VEHICLE SURFACE CLEANING DEVICE

Abstract

A vehicle surface cleaning device comprising a vehicle integrated housing including a nozzle carrier extendable from and retractable into the bodywork of a vehicle, said nozzle carrier being provided with at least one fluid nozzle, and comprising means for contactlessly heating the fluid nozzle while being in a retracted position.

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. A vehicle surface cleaning device comprising a vehicle integrated housing, including a nozzle carrier, said nozzle carrier being provided with at least one fluid nozzle, and comprising contactles sly heating the fluid nozzle, wherein the at least one fluid nozzle has a nozzle body comprising an electrically conductive material in contact with the nozzle body or integrated into the nozzle body and in that there is provided at least one electrical coil in proximity to the electrically conductive material which may be selectively energized, wherein the electrical coil is positioned around the nozzle body when the nozzle body is in a retracted position, or the electrical coil is integrated into or wound around a nozzle carrier housing of the nozzle carrier, or the electrical coil is arranged in the bodywork of the vehicle.

21. The vehicle surface cleaning device according to claim 20, wherein the nozzle body comprises an electrically conductive material or a thermoplastic material which is filled with an electrically conductive material, preferably with ferrous particles.

22. The vehicle surface cleaning device according to claim 20, wherein the nozzle body includes an electrically conductive heating element, preferably a steel heating element.

23. The vehicle surface cleaning device according to claim 22, wherein the electrically conductive heating element is overmolded or embedded in a potting compound and extends in the vicinity of a nozzle aperture.

24. The vehicle surface cleaning device according to claim 22, wherein the heating element is in the form of a metal strip extending in parallel to a nozzle duct leading into the nozzle aperture.

25. The vehicle surface cleaning device according to claim 22, wherein the potting compound comprises epoxy resin.

26. The vehicle surface cleaning device according to claim 20, wherein the nozzle carrier is extendable from and retractable into the bodywork of a vehicle.

27. The vehicle surface cleaning device according to claim 20, wherein the nozzle carrier comprises a nozzle carrier housing connectable to a cleaning fluid source.

28. The vehicle surface cleaning device according to claim 20, wherein the nozzle carrier comprises at least one extendable and retractable piston which is slidably arranged within the nozzle carrier housing and which is extendable by virtue of the pressure of the cleaning fluid.

29. The vehicle surface cleaning device according to claim 27, wherein the electrical coil is arranged in or at a support for the nozzle carrier housing or in a casing for the cleaning device.

30. The vehicle surface cleaning system according to claim 20, comprising a casing to be mounted in the vehicle bodywork, a cleaning fluid source, a cleaning fluid pump and a cleaning fluid circuit or a cleaning fluid conduit.

31. A method for defrosting a fluid nozzle of a vehicle surface cleaning device, comprising: providing a nozzle with a nozzle body comprising electrically conductive material; providing an electrical coil and arranging the electrical coil in the vicinity of the nozzle body so that upon energization of the electrical coil the electrically conductive material will be heated, wherein the electrical coil is positioned around the nozzle body when the nozzle body is in a retracted position; or the electrical coil is integrated into or wound around a nozzle carrier housing of the nozzle carrier; or the electrical coil is arranged in the bodywork of the vehicle; and selectively energizing the coil when the ambient temperature is below a given lower temperature threshold.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the coil is energized upon ignition of the vehicle, if the outside temperature falls below a given threshold.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein the coil is being energized for a given time span after the ignition has been actuated.

34. The method according to claim 31, wherein it comprises utilizing a vehicle surface cleaning device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are hereinafter described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an integrated on-board vehicle vision and cleaning device comprising a vehicle surface cleaning device according to the invention;

[0044] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of a vehicle surface cleaning device in the rest position and arranged next to an on-board camera;

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view according to that of FIG. 2 where the vehicle surface cleaning device is in the cleaning position;

[0046] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the detail IV in FIG. 3; and

[0047] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a vehicle surface cleaning system with a static nozzle carrier.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a partial sectional view of an integrated on-board vehicle vision and cleaning system 1 comprising a rearview camera 2 as the vision system and a washing unit 3 with an extendable and retractable nozzle 5 as a vehicle surface cleaning device in the sense of the current invention. The integrated on-board vehicle vision and cleaning system 1 according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 is designed as a module which can be plugged into an opening in the bodywork 4 of the vehicle, for example which can be plugged into an opening in the bumper of a vehicle.

[0049] FIG. 2 shows a similar arrangement including a vision system and a vehicle surface cleaning system 1 in the form of a washing unit 3 with an extendable and retractable nozzle 5 where the vision system in the form of a rearview camera 2 and the washing unit 3 are arranged next to each other in the bodywork 4 of a vehicle.

[0050] The washing unit 3 comprises a nozzle carrier housing 6 in which an extendable and retractable piston 7 is slidably arranged. On the piston 7, there is arranged a nozzle carrier 8 comprising at least one nozzle 5. The nozzle carrier housing 6 is provided with one fitting 9 to which a cleaning fluid conduit which is not shown in the drawings may be connected. A cleaning system according to the current invention would normally also comprise a cleaning fluid source, for example a cleaning fluid container, and a cleaning fluid pump as well as a cleaning fluid circuit or a cleaning fluid conduit.

[0051] Via the cleaning fluid conduit connected to the fitting 9 a cleaning fluid pressurized by the cleaning fluid pump will be provided.

