Compressor cooling system for cleaning a vehicle sensor

Proposed is a compressor cooling system for cleaning a vehicle sensor, the system including: a rainwater sensor unit provided on a front window of a vehicle for detecting rainwater; a rainwater collection unit for collecting the rainwater flowing down to under the front window; a water pump unit connected to the rainwater collection unit for discharging the collected rainwater to an air compressor; and an air compressor cooling unit combined with the air compressor and having an inlet flow path and an outlet flow path inside, the discharged rainwater cooling the air compressor while flowing through the inlet flow path and the outlet flow path.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) the benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0008256 filed on Jan. 20, 2022, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

(a) Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a compressor cooling system for cleaning a vehicle sensor and, more particularly, to a compressor cooling system for cleaning a vehicle sensor, the system being capable of cooling a compressor to clean a sensor by utilizing rainwater collected when a wiper is driven, without being equipped with a separate coolant tank.

(b) Background Art

Usually, an optical detection system is a name given to any system including a plurality of cameras and laser sensors (commonly referred to as LIDARs) or other optical sensors that operate based on emission or detection of spectrum light, particularly, infrared light that is visible or invisible to the human eye.

There is an increasing number of vehicles that adopt this type of optical detection system in order to assist a driver in predetermined driving situations, such as a parking situation.

The optical detection system for parking assistance needs to supply as high-quality data as possible in order to provide as effective parking assistance as possible. Accordingly, the optical detection system is required to maintain a clean state to acquire such data.

To this end, as known in the related art, a cleaning apparatus is mounted in the vicinity of the optical sensor. The cleaning apparatus is configured to eject cleaning liquid or air immediately before performing detection by the optical detection system.

Since the optical sensor is not within a driver's field of vision, the optical sensor is set to be automatically cleaned with a predetermined period. However, a cleaning operation may be performed at the improper time and, more specifically, may be performed at the improper time in a specific driving situation.

For example, at the moment when the driver begins to bring his/her vehicle to a stop for parking or to select reverse gear, an operation of cleaning a camera lens for parking assistance may be unsuitably performed. This cleaning operation may cause only trouble or inconvenience during parking. For instance, the operation of cleaning may lead to a vehicle accident in an unexpected situation, depending on which sensor the operation of cleaning is performed for.

Moreover, when the operation of cleaning is automatically triggered while the vehicle travels at a high speed, cleaning liquid drops may cover a portion of the driver's field of vision and thus may distract the driver from driving his/her vehicle, leading to accident risk.

In addition, when the operation of cleaning is continually performed for a long time while the vehicle travels, temperature of a compressor that ejects a fluid or air for cleaning is increased. The disadvantage is that in a situation where the operation of cleaning is necessary, driving/operation of the compressor may be limited.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosure and accordingly it may include information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure has been made in efforts to solve the above problem, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a compressor cooling system for cleaning a vehicle sensor, the system being capable of operating a water pump using a rain sensor used to drive (i.e., operate) a wiper in rainy weather and of selectively cooling an air compressor for cleaning a sensor by utilizing rainwater collected by operating the water pump. With this compressor cooling system, driving of the water pump is controlled by utilizing a rain sensor in the related art, without additionally providing a separate sensor for driving the water pump.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a compressor cooling system for cleaning a vehicle sensor, the system including: a rainwater sensor unit provided on a front window of a vehicle and configured to detect rainwater; a rainwater collection unit configured to collect the rainwater flowing down to under the front window; a water pump unit connected to the rainwater collection unit and configured to discharge the collected rainwater to an air compressor; and an air compressor cooling unit combined with the air compressor and having an inlet flow path and an outlet flow path inside, the discharged rainwater cooling the air compressor while flowing through the inlet flow path and the outlet flow path.

In the compressor cooling system, the water pump unit may operate selectively by driving a wiper.

In the compressor cooling system, a driving speed of the water pump unit may be selectively adjusted according to an amount of the rainwater detected through the rainwater sensor unit and to a time for which the air compressor is driven.

