CH714021A2 - Collision warning system for automobile races. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a collision warning system for automobile races. The collision warning system comprises a display unit (1), a racing car (2) and a drive monitoring unit (3) for driving the racing car (2). The display unit (1) comprises an expansion device (4) and a warning element (5) attached to the expansion device (4). The entire display unit (1) is mounted on the racing car (2) at maximum compressed height to a height of a highest point of the racing car (2) or below with compressed expansion device (4). In a failure of the drive of the racing car (2) during an automobile race, the drive monitoring unit (3) is capable of automatically triggering expansion of the compressed expansion device (4). In expanded expansion device (4), the warning element (5) is at least partially the highest point of the racing car (2) outstandingly arranged. Optionally, the collision warning system comprises a remote release which is capable of triggering expansion of the compressed expansion device (4). The collision warning system may be able to activate a speed limiter when the expansion device (4) is expanded.

Description

Description: The invention relates to the field of collision warning systems for automobile racing.

[0002] Collisions are a major problem, particularly in automobile racing. High speeds, high accelerations, long alternative routes due to wide racing cars, relatively narrow race tracks and / or difficult to see sections of the track (e.g. due to curves, level differences and / or safety infrastructure) are just a few of the factors that are responsible for a high risk of collision and particularly apply to automobile races. Other such factors are: restricted all-round visibility due to a racing automobile construction and / or a seating position, restricted head movement and / or restricted field of vision due to a protective helmet. In addition, high focus, physical tension, ambition, and / or financial incentive are other factors in racing that contribute to a high risk of collision. In particular, large speed differences, which can be achieved in automobile racing within fractions of a second or seconds, are a particular danger and are responsible for a high risk of collision.

For this reason, standing starts in automobile races in particular have a high risk of collision. The start is a crucial part of the race, in which there is a lot at stake for a driver of the racing car. The driver must accelerate fully with all other drivers from a standstill within a few seconds. If, for example, the engine of a racing car fails, not all of the people behind the racing car with the failed engine can dodge and / or stop, resulting in a collision.

But even with slow-moving racing cars on the racetrack, which are forced to drive slowly due to a technical defect, for example, collisions are not uncommon due to the high speed differences and / or lack of clarity.

Known prior art for collision warning system for automobile racing are, for example, warning lamps and warning lights along a race track. Flags are also used for waving by route personnel. Warning lights or warning lamps mounted in a racing automobile are also known. You can also be warned of collisions acoustically by radio.

The known collision warning systems are imprecise. An illuminated warning lamp or warning light, waving flags and acoustic signals only allow a general warning for certain sections of the route. Known collision warning systems can only increase the driver's vigilance, but cannot specifically point out a precise danger point. For example, flags are waved on different sides of the racetrack, warning lights are also arranged on one side, simultaneously on both sides or even above the racetrack and light up or flash at the same time. An acoustic announcement with precise location information can be communicated to the driver, but it is often too late until the driver hears, understands and interprets it correctly. Short announcements are common in automotive racing, and short announcements may not include very precise collision warnings.

Known collision warning systems are slow. Important time usually passes before a dangerous situation is noticed. Also, a dangerous situation outside the racing car is not always immediately recognizable as such (a drive failure, for example, is not visible on the racing car). After that, flags have to be picked up and waved. Or announcements have to be made and sent. Warning lamps and warning lights must also be switched on. Important time passes here too.

Known collision warning systems are unreliable in many cases. The collision warning systems are often to be switched on and / or operated by people outside the racing cars. A human error factor is particularly disadvantageous when it comes to important and quick reactions to a source of danger. Inattentiveness and / or slow reaction times can greatly increase the risk of a collision. In particular, collisions occur in situations that are difficult to assess visually, in which people outside a racing car cannot get an idea of the condition of this racing car.

Known collision warning systems are not always able to enable a quick response time at any point on the racetrack. In other words, the entire racetrack is not always monitored at all times.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a collision warning system of the type mentioned, which at least partially eliminates at least one of the above disadvantages.

