Circular spray nozzle system and method for cleaning a cylindrical surface of a component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10232828-B2
Application number	US-201615354159-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2016
Priority date	Nov 17, 2016
Publication date	Mar 19, 2019
Grant date	Mar 19, 2019

Abstract

A spray nozzle system includes a housing having an upper cap, a neck portion for helping to support the housing adjacent a component, and at least one fluid flow line for supplying a fluid to an interior area of the housing. A plurality of spray nozzles may be included which are housed in the housing and in communication with the at least one fluid line for distributing the fluid over a circumferential surface of the component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spray nozzle system comprising:
a housing including an upper cap;
a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor comprising a cylindrical lens through which the LIDAR sensor projects optical signals and receives optical signals;
a neck portion configured to support the housing adjacent to the cylindrical lens;
a fluid flow line for supplying a fluid to an interior area of the housing; and
a plurality of spray nozzles housed in the housing and in communication with the fluid flow line, the plurality of spray nozzles configured to distribute the fluid over an outer surface of the cylindrical lens at an acute angle relative to the outer surface of the cylindrical lens.

2. The spray nozzle system of claim 1 , wherein the spray nozzles distribute the fluid over at least 90 to 99 percent of the outer surface of the cylindrical lens.

3. The spray nozzle system of claim 1 , wherein the spray nozzles are equidistantly spaced in a circumferential pattern.

4. The spray nozzle system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid flow line extends through an interior of the neck portion.

5. The spray nozzle system of claim 1 , further comprising an additional fluid flow line for supplying an additional fluid to the plurality of spray nozzles.

6. The spray nozzle system of claim 5 , wherein the fluid comprises a liquid cleaning fluid and the additional fluid comprises air.

7. The spray nozzle system of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a plenum for receiving the fluid from the fluid flow line and distributing the fluid to the plurality of spray nozzles.

8. The spray nozzle system of claim 5 , wherein the housing includes a plenum for receiving and distributing the fluid and the additional fluid to the plurality of spray nozzles.

9. The spray nozzle system of claim 1 , further comprising a mounting bracket having a neck portion, and a lower support wall, the lower support wall cooperating with the housing to form an enclosure, and the mounting bracket including a slot to enable adjustable positioning of the housing relative to a surface from which the spray nozzle system is supported.

10. The spray nozzle system of claim 6 , wherein the upper cap includes a concave circumferential channel for collecting fluid, and a drain channel in communication with the concave circumferential channel for draining the fluid off of the upper cap.

11. The spray nozzle system of claim 9 , wherein the upper cap includes an upturned rear portion.

12. A spray nozzle system comprising:
a housing including an upper cap;
a cylindrical lens through which a sensor projects optical signals and receives optical signals;
a neck portion configured to support the housing adjacent to the cylindrical lens;
first and second fluid lines for supplying first and second fluids to an interior area of the housing; and
a plurality of spray nozzles housed in the housing and in communication with the first and second fluid lines for distributing the first and second fluids over an outer surface of the cylindrical lens to clean the outer surface of the cylindrical lens.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the housing includes a plenum in communication with the first and second fluid lines and each one of the plurality of spray nozzles, for distributing the first and second fluids to the plurality of spray nozzles.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the housing further includes a fitting in communication with the first and second fluid lines.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a pair of conduits in communication with the fitting for providing independent flow paths to the plenum for the first and second fluids.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the upper cap includes a concave circumferential channel for collecting fluid, and a drain channel in communication with the concave circumferential channel for draining the fluid off of the upper cap.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the upper cap includes an upturned rear portion.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the plurality of spray nozzles are configured to distribute the first and second fluids over the outer surface of the cylindrical lens at an acute angle relative to the outer surface of the cylindrical lens.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Ekola Benjamin M
• Jozwiak Thomas W
• Dallos Jr Robert
• Kidston Kevin S
• Bednarchik John H
• Cody-Gump Suzanne M
• Wright Adam L
• Nickolaou James N
• Young David A

Classifications

• B60S1/52 Primary

  Arrangement of nozzles; {Liquid spreading means}(nozzles per se B05B) · CPC title

• B60S1/54

  using gas, e.g. hot air · CPC title

• B05B12/14

  for supplying a selected one of a plurality of liquids or other fluent materials {or several in selected proportions} to a {spray apparatus, e.g. to a} single spray outlet · CPC title

• B05B9/0423

  for supplying liquid or other fluent material to several spraying apparatus · CPC title

• B60S1/56

  specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens {(rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602)} · CPC title