GB2484464A

GB2484464A - An alarm and tracking system for a vehicle triggered by shock absorber pressure change

Info

Publication number: GB2484464A
Application number: GB1017036.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cyril Staley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-11
Filing date: 2010-10-11
Publication date: 2012-04-18
Also published as: GB201017036D0

Abstract

An alerting arrangement for alerting an owner of a vehicle comprising at least one shock absorber / suspension 11, the arrangement comprising a pressure sensor 10 for sensing pressure within the shock absorber, location determining means for determining the location of the vehicle, and data transmission means for transmitting data received in dependence of signals from the pressure sensing means to a receiving means. Ideally, when a pressure reduction is detected in the shock absorber (e.g. when a car is being jacked to steal the wheel 17), the location of the vehicle is determined via a global positioning satellite system (GPS) and sent to the local authorities, the mobile phone of the owner, or to the police to enable tracking. Audio and visual data may also be recorded via a camera system and transmitted. An alarm system is preferably activated on the vehicle to alert passers-by of the thief.

Description

Alerting Arrangement The present invention relates to an alerting arrangement for particularly, but not exclusively, alerting a vehicle owner of vehicle interference.

Current vehicle immobilising and alarm systems are generally effective against attempts to break into or remove a vehicle, but provide little protection against the theft of the vehicle wheels. Vehicle wheel theft is a common occurrence and can lead to significant financial losses for the vehicle owners.

GB2422940 discloses a pressure sensor for sensing the pressure in the shock absorbers of a vehicle. The sensor is arranged to activate a vehicle horn and/or lights to alert passes-by of the potential criminal activity in the event that sensor senses a pressure change within the shock absorber, which is indicative of the vehicle being raised, using a jack for example.

In the event that a thief is otherwise interrupted after loosening or removing wheel studs however, the owner may be unaware that the vehicle is unsafe to drive. It is therefore important that the owner is notified of any wheel theft attempts or malicious interference of the vehicle. It is also beneficial that the appropriate authorities are notified of the interference and that evidence is gathered to assist the authorities with the identification and ultimate prosecution of the interferer.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an alerting arrangement for alerting an owner of a vehicle comprising at least one shock absorber, of possible vehicle interference, the arrangement comprising: pressure sensing means for sensing pressure within the at least one shock absorber; location determining means for determining the location of the vehicle; and, data transmission means for transmitting data to receiving means in dependence of signals received from the pressure sensing means.

Advantageously, the arrangement facilitates the detection of possible wheel theft and is arranged to notify the driver that the vehicle has been interfered with. The arrangement is also arranged to provide police authorities with information regarding the location of the vehicle, so that the vehicle can be readily tracked.

The receiving means is preferably remotely located with respect to the data transmission means and preferably comprises an electronic device accessible by the owner or driver of the vehicle, such as a mobile phone or computer. Alternatively, or in addition thereto, the receiving means may preferably comprise or further comprise an electronic device accessible by the local authorities.

Preferably, the arrangement further comprises recording means for capturing and recording audio and/or visual data in the vicinity of the vehicle, thereby enabling the arrangement to record evidence for use in the identification and if necessary, the prosecution of one or more individuals associated with the vehicle interference. The recording means is preferably activated upon receipt of a signal from the pressure sensing means.

Preferably, the data transmission means is arranged to transmit data characteristic of the location of the vehicle as provided by the location determining means, and/or audio/visual data as provided by the recording means.

Preferably, the location determining means comprises a global positioning system.

Preferably, the data transmission means is disposed within the vehicle and may comprise a telecommunication system associated within the vehicle.

Preferably, the arrangement further comprises a local audio and/or visual alert that is preferably activated upon receipt of a signal from the pressure sensing means, to provide an immediate deterrent to vehicle interferers.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a pressure sensor of the alerting arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention, disposed upon a shock absorber associated with a front wheel of a vehicle; Figure 2 is a magnified view of the pressure sensor illustrated in figure 1; and, Figure 3 is an electrical diagram of the circuitry employed in the alert arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention; Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is illustrated a pressure sensor 10 of an alerting arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention, disposed upon a shock absorber 11 of a vehicle (not shown), which is arranged to provide a warning of a possible interference of a locked, parked vehicle (not shown). The shock absorber 11 comprises a piston rod 12 which is arranged to couple a body of the vehicle (not shown) with a piston chamber 13, which is itself coupled to a wheel hub 14 of the vehicle (not shown). The piston chamber 13 comprises hydraulic fluid (not shown) disposed therein and the piston rod 12 is arranged to extend from an upper portion, which is typically disposed within a bonnet or boot compartment of the vehicle (not shown), to a lower portion disposed within the piston chamber 13. The lower portion of the piston rod 12 comprises an outwardly turned flange 15 which is arranged to extend toward a wall 16 of the chamber 13, such that as the wheel hub 14 rises and falls in accordance with movements of the wheel 17, the piston rod 12 is arranged to move along the chamber 13 causing the pressure of the hydraulic fluid (not shown) disposed therein to change.

