US 12,071,087 B2
Generating an air cushion through a perforated surface to prevent travel direction-facing surfaces from collecting debris
Manuel Ludwig Kuehner, Mountain View, CA (US); Hiroshi Yasuda, San Francisco, CA (US); Guillermo Pita Gil, Redwood City, CA (US); and Jaime S. Camhi, Los Gatos, CA (US)
Assigned to TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC., Los Altos, CA (US); and TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota (JP)
Filed by TOYOTA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC., Los Altos, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 5, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/713,935.
Prior Publication US 2023/0311839 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. B60R 19/54 (2006.01); B60Q 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 19/54 (2013.01) [B60Q 1/0408 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle comprising:
a housing for protecting a travel direction-facing device, the housing comprising a travel direction-facing perforated surface, the travel direction-facing perforated surface defining a cavity within the housing behind the travel direction-facing perforated surface;
the travel direction-facing device disposed within the cavity; and
a tube fluidly connected to the cavity that emits pressurized air into the cavity, wherein the pressurized air is propelled out of the cavity in a contrary direction to headwind air through holes in the travel direction-facing perforated surface, the propelled air forming an air cushion in front of the travel direction-facing perforated surface that diverts headwind air away from the travel direction-facing perforated surface.