阅读说明：本技术 喷嘴装置和风挡清洗系统及其控制方法 (Nozzle device, windshield cleaning system and control method thereof ) 是由 丁媛媛 曾飞雄 白斌 谭正文 任哲钒 于 2021-01-12 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种喷嘴装置,该喷嘴装置包括缸体,缸体具有侧开口、固定到缸体的第一止挡部和第二止挡部,其中,第一止挡部能部分地阻挡侧开口；活塞,活塞能够在缩回状态中部分地闭合侧开口；活塞杆；附连到活塞杆的喷嘴,其中,活塞杆的长度设置成使得喷嘴在活塞的缩回状态中能够从缸体的第二端伸出。该装置能够根据飞行器的飞行状态和速度来调节清洗液的喷洒距离和速度,消除了现有技术中存在的清洗液喷洒速度和面积受气流影响的问题；避免了雨刷在风挡表面上干刷而导致的风挡视野模糊以及相应的雨刷损坏等问题。本发明还涉及一种包括该喷嘴装置的风挡清洗系统及该风挡清洗系统的控制方法。(The invention relates to a nozzle arrangement comprising a cylinder having a side opening, a first stop and a second stop fixed to the cylinder, wherein the first stop is capable of partially blocking the side opening; a piston capable of partially closing the side opening in the retracted state; a piston rod; a nozzle attached to the piston rod, wherein the length of the piston rod is arranged such that the nozzle is extendable from the second end of the cylinder in a retracted state of the piston. The device can adjust the spraying distance and speed of the cleaning liquid according to the flight state and speed of the aircraft, and solves the problem that the spraying speed and area of the cleaning liquid are influenced by airflow in the prior art; the problems of blurred vision of the windshield, corresponding damage to the windshield wiper and the like caused by dry brushing of the windshield wiper on the surface of the windshield are avoided. The invention also relates to a windshield cleaning system comprising the nozzle device and a control method of the windshield cleaning system.)

1. A nozzle arrangement (10), characterized in that the nozzle arrangement comprises:

a cylinder (1) having a closed first end (101), a second end (102) and a side opening (103) opening into its internal cavity, and having a first stop (6) and a second stop (7) fixed to the cylinder (1), wherein the first stop is close to the first end and partially blocks the side opening, and the second stop is fixed between the side opening and the second end close to the second end;

a piston (2) reciprocally movable in the axial direction of the cylinder (1) between a retracted state close to the first stop (6) and an extended state close to the second stop (7), wherein the piston partially closes the side opening in the retracted state;

a piston rod (3) passing through the second stop (7) and having a through opening (9) in the axial direction in the middle of the piston rod and the piston; and

a nozzle (4) attached to an end of the piston rod (3) remote from the piston (2) and in fluid communication with the through opening (9);

wherein the length of the piston rod (3) is arranged such that the nozzle (4) is extendable from the second end (102) of the cylinder (1) in a retracted state of the piston (2).

2. A nozzle arrangement (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the nozzle arrangement further comprises a pump-tank assembly (5) comprising a cleaning-tank for containing cleaning liquid (501) and a cleaning-liquid pump for pumping cleaning liquid (501), and that the cleaning-liquid pump pumps cleaning liquid (501) into the internal cavity via the side opening (103) of the cylinder (1).

3. Nozzle device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises a resetting element (8) which is arranged between the piston (2) and the second stop (7) and which in the extended state exerts an axial force towards the piston.

4. A nozzle device (10) according to claim 3, wherein the side opening (103) is formed as a stepped opening, wherein the opening of the large diameter portion is arranged close to the inner cavity, and wherein in the retracted state of the piston (2) the upper edge of the opening of the large diameter portion does not extend beyond the end surface of the piston (2) facing away from the first end (101) of the cylinder (1).

5. Nozzle device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first stop (6) and/or the second stop (7) are formed in the form of an annular ring that snaps onto the inner surface of the cylinder (1).

