Abstract
A roof module for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle, the roof module having a panel component, whose outer surface forms at least sections of a roof skin of the motor vehicle, the roof skin acting as an outer sealing surface of the roof module, the roof module having at least one environment sensor which sends and/or receives electromagnetic signals for charting the vehicle environment via a see-through area and having at least one cleaning apparatus by which the see-through area is cleaned. The cleaning apparatus may have an essentially oblong nozzle body having a plurality of ejection nozzles and/or flow guiding contour formed by the panel component or by the environment sensor.
Claims
1. A roof module for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle, the roof module having: a panel component, whose outer surface forms at least sections of a roof skin of the motor vehicle, the roof skin acting as an outer sealing surface of the roof module, the roof module having at least one environment sensor which sends and/or receives electromagnetic signals for charting the vehicle environment via a see-through area and having at least one cleaning apparatus by which the see-through area is cleaned, wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises an essentially oblong nozzle body having a plurality of ejection nozzles and/or a flow guiding contour formed by the panel component or by the environment sensor.
2. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle body is essentially tube- or hose-shaped, having a hollow cross section.
3. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ejection nozzles is provided in the form of a plurality of holes and/or slits in the nozzle body.
4. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ejection nozzles is disposed in such a manner in the nozzle body that the individual ejection nozzles are each oriented essentially in the same or a different direction in relation to the see-through area.
5. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle body is formed in the manner of a tube-shaped membrane, at least sections of which are sealed in an airtight manner by means of a seal lacquer coat.
6. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle body having the plurality of ejection nozzles is oriented in such a manner in relation to the see-through area that an air current strikes the see-through area from the outside, along a movement direction.
7. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the panel component, as viewed along an optical axis of the environment sensor, has an essentially oblong guide channel in front of the see-through area, the guide channel being at a rearward offset in the direction of a vehicle interior with respect to the outer surface of the roof skin and is configured for at least partially receiving the at least one nozzle body.
8. The roof module according to claim 7, wherein the guide channel is inserted in the roof skin in the manner of a groove or a channel.
9. The roof module according to claim 7, wherein the nozzle body is disposed in a stationary manner in the guide channel and is pivotable in the guide channel at least in sections around a rotation axis.
10. The roof module according to claim 7, wherein the at least one flow guiding contour is provided in an area of the guide channel and guides an air current ejected from the plurality of ejection nozzles in the direction of the see-through area.
11. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the flow guiding contour is designed to form a constriction in the panel component, through which the air current is accelerated in the direction of the see-through area.
12. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle body is integrated in a support element or is disposed thereon and/or is moveable, translationally and/or rotationally, in relation to the see-through area.
13. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the roof module comprises a fan of a vehicle cooling system, and an air inlet, the fan being directly or indirectly connected to the nozzle body by at least one supply line so an air current generated by the fan is ejected from the plurality of ejection nozzles in the form of a guided air current for the purpose of cleaning and/or de-icing the see-through area.
14. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cleaning apparatus is connectable directly or indirectly to a fan of an air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle so waste air provided by the air-conditioning system is supplied to the nozzle body by the fan and is ejected from the plurality of ejection nozzles in the form of a guided air current for the purpose of cleaning and/or de-icing the see-through area.
15. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one environment sensor is configured in the manner of a lidar sensor and/or in the manner of a radar sensor and/or in the manner of a camera sensor and/or in the manner a multi-camera sensor.
16. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein a supply line of the cleaning apparatus interacts in such a manner with the environment sensor that waste heat of the environment sensor is dissipated via the supply line and in doing so heats a cleaning fluid flowing via the supply line.
17. A motor vehicle, comprising a roof module according to claim 1.
18. A roof module for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle, the roof module having: a panel component, whose outer surface forms at least sections of a roof skin of the motor vehicle and which acts as an outer sealing surface of the roof module, the roof module having at least one environment sensor which sends and/or receives electromagnetic signals for charting the vehicle environment via a see-through area and having at least one cleaning apparatus, which comprises at least one ejection nozzle by which the see-through area is cleaned, wherein the cleaning apparatus is connected to a fan at least via a supply line so an air current generated by the fan is ejected from the at least one ejection nozzle for the purpose of cleaning and/or de-icing the see-through area.
