Bulldog vehicle anti-theft system

• US 5,351,781 A
• Filed: 06/28/1993
• Issued: 10/04/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chalmers A. Pritchard, John B. Whitman
• Original Assignee: Chalmers A. Pritchard, John B. Whitman
• Inventors: Pritchard, Chalmers A., Whitman, John B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Focarino, Margaret A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US08/082,796
• Time in Patent Office: 463 Days
• Field of Search: 180/287, 303/89, 188/353, 188/265, 307/10.2, 70/237, 70/256, 70/277
• US Class Current: 180/287
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/02 operating on the steering mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/08 operating on brakes or brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/23 using manual input of alphanumerical codes
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/255 Eye recognition

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle anti-theft system which, when activated, will block the vehicle'"'"'s hydraulic brakes into the locked position preventing the vehicle from being driven or towed. Once activated, the system is immune to power failure. The system can use one of several control means to activate the system including keypad, scanners, key system, or wireless remote.

Claims

1. A brake locking mechanism for use with a vehicle'"'"'s hydraulic braking system with means for blocking and unlocking the flow of hydraulic fluid through the existing brake hydraulic system comprising:

a housing;

said housing having an exterior and an interior;

said housing having a first cavity within said interior, a second cavity within said interior, and a third cavity within said interior;

a first input channel, and a second input channel;

said first input channel being in fluid communication with said first cavity and also in fluid communication with a master cylinder of said brake system;

said second input channel being in fluid communication with said second cavity and also in fluid communication with said master cylinder of said brake system;

a first output channel, and a second output channel;

said first output channel being in fluid communication with said first cavity and also in fluid communication with a proportioning valve of said brake system;

said second output channel being in fluid communication with said second cavity and also in fluid communication with said proportioning valve of said brake system;

a direct current motor;

said direct current motor has a shaft;

said shaft rotates in response to operation of said direct current motor;

said direct current motor being attached to said exterior;

said shaft protrudes into said third cavity;

a first limit switch, and a second switch;

said first limit switch being in electrical communication with said direct current motor;

said second limit switch being in electrical communication with said direct current motor;

a first gear, a second gear, and a third gear;

said first gear has a first fluid channel;

said first fluid channel, said first input channel and said first output channel being of substantially the same diameter;

said first gear is located within said first cavity;

said first fluid channel, said first input channel, and said first output channel are aligned when the brake locking mechanism is in an initial state;

said second fluid channel, said second input channel and said second output channel being of substantially the same diameter;

said second gear is located within said second cavity;

said second fluid channel, said second input channel, and said second output channel are aligned when the brake locking mechanism is in an initial state;

said third gear is attached to said shaft;

said third gear is located within said third cavity;

said third gear is in gearable communication with said first gear;

said third gear is in gearable communication with said second gear;

a control means;

said control means being in electrical communication with said direct current motor;

whereby said direct current motor is activated in response to receiving a predetermined signal from said control means and if the brake locking mechanism is in an initial state said direct current motor turns said third gear which in turn turns said first gear and said second gear until said first fluid channel is unaligned with said first input channel and said first output channel preventing fluid flow between said first input channel and said first output channel and said second fluid channel is unaligned with said second input channel and said second output channel preventing fluid flow between said second input channel and said second output channel wherein said direct current motor deactivates pursuant to a stop signal from said first limit switch rendering said brake locking mechanism into an armed state; and

whereby said direct current motor is activated in response to receiving a predetermined signal from said control means and if the brake locking mechanism is in an armed state said direct current motor turns said third gear which in turn turns said first gear and said second gear until said first fluid channel is aligned with said first input channel and said first output channel enabling fluid flow between said first input channel and said first output channel and said second fluid channel is aligned with said second input channel and said second output channel enabling fluid flow between said second input channel and said second output channel wherein said direct current motor deactivates pursuant to a stop signal from said second limit switch rendering said brake locking mechanism into an initial state.

2. The brake locking mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises an alpha-numeric key pad.

3. The brake locking mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a lock and key system.

4. The brake locking mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a retina and thumb print scanner.

5. The brake locking mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a bar code scanner.

6. The brake locking mechanism as in claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a wireless remote signaling device.

7. A brake locking mechanism for use with a vehicle'"'"'s hydraulic braking system with means for blocking and unlocking the flow of hydraulic fluid through the existing brake hydraulic system comprising:

a housing;

said housing having an exterior and an interior;

said housing having a first cavity within said interior, a second cavity within said interior, and a third cavity within said interior;

a first input channel, and a second input channel;

said first input channel being in fluid communication with said first cavity and also in fluid communication with a master cylinder of said brake system;

said second input channel being in fluid communication with said second cavity and also in fluid communication with said master cylinder of said brake system;

a first output channel, and a second output channel;

said first output channel being in fluid communication with said first cavity and also in fluid communication with a proportioning valve of said brake system;

said second output channel being in fluid communication with said second cavity and also in fluid communication with said proportioning valve of said brake system;

a direct current motor;

said direct current motor has a shaft;

said shaft rotates in response to operation of said direct current motor;

said direct current motor being attached to said exterior;

said shaft protrudes into said third cavity;

a first limit switch, and a second switch;

said first limit switch being in electrical communication with said direct current motor;

said second limit switch being in electrical communication with said direct current motor;

a cross bar;

said cross bar has a first end, a second end, and a middle,

said cross bar being attached to said shaft at said middle;

a first rod, and a second rod;

said first rod has a first side and a second side;

said first side of said first rod being attached to said first end of said cross bar;

said second rod has a first point and a second point;

said first point of said second rod being attached to said second end of said cross bar;

