METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING VEHICLES CARRYING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
First Claim
1. A method of directing a vehicle carrying hazardous materials, comprising the steps of:
- storing onboard the vehicle information defining a control zone for at least one selected geographic location and at least one hazardous material, the control zone defining an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter;
determining onboard the vehicle a location of the vehicle carrying a hazardous material;
comparing the vehicle location to the control zone for the at least one selected geographic location;
producing a signal based on the comparison, the signal being a warning given to a vehicle operator if the vehicle is inside the warning perimeter and being a shutdown instruction to a vehicle engine controller if the vehicle is inside the shutdown perimeter.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for controlling navigation of a vehicle carrying hazardous materials includes a control module carried on-board the vehicle storing an information matrix containing hazardous material classifications associated with the identity and location of restricted sites. Each site and material pair has associated with it a control zone around it from which the hazardous material is restricted. The control module includes a positioning device that produces a signal indicating the vehicle'"'"'s current position, which is compared to the coordinates for the control zones. If the vehicle crosses into a control zone, the system generates a warning to the operator. Further penetration causes the system to order a shutdown of the vehicle engine to prevent further movement.
37 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of directing a vehicle carrying hazardous materials, comprising the steps of:
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storing onboard the vehicle information defining a control zone for at least one selected geographic location and at least one hazardous material, the control zone defining an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter; determining onboard the vehicle a location of the vehicle carrying a hazardous material; comparing the vehicle location to the control zone for the at least one selected geographic location; producing a signal based on the comparison, the signal being a warning given to a vehicle operator if the vehicle is inside the warning perimeter and being a shutdown instruction to a vehicle engine controller if the vehicle is inside the shutdown perimeter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for directing a vehicle carrying a hazardous material to avoid selected geographic locations, the system carried on-board the vehicle and comprising:
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a memory storing information defining at least one control zone for at least one hazardous material for at least one geographic location, the at least one control zone including an outer warning perimeter and an inner shutdown perimeter; a controller operationally connected to the memory to retrieve control zone information and being operationally connected to a vehicle engine control device; means for determining a location of a vehicle transporting a hazardous material and producing a signal responsive thereto to the controller; wherein, the controller is adapted to receive the vehicle location information and compare it to the control zone information, and responsive to the comparison, provide a signal to at least one of a vehicle operator and the vehicle engine control device, and wherein, if the vehicle is in the outer warning perimeter said signal is a warning to the vehicle operator to avoid the control zone and if the vehicle is in the inner shutdown perimeter said signal is a shutdown signal to the vehicle propulsion system. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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19. (canceled)
Specification