Slope stability warning device for articulated tractors
First Claim
1. A vehicle of the pinned front axle type having pivotally-connected front and rear frame sections and having a stability triangle with forwardly convergent lateral sides and a fixed transverse rear leg, and including a tip-over warning means mounted on said vehicle and having simulated stability triangle means with rotatable convergent pivotally connected lateral sides of changeable length and means defining a fixed transverse rear side extending substantially parallel to the fixed transverse rear leg of the vehicle stability triangle, pendulum means swingably mounted on said tip-over warning means at a suspension location relative to the simulated stability triangle means substantially corresponding to the location of the vehicle center of gravity with respect to its stability triangle, said pendulum means depending through said simulated triangle means, means to change the lengths of said convergent pivotally connected sides responsive to relative pivoting of said vehicle frame sections, an alarm device, and means to energize said alarm device responsive to contact of said pendulum means with one of said changeable-length sides.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tip-over warning system for vehicles of the articulated type utilizes a swinging pendulum pivoted in a frame which is mounted on and simulates the stability triangle of the vehicle. The pivotal connection of the pendulum is at a scale distance relative to the frame corresponding to the location of the vehicle center of gravity. The side arms of the frame are variable in length and pivoted, allowing the apex of the frame to move. The apex is moved by a servo motor in accordance with the steering angle of the vehicle. The pendulum and frame are connected in an electrical circuit including a current source and an alarm device. When the pendulum touches a side arm of the frame the circuit is completed, thus energizing the alarm device.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A vehicle of the pinned front axle type having pivotally-connected front and rear frame sections and having a stability triangle with forwardly convergent lateral sides and a fixed transverse rear leg, and including a tip-over warning means mounted on said vehicle and having simulated stability triangle means with rotatable convergent pivotally connected lateral sides of changeable length and means defining a fixed transverse rear side extending substantially parallel to the fixed transverse rear leg of the vehicle stability triangle, pendulum means swingably mounted on said tip-over warning means at a suspension location relative to the simulated stability triangle means substantially corresponding to the location of the vehicle center of gravity with respect to its stability triangle, said pendulum means depending through said simulated triangle means, means to change the lengths of said convergent pivotally connected sides responsive to relative pivoting of said vehicle frame sections, an alarm device, and means to energize said alarm device responsive to contact of said pendulum means with one of said changeable-length sides.
Specification