Abstract
A roof module for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle, the roof module has a panel component, which at least partially forms a roof skin of the vehicle roof, the roof skin serving as an outer sealing surface of the roof module; at least one 5 environment sensor configured to send and/or receive electromagnetic signals through a see-through area so as to detect a vehicle environment; and at least one cleaning nozzle configured to clean the see-through area. At least one flow guiding element is disposed on the panel component, the flow guiding element being configured to deflect headwind away from the see-through area.
Claims
1. A roof module for forming a vehicle roof on a motor vehicle, the roof module comprising: a panel component, which at least partially forms a roof skin of the vehicle roof, the roof skin serving as an outer sealing surface of the roof module; at least one environment sensor configured to send and/or receive electromagnetic signals through a see-through area so as to detect a vehicle environment; and at least one cleaning nozzle configured to clean the see-through area, wherein at least one flow guiding element is disposed on the panel component, the flow guiding element being configured to deflect headwind away from the see-through area.
2. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one environment sensor, when viewed in the direction of travel x, is disposed in a front, middle, area of the roof skin, and a line of sight of the environment sensor is oriented in the direction of travel, the at least one cleaning nozzle, when viewed along the line of sight of the environment senor, is disposed toward the front in front of the see-through area, and the at least one flow guiding element, when viewed along the line of sight of the environment senor, is disposed toward the front in front of the at least one cleaning nozzle.
3. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one environment sensor, when viewed in a direction of travel x, is disposed in a rear, middle, area of the roof skin, and a line of sight of the environment sensor is oriented opposite the direction of travel, the at least one cleaning nozzle, when viewed along the line of sight of the environment senor, is disposed toward the rear in front of the see-through area, and the at least one flow guiding element, when viewed along the line of sight of the environment senor, is disposed toward the rear behind the at least one environment sensor.
4. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one environment sensor, when viewed in a direction of travel x, is disposed in a rear corner area of the roof skin, and a line of sight of the environment sensor is oriented opposite and at an angle to the direction of travel, the at least one cleaning nozzle, when viewed along the line of sight of the environment senor, is disposed toward the rear in front of the see-through area in the rear corner area, and the at least one flow guiding element, when viewed in the direction of travel x, is disposed in front of the at least one environment sensor in a lateral area of the roof skin.
5. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one environment sensor, when viewed in a direction of travel x, is disposed in a lateral area of the roof skin, and a line of sight of the environment sensor is oriented at an angle to the direction of travel, the at least one cleaning nozzle, when viewed along the line of sight of the environment senor, is disposed laterally in front of the see-through area in the lateral area, and the at least one flow guiding element, when viewed in the direction of travel x, is disposed in front of the at least one environment sensor in a lateral area of the roof skin.
6. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one flow guiding element is disposed on the roof skin in a rigid manner relative to the roof skin or formed by the roof skin.
7. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein a drive is configured to move the at least one flow guiding element between a retracted position and at least one deployed position.
8. The roof module according to claim 7, wherein the drive is configured to be activated by the at least one cleaning nozzle.
9. The roof module according to claim 7, wherein the drive comprises a hydraulic, pneumatic and/or mechanical drive.
10. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cleaning nozzle is integrated in the at least one flow guiding element and/or disposed on the at least one flow guiding element, and/or the at least one flow guiding element at least externally acts as a wind deflector and/or a wind guiding element and/or a spoiler.
11. The roof module according to claim 10, wherein at least part of a housing of the at least one cleaning nozzle serves as the at least one flow guiding element.
12. The roof module according to claim 10, wherein the at least one cleaning nozzle is configured to be moved between a retracted position and at least one deployed position.
13. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cleaning nozzle is disposed outside of a field of view of the environment sensor.
14. The roof module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one environment sensor is a lidar sensor and/or a radar sensor and/or a camera sensor and/or a multi-camera sensor.
15. A motor vehicle comprising a roof module according to claim 1.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0035] An embodiment of the invention is schematically illustrated in the drawing and will be explained below by way of example.
