Optical surface clearing arrangement

A kit for retrofitting a vehicle with an arrangement of clearing at least one optical surface on a vehicle of moisture, the kit comprising:

• an independent source of compressed air;
• a valve having an input port for connection to the independent source of compressed air and an output port, the valve being movable between open and closed positions to provide a blast of compressed air from the source of compressed air to the output port of the valve;
• a conduit configured to connect to the output port of the valve for conducting a blast of compressed air from the output port of the valve to a nozzle to be attached directly onto the optical surface, the nozzle having an outlet shaped for fanning out the compressed air substantially downward and onto and over substantially an entire width of the optical surface;
• a fastener configured to fasten the nozzle onto the optical surface with the outlet positioned downwardly;
• and
• a switching mechanism for opening and closing the valve to provide the blast of compressed air downwardly over the optical surface to remove any obstructive moisture adhering to the optical surface, wherein the vehicle has windshield wipers, separated from the optical surface, that turn on and provide blasts of air to the optical surface while the wipers are turned on, wherein the at least one optical surface comprises a lens of a camera for monitoring the area behind the vehicle, or a transparent lens cover of a camera for monitoring the area behind the vehicle.

A water-removal arrangement for an optical surface of a back-up camera of a vehicle, the vehicle having an existing source of compressed air, the arrangement comprising:

• a valve having an input port connected to the existing source of compressed air and an output port, the valve being movable between open and closed positions to control a flow of compressed air from the existing source of compressed air to the output port of the valve;
• a conduit having a proximal end connected to the output port of the valve and a distal end located at the optical surface of the back-up camera for conducting the compressed air from the output port of the valve to the back-up camera;
• a fastener configured to fasten the distal end of the conduit to the optical surface of the back-up camera so that the compressed air flows down the optical surface;
• a nozzle on the distal end of the conduit and precisely positioned on the optical surface of the back-up camera for spreading the compressed air issued from the distal end of the conduit substantially over an entire width of the optical surface of the back-up camera;
• and
• a switching mechanism for opening and closing the valve to provide a blast of compressed air at the optical surface of the back-up camera to Clearwater adhering to the optical surface, wherein the valve switching mechanism is located within easy reach of a driver location of the vehicle, wherein the valve switching mechanism is manually operated by a driver of the vehicle, and wherein the vehicle has windshield wipers that turn on and off and wherein the valve switching mechanism is automatically operated to periodically provide blasts of air to the back-up camera while the wipers are turned on.