Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
  • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
  • B60Q1/44—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for transmitting a warning signal to vehicle drivers following a first vehicle including the driver, after having perceived a potential danger being; on its way, undertakes an energetic braking action.
• the object of the present invention is therefore to propose a device enabling the brake lights to be switched on only when the vehicle braking device is actually used, thus avoiding false indications.
• Another object of the invention is to propose a device making it possible to transmit a warning signal to the drivers of vehicles following a first vehicle, the driver of which, after having perceived a potential danger on his way, undertakes an energetic braking action .
• This signal for indication of potential danger is clearly perceptible and differs from other light indications generally transmitted by vehicles.
• FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of part of a vehicle provided with the device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 represents a schematic view of another preferred embodiment more compact according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of part of a vehicle provided with the device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 represents a schematic view of another preferred embodiment more compact according to the invention.
• Figure 1 shows a first preferred embodiment according to the invention.
• the vehicle 1 fitted with four wheels 2, moves in the direction of the arrow.
• the action of the driver on the brake pedal 11 activates the braking circuit 15, generally a hydraulic or pneumatic servo-brake circuit 12, which controls the drums or the braking discs 10 arranged on the hubs of the four wheels 2 of the vehicle.
• a brake light contact (not illustrated) actuated directly by the pedal 11 or even by the servo-brake 12 triggered the ignition of the rear lights 20, as soon as the driver pressed the brake pedal (even without exerting a braking action), signaling to the next driver, often erroneously, that a braking action has been ordered.
• a brake light contact 13, connected to a pressure sensor 32, itself mounted on the hydraulic or pneumatic braking circuit 15, allows the rear brake lights 20 to be ignited only when the circuit pressure braking pressure reaches a minimum threshold, corresponding to the moment when an actual braking force begins to be generated.
• a minimum threshold corresponding to the moment when an actual braking force begins to be generated.
• a pressure of approximately 1 bar corresponds to the minimum pressure required to move the brake pads to brake discs or drums.
• such a pressure value could therefore be used as the minimum threshold for switching on the rear brake lights, since under this value, no real braking action is generated.
• the value of this minimum pressure can obviously vary according to the types of vehicle and is thus fixed at a certain value corresponding to the vehicle used.
• a single indication of braking provided by the lighting of the brake lights does not however allow the next driver to distinguish between light braking and powerful braking, often corresponding to a distress situation. It is therefore important that additional information, which is very clearly distinguishable from current information, is transmitted to the drivers of the following vehicles, in the event that a potential danger, such as a vehicle braking vigorously, located below a limit distance does not occur, so that the drivers of said vehicles are informed as soon as possible of the presence of this potential danger; on the other hand, no information of this type should be transmitted in the event of normal braking of the first vehicle. It is also necessary that this transmission of information takes place automatically, the driver generally not having the time or the presence of mind necessary to actuate a control member. additional.
• the device comprises a deceleration measuring device 30 transmitting a setpoint signal to a light ignition center 23 when the vehicle 1 in question is subjected to vigorous braking.
• Said deceleration measurement device 30 is connected to three complementary measurement elements, namely, a deceleration detector 31, a pressure detector 32, preferably the same as that mentioned above for detecting the minimum threshold, and finally , for vehicles fitted with an anti-blocking braking system 14 (element known in the art and often referred to as ABS), a contact 33 connected " to the anti-blocking system.
• the deceleration measurement device tion 30 can of course be integrated into one or the other of the detectors 31 and 32; these three elements can also be combined into one in order to minimize the number of components.
• Said deceleration detector 31 is preferably a suitable movement variation detection element, element known in the art, separate from the other functions of the vehicle
• the pressure detector 32 element also known from the tec hnique, is disposed on the hydraulic or pneumatic braking circuit, as shown in Figure 1, or on the servo-brake and acts when the hydraulic or pneumatic pressure exceeds a limit value corresponding to a braking force from which a danger indication must be transmitted. For example, in the case of a medium-sized car using a hydraulic type braking system, tests have made it possible to determine that a hydraulic pressure of approximately 35 bar corresponds to a large braking force, causing a loss of very fast celeration of the vehicle 1.
• Such a value could therefore be used as the activation threshold for the signal for indication of potential danger.
• This value can obviously vary according to the types of vehicle and is thus fixed at a certain value corresponding to the vehicle on which the device is used.
• said contact 33 mounted on said system, acts as soon as the latter comes into action.
• Said deceleration measuring device 30 generates a setpoint signal as soon as at least one of the three deceleration measuring elements 31, 32, 33 is activated.
• a setpoint signal at the output of said deceleration measurement device 30, as soon as vigorous braking is exerted on the vehicle 1, said signal not being caused by light braking.
• the mere measurement of the pressure of the braking system may not be sufficient to indicate vigorous braking.
• the resul ⁇ tant braking force can vary depending on the road conditions, the condition of the vehicle tires, its speed, etc.
• a variant of this embodiment therefore provides that the deceleration measuring device 30 generates the setpoint signal only when at least two of the three deceleration measuring elements 31, 32, 33 are activated.
• Said setpoint signal is received by a lights ignition center 23, responsible for transmitting a signal of indication of potential danger to the drivers of the vehicles behind the vehicle in question.
• Said central lighting 23 lights transmits said signal by visual means, such as the lighting of one or more lights 20, 21, 22 of the vehicle. At least two rear flashing lights are activated so that the signal for indication of potential danger is not confused with a flashing signal indicating a change of direction, such as for example the start of an overtaking.
