Emergency vehicle wiring harness and control system

• US 6,674,182 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2001
• Issued: 01/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CK Acquisition Holdings Inc., Crown North America Co.
• Original Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Forsythe, Tom, Maynard, Lyman B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Toatley, Jr., Gregory J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DeBeradinis, Robert L
• Application Number:
  US09/920,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20020017796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 307/10.8
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 39/00 Vehicle bodies not otherwise provided for , e.g. safety vehicles safety equipment B60R21/00

Abstract

A wiring harness for use with an emergency vehicle. The wiring harness can be an independent wiring harness added after the vehicle has been manufactured or it can be included in the original equipment manufacturer'"'"'s wiring harness. The wiring harness permits the addition of emergency vehicle equipment, such as two-way radios, computers, radar guns, etc., without splicing into the original equipment manufacturer'"'"'s wiring.

Claims

1. In an automotive electrical system for use with a vehicle having a battery, the battery having a power connector and a ground connector, and an ignition controlled power source, the vehicle having a B pillar, a passenger compartment and a trunk, the improvement comprising:

a fused electrical connection to the battery power connector;

a fuse module electrically connected to the fused electrical connection, the fuse module comprising a plurality of fuses;

at least one power distribution center having inputs electrically connected to one of the fuse module plurality of fuses and to the ignition controlled power source;

a roof top lighting system electrical conductor electrically connected to another of the fuse module plurality of fuses and adapted to be electrically connected to a roof top lighting system.

2. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the adaptation of the roof top lighting system electrical conductor to be connected to a roof top lighting system includes a portion of the roof top lighting system electrical conductor being pre-positioned at a base of the B pillar.

3. The improvement according to claim 1, further comprising:

a ground electrical conductor electrically connected to the battery ground connector and adapted to be electrically connected to a rooftop lighting system.

4. The improvement according to claim 3, wherein the adaptation of the roof top lighting system electrical conductor to be connected to a roof top lighting system includes a portion of the roof top lighting system electrical conductor being pre-positioned at a base of the B pillar;

and the adaptation of the ground electrical conductor to be connected to a roof top lighting system includes a portion of the ground electrical conductor being pre-positioned at a base of the B pillar.

5. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the number of power distribution centers is at least two, each power distribution center being electrically connected to a corresponding fuse of the plurality of fuses.

6. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the number of power distribution centers is two, one power distribution center being located in the passenger compartment, the other power distribution center being located in the trunk.

7. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one power distribution center includes at least one fuse and at least one relay.

8. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one power distribution center provides both constant power connections and ignition controlled power connections.

9. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one power distribution center includes at least one ignition power controlled relay electrically connected to the power distribution center fused electrical connection input and to the power distribution center ignition controlled power source input.

10. The improvement according to claim 1, further comprising:

a rear shelf mounted light assembly electrically connected to a power distribution center, the light assembly being activated by a vehicle on/off switch.

11. The improvement according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of grill lights electrically connected to a power distribution center.

12. The improvement according to claim 1, further comprising:

speaker wiring adapted to connect a means for generating siren sounds and amplifying sounds to a speaker.

13. The improvement according to claim 1, further comprising:

wiring adapted to connect a wig-wag controller to high beam head lights.

14. The improvement according to claim 13, wherein the wiring includes a plurality of connectors adapted to be connected to the high beam head lights.

15. The improvement according to claim 13, further comprising:

a wig-wag controller electrically connected to a power distribution center and to the wiring.

16. The improvement according to claim 1, further comprising:

a rear strobe light assembly for connection to a power distribution center.

17. The improvement according to claim 1, further comprising:

a means for increasing visibility of the vehicle by activating one or more lights.

18. The improvement according to claim 17, wherein the means for increasing visibility includes a controller for activating the one or more lights in an attention gathering manner.

19. The improvement according to claim 18, wherein the means for increasing visibility includes a plurality of lights including at least one of a strobe light and a LED light.

20. The improvement according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of lights are positioned in at least one of a rear shelf mounted light assembly, rear turn signal light housings, a front grill and a front marker light housing.

21. The improvement according to claim 1, further comprising:

a vehicle visibility enhancing light assembly electrically connected to a power distribution center.

22. The improvement according to claim 21, wherein the vehicle visibility enhancing light assembly includes a controller for activating one or more lights in an attention gathering manner.

23. In an automotive electrical system for use with a vehicle having a battery, the battery having a power connector and a ground connector, and an ignition controlled power source, the vehicle having a B pillar, a passenger compartment and a trunk, the improvement comprising:

a fused electrical connection to the battery power connector;

at least one power distribution center having inputs electrically connected to the fused electrical connection and to the ignition controlled power source, the at least one power distribution center including at least one ignition power controlled relay electrically connected to the power distribution center fused electrical connection input and to the power distribution center ignition controlled power source input, the at least one power distribution center further including at least one fuse electrically connected to the power distribution center fused electrical connection input via an output of the at least one ignition power controlled relay; and

a roof top lighting system electrical conductor electrically connected to the fused electrical connector and adapted to be electrically connected to a rooftop lighting system.

