Motor vehicle fire prevention device

• US 4,194,588 A
• Filed: 09/15/1978
• Issued: 03/25/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John F. Wygal
• Original Assignee: John F. Wygal
• Inventors: Wygal, John F., Schandoney, Geraldine, Straus, Dorothy L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mitchell, David M.
• Application Number:
  US05/942,538
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 180/96, 180/91, 180/103 A, 180/103 BF, 280/735, 307/10 R, 200/61.08, 200/61.19, 200/61.44, 340/52 H, 340/53
• US Class Current: 180/279
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/14 responsive to accident or emergency, e.g. deceleration, tilt of vehicle

Abstract

A fire prevention device for motor vehicles, having internal combustion engines, including a hollow cylinder containing two electrically conducting expansible coils separated by a shatterable sheet of material, electrical leads from the two coils one to ground and the other to the electrical line leading to the vehicles ignition system, and means for fastening the cylinder adjacent to vehicle fuel tank. Upon impact, the coils short out the ignition circuit causing the vehicle engine to cease operating, thereby diminishing the risk of post impact fires.

Claims

1. A fire prevention device for motor vehicles having an ignition system, a fuel tank, said ignition system including an electrical ground and conductors carrying potential other than ground potential, comprising a hollow cylinder, means for affixing said cylinder adjacent a fuel tank of said motor vehicle, a pair of coil-like conductors, a sheet of shatterable material, said sheet of shatterable material carried within said cylinder, said pair of coil-like conductors carried within said cylinder having said sheet of shatterable material disposed there inbetween, means to electrically connect one of said coil-like conductors to said electrical ground and the other of said coil-like materials to said conductor of said ignition system having a potential other than at said electrical ground whereby said sheet of shatterable material when broken upon impact to said motor vehicle permits said pair of coil-like conductors to electrically engage one another shorting out said ignition system disabling said motor vehicle from further operation.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cylinder is formed from a plastic material.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cylinder is secured to said motor vehicle fuel tank.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said shatterable material comprises glass.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said conductor having a potential other than at said electrical ground, is electrically coupled to the spark coil of said motor vehicle.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cylinder is disposed in a horizontal direction intermediate a rear bumper and said gas tank of said motor vehicle.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a wood-like plate, means to secure said wood-like plate to said motor vehicle, said cylinder being secured to said wood-like plate.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plug, a socket, said plug being electrically coupled to said conductor having a potential other than at said electrical ground and said socket being electrically coupled to said other coil-like conductor.