Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
225 words
A system for controlling the speed of a vehicle, which is provided with service brake apparatus and a plurality of other deceleration devices for reducing vehicle speed, comprising, (a) a speed measuring means responsive to vehicle movement for supplying a first signal representing actual vehicle speed, (b) a source supplying a second signal representing desired vehicle speed, (c) a comparator means having a plurality of channels, each channel associated with a different one of said other deceleration devices and coupled to said speed measuring means and said desired speed source for comparing said first and second signals, said channels generating separate output signals at different preselected levels of difference between said first and second signals, (d) a first comparator channel being coupled for actuating a first other decelerating device when an output signal is produced at the lowest of said preselected difference levels to provide an initial level of additional deceleration of said vehicle, (e) a separate switch means coupled between the second and each higher numbered comparator channel and the associated other deceleration device, and enabled by an output signal from the next lower numbered channel for supplying an output signal from the associated channel to the associated other deceleration device to actuate increasing additional deceleration of said vehicle as successive preselected higher levels of difference between actual and selected speed signals are exceeded.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
225 words
A system for controlling the speed of a vehicle, which is provided with service brake apparatus and a plurality of other deceleration devices for reducing vehicle speed, comprising, (a) a speed measuring means responsive to vehicle movement for supplying a first signal representing actual vehicle speed, (b) a source supplying a second signal representing desired vehicle speed, (c) a comparator means having a plurality of channels, each channel associated with a different one of said other deceleration devices and coupled to said speed measuring means and said desired speed source for comparing said first and second signals, said channels generating separate output signals at different preselected levels of difference between said first and second signals, (d) a first comparator channel being coupled for actuating a first other decelerating device when an output signal is produced at the lowest of said preselected difference levels to provide an initial level of additional deceleration of said vehicle, (e) a separate switch means coupled between the second and each higher numbered comparator channel and the associated other deceleration device, and enabled by an output signal from the next lower numbered channel for supplying an output signal from the associated channel to the associated other deceleration device to actuate increasing additional deceleration of said vehicle as successive preselected higher levels of difference between actual and selected speed signals are exceeded.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A vehicle speed control system as defined in claim 1, in which, said source of desired speed signal is periodically coupled for receiving a selected speed signal from wayside devices which transmit predetermined speed selections to passing vehicles.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
205 words
A speed control system as defined in claim 1 or 2 in which said comparator means comprises, (a) a first comparator element coupled to said speed measuring means and said source and responsive to the lowest preselected level of difference between said first and second signals for generating an output signal, (1) said first comparator element further coupled for supplying said output signals to actuate said first deceleration device and to enable a first of said switch means associated with said second deceleration device, (b) a second comparator element also coupled to said speed measuring means and said source and responsive to an intermediate preselected level of difference between said first and second signals for supplying an output signal to said first switch means to actuate said second deceleration device and to enable a second switch means associated with said third deceleration device, only when said first switch means is enabled, and (c) a third comparator element coupled to said speed measuring means and said source and responsive to a second higher preselected level of difference between said first and second signals for supplying an output signal to said second switch means to actuate said third deceleration only when said second switch means is enabled.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A speed control system as defined in claim 3 in which, each switch means is an AND gate element coupled for receiving an enabling signal from the next lower order comparator channel and output signals from the associated comparator element.