6. A nozzle arrangement (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the nozzle arrangement further comprises a first inner barrel (601) fixed in the inner cavity against the first stop (6) and a second inner barrel (701) fixed in the inner cavity against the second stop (7).

7. A windshield cleaning system (100), comprising:

a nozzle arrangement (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1-6;

a wiper (20) movable about a pivot point and having a cleaning member engaging the windshield;

a motor (30) coupled to the wiper (20) and driving the wiper to reciprocate about a pivot point;

a controller (40) that controls operations of the wiper (20), the motor (30), and the nozzle device (10);

a control panel (50) that sends an operation instruction to the controller (40); and

a sensor (60) that senses atmospheric data and transmits the sensed atmospheric data to the controller (50).

8. The windshield washing system (100) as recited in claim 7, characterized in that the nozzle device (10), the wipers (20), the motor (30), the controller (40), the control panel (50) and the sensor (60) are each provided in pairs, and a linkage module is provided between the pairs of controllers, such that the pairs of wipers (20) and nozzle devices (10) of the windshield washing system (100) work in cooperation.

9. The windshield cleaning system (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that a solenoid valve is arranged between the cleaning liquid pump of the nozzle device (10) and the side opening (103), the solenoid valve being connected to the controller (40), the controller controlling the opening degree of the solenoid valve based on the sensed atmospheric data.

10. A control method for controlling a windscreen washing system (100) according to any of the preceding claims 7 through 9, wherein said windscreen washing system (100) adjusts the output power or spray range of the nozzle device (10) based on sensed atmospheric data and/or flight status data from an avionics system of the aircraft.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a nozzle device and a windshield washing system comprising the same in order to achieve an adjustment of the washing mode in relation to the washing liquid spraying distance and speed, depending on the aircraft flight state and speed.

The invention also relates to a control method of the windshield cleaning system.

Background

The structural principle diagram of a windshield washing system currently used on civil aircraft is shown in fig. 1. As shown in fig. 1, the system generally includes a control panel, wiper and wash system controls, a wash fluid pump, a wash fluid tank, a motor, and wipers, among others. When it is desired to operate the aircraft windshield washing system, the pilot may first press a button of the control panel to sequentially activate the washer pump and the wiper actuator, the washer pump pumping washer fluid to the nozzles of the windshield cleaning system, spraying washer fluid through the nozzles onto the windshield surface, and then the wipers correspondingly wiping across the windshield surface to wash the windshield surface so that the pilot's field of view across the windshield surface remains clear throughout. However, the current cleaning system for civil aircraft cannot change the speed and spraying range of the cleaning liquid at the outlet of the nozzle according to the flight conditions of the aircraft, such as the flight altitude and the speed. If the flight speed of the aircraft in the sliding, taking-off, landing or landing stage is high, the cleaning liquid sprayed out through the nozzle is easily influenced by the airflow, so that the sprayed cleaning liquid cannot cover the wiping range of the windshield wiper, the wiper blade is dry-brushed on the surface of the windshield wiper, and the cleaning effect of the surface of the windshield wiper is further influenced. This may on the one hand affect the safety of the pilot during the handling of the aircraft and on the other hand may cause damage to the windshield surface or shorten the service life of the wiper blades, which in turn increases the maintenance costs of the aircraft.

Accordingly, there is a significant need for a nozzle arrangement and windshield cleaning system that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a telescopic nozzle device, and the invention also aims to provide a windshield cleaning system comprising the nozzle device and a control method thereof.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a nozzle device, comprising: a cylinder having a closed first end, a second end, and a side opening to an interior cavity of the cylinder, and having a first stop and a second stop secured to the cylinder, wherein the first stop is proximate the first end and partially blocks the side opening, and the second stop is secured proximate the second end between the side opening and the second end; a piston reciprocally movable in an axial direction of the cylinder between a retracted state near the first stopper and an extended state near the second stopper, wherein the piston partially closes the side opening in the retracted state; a piston rod passing through the second stopper portion, and having a through opening in an axial direction in the middle thereof; and a nozzle attached to an end of the piston rod remote from the piston and in fluid communication with the through opening, wherein the length of the piston rod is arranged such that the nozzle is extendable from the second end of the cylinder in a retracted state of the piston.

