US3562601A - Apparatus for supervising starting of vehicle - Google Patents

Apparatus for supervising starting of vehicle Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3562601A
US3562601A US809644A US3562601DA US3562601A US 3562601 A US3562601 A US 3562601A US 809644 A US809644 A US 809644A US 3562601D A US3562601D A US 3562601DA US 3562601 A US3562601 A US 3562601A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
potentiometer
frequency
adjusting
casing
circuit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US809644A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Karl Adler
Georges Ducommun
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Biviator AG
Original Assignee
Biviator AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Biviator AG filed Critical Biviator AG
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3562601A publication Critical patent/US3562601A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/16—Devices for psychotechnics; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
    • A61B5/161—Flicker fusion testing
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/16—Devices for psychotechnics; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
    • A61B5/18—Devices for psychotechnics; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state for vehicle drivers or machine operators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K28/00—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions
    • B60K28/02—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions responsive to conditions relating to the driver
    • B60K28/06—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions responsive to conditions relating to the driver responsive to incapacity of driver
    • B60K28/063—Safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles, e.g. preventing fuel supply or ignition in the event of potentially dangerous conditions responsive to conditions relating to the driver responsive to incapacity of driver preventing starting of vehicles

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an apparatus for supervising starting of a vehicle, comprising a luminous indicator adapted to flicker at a manually adjustable frequency and a starting circuit operable upon adjustment of a predetermined nominal frequency.
  • Such an apparatus is based on the experience that the flicker fusion threshold frequency, that is the highest frequency at which a flickering illumination is still seen as a continuous light, depends on the actual vigilance of the observer and is lowered for instance by alcohol, illness and general fatigue. If a driver of a vehicle is no longer able to determine and adjust m nominal frequency individually associated to him, he is also unable to fulfill the conditions for proper handling of the said starting circuit, that is, it is impossible for him to start the vehicle.
  • this invention comprises means operable at the end of each adjusting operation for automatically shifting the frequency or of adjusting means for the frequency respectively, the initial condition from which manual adjustment of the nominal frequency has to be effected being different for each adjustment.
  • this case it is necessary to effect every adjustment under variable conditions, for instance by turning a potentiometer by various amounts and/or from various initial positions so that it is im- 'possibleto exercise or even to note down marks assisting the adjusting manipulation.
  • the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has a luminous indicator 1 which may be energized by a generator 2 at a frequency adjustable within a range of say 20 to 80 cycles.
  • the frequency may be adjusted by means of a potentiometer 3 having a shaft 31 passing through the potentiometer casing.
  • the casing of this potentiometer is pivotably mounted by means of a hub 4 and with a predetermined friction on a stationary support 5.
  • the one end and the tapping of the potentiometer are connected each through a slip ring 6 to the generator 2.
  • the shaft 31 of potentiometer 3 has a hub 7 at one end thereof, a toothed wheel 8 being loosely supported on, this hub.
  • a star spring 9 connected to the hub 7 rests against the toothed wheel 8 and forms a friction clutch with the same, the torque of this friction clutch being sufiicient for rotating the potentiometer shaft 31 in the potentiometer casing 3 as well as for rotating the potentiometer casing in its support 5.
  • the toothed wheel 8 may be driven by an electric motor 11 through a wonn 10.
  • a sleeve 12 with an actuating knob 13 is mounted on the potentiometer shaft 31 and may be shifted in axial direction thereon.
  • a pressure spring inserted into the sleeve 12 tends to shift and to maintain the latter in its outer end position illustrated in FIG.
  • the sleeve 12 carries an arm 15 with a pin 16.
  • This arm 15 is located in front of an annular metal plate 17 having an opening 18 within reach of the path of displacement of pin 16, the
  • pin 16 and opening 18 being so designed that pin 16 may enter into the opening 18 with ample clearance, particularly in circumferential direction.
