CN113196135A

CN113196135A - Device and method for cooling at least one surface and/or at least one volume of a sensor of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN113196135A
Application number: CN201980083246.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: J.布科尔斯基; S.埃沃德
Original assignee: Volkswagen AG
Current assignee: Volkswagen AG
Priority date: 2018-12-17
Filing date: 2019-12-02
Publication date: 2021-07-30
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-02
Also published as: CN113196135B; WO2020126440A1; DE102018221868B4; DE102018221868A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device and a method for cooling the surface and/or volume of a sensor of a vehicle. Here, a cleaning system for cleaning at least one working surface of the sensor communicates with the inlet channel and with at least one nozzle, which has a second inlet channel to at least one second nozzle and/or the nozzle system. The cleaning agent can thereby be applied, in particular sprayed, onto at least one surface different from the at least one work surface. Upon evaporation of the cleaning agent, heat is extracted from the surface and a cooling effect is achieved. Additionally, due to the heat exchange, the volume around the wetted surface is also cooled.

Description

Device and method for cooling at least one surface and/or at least one volume of a sensor of a vehicle

The invention relates to a device and a method for cooling at least one surface and/or at least one volume of a sensor of a vehicle, wherein a cleaning agent is applied to the at least one surface and/or is guided through the volume and/or is guided past the volume for cooling purposes.

Modern vehicles are increasingly equipped with technical aids, in particular with the construction of control devices with sensors. The sensors detect the various processed and interpreted measured values in order to provide the driver with information and, if necessary, decision assistance for situations occurring in road traffic. The simplest example is a temperature measuring device which gives a driver of the vehicle a cold warning so that the driver can adjust his driving style.

However, it is also possible for the measured values to be processed appropriately in the vehicle to generate control signals and to transmit the control signals to the various vehicle systems in order to react to the environmental conditions without driver intervention. This includes, for example, an emergency braking system which activates emergency braking when a predefined danger situation is detected.

The importance of such control devices or the presence of sensing technology is increasing, particularly in terms of unmanned driving. For this purpose, radar systems, lidar systems, camera systems and ultrasound systems are included, with which the environmental conditions of the vehicle can be detected and evaluated.

These systems are often susceptible to temperature and therefore must adjust or shut down their function when the ambient temperature is high to protect the internal electronics from overheating. Therefore, the safety function, the auxiliary function, or the navigation function of the vehicle must be deactivated if necessary. Since the driver of a vehicle often relies on these safety, assistance or pilot functions, the operational safety of the vehicle is reduced and the risk of accidents increases when it fails or is shut down.

Various systems have therefore been disclosed in the prior art to protect sensitive sensing technology. For example, barrier filters for camera systems are known, which protect the sensor from incident radiation and therefore avoid overheating. It is known from the field of stationary products to cool the sensor by means of a gas flow around it.

However, these known systems are not suitable for all sensor designs or cannot be transferred from the stationary industry to a vehicle in driving operation. In particular, the limited installation space in the vehicle, the driving operation itself and the safety requirements for the vehicle and the systems located therein make it difficult to develop suitable systems.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device and a method for cooling a sensor, which allow effective cooling in a small installation space and in this case meet the requirements for a vehicle.

The above object is solved by a device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 10. Further preferred embodiments of the invention result from the further features described in the dependent claims.

In the device according to the invention for cooling at least one surface and/or volume of a sensor of a vehicle, the sensor has at least one working surface and a cleaning system for cleaning the at least one working surface. The at least one working surface is designed to detect measured values. The cleaning system is formed with at least one first nozzle arranged and configured to release a cleaning agent onto the at least one work surface, the cleaning system being formed with a first input channel for the cleaning agent to the at least one first nozzle.

At least one first valve is arranged in the first supply channel in order to form at least one second supply channel, which communicates with at least one second nozzle and/or nozzle system, wherein the at least one second nozzle and/or nozzle system is arranged and configured to release the cleaning agent onto at least one surface different from the working surface.

