Vehicle rollover safety device utilizing a circular arc level

• US 10,539,084 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2018
• Issued: 01/21/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl M. Clark, Randall S. Lynn
• Original Assignee: Carl M. Clark, Randall S. Lynn
• Inventors: Clark, Carl M., Lynn, Randall S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Solis, Erick R
• Application Number:
  US15/872,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20180156145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 735 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0018 Roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01306 monitoring vehicle inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 17/04 rendering engines inoperative or idling, e.g. caused by abnormal conditions dependent on lubricating conditions F01M1/22; dependent on cooling F01P5/14
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/042 for stopping the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/123 the fuel injection being cut-off
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3082 Control of electrical fuel pumps
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/24 in closed containers partially filled with liquid so as to leave a gas bubble
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/26 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/32 Means for facilitating the observation of the position of the bubble, e.g. illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/34 of the tubular type, i.e. for indicating the level in one direction only

Abstract

A vehicle safety rollover device utilizing a circular arc level for detecting vehicle rollover is disclosed. Upon detection, the device automatically shuts-off power to an ignition system and notifies for shut-down of the electrical system of the vehicle. The circular arc level is capable of measuring gravitational norm deviation while remaining impervious to the effects of acceleration, deceleration, impact, and centripetal forces.

Claims

1. A vehicle safety rollover device, that upon detection of a vehicle rollover, automatically shuts-off power to an ignition system of said vehicle and notifies need to shut down an electrical system of said vehicle, said device comprising:

(a) a power input;

(b) a ground input (105) operatively connected to a vehicle common ground;

(c) a first latching relay switch (103) and a second latching relay switch (117), each comprising;

(i) an input,

(ii) a first output position,

(iii) a second output position,

(iv) a set pin, and

(v) a reset pin,

wherein each latching relay switch is initially in the first output position, wherein each latching relay switch switches from the first output position to the second output position when power is supplied to the set pin, wherein each reset pin is connected to the ground input (105);

(d) an ignition start input (111) operatively connected to the input of the first latching relay switch (103);

(e) an ignition start output (115) operatively connected to the first output position of the first latching relay switch (103);

(f) an electrical shut-off signal (112) operatively connected to the second output position of the second latching relay switch (117), wherein the input of the second latching relay switch (117) is operatively connected to the power input; and

(g) a circular arc level (200), herein referred to as a CAL sensor (200), comprising an arcuate tube (201) having light emitters and detectors coupled to an exterior of the arcuate tube (201), the CAL sensor (200) configured to supply power to each set pin when the CAL sensor (200) is activated,

wherein initially, power flows through the first latching relay switch (103) to an ignition relay of the ignition system, wherein the second latching relay switch (117) disconnects the electrical shutoff signal (112) from the power input,

wherein when the CAL sensor (200) is activated, power flows from the power input to each set pin, causing the first (103) and the second (117) latching relay switches to switch from the first output position to the second output position, whereupon switching, power to the ignition relay is disconnected, wherein power then flows to the electrical shutoff signal (112) via the second latching relay switch (117), thereby causing the electrical system of the vehicle to shut down.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the power is supplied from a battery power (108).

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the power is supplied from an alternator power (104).

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the power is supplied from an alternator power (104) and a battery power (108).

5. The device of claim 4 further comprising a conductive pin operatively connected to the battery power (108).

6. The device of claim 5 further comprising a transistor (133) comprising a base pin, a collector pin, and an emitter pin, wherein the collector pin is connected to the alternator power (104), wherein the emitter pin is connected to all four latching relay switches (103), (117), (102), and (101).

7. The device of claim 6 further comprising a switch operatively coupling the conductive pin and the base pin, wherein the switch is normally open.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein a liquid partially fills the arcuate tube (201), wherein an air bubble (203) is disposed in the arcuate tube (201) such that the liquid and the air bubble (203) fill the arcuate tube (201), wherein the CAL sensor (200) is fixed to the body of the vehicle, wherein the CAL sensor (200) is in an upright position relative to gravity when an inclination of the CAL sensor (200) is zero, wherein when the CAL sensor (200) is in the upright position, the air bubble (203) is in a resting position at an apex of the arcuate tube (201).