  • Another annular metal plate 19 is mounted parallel to plate 17 in a common support 20 of insulating material. By means of arms 40 the support 20 with plates 17 and 19 is rotated in synchronism with the potentiometer casing, that is, the angular position of plates 17 and 19 always corresponds to that of the potentiometer casing.
  • Plates 17 and 19 are connected to relay windings 21 and 22 respectively.
  • Relay 21 has a self-holding contact 23 and a rest contact 24 in the circuit of relay 22.
  • Relay 22 has a self-holding contact 25 and a making contact 26 connected into the circuit of a start switch 27, for instance the ignition lock switch of a motor car.
  • the generator 2 is energized through a contact 28 of a selector switch which may be thrown into two outer operating positions and a central off position.
  • a second contact 29 of this selector switch serves for connection of generator 2 to the potentiometer 3 in its position shown in the drawing and to a calibrating resistor 30 in the other operating position.
  • P16. 1 illustrates the apparatus in its usual operating position ready for supervising starting of the vehicle.
  • the casing of potentiometer 3 is in any desired angular position and the potentiometer shaft with knob 13 is in its end position relatively to the potentiometer casing, for which position the generator produces its highest frequency.
  • the driver who wants to start his vehicle now turns on knob 13 in a prescribed direction corresponding to decreasing frequency.
  • the potentiometer shaft turns in the potentiometer casing without turning the casing therewith so that the potentiometer is adjusted and the frequency decreases.
  • the knob 13 with the sleeve 12 inwardly, that is, to the left in H6. 1.
  • the pin 16 passes through the opening 18 without touching the plate 17 and only contacts plate 19.
  • a circuit is closed, relay 22 is energized and holds itself through its self-holding contact.
  • Contact 26 is also closed andprepares the ignition circuit which may now be completed by closing the ignition lock switch 27 The driver may new release the knob 13 and switch off the apparatus.
  • Relay 21 thus acts as a locking relay which is energized whenever .the prescribed nominal frequency is not properly adjusted. This locking relay is deenergized after a suitable delay time, for instance 15 minutes so that another attempt for starting the vehicle may be made.
  • Relay 22 is deenergized in a manner not illustrated in detail whenever the ignition circuit is opened.
  • the motor 1 1 is energized for a short time. As an example this may be effected whenever switch 27 is closed, by a suitable time relay energized thereby.
  • the operating period of the motor 11 is so selected that it is sufficient in any case for resetting the potentiometer shaft in the potentiometer easing into the end position corresponding to the highest frequency. After abutment of the potentiometer shaft in this end position against a stop of the potentiometer casing, this casing is now turned together with the shaft, the torque of the friction clutch 8,9 exceeding the friction of the potentiometer casing in its support 5.
  • the potentiometer casing and consequently the knob 13 is turned into any indeterminate position which cannot be observed from outside and cannot be marked. Therefore, the knob 13 has to be turned for every vigilance test prior to starting the vehicle from any indeterminate position so that cheating is practically impossible.
  • Fig. 2 shows another embodiment, wherein corresponding parts have the same designation as inFlG. l.
  • the potentiometer 3 is fixed to a stationary support 5'. It has a shaft 31 passing through the casing, carrying at its one end a disc 32 with spring pawl 33. This spring pawl engages a ratchet disc 34 fixed on the shaft 35 of a second potentiometer 36.
  • the casing of potentiometer is fixed on a stationary support of the apparatus and is electrically contacted in series with potentiome-' ter 3.
  • potentiometer 36 is substantially lower than that of potentiometer 3, the adjustable ranges of resistance values being so designed that for any position of the potentiometer 36 the potentiometer 3 allows adjustment of the said frequency range, for instance from 20 to 80 cycles.
  • a resetting spring 37 acts on the shaft 31 of potentiometer 3 and tends to turn and to maintain this shaft in its end position corresponding to the highest frequency.
  • the circuit including elements 21 to 27 is used but not illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • potentiometer 36 Either during this resetting rotation, but preferably during adjustment the potentiometer 36 is turned together with potentiometer 3 through spring pawl 33 and ratchet disc 34, whereby the resistance value of potentiometer 36 is changed Since it is never determined by which amount this resistance value changes from one test to the next and whether the value increases or decreases, variable rotating angles of the knob 13 and potentiometer 3 respectively will be required during each test for adjusting the required nominal frequency. In this way adjustment is rendered more difficult and cheating is practically impossible. As schematically in dicated by a dash-dotted line, the support 20 has to be adjusted in accordance with the adjustment of potentiometer 36, because the rotating movement of arm and pin 16 for adjustment of the nominal frequency depends on the adjustment of potentiometer 36. Any suitable mechanism may be provided for adjusting support in this manner.
