System and method for cleaning a vehicle-mounted sensor

A system comprising:

• an air pump including a pump body defining a pump chamber including a washing liquid chamber and an air compression chamber, the pump body having a liquid opening in fluid communication with the washing liquid chamber, an air outlet, and an air inlet disposed proximate to the air outlet, wherein the air outlet and air inlet are in fluid communication with the air compression chamber;
• an air-fluid interface element disposed within the pump chamber having a first side defining in-part the washing liquid chamber and an opposite second side defining in-part the air compression chamber;
• a return member, the return member configured to apply a return force to the air-fluid interface element;
• a washing liquid nozzle arranged to discharge a washing liquid;
• an air nozzle;
• a conduit in direct fluid communication with and extending between the liquid opening and the washing liquid nozzle;
• and
• an electrovalve adapted to controllably isolate air flow through the air outlet.

A system comprising:

• a pump body defining a pump chamber, and including a liquid opening, an air inlet, and an air outlet;
• an air-fluid interface element disposed in the chamber and slideably sealed against the pump body, the air-fluid interface element disposed between and defining in part a fluid chamber of the pump chamber and an air chamber of the pump chamber, the liquid opening being in communication with the fluid chamber, and the air inlet and air outlet being in communication with the air chamber;
• a return member configured to bias the air-fluid interface element toward the fluid chamber;
• an air nozzle adapted to emit air upon a sensor surface;
• a liquid nozzle adapted to emit liquid upon the sensor surface;
• a liquid electrovalve in communication with the liquid nozzle and adapted to controllably isolate the flow of liquid through the liquid nozzle;
• a liquid conduit in direct fluid communication between the liquid opening and the liquid electrovalve for the simultaneous flow of liquid to the liquid opening and the liquid electrovalve;
• and
• an air electrovalve in communication with the air nozzle and adapted to controllably isolate the flow of air through the air nozzle, wherein the air electrovalve is open during the simultaneous flow of liquid to the liquid opening and the liquid electrovalve.