FI108418B - Method and device for vehicle safety management - Google Patents

Description

108418

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS FÖRFARANDE OCH ANORDNING VID FORDONS SÄKERHETSANORDNING

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The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a device according to the preamble of claim 2 in a vehicle driving safety system.

In particular, tires, rubber compounds and treads have been traditionally developed to improve driving safety, although at the same time their wear resistance may have been impaired. In addition, modern vehicles have quite a lot of information technology to support driving and steering. Anti-lock Braking (abs) has long been used in vehicles. Later it has been developed e.g. Traction control system (tcs). Recently, the so-called "newcomer to vehicles" has been featured. Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which is based on an angle sensor that measures the movement of the vehicle, ie whether the vehicle is rotating about its own axis. A compass-like sensor instantly detects if the vehicle is about to slip.

In-vehicle driving and steering information technology is based not only on the use of computers but also, in particular, on sensors that provide vehicle systems with information on vehicle motion and behavior. The extensive development of sensors has made it possible to build the driving and safety systems described above.

In most cases, the systems described above are defective or only partially malfunctioning if there is loose material such as water, slush, snow or the like between the vehicle wheel and the road. DE 2971694U directs the drive line in front of the wheel, but the effect of blowing off loose material is apparently minimal.

^ ”In DE G 9404342.6 UI air blowing is enhanced by a compressor. Nothing about the direction of the equipment-driven air blast in the vehicle's forward direction is shown, so the arrangement may not be effective in extreme conditions. The blowing arrangement associated with the vehicle wheel suspension disclosed in US 4063606 removes loose material from the road in the wheel direction, but does not remove material in the slip direction if the slip 2 108418 occurs in a different direction than the vehicle steering wheels. DE 3417048 discloses a blowing arrangement in which loose material is removed from the wheels by means of pivoting nozzles. However, the publication does not disclose a directional arrangement using a computer and sensors.

It is an object of the invention to provide a vehicle road safety system which reduces said loose material between the wheel and the road and thereby reduces, e.g. the risk of water transfer is reduced, deceleration when braking is improved, vehicle acceleration and steering behavior are improved, especially in extreme situations.

The object of the invention is achieved by the method according to the invention as claimed in claim 1 and by the device according to the invention as claimed in claim 2 and by the device according to the sub-claims.

In the method of the invention for improving the driving safety of a vehicle, air blowing is used to reduce the amount of water, mud, snow or the like on the road near the wheels of the vehicle. It is recommended that the reduction of said roadway materials be effected by means of movable and / or directed air nozzles, in particular at the points of the road where the vehicle tires are anticipated to enter, and said computerized system that calculates and provides control commands for moving said nozzles . In this case, the removal of said loose substances occurs mainly at the points where it is necessary and does not waste energy on cleaning other sites. Because the computer system and sensors are used to control the movement of the nozzles and to initiate the blowing operation, the system starts operating very quickly as a result of the unusual behavior of the vehicle, and even automatically. The same applies to disarming the system using a computer as soon as driving conditions allow it.

To use the method in a vehicle, a device is provided to improve vehicle safety when using air blast to reduce water, mud, snow or the like on the road near the wheels of the vehicle. In this case, it is recommended that the reduction of said in-flight materials at said locations is accomplished by the use of a vehicle-mounted device incorporating movable and / or directional air nozzles controlled by a computer system so that the computer system calculates and provides control commands for moving said nozzles . Because the air nozzles are movable and / or directional, the air blast will be directed by a computer system and sensors quickly and to the correct location, i.e., where the tire will touch the road surface after a fraction of a second.

The arrangement is effective if the air nozzles are used to blow compressed air generated by a compressor connected to the vehicle, which may be mechanically powered by the vehicle's engine or e.g.

If the pressure of the compressed air to be blown through the air nozzles is at least 3 bar, preferably above 12 bar, effective blowing of the loose material is achieved. The higher the amount of air that can be blown through the mouth, respectively, the more efficient the operation of the device, although oversizing should be avoided for cost reasons.

It is recommended that the air nozzles are controlled by a control system that receives information from in-vehicle sensors and interacts with any in-vehicle control computer and / or brake assist system. In this case, the systems that have already been developed may, at least in part, be utilized in the implementation of the device according to the invention and cost savings can be achieved. The number, placement and characteristics of the sensors as well as the connection need to be decided upon in the practical design of the arrangement.