In the simplest case, at least one working surface can detect physical parameters, such as temperature, pressure, etc. In the case of a driverless and/or driver assistance system, the working surface is preferably designed to detect signals for optical distance and speed measurement by means of Lidar (for short Lidar), signals for identification and positioning methods being detected on the basis of electromagnetic waves in the radio frequency range, such as radars, and/or ultrasonic waves. Alternatively or additionally, the working surface may be configured as an image sensor of a camera system.

The sensor may have more than one active surface, wherein each active surface may be configured to detect other signals.

During operation of the vehicle, soiling must occur which also relates to the at least one work surface. In order to ensure safe operation of the at least one work surface, the at least one work surface must be capable of being cleaned. In order to avoid the driver of the vehicle having to carry out this manually and to achieve cleaning at any time, the device according to the invention is constructed with a cleaning system.

The cleaning system has at least one first nozzle, with which a cleaning agent is applied, for example sprayed, onto at least one work surface. The at least one first nozzle is thus arranged such that its outlet is directed onto the at least one working surface. For the purpose of delivering the cleaning agent to the at least one first nozzle, a first feed channel to the at least one first nozzle is provided. The inlet channel may be a hose, for example. The input channel can be guided inside or outside the sensor. The cleaning agent may consist essentially of water and additives having a cleaning effect.

At least one first valve is disposed in the first input passage. This forms a second feed channel, i.e. a second feed channel branches off from the first feed channel. The second inlet channel communicates with at least one second nozzle and/or a nozzle system. A nozzle system is to be understood as a distribution of a plurality of individual nozzles, by means of which the cleaning agent can be released simultaneously, in particular the plurality of individual nozzles can be controlled simultaneously. Furthermore, the at least one first nozzle can also be configured as a nozzle system.

The at least one second nozzle and/or nozzle system is arranged and configured to release the cleaning agent onto at least one surface different from the at least one work surface. The surface different from the at least one working surface may be any other surface of the sensor than the working surface. In the following, therefore, reference is made synonymously to a surface which is different from the at least one working surface, but is also referred to as a surface only.

The device according to the invention therefore has at least one first nozzle and at least one second nozzle or nozzle system which communicate via a valve via a first supply channel and a second supply channel. Such a valve can be realized, for example, as a solenoid valve in the form of a T-piece. The cleaning agent can thereby be selectively supplied to the at least one first nozzle via a first supply channel or to the at least one second nozzle or nozzle system via a second supply channel. For example, the switching of the valve can be triggered by the control device.

Alternatively, the valve can also be designed such that the cleaning agent can be released simultaneously via the at least one first nozzle and the at least one second nozzle and/or the nozzle system.

Of course, the device according to the invention can also have more than one first nozzle for cleaning at least one working surface. Whereby the cleaning effect can be improved.

Of course, it is also possible to provide more than one second nozzle in the device, which second nozzle discharges the cleaning agent onto at least one surface different from the at least one work surface. In this case, one or also a plurality of second nozzles can be provided for all surfaces differing from the at least one work surface.