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the light emitters comprise:

(a) a first light emitting element (205) disposed on the exterior of the arcuate tube (201) at a first location about 75°

-90°

from the apex of the arcuate tube (201), wherein the first light emitting element (205) emits a first optical signal; and

(b) a second light emitting element (207) disposed on the exterior of the arcuate tube (201) at a second location about 270°

-285°

from the apex of the arcuate tube (201), wherein the second light emitting element (207) emits a second optical signal.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the detectors comprise:

(a) a first photodetector (209) disposed on the exterior of the arcuate tube (201) at a third location about 75°

-90°

from the apex of the arcuate tube (201), wherein the third location is opposite the first location such that the arcuate tube (201) is disposed between the first photodetector (209) and the first light emitting element (205), wherein the first photodetector (209) is positioned to detect the first optical signal; and

(b) a second photodetector (211) disposed on the exterior of the arcuate tube (201) at a fourth location about 270°

-285°

from the apex of the arcuate tube (201), wherein the fourth location is opposite the second location such that the arcuate tube (201) is disposed between the second photodetector (211) and the second light emitting element (207), wherein the second photodetector (211) is positioned to detect the second optical signal;

wherein when the CAL sensor (200) is in the upright position, the liquid blocks detection of the first optical signal and the second optical signal,

wherein at an inclination of the CAL sensor (200) within a first threshold window, centered between about 75° and

90°

from the apex of the arcuate tube (201), the air bubble (203) travels from the resting position to a position between the first photodetector (209) and the first light emitting element (205) thus activating the CAL sensor (200) by permitting detection of the first optical signal, whereupon detecting the first optical signal, the first photodetector (209) transmits a first signal that activates the switch to close thereby forming a closed circuit, which allows current to flow through the conductive pin to the base pin to open an electrical path from the battery power to each set pin,

wherein when the CAL sensor (200) is tilted within a second threshold window, centered between about 270° and

285°

from the apex of the arcuate tube (201), the air bubble (203) travels from the resting position to a position between the second photodetector (211) and the second light emitting element (207) thus activating the CAL sensor (200) by permitting detection of the second optical signal, whereupon detecting the second optical signal, the second photodetector (211) transmits a second signal that activates the switch to close thereby forming a closed circuit, which allows current to flow through the conductive pin to the base pin to open an electrical path from the battery power to each set pin.

11. The device of claim 4 further comprising a third latching relay switch (101) and a fourth latching relay switch (102) each comprising:

(a) an input,

(b) a first output position,

(c) a second output position,

(d) a set pin, and

(e) a reset pin,

wherein each latching relay switch is initially in the first output position, wherein each latching relay switch switches from the first output position to the second output position when power is supplied to the set pin, wherein each reset pin is connected to the ground input (105).

12. The device of claim 11 further comprising a first ignition switch motor-on input (110), operatively connected to the input of the third latching relay switch (101), and a second ignition switch motor-on input (110), connected to the input of the fourth latching relay switch (102).

13. The device of claim 12 further comprising a first ignition switch motor-on output (113), operatively connected to the first output of the third latching relay switch (101), and a second ignition switch motor-on output (114), operatively connected to the first output of the fourth latching relay switch (102).

14. The device of claim 13, wherein initially, the alternator power (104) flows through the third (101) and fourth (102) latching relay switch to the first (110) and the second (110) ignition switch motor-on input, wherein when the CAL sensor (200) is activated, power flows from the power input to the set pins of the first (103), the second (117), the third (101), and the fourth (102) latching relay switches, causing each relay switch to switch from the first output position to the second output position, wherein power to the first ignition switch motor-on input (110), the second ignition switch motor-on input (110), and the ignition relay is disconnected, wherein power flows to the electrical shutoff signal (112), thereby causing:

the electrical system of the vehicle to shut down, a disabling of all accessories, a notifying of an overseeing computer, a summoning of an emergency response and/or a depressurization of one or more fuel lines.

15. A vehicle safety rollover device, that upon detection of a vehicle rollover, automatically shuts-off power to an ignition system of said vehicle and notifies need to shut down an electrical system of said vehicle, said device comprising:

(a) an ignition control relay (517) having a first latching relay switch (103) and a second latching relay switch (117);

(b) a sensor (200) configured to supply power to the first latching relay switch (103) and the second latching relay switch (117) when the sensor (200) is activated;

wherein when the sensor (200, 510) is activated, power flows from the power input to a set pin of each of the first latching relay switch and the second latching relay switch, causing the first latching relay switch (103) and the second (117) latching relay switches to switch from a first output position to a second output position, whereupon switching, power to the ignition relay is disconnected, wherein power then flows to an electrical shutoff signal (112) via the second latching relay switch (117), thereby causing the electrical system of the vehicle to shut down.

16. The vehicle safety rollover device of claim 15, further comprising a photo optic circuitry (516) coupled to the sensor (200) that controls one or more photo optic components of the sensor (200).