Trailer stability monitor
First Claim
1. A trailer stability monitor for tractor-trailer vehicles comprising a lateral force sensor means mounted on the trailer, r.f. transmitter means coupled to said lateral force sensor means and responsible thereto for transmitting a signal when highway travel associated lateral forces acting on said trailer of a predetermined degree conducive to a rollover are sensed, r.f. receiver means mounted on said tractor for receiving said signal, means directing said signal to said r.f. receiver and alarm means mounted on said tractor and capable of being activated by said r.f. receiver, upon receipt of said signal thereby.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A trailer stability monitor for tractor-trailer vehicles including a motion sensor and signal responsive r.f. transmitter responsive thereto mounted on the trailer and a r.f. signal receiver coupled to alarm means and mounted on the tractor, preferably in the cab thereof, for receiving the signal from said transmitter and causing an alarm to warn the operator of the tractor-trailer of conditions conducive to rollover to permit remedial measures to be undertaken to avoid such incident. The motion sensor includes a pair of angular mounted normally open mercury switches arranged to detect lateral forces to the right or left to a degree conducive to rollover. A vertically oriented normally closed mercury inertia switch is connected in series with the pair of angular mounted parallel connected switches to momentarily disable the circuit to prevent spurious signals from bumps. The switch array is connected in series with a battery and a lower power r.f. oscillator transmitter which transmits a coded low power signal when the switch array is closed. The receiver/alarm includes an r.f. receiver which can detect the signal from the transmitter and activate an alarm of sufficient power to alert the operator. The signal can be transmitted air to air via an antenna or by superimposing the signal on a pair of the existing electrical lines of the tractor-trailer, using the lines as an r.f. line carrier.
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Citations
23 Claims
- 1. A trailer stability monitor for tractor-trailer vehicles comprising a lateral force sensor means mounted on the trailer, r.f. transmitter means coupled to said lateral force sensor means and responsible thereto for transmitting a signal when highway travel associated lateral forces acting on said trailer of a predetermined degree conducive to a rollover are sensed, r.f. receiver means mounted on said tractor for receiving said signal, means directing said signal to said r.f. receiver and alarm means mounted on said tractor and capable of being activated by said r.f. receiver, upon receipt of said signal thereby.
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10. A lateral force and tilt sensor comprising a lateral force and tilt sensing circuit formed by lateral force and tilt sensing switch means capable of being closed upon lateral force of a predetermined amount in one direction and a vertically oriented normally closed inertially activated switch, said vertical switch connected in series with said lateral force and tilt sensing switch means, and a source of power connected in series with said vertical switch to complete said lateral force sensing circuit, said vertical switch arranged to momentarily break said circuit upon sudden vertical displacement of said lateral force and tilt sensing switch means.
- 11. A lateral force sensor comprising a lateral force sensing circuit formed of a pair of parallel connected normally open mercury switches, each arranged mounted at an acute angle from horizontal and one of said pair capable of being closed upon lateral force of a predetermined amount in one direction and the other of said pair capable of being closed upon lateral force of a predetermined amount in the opposite direction, a third vertically oriented normally closed inertia switch, said third switch connected in series with said pair and a source of power connected in series with said third switch to complete said lateral force sensing circuit, said third switch arranged to momentarily break said circuit upon sudden vertical displacement of said pair of switches.
- 19. In combination with a tractor-trailer vehicle, a trailer stability monitor comprising lateral force sensing means mounted on the trailer frame adjacent the rear end thereof for producing a signal indicative of highway travel associated lateral forces conducive to rollover, alarm means mounted on said tractor and responsive to said signal to provide an audible alarm tone for at least the duration of said signal, signal transmitter means mounted on the tractor and coupled to said sensor means and responsive thereto for transmitting said signal, signal receiver means mounted on the trailer and coupled to said alarm means, said signal transmitter means comprising an r.f. transmitter, said signal receiving means comprising an r.f. receiver and communicating means for carrying said signal between said transmitter and said receiver.
Specification