With the device according to the invention, on the one hand, the wetted or wetted surface can be cooled by releasing the cleaning agent onto one or more surfaces different from the at least one work surface. This effect is commonly referred to as evaporative cooling. Evaporation of the cleaning agent requires heat, which is extracted from the wetted surface. Whereby cooling is achieved. At the same time, cooling of the volume around the surface is also achieved by heat exchange.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the sensor has a cooling plate on a surface different from the at least one working surface, and that the at least one second nozzle and/or the nozzle system is arranged and configured to release cleaning agent onto the cooling plate. Surfaces with cooling fins may also be referred to as ribbed. Cooling fins are configured on the surface of the equipment and machines for increasing the surface thereof to improve heat transfer to the environment and thereby improve cooling. The cooling plate can be designed here as part of the sensor or as a separate component which is coupled to the sensor in a thermally conductive manner. The cooling fins may be provided on one or more surfaces of the sensor different from the at least one working surface. If the cleaning agent is now released onto the cooling plate by means of the at least one second nozzle and/or the nozzle system, a significantly higher cooling capacity can be achieved by means of the larger wetted surface than by means of a surface without ribs.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the volume to be cooled is the interior of the sensor. Inside the sensor, electronics are usually provided which receive and process the data detected by means of the working surface and also enable the transmission of data and/or control signals. Generating heat during its operation. Furthermore, heat generated by the vehicle and/or caused by the environment acts on the sensor from the environment, so that cooling of the sensor inside the sensor is particularly advantageous for protecting the electronics and maintaining the operating performance. For this purpose, the first and/or second input channel is guided through the interior of the sensor. Here, the cleaning agent located in the first and/or second supply channel absorbs heat. If it is conveyed further and/or released, a portion of the heat is carried away with the heated cleaning agent and the cooler cleaning agent is conveyed into the section of the first and/or second supply channel which is arranged inside the sensor. Further cooling is achieved by heat exchange with the supplemental inflow of cooler cleaning agent. It can also be provided that a plurality of volumes, i.e. for example a volume through which the first supply channel is guided and a second volume through which the second supply channel is guided, should be cooled. Such as adjacent but spatially separated regions within the sensor.

In a further preferred embodiment, the first and/or second supply channel is/are thermally conductively connected to at least one surface of the sensor which is different from the at least one working surface. This means that the first and/or second input channel is arranged directly, i.e. in surface contact, on the surface of the sensor and is in particular made of a material which improves the heat exchange between said surface and the first and/or second input channel. For this purpose, the first and/or second input channel is arranged on a surface of the sensor inside or outside the sensor. By this design, the surface and the surrounding volume can be cooled simultaneously.

In a further preferred embodiment, the first and/or second supply channel can be zigzag or meandering. A zigzag is to be understood here as meaning a substantially meandering, curved course. The first and/or second supply channel is thus not guided over the surface and/or through the volume over the shortest possible distance, but rather in an arc or curve. The achievable contact surface of the one or more supply channels with respect to a surface different from the at least one working surface and/or with respect to the volume through which the first and/or second supply channel is guided is thereby significantly increased. This also makes it possible to achieve a stronger heat exchange and thus a greater cooling effect. However, other shapes or orientations of the enlarged contact surface for the first and/or second supply channel can be selected besides the zigzag shape, for example a U-shape.

In a further preferred embodiment, a further valve is arranged in each case in the first and/or second supply channel and communicates with a return channel, which is designed to return the cleaning agent into the cleaning system. Thus forming a circulation which leads the cleaning agent located in the first and/or second feed channel back into the cleaning system, respectively. Since these cleaning agents are already heated by heat exchange, their cleaning effect is higher when the cleaning agents are applied to at least one working surface than when the cleaning agents are not heated. Furthermore, the heat is continuously removed further by the continuous supply of cleaning agent and the sensor is cooled further.

In a further embodiment, the cleaning system of the device according to the invention can be designed to interact with a glass cleaning system of a vehicle. In this context, the term "co-action" is to be understood to mean that the device according to the invention and the glass washing system of the vehicle, for example, call up the same container for storing the cleaning agent and extract the cleaning agent from the container. For example, provision can be made for an extraction possibility for the cleaning system of the device according to the invention and for a further extraction possibility for the operation of a glass washing system of a vehicle to be present on the container. In this way, additional installation space for additional containers can be avoided, and only one container always has to be monitored with regard to its filling level and, if necessary, filled.

