Self-clean rear lights answer to fog problem
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• A rotating plastics cylinder operated by an air motor, a wiper blade and a water spray are features of a self-cleaning rear light invented by Mr Brian Fisher, a mechanic working for McKinnon Transport Ltd, Long Eaton, Derbys.
The rear light can be operated from the cab and should enable the lights to be kept clean in the worst motorway conditions. Mr Fisher was inspired to evolve the system by reports in the Press and on TV that accidents are frequently caused by cars being driven into the back of slower-moving commercial vehicles with dirty rear lights travelling on motorways and trunk roads.
The cylinder is divided into two sections, one coloured red for the rear and stop lights and one amber for the flasher. The air motor of the experimental model is of the type fitted to pneumatic tools and is connected to the braking system air line, while water for the spray is supplied from the windscreen washer bottle by pressurizing it to 2 psi. Located on the mounting side of the cylinder, the wiper blade is sprayed with water by a windscreen washer jet. Operation of the cleaning system would normally be limited to a maximum of a fevi seconds at intervals of several minutes, anc it is claimed that air consumption minimaL