GB2301954A

GB2301954A - Vehicle deceleration indicator system

Info

Publication number: GB2301954A
Application number: GB9511348A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Watts
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-06-05
Filing date: 1995-06-05
Publication date: 1996-12-18
Also published as: GB9511348D0

Abstract

The system comprises braking pressure sensitive switches 1 and/or motion sensitive switches 2, an array of external warning lights 4 of which the number illuminated depends on the degree of deceleration of the vehicle, and a timer 3 which holds the illuminated lamps energised for a predetermined time following heavy deceleration. An audible alarm 10 and repeater lights 5 on the instrument panel are also provided. A sensor CA controls trip switches 6-8 to switch off fuel pumps and switch on or off other systems such as alarms in the event of a collision.

Description

PROGRESSIVE ARREST WARNING SYSTEM This invention relates to a system giving warning of the rate ol deceleration ol a vehicle, and affording certain safety measures in case ol a collision.

A stop lighe is a well known means of warning traffic that a venicle's brakes have been applied, and is ususlly activated by a pressure sensitive switch closing circuit and causing a rear mounted light, or lights, to illuminate.

When brakes are applied more vigorously, however, tnere is no indication ot the more abrupt loss of speed, leading to the possibility that a vehicle under heavy braking may be hit irom the rear by a 101 lowing vehicle. Modern anti dive suspension geometry conceale much o the typical "Nose own, lail Up" attitude ot vehicle which is rapidly losing momentum, and commercial vehicles, particuiarly tnose with air brakes, give little apparent warning o@ sharp deceleration, and because ol the retardation rates afforded by their powerful Drakes, some even fit "Run Under" bars to be hit by following traffic caught unawares. In conditions of poor light, ana bad visibility, matters are made worse.

according to the present invention there is provided a pressure sensitive or mechanically linked switch of switches with settings callbrated to the increa@ing@decreasing application of a venicle's brakes, so that as the retardation increases, the switch or switches sequentially close more circuits, illuminating additional warning lights set in an array o@ arrays outside the vehicle, thus the greater the braking ellort, the sharper the dece@eration, the more numerous are the lights illuminated, and as braking eases and the pressure drops, the lights sequenti@lly switch off.

ihe system works with or without a motion sensitive switon or switches controlling circuits in response to variations detected in the venicle's momentum, and will, by the same means, modity emission from a light source powering srop lights servea by Iiore optics.

@ne system will work with or without ancillary circuits tnat provide ror the fue@ pump(s), , hazard warning indicators, and/or other selected systems to be brought under automatic contro@ in case of coilision, a light array which inclcates on an instrument panel that the system is in operation, a time deray on the more extreme settings so that the lightes active@ed will remain @it for a time as a warning to traffic, a driver's audible,visual warning that the @ue@ pump@@@, and o@ other systems are under sutomatie control, an sudible war@ing to traffic, and a test faci@@tv to ensure that the frogressive Arrest warning system is operational.

A specific description of the invention @ow follows to be read in conjunction with reference to the accompanying circuit diagrams in which the component parts are identified as hollows.

SECTION 1 Pressure sensitive/ mechanicily linked switch/es identified as PA PB PC PD.

SECTION 2 Motion sensitive switch@es@ identified as MA MB MC MD.

SECTION 3 Timer.

SECTION 4 External warning light array[s].

SECTION 5 Instrument panel light array[s].

SECTION @ he settable trip switches controlling audible warning of fuel pump[s] of other systems under autonatic control.

SECTION 7 Re settable trip switches controlling the fuel pumple or other systems.

SECTION 8 Re settable trip switch[es] controlling the hatard warning lights.

SECTION 9 @irouit test fatilitv.

SECTION 10 Audible warning device[s] for traffic.

Referring to the diagrams, the system comprises a pressure sensitive / mechanically linked switch, or switches, PA PB PC PD. SECTION 1 wnicn close sequentiaily in response to progressive application of the brakes. The greater the braking extort, tne more circuits are closed.

When the system is activated, switch PA SECTION 1 closes first, illuminating lamp A SECTION 4, and its corresponding repeater on the instrument panei light array, lamp A SECTION 5. If the brake is then released, switch PA opens, and the lights go out.

Should tie brakes be appiied with more torce, however, switch PA remains closed, lamps A SECTIONS 4 & 5 remain alight, and switch PB SECTION 1 closes, illuminating lamps B SECTIONS 4 & BR< 5. According to the diagram, closure of switch PB SECTION 1 also gives audible warning to traffic, SECTION 10, triggers the timer, SECTION , allowing the lamps activated to remain alight tor a period alter the braes nave been partially or totally released, and prolonging audible warning to traffic, SECTION 10, before switching off automatically.

by the same process, a continuing increase in braking effort closes switches PC and PD SECTION 1, illuminating lamps C and D SECTIONS 4 and 5, gives audible warning to traffic, SCETION 10, and triggers the timer SECTION 3.