The invention relates to a collision warning system for automobile racing. The collision warning system comprises a display unit, a racing automobile and a drive monitoring unit for driving the racing automobile. The display unit comprises an expansion device and a warning element attached to the expansion device. When the expansion device is compressed, the entire display unit is attached to the racing automobile at most up to a height of a highest point of the racing automobile or below, and the drive monitoring unit is able to automatically trigger an expansion of the compressed expansion device when the drive of the racing automobile fails during an automobile race. When the expansion device is expanded, the warning element is at least partially arranged so as to protrude above the highest point of the racing automobile.

[0012] Further advantageous embodiments emerge from the dependent patent claims.

CH 714 021 A2 A height of a point is measured in the direction of gravitation.

The drive monitoring unit has an automotive racing mode that can be switched on and off. For this reason, the drive monitoring unit can automatically trigger the expansion of the expansion device during an automobile race if the drive fails, and can dispense with the expansion of the expansion device outside of an automobile race.

[0015] The drive of the racing automobile can comprise an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a turbine and / or another drive. As soon as the drive fails, for example due to stalling of an engine, clutch damage, gearbox damage, electronics problems and / or an operating error, the drive monitoring unit notices this and automatically triggers the expansion of the expansion device.

In this automated manner, a warning of the collision warning system is triggered very quickly. Automation also results in high reliability. Automation eliminates human factors.

The warning element is attached to the racing car. This allows a precise, accurate warning of a danger point. The warning element is therefore positioned directly at the danger point and shows the danger point at the location of the danger point. Drivers of racing automobiles have their main visual focus on the route ahead, in particular on parts that they want to drive and / or drive through. A potential danger point is therefore directly in the driver's optical focus and is displayed precisely.

In addition, the warning element towers above the racing automobile when the expansion device is expanded. The warning element is thus visible even with a restricted field of vision and, for example, restricted and / or blocked view due to racing cars driving in front, and warns quickly and precisely of a danger point.

Each racing automobile equipped with this collision warning system is monitored by the collision warning system at any point on the racetrack. This collision warning system therefore has a very high coverage of potential danger points.

Since the entire display unit is attached to the racing automobile at most up to a height of a highest point of the racing automobile or below when the expansion device is compressed, the display unit can be attached to the racing automobile with little or no aerodynamic changes. In addition, the display unit does not cause any restriction of visibility for other racing cars. The difference between compressed and expanded expansion devices is also very clear in this way, since only the expanded expansion device towers above the racing automobile.

For example, the display device is attached in the direction of travel behind an air hood of a monoposto racing automobile.

Optionally, the collision warning system includes a remote trigger. The remote release is arranged at a distance from the racing automobile and is free of any physical connection to the racing automobile. The remote release is capable of causing the compressed expansion device to expand.

In other words, the expansion device can be made to expand by a remote trigger positioned remotely from the racing automobile. For example, a race management and / or a racing team can trigger the display unit (triggering the display unit means expanding the expansion device). In particular, people with real-time access to the status information of a racing car can quickly point out a dangerous situation using a remote trigger.

[0024] The collision warning system optionally includes a manual trigger switch. The trigger switch is arranged in and / or on the racing automobile, and the trigger switch is able to trigger expansion of the compressed expansion device.

A manual trigger switch on the racing automobile to trigger the display unit can be triggered, for example, by the driver of the racing automobile. Or, for example, by route personnel. People in and / or on the racing car can quickly assess its condition and react quickly.

[0026] The collision warning system optionally includes an acceleration sensor unit. The acceleration sensor unit is arranged on the racing automobile, and the acceleration sensor unit is able to trigger an expansion of the compressed expansion device.

An acceleration sensor of the acceleration sensor unit can trigger the display unit, for example, when a limit value of an acceleration is exceeded, when a limit value of an acceleration change is exceeded and / or when a predetermined pattern of acceleration data is exceeded. With the correct configuration, the acceleration sensor unit can detect an accident and / or a collision, for example, and then automatically trigger the display unit.

