초록 ▼

An air dam deployment and retraction system includes an air dam, a compressor, an air reservoir, a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch. The air dam is configured for moving between a deployed position and a retracted position. The compressor is configured to compress fluid. The air res

An air dam deployment and retraction system includes an air dam, a compressor, an air reservoir, a first switch, a second switch, and a third switch. The air dam is configured for moving between a deployed position and a retracted position. The compressor is configured to compress fluid. The air reservoir defines a chamber that is configured to receive a volume of the compressed fluid. The first switch is configured to selectively move between a first inactive position and a first active position. The first inactive position is configured to provide the compressed fluid to the atmosphere. The first active position is configured to provide the compressed fluid from the compressor to one of the chamber of the air reservoir and the air dam. The air dam is configured to move from the retracted position to the deployed position upon receiving the compressed fluid.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An air dam deployment and refraction system configured for deploying and retracting an air dam, the system comprising: a compressor configured to compress fluid;a first switch configured to receive a volume of compressed fluid from the compressor and configured to selectively move between a first

1. An air dam deployment and refraction system configured for deploying and retracting an air dam, the system comprising: a compressor configured to compress fluid;a first switch configured to receive a volume of compressed fluid from the compressor and configured to selectively move between a first inactive position and a first active position; andan air reservoir defining a chamber that is configured to receive the volume of the compressed fluid from the first switch;wherein the first inactive position is configured to provide the volume of compressed fluid to atmosphere;wherein the first active position is configured to provide the volume of compressed fluid to at least one of the chamber of the air reservoir and the air dam;wherein the air dam is configured to deploy upon receiving the volume of compressed fluid. 2. A system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising: a second switch configured to receive the compressed fluid from at least one of the first switch and the air reservoir and configured to selectively move between a second active position and a second inactive position;wherein the second active position is configured to provide the compressed fluid to the air dam such that the air dam is deployed;wherein the second inactive position is configured to operatively disconnect the air dam from each of the first switch and the air reservoir such that the compressed fluid is prevented from moving from each of the first switch and the air reservoir to the air dam. 3. A system, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the second inactive position is configured to operatively connect the air dam with atmosphere such that the compressed fluid is expelled from the air dam to atmosphere as the air dam retracts; and wherein the second inactive position is configured to operatively block compressed fluid from flowing from at least one of the air compressor and the air reservoir such that the air dam is prevented from deploying. 4. A system, as set forth in claim 2, further comprising: a third switch configured to receive fluid from one of the air dam and atmosphere and configured to selectively move between a third active position and a third inactive position;wherein the third inactive position is configured to operatively connect the compressor with atmosphere such that the compressor receives fluid from atmosphere;wherein the third inactive position is configured to operatively block compressed fluid from flowing from the air dam to the air compressor such that the air dam is prevented from retracting; andwherein the third active position is configured to operatively connect the air dam and the compressor when the second switch is in the second inactive position such that the compressor receives a volume of fluid from the air dam as the air dam retracts. 5. A system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an air dryer configured to receive and dry a volume of compressed fluid from the compressor such that a volume of dry compressed fluid is provided to the system. 6. A method of operating an air dam deployment and retraction system to move an air dam between a retracted position and a deployed position, the method comprising: selectively moving a first switch between a first active position and a first inactive position;providing a volume of compressed fluid to atmosphere when the first switch is in the first inactive position;wherein the volume of compressed fluid is provided to at least one of an air reservoir and the air dam when the first switch is in the first active position;wherein the air dam moves from the retracted position to the deployed position upon receiving the compressed fluid. 7. A method, as set forth in claim 6, further comprising: selectively moving a second switch between a second active position and a second inactive position;wherein the second active position is configured to provide the compressed volume of fluid received from at least one of the first switch and the chamber of the air reservoir to the air dam such that the air dam moves from the retracted position to the deployed position;wherein the volume of compressed fluid is prevented from entering the air dam from each of the first switch and the air reservoir when the second switch is in the second inactive position;wherein the volume of compressed fluid is expelled from the air dam to move the air dam to the retracted position when the second switch is in the second inactive position. 8. A method, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the second inactive position of the second switch is configured to operatively connect the air dam with atmosphere such that the compressed fluid is expelled from the air dam to atmosphere to move the air dam from the deployed position to the retracted position. 