If the air nozzles are closer to the surface of the carriageway in the event of an air blast than * “* when there is no air blast, the effect of the air blast on the road will be greatly enhanced. Another benefit is that the components of the arrangement are not very low, as they could easily be damaged when driving on uneven terrain if the ground clearance was particularly low.

φ • «<· 108418 4

If the air nozzle control system directs the air blowing event to only a portion of the vehicle wheels or to all wheels, some compressed air and, at the same time, energy can be saved if the arrangement commands only a portion of the vehicle air blowing nozzles. .

It is recommended that dehumidifiers and / or heating devices be connected to the device for year-round use of the vehicle. At least in cold climates, the use of such tools is almost essential to ensure the reliable operation of the arrangement.

If a switch or equivalent is provided in conjunction with the vehicle controls to disable or disable the device, the driver of the vehicle may decide to enable the arrangement even while driving, or may disable the arrangement accordingly.

If the vehicle driver is informed that the unit's air blast is active at the same time, this will be a warning signal to the driver that the vehicle is being driven in extreme conditions such that the loss of control of the vehicle can occur very quickly to other travelers.

The invention will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 schematically shows a land vehicle equipped with a driving safety arrangement according to the invention,

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a movable and / or directed air blowing nozzle associated with an arrangement according to the invention and its placement in a vehicle,

Fig. 3 schematically shows an air blower nozzle with its suspensions and its position in the vehicle, but the air blower nozzle is mounted in an inclined position,

Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the air blowing nozzle in the telescopic arm resting position,

Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an air blast of a telescopic arm of Fig. 6 in operation; ς 108418 s

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates the rotation of the air blowing nozzle handle with the vehicle wheel in right or left pivoting curves and when driving directly, respectively;

Fig. 7 shows schematically the turning of the shaft of the air blowing nozzle in the direction of the slip.

In Figure 1 of the drawing, reference numeral 1 denotes a land vehicle having steered front wheels 2 'and 2 "and rear wheels 3' and 3". With the steering wheel 4, the front wheels 2 'and 2' of the vehicle 1 are turned as usual in the desired direction of travel. Near the wheels 2 ', 2 ", 3' and 3" are mounted devices 5 ', 5 ", 6', and 6" having air blowing nozzles 7 ', 7 ", 8' and 8". The operation of said air blast nozzles and associated structures will be described in more detail later. The air blowing arrangement receives compressed air from the compressor 9, which may be, for example, an electric or mechanically powered compressor from the vehicle engine. Compressed air is led from the compressor 9 to a tank 10 having a dehumidifying device 11. From the tank 10, compressed air is supplied to pipes 12 ', 12 ", 13' and 13" to air blowing nozzles 7 ', 7 ", 8' and 8". Each tube 12 ', 12 ", 13' and 13" has its own controllable valve (not shown), e.g. in connection with the compressed air reservoir 10 or closer to each air blowing nozzle 7 ', 7 ", 8'and 8". The switching center 14 communicates with a computer 15 which controls the operation of the entire rigid system. Attached to the computer 15 is a position sensor 16 for the steering wheel 4, a transverse acceleration sensor 17, an angular speed sensor 18, sensors 19 ', 19 "20' and 20" for monitoring the rotation of the wheels, and possibly other sensors considered necessary. The driver of the vehicle 1 is informed when the system starts to operate when the indicator light and / or buzzer 21 begins to operate. The system * according to the invention is switched on by the switch 22 and the ready state of the system is indicated by the indicator light 23.

In Figure 2, the device 5 'is near the wheel 2'. The air blowing nozzle 7 'is secured to a so-called.

·> ** to the lower part of the telescopic arm 24, which is respectively at the end of the rod 25. The electric pivoting device 26 rotates the device 5 'from its normal position to the left or right of the driving direction of the vehicle 1 under the control of the computer 15. A protective plate 27 attached to the vehicle 1 mechanically protects the device 5 ', e.g. If the car is driving over a 108418 6 curb or similar, the equipment should be higher than the curb height to prevent damage.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, the telescopic arm 24 is inclined to the rod 25, so that the shower 28 will be oriented obliquely against the road surface, which enhances the cleaning effect. A similar result would be obtained if the air blowing nozzle 7 'is used, in which the jet 28 is imitated to be inclined with respect to the longitudinal movement of the telescopic arm 24 (not shown). It is also contemplated to combine both of the above structures (not shown).

