Harsh environment sensor enclosure and cleaning system

A sensor enclosure and cleaning system comprising:

• a plurality of sensor enclosures, each sensor enclosure including:
• a sensor chamber within which a sensor or camera is supported, said sensor or camera receiving information from the environment;
• a sensor opening through said sensor enclosure allowing the sensor or camera to receive information from the environment;
• a transparent lens spanning said sensor opening, said lens having an outside surface exposed to the environment surrounding said sensor enclosure;
• a lens washing space within said sensor enclosure and positioned adjacent a portion of the outside surface of said lens not positioned within said sensor opening, said lens washing space arranged to wash the portion of the outside surface of the lens, said lens washing space substantially sealed off from the environment surrounding the sensor enclosure;
• a washing fluid spray nozzle arranged to direct washing fluid at the outside surface of the lens within said lens washing space;
• and
• a washing fluid outlet allowing washing fluid to drain from the lens washing space;
• and
• a motor having a shaft coupled to the lens for rotating the lens to move a portion of the lens from the sensor window to the lens washing space;
• a source of washing fluid connected to the washing fluid spray nozzle of each said sensor enclosure;
• a washing fluid collection system for collecting washing fluid that drains from the washing fluid outlets of the sensor enclosures;
• a control unit connected to each of said sensor enclosures, the source of washing fluid and vehicle systems that receive data from the sensor or camera within each sensor enclosure, the control unit connected to provide power to the motor and to control delivery of washing fluid to the lens washing space of each sensor enclosure;
• wherein said control unit responds to a signal from the vehicle systems to clean the cylindrical lens of one or more sensor enclosures, said control unit, in response to said signal, initiating delivery of washing fluid to the lens washing space of said one or more sensor enclosures, and causing the motor to rotate the lens so that the portion of the lens spanning the sensor opening is moved through the lens washing space and a clean portion of the lens is moved to span the sensor opening, used washing fluid draining from the lens washing space for collection.