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US4273208A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

System for controlling the speed of an automotive vehicle

Assignee: Wabco Fahrzeugbremsen GmbH
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Filing: 1979-04-30
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Granted: 1981-06-16
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Expires: 1999-04-30
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Abstract

Abstract Signals representing actual and desired speeds of a vehicle are separately applied to a plurality of parallel comparator channels or devices. Each comparator device responds to a different level of difference between the speed signals, when actual is greater than desired, to produce output signals at successively higher levels. The first comparator device controls a first deceleration device, e.g., an exhaust throttle, to reduce vehicle speed when an output signal is produced at the first preselected level of difference. The second and third comparator devices control the second and third deceleration devices, respectively, e.g., an eddy-current brake, automatic transmission, etc., when each produces an output signal at its preselected difference level, but only if the next lower comparator output has enabled a gate or switch coupling the higher level comparator and deceleration devices. Thus the deceleration control is increased in successive steps as the speed difference increases if each successive deceleration device is actuated in order by the associated comparator.

Inventors

  • 👤 Peter Liermann

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 11:08
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60T; B60T8/00; B60T8/26; B60T8/266; B60T8/267; B60K; B60K31/00; B60K31/0008; B60K31/02; B60K31/04; B60T13/00; B60T13/10; B60T13/66; B60T13/662; B60T7/00; B60T7/12; B60T7/16; B60T7/18; B60T8/17; B60T8/1701; B60T8/1708; B60W; B60W2552/00; B60W2552/15

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.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2035047A Cited
US3460406A Cited
DE2139411A1 Cited
US3947073A Cited
FR2293100A1 Cited
US4133406A Cited
US4106584A Cited
US4166514A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1984-06-15 1984-12-15 1985-06-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1988-06-15 1988-12-15 1989-06-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1992-06-15 1992-12-15 1993-06-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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