In a further preferred embodiment, the nozzle system is configured as a linear arrangement of a plurality of individual nozzles or as a star arrangement of a plurality of individual nozzles. Other arrangements of a plurality of individual nozzles are also within the scope of the present invention. The nozzle system can thus be optimally adapted to the geometry of the surface on which the cleaning agent should be applied. The distribution of the individual nozzle arrangements in a straight line is particularly suitable if the nozzle system is oriented on a vertical arrangement of cooling fins and the individual nozzles are arranged in a horizontally oriented straight line. Ideally, the individual nozzles are each directed onto a cooling plate. The cleaning agent applied to the cooling plate by this arrangement can flow down the cooling plate and thereby achieve a cooling effect over a larger area. In contrast, a star arrangement of individual nozzles makes it possible to simultaneously wet as large a surface as possible.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the device has a control device which is designed to detect overheating of the sensor and, when overheating of the sensor is detected, to control the at least one first valve and/or the respective further valve in such a way that the cleaning agent is released via the at least one second nozzle and/or the nozzle system onto at least one surface which is different from the working surface.

The control device detects the temperature within and/or at the sensor and determines whether there is overheating. If such overheating is detected, the control device controls the at least one first valve and/or the further valves respectively arranged in the second supply line in such a way that the switching of the valves takes place in such a way that they cause the cleaning agent to be released onto at least one surface different from the at least one working surface.

The control device can also optionally be designed to switch valves in order to introduce cleaning agent from the first and/or second supply channel into the respective return channel. I.e. if the cleaning agent is not released by the at least one first nozzle and/or the at least one second nozzle or nozzle system and the delivery of the cleaning agent is still to be carried out, the valve to the respective return channel is opened, so that the heated cleaning agent is returned to the cleaning system during the delivery of the cleaning agent.

In the method according to the invention for cooling at least one surface and/or at least one volume of a sensor of a vehicle using a device according to the invention, it is provided that the cleaning system for cleaning the working surface of the sensor is connected by means of a further valve to a second supply channel, which in turn is connected to a second nozzle and/or a nozzle system. By means of the defined embodiment of the device according to the invention, it is possible to feed cleaning agent into the second supply channel and further into the at least one second nozzle and/or the nozzle system. By means of the at least one second nozzle and/or nozzle system, the cleaning agent is released, preferably sprayed, onto at least one surface different from the at least one work surface. By wetting a surface different from the at least one working surface, a cooling effect is achieved by evaporation of the cleaning agent on the surface. Simultaneously or alternatively, as described above, the cooling effect is achieved by conveying the cleaning agent through the first and/or second inlet channel.

In a preferred embodiment of the method, the cooling is triggered by the control unit or by the driver of the vehicle. The wetting of at least one surface different from the at least one working surface and/or the transport of cleaning agent through the first and/or second feed channel can thus be triggered automatically, for example by a control device. For this purpose, in a preferred embodiment of the method, the control device detects the temperature in the sensor and compares this temperature with a setpoint value which is determined beforehand and stored in the control device. If the detected temperature in the sensor is above a stored limit value, the control device triggers the wetting of at least one surface different from the at least one working surface and/or the transport of cleaning agent through the first and/or second feed channel in order to achieve a cooling effect.

Alternatively or simultaneously, the control device can transmit information and/or warning signals to the driver after detecting and evaluating the temperature in the sensor, so that the driver can manually trigger wetting of at least one surface different from the at least one work surface and/or delivery of cleaning agent through the first and/or second input channel by operating a suitable operating element.

In a further alternative design, the control device can trigger wetting of at least one surface different from the at least one work surface and/or delivery of cleaning agent through the first and/or second inlet channel when other work surfaces in the vehicle or other sensors have detected a measurement value from which a critical situation or even an emergency situation can be inferred. Cooling can thereby be effected preventively, in order to ensure that the auxiliary function, the safety function and the pilot function are not restricted and can be operated reliably during this situation.

With the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention, the sensor can be cooled effectively without requiring a large number of additional components for implementation or requiring additional installation space. If the sensor is cooled, its function can be maintained for a longer time. They do not have to be taken out of service or shut down completely to protect the internal electronics from overheating. The safety of the entire system and thus also of the driver of the vehicle can be increased in this way, since the functionality of the sensor and thus the interaction with the driver assistance system, the safety system or the pilot function can be ensured. This can be a critical safety advantage, especially in emergency situations during driving operation.

