Low turbulence air blast system

A system for blowing unwanted debris from the surface of a road or a runway, said system comprising:

• a vehicle having a front end, a back end and a central portion therebetween;
• means for accelerating the velocity of an air flow mounted on said vehicle;
• a channel member having a first end and a second end, said channel member being constructed and arranged to be mounted substantially perpendicular to the movement direction of the vehicle, under the central portion of the vehicle and having its sides oriented downward;
• a first arcuate air duct hingedly mounted to temporarily connect said means for accelerating the velocity of air flow to said first end of said channel;
• a second arcuate air duct hingedly mounted to temporarily connect said means for accelerating the velocity of air flow to said second end of said channel;
• whereby air is caused to flow under the vehicle in a first direction by the engagement of said first arcuate air duct with said first end of said channel and air is caused to flow under the vehicle in a second direction by the engagement of said second arcuate air duct with said second end of said channel.

A method for directing a debris blowing air blast under a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

• mounting a channel having a first end and a second end under the central portion of the vehicle substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion of the vehicle;
• mounting means for accelerating an air flow to the vehicle;
• hingedly mounting a first air duct between said means for accelerating an air flow and said first end of said channel;
• hingedly mounting a second air duct between said means for accelerating an air flow and said second end of said channel;
• whereby debris may be blown to a first side of the vehicle by moving said first air duct into contact with said first end of said channel and debris may be blown to a second side of the vehicle by moving said second air duct into contact with said second end of said channel.

A vehicle mounted air blast system comprising:

• a blower for accelerating air flow;
• a plenum chamber having a first leg and a second leg mounted to said blower;
• means for directing air flow through either said first leg or said second leg of said plenum chamber;
• a channel member constructed and arranged to pass under said vehicle substantially perpendicular to the operational direction of the vehicle
• a first air duct hingedly mounted to said first leg of said plenum chamber;
• a second air duct hingedly mounted to said second leg of said plenum chamber;
• means for moving said first air duct from a position out of contact with said channel member to a position in contact with said first end of said channel member;
• means for moving said second air duct from a position out of contact with said channel member to a position in contact with said second end of said channel member;
• whereby air from said blower may be caused to pass through said first leg of said plenum chamber, said first air duct and through said channel in a first direction when said first air duct is in contact with said first end of said channel and in a second direction when said second air duct is in contact with said second end of said channel.