In Fig. 4, compressed air is supplied to the telescopic arm 24 from the rod 25 to the cylinder 29 having an inner piston 30 and an inner piston 31 when the air blowing operation begins.

The return spring 32 acts on the outer piston 30 and the return spring 33 acts on the inner piston 31.

A tube 34 is provided through the inner piston 31 having an air blow nozzle 7 'at its lower end.

Figure 5 shows how the compressed air has affected the telescopic arm 24.

Through the air blowing nozzle 7 ', the air flow through the compressed air is so small with respect to the amount of compressed air supplied to the cylinder 29 and the air pressure at the top of the cylinder 29 that both pistons 30 and 31 move within their cylinders. is significantly enhanced as the distance decreases. However, it is necessary that the air blowing nozzle 7 'does not completely block the roadway as snow or ice lumps or other objects that may damage the system may be present. Such a suitable safety distance may be, for example, in the range of 8 to 12 cm when installing the system of the invention in a regular passenger car. The telescopic arm 24 may be thermally insulated on its outer surface and be provided with, e.g., an electric heating element to prevent freezing (not shown).

When the computer 15 interrupts the supply of compressed air to the cylinder 29 of the telescopic arm 24, the pressure in the tube 34 decreases rapidly as the air flows through the air blowing nozzle 7 'towards the runway. The return springs 32, 33 move the pistons 30, 31 to the normal position, i.e. up, to wait for the next moment of action. If an air blow nozzle 7 'is directed to the side 28 of the jet, the piston structure must be arranged so that the direction of the air blow nozzle 7' remains at least approximately unchanged (not shown).

108418 7

Fig. 6 shows the steerable front wheel 2 'in three different positions, with a representing the position of the wheel rotated as far right as possible, b facing left respectively, and c the position of the wheel 2' (when driving directly. that the vehicle 1 is not in a slip • position, but the traction is lost due to e.g. snow and acceleration, it is necessary that the computer 15 instructs the pivoting device 26 to hold the rod 25 so that the air blowing nozzle 7 'is at C In this case, the shower 28 cleans the roadway from the direction in which the tire 2 'moves from its ground contact surface after a fraction of a second, i.e. to point C. The air blowing nozzle 7' cleans the roadway, preferably at least a wider wheel. 4 is turned to the left, the front wheel b shows the direction of travel and the vehicle 1 is not a sideslip, the computer 15 the number of rod 25 to pivot so that the ilmapuhallussuutin 7 'is a point B where the tire is transferred to the contact surface of a fraction of a second and takes place purging. Under normal circumstances, computer 15 orders rod 25 to remain so-called. in the constant position, i.e., the air blowing nozzle 7 'is at point C, provided that there is no skid and no traction is lost on any tire. The angle of rotation of the rod 25 between points A-C is plotted to be about 90 degrees, but of course may deviate from this figure. The same applies to left-hand operation. The turning angle of the pivoting front wheel 2 'is drawn from a straight position, e.g., when turning to the right, about 45 degrees, but in practice the angle may deviate substantially from one another, in one direction or another. If deemed necessary, vehicles with wide tires can be fitted with T, 7 ", 8 'and 8" air blower nozzles, which are more efficient at cleaning a wider area, and smaller air blower nozzles, respectively, for smaller tires.

Figure 7 illustrates a situation in which a vehicle has collapsed. Points 35, A and C are, “. 6, but points D, E and F are drawn in this figure

by way of example. For example, if vehicle 1 is slightly sideways in the driving direction to the left, computer 15 monitors the information provided by the sensors and calculates how the bar 25 must be rotated to reach the cleaned carriageway 2 'after a fraction of a second. Computer 15 instructs rotator 26 to rotate rod 25 such that. · 108418 g that the purge jet 28 of the air blowing nozzle 7 'begins to hit point F and its vicinity where the wheel touches the ground after a fraction of a second. The computer 15 monitors the sensors at all times and, if necessary, makes corrections to the control of the rotating device in a fraction of a second. It may be necessary to begin cleaning the point E on the far side of the site and, if the situation has really worsened, close to it. Point D and its vicinity are the furthest from where the effect of the cleaning jet 28 may extend, but in that situation, vehicle 1 is likely to be almost completely out of control of the driver, although vehicle safety testing according to the invention still works and vehicle 1 may still be controlled. . The computer 15 can provide a cleaning jet 28 which only lasts for a very short time, typically e.g. 1 ... 3 s if the situation is already remedied. Therefore, the air consumption of the system is not very high and there is no need for high-power and thus expensive compressors.

