Fluid ejection device

Abstract

The fluid-ejection device (100) comprised a first member (110) having an inlet suitable for being connected to a source of fluid (120); a second member (130) that can be moved relative to the first member (110); and a control member (150) arranged to be at least in a first condition, in which the control member (150) is at least substantially inside the second member (130) preventing the flow of fluid through the second member (130) to define a first stroke (S1) of the second member (130) where no discharge of fluid is allowed out of the device (100); and a second condition, in which the control member (150) is at least substantially outside the second member (130) allowing the flow of fluid through the second member (130) to define a second stroke (S2) of the second member (130) along which discharge of fluid is allowed out of the device (100).

Claims

1. A fluid-ejection device (100) comprising: a first member (110) having an inlet suitable for being connected to a source of fluid (120); a second member (130) that can be moved relative to the first member (110); and a control member (150) arranged to be at least in: a first condition, in which the control member (150) is at least substantially inside the second member (130) preventing the flow of fluid through the second member (130) to define a first stroke (S1) of the second member (130) where no discharge of fluid is allowed out of the device (100); a second condition, in which the control member (150) is at least substantially outside the second member (130) allowing the flow of fluid through the second member (130) to define a second stroke (S2) of the second member (130) along which discharge of fluid is allowed out of the device (100); and a seal between the first member and the second member and attached to the second member, wherein the seal includes a one-way valve that allows the fluid supplied by the source of fluid to enter therein, and wherein the second member is driven to move relative to the first member by pressurized fluid that pushes against the seal when supplied to the first member.

2. The device (100) of claim 1, wherein control member comprises a post (150).

3. The device (100) of claim 1, wherein control member comprises a hollow post (150) having holes (156) through which fluid is allowed to be discharged into the second member (130).

4. The device (100) of claim 3, wherein the holes (156) are formed at different heights in the post (150).

5. The device (100) of claim 1, wherein a section for the passage of fluid through the first member (110) increases between the first condition and the second condition.

6. The device (100) of claim 1, wherein the control member (150) is part of or is attached to the first member (110).

7. The device (100) of claim 1, wherein the second member (130) comprises at least one nozzle (140) to discharge fluid out of the device (100).

8. The device (100) of claim 7, wherein the nozzle (140) is configured to discharge a fan stream of fluid out of the device (100).

9. The device (100) of claim 8, wherein the nozzle (140) is configured to discharge a fan stream of fluid covering an angle of about 15-45.

10. The device (100) of claim 1, wherein it further includes a spring (170) arranged to oppose the movement of the second member (130) relative to the first member (110).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Particular implementations of the present fluid-ejection device will be described in the following by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a sectional view where one example of the present fluid-ejection device has been shown in a rest position;

(3) FIG. 2 is a sectional view where one example of the present fluid-ejection device has been shown in an operating position at the end of a first stroke;

(4) FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a position for the fluid-ejection device shown in FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a position for the fluid-ejection device at the beginning of a second stroke;

(6) FIG. 5 is a general elevational view of a further example of the present fluid-ejection device;

(7) FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the example of the fluid-ejection device illustrated in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) The device 100 that is described hereinbelow according to the example shown in the figures can be applied in the field of motor vehicles. However, it may be useful in many other different applications where at least a surface 10 has to be washed. In the particular examples, the present fluid-ejection device 100 illustrated in the FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings is adapted to eject a washing liquid against a surface 10 in a motor vehicle part 15 such as a camera lens, a sensor, vision and detection elements, and other parts installed in the vehicle, etc.

(9) The fluid-ejection device 100 shown in the drawings comprises first and second telescopic members 110, 130, a source of pressurized fluid 120, a nozzle 140, a control member 150, sealing means 160, and spring means 170.

(10) The first telescopic member 110 is a fixed member that is connected to the source of pressurized fluid 120 that supplies a pressurized washing liquid in the present non-limiting example shown. Here, the pressure of the washing liquid to be supplied may be, for example, of the order of 1-3 Kg/cm.sup.2.

(11) The second telescopic member 130 is a displaceable member that is arranged inside the first telescopic member 110 and can be moved relative thereto when the washing liquid is fed within the first telescopic member 110. Thus, the second telescopic member 130 is driven by the pressurized washing liquid as it pushes the sealing means 160 when supplied into the first telescopic member 110.

(12) The control member in the example shown comprises a post 150 that is part of the first telescopic member 110. However, the post 150 could be a separate part attached to the first telescopic member 110 if necessary. In the example shown, the post 150 is a cylinder having a top pointed tip 155. This specific shape of the post 150 facilitates positioning of the second telescopic member 130 surrounding the post 150, above all, when the second telescopic member 130 returns to its rest position.