The different embodiments of the invention described in this application can be combined with one another in an advantageous manner, as long as they are not specifically described otherwise.

The invention is further elucidated in the following examples with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

figure 1 shows an exemplary perspective schematic view of a sensor 10,

figure 2 shows a principle view of the device according to the invention,

figure 3 shows an exemplary design for wetting a surface 14 different from the at least one working surface 12,

figure 4 shows a further exemplary design for wetting a surface 14 different from the at least one working surface 12,

figure 5 shows in principle an exemplary design for the cooling volume 18,

fig. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment for the cooling volume 18 in a schematic representation.

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary perspective schematic view of a sensor 10. In the illustrated example, the sensor 10 has a working surface 12. All other surfaces of the sensor 10 are therefore surfaces 14 that are different from the working surface 12. It can be seen that the surface surrounding the work surface 12 also forms a different surface 14 than the work surface 12. Vertical cooling fins 16 are arranged on the surface 14 shown on the right side of the figure. Furthermore, the volume to be cooled inside the sensor 10 is indicated with reference numeral 18.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention. Shown is a sensor 10 having a work surface 12 and a surface 14 different from the work surface 12, a control device 30, and a cleaning system 20, the cleaning system 20 being configured with a reservoir 22, a pump device 28, a first input channel 26, and a first nozzle 24. This embodiment with the container 22 and the pump device 28 is to be understood as an exemplary embodiment only. Other designs of the cleaning system 20 may also be selected as long as the cleaning agent can be delivered through the first inlet channel 26 to the first nozzle 24.

A detergent is stored in the container 22. The first nozzle 24 is arranged and configured to release a cleaning agent onto the work surface 12. For this purpose, the pump device 28 is controlled by a control device 30, which is indicated by a dashed line between the pump device 28 and the control device 30.

The first valve 40 is arranged in the first inlet channel 26, through which the second inlet channel 46 communicates with the first inlet channel 26. The second inlet channel 46 is furthermore in communication with the second nozzle 42 or alternatively with the nozzle system 44, the second nozzle 42 or the nozzle system 44 being arranged and configured to release the cleaning agent onto a surface 14 different from the working surface 12. Whether the detergent is released through the first nozzle 24 or the second nozzle 42 and/or the nozzle system 44 is achieved by switching the valve 40, the valve 40 being controlled by the control device 30, which is indicated by the dashed line between the first valve 40 and the control device 30.

Furthermore, in each case one further valve 50 is arranged in the first supply duct 26 and in the second supply duct 46, via which further valve 50 a return duct 52 leading into the container 22 is respectively connected to the first and/or

second supply duct

26, 46. Thus, the cleaning agents can be delivered separately in the cycle. The further valve 50 is also controlled by the control device 30, which is indicated by the dashed line between the further valve 50 and the control device 30.

The illustration in fig. 2 is here merely a schematic sketch, which does not represent the actual structure, but rather merely represents the interaction of the components of the exemplary embodiment. With the design shown, the cleaning agent for cleaning can be released onto the work surface 12, in particular sprayed onto the work surface 12. For this purpose, the pump device 28 is controlled by the control device 30, and the cleaning agent is supplied via the first supply channel 26 to the first nozzle 24 and is released there onto the work surface 12.

If the control device 30 detects a temperature increase in the sensor 10 and said temperature limits the function of the sensor 10 or causes its function to cease, the first valve 40 is controlled so that detergent can be fed from the first feed channel 26 into the second feed channel 46. If the pump device 28 pumps cleaning agent from the container 22 into the first supply channel 26 and thus further through the first valve 40 into the second supply channel 46, it is released via the second nozzle 42 and/or the nozzle system 44 onto the surface 14 different from the work surface 12. Thereby creating a cooling effect on the surface 14 which also brings about a cooling effect on the surrounding volume 18.