Like this, through making the piston can axial displacement, and then adjust the size of side opening for can adjust the flow and the length that the nozzle stretches out of the washing liquid that gets into the cylinder body, thereby can be as required, adjust the blowout scope and the jet velocity or the jet flow of washing liquid. The spraying distance and flow rate of the cleaning liquid can be adjusted according to the flight state and/or the flight speed of the aircraft, so that the condition that the wiper blade is brushed on the windshield surface when the sprayed cleaning liquid cannot cover the windshield surface to be brushed is eliminated.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the nozzle arrangement may further comprise a pump-tank assembly comprising a cleaning-liquid tank for containing cleaning liquid and a cleaning-liquid pump for pumping cleaning liquid, and the cleaning-liquid pump pumps cleaning liquid into the internal cavity via the side opening of the cylinder, whereby the piston can be controlled by means of the pump-tank assembly towards the extended state.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the nozzle device may further comprise a resetting element which may be arranged between the piston and the second stop and which in the extended state exerts an axial force towards the piston. In this way, it is possible to restore to the initial state, i.e., the retracted state of the piston, by the restoring force of the restoring member such as a spring when the nozzle device is not operating.

According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the side opening may be formed as a stepped opening, wherein the opening of the large diameter portion is disposed close to the internal cavity, and wherein an upper edge of the opening of the large diameter portion does not exceed an end surface of the piston away from the first end of the cylinder in the retracted state of the piston. Through the stepped opening arrangement, the cleaning liquid can not be leaked while the flow of the cleaning liquid entering the inner cavity is increased.

According to this aspect of the present invention, preferably, the first stopper and/or the second stopper may be formed in the form of an annular ring that is snapped to the inner surface of the cylinder. Through with the inside of annular ring block to the cylinder body for backstop structure is simple reliable, and easily processing and installation.

According to the above aspect of the present invention, preferably, the nozzle device may further include a first inner cylinder fixed in the inner cavity against the first stopper, and a second inner cylinder fixed in the inner cavity against the second stopper, so that the stopper structure is more reliable and is manufactured and installed.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the second stop may have a central opening with an inner diameter equal to the outer diameter of the piston rod. Thus, by the form fit of the central opening and the piston rod, it is possible to help avoid spillage of the cleaning liquid and prevent external dust from entering the internal cavity of the cylinder body.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a windshield cleaning system comprising: a nozzle device as described in the above aspect; a wiper movable about a pivot point and having a cleaning member engaging the windshield; a motor coupled to the wiper and driving the wiper to reciprocate about a pivot point; a controller that controls operation of the wiper, the motor, and the nozzle device; the control panel sends an operation instruction to the controller; and a sensor sensing the atmospheric data and transmitting the sensed atmospheric data to the controller.

The windshield cleaning system can adjust the output power of the nozzle device based on the atmospheric data, so that the cleaning system is suitable for various flight conditions.

Preferably, the nozzle arrangement, wipers, motor, controller, control panel and sensors are each provided in pairs and a linkage module is provided between the pairs of controllers so that the pairs of wipers and nozzle arrangement of the windshield washing system work in concert. The windshield washing system is arranged on the left windshield and the right windshield of the aircraft, so that the cleaning function which can be adjusted according to the flight condition is better realized.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the washing liquid pump may comprise a variable flow pump or a variable rotational speed pump in order to better regulate the flow of the washing liquid into the internal cavity of the cylinder. Likewise, an electromagnetic valve may be provided between the cleaning liquid pump and the side opening, the electromagnetic valve being connected to the controller, the controller controlling the degree of opening of the electromagnetic valve based on sensed atmospheric data so as to adjust the output power of the nozzle device through the electromagnetic valve, thereby more conveniently and accurately adjusting the spray range or spray amount of the cleaning liquid.

