System for automatically preventing turnover of two wheeled vehicles

• US 4,691,798 A
• Filed: 10/10/1985
• Issued: 09/08/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas S. Engelbach
• Original Assignee: Thomas S. Engelbach
• Inventors: Engelbach, Thomas S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Love, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weaver, Ross
• Application Number:
  US06/786,078
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 180/209, 180/271, 280/6.1, 280/303, 280/755
• US Class Current: 180/209
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 37/00 Stabilising vehicle bodies without controlling suspension arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 1/12 using additional wheels

Abstract

A system for automatically sensing and preventing turnover of two wheeled vehicles by use of two outrigger wheels for stability. Turnover of a two wheeled vehicle, such as a motorcycle, can take place when one of the tires slides laterally to a point that normal driving maneuvers cannot reestablish traction. Uncontrollable tires slip (which increases the rate of body roll) is sensed with a rate gyro or accelerometers. As tire slip becomes uncontrollable, traction will approach zero and the roll axis of the vehicle moves from a line between the two points that the tires contact the road to the center gravity of the vehicle. The polar moment of inertia is simultaneously reduced which allows the vehicle to roll at an increased rate. An on-board vehicle microcomputer receives continuous information from the gyro and determines if the rate of body roll is higher than the range possible when the tires have traction. If the tires lose traction, then the rate of roll will increase and the microcomputer sends a signal to a servo valve which opens the proper ports to allow compressed air to pass to a pneumatic cylinder which will force the outrigger wheels down to right the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system for stabilizing a two wheeled vehicle against lateral overturning, said vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel normally disposed in the same vertical plane, said stabilizing system comprising:

a pair of outrigger wheels pivoting on the vehicle frame for vertical movement relative thereto and disposed respectively at opposite sides of said rear wheel in laterally outwardly spaced relation therefrom;

means for sensing the roll rate of said vehicle and generating a first electrical signal in response thereto;

mean responsive to said electrical signal for generating a second electrical signal if the rate of roll is greater than the limit achievable while said front and rear wheels retain lateral traction; and

means responsive to said second electrical signal for moving at least one of said outrigger wheels downwardly into engagement with the roadway surface whereby the vehicle is enabled to return to a stable position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensing means comprises a rate gyro.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said first sensing means comprises a pair of accelerometers, said first electrical signal comprising the sum of the signals generated by said pair of accelerometers.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said responsive means comprises a microcomputer.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein engagement of said outrigger wheels with the roadway returns said vehicle to the stable position.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein activation of one of said outrigger wheels rights the vehicle to the extent to allow the vehicle driver to maneuver the vehicle to the stable position.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein both outrigger wheels are moved into engagement with the roadway by said responsive means.

8. A system for stabilizing a two wheeled vehicle against lateral overturning, said vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel normally disposed in the same vertical plane, said stabilizing system comprising:

a pair of outrigger wheels pivoting on the vehicle frame for vertical movement relative thereto and disposed respectively at opposite sides of said rear wheel in laterally outwardly spaced relation therefrom;

first means for sensing the roll rate of said vehicle and generating a first electrical signal in response thereto;

second means for sensing the foward speed of said vehicle and generating a second electrical signal in response thereto;

third means for sensing angular displacement from the vertical and generating a third electrical signal in response thereto;

means responsive to said first, second and third electrical signals for generating a fourth electrical signal if the rate of roll is greater than the limit achievable while said front and rear wheels retain lateral traction; and

means responsive to said fourth electrical signal for moving at least one of said outrigger wheels downwardly into engagement with the roadway surface whereby the vehicle is enabled to return to a stable position.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said first sensing means comprises a rate gyro.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein said first sensing means comprises a pair of accelerometers, said first electrical signal comprising the sum of the signals generated by said pair of accelerometers.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said responsive means comprises a microcomputer.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein engagement of said outrigger wheels with the roadway returns said vehicle to the stable position.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein activation of one of said outrigger wheels rights the vehicle to the extent to allow the vehicle driver to meneuver the vehicle to the stable position.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein both outrigger wheels are moved into engagement with the roadway by said responsive means.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein said second sensing means comprises a digital speedometer.

16. The system of claim 8 wherein said third sensing means comprises a displacement gyro.

17. A system for stabilizing a two wheeled vehicle against lateral overturning, said vehicle having a front wheel and a rear wheel normally disposed in the same vertical plane, said stabilizing system comprising:

a pair of outrigger wheels pivoting on the vehicle frame for vertical movement relative thereto and disposed respectively at opposite sides of said rear wheel in laterally outwardly spaced relation therefrom;

means for sensing the angular displacement from vertical of said vehicle and generating a first electrical signal in response thereto;

means responsive to said electrical signal for generating a second electrical signal if the angular displacement from vertical is greater than a preset limit.

means responsive to said second electrical signal for moving at least one of said outrigger wheels downwardly into engagement with the roadway surface whereby the vehicle is enabled to return to a stable position.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said sensing means comprises an angular displacement gyro.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein said responsive means comprises a microcomputer.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein engagement of said outrigger wheels with the roadway returns said vehicle to the stable position.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein activation of one of said outrigger wheels rights the vehicle to the extent to allow the vehicle driver to maneuver the vehicle to the stable position.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein both outrigger wheels are moved into engagement with the roadway by said responsive means.