If the first supply channel 26 and/or the second supply channel 46 are guided completely or partially through the interior 18 of the sensor 10, heat is exchanged when the cleaning agent is conveyed through the interior 18 of the sensor 10 via the

supply channels

26, 46, so that, when the heated cleaning agent is conveyed and released, further heat is extracted from the sensor 10 and a cooling effect is achieved.

Additionally or alternatively, the further valve 50 may be switched, for example, in a controlled manner by the control device 30, such that the heated cleaning agent is introduced back into the cleaning system 20. A plurality of further valves 50 may be switched simultaneously, but independently of each other. Starting from the container 22, the first supply channel 26 and the second supply channel 46 can be fed in again. The use of heated cleaning agents for cleaning the work surface 12 has the particular advantage that a higher cleaning effect can be achieved by the heated cleaning agents.

Fig. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment for wetting a surface 14 that is different from the at least one working surface 12. The figures essentially show an exemplary embodiment with regard to the release of the cleaning agent onto the surface 14 via the second nozzle 42. The direction of flow of the cleaning agent during delivery is indicated by arrow 70. The cleaning agent is delivered through a first input channel 26. The first valve 40 is arranged in the first inlet channel 26, whereby the second inlet channel 46 communicates with the first inlet channel 26. A second nozzle 42 is arranged at the other end of the second supply channel 46. The second nozzle 42 is arranged and oriented such that the cleaning agent is released in a substantially horizontal orientation onto the cooling fins 16 that are different from the surface 14 of the work surface 12. The cooling fins 16 are here oriented vertically, i.e. extend vertically. The cleaning agent applied thereto can move down the cooling fins 16 and effect cooling over a larger surface.

Fig. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment for wetting a surface 14 which is different from the at least one working surface 12. In this and the following figures, the direction of flow of the cleaning agent during delivery is indicated by arrow 70.

The cleaning agent fed in via the first feed channel 26 and fed into the second feed channel 46 via the first valve 40 is fed into a nozzle system 44, the individual nozzles of the nozzle system 44 allowing an approximately star-shaped distribution of the cleaning agent on the surface 14 different from the working surface 12. Almost the entire surface 14 is wetted with cleaning agent at the same time, whereby a rapid cooling of the entire surface is achieved.

Of course, cooling of the surface 14 by heat exchange also brings about cooling of the surrounding volume 18. The surrounding volume 18 may also be the interior of the sensor 10.

Fig. 5 shows an exemplary design for the cooling volume 18 in a schematic representation. The volume 18 is the interior of the sensor 10. For example, the sensor electronics 60 are arranged in the interior of the sensor 10, the sensor electronics 60 must be cooled to maintain its operating performance. The devices according to the invention can additionally also be configured to interact with the glass washing apparatuses of the vehicles, for example in such a way that they extract the cleaning agent from the same container for storing the cleaning agent.

To achieve the cooling effect, an input channel (which may be the first input channel 26 or the second input channel 46) is introduced into the interior 18 of the sensor 10 as the first input channel 26a or the second input channel 46a and passes by the sensor electronics 60. The cleaning agent is in the input channel and heat exchange takes place. Thereafter, the input channel exits the interior 18 of the sensor 10 as the first input channel 26b or the second input channel 46 b. The now heated cleaning agent can be returned to the cleaning system 20 (not shown) via a return duct 52 (not shown) and used to clean the work surface 12 when required.

Fig. 6 shows a variant of the embodiment of fig. 5. Here, the feed channel, which may be the first feed channel 26 or the second feed channel 46, is formed in a zigzag shape. The length of the

supply channels

26, 46 and the surrounding volume 18 in which heat exchange can take place are increased here, and a better cooling effect can be achieved than with a non-zigzag shaping of the

supply channels

26, 46.