According to another aspect of the invention, a control method is also proposed for controlling a windshield washing system according to the above aspect, wherein the windshield washing system is capable of adjusting the output power or the spray range of the nozzle device on the basis of sensed atmospheric data and/or flight state data from an avionics system of the aircraft.

Therefore, the telescopic nozzle device can adjust the spraying distance and speed of the cleaning liquid according to the flight state and speed of the aircraft, eliminates the condition that the wiper blade is dry-brushed on the surface of the windshield when the wiping range of the wiper cannot be covered by the spraying range of the cleaning liquid, meets the use requirement and achieves the preset purpose.

In addition, the controller of the windshield cleaning system can receive flight state data of the aircraft from the avionics network, so that the current flight speed and the current height of the aircraft can be judged according to the flight data, and the system controller can send signals to the windshield cleaning system so as to control the output power and the extension range of the nozzle assembly, and control the output speed/flow rate of the cleaning liquid and the spraying range of the cleaning liquid according to different flight states.

Furthermore, since the side opening (cleaning fluid inlet) of the nozzle device according to the present invention can increase the inflow area of the cleaning fluid as the piston moves upward (i.e., from the retracted state to the extended state of the nozzle), when the fluid input speed is increased, the piston is pushed upward by the imbalance of the upper and lower pressure differences of the piston to bring the cleaning fluid nozzle into the extended state, at this time, the spray area of the windshield of the aircraft to be wiped, which is covered by the cleaning fluid sprayed through the nozzle, is increased, the problem that the spray speed and area of the cleaning fluid are affected by the air flow in the prior art is eliminated, the problems of blurred vision of the windshield and the corresponding damage to the windshield caused by dry brushing of the windshield wiper on the surface of the windshield are avoided, the flight safety of the aircraft is ensured, and the maintenance and upkeep costs of the aircraft are reduced.

Drawings

In order to further clarify the description of the nozzle device according to the invention and a windscreen washing system comprising the same, the invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustrative schematic view showing a prior art windshield washing system including a nozzle arrangement;

FIG. 2 is an illustrative schematic view of a nozzle arrangement according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, with the nozzle in a retracted state;

FIG. 3 is an illustrative schematic view of a nozzle arrangement according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, with the nozzle in an extended state; and

FIG. 4 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing a windshield washing system including a nozzle device according to the present invention, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

It is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts disclosed and defined herein. Thus, specific flow paths, directions or other physical characteristics referred to by the various embodiments disclosed should not be considered as limiting, unless expressly stated otherwise.

The nozzle arrangement 10 and the windshield cleaning system 100 including the nozzle arrangement of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 2 and 3 show illustrative schematic views of a nozzle arrangement 10 according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, respectively, with the nozzle 4 in fig. 2 in a retracted state and the nozzle 4 in fig. 3 in an extended state.

As shown, the nozzle arrangement 10 may be substantially structurally comprised of: cylinder 1, piston 2, piston rod 3, nozzle 4 and pump tank assembly 5.

As is known in the art, the cylinder 1 has a closed first end 101, a second end 102, and a side opening 103 opening to an inner cavity of the cylinder, and the piston 2 may be fitted in the inner cavity of the cylinder to be reciprocally moved along an axial direction of the cylinder 1 (i.e., an extending direction from the first end 101 to the second end 102).

The nozzle device 10 may further comprise a first stop 6 and a second stop 7 fixed to the internal cavity of the cylinder 1, wherein the first stop 6 is close to the first end 101 and partially blocks the side opening 103, and the second stop 7 is fixed between the side opening 103 and the second end 102 close to the second end 102, so as to define a moving space between the two stops 6, 7 in which the piston 2 can reciprocate.