9. A method, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the second switch and the first switch are each configured to operatively connect the air dam with the chamber of the air reservoir when the second switch is in the second inactive position and the first switch is in the first active position such that the compressed volume of fluid is expelled from the air dam to the chamber of the air reservoir to move the air dam from the deployed position to the retracted position. 10. A method, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the second switch and the first switch are each configured to operatively connect the air dam with atmosphere when the second switch is in the second inactive position and the first switch is in the first inactive position such that the compressed volume of fluid is expelled from the air dam to atmosphere to move the air dam from the deployed position to the retracted position. 11. A method, as set forth in claim 6, wherein providing a volume of compressed fluid is further defined as: receiving a volume of fluid from one of the air dam and atmosphere; andcompressing the volume fluid to provide a volume of compressed fluid. 12. A method, as set forth in claim 6, further comprising: selectively moving a third switch between a third active position and a third inactive position;wherein the volume of fluid moves from atmosphere through the third switch to the first switch when the third switch is in the third inactive position;wherein the volume of fluid is compressed between the third switch and the first switch;wherein the volume of compressed fluid is prevented from moving from the air dam through the third switch when the second switch is in the second inactive position and the third switch is in the third inactive position such that the volume of compressed fluid is retained in the air dam and the air dam remains in one of the deployed position and the retracted position;wherein the volume of fluid is expelled from the air dam to the air reservoir through the second switch, the third switch, and the first switch, respectively, when the second switch is in the second inactive position, the third switch is in the third active position, and the first switch is in the first active position such that the air dam moves from the deployed position to the retracted position; andwherein the volume of fluid is expelled from the air dam to atmosphere through the second switch, the third switch, and the first switch, respectively, when the second switch is in the second inactive position, the third switch is in the third active position, and the first switch is in the first inactive positions such that the air dam moves from the deployed position to the retracted position. 13. A method, as set forth in claim 12, further comprising drying the volume of compressed fluid to provide a volume of dried, compressed fluid to the system. 14. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the first switch is in the first active position, the second switch is in the second inactive position, and the third switch is in the third inactive position, in response to a first criterion such that the air dam is held in one of the deployed position and the retracted position. 15. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the first switch is in the first inactive position, the second switch is in the second active position, and the third switch is in the third inactive position, in response to a second criterion such that the volume of dried, compressed fluid contained within the chamber of the air reservoir flows through the second switch to fill the air dam and move the air dam from the retracted position to the deployed position. 16. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the first switch is in the first active position, the second switch is in the second inactive position, and the third switch is in the third active position, in response to a third criterion such that the air dam moves from the deployed position to the retracted position. 17. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the first switch is in the first inactive position, the second switch is in the second inactive position, and the third switch is in the third inactive position, in response to a fourth criterion such that the air dam is held in one of the deployed position and the retracted position and the volume of fluid within the chamber of the air reservoir is held constant. 18. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the first switch is in the first inactive position, the second switch is in the second inactive position, and the third switch is in the third active position, in response to a fifth criterion such that the air dam is moved from the deployed position to the retracted position and the volume of fluid within the chamber of the air reservoir is held constant. 19. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the first switch is in the first active position, the second switch is in the second active position, and the third switch is in the third inactive position, in response to a sixth criterion such that the air dam moves from the retracted position to the deployed position and the air reservoir is filled with compressed fluid. 20. An air dam deployment and retraction system comprising: an air dam configured for moving between a deployed position and a retracted position;a compressor configured to compress fluid;a first switch configured to receive a volume of compressed fluid from the compressor and configured to selectively move between a first inactive position and a first active position; andan air reservoir defining a chamber that is configured to receive the volume of the compressed fluid from the first switch;wherein the first inactive position is configured to provide the volume of compressed fluid to atmosphere;wherein the first active position is configured to provide the volume of compressed fluid to at least one of the chamber of the air reservoir and the air dam;wherein the air dam is configured to deploy upon receiving the volume of compressed fluid.