In the compressor cooling system, the rainwater collection unit may collect the rainwater when the rainwater sensor unit detects the rainwater, and the wiper operates.

In the compressor cooling system, the rainwater collection unit may be mounted under a cowl top cover on which a wiper configured to wipe the front window is mounted.

In the compressor cooling system, a connection path connecting an upper portion and a lower portion of the cowl top cover may be provided in the cowl top cover.

In the compressor cooling system, the rainwater collection unit may be mounted under the connection path.

In the compressor cooling system, the connection path may be formed in the shape of a comb or in matrix form.

In the compressor cooling system, the rainwater collection unit may include: a main body having an internal space inside and formed in such a manner that a lower portion thereof is inclined to one side; and a connection tube connected to the water pump unit by being combined with one side of the lower portion of the main body and forming a flow path along which the rainwater collected in the internal space in the main body flows to the water pump unit when the water pump unit is driven.

In the compressor cooling system, the air compressor cooling unit may include: an entrance portion forming the inlet flow path; a circulation portion connected to the entrance portion and forming a circulation flow path for the rainwater flowing through the inlet flow path; and an exit portion connected to the circulation portion and forming the outlet flow path for the rainwater cooling the air compressor while flowing through the circulation flow path.

In the compressor cooling system, the entrance portion, the circulation portion, and the exit portion may be formed, as one module, into the air compressor cooling unit in such a manner as to surround an outer circumferential surface of the air compressor, and the air compressor cooling unit may be detachably combined with the air compressor.

According to the present disclosure, in rainy weather, the water pump operates using the rainwater sensor used to drive the wiper. As described above, when the water pump operates, the air compressor for sensor cleaning is selectively cooled by utilizing the collected rainwater. Thus, the advantageous effect of performing driving control of the water pump by utilizing an existing rainwater sensor without additionally providing a separate sensor for driving the water pump can be achieved.

Therefore, according to the present disclosure, a rainy situation is reflected in real time, and thus the driving of the air compressor can be prevented from being limited due to heat generated by the air compressor. Accordingly, stable cleaning of the surface of the sensor is possible, and the selective driving of the water pump using only the rainwater sensor is possible. Thus, the advantageous effect of minimizing the number of sensors and thus consumption of the electric power can be achieved.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, when the air compressor for sensor cleaning is driven for a long time, the rainwater is utilized as a means of cooling the air compressor without a separate coolant storage tank being provided. Thus, the advantageous effect of simplifying a structure of the air compressor can be achieved.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An advantage and a feature of the present disclosure and a method of achieving the advantage and the feature should be apparent from the embodiment that is described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment that is disclosed below and may be practiced in various different forms. The embodiment is only provided to make a complete disclosure of the present disclosure and to provide a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains with definite notice as to the scope of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure should be only defined as in the claims.

In addition, a detailed description of a well-known technology or the like related to the present disclosure, when determined as making the gist and nature of the present disclosure obfuscated, is omitted.

FIG.1is a view illustrating an air compressor cooling unit of a compressor cooling system for cleaning a vehicle sensor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.2is a view illustrating a state where the air compressor cooling unit of the compressor cooling system for cleaning a vehicle sensor according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is separated from an air compressor.

FIGS.3A and3Bare views illustrating a mounting position of a rainwater collection unit of the compressor cooling system for cleaning a vehicle sensor according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.3Cis a view illustrating a connection path in the compressor cooling system for cleaning a vehicle sensor according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.3Dis a view illustrating a mounted state of the rainwater collection unit of the compressor cooling system for cleaning a vehicle sensor according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG.4is a view illustrating a flow of the rainwater in the compressor cooling system for cleaning a vehicle sensor according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

Normally, situations where a plurality of sensors mounted in vehicles, such as autonomous driving vehicles, are contaminated may include not only a contamination situation caused by dust, but also a contamination situation caused by raindrops in rainy weather.