As shown, the first and second stops 6, 7 may be formed in the form of annular rings that snap onto the inner surface of the cylinder 1, at which point the inner surface of the cylinder 1 may be correspondingly formed with corresponding grooves (not shown). In this case, the nozzle device 10 may further include a first inner cylinder 601 and a second inner cylinder 701, the first inner cylinder 601 being fixed in the inner cavity against the first stopper 6, the second inner cylinder 701 being fixed in the inner cavity against the second stopper 7, thereby more effectively and reliably defining the range of motion of the piston 2. As is known in the art, the first and second stops 6, 7 and the first and second inner cylinders 601, 701 may be made separately from the cylinder block 1 and then assembled together, for example by gluing or welding, etc., and may be of the same or different materials, for example various polymeric materials, various metals and alloys thereof, etc. Or they may be integrally formed, such as by molding or machining, by various methods known in the art.

Of course, alternatively, the first and second stops 6, 7 may also be shaped in the form of bosses, shoulders or stop pins, as long as they can reliably limit the range of movement of the piston 2 within the internal cavity of the cylinder 1.

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the second stop 7 may have a centrally arranged central opening, the inner diameter of which may be equal to the outer diameter of the piston rod 3.

When the piston 2 reciprocates between the two stops 6, 7, the invention provides that the state of the piston 2 near the first stop 6 is the retracted state, and the state of the piston 2 near the second stop 7 is the extended state, wherein the piston 2 partially closes the side opening 103 in the retracted state. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the side opening 103 may be formed as a stepped opening in which the opening of the large diameter portion (i.e., the portion of the stepped opening having a larger diameter) is disposed close to the internal cavity, and in which, in the retracted state of the piston 2, the upper edge of the opening of the large diameter portion does not exceed the end surface of the piston 2 away from the first end 101 of the cylinder 1.

It will be appreciated that according to the present invention, the retracted state is, in the normal case, the initial state of the nozzle arrangement 10, when the piston 2 partially closes the side opening 103, as described above.

By "partially closed" it is meant here that the side of the piston 2 in contact with the cylinder 1 partially, but not completely, blocks the side opening 103. Structurally, the fixed position of the first stop 6 in the cylinder 1 is the position of the side opening 103 of the cylinder.

One end of the piston rod 3 is attached to the piston 2 while the other end thereof passes through the second stopper 7, and the middle of the piston rod 3 and the piston 2 has a through opening 9 in the axial direction;

as used herein, the "axial direction" is the direction in which the piston 2 moves within the cylinder 1, or the extending direction of the piston rod 3.

The nozzle 4 is attached to the end of the piston rod 3 remote from the piston 2 and is in fluid communication with the through opening 9. So that cleaning liquid 501 can reach the nozzles 4 through the through openings 9 and be sprayed through the nozzles 4 onto the windscreen surface.

The pump-tank assembly 5 includes a cleaning-liquid tank for containing the cleaning liquid 501 and a cleaning-liquid pump for pumping the cleaning liquid 501, and the cleaning-liquid pump pumps the cleaning liquid into the internal cavity via the side opening 103 of the cylinder 1. The wash liquid tank and wash liquid pump used herein may be any type of tank and pump known in the art and they are attached together in a connection known in the art in order to pump wash liquid stored in the wash liquid tank into the internal cavity of the cylinder 1. Preferably, however, for the purposes of the present invention, the cleaning liquid pump may be a variable flow pump or a variable speed pump to more conveniently and efficiently regulate the flow of cleaning liquid pumped as desired.

The length of the piston rod 3 is such that the nozzle 4 can be extended from the second end 102 of the cylinder 1 in the retracted state of the piston 2. In this way, even if the nozzle 4 is in the initial retracted state of the piston 2, ensuring its proper functioning, it is clear that the nozzle 4 in the extended state protrudes from the second end 102 of the cylinder 1 and increases the spraying range.

