Level warning device

• US 4,737,759 A
• Filed: 08/29/1986
• Issued: 04/12/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Transgard Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Transgard Incorporated
• Inventors: Stropkay, Edward J., Boucher, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, James L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUMM, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US06/901,590
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52 H, 340/689, 340/539, 340/58, 298/22 R, 298/1 R, 200/61.5, 200/61.52, 200/61.83, 200/DIG. 29, 250/222.1, 250/229, 250/231 R, 33/365, 33/366, 180/282, 455/99
• US Class Current: 340/440
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/026 Heavy duty trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2600/04 Means for informing, instructing or displaying
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/912 Attitude Control; levelling control
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0233 Vehicle tilting, overturning or roll over

Abstract

A level warning device for dump trucks comprises a light transmissive tubular trackway having raised, closed ends and a mount for securing the tubular trackway to a transverse member of the bed of the truck. The trackway includes a detent at a central location which defines a pocket lateral of the passage defined within the trackway. The trackway itself comprises straight, tubular segments which are inclined with respect to a horizontal axis at angles equal to the critical angle at which the truck would likely start to turn over. Positioned above a central region of the trackway is a photo-electric switch. Optically aligned with the photo-electric switch from below the trackway is an element for emitting an infra-red beam through the tubular element. A ball which is sized to roll freely in the trackway and the pocket is held within the detent pocket while the bed is in a lowered position by reason of the inclination of the detent at such conditions. While in the pocket, a portion of the ball prevents the beam from striking the photo-electric switch.

Claims

1. A level warning arrangement for vehicles with raisable beds, which arrangement provides a warning if the bed tilts laterally beyond a critical angle when the bed is raised, said arrangement comprising:

a light transmissive tubular trackway comprising inclined straight tubular segments joined together at a central region of said trackway and inclined oppositely from each other at angles substantially equal to said critical angle and a detent at said central region, said detent transversely disposed to said inclined segments, said detent defining a pocket lateral of said tubular trackway, said trackway substantially free of liquid;

a ball capable of translating into and out of said pocket and within said tubular segments under the influence of gravity;

photo-electric means for detecting movement of said ball away from said central region;

a warning indicator controlled by said photo-electric means; and

means for mounting said tubular trackway to said bed so that said trackway segments may extend transversely with respect to said bed with said detent being inclined downwardly with respect to a longitudinal axis of said bed;

wherein said photo-electric means includes a beam source and a photo-electric switch arranged with the beam source as a single unit, said unit located in proximity of said central region so that when said ball is positioned at said central region including said detent, said ball reflects output of said beam source toward said photo-electric switch, said photo-electric switch activating said warning indicator whenever said switch fails to receive output of said beam source.

2. A level warning arrangement for vehicles with raisable beds, which arrangement provides a warning if the bed tilts laterally beyond a critical angle when the bed is raised, said arrangement comprising:

a light transmissive tubular trackway comprising inclined straight tubular segments joined together at a central region of said trackway and inclined oppositely from each other at angles substantially equal to said critical angle and a detent at said central region, said detent transversely disposed to said inclined segments, said detent defining a pocket lateral of said tubular trackway, said trackway substantially free of liquid;

a ball capable of translating into and out of said pocket and within said tubular segments under the influence of gravity;

photo-electric means for detecting movement of said ball away from said central region;

a warning indicator controlled by said photo-electric means; and

means for mounting said tubular trackway to said bed so that said trackway segments may extend transversely with respect to said bed with said detent being inclined downwardly with respect to a longitudinal axis of said bed, said mounting means including a tray for supporting said trackway and said photo-electric means in a fixed relationship with respect to each other, said mounting means also including means for adjusting the orientation of said tray, whereby the inclination of said detent may be adjusted.

3. The arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tray is enclosed within a housing.

4. The arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein said warning indicator is enclosed within said housing.

5. A level warning arrangement for vehicles having a raisable bed, said arrangement comprising:

a tubular trackway having upwardly inclined segments joined together at a first location along said trackway, said trackway substantially free of liquid;

a detent extending from said trackway at said first location along said tubular element, said detent defining a pocket lateral of said lateral trackway;

a ball capable of translating under the influence of gravity into and out of said pocket and within said tubular trackway;

a warning indicator;

means for actuating said warning indicator responsive to absence of said ball from said first location and said detent, said actuating means including a trackway which is light transmissive, an emitter adapted to emit a beam of radiation transversely through said trackway in proximity of said first location and a photo-electric switch positioned to receive said beam, said warning indicator operatively connected to photo-electric switch, said emitter and the photo-electric switch are within a single unit, said photoelectric switch remaining open whenever said switch is sturck by a portion of said beam reflected off said ball; and

means for mounting said trackway to said bed so that said trackway segments may extend transversely with respect to said bed with said detent being inclined downwardly with respect to a longitudinal axis of said bed.