19. The roof module according to claim 18, wherein the fan is comprises in the roof module or that the fan is an air-conditioning system of a motor vehicle.
20. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises several supply lines, which are exposed to different cleaning fluids.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0042] An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawing and is explained exemplarily in the following.
[0043] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a vehicle roof of a motor vehicle having a roof module according to the invention;
[0044] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a first exemplary embodiment of a cleaning apparatus;
[0045] FIG. 3 shows a lateral view of a second exemplary embodiment of a cleaning apparatus;
[0046] FIG. 4 a lateral view of third exemplary embodiment of a cleaning apparatus;
[0047] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a nozzle body;
[0048] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a cleaning apparatus;
[0049] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a fifth exemplary embodiment of a cleaning apparatus;
[0050] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of a supply channel for heat transfer;
[0051] FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a second exemplary embodiment of a nozzle body;
[0052] FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of a third exemplary embodiment of a nozzle body;
[0053] FIG. 11 shows a schematic view of a sixth exemplary embodiment of a cleaning apparatus;
[0054] FIG. 12 shows a schematic view of a seventh exemplary embodiment of a cleaning apparatus; and
[0055] FIG. 13 shows a schematic view of an eighth exemplary embodiment of a cleaning apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0056] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle roof 100 comprising a roof module 10. The roof module 10 comprises a panel component 12 for forming a roof skin 14 of the vehicle roof 100 of a motor vehicle (not shown in full). An environment sensor 16 is disposed symmetrically to the vehicle longitudinal axis x in a frontal area of the vehicle roof 100 and/or the roof module 10, as viewed in a longitudinal direction x of the vehicle. The environment sensor 16 is disposed directly behind a front transverse beam 102, which defines a roof-side front header of the vehicle. The roof module 10 is preferably inserted as a structural unit in a roof frame 104 of the vehicle and/or placed on the at least two transverse beams 102 and at least two longitudinal beams 106, via which the roof frame 104 is formed. The roof module 10 in the exemplary embodiment shown has a panoramic roof 108.
[0057] The environment sensor 16 looks through a see-through area 18, which can be provided, for example, on a casing 17 of the environment sensor 16 or can also be formed by panel component 12. The see-through area 18 can, for example, be made of a preferably shatterproof plastic or other (partially) transparent material and be embedded in the casing 17 of the environment sensor 16 or also in the panel component 12 in the manner of a window. In the case of FIGS. 2 and 3, the casing 17 is disposed below the panel component 12 and is covered by it. The see-through area 18 is provided in the panel component 12. The environment sensor 16 in the present case is a lidar sensor which can send and/or receive electromagnetic signals to detect the vehicle environment through the see-through area 18. Other sensor types, e.g., (multidirectional) cameras, can also be used. The environment sensor 16 is oriented along an optical axis 20, which in the case of FIG. 1 is oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle. The environment sensor 16 comprises a field of view 21 extending essentially conically around the optical axis 20, the environment sensor 16 being able to detect the surroundings of the vehicle within the field of view 21. The field of view 21 is shown schematically by dashed lines in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0058] A cleaning apparatus 22 is also disposed on the panel component 12 according to the invention. The cleaning apparatus 22 comprises an essentially oblong nozzle body 24 having a plurality of ejection nozzles 26. The nozzle body 24 is shown in isolated form in FIG. 5, whereby it can be seen that the plurality of ejection nozzles 26 can be provided in the form of holes, for example. The nozzle body 24 is essentially tubular in shape and has a hollow cross section. Alternatively, it can also be tubular or in the form of a porous membrane. The nozzle body 24 extends along a longitudinal axis 28, which in the case shown in FIG. 1 is oriented parallel to a vehicle width direction y. The individual ejection nozzles 26 are each oriented essentially in the same direction to one another, i.e., they are oriented parallel to one another. A respective ejection direction 30 (for an ejection nozzle 26 in FIG. 5, for example) of the respective ejection nozzles 26 extends orthogonally to the longitudinal axis 28 of the nozzle body 24.
[0059] The nozzle body 24 is oriented in such a manner with the plurality of ejection nozzles 26 in relation to the see-through area 18 that an air current 32 (see FIG. 3) can strike the see-through area 18 from the outside, preferably along a movement direction 34, in order to clean or de-ice it, for example.