The alert arrangement comprises a plurality of pressure sensors 10 (only one or which is illustrated in figure 1 and 2 of the drawings), one disposed upon the piston rod 12 of each shock absorber 11 associated with the vehicle hubs 14, and the sensors 10 are arranged in electrical communication with each other and with a vehicle door locking mechanism (not shown). Referring to figure 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated an electrical diagram of the circuitry employed in the alert arrangement according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment illustrated in figure 3, the sensors 10 are arranged in a pressure sensing circuit 20 and are arranged in electrical communication via a communication wire 21, however, it is envisaged that this electrical communication may also be provided wirelessly.

The pressure sensing circuit 20 comprises a plurality of switches 22 which are separately associated with a respective pressure sensor 10. Each pressure sensor 10 is arranged to output a signal in dependence of a change in pressure of hydraulic fluid (not shown) within the piston chamber 13 exceeding a pre-determined threshold. It is envisaged that this may occur during the lifting of the vehicle (not shown) when using a jack (not shown) for example, which causes the fluid pressure within the chamber 13 to decrease, or during the theft of the vehicle, whereby the additional weight of a person within the vehicle and/or the undulations in the road surface during vehicle motion, will lead to an increased hydraulic pressure within the piston chamber 13.

Referring to figure 3 of the drawings, the alerting arrangement further comprises an intrusion sensing circuit 30 comprising intrusion sensors 31 which is arranged to act in addition to the pressure sensors 10. The intrusion sensors 31 are associated with the doors, bonnet and boot (not shown) of the vehicle for example, to detect for an intrusion into the vehicle via the doors for example, or vehicle interference via the bonnet, and separately comprise a detector switch 32.

The switches 22, 32 are connected to the vehicle central locking system (not shown) of the vehicle via a central locking circuit 40. The central locking circuit 40 comprises an electromagnetic switch 41 which is closed when the vehicle is locked and stationary, and open when the vehicle is unlocked and/or in motion. The central locking circuit 40 ensures that the alerting arrangement remains electrically isolated while the vehicle is unlocked and/or in motion and is activated only when the vehicle is parked and locked, thereby preventing any accidental activation due to pressure changes in the shock absorbers 11 while the vehicle is in motion.

When the vehicle is locked and stationary, the alerting arrangement becomes active. In this operative state, if one or more of the pressure sensors 10 detects a change in hydraulic fluid pressure at one or more shock absorbers 11 which exceeds a threshold, or if one or more of the intrusion sensors 31 associated with the door etc detects a possible intrusion of the vehicle, then the respective switch 22, 32 is arranged to close.

As one or more of the switches 22, 32 closes, an electromagnetic switch 50 is arranged to close, to power a global positioning system 60 which is arranged to determine the location of the vehicle. Simultaneously, a recorder 70, such as a video camera, disposed within the vehicle is activated to provide a video and a sound recording in the vicinity of the vehicle. The recorder 70 is arranged to acquire information regarding the identity of the interferers of the vehicle, to assist the relevant authorities in identifying and if necessary prosecuting the interferers.

The global positioning system 60 and recorder 70 are arranged to output the respective data to a transmitter 80, which may comprise a telecommunication system (not shown) associated with the vehicle, for subsequent transmission to a receiver such as a mobile phone or computer 90 of the owner and/or driver of the vehicle, and/or the local police authority. This transmission will thus inform the owner of the vehicle that the vehicle has been interfered with and enables the police authorities to locate and if necessary track the vehicle.

While in the operative state, then if one ore more of the pressure sensors 10 or intrusion sensors 31 detects a possible interference of the vehicle, then upon closure of the electromagnetic switch 50, a local alert circuit 100 is also activated. The local alert circuit 100 is arranged to generate an audio and/or a visual alert in the vicinity of the vehicle, with an aim of deterring interferers by alerting their presence to passers-by for example.

From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that the alerting arrangement provides for a simple yet effective means of alerting an owner of a vehicle of possible vehicle interference.