Cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface of a sensor apparatus
AssigneeContinental Automotive GmbH
InventorsThomas Bopp, Torsten Hahn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optically, aerodynamically and economically optimized and particularly wind-insensitive cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface of a sensor apparatus of a vehicle with a fluid cleaning agent. The surface is delimited by an encircling outer edge which is arranged so as to be substantially flush with a surrounding outer surface region, and the cleaning apparatus includes a flow body for guiding a fluid stream flowing from the spray nozzle to the surface and flowing away from the surface, wherein the flow body at least sectionally adjoins the outer edge of the surface, in particular completely surrounds the outer edge, and, at the outer edge, an outer surface of the flow body is oriented so as to be substantially tangential to the adjoining surface.
Claims15
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning a surface of a sensor apparatus of a vehicle, comprising at least one spray nozzle for discharging a fluid cleaning agent, wherein the surface is delimited by an encircling outer edge, wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises a stationary flow body which serves at least for guiding away a fluid stream flowing away from the surface, wherein the flow body at least sectionally adjoins the outer edge of the surface, wherein, at the outer edge, an outer surface of the flow body is oriented so as to be substantially tangential to the surface such that the outer surface of the flow body and the surface extend along a common line, the common line extending perpendicularly to the encircling outer edge, and wherein the flow body includes the spray nozzle at a position beneath the outer edge of the surface and beneath the outer surface of the flow body.
A structural unit comprising a cleaning apparatus combined with a sensor apparatus in a common housing, the cleaning apparatus configured for cleaning a surface of the sensor apparatus, the cleaning apparatus comprising at least one spray nozzle for discharging a fluid cleaning agent, wherein the surface is delimited by an encircling outer edge, wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises a stationary flow body which serves at least for guiding away a fluid stream flowing away from the surface, wherein the flow body at least sectionally adjoins the outer edge of the surface, and wherein, at the outer edge, an outer surface of the flow body is oriented so as to be substantially tangential to the surface such that the outer surface of the flow body and the surface extend along a common line, the common line extending perpendicularly to the encircling outer edge, and wherein the flow body includes the spray nozzle at a position beneath the outer edge of the surface and beneath the outer surface of the flow body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.