a first piston, and a second piston;

said second side of said first rod being attached to said first piston;

said second point of said second rod being attached to said second piston;

wherein when said brake locking mechanism is in an initial state said cross bar is in a parallel alignment with said first input channel, said first output channel, said second input channel, and said second output channel and whereby said first piston is in a retracted position from said first cavity permitting fluid flow between said first input channel and said first output channel, and said second piston is in a retracted position from said second cavity permitting fluid flow between said second input channel and said second output channel;

wherein when said brake locking mechanism is in an armed state said cross bar is in a perpendicular alignment with said first input channel, said first output channel, said second input channel, and said second output channel and whereby said first piston protrudes into said first cavity disabling fluid flow between said first input channel and said first output channel and said second piston protrudes into said second cavity disabling fluid flow between said second input channel and said second output channel;

a control means;

said control means being in electrical communication with said direct current motor;

whereby said direct current motor is activated in response to receiving a predetermined signal from said control means and if the brake locking mechanism is in an initial state said direct current motor turns said cross bar from said parallel alignment to said perpendicular alignment wherein said direct current motor deactivates pursuant to a stop signal from said first limit switch rendering said brake locking mechanism into an armed state; and

whereby said direct current motor is activated in response to receiving a predetermined signal from said control means and if the brake locking mechanism is in an armed state said direct current motor turns said cross bar from said perpendicular alignment to said parallel alignment wherein said direct current motor deactivates pursuant to a stop signal from said second limit switch rendering said brake locking mechanism into an initial state.

8. The brake locking mechanism as in claim 7 wherein said control means comprises an alpha-numeric key pad.

9. The brake locking mechanism as in claim 7 wherein said control means comprises a lock and key system.

10. The brake locking mechanism as in claim 7 wherein said control means comprises a retina and thumb print scanner.

11. The brake locking mechanism as in claim 7 wherein said control means comprises a bar code scanner.

12. The brake locking mechanism as in claim 7 wherein said control means comprises a wireless remote signaling device.

13. A brake locking mechanism for use with a vehicle'"'"'s hydraulic braking system with means for blocking and unlocking the flow of hydraulic fluid through the existing brake hydraulic system comprising:

a housing;

said housing having an exterior and an interior;

said housing having a first cavity within said interior, a second cavity within said interior, and a third cavity within said interior;

a first input channel, and a second input channel;

said first input channel being in fluid communication with said first cavity and also in fluid communication with a master cylinder of said brake system;

said second input channel being in fluid communication with said second cavity and also in fluid communication with said master cylinder of said brake system;

a first output channel, and a second output channel;

said first output channel being in fluid communication with said first cavity and also in fluid communication with a proportioning valve of said brake system;

said second output channel being in fluid communication with said second cavity and also in fluid communication with said proportioning valve of said brake system;

a direct current motor;

said direct current motor has a shaft;

said shaft rotates in response to operation of said direct current motor;

said direct current motor being attached to said exterior;

said shaft protrudes into said third cavity;

a first limit switch, and a second switch;

said first limit switch being in electrical communication with said direct current motor;

said second limit switch being in electrical communication with said direct current motor;

an oval cam;

said oval cam has a first nadir edge, a second nadir edge, a first zenith edge, and a second zenith edge;

said oval cam is attached to said shaft;

said oval cam being located within said third cavity;

a first hydraulic ball and a second hydraulic ball;

a first spring, and a second spring;

said first spring being located within said first cavity;

said second spring being located within said second cavity

wherein when said brake locking mechanism is in an initial state said first hydraulic ball is in contact with said first nadir edge and said first spring keeps said first hydraulic ball out of said first cavity permitting fluid flow between said first input channel and said first output channel, and said second hydraulic ball is in contact with said second nadir edge and said second spring keeps said second hydraulic ball out of said second cavity permitting fluid flow between said second input channel and said second output channel;

whereby when said brake locking mechanism is in an armed state, said first hydraulic ball is in contact with said first zenith edge wherein the bias of said first spring is overcome and said first hydraulic ball protrudes into said first cavity disabling fluid flow between said first input channel and said first output channel and said second hydraulic ball is in contact with said second zenith edge wherein the bias of said second spring is overcome and said second hydraulic ball protrudes into said second cavity disabling fluid flow between said second input channel and said second output channel;

a control means;

said control means being in electrical communication with said direct current motor;

whereby said direct current motor is activated in response to receiving a predetermined signal from said control means and if the brake locking mechanism is in an initial state said direct current motor turns said oval cam until said first hydraulic ball is in contact with said first zenith edge and said second hydraulic ball is in contact with said second zenith edge and wherein said direct current motor deactivates pursuant to a stop signal from said first limit switch rendering said brake locking mechanism into an armed state; and

whereby said direct current motor is activated in response to receiving a predetermined signal from said control means and if the brake locking mechanism is in an armed state said direct current motor turns said oval cam until said first hydraulic ball is in contact with said first nadir edge and said second hydraulic ball is in contact with said second nadir edge and wherein said direct current motor deactivates pursuant to a stop signal from said second limit switch rendering said brake locking mechanism into an initial state.

14. The brake locking mechanism as in claim 13 wherein said control means comprises an alpha-numeric key pad.

15. The brake locking mechanism as in claim 13 wherein said control means comprises a lock and key system.

16. The brake locking mechanism as in claim 13 wherein said control means comprises a retina and thumb print scanner.

17. The brake locking mechanism as in claim 13 wherein said control means comprises a bar code scanner.

18. The brake locking mechanism as in claim 13 wherein said control means comprises a wireless remote signaling device.