Overhead obstruction detector for a vehicle

• US 5,424,713 A
• Filed: 06/30/1994
• Issued: 06/13/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward E. Isaacs, Horace E. Thompson
• Original Assignee: Edward E. Isaacs, Horace E. Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, Horace E., Isaacs, Edward E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US08/269,013
• Time in Patent Office: 348 Days
• Field of Search: 340/435, 340/436, 340/437, 340/901, 340/438, 200/61.44, 200/61.42, 116/28 R, 116/28 A
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies

Abstract

An overhead warning detector. Such detector includes a terminal box positionable on top of a truck cab. A vertically extending fixed member is fixedly positioned with respect to the terminal box. A vertically extending rotatable member is rotatably secured to the fixed member. A bridge feeler extends radially from the rotatable member. The feeler is adjustable in height to an elevation corresponding to the elevational orientation of the highest point of the trailer of the truck. A resilient means interconnecting the fixed and rotatable members tending to hold the bridge feeler in an angle offset forwardly from the vertical but to allow rotation of the rotatable member and feeler rearwardly in response to contact with a low bridge. A control box is positionable in the cab of the truck with electrical leads coupling the fixed and rotatable members. The control panel has an alarm actuatable in response to the rotation of the rotatable member to activate the alarm.

Claims

1. A new and improved overhead warning detector comprising, in combination:

a terminal box positionable on the roof of a truck cab;

a vertically extending fixed member with a first cylindrical recess fixedly positioned with respect to the terminal box, the fixed member including a central aperture with an arcuate slot extending partly around the aperture at a common distance therefrom, the fixed member also including a circular shoulder extending therefrom with an opening over a minority of its extent with a spring retainer within the opening;

a vertically extending rotatable member with a circular recess and an aperture positionable co-axial with the aperture of the fixed member, the rotatable member having a cylindrical flange positionable outboardly of the shoulder and retainer in rotatable orientation with respect thereto, the flange of the rotatable member having a radial aperture extending therethrough and a radial tab extending into the retainer;

a cylindrical collar having a central aperture in axial alignment with the apertures of the rigid and rotatable members with an electrically conductive rod extending radially therefrom through the radial aperture of the rotatable member for rotation therewith, the rod also having an axial contact extending into the arcuate slot;

a telescoping bridge feeler extending from the rod, the feeler being adjustable in height to an elevation essentially corresponding to the elevational height of the highest point of a trailer of the truck;

a spring in resilient relationship interconnecting the tab and the retainer tending to rotate the rotatable member with respect to the fixed member and tending to hold the bridge feeler in an angle offset forwardly from the vertical but to allow rotation thereof rearwardly in response to contact with a low bridge;

an arcuate contact adustably positioned with respect to the arcuate slot;

electrical wires contacting the collar and arcuate contact adapted to couple the contacts upon rotation of the feeler when contacting a low bridge; and

a control panel positionable in the cab with electrical lines coupling to the electrical wires, the control panel having a power source with an optical alarm and an audio alarm actuatable in response to the making of the contacts of the electrical wires, the control panel also having a switch to de-couple the power source from the contacts to inactivate the detector.

2. An overhead warning detector comprising:

a terminal box positionable on top of a truck cab;

a vertically extending fixed member having a central aperture with an arcuate slot extending partially therearound and fixedly positioned with respect to the terminal box, the fixed member also having a circular shoulder extending therefrom with an opening over a minority of its extent with a retainer within the opening;

a vertically extending rotatable member rotatably secured to the fixed member with a cylindrical flange positioned outboardly of the shoulder and retainer;

a bridge feeler extending radially from the rotatable member, the feeler being adjustable in height to an elevation corresponding to the elevational orientation of the highest point of the trailer of the truck;

resilient means interconnecting the fixed and rotatable members tending to hold the bridge feeler in an angle offset forwardly from the vertical but to allow rotation of the rotatable member and feeler rearwardly in response to contact with a low bridge; and

a control box positionable in the cab of the truck with electrical leads coupling the fixed and rotatable members, the control panel having an alarm actuatable in response to the rotation of the rotatable member to activate the alarm.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and further including a switch to inactivate the alarm in the control box.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the fixed member is formed with a first cylindrical recess fixedly positioned with respect to the aperture of the fixed member, the cylindrical flange positionable outboardly of the shoulder and retainer in rotatable orientation with respect thereto, the cylindrical flange having a radial aperture extending therethrough and a radial tab extending into the retainer.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the rotatable member is formed with a circular recess and an aperture positionable co-axial with the aperture of the fixed member, the rotatable member having a cylindrical flange positionable outboardly of the shoulder and retainer in rotatable orientation with respect thereto, the flange of the rotatable member having a radial aperture extending therethrough and a radial tab extending into the retainer.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 and further including a cylindrical collar having a central aperture in axial alignment with the apertures of the rigid and rotatable members with an electrically conductive rod extending radially therefrom through the radial aperture of the rotatable member for rotation therewith, the rod also having an axial contact extending into the arcuate slot.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2 and further comprising electrical contacts including an axial contact coupled to the bridge feeler and an arcuate member adjustably positioned with respect to the fixed member with means to adjust the position of the arcuate member to vary the angular position of the feeler at which contact is made and an alarm is actuated.