With the above-described structure, when the cleaning liquid 501 is pumped into the internal cavity of the cylinder 1 via the pump-tank assembly 5, the cleaning liquid 501 will push the piston 2, the piston rod 3, and the nozzle 4 attached to the piston rod 3 to move from the retracted state toward the extended state due to the difference in pressure difference between the upper and lower end portions of the piston 2, and the nozzle liquid inlet (i.e., the side opening 103) can increase the cleaning liquid inflow cross section with the movement of the piston 2, thereby achieving the purpose of increasing the flow rate and increasing the nozzle outlet flow rate. Meanwhile, the length of the nozzle 4 which is extended by the pressure of the liquid is lengthened, so that the spraying range of the cleaning liquid is enlarged.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the nozzle device 10 may further comprise a return element 8, such as a spring, which return element 8 is arranged between the piston 2 and the second stop 7 and exerts an axial restoring force towards the piston 2 in the extended state. The return element 8 serves to return the piston 2 to the retracted state by the action of a restoring force such as a spring force without the need to increase the ejection range of the nozzle 4. Although the return element 8 is shown in the example of the invention in the form of a tension/compression spring, the return element 8 may be a torsion spring or any return element known in the art as long as it is enabled to push the piston 2 back to the retracted state.

Fig. 4 is an illustrative schematic diagram showing a windshield washing system 100 according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, which windshield washing system 100 may comprise a nozzle arrangement 10 according to the present invention.

As schematically shown in fig. 4, the windshield washing system 100 may further include: wiper 20, motor 30, controller 40, control panel 50, and sensor 60.

As is known in the art, wiper 20 is capable of reciprocating about a pivot point, and a cleaning member (e.g., a wiper blade) of wiper 20 may be attached to an outer surface of a windshield (e.g., a windshield, etc.) to reciprocally wipe the outer surface. The motor 30 may be coupled to the wiper 20 and drive the wiper to reciprocate (or oscillate) about a pivot point. The controller 40 may control the operation of the wiper 20, the motor 30, and the nozzle device 10. The control panel 50 may receive action instructions from the pilot and send operating commands to the controller 40; and the sensor 60 may sense the atmospheric data and transmit the sensed atmospheric data to the controller 40. In this way, the air data sensed by the sensor 60 adjusts the nozzle arrangement output power so that the purging system can be adapted to various flight conditions.

As shown in fig. 4, the nozzle device 10, the wipers 20, the motor 30, the controller 40, the control panel 50 and the sensor 60 are normally provided in 2 numbers (in pairs), respectively, and a linkage module may be provided between the paired controllers 40 so that the paired wipers 20 of the windshield washing system and the nozzle device 10 cooperate in an optimum operation mode.

The present invention is not limited thereto, however, and the number of nozzle devices 10, wipers 20, motor 30, controller 40, control panel 50, and sensors 60 of windshield washing system 100 may be set as needed to correspond to the number of front windshields of the aircraft, for example, an unpaired number of 1, 3, or 5, respectively, or the like.

According to the present invention, the cleaning liquid pump may further include a variable flow valve, or a solenoid valve may be provided between the cleaning liquid pump and the side opening 103, the solenoid valve being connected to the controller 40, and the controller 40 may control the opening degree of the solenoid valve based on sensed atmospheric data (associated with the flying height and flying speed of the aircraft) to further more accurately and conveniently control the spray range of the nozzle 4 and the flow rate of the sprayed cleaning liquid.

The windshield washing system 100 according to the invention is able to adjust the output power or the spray range of the nozzle device 10 on the basis of sensed atmospheric data and/or flight status data from the avionics system of the aircraft. The system can adjust the spraying distance, the spraying speed and/or the spraying flow of the cleaning liquid according to the flight state and the speed of the aircraft, and the problem that when the windshield wiper cannot be covered by the sprayed cleaning liquid, the blade of the windshield wiper is brushed on the surface of the windshield is solved.

In summary, the nozzle device 10 and the windshield cleaning system 100 including the nozzle device 10 according to the embodiments of the present invention overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and achieve the intended object.

While the nozzle arrangement and windshield cleaning system including the nozzle arrangement of the present invention have been described above in connection with the preferred embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing examples are illustrative only and are not to be taken as limiting the invention. Therefore, various modifications and changes can be made to the present invention within the spirit and scope of the claims, and these modifications and changes will fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention.