Vehicle stopping method and apparatus

• US 20050225163A1
• Filed: 11/26/2004
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boltek Corporation
• Original Assignee: Boltek Corporation
• Inventors: Boll, William Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,220,076 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 303/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/096 comprising means for deflating tyres
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/12 for forcibly arresting or disabling vehicles, e.g. spiked mats

Abstract

A vehicle stopping apparatus for stopping a target vehicle has a capture loop large enough to loop over a vehicle tire, attachment means provided over a portion of the capture loop to attach the portion of the capture loop to the vehicle tire, and a tether coupled to the capture loop. The vehicle stopping apparatus may have an anchoring device coupled to the tether, the anchoring device adapted to apply a resistive force on the tether. Furthermore, the vehicle stopping apparatus may have a deployment mechanism adapted to transfer the capture loop from a set position wherein said capture loop is folded in a bundle, to a deployed position wherein said capture loop is extended across the path of said vehicle tire.

Claims

1. A vehicle stopping apparatus for stopping a target vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

a. a capture loop, said capture loop being large enough to loop over a vehicle tire;

b. attachment means provided over a portion of the capture loop to attach said portion of the capture loop to said vehicle tire; and

c. a tether coupled to the capture loop.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the capture loop is constructed of material comprising para-aramid fibers.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the capture loop comprises at least one of Kevlar®

and Technora®

materials.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises at least one protrusion adapted to penetrate the outer surface of a vehicle tire.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the at least one protrusion comprises spikes.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the spikes are provided with barbs.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tether is constructed of material comprising para-aramid fibers.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tether has a shock cord portion, the shock cord portion comprising a resilient material.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an anchoring device coupled to the tether, the anchoring device adapted to apply a resistive force on the tether.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a deployment mechanism adapted to transfer the at least one capture loop from a set position wherein said capture loop is folded in a bundle, to a deployed position wherein said capture loop is extended across the path of said vehicle tire.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the deployment mechanism comprises:

a. at least one bay adapted to support the capture loop in the set position;

b. an ejector pin firing device mounted proximate the bay; and

c. an ejector pin, the ejector pin positioned in ejectable engagement with the ejector pin firing device, and the ejector pin having an attachment to a point along said capture loop.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising at least one sensor adapted to detect the presence and absence of the vehicle tire, and a controller operatively linked to the sensor and the ejector pin firing device.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the deployment mechanism is secured in a stationary position adjacent the path of said vehicle tire.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a mobile delivery device wherein said deployment mechanism is mounted to said mobile delivery device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the mobile delivery device comprises an on-board propulsion device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the propulsion device comprises a solid fuel rocket engine.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the mobile delivery device comprises a frame supported by wheels, and wherein the mobile delivery device is of a sufficiently small size to pass between the rear wheels of a target vehicle.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein at least one of the wheels of the mobile delivery device is pivotally mounted to the frame the mobile delivery device.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the mobile delivery device further comprises two pivotally mounted front wheels each connected to a steering linkage.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a guidance system, the guidance system comprising a servo motor operatively connected to the steering linkage of the mobile delivery device and a steering control circuit operatively connected to the servo motor.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the guidance system further comprises at least one electronic gyroscope mounted on the mobile delivery device, wherein the gyroscope is in electrical communication with the steering control circuit.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a launch platform for dispatching the mobile delivery device, wherein the launch platform is adapted to be fixed to a dispatching vehicle traveling proximate the target vehicle, and wherein the tether is secured to said dispatching vehicle.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the launch platform comprises an enclosure which houses mobile delivery device, the enclosure having an opening through which the delivery device exits the enclosure.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the launch platform further comprises a launch aiming system for directing the mobile delivery device during launch from the platform.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the launch aiming system comprises at least one rod fixed within the enclosure and directed towards the opening of the enclosure.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the launch aiming system further comprises at least one tube fixed to delivery device and sized to provide a sliding fit along the at least one rod.

33. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the spikes are provided in distinct first and second rows of spikes, wherein the first and second rows extend in parallel along a portion of the length of the capture loop, and wherein the spikes in the first row are directed in one direction away from the surface of the capture loop, and the spikes in the second row are directed in substantially the opposite direction.

27. A method of stopping a target vehicle, the method comprising:

a. deploying a tire snare in front of the direction of travel of a tire of the target vehicle; and

b. after the tire snare has ensnared a wheel assembly of the target vehicle, applying resistance through the tire snare to the direction of travel of the target vehicle.

28. A method of stopping a targeted vehicle, the method comprising:

a. providing a tire snare, the tire snare having at least one capture loop wherein the capture loop is large enough to loop over a vehicle tire and wherein the capture loop has attachment means provided over a portion of the capture loop to attach said portion of the capture loop to said vehicle tire, and the tire snare having a tether coupled to the capture loop;

b. deploying the capture loop in front of the path of the tire of the targeted vehicle; and

c. after the tire of the targeted vehicle has engaged the capture loop, applying a resistive force on the tether to resist further travel of the targeted vehicle.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein step (a) further comprises the step of providing a deployment mechanism, the deployment mechanism having at least one bay adapted to support the capture loop in the set position, an ejector pin firing device mounted proximate the bay, and an ejector pin, the ejector pin positioned in ejectable engagement with the ejector pin firing device, and the ejector pin having an attachment to a point along said capture loop;

and wherein step (b) further comprises the step of actuating the ejector pin firing device.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein step (a) further comprises providing a mobile delivery device, wherein said mobile delivery device has an on-board propulsion device and said deployment mechanism is mounted to said mobile delivery device;

and step (b) further comprises, prior to actuating the ejector pin firing device, aiming the mobile delivery device towards the targeted vehicle and then actuating the on-board propulsion device.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein step (a) further comprises providing at least one sensor to detect a tire of the targeted vehicle, and a controller operatively connected to the sensor and the ejector pin firing device;

and step (b) further comprises, after actuating the on-board propulsion device and prior to actuating the ejector pin firing device, reading the sensor to confirm arrival of the delivery device at an appropriate deployment position relative to the targeted vehicle.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein step (a) further comprises providing a guidance system for guiding the mobile delivery device to said deployment position.