Automotive imbalance safety cut-off system

• US 5,368,123 A
• Filed: 09/24/1993
• Issued: 11/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gregory Castellana
• Original Assignee: Gregory Castellana
• Inventors: Castellana, Gregory
• Primary Examiner(s): Rice, Kenneth R.
• Application Number:
  US08/125,777
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 180/282, 180/283, 180/284, 180/285, 280/688
• US Class Current: 180/283
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0185 for failure detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/14 responsive to accident or emergency, e.g. deceleration, tilt of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/08 having means for preventing overturning or tipping safety devices for propulsion-unit control, specially adapted for, or arranged in, vehicles B60K28/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 9/54 Arrangements for attachment grommet-type rubber mounting springs per se F16F1/3732; construction of cylinder ends F16F9/3242; attachments to vehicles B60G13/001, B60G15/00

Abstract

Apparatus for detecting an imbalance of a vehicle comprising, in combination, an upper attachment member removably secured with respect to the upper portion of a shock absorber; a lower attachment member removably secured with respect to the lower portion of a shock absorber; a vertically extending rod fixedly secured with respect to the lower attachment member and slidably secured with respect to the upper attachment member; a roller secured to the upper attachment member with the roller adapted to rotate with respect to the rod during normal reciprocation thereof but to shift with respect to its axis during abnormal extend movement of the rod as caused by an emergency situation; and a switch secured to the upper attachment member in a first electrical state during normal reciprocation of the rod but switched to a second electrical state upon the shifting of the roller in response to abnormal movement of the rod indicative of an abnormal situation for emitting a signal in response thereto.

Claims

1. A system to sense an automotive imbalance and to cut-off the power to the ignition in response thereto for increased safety in the event of an accident comprising, in combination:

automotive imbalance sensors positionable adjacent the front wheels and rear wheels of a vehicle, each sensor comprising an upper attachment member attachable to an upper portion of a shock absorber and a lower attachment member attachable to a lower portion of a shock absorber, a vertically extending rod fixedly secured with respect to the lower attachment member and slidably secured with respect to the upper attachment member, a roller secured to the upper attachment member with the roller adapted to rotate with respect to the rod during normal reciprocation thereof during driving but to shift laterally with respect to its axis during abnormal extended movement of the rod as caused by an emergency situation, a switch secured to the upper attachment member in a closed orientation during normal reciprocation of the rod but adapted to switch to the closed orientation upon the shifting of the roller in response to an abnormal movement of the rod; and

a controller to detect when two adjacent wheels, two front wheels, two rear wheels, two left wheels, two right wheels, experience an abnormal condition resulting in abnormally extended movement of their associated rods with detection signals from their associated switches and, in response thereto, generates an emergency signal to energize a power cut-off member to stop the power to the ignition system and cut-off the flow of fuel within the vehicle.

2. Apparatus for detecting an imbalance of a vehicle comprising, in combination:

an upper attachment member removably secured with respect to the upper portion of a shock absorber;

a lower attachment member removably secured with respect to the lower portion of a shock absorber;

a vertically extending rod fixedly secured with respect to the lower attachment member and slidably secured with respect to the upper attachment member;

a roller secured to the upper attachment member with the roller adapted to rotate with respect to the rod during normal reciprocation thereof but to shift with respect to its axis during abnormal extended movement of the rod as caused by an emergency situation; and

a switch secured to the upper attachment member in a first electrical state during normal reciprocation of the rod but switched to a second electrical state upon the shifting of the roller in response to abnormal movement of the rod indicative of an abnormal situation for emitting a signal in response thereto.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the lower attachment member includes a first ring for attachment to the lower portion of a shock absorber and a second ring for attachment to the lower end of the rod.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the upper attachment member includes a first ring for attachment to the upper portion of a shock absorber and a second ring attached to the solenoid and the roller with the roller in rotating contact with an upper portion of the rod during normal driving conditions but shiftable to change the orientation of the switch if the rod lowers abnormally in response to an abnormal driving condition.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the emitted signal functions to input a controller for emitting an emergency signal to the vehicle when two adjacent sensors detect an abnormal driving condition.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the emergency signal is coupled to the ignition system of an automobile to inactivate the ignition system and terminate the flow of fuel to the engine.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 and further including a solenoid to close the fuel line to terminate the flow of fuel to the engine.