• said central lighting lights 23 may be the flashing central unit already mounted on each vehicle and designed to supply two of the four lights 21 and 22, one at the front and one at the rear, either the two lights on the left or the two lights on the right in the event of a change of direction, as well as the four lights 21 and 22, in the form of a distress signal, in the event of a vehicle breakdown.
• the flashing cen ⁇ tral 23 mentioned above can therefore act in the same way as to indicate a breakdown of the vehicle, that is to say flash the four simultaneously lights 21 and 22.
• said deceleration measurement device 30 inhibits any setpoint signal below a speed limit value, for example 10 or 20 km / h or any other suitable value which could for example be fixed by legislation, as well as in the event of negative speed (reverse ). Said deceleration measurement device 30 also inhibits the control signal in the event of acceleration of the vehicle.
• the lights ignition center 23 activates one or more lights, flashing or not, whose shape and layout comply with the law.
• the driver is informed of the operation of the lights ignition center 23 by means of a warning lamp located on the dashboard (not shown in the drawing); the same applies when the existing flashing unit is not used for this purpose.
• the central lighting ignition 23 can be linked to a time delay 26 enabling said danger indication signal to be transmitted for a certain time, for example from 1 to 120 seconds.
• said tempo ⁇ risation 26 can be integrated into the deceleration measurement device 30 thus acting directly on the control signal so that the latter is always of equal duration.
• Stopping the transmission can therefore occur at the end of the time delay or else manually, by the switch 27, when the driver feels that it is no longer necessary to transmit an indication of danger, or when the vehicle accesses again, said acceleration indication being able to be supplied for example by the detector 31, signifying that the danger has passed. If it is nevertheless necessary to signal the danger over a longer period, it is always possible for the driver to manually actuate the transmission device, using switch 27.
• a second preferred embodiment according to the invention is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2. It is in fact a simplified version of the previous embodiment offering the advantage to be compact, very inexpensive to make and to be very easily integrated into an already existing vehicle. This second embodiment also offers advantageous industrialization possibilities since the compact device is easily installed during the mass assembly of motor vehicles, either on all vehicles assembled on the chain, or even on certain of them, the configuration changes to be accomplished being minor.
• the elements of the vehicle illustrated in FIG. 2 and corresponding to those of FIG. 1 are identified with the same numbers.
• a compact box 51 includes all the elements essential to the functioning of the device: a pressure sensor 32, such as for example a piezoelectric type sensor, the center for lighting the lights 23 as well as the time delay 26.
• An input of pressure 50 is directly connected to the compact housing 51 and directs the hydraulic fluid under pressure or the compressed air, as the case may be, to the integrated pressure sensor 32.
• Different outputs 52 make it possible to light the appropriate warning lamps.
• the device is supplemented by a power source 53, preferably the vehicle battery, a protective element 54 of the electrical circuit, a flashing indicator lamp 56 disposed on the dashboard 55 of the vehicle, the front flashing lights 21 of the vehicle, preferably those already used to indicate the exceedances, the rear brake lights 20 and the flashing rear lights 22.
• the compact housing 51 is simply arranged at the braking circuit of the vehicle hicle through a T-connector (not shown).
• the light ignition center When a pressure equal to or greater than a minimum threshold associated with the start of effective braking, as previously explained, is measured by the pressure sensor, the light ignition center automatically engages the rear brake lights 20 and keeps them on as long as the pressure is not returned below the value of this threshold.
• the sensor measures a pressure equal to or greater than a second threshold associated with braking braking, as previously explained, the central lights ignition flashes the rear brake lights 20 or, according to a variant possible, causes the rear flashing lights 22 and the front flashing lights 21 to flash, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
• the indicator lamp 56 indicates this situation to the driver of the vehicle.
• the time delay integrated into the device plays the same role as in the previous form of execution.
• the device operates with a single threshold, that is that associated with the distress braking.
• the brake lights 20 are then engaged independently, either with separate detection of the minimum threshold, or according to the prior art.
• an additional analog output (not shown), makes it possible to obtain an indication of the real pressure of the braking system.
• an output could take the form of a signal varying from 0 V to 12 V, varying proportionally to the pressure of the system.
• Such an outlet can for example be connected to a pressure indicator.
• the lights ignition center 23 transmits, by means of the outputs 52, only a first logic signal corresponding to the minimum threshold associated with the start of effective braking, a second signal corresponding logic laying down at the minimum threshold associated with a braking force from which a danger indication must be transmitted and an analog signal, such as 0 V to 12 V proportional to the pressure measured by the sensor 32.
• a first logic signal corresponding to the minimum threshold associated with the start of effective braking a second signal corresponding logic laying down at the minimum threshold associated with a braking force from which a danger indication must be transmitted and an analog signal, such as 0 V to 12 V proportional to the pressure measured by the sensor 32.
• Such a device can easily be fitted as standard on all kinds of vehicles, such as motor cars or trucks, and it is obvious that in the event that a trailer is coupled to a towing vehicle, the transmission of the flashing signal takes place towards the rear lights of the trailer, said trailer also being able to be provided with the complete or partial device according to the invention.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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• 1992
  • 1992-04-24 WO PCT/CH1992/000081 patent/WO1992019468A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1992-04-24 EP EP92908241A patent/EP0536356A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1992-04-24 AU AU15465/92A patent/AU1546592A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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