[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle roof with a roof module according to the invention;
[0037] FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment example of the roof module according to the invention with a cleaning nozzle integrated into a flow guiding element in a front area of the roof module;
[0038] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment example of the roof module according to the invention with a retractable and deployable flow guiding element and a cleaning nozzle in a front area of the roof module;
[0039] FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment example of the roof module according to the invention with a retractable and deployable cleaning nozzle integrated in a flow guiding element together with an adjustment mechanism in a front area of the roof module;
[0040] FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment example of the roof module according to the invention with two cleaning nozzles disposed laterally relative to a see-through area in a front area of the roof module;
[0041] FIG. 6 shows a fifth embodiment example of the roof module according to the invention with a flow guiding element and a cleaning nozzle in a rear area of the roof module;
[0042] FIG. 7 shows a sixth embodiment example of the roof module according to the invention with a flow guiding element and a cleaning nozzle in a rear corner area of the roof module;
[0043] FIG. 8 is a comparative illustration showing a comparison between cleaning with a flow guiding element and without a flow guiding element;
[0044] FIG. 9 shows a schematic embodiment of a flow guiding element;
[0045] FIG. 10 shows a schematic embodiment of a flow guiding element;
[0046] FIG. 11 shows a schematic embodiment of a flow guiding element;
[0047] FIG. 12 shows a schematic embodiment of a flow guiding element; and
[0048] FIG. 13 shows a schematic embodiment of a flow guiding element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0049] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle roof 100 of a vehicle (not shown in its entirety), which comprises a roof module 10. The roof module 10 is preferably inserted as a structural unit into a roof frame 104 of the vehicle or placed on top of the at least two transverse rails 102 and at least two longitudinal rails 106 of the vehicle body which form the roof frame 104. The roof module 10 in the embodiment example shown has a panoramic roof 108.
[0050] The roof module 10 comprises a panel component 12 for forming a roof skin 14 of the vehicle roof 100. An environment sensor 16 is disposed symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle in a front area of the vehicle roof 100 or the roof module 10 (viewed in a longitudinal vehicle direction x, which corresponds to a direction of travel of the motor vehicle). The environment sensor 16 is disposed directly behind a front transverse rail 102, which defines a roof-side header adjacent to a windshield (not shown) of the vehicle. The environment sensor 16 can be retractable and deployable or disposed on the panel component 12 in a rigid manner. In the present case, the environment sensor 16 is disposed in an interior of the roof module 10 and covered by the panel component 12. The environment sensor 16 is disposed in a sensor housing 18, which forms a dry area in which the environment sensor 16 is disposed in a moisture-proof manner. The environment sensor 16 is a lidar sensor in the present case. However, other sensor types, e.g., (multidirectional) cameras, which are used in (partially) autonomous driving, can also be used.
[0051] The roof module 10 comprises a see-through area 20, which can be made, for example, from a preferably shatterproof plastic, glass or other (partially) transparent material. The environment sensor 16 is oriented along an optical axis 22, which in the case of FIG. 1 is aligned parallel to the longitudinal vehicle direction x. A field of view 23 of the environment sensor 16, in which the environment sensor 16 can send and/or receive electromagnetic signals in order to detect a vehicle environment, extends conically around the optical axis. In the present case, the see-through area 20 is disposed in the panel component 12 and embedded it in the manner of a window, for example. The see-through area 20 is curved in the present case and adapts to the shape of the surrounding panel component to create a flush contour.
[0052] The roof module 10 further comprises at least one cleaning nozzle 24 configured to clean the see-through area 20. FIGS. 1, 5, 7 and 8 show the roof module 10 with two cleaning nozzles 24, each of which is supplied with a cleaning fluid (e.g., a liquid or a gas) through a supply duct (not shown). When viewed along a line of sight of the environment sensor 16, the two cleaning nozzles 24 are positioned to the right and left of the environment sensor 16 outside the conical field of view 23 in front of the see-through area 20 and preferably have an angled position relative to each other so that the see-through area 20 can be cleaned from two different directions. The cleaning fluid can be an aqueous soapy solution, for example. Alternatively, cleaning with compressed air or another pressurized gas is also conceivable. When the cleaning fluid is discharged from the cleaning nozzles 24, respective fluid cones 26 are generated which strike the see-through area 20 and clean it (see FIG. 5). The fluid cones 26 can preferably at least partially overlap in an area of overlap of the see-through area 20 (see FIGS. 5 and 7).