[0028] The racing automobile optionally includes a speed limiter. The collision warning system is able to activate the speed limiter when the expansion device is expanded.

CH 714 021 A2 [0029] If the display unit is triggered, the warning element projects above the racing automobile. The racing car is identified as a danger zone and should then no longer reach high speeds, for example. This serves to protect other racing automobiles that do not expect a danger point at high speed. This can also prevent a high wind pressure on the display element. For example, the speed limiter activated by the collision warning system can be the same as that which can be used in a pit lane.

Optionally, the expansion device is driven by a chemical reaction and in particular by an explosive gas evolution.

That the expansion device is driven means that the means driving the expansion device is mainly responsible for its expansion. For example, the means driving the expansion device provides 100% of the energy required for the expansion of the expansion device. In particular, 90% of the energy required for the expansion of the expansion device is made available by the means driving the expansion device. The means driving the expansion device can, for example, provide 80% of the energy required for the expansion of the expansion device.

Explosive gas developments can be caused, for example, by propellant charges. Solid and / or liquid explosive substances can quickly release a lot of energy. A pyrotechnic gas generator can be used to trigger the display unit. For example, a cold gas generator can be used. A drive similar to an airbag is possible.

Optionally, the expansion device is driven by stored mechanical energy and in particular by gas expansion.

The gas expansion can be effected by opening a valve or another opening of a filled gas pressure container. For example, the mechanical energy is stored as a spring force. Bending and / or torsion of metals can store mechanical energy, which can be released quickly to trigger the display unit.

The expansion device is optionally driven by an electric drive and in particular by an electric motor.

Optionally, the expansion device comprises a telescopically expandable holder for the warning element.

[0037] For example, the telescopically expandable holder is designed analogously to a telescopic fishing rod.

In particular, telescopically displaceable elements of the expandable holder essentially comprise a fiber composite material. For example, carbon fibers and / or aramid fibers (such as Kevlar) are suitable as fibers. Fibers made of glass, ceramics, steel, nylon and natural fibers are also possible.

“Essentially include” means making up at least 90% by weight. In particular, the weight fraction can make up at least 80% of the weight in order to be referred to as “essentially comprising”. Alternatively, the weight fraction is at least 70%.

Optionally, the expansion device comprises two expandable brackets for the warning element, between which the warning element is arranged in the expanded expansion device.

An arrangement of the warning element between two brackets is stable and can tension the warning element. The warning element achieves a large visual effect with simultaneous mechanical stability in a position arranged between two brackets. For example, a flag that is only attached to a holder is rarely in a completely unfolded state and is not always visually conspicuous (the visibility of such a flag is dependent on external influences such as wind and the like).

[0042] The display unit optionally includes a predetermined breaking point. And in particular the expansion device comprises a predetermined breaking point. By breaking the predetermined breaking point, at least part of the display unit can be removed from the racing automobile when the expansion device is expanded.

For example, the warning element and at least part of the expansion mechanism can be removed from the racing automobile. In this way, the warning notices can be removed, for example when the danger point has been rectified or the danger point is about to be lifted. This also makes it possible to continue driving a racing automobile after the display unit has been triggered, for example after the drive has been repaired.

[0044] The predetermined breaking point can be designed to be broken manually by people. For example, this can be the driver of the racing automobile and / or a person outside the racing automobile. The predetermined breaking point can be designed such that, for example, air pressure when the racing automobile is driving with the display unit triggered above a predetermined speed is sufficient to cause the predetermined breaking point to break.

The display unit can also be designed without a predetermined breaking point.

Optionally, the collision warning system comprises a fastening device, the display unit being releasably fastened to the racing automobile by the fastening device. For this purpose, the fastening device is designed such that the fastening device enables the display unit to be detachably fastened to the racing automobile.

CH 714 021 A2 In particular, the fastening device is designed as a quick-release system.

The releasable fastening device allows a triggered display unit to be exchanged. This exchange can be done quickly and easily. For example, this replacement can take place directly at the danger point as soon as a defect has been rectified and / or the drive is working again.

