Apparatus for stopping a vehicle

• US 7,631,950 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: McCallen, David B., Wattenburg, Willard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Siconolfi; Robert A
• Assistant Examiner(s): SY, MARIANO ONG
• Application Number:
  US11/062,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20050146208A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,761 Days
• Field of Search: 303/89, 303/123, 303/15, 303/7, 188/353, 188/265, 180/287, 307/10.2
• US Class Current: 303/89
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00

Abstract

An apparatus for externally controlling one or more brakes on a vehicle having a pressurized fluid braking system. The apparatus can include a pressurizable vessel that is adapted for fluid-tight coupling to the braking system. Impact to the rear of the vehicle by a pursuit vehicle, shooting a target mounted on the vehicle or sending a signal from a remote control can all result in the fluid pressures in the braking system of the vehicle being modified so that the vehicle is stopped and rendered temporarily inoperable. A control device can also be provided in the driver'"'"'s compartment of the vehicle for similarly rendering the vehicle inoperable. A driver or hijacker of the vehicle preferably cannot overcome the stopping action from the driver'"'"'s compartment.

Claims

1. A vehicle-stopping apparatus for use with a remote device and first and second vehicles each having a plurality of wheels rotatably carried by a body and a fluid pressurized braking system having a first conduit fluidically coupled to a fully-pressurized braking fluid source and a second conduit fluidically coupled between a foot pedal valve and a plurality of service braking mechanisms so as to permit remote stopping of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling on a roadway, comprising a portable assembly adapted for use on the first and second vehicles and having a brake actuation device and a remotely operable controller, the brake actuation device being provided with a first device conduit having first and second ends and a second device conduit having first and second ends and a valving mechanism coupled between the first device conduit and the second device conduit, the portable assembly being configured for sequential securement to the first and second vehicles by having a compact size and shape and including a pair of first connector means carried by respective ends of the first device conduit for detachably coupling the first device conduit to the first conduit of the vehicle so as to permit fully-pressurized fluid to travel through the brake actuation device and a pair of second connector means carried by respective ends of the second device conduit for detachably coupling the second device conduit to the second conduit for permitting selectively pressurized fluid from the foot pedal valve to travel through the brake actuation device, the remotely operable controller being operably configured to control the brake actuation device and adapted for receiving electromagnetic control signals from the remote device for causing the valving mechanism to direct fully-pressurized fluid from the first conduit to the second conduit so as to activate the plurality of service braking mechanisms to provide maximum braking force for stopping the vehicle whereby the portable assembly can be used to retrofit the vehicle and inhibit hijacking of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valving mechanism comprises an actuator valve controlled by the remotely operable controller for directing fully-pressurized braking fluid from the pressurized braking fluid source to the second device conduit.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the valving mechanism further comprises a shuttle valve actuated by the flow of frilly-pressurized braking fluid thereto from the actuator valve.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pair of first connector means and the pair of second connector means are each hand-operable connectors.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second conduit is a foot pedal valve supply line in fluidic communication with the fully-pressurized braking fluid source by way of the foot pedal valve controlled by an operator of the vehicle to apply various levels of service braking force to said wheels.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a compact portable container for housing the brake actuation device and the remotely operable controller and having first access portals for receiving the first conduit and second access portals for receiving the second conduit so that connections with the first and second connector means are located inside the container.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the container is a lock box.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a portable housing surrounding the brake actuation device and the remotely operable controller, with the first and second connector means being accessible from outside the housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a portable container for containing the housing, the brake actuation device, and the remotely operable controller and having access portals for permitting entry of the first and second conduits into the container so that connections with the first and second connector means are located inside the container.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the container is a lock box.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remotely operable controller activates the brake actuation device upon receiving an electromagnetic control signal from the remote device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remotely operable controller activates the brake actuation device upon failing to receive an electromagnetic control signal from the remote device.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fluid pressurized braking system has a plurality of emergency braking mechanisms coupled to the second conduit for respectively decelerating the plurality of wheels, the brake actuation device including means for depressurizing the second conduit downstream of the brake actuation device for activating the plurality of emergency braking mechanisms.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for depressurizing includes an exhaust valve in fluidic communication with the second conduit downstream of the brake actuation device and operably connected to the remotely operable controller.

15. A vehicle-stopping apparatus for use with a remote device and first and second vehicles each having a plurality of wheels rotatably carried by a body and a fluid pressurized braking system including a fully-pressurized braking fluid source and a plurality of service braking mechanisms for respectively decelerating the plurality of wheels so as to permit remote stopping of the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling on a roadway, comprising a portable assembly adapted for use on the first and second vehicles and including a container valve means and a remotely operable controller disposed within the container, the container being configured for sequential securement on the first and second vehicles by having a compact size and shape and connector means disposed within the container for detachably coupling the valve means between the fully-pressurized braking fluid source of the vehicle and the plurality of service braking mechanisms so that the portable assembly can be used to modify the fluid pressurized braking system of the vehicle and inhibit hijacking of the vehicle, the valve means being configured to direct fully-pressurized braking fluid from the fully-pressurized braking fluid source to the plurality of service braking mechanisms upon actuation for providing full braking force by the plurality of service braking mechanisms to stop the vehicle when the vehicle is traveling on the roadway and the remotely operable controller being operably connected to the valve means and adapted for receiving electromagnetic control signals from the remote device for controlling the actuation of the valve means.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 for use with a fluid pressurized braking system having a plurality of emergency braking mechanisms, wherein the portable assembly includes an additional valve means detachably coupled between the valve means and the plurality of emergency braking mechanisms and wherein the remotely operable controller is operably connected to the additional valve means for directing the additional valve means to depressurize the braking system at the plurality of emergency braking mechanisms so as to activate the plurality of emergency braking mechanisms and thus enhance stopping of the vehicle.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 for use with a vehicle having a tractor and a trailer, wherein the portable assembly includes a plurality of fluid conduits coupled to the valve means and terminating at the respective connectors means for permitting the valve means to be coupled to the fluid pressurized braking system between the tractor and the trailer.