Acceleration warning device

• US 4,171,030 A
• Filed: 01/09/1978
• Issued: 10/16/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hermann Ruhl
• Original Assignee: Hermann Ruhl
• Inventors: Ruhl, Hermann
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mar, Michael
• Application Number:
  US05/868,199
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 180/105 R, 180/105 E, 180/106, 180/110, 340/52 R, 340/62
• US Class Current: 180/179
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/44 for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal

Abstract

An acceleration warning system for motor driven vehicles. The system includes speed measuring apparatus providing an output to a differentiating circuit for determining the rate of change of vehicle acceleration, and means responsive to a predetermined output of the differentiating circuit for indicating when the acceleration of the vehicle is beyond a predetermined rate. The system may also include control means for automatically limiting the acceleration of the vehicle.

Claims

1. An acceleration warning and control system for motor driven vehicles having in combination speed measuring apparatus providing an output signal proportionate to and changing with the speed of vehicle, differentiating circuitry providing an output signal corresponding to the rate of change of the output signal from said speed measuring apparatus switch means for indicating an undesirable rate of acceleration and operated by a predetermined output signal from said differentiating circuitry, control warning means activated by said switch means and an activation switch for activating the system, said activation switch being open during initial acceleration from a standing start and closing to activate the system at a predetermined speed such that the system is only operational at speeds equal to and above the predetermined speed.

2. Acceleration warning and control system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control warning means comprises a fuel flow limiting device activated by operation of said switch means to limit the vehicle fuel flow.

3. An acceleration warning and control system as defined in claim 2 including an override controllable by the driver of the vehicle to permit full acceleration when required.

4. An acceleration warning and control system as claimed in claim 1 including servopowered means activated by said switch means to restrict the operation of the driver controlled fuel control device.

5. Acceleration and deceleration warning and control system for motor driven vehicles having in conbination speed measuring apparatus providing an output signal proportionate to and changing with the speed of the vehicle, differentiating circuitry providing an output signal corresponding to the rate of change in the output signal from said speed measuring apparatus, a first switch operated by a first predetermined signal output from said differentiating circuitry indicating unacceptable positive acceleration, a second switch operated by a second predetermined signal output from said differentiating circuitry indicating unacceptable negative acceleration, control warning means activated by said first and second switch and an activation switch for activating the system, said activation switch being open during initial acceleration from a standing start and closing to activate the system at a predetermined speed such that the system is only operational at speeds equal to and above the predetermined speed.

6. Acceleration and deceleration warning and control system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said first and second switches are adjustable to different predetermined signal outputs from the differentiating circuitry.

7. Acceleration and deceleration warning and control system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said speed measuring apparatus provides a DC voltage output proportionate to the speed of the vehicle and said differentiating circuitry provides a voltage corresponding to the rate of change in output voltage from the speed measuring apparatus.

8. Acceleration and deceleration warning and control system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said speed measuring apparatus includes pulse generating means generating pulses of a frequency corresponding to the speed of the vehicle and a frequency to DC voltage convertor providing a DC voltage output proportionate to the pulse frequency of the pulse generating means.

9. Acceleration and deceleration warning and control system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said pulse generating means comprises a magnetic pick-up device generating pulses corresponding to the rotation of a rotating magnet in the vehicle speed indicating system.

10. Acceleration and deceleration warning and control systems as defined in claim 7, wherein said first predetermined signal output is a positive voltage and said second predetermined signal output is negative voltage in reference to a predetermined bias voltage.