Rollover prevention device

• US 7,731,216 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2006
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Keith Cornish
• Original Assignee: Keith Cornish
• Inventors: Cornish, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley; Kevin
• Application Number:
  US11/368,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20070205578A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 280/432, 280/433, 280/441.1
• US Class Current: 280/432
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/04 related to roll-over prevention
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 37/00 Stabilising vehicle bodies without controlling suspension arrangements
• 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: B62D 53/08 Fifth wheel traction couplings tractors for handling trailers in terminals B62D49/007

Abstract

A rollover prevention device for commercial tractor/trailers that senses when the tractor portion of the commercial truck has reached the critical height at which rollover of the trailer cannot be avoided. Once this critical height is reached pneumatic cylinders and pins automatically release the trailer from the tractor, thereby preserving human life and minimizing damage to property.

Claims

1. An apparatus which attaches to a commercial truck, said commercial truck being composed of a tractor portion and a trailer portion attached by a fifth wheel plate, which said apparatus automatically detaches the tractor from the trailer in the event of a trailer induced weight shift rollover, allowing the tractor to remain upright and in tact, said apparatus comprising:

at least two weight-bearing supports equidistant from the fifth wheel plate located on said tractor, each of said weight-bearing supports containing a pneumatic quick release cylinder mounted inside a longitudinal axis of said weight-bearing supports, wherein said pneumatic quick release cylinder being activated through air that has been compressed and stored in an air tank, thereby creating an air flow supply;

at least one quick release pin that attach said weight-bearing supports to said fifth wheel plate;

at least two air flow supply lines connected to each of said pneumatic quick release cylinders;

an air actuator connected through an electrical means to said airflow supply lines and said weight-bearing supports;

at least two sensors connected through said electrical means to said air actuator, said sensors positioned on opposite sides of said tractor'"'"'s frame;

a tilt switch connected through said electrical means to said sensors and said air actuator located behind the cab of said tractor, said tilt switch sensing when said tractor is 15 degrees from the ground, said tilt switch activating said electrical means when 15 degrees from the ground has been sensed, said sensors then changing an air flow in said actuator from a forward push to a reverse push when said tilt switch measures a 30 degree angle between said tractor and the ground, thereby causing said pneumatic quick release cylinders and said quick release pins to release from said fifth wheel, thereby breaking apart said trailer from said tractor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said airflow supply is derived from air that is compressed and stored in an air tank located in the engine area of said commercial truck that begins pushing air into air tanks once an engine is started and begins to build an air pressure in said air tanks.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said air actuator is a three-way normally closed air actuator.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tilt switches are non-insulated.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said weight-bearing supports are about 20 inches long.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said weight-bearing supports are between about 3 and about 4 inches high.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said weight-bearing supports are between about 4 and about 5 inches wide.

8. A vehicle rollover prevention apparatus comprising:

a vehicle carrying a fifth-wheel, wherein said fifth wheel detachably connects a tractor and a trailer;

a plurality of weight-bearing supports attached to said fifth-wheel, each weight-bearing support being oppositely and outwardly positioned on said fifth-wheel;

a quick-release pin capable of having a portion inserted into said weight-bearing support, wherein each weight-bearing support is associated with at least one quick-release pin;

a quick-release cylinder associated with each quick-release pin, said quick release cylinder capable of being inserted within at least a portion of said quick-release pin, wherein said quick-release cylinder is responsive to an air flow in an airflow supply line;

a spring disposed around said quick-release cylinder;

an air tank storing air that has been compressed, said air tank providing a compressed air source in fluid communication with said quick-release cylinder and said airflow supply line, said compressed air source capable of providing pressurized air thereto thereby creating an air flow in said airflow supply line;

a directional air flow actuator positioned in-line with said air supply line; and

a tilt switch in communication with said directional air flow actuator, said tilt switch having a sensor capable of detecting when said vehicle is at an angle relative to the ground and capable of sending a signal to reverse the flow of air through said directional air flow actuator when said vehicle is at an angle relative to the ground.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said tilt switch is capable of detecting the angle of tilt of said trailer relative to the ground.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the tilt switch is activated when said angle is 15 degrees.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the tilt switch is activated when said angle is 30 degrees.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said weight-bearing supports are about 20 inches long, between about 3 and about 4 inches high, and between about 4 and about 5 inches wide.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said directional air flow actuator is a three-way normally closed directional air flow actuator.