In the figures or in the specification, trip computers as known per se and their sensors or other similar arrangements are not shown. It should be noted that the safety arrangement according to the invention can be used alone, but it is expedient to incorporate the arrangement according to the invention as an additional part of the existing driving safety arrangements but specifically to supplement their operation.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, but many variations are conceivable within the scope of the claims.

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Claims (11)

108418 9 A method for improving the driving safety of a vehicle by using air blast t to reduce water, mud, snow or the like on the vehicle (1) near the wheels (2 ', 2', 3 'and 3') of said vehicle; by means of directional air nozzles (7 ', 7 ", 8' and 8") in particular at the points of the carriageway where the tires (2 ', 2 ", 3' and 3") of the vehicle (1) are assumed to contact, and that air nozzles (7 ', 7 ", 8 'and 8") is controlled by a computer system such that the computer system calculates and gives control commands for moving said nozzles (7', 7 ", 8 'and 8") to sensors (16, 17, 18, 19 ', 19', 20 'and 20'), characterized in that the air nozzles (7 ', 7', 8 'and 8') are also directed to blow material from those areas of the road where the vehicle (1) tire n (2 ', 2 ", 3' and 3") is predicted to occur even if the vehicle (1) is in a skid and even if the skid is in a different direction from the steering wheels of the vehicle (1) (2 ', 2 ", 3' and 3") ) show. 2. A device for improving vehicle safety when using air blast to reduce water, mud, snow or the like on the vehicle (1) wheels (2 ', 2 ", 3' and 3"), whereby said vehicle materials are reduced at said locations using the vehicle ( 1) an installed device comprising movable and / or directional air nozzles (7 ', 7 ", 8' and 8") controlled by a computer system such that the computer system calculates and issues control commands for said nozzles (7 ', 7 ", 8'); and 8 ”) • ·; V for moving by means of information provided by sensors (16, 17, 18, 19 ', 19 ", 20' and 20") tracked in the vehicle (1), characterized in that the device is specially adapted to remove substances also from those areas of the road the tires (2 ', 2', 3 'and 3') of the vehicle (1) are foreseen to fall, even if the vehicle (1) is off-road. • · · • · «» · · • «« * · 1 1 Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the air nozzles (7 ', 7 ", 8' and 8") are blown with compressed air produced by a compressor (9) ** connected to the vehicle (1); • · • · · • · 4 Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the pressure of the compressed air blown through the air nozzles (7 \ 7 ", 8 'and S") is at least 3 bar, preferably more than 12 bar, before the nozzle. · • · • · ♦ *: · 1: Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the air nozzles (7 ', 7 ", 8' and 8") are controlled by a control system which receives information from sensors (16, 17, 18, 19 ') mounted in the vehicle (1). , 1 0841 8 ίο 19 ”, 20 'and 20”) and that interacts with any steering computer and / or brake assist system that may be installed on the vehicle (1). Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in the event of air blowing, the air nozzles (7 ', 7 ", 8' and 8") are closer to the road surface than when there is no air blowing. Device according to Claim 6, characterized in that the air nozzle (7 ', 7 ", 8' and 8") control system controls the air blowing only on part of the wheels (2 ', 2 ", 3' and 3") of the vehicle (1) or for all wheels (2 ', 2', 3 'and 3'). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that dehumidifying means and / or heating means (not shown) are connected to the device for year-round operation of the vehicle (1). Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a switch (22) or the like is arranged in connection with the control devices of the vehicle (I) for switching the device on or off. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the driver of the vehicle (1) is informed that the air blowing of the device is in operation at the same time. · • • ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ «· • • • • • • • • • • ••••••••••••••• 84418 11 Skyddskrav