System and method for diverting air in a vehicle
First Claim
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1. A system for clearing an external driving mirror of a vehicle, wherein said system comprises:
- an air compressor configured to provide pressurized air to a braking system of said vehicle;
an air distribution unit configured to direct compressed air from the air compressor onto a reflective surface of said external driving mirror; and
a pressure protection valve disposed between the air compressor and the air distribution unit, wherein said pressure protection valve only provides compressed air to said air distribution unit when the pressure of the pressurized air within the braking system is above a predetermined threshold.
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Abstract
The present invention comprises a system and method for clearing an external driving mirror on a vehicle. The system and method comprise providing a stream of compressed air to clear water, dirt, and/or other substances from the reflective surface of an external driving mirror. This system uses the air source of the vehicle in conjunction with a safety pressure protection valve. This pressure protection valve will shut down the mirror clearing system in the event that the vehicle'"'"'s primary air system cannot provide a certain minimum amount of air pressure.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A system for clearing an external driving mirror of a vehicle, wherein said system comprises:
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an air compressor configured to provide pressurized air to a braking system of said vehicle; an air distribution unit configured to direct compressed air from the air compressor onto a reflective surface of said external driving mirror; and a pressure protection valve disposed between the air compressor and the air distribution unit, wherein said pressure protection valve only provides compressed air to said air distribution unit when the pressure of the pressurized air within the braking system is above a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for clearing an external driving mirror of a vehicle, wherein said system comprises:
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means for supplying compressed air, wherein said means for supplying compressed air also supplies compressed air to a braking system of said vehicle; means for directing said compressed air onto the surface of said external driving mirror; and means for regulating the air flow to the system, wherein said means for regulating ensures that said means for supplying compressed air provides a level of compressed air sufficient to maintain at least a minimum pressure in said vehicle'"'"'s braking system. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An air system for clearing an external driving mirror of a vehicle, wherein said air system comprises:
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an air compressor configured to provide pressurized air to a braking system of said vehicle; an air distribution unit configured to direct compressed air from the air compressor onto a reflective surface of said external driving mirror; an activation switch comprising an always-on setting, wherein when said switch is placed in an always-on setting by a user, air from the compressor flows continuously to the air distribution unit until the user places the activation switch in an off position; and a pressure protection valve disposed between the air compressor and the air distribution unit, wherein said pressure protection valve only provides compressed air to said air distribution unit when the pressure of the pressurized air within the braking system is above a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of clearing an external driving mirror of a vehicle, said method comprising:
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providing a flow of compressed air from an air compressor to a reflective surface of the external driving mirror, wherein the air compressor also supplies a pressure of compressed air to a braking system on the vehicle; and stopping the flow of compressed air to the reflective surface when the pressure of air provided to the braking system falls below a predetermined threshold. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28)
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Specification