Apparatus and method for stopping a vehicle

• US 20030111894A1
• Filed: 11/08/2002
• Published: 06/19/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Wattenburg, Willard H., McCallen, David B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,191,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 303/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00

Abstract

An apparatus for externally controlling one or more brakes on a vehicle having a pressurized fluid braking system and a method for using the apparatus to halt the vehicle are described. The apparatus can include a pressurizable vessel that is adapted for fluid-tight coupling to the braking system. Impact to the rear of the vehicle by a pursuit vehicle, shooting a target mounted on the vehicle or sending a signal from a remote control can all result in the fluid pressures in the braking system of the vehicle being modified so that the vehicle is stopped and rendered temporarily inoperable. A control device can also be provided in the driver'"'"'s compartment of the vehicle for similarly rendering the vehicle inoperable. A driver or hijacker of the vehicle preferably cannot overcome the stopping action from the driver'"'"'s compartment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a vehicle having a plurality of wheels rotatably carried by a body and a fluid pressurized braking system with a plurality of braking mechanisms for respectively decelerating the plurality of wheels comprising a brake actuation device adapted for coupling to the braking system to modify a pressure in the braking system so as to activate the plurality of braking mechanisms and a remotely operable mechanism coupled to the brake actuation device for controlling the brake actuation device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the remotely operable mechanism includes a controller for receiving electromagnetic control signals from a remote device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body has a rear and the remotely operable mechanism is mountable on the rear of the body for contact by a pursuit vehicle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brake actuation device includes a valve for increasing pressure in at least a portion of the braking system to activate at least one of the braking mechanisms.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brake actuation device includes an assembly for reducing pressure in at least a portion of the braking system to activate at least one of the braking mechanisms.

6. An apparatus for use with a vehicle having a driver'"'"'s compartment and a plurality of wheels rotatably carried by a body and a fluid pressurized braking system with a plurality of braking mechanisms for respectively engaging the plurality of wheels to decelerate the wheels comprising a brake actuation device adapted for coupling to the braking system to modify a pressure in the braking system so as to activate the plurality of braking mechanisms and a mechanism coupled to the brake actuation device for controlling the brake actuation device, the braking mechanisms being incapable of disengagement from the wheels by a driver in the driver'"'"'s compartment after such engagement.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the mechanism is located in the driver'"'"'s compartment for control by a driver.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the mechanism includes a controller for receiving an electromagnetic control signal from a remote device.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the body has a rear and the mechanism is mountable on the rear of the body for contact by a pursuit vehicle.

10. An apparatus for use with a vehicle having a pressurized braking system for controlling a brake in which a loss of pressure in at least a portion of the system results in actuation of the brake comprising a pressurizable vessel adapted for fluid-tight coupling to the system and a mechanism carried by the vehicle for reducing pressure in the vessel when remotely actuated whereby the vehicle can be remotely halted by reducing pressure in the vessel.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the vessel is a pressurizable conduit.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the mechanism includes a valve for reducing pressure in the conduit.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 for use with a vehicle having a spring loaded brake wherein the conduit is coupleable between the pressurized braking system and the spring loaded brake so that pressure to compress the spring loaded brake is supplied through the conduit.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the mechanism includes a remotely actuatable controller for reducing pressure in the vessel.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the controller reduces pressure in the vessel upon receipt of an activation signal from a remote source.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the controller reduces pressure in the vessel upon failure to detect a deactivation signal from a remote source.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the controller reduces pressure in the vessel upon detecting entry of the vehicle into a control zone.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the controller is a radio-operated controller.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the vehicle is a tractor trailer truck and wherein the controller is coupled to at least one braking system connector located between the tractor and the trailer.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the at least one connector is a Gladhand connector.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the controller is a laser-operated controller.

22. An apparatus for use with a vehicle having a rear and a braking system for controlling a brake comprising means responsive to contacting the rear of the vehicle with a pursuit vehicle for actuating the brake so as to stop the vehicle.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising indicator means carried by the vehicle for marking the pursuit vehicle as evidence of contact between the vehicle and the pursuit vehicle.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising indicator means carried by the vehicle and engaged when the pursuit vehicle has contacted the rear of the vehicle.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 for use with a vehicle having an antilock braking system, wherein said means includes means for activating said antilock braking system.

26. The apparatus of claim 22 for use with a pressurized braking system in which a loss of pressure in at least a portion of the system results in actuation of the brake, wherein said means includes means for reducing pressure in at least a portion of the system so as to activate the brake.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 for use with a vehicle having an antilock braking system, wherein said means includes means for activating said antilock braking system.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 or 27 for use with a vehicle having a spring brake, wherein said means includes means for activating said spring brake.

29. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said means includes an electrical assembly actuatable from the rear of the vehicle and coupled to the pressurized braking system for reducing pressure in at least a portion of the system.

30. An apparatus for use with a vehicle having a plurality of wheels comprising a braking mechanism for decelerating at least one of the plurality of wheels and a brake actuation device operatively coupled with the braking mechanism, the brake actuation device being controllable from a location outside of the vehicle to actuate the braking mechanism and thus decelerate the vehicle.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising a movable member coupled to the brake actuation device for being impacted by an object free of the vehicle for activating the brake actuation device.

32. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the object is one of another vehicle and a projectile.

33. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the brake actuation device includes a receiver for receiving an electromagnetic signal to permit remote activation of the brake actuation device.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the predetermined electromagnetic signal is selected from the group consisting of radio signals and light signals.

35. The apparatus of claim 30 further comprising a pressurized fluid conduit coupled between the braking mechanism and the brake actuation device, the brake actuation device including a valve coupled to the fluid conduit.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the brake actuation device includes a solenoid coupled to the valve for moving the valve between open and closed positions and a receiver of electromagnetic signals coupled to the solenoid for permitting remote control of the solenoid.

37. An apparatus for use with a vehicle having a plurality of wheels rotatably carried by a body and a fluid pressurized braking system with a plurality of braking mechanisms for respectively decelerating the plurality of wheels comprising a brake actuation device adapted for coupling to the braking system to change the pressure in the braking system so as to activate the plurality of braking mechanisms and a remotely operable mechanism coupled to the brake actuation device for controlling the brake actuation device.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the remotely operable mechanism includes a controller for receiving electromagnetic control signals from a remote device.

39. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the body has a rear and the remotely operable mechanism is mountable on the rear of the body for contact by a pursuit vehicle.

40. A system for use in a control zone to halt a vehicle of a type having a pressurized fluid braking system for controlling a brake, the system comprising:

a transmitter for producing a signal;

a mechanism carried by the vehicle for modifying pressure in the pressurized fluid braking system to activate the brake; and

a receiver controller carried by the vehicle for activating the mechanism upon detecting a signal condition so as to activate the brake.

41. The system as in claim 40 wherein the signal condition is an activation signal produced by the transmitter.

42. The system as in claim 40 wherein the signal condition is the failure to receive a deactivation signal.

43. The system of claim 42 further comprising an additional transmitter for producing a jamming signal which interferes with the signal of the first-named transmitter.

44. The system of claim 40 further comprising a sensor for sensing the approach of the vehicle, the sensor being coupled to the transmitter for signaling the transmitter to produce the signal.

45. The system of claim 44 wherein the sensor is a radar detector.

46. A method for halting a vehicle having a pressurized fluid braking system for controlling a brake comprising the step of remotely activating the brake to slow the vehicle.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the remotely activating step includes the step of contacting the vehicle with a pursuit vehicle.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein the remotely activating step includes the step of delaying activation for a sufficient time to permit the pursuit vehicle to move away from the first-named vehicle.

49. The method of claim 46 wherein the vehicle has a rear, wherein the remotely activating step includes the step of contacting the rear of the vehicle with a pursuit vehicle.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the remotely activating step includes the step of contacting the rear of the vehicle twice with a pursuit vehicle.

51. The method of claim 46 wherein the vehicle has a rear bumper, wherein the remotely activating step includes the step of contacting the rear bumper of the vehicle.

52. The method of claim 46 wherein the vehicle has an antilock braking system, wherein the remotely activating step includes the step of activating the antilock braking system.

53. The method of claim 46 for use with a vehicle having a pressurized fluid braking system for controlling a brake in which a modification of pressure in at least a portion of the system results in actuation of the brake, wherein the remotely activating step includes the step of remotely modifying pressure in at least a portion of the system so as to activate the brake and thus slow the vehicle.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the vehicle has a spring brake, wherein the remotely modifying pressure step includes the step of reducing pressure in at least a portion of the system to activate the spring brake.

55. The method of claim 53 for use with a vehicle having an additional brake, wherein the remotely modifying pressure step includes the step of increasing pressure in at least a portion of the system to activate the additional brake.

56. The method of claim 46 wherein the remotely activating step includes the step of activating the brake upon detecting an activation signal from a remote source.

57. The method of claim 46 wherein the remotely activating step includes the step of activating the brake upon failing to detect a deactivation signal from a remote source.