Back to results
US 10,247,938 B2Granted
Passive reduction or elimination of frost and fog with expandable air container
OwnerPrzemyslaw Chamuczynskiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Lens fogging or frosting on an instrument lens may be reduced or prevented by hermetically sealing the instrument housing. Damage or rupture of the hermetically sealed housing due to an increase in pressure within the housing may be avoided while maintaining the hermetic seal by connecting a reservoir having an expandable volume to the housing.
Claims14
A vehicle instrument configured to reduce lens fogging or frosting, the instrument comprising:
- a housing which comprises a vent and is disposed in a first distal end at a front area of the vehicle;
- a lens having a surface exposed to an interior space within the housing;
- and,
- an expandable reservoir operatively connected to the vent;
- wherein the interior space is hermetically isolated from an exterior of the housing;
- wherein the reservoir is hermetically isolated and liquid-tight from a surrounding environment such that moisture and air are prevented from entering the housing;
- wherein the reservoir is operatively connected to the vent by a tube;
- wherein the housing is disposed in an instrument cluster of the vehicle;
- and
- wherein the reservoir is disposed in a second distal end at a rear area of the vehicle opposite the first distal end of the vehicle.
7 more elements
A method for reducing fogging or frosting of an instrument lens, the method comprising:
- providing an instrument housing disposed in a first distal end at a front area of the vehicle which comprises a vent, an interior space, and an interior surface;
- providing a lens disposed such that the interior surface comprises a surface of the lens;
- and,
- operatively connecting a reservoir to the vent such that the interior space is hermetically sealed from an exterior of the housing;
- wherein the reservoir is hermetically sealed and liquid-tight from a surrounding environment such that moisture and air are prevented from entering the housing;
- wherein the reservoir is operatively connected to the vent by a tube;
- wherein the housing is disposed in an instrument cluster of the vehicle;
- and
- wherein the reservoir is disposed in a second distal end at a rear area of the vehicle opposite the first distal end of the vehicle.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.