AU2012201815A1 - A safety system for a racing car or the like - Google Patents

A safety system for a racing car or the like Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2012201815A1
AU2012201815A1 AU2012201815A AU2012201815A AU2012201815A1 AU 2012201815 A1 AU2012201815 A1 AU 2012201815A1 AU 2012201815 A AU2012201815 A AU 2012201815A AU 2012201815 A AU2012201815 A AU 2012201815A AU 2012201815 A1 AU2012201815 A1 AU 2012201815A1
Authority
AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
racing car
safety
power source
sensor
infra
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
AU2012201815A
Inventor
Maurice Valentino
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2011901497A external-priority patent/AU2011901497A0/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to AU2012201815A priority Critical patent/AU2012201815A1/en
Publication of AU2012201815A1 publication Critical patent/AU2012201815A1/en
Priority to AU2013100265A priority patent/AU2013100265B4/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

Abstract The present invention relates to a safety system for a vehicle such as a racing car, sports car or motorcycle and the like. More particularly the present invention relates to a safety system for substantially improving safety of a person or persons when driving a racing vehicle based on real time measurement and display of information regarding static or moving objects insitu. 'DA '1 vcA~~~ SfCAcC t

Description

Title: A safety system for a vehicle such as a racing car or motorcycle and the like Field of the invention The present invention relates to a safety system for a vehicle such as a racing car, sports car or motorcycle and the like. More particularly the present invention relates to a safety system for substantially improving safety of a person or persons when driving a racing vehicle based on real time measurement and display of information regarding static or moving objects insitu. Background Safety has not always been a paramount concern in the pursuit of high performance vehicles. An example is in Formula One racing where there have been many tragedies both for drivers and spectators over many years. In the early 1970's it was said that the chances of a driver who had raced in Formula One for a period of five years being killed were two out of three. In the following few decades much has been done to improve safety measures to protect racers and spectators from serious injury. An early safety measure introduced by racing car driver 'Jackie Stewart' following a serious crash during racing included a full-face helmet and seatbelts for drivers. Other safety improvements have included safety barriers and greater run-off space located at or near dangerous corners. Despite the foregoing changes to racing car safety, celebrated Formula 1 driver including Ayrton Senna lost his life during racing in 1994 after crashing into a wall on the exit of a notorious curve. At the same racing event, driver Roland Ratzenberger also lost his life in an accident during qualifying. Since that time the Formula 1 racing governing body ('The FIA') has worked to further improve the sport's safety standards. (M-0387912:1 }l For example the FIA has used safety as a reason to impose rule changes which has resulted in cars with smaller rear tyres, a narrower track overall and the introduction of 'grooved' tyres to reduce mechanical grip; the objective being to reduce cornering speeds. Other safety improvements have included (i) introduction of an air supply to a driver so that in a fire event a driver can survive a smoke filled cabin; (ii) an energy absorbing safety wall designed to improve the level of safety in case of collision; (iii) improved driving seats and harnesses in the event of impact; and (iv) providing a movable wiper fixed onto a helmet for clearing a visor portion of the helmet. While substantial efforts have been made to improve safety of car racing and motorcycle racing, most safety measures and attempts to improve safety of a driver are not directed at prevention but at minimising injury in the event of a crash hence there is an underlying presumption that sooner or later a racing car driver will crash. Since 1994, while no driver has lost their life, two track marshals have been killed as a result of a crash, one at the 2000 Italian Grand Prix and the other at the 2001 Australian Grand Prix. Therefore further improvements are required. Even further, crashes during racing in Formula One or Nascar racing generally mean that the car is recorded as 'Did not finish'. Records of cars failing to finish a race event tends to detract or tarnish a racing car team pedigree hence it is useful to try to reduce incidents of crashes. It is therefore an object of the present invention to ameliorate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art. A further object of the present invention is to provide safety means directed at substantially preventing an accident from occurring thereby improving driver safety while maintaining racing car or motorcycle racing as an entertaining sport. 5137981_007.docx {M-0387912:1}2 Summary of the invention In the present invention there is disclosed a safety system for use in a vehicle such as a racing car or motorcycle or the like, the system including: a housing unit adapted for mounting in a cockpit portion of a racing car or chassis portion of a motorcycle, at least one safety unit comprising: a power source and an information transfer means operatively interconnected by a control circuit mounted within the housing; an infra-red sensor operatively connected to the power source, the infra red sensor being mountable to a portion of the racing car remote from the housing unit, wherein the infra-red sensor is of sufficient intensity in a powered condition to emit a beam capable of intersecting an object proximal to or distal from the racing car; a distance determining sensor operatively connected to the power source and mountable close by the infra-red sensor, remote from the housing unit, whereby the distance measuring sensor detects the intersection between the infra-red beam and an object, and calculates the distance between the racing car and the object; a display means powered by the power source, the display means adapted for location on a visor or portion of a safety helmet or the like device; wherein the information transfer means is powered by the power source and operatively connected to the distance determining sensor, whereby distance determined by the distance determining sensor is transmitted to the information transfer means; and wherein in an operating condition the information transfer means transfers information to the display means and a readable output is displayed in real time such that a driver of the racing car or motorcycle is able to assess location of the racing car relative to an object or objects so as to substantially improve driver awareness and safety. 