraying the cleaning agent onto the transparent element; at least one hydraulic line, which connects the cleaning agent container to the outlet opening; at least one electrically controllable main pump for conveying the cleaning agent from the cleaning agent container into the hydraulic line; at least one additive container for storing an additive provided for mixing with the cleaning agent; at least one electrically switchable metering device for controlled mixing of the additive with the cleaning agent; at least one electronic control unit, which adaptively controls the electrically controllable components of the cleaning system; at least one cleaning agent filling level sensor, which monitors the filling level of the cleaning agent in the cleaning agent container and transmits this to the electronic control unit-; at least one freezing point sensor, which monitors the mixture-dependent freezing point of the cleaning agent in the cleaning agent container and transmits the mixture-dependent freezing point to the electronic control unit; and at least one ambient temperature sensor, which monitors ambient temperature outside of the vehicle and transmits the ambient temperature to the electronic control unit.

2. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein an additive filling level sensor is provided, which monitors a filling level of the additive in the additive container and transmits the filling level to the electronic control unit.

3. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the additive container is formed as an interchangeable insert unit and/or an exchangeable cartridge, which can be connected to the cleaning system via a coupling interface and the refilling of which with the additive is not intended at all or at least not in the vehicle.

4. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent container and additive container are formed inseparably in a common container housing.

5. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the metering device is formed as a switching valve, which can be switched between a closed setting and an open setting and, in the open setting, releases the hydraulic connection between the additive container and the cleaning agent container.

6. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the metering device is formed as a positive displacement pump, which can be switched from a deactivated state into an activated state, wherein fluid cannot flow through it in the deactivated state, and it conveys a defined quantity of additive per unit of time in the activated state.

7. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein at least one electrically controllable pressure boost pump is arranged in the hydraulic line between the main pump and the outlet opening, said pressure boost pump boosting a hydraulic pressure generated in the hydraulic line through the main pump in the direction of the outlet opening.

8. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein an electrically controllable extraction device is arranged on the hydraulic line, in the direction of the outlet opening, essentially directly behind the main pump or the pressure boost pump, for extracting cleaning agent contained in the hydraulic line between the extraction device and the outlet opening.

9. The cleaning system according to claim 8, wherein the extraction device is formed as an electrically switchable throttle valve, which can be switched between a closed and an open setting and, in the open setting, blows the cleaning agent out of the hydraulic line.

10. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the extraction device is formed as an electrically controllable air inlet device, which can be switched from a deactivated state into an activated state, wherein it is closed in the deactivated state and it blows air into the hydraulic line with overpressure in the activated state.

11. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein a volume-restriction device is arranged in the hydraulic line between the main pump or the pressure boost pump, on one side, and the outlet opening, on the other side, said volume-restriction device interrupting the flow through the hydraulic line according to a defined flowing fluid quantity.

12. The cleaning system according to claim 11, wherein the volume-restriction device is formed as an electrically switchable valve, which can be switched between a closed and an open setting by the electronic control device and, in the closed setting, blocks the flow through the hydraulic line.

13. The cleaning system (1) according to claim 11, wherein the volume-restriction device (18) is formed as a forced-metering device, which forcibly blocks the hydraulic line (5) after the passing of a fluid quantity specified by design.

14. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein at least one position-detection unit is provided, which determines the current position of the vehicle and transmits the current position of the vehicle to the electronic control unit.

15. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle has at least one mobile Internet access.

16. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein a frost-protection agent is contained in the additive.

17. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein a cleaning-agent concentrate is contained in the additive.

18. The cleaning system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transparent element is a component of an optical or optoelectronic detection device, wherein the detection device is configured for two-way data transmission with the electronic control unit.

19. The cleaning system according to claim 18, wherein the detection device is formed to be capable of detecting a degree of soiling of the transparent element and transmitting this to the electronic control unit.

20. The cleaning system according to, claim 18, wherein the detection device along with at least one outlet opening are combined in a consuming-unit module.

21. The cleaning system according to claim 18, wherein at least four detection devices are installed in the vehicle and configured for cleaning by the cleaning system.

