Automatic stability control system with strain gauge sensors
First Claim
1. An automatic stability control system for a vehicle to prevent swerving and swaying of said vehicle, said system comprising:
- means for sensing lateral acceleration forces acting upon said vehicle to provide low level electrical acceleration signals proportional to the magnitude of said forces, means for amplifying said low level acceleration signals to provide large amplitude brake control signals proportional to the magnitude of the forces, and brake means associated with said vehicle including right and left brakes and responsive to said brake control signals to simultaneously actuate said right and left brakes in an equal gradual and continuous mode to prevent swaying and swerving of said vehicle, said sensing means including a force responsive mass oriented to sense lateral acceleration and provide by strain gauge sensor means instantaneous response upon sensing lateral acceleration.
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Abstract
An automatic stability control system is provided which senses the lateral acceleration of a vehicle by way of strain gauge sensors, or the like, to provide lateral acceleration signals to an amplifier. Since strain gauge sensors which operate on the piezoelectric effect provide very weak signals, special amplifier circuits must be employed. The amplified signals control a brake assembly on the vehicle to simultaneously, continuously and gradually apply the right and left brakes with a force proportional to the lateral acceleration signals in order to eliminate swerving or swaying of the vehicle. The amplifier is mounted in the vehicle and includes a sensitivity adjustment for setting a threshold point corresponding to a minimum lateral acceleration force to which the system will respond. Sensor configurations are also used which have strain gauges to sense the regular brake fluid pressure of the vehicle in combination with the lateral force sensing sensors. Additional sensitivity adjustments are provided for the amplifiers of these configurations. The control system is primarily adapted for use in a trailing or towed vehicle in combination with a leading or towing vehicle although it is equally effective when used in a single vehicle.
189 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An automatic stability control system for a vehicle to prevent swerving and swaying of said vehicle, said system comprising:
- means for sensing lateral acceleration forces acting upon said vehicle to provide low level electrical acceleration signals proportional to the magnitude of said forces, means for amplifying said low level acceleration signals to provide large amplitude brake control signals proportional to the magnitude of the forces, and brake means associated with said vehicle including right and left brakes and responsive to said brake control signals to simultaneously actuate said right and left brakes in an equal gradual and continuous mode to prevent swaying and swerving of said vehicle, said sensing means including a force responsive mass oriented to sense lateral acceleration and provide by strain gauge sensor means instantaneous response upon sensing lateral acceleration.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An automatic stability control system for a vehicle to prevent swerving and swaying of said vehicle, said system comprising:
- means for sensing lateral acceleration forces acting upon said vehicle to provide low level electrical acceleration signals proportional to the magnitude of said forces, means for amplifying said low level acceleration signals to provide large amplitude brake control signals proportional to the magnitude of the forces, and brake means associated with said vehicle including right and left brakes and responsive to said brake control signals to simultaneously actuate said right and left brakes in an equal gradual and continuous mode to prevent swaying and swerving of said vehicle and additional means responsive to actuation of the primary hydraulic brake system to effect actuation of said brake means under predetermined conditions independent of said lateral acceleration forces.
- View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
Specification