[0060] For the arrangement of the nozzle body 24, the panel component according to the invention comprises a guide channel 36. In the case of FIGS. 1 to 3, the panel component 12 has the guide channel 36, as viewed along the optical axis 20 of the environment sensor 16, in the movement direction 34 in front of the see-through area 18. The guide channel 36 extends essentially longitudinally and is at a rearward offset with respect to the outer surface of the roof skin 14 in the direction of a vehicle interior. The guide channel 36 is designed to at least partially receive the at least one nozzle body 24. In the present case, the guide channel 36 completely receives the nozzle body 24. For this purpose, as can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the guide channel 36 has an essentially rectangular cross section in which the nozzle body 24 is disposed. The guide channel 36 preferably extends in the longitudinal direction 28 to such an extent that the entire nozzle body 24 is received in the guide channel 36. In other words, as viewed in the longitudinal direction 28, the guide channel 36 is as large as the nozzle body 24. For this purpose, the guide channel 36 is recessed in the roof skin 14 in the manner of a groove or channel. In the present case, the nozzle body 24 is disposed in a stationary position in the guide channel 36. In principle, the nozzle body can also be disposed in the guide channel 36 so that it is stationary and at least partially rotatable about a rotational axis. The rotational axis can preferably coincide with the longitudinal axis 28 of the nozzle body 24.
[0061] As can be seen from FIG. 3, at least one flow guiding contour 38 can be provided in the area of the guide channel 36, an air current 32 ejected from the plurality of ejection nozzles 26 being able to be guided along the flow guiding contour 38 in the direction of the see-through area 18 by means of the flow guiding contour 38. In the case of FIG. 3, the flow guiding contour 38 has an essentially semicircular cross section (with a section along the longitudinal vehicle direction x and a vertical vehicle direction z).
[0062] The air current for the cleaning apparatus 22 according to the invention can be provided by means of a fan 40. In one exemplary embodiment, the roof module 10 can comprise the fan 40 for this purpose. An air inlet (not shown in detail) is then preferably provided on the roof module 10. The fan 40 is directly or indirectly connected to the nozzle body 24 by means of at least one supply line 42, meaning an air current generated by the fan 40 can be ejected from the plurality of ejection nozzles 26 in the form of the guided air current 32 for the purpose of cleaning and/or de-icing the see-through area 18. In the present case, the fan 40 is indirectly connected to the nozzle body 24 via the supply line 42. The supply line 42 is connected to a cooling channel 44 (which is not shown in detail) of the roof module 10. The fan 40 and other cooling components are located in the cooling channel 44, for example. In the present case, the cooling channel 44 is connected to the environment sensor 16 and/or the casing 17 via a heat-conducting element 46. Waste heat from the environment sensor 16 is dissipated to the cooling duct 44 via the heat-conducting element 46 and heats the waste air, which is then (also) conveyed to the supply line 42 by the fan. This waste air is supplied to the nozzle body 24 as supply air via the supply line 42 and is ejected from the ejection openings and/or ejection nozzles 26. The preheated air can be used to de-ice the see-through area 18.
[0063] In an alternative exemplary embodiment, as can be seen in FIG. 4, the cleaning apparatus 22 can be connected to the fan 40 of an air-conditioning system 48 of the motor vehicle, so that waste air provided by the air-conditioning system can be supplied to the nozzle body 24 by means of the fan 40 and can be ejected from the plurality of ejection nozzles 26 in the form of the guided air current 32 for the purpose of cleaning and/or de-icing the see-through area 18. The fan 40 is also connected to the nozzle body via the supply line 42.
[0064] A connection between the nozzle body 24 and the supply line 42 can be made independently of the remaining embodiment, for example via a connection fitting 50 (see FIG. 5), which can be disposed at one end of the nozzle body 24. An opposite end of the nozzle body 24, on the other hand, is preferably sealed so as to be impermeable to air.