NOTE she numbers o@ lamps switches and circuits shown are arbitrary, and reference to SECTION 4, lamps A B C & D also refers to any light source sevricing a system of fibre optice. Reference to pressure sensitive switching shall also include switching by means of mechanical linkage to the @@@king system.

Acting either in concert with the pressure sensitive / mechanically linked switch[es], shown in SECTION 1 [PA PB PC PD], or independently thereot, there is also provided a motion sensitive switch or switches SECTION 2 [MA MB MC MD], whose circuits are closed by the increasing deceleration ot the vehicle. Initial deceleration closes switch MA SECTION 2 illuminating lamps A SECTIONS 4 & 5. Cessation of deceleration opens the switch and the lights go out, whereas an increase in deceleration additionally closes switch ME SECTION , illuminating lamps B SECTIONS 4 & 5. Switches MC and Nb close sequentially in the event o deceleration continuing to increase, illuminating lamps C & D SECTIONS 4 & BR< 5.According to the diagram, switches MB MC and MD also activate the audible warning to trattic SECTION 10, and trigger the timer, thus allowing the lamps activated to remain lit tor a period alter the brakes have been totally or partially released, and prolonging audible warning to traffic before switching off automatically.

As with the pressure sensitive / mechanically linked switch[es], the number ot lamps, switches and circuits shown is arbitary, as are their settings, and control ot lamps in SECTION 4 also applies to tibre optics.

In SECTION there is also shown a collision sensor, denoted CA, this item is representative of one or more which may be used to control ancillary circuits.

SECTION t snows a trip switch controlling an audible warning device. lins switch acts with SECTION which is a trip switch controlling the circuits operating the ruel pump;Lsi and/or otner svstems so that extreme deceleration which indicates a collision activates the switch, or switches wA SECTION 2, operating the trips SECTIONS 6 & 7, stopping the ruel pump;Lsl, turning other systems off or on as may be appropriate, and giving audible warning of the systems' status. Such audible warning may be augmented by a light or lights qNot shown on the diagram), but located on the instrument panel array SECTION b. Trips are re set when conditions are sate.

Simf@ar@y the collision sensor[s] @A SECTION 2 activate the hazard warning indicators oy means ot the trip switch denoted as SECTION 8, and sound audible warning to traffic both front and rear, SECTION 10, such warning being controlled by the timer, SECTION @.

SECTION 9 is a system check switch when closed, lights ali the lamps, triggers the timer, iso@ates the fuel pump[s], turns on or off other dedicated systems, sounds the driver's aud@@@e war@@ng thereo@, a@tivates the @@@ard warning indicators, and tests the traffic audible warning. @n@s switch is sub@e@@ to sateguard to preven@ its accidental ope@a@@on.

Claims

1. A progressive arrest warning system comprising a pressure sensitive switch or switches with settings calibrated to the increasing/decreasing pressure in a braking system, and/or a switch or switches mechanically linked to the braking system so tnat as the brakes are progressively app,ied, and the vehicle decelerates more sharply, an array or arrays of external warning lamps light up sequentially.

The greater tne braking effort, the more abrupt the retardation, the more lights illuminate. As the hraking ertort decreases, ana deceleration diminisnes, the lights go out. ihe system to work with or without an audible warning t traffic, and a timer whereby after heavy deceleration, the lights activated remain lit tor a time, and audible warning is pro@onged before switching off automatically.

2. A A progressive arrest warning system comprising a motion sensitive switch or switches with settings calibrated to the increasing/decreasing deceleration ot a vehicle so tnat as its deceleration increases, an array u arrays of external warning lamps light up sequentially. ine more abrupt the retardation, the more lights illuminate. AS deceleration diminishes, the lights go out.The system to work with or without an audible warning to traffic, and a timer whereby alter heavy deceleration, the lights activated remain lit tor time, and an audible warning is prolonged, before switching ott automatically.

A progressive arrest warning system which combines the characteristics claimed in claims 1 and 2 4. A progressive arrest warning system as claimed in claim 2 with additional circultry to switch off automatically the eiectric current to the vehicle's fuel pump or pumps, and wit or without the fac@@ity automatically to switch oil the hazard warning @@dicators, and to switch on or off any or all of the ven@cle's systems as might best benefit in an emergency its occupants, and or any vehicles or persons affected, or @@kely to be affected, by its condition.

5. A progressive arrest warning system as claimed in claims and 4 6. A progressive arrest warning system as claimed in claims @ and 4 7. A progressive arrest warning system substantially as des@@bed herein with reference to sections 1 - 10 o@ the accompanying cricult diagrams.