Apparatus and method for stopping a vehicle

• US 20050146208A1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Published: 07/07/2005
• 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: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Wattenburg, Willard H., McCallen, David B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,631,950 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 303/70
• 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 of a type having a pressurized braking fluid source and a plurality of service braking mechanisms for respectively decelerating the wheels, with the service braking mechanisms activated by an increase in pressure in a portion of the braking system associated therewith, said apparatus comprising:

a portable unitary assembly adapted for detachably securing to said vehicle, said assembly comprising;

a brake actuation device adapted for fluidically coupling to the braking system and, upon activation of said brake actuation device, increasing pressure in the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms to activate the service braking mechanisms; and

a remotely operable controller adapted for receiving electromagnetic control signals from a remote device and operably connected to control the brake actuation device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the brake actuation device is adapted for fluidically coupling to the pressurized braking fluid source and the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms and, upon activation of said brake actuation device, directing pressurized braking fluid from the pressurized braking fluid source to the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms so as to increase pressure in that portion of the braking system and activate the service braking mechanisms.

3. The apparatus of claim 2,

wherein the brake actuation device includes a valving mechanism and means for fluidically coupling the valving mechanism to the pressurized braking fluid source and the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms, said valving mechanism adapted, upon activation thereof, for directing pressurized braking fluid from the pressurized braking fluid source to the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms, and the remotely operable controller is operably connected to control the valving mechanism.

4. The apparatus of claim 3,

wherein the valving mechanism comprises an actuator valve controlled by the remotely operable controller for directing pressurized braking fluid from the pressurized braking fluid source to the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms.

5. The apparatus of claim 4,

wherein the valving mechanism further comprises a shuttle valve actuated by the flow of pressurized braking fluid thereto from the actuator valve.

6. The apparatus of claim 3,

wherein the means for fluidically coupling to the braking system includes a first flow line having at least one connector end adapted for fluidically coupling to a first fluid supply line of the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms, and a second flow line having at least one connector end adapted for fluidically coupling to a second fluid supply line in fluidic communication with the pressurized braking fluid source, with the valving mechanism operably connected to provide fluidic communication from the second flow line to the first flow line when activated.

7. The apparatus of claim 6,

wherein the first flow line has a pair of connector ends adapted for fluidic coupling to upstream and downstream sections, respectively, of the first fluid supply line, and the second flow line has a pair of connector ends adapted for fluidic coupling to upstream and downstream sections, respectively, of the second fluid supply line.

8. The apparatus of claim 7,

wherein the connector ends of the first and second flow lines are Gladhand connectors for connecting to the first and second fluid supply lines.

9. The apparatus of claim 6,

wherein the first fluid supply line is a brake pedal valve supply line in fluidic communication with the pressurized braking fluid source by way of an intermediate brake pedal valve controlled by an operator of the vehicle to apply various levels of service braking force to said wheels.

10. The apparatus of claim 6,

wherein the unitary assembly further comprises a container for containing the brake actuation device and the remotely operable controller therein, said container having access portals for receiving the first and second fluid supply lines therethrough and into the container so that the connections with the connector ends of the first and second flow lines are located inside the container.

11. The apparatus of claim 10,

wherein the container has means for locking said container to restrict access into the container.

12. The apparatus of claim 6,

wherein the unitary assembly further comprises a housing surrounding the brake actuation device and the remotely operable controller therein, with the end connectors of the first and second flow lines accessible from outside the housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 12,

wherein the unitary assembly further comprises a container for containing the housing, brake actuation device, and the remotely operable controller therein, said container having access portals for receiving the first and second fluid supply lines therethrough and into the container so that the connections with the connector ends of the first and second flow lines are located inside the container.

14. The apparatus of claim 13,

wherein the container has means for locking said container to restrict access into the container.

15. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the remotely operable controller activates the brake actuation device upon receiving an electromagnetic control signal from a remote device.

16. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the remotely operable controller activates the brake actuation device upon failing to receive an electromagnetic control signal from a remote device.

17. The apparatus of claim 2,

wherein the fluid pressurized braking system is of a type having a plurality of emergency/parking braking mechanisms for respectively decelerating the wheels, with the emergency/parking braking mechanisms activated by a loss of pressure in a portion of the braking system associated therewith and said portion being in fluidic communication with the pressurized braking fluid source, and

wherein the brake actuation device is adapted for fluidically coupling to the portion of the braking system associated with the emergency/parking braking mechanisms so that disrupting the fluidic connections between the brake actuation device and either one of the pressurized braking fluid source or the portion of the braking system associated with the emergency/parking braking mechanisms in an attempt to disable the apparatus causes activation of the emergency/parking braking mechanisms.

