Cleaning device, cleaning device system and vehicle with a sensoric system including at least a sensor for automated driving and method of spray cleaning of a sensor surface with the cleaning device

A vehicle including at least one of a sensor system and an ADAS system, the vehicle comprising:

• at least a sensor having a surface and being configured for automated driving;
• and,
• a cleaning device adapted for spray cleaning said surface of said sensor;
• the cleaning device including:
• a spray-body having a spray-nozzle and a body-housing;
• said body-housing having a liquid fluid inlet and a pressurized air inlet;
• a liquid fluid connection connected to said liquid fluid inlet and a pressurized air fluid connection connected to said pressurized air inlet so as to induce suction pressure at said liquid fluid connection upon providing pressurized air flow from said pressurized air inlet to said spray-nozzle;
• a hydraulic flow path defining a liquid fluid duct and being connected to said liquid fluid connection;
• a liquid reservoir;
• a hydraulic valve arranged in said liquid fluid duct and being configured for selectively controlling supplying liquid fluid from said liquid reservoir to said liquid fluid inlet;
• a pneumatic flow path connected to said pressurized air fluid connection;
• said pneumatic flow path defining a pressurized air fluid duct;
• a pressurizer for providing pressurized air;
• a pneumatic valve arranged in said pressurized air fluid duct and being configured to selectively control supplying pressurized air fluid from said pressurizer;
• said spray-nozzle being configured to spray the liquid fluid and the pressurized air fluid as a mixture in an aerosol jet from said spray-nozzle when supplied to said spray-nozzle by said fluid connections;
• and,
• wherein said spray-nozzle includes a spray set-up assembly defining an air cap and a liquid cap;
• said spray set-up assembly is pressure-tightly connected to said body-housing for defining a spray-path therethrough;
• and, the spray set-up assembly is distally secured by a retainer ring.

A method of spray cleaning a sensor surface of a sensor with a cleaning device adapted for spray cleaning the sensor surface, the cleaning device including:

• a spray-body having a spray-nozzle and a body-housing;
• said body-housing having a liquid fluid inlet and a pressurized air inlet;
• a liquid fluid connection connected to said liquid fluid inlet and a pressurized air fluid connection is connected to said pressurized air inlet so as to induce suction pressure at said liquid fluid connection upon providing pressurized air flow from said pressurized air inlet to said spray-nozzle;
• a hydraulic flow path defining a liquid fluid duct and being connected to said liquid fluid connection;
• a liquid reservoir;
• a hydraulic valve arranged in said liquid fluid duct and being configured for selectively controlling supplying liquid fluid from said liquid reservoir to said liquid fluid inlet;
• a pneumatic flow path connected to said pressurized air fluid connection;
• said pneumatic flow path defining a pressurized air fluid duct;
• a pressurizer for providing pressurized air;
• a pneumatic valve arranged in said pressurized air fluid duct and being configured to selectively control supplying pressurized air fluid from said pressurizer;
• and, said spray-nozzle being configured to spray the liquid fluid and the pressurized air fluid as a mixture in an aerosol jet from said spray-nozzle when supplied to said spray-nozzle by said liquid fluid connection and said pressurized air fluid connection;
• wherein said spray-nozzle includes a spray set-up assembly defining an air cap and a liquid cap;
• said spray set-up assembly is pressure-tightly connected to said body-housing for defining a spray-path therethrough;
• and, the spray set-up assembly is distally secured by a retainer ring;
• the method comprising the steps of:
• inducing a suction pressure at the liquid fluid connection upon providing pressurized airflow from the pressurized air inlet to the spray-nozzle;
• selectively controlling supplying liquid fluid via a two-way solenoid hydraulic valve from said liquid reservoir to the liquid fluid inlet;
• selectively controlling supplying pressurized air fluid via a two-way solenoid pneumatic valve from a pressurizer to the pressurized air fluid inlet;
• and,
• adapting the spray-nozzle to spray the liquid fluid and the pressurized air fluid as a mixture in an aerosol jet from the spray-nozzle when supplied to the spray-nozzle via the fluid connections.