24. The improvement according to claim 23, wherein the at least one power distribution further includes at least one fuse directly connected to the power distribution center fused electrical connection input.

25. The improvement according to claim 23, wherein the at least one power distribution further includes at least one control relay.

26. A wiring system for use with a vehicle having a battery, the battery having a power connector and a ground connector, and an ignition controlled power source, the vehicle having a B pillar, a passenger compartment and a trunk, the wiring system comprising:

a fused electrical connection to the battery power connector;

a fuse module electrically connected to the fused electrical connection, the fuse module comprising a plurality of fuses;

at least one power distribution center, each at least one power distribution center having inputs electrically connected to one of the fuse module plurality of fuses and to the ignition controlled power source, the at least one power distribution center providing both constant power connections and ignition controlled power connections;

a roof top lighting system electrical conductor electrically connected to another of the fuse module plurality of fuses and adapted to be electrically connected to a rooftop lighting system;

a rear shelf mounted light assembly electrically connected to a power distribution center, the light assembly being activated by a vehicle on/off switch;

grill light wiring electrically connected to a power distribution center;

wig-wag wiring adapted to connect to high beam head lights, the wig-wag wiring including a plurality of connectors adapted to be connected to the high beam head lights; and

a vehicle visibility enhancing light system electrically connected to a power distribution center, the vehicle visibility light system including a controller for activating one or more lights in an attention gathering manner.

27. The wiring system according to claim 26, wherein the adaptation of the roof top lighting system electrical conductor to be connected to a roof top lighting system includes a portion of the roof top lighting system electrical conductor being pre-positioned at a base of the B pillar.

28. The wiring system according to claim 26, wherein the number of power distribution centers is two, one power distribution center being located in the passenger compartment, the other power distribution center being located in the trunk.

29. A wiring system for use with a vehicle having a battery, the battery having a power connector and a ground connector, and an ignition controlled power source, the vehicle having a B pillar, a passenger compartment and a trunk, the wiring system comprising:

a fused electrical connection to the battery power connector;

a fuse module electrically connected to the fused electrical connection, the fuse module comprising a plurality of fuses;

at least one power distribution center having inputs electrically connected to the fused electrical connection, via the fuse module, and to the ignition controlled power source, the at least one power distribution center providing both constant power connections and ignition controlled power connections, and including;

a) at least one ignition power controlled relay connected to the power distribution center fused electrical connection input and to the power distribution center ignition controlled power source input;

b) at least one fuse electrically connected to the power distribution center fused electrical connection input via an output of the at least one ignition power controlled relay and providing an ignition controlled power connection;

c) at least one fuse directly connected to the power distribution center fused electrical connection input and providing a constant power connection; and

d) at least one control relay; and

a roof top lighting system electrical conductor electrically connected to the fused electrical connector, via the fuse module, and adapted to be electrically connected to a roof top lighting system,

the roof top lighting system and the at least one power distribution center being electrically connected to a corresponding fuse of the fuse module plurality of fuses.

30. A wiring system for use with a vehicle having a battery, the battery having a power connector and a ground connector, and an ignition controlled power source, the vehicle having a B pillar, a passenger compartment and a trunk, the wiring system comprising:

a fused electrical connection to the battery power connector;

at least one power distribution center having inputs electrically connected to the fused electrical connection and to the ignition controlled power source, the at least one power distribution center includes at least one ignition power controlled relay electrically connected to the power distribution center fused electrical connection input and to the power distribution center ignition controlled power source input, the at least one power distribution center further includes at least one fuse electrically connected to the power distribution center fused electrical connection input via an output of the at least one ignition power controlled relay, the at least one power distribution center providing both constant power connections and ignition controlled power connections;

a rear shelf mounted light assembly electrically connected to a power distribution center, the light assembly being activated by a vehicle turn signal switch;

grill light wiring electrically connected to a power distribution center;

wig-wag wiring adapted to connect to high beam head lights, the wig-wag wiring including a plurality of connectors adapted to be connected to the high beam head lights;

speaker wiring adapted to be connected to a means for generating siren sounds and amplifying sounds to a speaker; and

a vehicle visibility enhancing light assembly electrically including one or more lights and connected to a power distribution center, the vehicle visibility light assembly including a controller for activating the one or more lights in an attention gathering manner, the one or more lights including at least one strobe light.

31. The wiring system according to claim 30, further comprising:

a roof top lighting system electrical conductor electrically connected to the fused electrical connector and adapted to be electrically connected to a rooftop lighting system.

32. The wiring system according to claim 31, wherein the adaptation of the roof top lighting system electrical conductor to be connected to a roof top lighting system includes a portion of the roof top lighting system electrical conductor being pre-positioned at a base of the B pillar.