[0052] The piston 7 is slidably guided within the nozzle carrier housing 6 on a cleaning fluid supply tube 10 which fits into the cylindrical hollow space 11 of the piston 7. The piston 7 is held in the retracted position by the force of a spring 24. The cleaning fluid supply tube 10 is sealed against the interior peripheral surface of the piston 7 by a sealing element 25. The cleaning fluid supply to 10 opens into the hollow space 11 of the piston 7 so that the cleaning fluid provided will enter the hollow space 11 of the piston 7 and will force the piston 7 to be extended out of the nozzle carrier housing 6 by virtue of the pressure of the cleaning fluid acting on an interior end face of the piston 7 acting against the biasing force of the spring 24.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the leading end of the piston 7 (detail IV in FIG. 3). The leading end of the piston 7 is normally closed by a spring valve 12, which will establish a communication between the hollow space 11 of the piston 7 and nozzle duct 16 if the pressure of the cleaning fluid extends a given threshold, which may be adjusted by choosing the appropriate spring. Spring valve 12 comprises a valve body 13 which is held by a coil spring 14 in a valve seat 15 in the leading end of the piston 7. When the pressure of the cleaning fluid exceeds a given threshold, the valve body 13 will be lifted off from the valve seat 15 against the biasing force of the coil spring 14. Once the valve body 13 is being lifted of the valve seat 15 washing fluid may flow into a nozzle duct 16 extending through a nozzle body 17. The nozzle body 17 forms part of a nozzle carrier 8, which is attached to the leading end of the piston 7.

[0054] The nozzle duct 16 opens into a nozzle aperture 18 through which the cleaning fluid may be ejected and propelled towards a surface to be cleaned. In the embodiment according to FIG. 1 as well as in the embodiment according to FIGS. 2 and 3 a jet of cleaning fluid may be propelled onto the surface of a dome-shaped lens 19. The dome-shaped lens 19 does form part of the rearview camera 2. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the dome-shaped lens 19 is surrounded by a peripheral bouncing wall 20 the function of which is to prevent escape of surplus cleaning fluid.

[0055] The design of the washing unit 3 according to FIGS. 2 and 3 corresponds to the design of the washing unit 3 in FIG. 1. As FIG. 1 shows only a schematic view of the washing unit 3 not all the details are apparent from FIG. 1. Throughout the specification of the current patent application when referring to the washing unit 3 this always refers to FIG. 1 as well as to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0056] As seen in the enlarged view of FIG. 4, in the nozzle body 17 there is provided a metal strip 21 from ferrous metal, which is arranged in a cavity 22 of the nozzle body. The metal strip 21 functions as a heating element for the nozzle body 17 in the vicinity of the nozzle aperture 18. The metal strip 21 is embedded in a potting compound, for example a potting compound which comprises epoxy resin. The metal strip 21 extends substantially in parallel to the length of the nozzle duct 16, particularly in parallel to the leg of the duct directly merging into the nozzle aperture 18.

[0057] Within the confines of the bodywork 4 of the vehicle there is arranged an electrical coil 23 connected to an AC power supply (not shown). FIG. 2 shows the nozzle carrier 8 in the retracted position in which the nozzle 5 is concealed by the bodywork 4 of the vehicle. In this position of the nozzle carrier 8 the electrical coil 23 extends around the nozzle body 17. The electrical coil 23 is arranged relatively close to the nozzle body 17 and to the metal strip 21 such that when the electrical coil is energized by an alternating current the magnetic field of the electrical coil 23 induces a magnetic field in the metal strip 21 and thus the metal strip 21 will be heated up. The heat of the metal strip 21 will be transferred by contact into the nozzle body 17 and thus will defrost the nozzle 5 in case the outside temperature falls below freezing temperature. The electrical coil 23 for example may be energized each time the vehicle ignition will be actuated and the outside air temperature is below a given threshold.

[0058] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown in other embodiment of the vehicle surface cleaning device according to the current invention. In FIG. 5 same parts as in the other embodiments have been given the same reference numerals.

[0059] FIG. 5 also shows a partial sectional view of an integrated onboard vehicle vision and cleaning system 1 comprising a rearview camera 2 as the vision system and a washing unit 3. Other than in the previously explained embodiments, the embodiment according to FIG. 5 does not comprise an extendable and retractable nozzle 5 but a static nozzle 5 instead. The washing unit 3 comprises a rather simple nozzle carrier 8 inserted into the bodywork 4 of the vehicle in a non-movable fashion. The nozzle carrier 8 is made of an electrically conductive material or comprises such electrically conductive material. For example, the nozzle carrier is made from thermoplastic material filled with electrically conductive particles, for example with ferrous metal particles. In close proximity to the nozzle carrier 8 there is arranged an electrical coil 23 completely surrounding the part of the nozzle carrier 8 which extends concealed under the bodywork 4 of the vehicle. Each time the ambient temperature falls below freezing temperature the electrical coil will be energized and thus the nozzle carrier will be heated up. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that in this embodiment the heat capacity and/or heat conductivity of the nozzle carrier 8 is sufficient to transfer the induced to the nozzle 5 so that freezing of the nozzle 5 is prevented.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0060] 1 integrated on-board vehicle vision and cleaning system

[0061] 2 rearview camera

[0062] 3 washing unit

[0063] 4 bodywork of the vehicle

[0064] 5 nozzle

[0065] 6 nozzle carrier housing

[0066] 7 piston

[0067] 8 nozzle carrier

[0068] 9 cleaning fluid conduit

[0069] 10 cleaning fluid supply tube

[0070] 11 hollow space

[0071] 12 spring valve

[0072] 13 valve body

[0073] 14 coil spring

[0074] 15 valve seat

[0075] 16 nozzle duct

[0076] 17 nozzle body

[0077] 18 nozzle aperture

[0078] 19 dome-shaped lens

[0079] 20 bouncing wall

[0080] 21 metal strip

[0081] 22 cavity

[0082] 23 electrical coil

[0083] 24 spring

[0084] 25 sealing element

[0085] 26 nozzle cover