[0053] According to the invention, the roof module 10 has at least one flow guiding element 27, which is disposed rigidly on the panel component 12 (see FIGS. 2 and 6) or in such a manner that it can be retracted or deployed (see FIGS. 3 and 4) or is integrally formed by the panel component 12 (see FIG. 7). The flow guiding element 27 makes it possible to deflect headwind W from the see-through area 20 so that the fluid cone 26 of the cleaning nozzle 24 in question is no longer affected by the headwind W. So a deflected flow 25 is caused, which is essentially influenced by a flow contour of the flow guiding element 27. The flow guiding element 27 can basically have any geometric design. For example, the flow guiding element 27 can have an elongated wedge shape (see FIGS. 1 to 5 in partially different views of the wedge), a curved wedge shape (see FIG. 6) or can also be shaped as a curved outer contour of a lateral area of the roof module 10 (see FIG. 7).
[0054] The cleaning nozzle 24 can be integrated in the flow guiding element 27, in which case the flow guiding element 27 forms a housing 28 of the cleaning nozzle 24 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). The housing 28 or the flow guiding element 27 can be rigidly disposed on the panel component 12 together with the integrated, e.g., inserted, cleaning nozzle 24, as in FIG. 2. In principle, the cleaning nozzle 24 can also be disposed at a distance from the flow guiding element 27 in its own housing 28 (see FIGS. 5 to 8). Alternatively or additionally, one of the flow guiding elements 27 can also, for example, be movably mounted on the frame structure 110 or be movably supported thereon so that the flow guiding element 27 together with the at least one cleaning nozzle 24 can be moved between a retracted position and at least one deployed position (see both positions in FIG. 4). It is also possible for the flow guiding element 27 to be retractable and deployable without an integrated cleaning nozzle 24, as shown in FIG. 3. According to FIG. 4, the flow guiding element 27 together with the cleaning nozzle 24 can be rotated between the retracted position and the deployed position about an axis of rotation 30.
[0055] The mobility between the retracted position and the deployed position is provided by a drive 34. An exemplary drive 34 is shown schematically in FIG. 4. The drive 34 makes it possible to adjust the flow guiding element 27 in such a manner that at least a lid part 36 of the flow guiding element 27 or also a lid part 36 of the housing 28 (in the event that the cleaning nozzle 24 is integrated in the flow guiding element 27) is flush with the outer surface of the roof skin 14 of the vehicle roof in the retracted position (see respective positions in FIGS. 3 and 4). In the deployed position of the at least one flow guiding element 27, on the other hand, the flow guiding element 27 protrudes at least partially above the outer surface of the roof skin 14 of the vehicle roof 100 so that the flow guiding element acts as a (head) wind spoiler in the deployed state, by means of which the headwind W can be deflected away from the see-through area 20. By deflecting the headwind W, the see-through area 20 can be cleaned more effectively, as the cleaning process is no longer affected by headwind or ambient wind which might blow the cleaning fluid away might, for example.
[0056] In the case of FIG. 4, the drive 34 comprises a pneumatic drive 38, which can be a pressure control valve, for example. Furthermore, the flow guiding element 27 is preloaded into one of the positions (i.e., into either the retracted position or the deployed position) by a preload spring 40, meaning the drive 38 has to generate a counterforce against the preload spring 40 to move it to the other position. The flow guiding element 27 is then returned to the preloaded starting position without the drive 38 by the restoring force of the preload spring 40. Other types of drives are also conceivable in principle and can be advantageous depending on the configuration of the roof module 10.
[0057] To summarize, FIG. 2 shows the flow guiding element 27 with an integrated cleaning nozzle 24 disposed rigidly on the panel component 12. When viewed in the direction of travel x, the environment sensor 16 is disposed under the roof skin 14 behind the front transverse rail 102. The flow guiding element 27 is disposed toward the front in front of the environment sensor 16 when viewed along the line of sight of the environment sensor 16.
[0058] FIG. 3 shows the flow guiding element 27 in a retractable and deployable configuration. The cleaning nozzle 24 is spaced apart from the flow guiding element 27. When viewed in the direction of travel x, the environment sensor 16 is disposed under the roof skin 14 behind the front transverse rail 102. The cleaning nozzle 24 is disposed toward the front in front of the environment sensor 16 when viewed along the line of sight of the environment sensor 16. The flow guiding element 27 is disposed in front of the cleaning nozzle 24 when viewed along the line of sight of the environment sensor 16.
[0059] FIG. 4 shows the flow guiding element 27 with an integrated cleaning nozzle 24 in a retractable and deployable configuration on the panel component 12. When viewed in the direction of travel x, the environment sensor 16 is disposed under the roof skin 14 behind the front transverse rail 102. The flow guiding element 27 together with the cleaning nozzle 24 is disposed toward the front in front of the environment sensor 16 when viewed along the line of sight of the of the environment sensor 16.