(13) In the particular example shown in FIG. 5, the post 150 comprises a hollow cylinder having a number of through holes 156 as show in detail in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The washing liquid is allowed to be discharged through said through holes 156 into the second telescopic member 130. The through holes 156 are formed at a side portion of the hollow cylinder.

(14) When a washing operation is to be performed, a washing fluid enters through the first member 110. From the rest position shown in FIG. 1, the washing fluid cause the second member 130 to move upwards in the drawings. The second member 130 thus moves relative to the post 150 such that the second member 130 can be arranged in a first, rest condition shown in FIG. 1 and in a second, operating condition shown in FIG. 2.

(15) In the first, rest condition, shown in FIG. 1, the post 150 is positioned inside the second member 130 preventing the washing liquid from flowing through the second member 130. In this first condition, a first stroke S1 for the second member 130 is defined. Along or during the first stroke S1 of the second member 130 shown in FIG. 2 no washing liquid is allowed to be discharged out of the fluid-ejection device 100. In this way, an initial displacement corresponding to said first stroke S1 of the second member 130 can be established along or during which no washing liquid is ejected or discharged out of the fluid-ejection device 100. As a result, parts 15 or surfaces 10 which must be prevented from getting wet are avoided such that they are not damaged.

(16) In the second, operating condition, shown in FIG. 2, the second member 130 is moved until the post 150 is positioned outside the second member 130 allowing the washing liquid to flow through the second member 130. In such second condition, a second stroke S2 for the second member is defined as shown in FIG. 2. Along or during the second stroke S2 of the second member 130 the washing liquid is allowed to be discharged out of the fluid-ejection device 100. The discharge of washing liquid as the second member 130 moves relative to the first member 110 along or during the second stroke S2 allows a sweeping effect to be provided with the washing fluid stream uniformly distributed against the surface 10 of the part 15 being washed. An efficient washing effect is thus accomplished causing dirt to be efficiently removed from the surface 10 of the part 15.

(17) The passage of washing liquid can be thus precisely varied by varying the height of the post 150 as required. For example, the height of the post 150 can be made to substantially correspond to the above mentioned initial displacement of the second member 130, that is, the first stroke S1 of the second member 130, during which no washing liquid is allowed to be ejected outside the device 100. A number of interchangeable posts 150 may be thuds provided having different heights. Consequently, the device 100 can be designed to adapt to a large number of applications and to a great number of different parts regardless of their shape by simply varying such parameter as required. A wide range of applications can be thus covered with a single fluid-ejection device 100.

(18) In general, it may be preferred that a section for the passage of washing liquid through the first member 110 increases along the direction of movement of the second member 130 to discharge washing liquid out of the device 100. For example, if the first and second members 110, 130 are cylindrical in shape as shown in the examples, the inside diameter of the first member 110 could increase along the direction of movement of the second member 130. Other configurations are also possible as required according to the specific application of the device 100.

(19) The nozzle 140 is attached to the second member 130 and it is adapted to discharge the washing liquid out of the device 100 during the second stroke S2 of the second member 130. The nozzle 140 in the device 100 of the example is capable of providing a fan stream of washing liquid covering an angle of about 15-45.

(20) The sealing means in the example shown comprises an O-ring 160 arranged between the first member 110 and the second member 130. The O-ring 160 is attached to the second member 130 and it is also configured to act as an one-way valve means to allow the washing liquid that is supplied by the source of pressurized washing liquid 120 to enter therein, and such that when the fluid-ejection device 100 is not actuated, the washing liquid is not allowed to return back to the source of pressurized washing liquid 120.

(21) The spring means in the example shown comprise a compression spring 170 that is arranged to oppose the movement of the second member 130 relative to the first member 110. Thus, as the second member 130 is driven by the washing liquid supplied by the source of pressurized washing liquid 120, the spring 170 is compressed, and when no washing liquid is supplied, the spring 170 causes the second member 130 to be displaced back to a rest position, telescopically housed within the first member 110 in its inoperative state.

(22) Although only a number of particular examples of the present fluid-ejection device have been disclosed herein, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other alternative examples and/or uses and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof are possible. The present disclosure thus covers all possible combinations of the particular examples described of the fluid-ejection device. The scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by particular examples, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.

(23) Reference signs related to drawings and placed in parentheses in a claim are solely for attempting to increase the intelligibility of the claim, and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claim.