In particular, when the display unit is triggered, the collision warning system can put the drive monitoring unit in a state which restricts the use of the drive (for example by limiting a drive force and / or the speed limiter) or completely prevents it.

In this way it can be ensured that a racing automobile with a triggered display unit can only be moved to a limited extent or even stands still. Conversely, this can also mean that every racing automobile always runs with a compressed expansion device during the automobile race, that is to say with an operational display unit.

A releasable fastening device can help to make a racing car safely and quickly participate in the automobile race again.

[0052] The warning element optionally comprises flexible flat material.

By flexible flat material is meant material which is flat in an expanded state, but at the same time is flexible and can thus be brought into a spatially smaller state (e.g. by folding, bending and / or rolling). For example, such a material is a film, a net and / or a fabric.

The warning element is designed as an optional feature as a flag. The flag can be attached on two sides. Attachment to more than two sides of the flag is also possible.

The warning element can have a yellow color.

[0056] A yellow flag is often used in automobile racing to warn of a danger spot. Other colors are also possible. The warning element can be designed in one color. The warning element can be multi-colored. A specific pattern can also be used for the warning element. Or the warning element can be designed free of a pattern. The color and / or the pattern used can be specified by a respective and current regulations of a corresponding racing association and can vary depending on the type of automobile race.

[0057] The warning element is optionally designed to be air-permeable.

For example, the warning element has holes, that is, openings through which air can flow. The warning element can be perforated. The warning element can have different elements spaced apart from one another. The warning element can comprise a fabric with fibers spaced apart from one another, as a result of which the fabric is air-permeable.

Air permeability reduces air resistance of the warning element. When there is a lot of wind, when the racing car is in the wind with the triggered display unit and / or when there is wind caused by other racing cars, this can improve the stability of the triggered display device. This also allows, for example, the racing car to be driven with the display device triggered at moderate speed, for example in order to get out of a danger area and / or into a pit area in the event of a defect.

Optionally, a highest point of the warning element projects beyond the highest point of the racing automobile when the expansion device is expanded by 1.5 meters or more.

The highest point of the warning element can, for example, protrude the highest point of the racing automobile when the expansion device is expanded by 2 meters or more. The highest point of the warning element can, for example, protrude the highest point of the racing automobile with an expanded expansion device by 2.5 meters or more.

The subject matter of the invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a preferred exemplary embodiment which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Each shows schematically:

1 shows a collision warning system with an expanded expansion device in a rear view;

FIG. 2 shows the collision warning system from FIG. 1 in a side view;

3 shows the collision warning system from FIG. 1 in a top view;

4 shows a display unit of the collision warning system from FIG. 1 with an expanded expansion device in a rear view;

5 shows the display unit from FIG. 4 with a compressed expansion device, likewise in a rear view;

FIG. 6 shows the display unit from FIG. 4 with a compressed expansion device in a plan view.

CH 714 021 A2

In principle, the same parts are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures. The same embodiment of the collision warning device is shown in all FIGS. 1 to 6.

1 shows a collision warning system with an expanded expansion device 4 in a rear view. The display unit 1 comprises a housing 7, in which a compressed expansion device 4 together with the warning element 5 can be completely accommodated. In the expanded state, the expansion device 4 with the warning element 5 attached to it protrudes beyond the housing 7, as shown in FIG. 1, namely upwards, that is, counter to a direction of gravity g.

The warning element 5 is a yellow flag made of fabric (the color used specifies the respective and current regulations of the corresponding racing association), which is provided with triangular openings 8 at regular intervals. The warning element 5 is designed to be air-permeable through the triangular openings 8. The expansion device 4 comprises two telescopically expandable brackets 6, between which the warning element 5 is stretched and is thus fastened to the expansion device 4. The two telescopically expandable brackets 6 are arranged at an angle of approximately 65 degrees to one another, so that in the expanded state they span the warning element 5 in a fan-like manner.