22. A vehicle in which a cleaning system is installed according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] An aspect of the present invention is explained in more detail in the following by means of the exemplary embodiments shown in simplified form in the figures. The following is shown:

[0024] FIG. 1 a simplified schematic representation of an embodiment of the cleaning system according to an aspect of the invention;

[0025] FIG. 2 an exemplary embodiment of a consuming unit module;

[0026] FIG. 3 a greatly simplified schematic view of a further embodiment of the cleaning system according to an aspect of the invention, wherein the electronic control unit and electric connection lines are not shown;

[0027] FIG. 4 a greatly simplified schematic diagram of a system configuration of a possible embodiment of the cleaning system;

[0028] FIG. 5 a cleaning agent container and additive container combined in a common container housing according to an embodiment according to an aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] Elements which are the same or equivalent are given the same reference numbers in all figures, unless stated otherwise.

[0030] FIG. 1

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a greatly simplified embodiment of the electronically controlled cleaning system 1 according to an aspect of the invention. The cleaning system 1 is provided for installation in a vehicle and for cleaning one or more transparent elements 2 by means of one or more outlet openings 4. Particularly a component such as an objective lens or glass cover of an optical or optoelectronic detection device 20 such as, for example, a camera or a LiDAR, is suitable as the transparent element 2, wherein the viewing windows or headlight lenses are likewise reliable.

[0032] Cleaning takes place with a fluid cleaning agent, particularly a water mixture made of water and one or more additives such as frost-protection or cleaning-agent concentrate. The ready-to-use mixed cleaning agent is stored in the vehicle in a cleaning agent container 3.

[0033] An electrically controllable main pump 6, formed as a flow pump driven with an electric motor, conveys the cleaning agent from the cleaning agent container 3 through the hydraulic lines 5,-5 under pressure to the outlet openings 4, 4, 4, which spray the cleaning agent onto the transparent elements 2, 2, 2. An outlet opening 4 may be designed in any form within an aspect of the invention, for example as a borehole, a nozzle, a deflector, and the like.

[0034] An additive provided for mixing with the cleaning agent is stored in an additive container 7.

[0035] An electrically switchable metering device 8 is used for the controlled mixing of the additive with the cleaning agent.

[0036] Within an aspect of the invention, the metering device 8 may be formed, for example, as a switching valve, which can be switched between a closed and an open setting and, in the open setting, releases the hydraulic connection between the additive container 7 and the cleaning agent container 3.

[0037] The metering device 8 may likewise be formed as a positive displacement pump, which can be switched from a deactivated state into an activated state, wherein fluid cannot flow through it in the deactivated state and it conveys a defined quantity of additive per unit of time into the cleaning agent container in the activated state.

[0038] An electronic control unit 9 controls all electrically controllable components of the cleaning system 1 and is connected to the cleaning system via electric connecting lines 22.

[0039] A cleaning agent filling level sensor 10 and an additive filling level sensor 13 monitor the filling levels in the respective containers and transmit this to the electronic control unit 9.

[0040] With the assistance of a freezing point sensor 11, the mixture-dependent freezing point of the cleaning agent is measured in the cleaning agent container 3 and transmitted to the electronic control unit 9.

[0041] The ambient temperature outside of the vehicle is measured by an ambient temperature sensor 12 and likewise transmitted to the electronic control unit 9.

[0042] With the embodiment shown, the additive container 7 is formed as an interchangeable insert unit and/or an exchangeable cartridge, which is connected to the cleaning system 1 via a coupling interface 14.

[0043] Within an aspect of the invention, an exchangeable additive container 7 may also be arranged in a common housing with the cleaning agent container 3 such that the required coupling interface 14 would be arranged in or on the housing of the cleaning agent container 3.

[0044] An electrically controllable pressure boost pump 16 is arranged in the hydraulic line 5 between the main pump 6 and the outlet opening 4. This increases the pressure in the hydraulic line 5 locally between the pressure boost pump 16 and the outlet opening 4.

[0045] In the embodiment shown, electrically controllable extraction devices 17 are arranged directly behind the main pump 6 and/or pressure boost pump 16. They are used to extract the cleaning agent in the section of the hydraulic line between the extraction device 17 and the outlet opening 4 in order to prevent, for example, the freezing thereof and the associated clogging of the line 5.

[0046] Within an aspect of the invention, the extraction device 17 may be formed as an electrically switchable throttle valve, which, in its open setting, blows the cleaning agent out of the hydraulic line 5. In a similar manner, the extraction device 17 may be formed as an electrically controllable air inlet device, for example connected to a compressor, said air inlet device blowing air into the hydraulic line 5 as needed with overpressure and thus pushing the cleaning agent through the outlet opening 4.