In the above-mentioned situation where a surface of the sensor is contaminated with the raindrops, there is a need to continuously remove a contamination source through air cleaning. In this case, when an air compressor4is driven (i.e., operated) for up to a limited driving time for which the driving thereof is possible, there may occur a problem in that the driving of the air compressor4is limited due to an increase in temperature of the air compressor4.

In order to solve this problem, as illustrated inFIGS.1-4, the compressor cooling system for cleaning a vehicle sensor according to the present embodiment includes a rainwater sensor unit100, a rainwater collection unit200, a water pump unit300, and an air compressor cooling unit400.

The rainwater sensor unit100is provided on a front window1of a vehicle and detects rainwater.

Usually, a wiper3that wipes raindrops off an external surface of the front window1in rainy weather is provided on the front window1(refer toFIG.3A). Accordingly, a driver in the vehicle may manually control the wiper3according to a surrounding environment.

In rainy weather, the driver may change a speed of the wiper3using a manually operated switch that is preset to change the speed of the wiper3in a stepwise manner. However, the driver needs to manually operate the switch according to the surrounding environment. This manual operation may distract the driver and may even lead to a vehicle accident.

Accordingly, in recent years, the rainwater sensor unit100has been required to be provided inside the vehicle. Thus, a size of the raindrop and an amount of the rainwater remaining on the surface of the front window1are measured. A driving signal is output to a wiper drive unit, using results of the measurement. A technique of automatically driving the wiper3in this manner has been employed.

Desirably, the rainwater sensor unit100may detect the rainwater through an optical detection technique. More desirably, a technique of measuring the size of the raindrop and the amount of the rainwater may be employed.

When the rainwater is detected by the rainwater sensor unit100, and thus the wiper3operates, the rainwater collection unit200collects the rainwater flowing down to under the front window1.

As illustrated inFIG.3B(the drawing resulting from enlarging portion A ofFIG.3A), the rainwater collection unit200is mounted under a cowl top cover2on which the wiper3is positioned. Accordingly, when the wiper3operates, the rainwater flowing down from the front window1may flow toward an inclined center portion of the cowl top cover2, may flow therethrough, and may be collected in the rainwater collection unit200.

In other words, the rainwater collection unit200serves to collect the rainwater flowing in the upward and downward direction when the wiper3operates. Specifically, the rainwater collection unit200is mounted under the cowl top cover2, i.e., under a connection path2aconnecting upper and lower portions of the cowl top cover2exposed to the outside at the cowl top cover2. More desirably, the connection path2a, as illustrated inFIG.3C, may be formed in the shape of a comb or in matrix form in order to prevent a large amount of the rainwater from being introduced at one time into the rainwater collection unit200.

The rainwater collection unit200, as illustrated inFIG.3D, includes a main body210and a connection tube220.

An internal space having a predetermined size is formed inside the main body210. The main body210may be formed in such a manner that a lower portion thereof is inclined to one side.

Accordingly, when introduced into the center portion of the cowl top cover2, the rainwater is collected in the internal space in the main body210. In other words, the rainwater flows along the inclined portion of the main body210and thus flows to one side.

In addition, the connection tube220is integrally combined with the main body210at the lower portion thereof in such a manner as to have a predetermined length and is connected to a water pump unit300.

The connection tube220forms a flow path along which the rainwater collected in the internal space in the main body210flows to the water pump unit300when the water pump unit300is driven (i.e., operated).

The water pump unit300, as described above, is connected to the rainwater collection unit200, and selectively operates when the wiper3is driven.

Accordingly, when operating by the driving of the wiper3, the water pump unit300, as described inFIG.4, discharges the rainwater collected in the rainwater collection unit200, along a direction indicated by an arrow, to the air compressor cooling unit400.

The water pump unit300is configured in such a manner that a driving speed thereof is selectively adjusted according to an amount of the rainwater detected through the rainwater sensor unit100and to a time for which the air compressor4is driven.

