Cleaning device for applying a media pulse to a surface according to the venturi principle, compressed-air system, cleaning method, control system and vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12377815-B2
Application number	US-202017606066-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2020
Priority date	May 3, 2019
Publication date	Aug 5, 2025
Grant date	Aug 5, 2025

Abstract

A cleaning device for dispensing a gaseous medium and/or a medium mixture includes a mixing element having a first feed connection in a main medium feed line, a second feed connection in a medium feed branch line, and a dispensing connection configured to dispense the gaseous medium and/or the medium mixture. The cleaning device further includes a pressure chamber on the main medium feed line and a switching valve arranged in the main medium feed line, downstream or and/or at the pressure chamber. The switching valve is configured to prevent passage of the gaseous medium through the mixing element in a first switching state and to allow passage of the gaseous medium in a second switching state. The cleaning device optionally additionally includes a regulating device arranged in the medium feed branch line and configured to regulate a feed of the liquid medium.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A cleaning device for dispensing a gaseous medium and/or a medium mixture that consists of the gaseous medium and a liquid medium, the cleaning device comprising:
a mixing element having:
a first feed connection, in a main medium feed line, configured to feed the gaseous medium for passage through the mixing element,
a second feed connection, in a medium feed branch line, configured to feed the liquid medium transversely to the passage into the mixing element, and
a dispensing connection configured to dispense the gaseous medium and/or the medium mixture;
a pressure chamber on the main medium feed line;
a switching valve arranged in the main medium feed line, downstream of or at the pressure chamber, and configured to prevent passage of the gaseous medium through the mixing element in a first switching state and to allow passage of the gaseous medium in a second switching state, the switching valve being formed as a 3/2-way valve or as a double check valve; and
wherein the switching valve is configured as a bridging valve, the bridging valve having a bridging connection for bypassing the mixing element, wherein the bridging connection is connected directly to the dispensing connection.

2. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the mixing element is a venturi mixing element.

3. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the dispensing connection is the only dispensing connection.

4. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the switching valve is arranged in the main medium feed line between a first medium source and the first feed connection of the mixing element.

5. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the switching valve is arranged in the main medium feed line downstream of a pressure limiting valve.

6. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein a pressure venting valve is arranged between the pressure limiting valve and the switching valve.

7. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a regulating device arranged in the medium feed branch line and configured to regulate a feed of the liquid medium,
wherein in the second switching state of the switching valve in the main medium feed line, in which passage of the gaseous medium through the mixing element is allowed:
the regulating device in the medium feed branch line prevents, in a first state, feeding of the liquid medium, wherein the gaseous medium is present at the dispensing connection in such a way that the dispensing connection can be supplied only with the gaseous medium, and
the regulating device in the medium feed branch line allows, in a second state, feeding of the liquid medium, wherein the gaseous medium is present at the dispensing connection and the liquid medium can be drawn in at the second feed connection in order to supply the dispensing connection with the medium mixture, and
wherein the regulating device is designed as a metering and control device configured to meter and control the liquid medium, the metering and control device having:
an optionally adjustable restrictor that functions as a control device and an intermediate reservoir that functions as a metering device, and/or a 2/2-way valve.

8. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pressure chamber is connected directly to a pressure chamber connection of the switching valve.

9. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pressure chamber is connected via a pressure chamber connecting valve to a medium source connection of the switching valve.

10. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a first medium source is connected via the main medium feed line to a medium source connection of a pressure chamber connecting valve and/or to a medium source connection of the switching valve.

11. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the switching valve is designed as a solenoid valve in the main medium feed line, wherein the 3/2-way valve or the double check valve each have a medium source connection and a mixing element connection in the main medium feed line.

12. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a composition and spraying of a medium sequence can be controlled in terms of time.

13. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gaseous medium and/or the medium mixture of the gaseous medium and the liquid medium can be dispensed in a pulse-type manner.

14. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a heating device is formed in the medium feed branch line, the heating device being configured to heat the liquid medium relative to an ambient temperature.

15. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning agent source configured to provide a cleaning agent into the liquid medium.

16. The cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a regulating device arranged in the medium feed branch line and configured to regulate a feed of the liquid medium,
wherein in the second switching state of the switching valve in the main medium feed line, in which passage of the gaseous medium through the mixing element is allowed:
the regulating device in the medium feed branch line prevents, in a first state, feeding of the liquid medium, wherein the gaseous medium is present at the dispensing connection in such a way that the dispensing connection can be supplied only with the gaseous medium, and
the regulating device in the medium feed branch line allows, in a second state, feeding of the liquid medium, wherein the gaseous medium is present at the dispensing connection and the liquid medium can be drawn in at the second feed connection in order to supply the dispensing connection with the medium mixture, and
wherein for the first switching state of the switching valve, the regulating device in the medium feed branch line prevents feeding of the liquid medium.

17. A compressed-air system for cleaning a surface, the compressed-air system comprising:
at least one sensor of a sensor system, the at least one sensor having a sensor surface;
at least one cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 ;
a first medium source configured to be connected via the main medium feed line to a medium source connection of the switching valve;
a second medium source configured to be connected via the medium feed branch line to the second feed connection of the mixing element; and
at least one spray nozzle configured to be connected via a spray nozzle feed line to the dispensing connection.

18. The compressed-air system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the at least one spray nozzle is designed with a common outlet opening for the gaseous medium and the medium mixture.

19. The compressed-air system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the first medium source is a compressed-air source and the second medium source is a fluid tank, and/or the second medium source is arranged below the mixing element.

20. The compressed-air system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the first medium source is configured to supply an air spring system or a similar pneumatic system, and/or the second medium source is configured to supply a window cleaning system.

21. The compressed-air system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

22. A cleaning method for cleaning a surface, comprising:
providing the cleaning device as claimed in claim 1 ; and
cleaning the surface with the cleaning device.

23. A vehicle having a compressed-air sys

Assignees

• Zf Cv Systems Hannover Gmbh
• Zf Cv Systems Europe Bv

Inventors

• Dieckmann Thomas
• Fiebrandt Jan
• Schuenemann Gerd
• Cohrs Jan

Classifications

• B60S1/52

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

• B60S1/487

  the liquid being heated (nozzles provided with heating means B60S1/52) · CPC title

• B60S1/481

  the operation of at least part of the liquid supply being controlled by electric means (electrical washing liquid warming-up means B60S1/488) · CPC title

• B05B7/16

  incorporating means for heating {or cooling} the material to be sprayed {(spraying by means of explosions B05B7/0006)} · CPC title

• G02B27/0006

  with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation (G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B) · CPC title