WO1988000142A1

WO1988000142A1 - Mirrors

Info

Publication number: WO1988000142A1
Application number: PCT/GB1987/000450
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arthur John Stapley; David James Chapman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-06-27
Filing date: 1987-06-26
Publication date: 1988-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 1988-12-27
Also published as: GB2191982A; GB8714977D0

Abstract

An arrangement for clearing rain or spray from a vehicle's driving mirror includes the provision of one or more jets of air directed across the face of the mirror.

Description

MIRRORS

This invention relates to mirrors, and particularly to arrangements for mirrors on vehicles. Mirrors on vehicles tend to become obscured by rain and spray and the present invention provides means for making less likely the obscuring of mirrors on vehicles by rain or spray from passing vehicles.

In an embodiment of the invention to be described air is blown from holes at the outer edge of the mirror acros the face of the mirror. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Fig. 1 shows, in elevation, a mirror with an air blast tube fitted at one side, Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing illustrating the operation of an arrangement similar to that shown in Fig 1 from a switch in the driver's cab,

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a mirror with an air blast jet extending from a block on the mirror and

Fig. 4, is a diagrammatic perspective view of a mirror with a bendable air blast tube.

Referring to Fig 1, there is shown an air blast tube 1 arranged along one side of a mirror 2. The tube 1, which incorporates a number of holes 7, is attached to the mirror 2 in such a way that air, which is applied under pressure to th tube 1, is emitted via the holes 7 over a sufficient area of the face of the mirror 2 that droplets of rain or spray, that would otherwise obscure the mirror, are discouraged from forming on the face of the mirror and the mirror is maintained reasonably clear for viewing. The mirror 2 is held in a frame in a well known manner and supported on a fixing bracket 5. Within the bracket 5, there is a tube or pipe 6 which passes behind the mirror 2 and is coupled to the tube 1 as indicated by the dotted lines, in order to convey air under pressure to the tube 1.

Referring to Fig. 2, there is shown a mirror 2 attached to the cab 11 of a vehicle by a bracket 5 and having an air blast tube 1 arranged along one of its sides and an air supply tube 6, indicated by a dotted line, passing from the tube 1 within the mirror support bar or bracket 5 to a valve 12 controlled by a solenoid 3. The valve 12 controls the supply of air from a reservoir of air under pressure, (not shown) which is available on the vehicle, via a supply line 8. The solenoid 3 is operated via an electrical supply line 10 by a switch 4 in the driver's cab 11.

In operation, a vehicle driver closes the switch 4 in his cab and operates the solenoid 3 to open the valve 12, thereby causing air under pressure from the reservoir to be supplied via line 8 to the valve 12 and thenc via the air supply tube 6 to the air blast tube 1, from which it issues through the holes 7 to sweep across the face of the mirror 2 in a continous blast. In this way, any droplets of rain or spray, which might otherwise obscure the drivers view through the mirror, are discouraged from forming and a clearer view is obtained throught the mirror.

Referring to Fig. 3, there is shown a mirror 2 having a housing 13 which is mounted on a support bar or bracket 5 by means of an arm 15. An air supply tube 6 in t bracket 5 extends through arm 15 into block 16 mounted at the top of the housing 13. A jet nozzle 17 extends from the block and directs air, which has been brought to the block 1 by the tube 6, over the face of the mirror 2 in order to enable a clearer view through the mirror to be obtained. The jet nozzle 17 may be shaped to provide an appropriate coverage of the mirror 2, for example it may be fan-shaped. The jet nozzle 17 may be adjusted to direct the air to a particular location on the mirror, either by moving or bending the nozzle, so that the blast of air is caused to spread out over the face of the mirror 2, as required. There may be more than one block 16 arranged on any of the sides of the housing 13, as required, and the blocks 16 may form an integral part of the mirror housing 13. Referring to Fig. 4, there is shown a modification incorporating an extension tube 18 of the air supply tube 6, the extension 18 being fixed to the housing 13 behind the mirror 2 and being bent over the top of the housing 13, so that it directs a blast of air to the mirror 2 at an angle such that the air is caused to spread out over the mirror 2 _t as required, to keep the mirror 2 clear. The position and angle of the tube 18 may easily be adjusted.

It will be understood that although the invention has been described, by way of example, with reference to particular embodiments, variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, the holes 7 shown in the tube 1 may be incorporated in the inner rim of the housing 13, the rim being sealed to the mirror 2, and the air supply tube 6 may terminate within and be sealed to the housing 13 behind the mirror, means being provided to enable air from the tube 6 to pass around the edges of the mirror 2 and be emitted through the holes 7 in the inner rim of the housing 13 so that it is forced over the face of the mirror 2, as described above in order to clear the mirror2. Alternatively, the air blast tube 1 may extend around more than one side of the mirror 2.

It will also be appreciated that, particularly in the case of the embodiments described with reference to Figs.3 and 4, the block 16 and nozzle 17, the air supply tube 6 and the extension tube 18 may be attachments to an existing mirror. The tubes 6 and 18 may be run along the outside of the mirror support arm or fixing bracket 5 and the housing 13 and be attached thereto by clips 19,_. indicated in Fig.2. It will also be understood that, although an electrically operated valve has been described for controlling the flow of pressurised air_r it would be possible to use a manually operated valve. It will also be understood that the air blast tube 1 may form an integral part of the mirror housing 13 and may be arranged in other positions, for example around the complete periphery of the mirror so that the holes 7 enable air to be blown from all directions across the face of the mirror,

Claims

1. An arrangement for a vehicle mirror including means for coupling supply of air to the mirror and means for directing air across the surface of the mirror.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 including a

5 valve arranged to control the supply of air to the mirror.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 including an electrically operated vlave arranged in the air coupling means.

4. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the 0 preceeding claims including a tube arranged along the edge of the mirror, the tube being connected to the means for coupling the supply of air, and holes being arranged along the length of the tube for directing air across the surface of the mirror.

5 5. An arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 including a tube or nozzle connected to the means for coupling the supply of air and arranged to direct a jet of air from an edge of the mirror on to the face of the mirror.

6. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the claims o 1 to 3 having a housing for the mirror, an inner rim of the housing adjacent to the surface of the mirror having holes therein arranged to direct air supplied to the housing across the face of the mirror.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein the 5 tube is arranged around the periphery of the mirror.