5137981_007.docx {M-0387912:1}3 The present invention represent a departure from previous attempts at improving safety of a vehicle such as a racing car because the safety system enhances a driver's information and knowledge of position relative to other racing cars or static objects in real time to allow evasive action thereby substantially reduce the chances of an accident and/or allow tactical manoeuvring to advance the progress of a car relative to another car and enhance racing entertainment. The safety unit can further include a speaker device powered by the power source, the speaker adapted for location on or within a drivers safety helmet whereby a high frequency audible noise is emitted by the speaker when the distance determining sensor detects an object within a predetermined distance from the racing car. In one embodiment the safety system can include multiple safety or operating units preferably eight to ten safety units. In this aspect the safety system can include a single housing unit having a series of control circuits for operating a plurality of safety units. In a related aspect there is disclosed a safety unit for substantially improving safety in high performance vehicles such as a racing car or motorcycle or the like comprising: a housing unit adapted for mounting in a cockpit portion of a racing car or chassis ortion of a motorcycle, the housing unit having a power source and an information transfer means mounted therein and operatively interconnected thereto; an infra-red sensor operatively connected to the power source, the infra-red sensor being mountable to a portion of the racing car remote from the housing unit, wherein the infra-red sensor is of sufficient intensity in a powered condition to emit a beam capable of intersecting an object proximal to or distal from the racing car; a distance determining sensor operatively connected to the power source and mountable close by the infra-red sensor, remote from the housing unit, whereby the distance measuring sensor detects the intersection between the infra-red beam and an object, and calculates the distance between the racing car and the object; a display means powered by the power source, the display means adapted for location on a visor or portion of a safety helmet or the like device; 5137981 _007.docx tM-0387912;1} 4 wherein the information transfer means is powered by the power source and operatively connected to the distance determining sensor, whereby distance determined by the distance determining sensor is transmitted to the information transfer means; and wherein in an operating condition the information transfer means transfers information to display means and displays a readable output in real time such that a driver of the racing car or motorcycle is able to assess location of the racing car relative to an object or objects so as to substantially improve driver awareness and safety. Further exemplifications of the present invention will be described as follows with reference to the accompanying drawings. A brief description of the drawings follows: Brief description of the drawings Fig 1 is a schematic representation of a safety system in accordance with the present invention; Detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a safety system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention for mounting in a high performance vehicle including a Formula One car or a car involved in Nascar racing to substantially improve safety of a car and driver. The safety system includes at least one safety unit system 1 including a housing unit 2 adapted for mounting in a cockpit portion of a racing car. The housing unit has mounted therein a control circuit 11 such as printed circuit board (not shown), a power source 3 and an information transfer means 4 electrically connected to the power source via the control circuit board. 5137981 007.docx M-0387912:15 The at least one operating system further includes a pair of sensors comprising an infra red sensor 5 and a sensor 6. As shown sensors 5 and 6 are intermediate the power source and information transfer means. In use both the infra-red sensor 5 and sensor 6 are mounted in close proximity to each other on a body portion of a racing car (not shown). Both the infra-red sensor 5 and a sensor 6 are electrically connected to the printed circuit board and power source. In operation, the infra-red sensor 5 constantly emits a light beam 7, and intersects with an object or objects 8 with movement of the vehicle, the object(s) either representing a moving object such as another car, or a static object such as a barrier. The sensor 6 is calibrated to measure distance between the car or at least the portion of the car on which the sensor is mounted and the object 8, and sensor 6 is activated when the light beam 7 intersects with an object 8. Once activated, the sensor 6 measures the distance between the car body and the point of intersection between the light beam and object 8. The sensor 6 is positioned along side the infrared sensor 5 and operates to read where the beam of red light stops or intersects with an object for example 100 meters to the nearest car behind or 1 meter along side of racing car. The distance measuring sensor 6 of operating system I as shown is operatively connected to the information transfer means 4 on the printed circuit board so that distance calculated by the sensor 6 is relayed to and received by information transfer means 4. The operating system also includes a display device 9, which in this embodiment is a flexible liquid crystal display screen adapted for fitting on a curved visor portion of helmet (not shown). The display device 9 is electrically connected to the information transfer means 4 and electrical input signal received by the information transfer means from distance measuring sensor 6 is transferred to the LCD display screen and displayed as a digital readout. 5137981007.docx {M-0387912:1}6 In figure 1 the operating system 1 also includes a speaker device 10 mounted with a helmet of a driver (not shown). The speaker 10 is adapted to receive an electrical signal from the information transfer ribbon 4 when a predetermined distance is calculated by the distance measuring sensor 6. In one embodiment, the speaker is activated to emit a high frequency noise to the helmet of the driver by an input signal from the information transfer ribbon 4 when the distance between the racing car and object 8 indicates imminent crash zone hence conduct immediate evasive manoeuvre. In an embodiment (not shown), the safety system can include up to ten operating systems 1 shown in figure 1. In this embodiment the safety system can include a series of housing units. Alternatively, the safety system can include a central housing unit containing one or more printed circuit boards which integrate a plurality of pairs of infra-red sensors and distance measuring sensors, located at different positions on the body of a racing car, with the requirement for transfer and display of distance information. The central housing unit controls management of information from the pairs of sensors 5 and 6 to the display screen. The infra-red sensor 5 emits a laser beam of red light in a predetermined direction. Generally where multiple sensors are used the sensors 5 are positioned on corners of the front and back spoilers and on the side of a racing car for optimum results and accuracy 5137981007.docx I M-0387912:1 }7