On a racing automobile 2, the display unit 1 is positioned such that the display unit 1 with the compressed expansion device 4 (which corresponds to the outline of the housing 7) is arranged below a highest point of the racing automobile 2. With the expansion device 4 expanded, the warning element 5 protrudes 1.5 meters above the highest point of the racing automobile 5 at its upper end. The racing automobile 2 comprises a drive monitoring unit 3 connected to the display unit 1, which monitors the drive and triggers the display unit 1 when the drive fails. This means that if the drive fails, the expansion device 4 of the display unit 1 expands and thus the warning element 5, i.e. the yellow flag (the color used specifies the respective and current regulations of the relevant racing association), protrude above the racing automobile 2.

In Fig. 2 the collision warning system from Fig. 1 is shown in a side view and in Fig. 3 the same in Fig. 3 in a plan view (ie from above). 2 and 3, as in FIG. 1, the display device 1 is also shown triggered, that is to say with an expanded expansion device 4.

FIG. 4 in turn shows only the display unit 1 of the collision warning system from FIG. 1, also with an expanded expansion device 4, and also in a rear view.

5 shows the same display unit as in FIG. 4, but with a compressed expansion device 4, and also in a rear view. The telescopically expandable brackets 6 are now in a compressed position, that is to say shifted one inside the other. The housing 7 is shown transparently in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. 5 and 6 clearly show a pyrotechnic control 9, which is connected on the one hand to pyrotechnic charges in the telescopically expandable holders 6, and on the other hand has a connection to the drive monitoring unit 3 (not shown in FIGS. 4 to 6). When the pyrotechnic controller 9 receives a corresponding signal from the drive monitoring 3, it ignites the pyrotechnic charges in the holders 6 and thus drives the expansion of the holders 6 and thus the expansion device 4. Fig. 6 shows the same as Fig. 5, but in a plan view.

Claims (10)

claims 1. collision warning system for automobile racing, comprising a display unit (1), a racing automobile (2) and a drive monitoring unit (3) for driving the racing automobile (2), the display unit (1) having an expansion device (4) and one on the expansion device ( 4) attached warning element (5), the entire display unit (1) in the case of a compressed expansion device (4) is attached to the racing automobile (2) at most up to a height of a highest point of the racing automobile (2) or below, the drive monitoring unit (3) in the event of a failure of the drive of the racing automobile (2) during an automobile race, the compressed expansion device (4) is able to automatically expand, and in the case of an expanded expansion device (4) the warning element (5) is arranged at least partially so as to protrude above the highest point of the racing automobile (2) is. 2. Collision warning system according to claim 1, characterized in that the collision warning system comprises a remote trigger, the remote trigger being spaced apart from the racing automobile (2) and free of any physical connection to the racing automobile (2), and the remote trigger being an expansion compressed expansion device (4) is able to trigger. 3. Collision warning system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the collision warning system comprises a manual trigger switch, the trigger switch being arranged in and / or on the racing automobile (2), and the trigger switch being able to trigger an expansion of the compressed expansion device (4). 4. Collision warning system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the racing automobile (2) comprises a speed limiter, and the collision warning system is able to activate the speed limiter when the expansion device (4) is expanded. CH 714 021 A2 5. collision warning system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the expansion device (4) is driven by a chemical reaction and in particular by an explosive gas evolution. 6. Collision warning system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the expansion device (4) comprises a telescopically expandable holder (6) for the warning element (5). 7. collision warning system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the expansion device (4) comprises two expandable brackets (6) for the warning element (5), between which the warning element (5) is arranged in the expanded expansion device (4). 8. collision warning system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the display unit (1) on the racing automobile (2) is fastened by a fastening device, the fastening device being designed such that the fastening device is a releasable fastening of the display unit (1) on Racing automobile (2) enables. 9. collision warning system according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the warning element (5) is air-permeable. 10. Collision warning system according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a highest point of the warning element (5) exceeds the highest point of the racing automobile (2) in the expanded expansion device (4) by 1.5 meters or more. CH 714 021 A2