18. The apparatus of claim 17,

wherein the brake actuation device is adapted, upon activation thereof, for decreasing pressure in the portion of the braking system associated with the emergency/parking braking mechanisms to activate the emergency/parking braking mechanisms in addition to the service braking mechanisms.

19. The apparatus of claim 18,

wherein the brake actuation device is adapted, upon activation of said brake actuation device, for (a) directing pressurized braking fluid from the pressurized braking fluid source to the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms so as to increase pressure in that portion of the braking system and activate the service braking mechanisms and (b) exhausting pressure from the portion of the braking system associated with the emergency/parking braking mechanisms so as to additionally activate the emergency/parking braking mechanisms.

20. The apparatus of claim 19,

wherein the brake actuation device includes a valving mechanism and means for fluidically coupling the valving mechanism to the pressurized braking fluid source and the respective portions of the braking system associated with the service and emergency/parking braking mechanisms, said valving mechanism adapted, upon activation thereof, for (a) directing pressurized braking fluid from the pressurized braking fluid source to the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms, and (b) exhausting pressure from the portion of the braking system associated with the emergency/parking braking mechanisms so as to additionally activate the emergency/parking braking mechanisms, and the remotely operable controller is operably connected to control the valving mechanism.

21. The apparatus of claim 20,

wherein the valving mechanism comprises an actuator valve controlled by the remotely operable controller for directing pressurized braking fluid from the pressurized braking fluid source to the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms.

22. The apparatus of claim 21,

wherein the actuator valve is adapted to redirect pressurized braking fluid away from the portion of the braking system associated with the emergency/parking braking mechanisms and into the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms.

23. The apparatus of claim 21,

wherein the valving mechanism further comprises an exhaust valve in fluidic communication with the portion of the braking system associated with the emergency/parking braking mechanisms, and operably connected to the remotely operable controller to be controlled thereby.

24. The apparatus of claim 20,

wherein the means for fluidically coupling to the braking system includes a first flow line having at least one connector end adapted for fluidically coupling to a first fluid supply line of the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms, and a second flow line having at least one connector end adapted for fluidically coupling to a second fluid supply line in fluidic communication with the pressurized braking fluid source and the portion of the braking system associated with the emergency/parking braking mechanisms, with the valving mechanism operably connected to provide fluidic communication from the second flow line to the first flow line when activated.

25. The apparatus of claim 24,

wherein the first flow line has a pair of connector ends adapted for fluidic coupling to upstream and downstream sections, respectively, of the first fluid supply line, and the second flow line has a pair of connector ends adapted for fluidic coupling to upstream and downstream sections, respectively, of the second fluid supply line, with the upstream section of the second fluid supply line in fluidic communication with the pressurized fluid braking source and the downstream section of the second fluid supply line in fluidic communication with the portion of the braking system associated with the emergency/parking braking mechanisms, and the valving mechanism is adapted to redirect pressurized braking fluid coming from the upstream section of the second fluid supply line away from the downstream section of the second fluid supply line and into the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms.

26. An apparatus for use with a vehicle having a plurality of wheels rotatably carried by a body and a fluid pressurized braking system having a pressurized braking fluid source and a plurality of service mechanisms activated by an increase in pressure in a service braking subsystem for respectively decelerating the plurality of wheels, said apparatus comprising:

a portable unitary assembly adapted for detachably securing to said vehicle, said assembly comprising;

detachable means for fluidically coupling to the pressurized braking fluid source and the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanism;

valve means in fluidic communication with said detachable means for fluidically coupling, and adapted to control fluidic communication of pressurized braking fluid from the pressurized braking fluid source to the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms, wherein activation of the valve means directs pressurized braking fluid to the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms to activate the service braking mechanisms; and

a remotely operable controller adapted for receiving electromagnetic control signals from a remote device and operably connected to control the valve means.

27. An apparatus for use with a vehicle having a plurality of wheels rotatably carried by a body and a fluid pressurized braking system having a pressurized braking fluid source and a plurality of service and emergency/parking braking mechanisms for decelerating the wheels, with the service braking mechanisms activated by an increase in pressure in a portion of the braking system associated therewith, and the emergency/parking braking mechanisms activated by a loss of pressure in a portion of the braking system associated therewith, said apparatus comprising:

a portable unitary assembly adapted for detachably securing to said vehicle, said assembly comprising;

a brake actuation device adapted for fluidically coupling to the braking system and, upon activation, performing at least one of (a) increasing pressure in the portion of the braking system associated with the service braking mechanisms to activate the service braking mechanisms, and (b) decreasing pressure in the portion of the braking system associated with the emergency braking mechanisms; and

a remotely operable controller adapted for receiving electromagnetic control signals from a remote device and operably connected to control the brake actuation device.