Cleaning and cooling of vehicle sensor assembly
An assembly includes a sensor housing defining an inlet. The assembly includes a sensor assembly rotatably supported by the sensor housing. The sensor assembly includes a sensor and a cover surrounding the sensor. The sensor assembly has a cavity between the sensor and the cover. The inlet is in fluid communication with the cavity.
1. An assembly comprising:
a sensor housing defining an inlet;
a sensor assembly rotatably supported by the sensor housing, the sensor assembly including a sensor and a cover surrounding the sensor;
the sensor assembly having a cavity between the sensor and the cover; and
the inlet being in fluid communication with the cavity.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor housing defines a channel extending from the inlet to the cavity, the inlet being in fluid communication with the cavity through the channel.
3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the inlet and the channel define an air flowpath from the inlet to the cavity.
4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the sensor is elongated along an axis, at least a portion of the air flowpath extends in parallel with the axis.
5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor housing defines an outlet aimed at the sensor assembly, the inlet being in fluid communication with the outlet.
6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the sensor housing defines a first channel and a second channel, the first channel extending from the inlet to the cavity and the second channel extending from the inlet to the outlet.
7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the inlet and the first channel define a first air flowpath from the inlet to the cavity and the inlet and the second channel define a second air flowpath from the inlet to the outlet.
8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the second air flowpath extends adjacent the sensor.
9. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the sensor housing defines a wedge extending upwardly adjacent the outlet and vehicle-forward of the sensor.
10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the sensor housing defines an air flowpath exterior to the sensor housing along the wedge and adjacent the sensor.
11. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a blower supported by the sensor housing at the inlet.
12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cavity extends continuously circumferentially about the sensor.
13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the inlet is vehicle-forward of the sensor.
14. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor housing is designed to be supported by a vehicle roof.
15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the inlet is spaced upwardly from the vehicle roof.
16. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a lidar sensor.