[0060] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the front area of the roof module 10. When viewed along the line of sight of the environment sensor 16, respective cleaning nozzles 24 are disposed on the right and left sides toward the front in front of the see-through area 20. The flow guiding element 27 is disposed forward of the cleaning nozzles 24 when viewed along the line of sight of the environment sensor 16.
[0061] FIG. 6 shows a section of a rear area of the roof module 10. When viewed in the direction of travel x, the environment sensor 16 is disposed in front of the rear transverse rail 102. The flow guiding element 27 is disposed on the roof skin 14 toward the rear in front of the see-through area 20 when viewed in the direction of travel x. The cleaning nozzle 24 is disposed in front of the see-through area 20 when viewed along the line of sight of the environment sensor 16 (which is oriented opposite the direction of travel).
[0062] FIG. 7 shows a situation in which the environment sensor 16 is disposed in a rear corner area of the roof module 10. The optical axis 22 of the environment sensor looks at an angle to the direction of travel x. The cleaning nozzles 24 are disposed in front of the see-through area 20 when viewed along the line of sight of the environment sensor 16. The flow guiding element 27 is an integral part of the panel component and, when viewed in the direction of travel, forms a lateral protrusion of the roof module 10 (which widens the roof module 10 in the vehicle width direction y at this point). Due to the flow guiding element 27, the rear corner area essentially remains in the slipstream.
[0063] FIG. 8 shows a comparative view between cleaning by a cleaning nozzle 24 when a flow guiding element 27 is used and without a flow guiding element 27 in a top view from above. The environment sensor 16 is disposed in a front area of the roof module 10. An ideal fluid cone 26 of the first cleaning nozzle 24 (on the left-hand side of the figure) is shown with continuous lines. An ideal fluid cone 26 of the second cleaning nozzle 24 (on the right-hand side of the figure) is also shown with continuous lines. These fluid cones 26 correspond to fluid cones present when the see-through area 20 is cleaned in the absence of wind, i.e., without the influence of headwind W. In comparison, a fluid cone 26 disturbed by the headwind W is shown with a narrowly dashed line for the first cleaning nozzle 24. As can be seen, the disturbed fluid cone 26 strikes the see-through area merely in proportion compared to the ideal fluid cone 26, as a result of which the cleaning effect of the first cleaning nozzle 24 decreases. On the left-hand side of the figure, on the other hand, the flow guiding element 27 is disposed. The flow guiding element 27 deflects the headwind away from the see-through area 20, so the see-through area 20 is essentially wind-free. As a result, a fluid cone 26 (shown as a dash-dot line) is only imperceptibly deflected from its ideal state under the influence of the flow guiding element 27 with the result that the flow guiding element 27 can approximate the cleaning effect to a wind-free optimum case.
[0064] FIGS. 9 to 13 show further embodiment examples of a flow guiding element 27. Here, the flow guiding element 27 at least externally forms a wind deflector and/or a wind guiding element and/or a spoiler. The at least one cleaning nozzle 24 is disposed on the flow guiding element 27 or integrated in it.
[0065] So the flow guiding element 27 effects an aerodynamic optimization of the air flow around the vehicle, as shown schematically in FIG. 12. The flow guiding element 27 acts as a flow guide which deflects a flow S away from the see-through area 20. The see-through area 20 is thus preferably disposed at least in a low-flow area of the roof so that the cleaning effect is not or only slightly influenced by the flow S. The flow guiding element 27 can preferably be connected to the cleaning nozzle 24 via at least one supporting component 42. Alternatively, the cleaning nozzle 24 can also be at least partially integrated in the flow guiding element 27. At least one seal 43, which preferably prevents moisture from entering via the flow guiding element 27, may be disposed between the flow guiding element 27 and the roof rail 102, 106 and/or the panel component 12. A plurality of cleaning nozzles 24 can also be covered by or comprised in the flow guiding element 27 (see FIG. 13 as an example), for example in a series connection. For example, respective valves 44 can be disposed between the individual cleaning nozzles 24. The cleaning fluid is fed to the at least one cleaning nozzle 24 via at least one supply line 45.
[0066] The flow guiding element 27 can, for example, be disposed on the panel component 12 or on one of the roof rails, in particular the transverse rail 102 and/or the longitudinal rail 106.