  • a potentiometer of high resistance may be connected in parallel with potentiometer 3.
  • the features of bothapparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be used in combination so that each adjustment not only requires adjustment from different initial positions but also by various angles. It is further possible to provide for immediate energizing of the locking relay 21 upon any decrease of the frequency below the nominal frequency, for instance by providing an axial projection on plate 17 against which the pin 16 will abut upon adjustment below nominal frequency.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic illustrations, that is, the mechanical parts may be disposed in another way.
  • the casing of potentiometer 3 may be moved to and fro within a limited angular range of say 180 by motor 11 by means of a cam drive or crank drive, whereby the potentiometer would always come to rest in any indeterminate position.
  • an electronic supervising circuit may be used in any case.
  • a resonance circuit may be used through which a condenser is only charged when the nominal frequency remains adjusted for a sufficiently long period of time, for instance 15 seconds.
  • the circuit allowing starting of the vehicle may be switched on automatically.
  • manual closure of the start circuit within a minimum time delay may also be prescribed in this case, the circuit changing over to a blocking condition.
  • the motor shown in FIG. I may be reversible by switch control for fine adjustment of the potentiometer 3.
  • the operating voltage for the motor may be changed by automatic means so that the time required for proper adjustment is different for each adjustment.
  • the potentiometer would automatically be reset into its one end position at the end of each supervising or test cycle.
  • a rotatable selector switch may also be provided adapted to be brought into a number of operating positions of which one corresponds to nominal frequency. In this case, displacement of the operating means should be pro vided in order that various numbers of steps are required during each test for shifting the switch into the proper position for which nominal frequency is adjusted.
  • An apparatus for supervising starting of a vehicle comprising a luminous indicator adapted to flicker at a manually adjustable frequency and a starting circuit operable upon adjustment of a predetermined nominal frequency, means operable at the end of each adjusting operation for automatically shifting the frequency or of the adjusting means for the frequency respectively, the initial condition from which manual adjustment of the nominal frequency has to be effected being different for each adjustment.
  • An apparatus comprising an adjusting potentiometer having a casing and a shaft, the casing of the tiometer has slip rings through which it is connected to a generator for the flicker frequency.
  • An apparatus comprising an oscillating drive, for instance a crank drive acting onto the potentiometer casing.
  • An apparatus comprising a releasing device with two elements adapted to be brought to coincidence, one of these elements being adjustable by hand and the other being adjustable in accordance with adjustment of the frequency.
  • An apparatus comprising'a pin adapted to be inserted into a bore.
  • An apparatus having an adjusting potentiometer and an auxiliary potentiometer connected in series or parallel with the adjusting potentiometer, said aux- 13.
  • An apparatus comprising an adjusting member, for instance a potentiometer and an actuating member associated therewith, a variable transmission adjustable by said means for automatically shifting adjusting means for the frequency being disposed between said adjusting member and actuating member thereof.
  • An apparatus comprising an adjusting member, for instance a potentiometer, operable by means of a motor by remote control.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Hospice & Palliative Care (AREA)
  • Psychiatry (AREA)
  • Psychology (AREA)
  • Social Psychology (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Developmental Disabilities (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Biomedical Technology (AREA)
  • Child & Adolescent Psychology (AREA)
  • Medical Informatics (AREA)
  • Educational Technology (AREA)
  • Surgery (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Control Devices (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Drives, Propulsion Controls, And Safety Devices (AREA)
  • Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
  • Feedback Control In General (AREA)
US809644A 1968-04-09 1969-03-24 Apparatus for supervising starting of vehicle Expired - Lifetime US3562601A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH540468A CH494020A (de) 1968-04-09 1968-04-09 Gerät zur Überwachung der Inbetriebsetzung eines Verkehrsmittels

