Lateral acceleration sensing system

• US 3,895,683 A
• Filed: 07/05/1972
• Issued: 07/22/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Lang, Kenneth G. Lang, Robert L. Davis, Thomas J Lang
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Lang, Kenneth G. Lang, Robert L. Davis, Thomas J Lang
• Inventors: Lang, Thomas J., Davis, Robert L., Lang, Kenneth G., Lang, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blix, Trygve M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kunin, Stephen G.
• Application Number:
  US05/269,035
• Time in Patent Office: 1,112 Days
• Field of Search: 180/103-104 188/3R,112,181A 303/7,20,21CG,24 280/446B
• US Class Current: 188/112.00A
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/01925 Pendulum-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/445 controlled by inertial devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2230/06 Tractor-trailer swaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/1708 for lorries or tractor-trailer combinations
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/171 Detecting parameters used in the regulation; Measuring values used in the regulation
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/241 Lateral vehicle inclination
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/246 Change of direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/248 Trailer sway, e.g. for preventing jackknifing
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/08 with conversion into electric or magnetic values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/121 by potentiometers

Abstract

A system is disclosed which senses the lateral acceleration of a vehicle to actuate an apparatus related thereto. The sensing system comprises two pendulums, one sensing lateral forces in one direction, the other sensing these forces in another direction and interconnect through associated circuitry to the braking or other system of that vehicle or an associated vehicle. Movement of either pendulum beyond a predetermined angular position as sensed by a potentiometer causes actuation of the brakes or other system of the vehicle or vehicles whose lateral acceleration is being sensed. The further the pendulum swings from its home position, the greater the amount of braking is applied. The swinging of the pendulum can also actuate a series of indicator lights on the dashboard of the vehicle. These lights will indicate the functioning of the sensing system by the actuation of green, yellow, or red lights.

Claims

1. An automatic stability control system for a vehicle to prevent swerving and swaying of said vehicle, said system comprising means for sensing lateral acceleration forces acting upon said vehicle to provide low level electrical acceleration signals representative of the magnitude of said forces, means for amplifying said low level acceleration signals to provide large amplitude brake control signals proportional to the magnitude of the forces, and brake means associated with said vehicle including right and left brakes and responsive to said brake control signals to simultaneously actuate said right and left brakes in equal, gradual and continuous mode to prevent swaying and swerving of said vehicle, said sensing means including a pair of pendulums oriented to sense only left and right acceleration, respectively, each of said pendulums including adjustable stop means positioning the pendulum in a predetermined angular at rest position for varying the minimum lateral acceleration force necessary to effect movement of each pendulum, each of said pendulums being operatively associated with a potentiometer to provide low level electrical lateral acceleration signals proportional to the magnitude of movement of the pendulums such that instantaneous response is provided upon movement of a pendulum.

2. The system as defined in claim 1 wherein said brake means is on a towed trailer having a towing vehicle articulately connected thereto.

3. The system as defined in claim 2 in which each pendulum and associated potentiometer are mounted within a housing, said adjustable stop means being accessible externally of the housing for adjustment thereof.

4. An automatic stability control system for a vehicle to prevent swerving and swaying of said vehicle, said system comprising means for sensing lateral acceleration forces acting upon said vehicle to provide electrical acceleration signals representative of the magnitude of said forces, means for amplifying said acceleration signals to provide brake control sigNals proportional to the magnitude of the forces, and brake means associated with said vehicle including right and left brakes and responsive to said brake control signals to simultaneously actuate said right and left brakes in equal, gradual and continuous mode to prevent swaying and swerving of said vehicle, said sensing means including a pair of pendulums oriented to sense only left and right acceleration, respectively, each of said pendulums including adjustable stop means positioning the pendulum in a predetermined angular at rest position for varying the minimum lateral acceleration force necessary to effect movement of each pendulum, each of said pendulums being operatively associated with a potentiometer to provide electrical lateral acceleration signals proportional to the magnitude of movement of the pendulums, said brake means being on a towed trailer having a towing vehicle articulately connected thereto, each pendulum and associated potentiometer being mounted within a housing, said adjustable stop means being accessible externally of the housing for adjustment thereof, each pendulum including a pivotal support arm having a weight on one end thereof, said housing including a slot therein, said stop means including locking means extending through said slot to enable adjustment and locking of the stop means from the exterior of the housing.

5. The system as defined in claim 4 wherein said support arm is directly supported from a rotatable shaft component of the potentiometer.