In a variant design not shown, the zigzag-shaped

input channels

26, 46 can also be coupled in a thermally conductive manner to the further surface 14 of the sensor 10, for example to a wall of the sensor 10. Thus, for the heated wall, a direct heat exchange with the

feed channels

26, 46 and the cleaning agent located therein can be achieved, in particular when the cleaning agent is conveyed further, so that the surface 14 and thus also the surrounding volume 18 can be cooled smoothly.

In one or more of the embodiments described above, the delivery of cleaning agent onto the work surface 12 and/or one or more surfaces 14 other than the work surface 12 and the delivery of cleaning agent in the first and

second input channels

26, 46 and the return channel 52 can be controlled by the control device 30. For example, the cleaning agent can be delivered and released onto the work surface 12 and/or one or more surfaces 14 or returned to the cleaning system 20 at predeterminable time intervals or also upon detection of a temperature increase at and/or in the sensor 10 or in a critical situation for the vehicle via the

feed channels

26, 46. Alternatively or simultaneously, a warning signal may be communicated by the control device 30 to the user, so that the user triggers, by means of suitable operating elements, the delivery and release of the cleaning agent onto the surface(s) 14 to be cooled.

List of reference numerals:

10 sensor

12 working surface

14 surface different from the working surface

16 heat sink

18 volume to be cooled

20 cleaning system

22 container

24 first nozzle

26 first input channel

28 pump device

30 control device

40 first valve

42 second nozzle

44 nozzle system

46 second input channel

50 additional valves

52 return flow path

60 sensor electronics

70 direction of flow

Claims

1. Device for cooling at least one surface and/or at least one volume (18) of a sensor (10) of a vehicle, wherein the sensor (10) has at least one work surface (12) and a cleaning system (20) for cleaning the at least one work surface (12), wherein the cleaning system (20) is configured with at least one first nozzle (24) which is arranged and configured to release a cleaning agent onto the at least one work surface (12) and with a first feed channel (26) for the cleaning agent to the at least one first nozzle (24),

characterized in that at least one first valve (40) is arranged in the first inlet channel (26) in order to form at least one second inlet channel (46), the second inlet channel (46) being in communication with at least one second nozzle (42) and/or a nozzle system (44), wherein the at least one second nozzle (42) and/or the nozzle system (44) is arranged and constructed to release the cleaning agent onto at least one surface (14) different from the at least one work surface (12).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (10) has a cooling fin (16) on a surface (14) different from the at least one work surface (12), and at least one second nozzle (42) and/or a nozzle system (44) is arranged and constructed to release cleaning agent onto the cooling fin (16).

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the volume (18) to be cooled is internal to the sensor (10).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and/or second inlet channel (26, 46) is/are thermally conductively connectable to at least one surface (14) of the sensor (10) which is different from the at least one working surface (12).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and/or second feed channel (26, 46) is/are zigzag-shaped.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a further valve (50) is arranged in each of the first and/or second inlet channel (26, 46) and in that the further valves communicate with a return channel (52), respectively, which is configured to lead the cleaning agent back into the cleaning system (20).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cleaning system (20) interacts with a glass washing apparatus of the vehicle.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the nozzle system (44) is configured as a distribution of a plurality of individual nozzles arranged in a straight line or as a distribution of a star arrangement of a plurality of individual nozzles.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device has a control device (30) which is designed to detect overheating of the sensor (10) and, when overheating of the sensor (10) is detected, to control the at least one first valve (40) and/or the respective further valve (50) in such a way that the cleaning agent is released via the at least one second nozzle (42) and/or the nozzle system (44) onto the at least one surface (14) which is different from the at least one work surface (12).

10. Method for cooling at least one surface and/or at least one volume (18) of a sensor (10) of a vehicle with a device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cooling is achieved by wetting the at least one surface (14) with the cleaning agent and/or by conveying cleaning agent through the first and/or second inlet channel (26, 46).

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the cooling is triggered by the control device (30) or by the driver of the vehicle.