Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2180874
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an automatic operable tool to sign a warning for the
imbalance of automobile in dangerous turns and at the time of abrupt stops and
sudden
application of brakes. Whenever one feels danger, there are certain reactions,
which are
shown automatically at the time of driving a motor vehicle. Such automatic
reactions are
as follow:
1. Application of abrupt brake and looking to the front mirror to ensure that
the vehicles
behind have kept sufficient distance, noticed the abrupt brake, and stop.
2. Veering of the automobile to left or right; because of some obstruction
appearing
suddenly in front of the vehicle; or similar situation develops when a tire
suddenly
bursts while driving at a high speed, when again the driver immediately looks
up in
the front or the side mirror to ensure that vehicles are warned of the abrupt
stop or
slipping and when automatically the driver may shake his hands to warn the
other
driver proceeding close behind him.
In the situation mentioned above, the lights of the automobile work only when
pressure is applied to the brake pedal. When the brake lights start working,
more
danger would be caused the approaching drivers are not aware how hard the
pedals
have been applied.
How much time may be required to switch on the warning lights or flash lights
and to put up a warning sign on the road at emergencies? How much time will a
driver need to warn the other driver of the vehicle behind him to overcome a
fatal
accident in just a few seconds? This device would be ideal for busy rush hour
driving
_ 2't 80874
when some motorists may be traveling at 80-110 km/h while others are at a
complete
stop position in a backed up traffic. Many drivers are not exactly aware of
the time
that is required to bring a vehicle to a complete stop when driving behind
another
vehicle in highways. The average time that is necessary to atop a vehicle is
directly
related to the velocity, road conditions, and the reaction time of the driver.
A vehicle
that can be stopped in approximately 12 m when driving at 30 km/h will require
approximately 35 m to stop at 65 km/h. At 110 km/h the vehicle will require
approximately 85 m to stop, almost the length of a football field. Note that
these
figures are based when vehicle is ridden on a smooth and dry pavement.
Such reactions as the double response always take time. It is obvious that the
time
available to choose any alternative action in items mentioned above is quite
short.
When the brake lights turn on it is no different from an ordinary brake light,
which
does not indicate such grave and imminent emergencies. Reaction time plays a
significant role in order to determine stopping distance. This is the time
required for
the person to visually identify the problem and react to it by applying
pressure to the
brake pedal. A vehicle would travel approximately 6 m before the brakes are
applied
when moving at 30 km/h. When a vehicle travels at 145 km/h it would move
approximately 28 m before the brakes are applied and the total distance needed
to
bring the vehicle to full stop is approximately 138 m. This example stresses
the
importance of the reaction time and installation of Automatic Hazard Signal
Alarm
would assist motorists to react on time and avoid preventable collisions.
3
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y
2180874
SUMMARY OF THE INVENSTION
This invention is a safety mechanism for providing motorists with a visual
alert
signal in the event of sudden imbalance of automobile in dangerous turns, at
the time of
abrupt stops, burst of a tire while driving at a high speed or sudden
application of brakes.
The visual warning grants drivers plenty of time to react to the warning
signal and hence
avoid the possible accident.
The brake lights of an automobile works when pressure is applied to the brake
pedal. However, the approaching vehicles are not provided with any indication
of how
hard the brakes are pushed. The proposed system, Automatic Hazard Signal
Alarm,
overcomes the above shortcoming. The flashing warning lights would provide
motorists
with a clear indication that another vehicle is encountering a somewhat
dangerous
situation. This system would automatically start flashing the signal lights on
both sides of
the vehicle. As a special warning sign, flashing would be distinctively
different from the
normal brake lights. The flashing lights would attract added attention so
other motorists
in the vicinity of the vehicle would be warned about the potential hazard or
danger. This
would assist motorists to react on time and prevent rear-end collision,
injuries and
fatalities.
The methodology for this design is based on the imbalance of the car due to
veering off to the side or abrupt stop of the vehicle. The system senses the
imbalance and
sends a distress signal to all the break lights of the car with a specific
frequency. The
flashing signal lights will be stopped within a pre-defined length of time.
4
2180874
It is an object of the invention to provide a safety mechanism for motorists,
Comprising:
a mechanical part, and
an electronic part cooperating with the mechanical part, where the
mechanical part comprises:
a container; and
four cylinders enclosed within the container where first, second
and third cylinder operate generally in a plane parallel to a surface on which
the vehicle is
traveling and a fourth cylinder is operating in a plane perpendicular to the
surface of
traveling of the vehicle; and electronic part consists of:
four magnetic switches, each switch associated with each of the
four cylinders,
a relay;
a timer; and
a flasher signal; where each cylinder contains a magnetic piston,
that co-operates with the magnetic switch associated with the cylinder; each
piston being
flexibly adjustable within desired limits of sensitivity.
The invention provides also a process of activating the device, comprising:
a) Sliding of a magnetic piston within any of four cylinders contained
in the system, in response to a sudden braking or swerving of the vehicle;
~) 21 8087
b) Magnetic coupling of the piston with a magnetic switch, the switch
being located on an exterior wall of the cylinder;
c) Closing of a particular electric circuit connected to the switch;
d) Causing a signal in response to the flasher of the electric circuit;
e) Relating the signal simultaneously to a relay and to timer ; and
f) Causing an activation of a flasher light.
21 80874
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig 1 illustrates main features of the inventive device.
Fig 2 illustrates top view of the device.
Fig 3 illustrates side view of the device.