[0065] FIG. 6 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment according to the invention, in which the cleaning apparatus 22 comprises the flow guiding contour 38 without a nozzle body being provided. The cleaning fluid, for example an air current, is guided to the flow guiding contour 38 via the supply line 42 and deflected and preferably accelerated at the flow guiding contour 38 in such a manner that it is ejected in the direction of the see-through area in order to clean it. In the present case, the flow guiding contour 38 is formed by a geometric design of the panel component 12, in particular by a corresponding shaping during the manufacturing of the panel component 12. In the present case, the cleaning fluid flow is also provided by the fan 40, which can be disposed, for example, in a trunk or a front area of the motor vehicle. In the present case, the cleaning fluid flow is preheated by waste heat from the environment sensor 16, which preferably transfers its waste heat to the cleaning fluid via one or more heat-conducting elements 46. In the present case, the supply line 42 is in direct heat-transferring contact with the casing 17 of the environment sensor 16, so that the heat can be transferred to the cleaning fluid via this thermal bridge. The supply line 42 is disposed below the casing 17 of the environment sensor 16 for this purpose. Alternatively, the supply line 42 can also be disposed above or to the side of the casing 17. In addition, the supply line 42 can also be connected only indirectly to the environment sensor 16 or other heat-emitting components of the roof module 10 and/or the motor vehicle in order to absorb heat therefrom. For example, it is possible for components to be connected via heat conduction pipes.
[0066] FIG. 7 differs from FIG. 6 only in that the flow guiding contour 38 is formed on the casing 17 of the environment sensor 16. This is preferably realized by the casing 17 being adapted accordingly in the area of the flow guiding contour 38.
[0067] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the supply line 42, which shows the heat-conducting elements 46, for example several heat-exchanging fins and/or surface elements, can be provided directly in the supply line 42 in order to be able to transfer heat to the cleaning fluid more effectively in this manner. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the supply channel 42 opens conically in the direction of a cleaning fluid ejection 52. A width of the cleaning fluid ejection 52 is preferably determined on the basis of a width of the see-through area 18.
[0068] FIG. 9 shows an exemplary embodiment of a nozzle body 24 according to the invention. In the present case, the nozzle body 24 is integrated in a support element 54, in which the supply line 42 is also provided. The support element 54 can, for example, be formed from an aluminum and/or plastic block. In the present case, the support element 54 is formed in one piece. In the present case, air is guided through the supply line 42 as a cleaning fluid.
[0069] FIG. 10 shows another exemplary embodiment example of a nozzle body 24 according to the invention. It can be seen that the nozzle body 24 according to this exemplary embodiment is also designed as a support element 54 or is integrated in such an element. In this exemplary embodiment, the nozzle body 24 and/or the cleaning apparatus 22 comprises several supply lines 42, which can be supplied with various cleaning fluids. Starting from the supply lines 42, several of the plurality of ejection nozzles 26 are actuated, so that a first cleaning fluid, for example air, can preferably be ejected from a part of the ejection nozzles 26 and a second cleaning fluid, for example soapsuds, can be ejected from the other part of the ejection nozzles 26.
[0070] FIG. 11 shows an exemplary embodiment of the cleaning apparatus 22, in which the nozzle body 24 is disposed both above and below the environment sensor 16 so as to be movable in and out translationally by means of the support element 54. In the event of cleaning, the nozzle body 24 or the nozzle bodies 24 can be extended in order to clean the see-through area 18. The extended position of the nozzle body 24 or the support elements 54 is indicated by a dashed line. In the case shown, the nozzle body 24 can be telescopically retracted and extended. A displacement mechanism 56 is only shown schematically. According to this exemplary embodiment, the roof module 10 therefore comprises two cleaning apparatuses 22.
[0071] FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of the cleaning apparatus 22, in which the nozzle body 24 is disposed on a support element 54 and can be telescopically retracted and extended via this by means of the displacement mechanism 56. The cleaning apparatus 22 is disposed below the environment sensor 16. The supply line 42 is connected to the nozzle body 24. The nozzle body 24 is disposed rigidly on the support element 54, so that only the support element 54 has to be retracted and extended.
[0072] FIG. 13 shows another exemplary embodiment of the cleaning apparatus 22, in which the nozzle body 24 is rigidly disposed on a support element 54. The support element is immovably disposed on the panel component 12, in particular below the panel component 12. The support element 54 serves in particular as a mounting platform for mounting the nozzle body 24. In this embodiment, the nozzle body 24 can therefore not be retracted or extended.
