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US5350035A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Antihydroplaning system for a motor vehicle

Assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
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Filing: 1992-05-11
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Granted: 1994-09-27
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Expires: 2012-05-11
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Abstract

Abstract This invention relates to a vehicle comprising an antihydroplaning system, particularly for improving the wheel adhesion despite the presence of a sheet of water on the road. Output signals from sensors for detecting body and chassis vibrations, ambient temperature and other parameters are analyzed to determine when hydroplaning is occurring or about to occur, and to activate antihydroplaning measures.

Inventors

  • 👤 Rudiger Bodier
  • 👤 Hartmut Schmidt

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 23:05
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B39/00; B60B39/02; B60B39/021; B60B39/025; B60B39/04; B60B39/10; B60T; B60T2210/00; B60T2210/10; B60T2210/13

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 193 words
An antihydroplaning system for improving wheel adhesion of a motor vehicle, having at least one wheel with a tire, a fuel supply, an engine an da steering booster, in the presence of water on a road surface, comprising: a first sensor for generating first signals indicative of ambient temperature of the vehicle surroundings; a second sensor for generating second signals indicative of chassis vibration; a third sensor for generating third signals indicative of vibration of at least a part of a vehicle body which can be influenced by water splashed from a road surface; a fourth sensor for generating fourth signals indicative of rotational speed and slippage of wheels of said vehicle; electronic means for analyzing and evaluating said first, second, third and fourth signals and for generating output signals; a computer coupled to receive said output signals from said electronic means; and wheel adhesion means for mechanically displacing a water layer on said road surface in front of wheels of said vehicle by means of a mass jet; said wheel adhesion means being controlled over time by said computer in response to a logical analysis of output signals from said electronic means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 193 words
An antihydroplaning system for improving wheel adhesion of a motor vehicle, having at least one wheel with a tire, a fuel supply, an engine an da steering booster, in the presence of water on a road surface, comprising: a first sensor for generating first signals indicative of ambient temperature of the vehicle surroundings; a second sensor for generating second signals indicative of chassis vibration; a third sensor for generating third signals indicative of vibration of at least a part of a vehicle body which can be influenced by water splashed from a road surface; a fourth sensor for generating fourth signals indicative of rotational speed and slippage of wheels of said vehicle; electronic means for analyzing and evaluating said first, second, third and fourth signals and for generating output signals; a computer coupled to receive said output signals from said electronic means; and wheel adhesion means for mechanically displacing a water layer on said road surface in front of wheels of said vehicle by means of a mass jet; said wheel adhesion means being controlled over time by said computer in response to a logical analysis of output signals from said electronic means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 71 words
Antihydroplaning system according to claim 1, wherein said computer has stored therein a characteristic diagram defining conditions indicative of hydroplaning of said vehicle, said computer comparing at least one of said first, second, third and fourth signals with said characteristic diagram to determine whether said at least one of said first, second, third and fourth signals fall within said conditions, and initiating an acoustic warning for a driver of said vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
An antihydroplaning system according to claim 2, wherein the antihydroplaning system initiates a controlled braking by throttling the fuel supply of the vehicle engine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 15 words
An antihydroplaning system according to claim 2, wherein said third sensor is an acoustic sensor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
An antihydroplaning system according to claim 2, wherein the second sensor comprises means for detecting hydroplaning of the tire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
An antihydroplaning system according to claim 1, wherein the antihydroplaning system initiates a controlled braking by throttling the fuel supply of the vehicle engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
An antihydroplaning system according to claim 6, wherein said third sensor is an acoustic sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
An antihydroplaning system according to claim 1, wherein said third sensor is an acoustic sensor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
An antihydroplaning system according to claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises means for detecting hydroplaning of the tire.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 37 words
An antihydroplaning system according to claim 9, wherein a frequency analyzer is operatively connected with said means for detecting hydroplaning, and said means for detecting hydroplaning comprises an acoustic sensor assigned to an axle of the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 29 words
An antihydroplaning system according to claim 10, wherein the frequency analyzer detects both amplitude and phase changes of at least one of said first, second and third output signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 23 words
An antihydroplaning system according to claim 9, wherein said means for detecting hydroplaning comprise an optical sensor for detecting curvature of said tire.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 14 words
Antihydroplaning system according to claim 1, wherein said mass jet comprises a gas jet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 14 words
Antihydroplaning system according to claim 1, wherein said mass jet comprises a liquid jet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 15 words
Antihydroplaning system according to claim 1, wherein said mass jet comprises a jet of particles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 68 words
Antihydroplaning system according to claim 1, wherein said computer has stored therein a characteristic diagram defining conditions indicative of hydroplaning of said vehicle, said computer comparing at least one of said first, second, third and fourth signals with said characteristic diagram to determine whether said at least one of said first, second, third and fourth signals fall within said conditions, and initiating remedial measures to reduce said hydroplaning.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 31 words
An antihydroplaning system according to claim 16, wherein said steering booster of said vehicle is switched off by the antihydroplaning system simultaneously with initiation of said remedial measures to reduce hydroplaning.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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WO1987000126A1 Cited
JPS62299435A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1997-09-26 1998-03-28 1998-09-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2001-09-26 2002-03-28 2002-09-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2005-09-26 2006-03-28 2006-09-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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