Fig 4 illustrates electrical circuit cooperating with mechanical part of the
device
shown in Fig l, and
Fig 5 shows placements of the device in a mid-end section of the vehicle.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE MECHANICAL SYSTEM
The embodiments of the mechanical system, together with the electronic circuit
are illustrated in the Figure 1. This system contain four cylinders of which
three cylinders
l, 2, 3 are connected together horizontally on one side. The cylinder 4 is
perpendicular to
the plane of the other cylinders. The orientation of the three horizontal
cylinders 1, 2, 3 is
best presented in the Figure 2. In this design the length of each cylinder is
from 12 to 14
cm with a diameter of 2 cm. Of the three horizontal cylinders, cylinder 1 must
be
mounted on the rear-front axis of the vehicle. This cylinder is responsible
for sensing the
impacts in the event of sudden application of brakes or crashing of the car
against any
obstruction. The horizontal cylinders 2 and 3 are placed at 65-70°of
the axis of the
cylinder 1 (angle a in Figure 2). The cylinders 2 and 3 sense any imbalances
in fast turns
or sudden change of path, to the right or the left. Figure 3 shows the
perpendicularity of
the cylinder 4(angle ~3) in with respect to the horizontal cylinders l, 2, 3.
The cylinder 4 is
7
_ _ 21 80874
designed to sense the vertical motion for rough shoulders of roads, uneven
roads and in
the case of passing an invisible speed bumper. Placements of the cylinders l,
2, 3, 4 are
also depicted in the mid-end section of the automobile in Figure 5. A list of
mechanical
components, from Figures 1, 2 and 3, is presented in the following table.
Part No. Description
1 - 4 Cylinders
- 8 Magnetic Pistons
9 - 12 Springs
13 - 16 Regulating Screws
1751 - ~ Magnetic Switches
1754
Each cylinder holds a magnetic piston with one end attached to a spring. The
spring is in-turn attached to the end of the cylinder through a regulating
screw. Magnetic
switches are attached to the exterior end surface each cylinders 1, 2, 3, 4.
Magnetic
pistons move in the axis of the cylinders, whereby magnetic switches detect
excessive
travel and complete the circuit to activate the "Automatic Hazard Signal
Alarm". The
regulating screws 13, 14, 15 and 16 specify the sensitivity of the system. The
connection
of the regulating screw to the spring is such that the rotation of the
regulating screw only
changes the initial position of the spring. These screws determine limits of
movement for
the magnetic pistons 5, 6, 7 and 8 in various makes of vehicles. The
sensitivity of the
system varies directly with the length of adjusting screws and cylinders.
Increasing the
length of the adjusting screws and cylinders can increase the sensitivity.
This control
would depend on the make of the vehicle and traffic regulations. The magnetic
switch is
connected when the magnetic piston is pushed down in direction of the
cylinder. A timer
and a relay in the electronic circuit activate the system, then the signal
lights on both sides
8
2180874
of the car will start to flash. The springs 9, 10, I 1 and 12 reverse the
magnetic pistons 5,
6, 7 and 8 in order to prepare the system to reactivate.
All four cylinders are contained on one specific container and could be
offered in
a "Do it yourself" kit for installation on after market vehicles. It could
also be offered as
standard or optional equipment in the new vehicles. The system could be
produced easily
by conventional and readily available materials and manufacturing processes,
no
production technology would be required.
All cylinders and regulating screws could be made of an anti-static PVC
material, the
magnetic pistons could be made from stainless steel and the metal springs,
connected to
the magnetic piston, would be galvanized or made from plastic material. All
connecting
cylinders would be kept in an isolated container.
9
~_ 2~eo8~4
DESCRIPTION OF THE ELECTRONICS CIRCUIT
The electronic system consists of four sections; magnetic switches, relay,
flasher
and timer. Figure 4 illustrates the electronic circuit of the system (marked
as 17 in Figures
1, 2 and 3) and connection of the above four sections. A list of electronics
components is
presented as follows:
Resistors R1 4.7 KS2
R2 56 KS2
R3 2.2 KS2
R4 1 MS2
RS 10 KS2
R6 33 K~
R7 3.3 KS2
R8 470 KS2
R9 470 KS2
Potentiometers P1 5 M,~
P2 1.8 MS2
P3 20 KS2
Capacitor (ceramic)C2 222 mf
C3 223 mf
C4 473 mf
Capacitor (electrolytic)C1 100 mf
CS 330 mf
Diodes D in4148
1
D2 in4001
D3 in4001
Transistor TR 2SC945B
1
IC IC NE 555
1
Relay H200F 12
The four magnetic switches 17S 1-1752-1753-1754 are connected in parallel by
wire 18 in figure 1 and 2. The connector relay in the electronic circuit
contains a
transistor TRI, a 12-volt relay and a diode, D 1. When the system is activated
the exit
~.21808~'4
voltage goes to one of the main outputs A-B or B-C in figure 4. The signal
lights of the
vehicle, which are connected to one of the two relay outputs then, activate.
This output
has the appropriate voltage to activate the signal lights. The activation time
of the system
is set by the potentiometer Pl. A common negative voltage throughout the
system and a
transferable voltage from the two relay outputs construct the flasher of the
system. The
electronic circuit input consists of a negative and two positive voltages. The
two diodes
D2 and D3 in the positive input prevent the error in the receiving voltages.
The timer is
the fourth section of the electronic circuit. The timer consists of the IC
555, which is in
direct contact with the potentiometers P2 and P3, the resistance R3 and the
capacitors C2,
C3, and C4. The potentiometers P 1 and P2 determine the time of A-B and B-C,
respectively. The capacitors C2, C3, and C4 control the activation time of the
system. The
activation of the magnetic switch of each piston causes the timer to start.
The timer would
activate the relay and the flasher at the same time. The duration and
frequency of this
process would be adjusted by the timer.
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