Module for cleaning an optical element or a device for protecting an optical element and associated driving assistance system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019381974-A1
Application number	US-201916445846-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 19, 2019
Priority date	Jun 19, 2018
Publication date	Dec 19, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention also concerns a corresponding driving assistance system.

First claim

1 . A module for cleaning a protection device of an optical element configured to equip a motor vehicle, the protection device having a surface of revolution around an axis of revolution, the cleaning module comprising:
a wiper blade configured to extend in a first general direction parallel to the axis of revolution of the protection device, the wiper blade including a wiper rubber configured to extend from the wiper blade toward the surface of revolution in a second general direction perpendicular to the first general direction of extension of the wiper blade:
wherein the wiper rubber is configured to wipe the surface of revolution of the protection device during relative movement of rotation between the wiper blade and the protection device about the revolution axis; and
a cleaning liquid feed pipe fixed to the wiper blade, said cleaning liquid feed pipe including at least one opening for spraying cleaning liquid disposed so as to define a direction of spraying the cleaning liquid forming an angle between 0° and 15° inclusive with the second general direction.

2 . The cleaning module according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning liquid feed pipe is fixed to the wiper blade on the side opposite the wiper rubber.

3 . The cleaning module according to claim 1 , wherein the wiper blade further includes at least one stiffener spine extending in the first general direction, said stiffener spine being disposed on the wiper blade on the side opposite the wiper rubber.

4 . The cleaning module according to claim 1 , further comprising at least two clipping means configured to connect the cleaning liquid feed pipe to the wiper blade.

5 . The cleaning module according to claim 1 , further comprising a first end cap and a second end cap disposed at the longitudinal ends of the wiper blade.

6 . The cleaning module according to claim 4 , wherein the cleaning liquid feed pipe includes an inlet for supplying the cleaning liquid feed pipe with cleaning liquid disposed at a first end of the cleaning liquid feed pipe.

7 . The cleaning module according to claim 5 , wherein the inlet of the cleaning liquid feed pipe cooperates with the first end cap, the first end cap being configured to make the connection between the inlet of the cleaning liquid feed pipe and a main pipe configured to supply the cleaning liquid feed pipe with cleaning liquid.

8 . The cleaning module according to claim 1 , wherein the cleaning liquid feed pipe includes an inlet for feeding the cleaning liquid feed pipe with cleaning liquid, said inlet being disposed in an offset manner relative to the first end and the second end of the cleaning liquid feed pipe.

9 . The cleaning module according to claim 6 , wherein the inlet of the cleaning liquid feed pipe is connected directly to a main pipe configured to supply the cleaning liquid feed pipe with cleaning liquid.

10 . The cleaning module according to claim 6 , wherein:
said module includes at least one first clipping means and one second clipping means disposed at the ends of the cleaning liquid feed pipe, and the first clipping means is disposed at the inlet of the cleaning liquid feed pipe and configured to make the connection between the inlet and a main pipe configured to supply the cleaning liquid feed pipe with cleaning liquid.

11 . A driving assistance system for a motor vehicle, comprising:
at least one optical element; at least one device for protection of said at least one optical element having a surface of revolution about an axis of revolution; at least one module according to claim 1 for cleaning said at least one protection device; and at least one actuator configured to generate the relative movement of rotation between the protection device and the wiper blade of the cleaning module about the axis of revolution of the protection device.

12 . The driving assistance system according to claim 11 , wherein the protection device is configured to be mounted on and fixed to the motor vehicle and the wiper blade is configured to be mounted to be mobile relative to the protection device.

13 . The driving assistance system according to claim 11 , wherein the wiper blade is configured to be mounted on and fixed to the motor vehicle and the protection device is configured to be mounted to be mobile relative to the wiper blade.

14 . The driving assistance system according to claim 11 , further comprising an electronic control unit configured to control the cleaning of the protection device by the cleaning module.

Assignees

• Valeo Systemes Dessuyage

Inventors

• Caillot Gérald
• Jarasson Jean-Michel
• Izabel Vincent

Classifications

• G01S17/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• B60S1/566 Primary

  including wiping devices (B60S1/563, B60S1/583 take precedence) · 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

• B60S1/60 Primary

  for signalling devices, e.g. reflectors · CPC title

• B60S1/522

  moving liquid spreading means, e.g. arranged in wiper arms · CPC title