In other words, through reiterated experiments and evaluations thereof, a control logic for the driving speed of the water pump unit300may be configured using a compensation coefficient α corresponding to a correlation between contamination with the surface of the sensor due to the rainwater and the time for which the air compressor4is continuously driven to remove a contaminant on the surface of the senser. As an example, the control logic, such as “an operating speed of the water pump unit300=α (the compensation coefficient)×the amount of the rainwater detected by the rainwater sensor unit100” may be configured. With this control logic, the driving speed of the water pump unit300may be controlled.

Therefore, according to the present disclosure, without additionally providing a separate sensor for controlling the driving speed of the water pump unit300, the driving speed of the water pump unit300may be selectively controlled using the amount of the rainwater detected through the rainwater sensor unit100mounted on the vehicle, or using a combination of the amount of the rainwater detected and the time for which the air compressor4is continuously driven. Thus, the consumption of electric power for driving an additional sensor can be minimized.

The air compressor cooling unit400, as illustrated inFIGS.1and2, is combined with the air compressor4and has both an inlet flow path and an outlet flow path. When the water pump unit300is driven, the discharged rainwater cools the air compressor4while flowing through the inlet flow path and the outlet flow path.

To this end, the air compressor cooling unit400may include an entrance portion410, a circulation portion420, and an exit portion430.

First, the entrance portion410, although not illustrated in the drawings, has an inlet flow path in the shape of an ordinary pipe inside. This inlet flow path is connected to a tube310extending from an outlet port of the water pump unit300(refer toFIG.4).

In addition, the circulation portion420is formed to have the same structure as the entrance portion410and is connected to the entrance portion410. Accordingly, a circulation flow path for the rainwater flowing through the inlet flow path is formed. Consequently, the flow discharged by the water pump unit300may flow along the entrance portion410and the circulation portion420.

Moreover, the exit portion430has the same structure as the entrance portion410and the circulation portion420and is connected to the circulation portion420. The exit portion430forms the outlet flow path for the rainwater cooling the air compressor4while flowing through the circulation flow path.

The air compressor cooling unit400is mounted in such a manner as to surround an outer circumferential surface of the air compressor4(refer toFIG.1).

The entrance portion410, the circulation portion420, and the exit portion430may be formed, as one module, into the air compressor cooling unit400(refer toFIG.2).

It is also possible that the air compressor cooling unit400is detachably attached to the air compressor4. Accordingly, when the air compressor4is driven for a long time for sensor cleaning, the air compressor cooling unit400can be easily replaced when it is determined that cooling performance of the air compressor cooling unit400is decreased. Thus, the effective maintenance of the air compressor cooling unit400is possible.

Along with this, according to the present embodiment, without providing a separate coolant storage tank for cooling the air compressor4, the rainwater is collected through the rainwater collection unit200, and the cooling is performed using the collected rainwater. Consequently, not only is structural simplification of the air compressor4possible, but reduction of a weight thereof is also possible.

According to the present disclosure, in rainy weather, the water pump operates using the rainwater sensor used to drive the wiper. As described above, when the water pump operates, the air compressor for sensor cleaning is selectively cooled by utilizing the collected rainwater. Thus, the advantageous effect of performing driving control of the water pump by utilizing an existing rainwater sensor without additionally providing a separate sensor for driving the water pump can be achieved.

Therefore, according to the present disclosure, the driving of the air compressor can be prevented from being limited due to heat generated by the air compressor. Accordingly, stable cleaning of the surface of the sensor is possible, and the selective driving of the water pump using only the rainwater sensor is possible. Thus, the advantageous effect of minimizing the number of sensors and thus consumption of the electric power can be achieved.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, when the air compressor for sensor cleaning is driven for a long time, the rainwater is utilized as a means of cooling the air compressor without a separate coolant storage tank being provided. Thus, the advantageous effect of making a structure of the air compressor simplified can be achieved.

The embodiment of the present disclosure is described above only in a representative manner with reference to the drawings. It would be understandable to a person of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains that various modifications can be made to the embodiment and that embodiments resulting from the modifications can be configured to be selectively combined. The legitimate technical scope of the present disclosure should be determined by the technical idea that is defined in the following claims.