Claims (4)

1. A safety system for use in a vehicle such as a racing car or motorcycle or the like, the system including: a housing unit adapted for mounting in a cockpit portion of a racing car or chassis portion of a motorcycle, at least one safety unit comprising: a power source and an information transfer means operatively interconnected by a control circuit mounted within the housing; an infra-red sensor operatively connected to the power source, the infra red sensor being mountable to a portion of the racing car remote from the housing unit, wherein the infra-red sensor is of sufficient intensity in a powered condition to emit a beam capable of intersecting an object proximal to or distal from the racing car; a distance determining sensor operatively connected to the power source and mountable close by the infra-red sensor, remote from the housing unit, whereby the distance measuring sensor detects the intersection between the infra-red beam and an object, and calculates the distance between the racing car and the object; a display means powered by the power source, the display means adapted for location on a visor or portion of a safety helmet or the like device; wherein the information transfer means is powered by the power source and operatively connected to the distance determining sensor, whereby distance determined by the distance determining sensor is transmitted to the information transfer means; and wherein in an operating condition the information transfer means transfers information to the display means and a readable output is displayed in real time such that a driver of the racing car or motorcycle is able to assess location of the racing car relative to an object or objects so as to substantially improve driver awareness and safety. 5137981_007.docx {M-0387912: 1}8
2. A safety system for use in a vehicle such as a racing car or motorcycle or the like according to claim 1 including a plurality of safety units wherein the housing unit houses a series of control circuits for operating and integrating the plurality of safety units.
3. A safety system for use in a vehicle such as a racing car or motorcycle or the like according to claim 1 further including a speaker device powered by the power source, the speaker adapted for location on or within a drivers safety helmet whereby a high frequency audible noise is emitted by the speaker when the distance determining sensor detects an object within a predetermined distance from the racing car.
4. A safety system as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing. 5137981_007.docx {M-0387912:1}9
AU2012201815A 2011-04-20 2012-03-28 A safety system for a racing car or the like Abandoned AU2012201815A1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2012201815A AU2012201815A1 (en) 2011-04-20 2012-03-28 A safety system for a racing car or the like
AU2013100265A AU2013100265B4 (en) 2011-04-20 2013-03-07 A safety system for a high performance vehicle

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2011901497 2011-04-20
AU2011901497A AU2011901497A0 (en) 2011-04-20 Safety tape
AU2012201815A AU2012201815A1 (en) 2011-04-20 2012-03-28 A safety system for a racing car or the like

Related Child Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU2013100265A Division AU2013100265B4 (en) 2011-04-20 2013-03-07 A safety system for a high performance vehicle

Publications (1)

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AU2012201815A1 true AU2012201815A1 (en) 2012-11-08

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AU2012201815A Abandoned AU2012201815A1 (en) 2011-04-20 2012-03-28 A safety system for a racing car or the like

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AU (1) AU2012201815A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105069973A (en) * 2015-09-03 2015-11-18 湖南城市学院 Vehicle-mounted life protection device

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105069973A (en) * 2015-09-03 2015-11-18 湖南城市学院 Vehicle-mounted life protection device

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Date Code Title Description
MK1 Application lapsed section 142(2)(a) - no request for examination in relevant period