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3562601A true US3562601A (en) 1971-02-09

Family

ID=4293010

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US809644A Expired - Lifetime US3562601A (en) 1968-04-09 1969-03-24 Apparatus for supervising starting of vehicle

Country Status (10)

Country Link
US (1) US3562601A (nl)
JP (1) JPS4815493B1 (nl)
AT (1) AT310590B (nl)
BE (1) BE731164A (nl)
CH (1) CH494020A (nl)
DE (1) DE1913707C3 (nl)
FR (1) FR2005827A1 (nl)
GB (1) GB1256293A (nl)
NL (1) NL152797B (nl)
SE (1) SE364868B (nl)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2618114C2 (de) * 1976-04-26 1985-06-27 Motorola Gmbh, 6204 Taunusstein Vorrichtung zur Positionierung und zur Anzeige der Winkelstellung von zwei koaxial zueinander angeordneten Wellen
FR2565172B1 (fr) * 1984-06-01 1986-09-19 Pochon Jacques Dispositif selectionnant l'aptitude a la tenue d'un poste de conduite
DE19822676A1 (de) * 1998-05-20 1999-12-30 Tekin Tuncer Ein "elektronisches Auge", das den Fahrer vor Übermüdung und dem Einschlafen am Lenkrad warnt

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3355631A (en) * 1964-05-06 1967-11-28 Raymond E Dolac Removable key actuated control circuit

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3355631A (en) * 1964-05-06 1967-11-28 Raymond E Dolac Removable key actuated control circuit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AT310590B (de) 1973-10-10
CH494020A (de) 1970-07-31
BE731164A (nl) 1969-09-15
JPS4815493B1 (nl) 1973-05-15
DE1913707A1 (de) 1969-10-16
SE364868B (nl) 1974-03-11
NL6905495A (nl) 1969-10-13
NL152797B (nl) 1977-04-15
DE1913707C3 (de) 1974-01-24
FR2005827A1 (nl) 1969-12-19
DE1913707B2 (de) 1973-06-28
GB1256293A (en) 1971-12-08

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2410014A (en) Heating apparatus
US3562601A (en) Apparatus for supervising starting of vehicle
US3941000A (en) Expanded scale timer and method of operating such
US2717524A (en) Constant speed transmissions
US3947862A (en) Exposure multiplication indicating means for automatic exposure setting camera
US1937445A (en) Reaction timer
US3548126A (en) Timer for electronic ovens and the like
US2351743A (en) Automatic fuse setting apparatus
US2715217A (en) Shift indicator
US1870682A (en) Direction indicating system
US3264478A (en) Photoconductive time delay device
US2374946A (en) Interval timer
US2336563A (en) Timing device
US2489804A (en) Halftone diaphragm control
US2504998A (en) Shaft positioning apparatus
US2134028A (en) Electric shock speed warning
US2598701A (en) Timing device
GB271855A (en) Improvements in or relating to tap-changing mechanism for electrical transformers
US3735207A (en) Vehicle operation inhibitor control system
FR2345627A1 (fr) Ensemble d'entrainement pour deplacer un element entre deux positions d'extremite
US2727433A (en) Score projector with shiftable optical system
US2502743A (en) Safety control for enclosed
US2265635A (en) Variable rate gearing for vending machines
US2463688A (en) Code call mechanism
US1705271A (en) Timing mechanism