Drag reducing mirror assemblies for vehicles
AssigneeSmartTruck Systems, LLC
InventorsMichael Lorenzo Henderson, Stephen Alfred Wulff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A side-view mirror assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. The mirror assembly may generally include a mirror housing configured to support a mirror. The mirror housing may define an airfoil shape have a first side surface and a second side surface extending between a forward edge and an aft edge. In addition, the mirror housing may be movable between a first position, wherein the mirror housing is aerodynamically aligned with an airflow flowing past the vehicle, and a second position, wherein the mirror reflects a rearwardly extending side-view of the vehicle.
Claims19
A method for enhancing the operation of a vehicle having a vision system configured to provide a rearwardly extending side-view of the vehicle, the method comprising:
- operating the vehicle with a side-view mirror assembly installed thereon, the mirror assembly including a mirror housing defining an airfoil shape have a first side surface and a second side surface extending between a forward edge and an aft edge;
- positioning the mirror housing at a first position at which the mirror housing is aerodynamically aligned with an airflow flowing past the vehicle when the vision system is being used to provide the rearwardly extending side-view of the vehicle, wherein a mirror of the mirror assembly only reflects a view directed towards a portion of the vehicle when the mirror housing is located at the first position;
- and
- moving the mirror housing to a second position at which the mirror housing is not aerodynamically aligned with the airflow flowing past the vehicle when the vision system is not being used to provide the rearwardly extending side-view of the vehicle, Wherein the mirror reflects the rearwardly extending side-view of the vehicle when the mirror is moved to the second position.
A vehicle having a vision system configured to provide a rearwardly extending side-view of the vehicle, the vehicle further comprising:
- a chassis;
- a cab supported by the chassis;
- mounting structure coupled to and extending outwardly from the cab;
- and
- a mirror assembly coupled to the mounting structure, the mirror assembly comprising:
- a mirror housing configured to support a mirror, the mirror housing defining an airfoil shape have a first side surface and a second side surface extending between a forward edge and an aft edge, the mirror housing being configured to be moved to a first position when the vision system is being used to provide the rearwardly extending side-view of the vehicle and to a second position when the vision system is not being used to provide the rearwardly extending side-view of the vehicle,
- wherein, when in the first position, the mirror housing is aerodynamically aligned with an airflow flowing past the vehicle and the mirror only reflects a view directed towards a portion of the vehicle, and wherein, when in the second position, the mirror housing is not aerodynamically aligned with the airflow flowing past the vehicle and the mirror reflects the rearwardly extending side-view of the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.