[0047] A vehicle-integrated position-detection unit 19 such as, for example, a GPS sensor, transmits the current position of the vehicle to the electronic control unit. In conjunction with, for example, map data stored in the vehicle, the distance to the next service station, for example, can be calculated and a context-based warning generated when the filling levels in the containers 3, 7 are low. When the vehicle has a mobile Internet access, weather data, for example, can be accessed and, in conjunction with position information, frost-protection concentrate can be mixed with the cleaning agent as a precaution and the hydraulic lines extracted.

[0048] In the embodiment shown, the consuming units to be cleaned are shown as optical components of a detection device 20, which is positioned in a common housing with the outlet opening 4 and thus forms an easy-to-handle consuming-unit module 21.

[0049] FIG. 2

[0050] Such a consuming-unit module 21 is shown by way of example in FIG. 2. The transparent element 2 to be cleaned is a component of an optical or optoelectronic detection device 20, for example the lens of a camera. The detection device 20 is suitable for two-way data and information transmission with the electronic control unit 9 and can thus detect its degree of soiling through relatively simple monitoring of the behavior of the light on the transparent element 2 and transmit this to the electronic control unit 9, which then calculates the quantity of cleaning agent necessary to specifically clean this same detection device and activates the necessary components for the calculated time.

[0051] FIG. 3

[0052] In FIG. 3, the hydraulic portion of a further possible embodiment of the cleaning system 1 according to an aspect of the invention is shown in simplified form. In addition to the four consuming-unit modules 21, the windshield 23, the rear window 24, and the headlight lenses 25 are also cleaned in this case.

[0053] As a special feature with this embodiment, a volume-restriction device 18 is arranged at various points of the hydraulic line 5 between one of the pumps 6, 16 and the outlet openings 4. By means of this, the flow through the hydraulic line 5 can be interrupted in a defined manner according to a defined flowing fluid quantity in order to thereby implement, for example, short, intensive bursts of spray or to conserve the cleaning agent.

[0054] Within an aspect of the invention, the volume-restriction device 18 may be formed, for example, as an electrically switchable, particularly currentless closed valve, which, when activated by the control unit 9, releases the flow through the hydraulic line 5 only for brief intervals of time and otherwise blocks it.

[0055] In a similar manner, the volume-restriction device 18, as shown, may be formed as a forced-metering device with a pressure-controlled movable separating element, which forcibly blocks the hydraulic line 5 after the passing of a fluid quantity specified by design.

[0056] FIG. 4

[0057] In order to illustrate the adaptability of the cleaning system 1 according to an aspect of the invention, one of the many possible configurations is schematically shown here. Four hydraulic strands, each of which is configured differently, exit from a main pump 6. Thus, two of the strands each end with consuming-unit modules 21, wherein, with one of these strands, a volume-restriction device 18 is placed upstream of the consuming-unit module and, with the other strand, a pressure boost pump 16 is placed upstream. The other two strands, similarly one with the volume-restriction device 18 and the other with the pressure boost pump 16, end at simple outlet openings 4 in order to clean, for example, the windshield. However, each of these strands can be actuated individually with the cleaning system according to an aspect of the invention.

[0058] FIG. 5

[0059] FIG. 5 shows by example a further embodiment according to an aspect of the invention, in which the cleaning agent container 3 is formed as a cleaning agent chamber for the ready-to-use cleaning agent, and the additive container 7 is formed as an additive chamber which is inseparably formed in a common container housing 15.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0060] 1 Cleaning system [0061] 2 Transparent element [0062] 3 Cleaning agent container [0063] 4 Outlet opening [0064] 5 Hydraulic line [0065] 6 Main pump [0066] 7 Additive container [0067] 8 Metering device [0068] 9 Electronic control unit [0069] 10 Cleaning agent filling level sensor [0070] 11 Freezing point sensor [0071] 12 Ambient temperature sensor [0072] 13 Additive filling level sensor [0073] 14 Coupling interface [0074] 15 Container housing [0075] 16 Pressure boost pump [0076] 17 Extraction device [0077] 18 Volume-restriction device [0078] 19 Position-detection unit [0079] 20 Optical or optoelectronic detection device [0080] 21 Consuming-unit module [0081] 22 Electrical connecting line [0082] 23 Windshield [0083] 24 Rear window [0084] 25 Headlight lens