Patent US6170594B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6170594B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for reducing vehicle rollover
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1999-06-01
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Granted: 2001-01-09
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Expires: 2019-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A sensor detects force or other indications of an impending rollover of a motorized land vehicle. Upon detection of a threshold force value, the sensor actuates an applicator that delivers traction reducing fluid to the contact patch between at least one of the vehicle tires and the ground. The vehicle is enabled to dissipate the rollover inducing force by sliding laterally in preference to rolling over.
Inventors
- 👤 Micky G. Gilbert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:24
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R16/00; B60R16/02; B60R16/023; B60R16/0231; B60R16/0232; B60R16/0233; B60G; B60G2800/00; B60G2800/90; B60G2800/91; B60G2800/912; B60G2800/9124; B60R21/00; B60R2021/0002; B60R2021/0018; B60R21/01; B60R21/013; B60T; B60T2230/00; B60T2230/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus for reducing the danger of vehicle rollover under conditions of steering induced lateral force applied to a moving land vehicle having front and rear ends, at least a first pair of steerable, ground engaging tires located in a front position and a second pair of ground engaging tires located in a rear position, comprising: a fluid capable of reducing traction of a ground engaging tire when the fluid is applied to the contact patch of the tire with the underlying ground; a reservoir containing a volume of said fluid; an applicator, selectively activatable between active and inactive modes, when in active mode delivering fluid from the reservoir to the proximity of the contact patch of at least one of the ground engaging tires; control means for sensing a rollover predictive factor effecting the vehicle and activating the applicator to active mode in response to detection of at least a preselected value of the rollover predictive factor; whereby the vehicle is enabled to dissipate the lateral force by sliding laterally.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus for reducing the danger of vehicle rollover under conditions of steering induced lateral force applied to a moving land vehicle having front and rear ends, at least a first pair of steerable, ground engaging tires located in a front position and a second pair of ground engaging tires located in a rear position, comprising: a fluid capable of reducing traction of a ground engaging tire when the fluid is applied to the contact patch of the tire with the underlying ground; a reservoir containing a volume of said fluid; an applicator, selectively activatable between active and inactive modes, when in active mode delivering fluid from the reservoir to the proximity of the contact patch of at least one of the ground engaging tires; control means for sensing a rollover predictive factor effecting the vehicle and activating the applicator to active mode in response to detection of at least a preselected value of the rollover predictive factor; whereby the vehicle is enabled to dissipate the lateral force by sliding laterally.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said fluid is selected from the group consisting of water, alcohols, glycols, and combinations thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said reservoir comprises: a propellant tank containing a propellant gas under elevated pressure; a fluid tank containing said fluid; and means connecting said propellant tank to said fluid tank for placing the fluid under pressure of said propellant gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said applicator comprises: a valve selectively positionable between open and closed modes; conduit means delivering fluid from said reservoir to said valve; a nozzle connected to said valve, receiving fluid through the valve in open mode, and positioned on the vehicle in proximity to one of said vehicle tires.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said control means comprises an accelerometer measuring lateral acceleration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said control means comprises a three axis accelerometer measuring lateral acceleration, longitudinal acceleration, and vertical acceleration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said control means comprises a means for detecting vehicle roll rate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said control means comprises a means for detecting vehicle yaw rate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said control means comprises a speed sensor detecting lateral and longitudinal vehicle speed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said control comprises height sensors detecting vehicle roll angle relative to the ground.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said vehicle is steered by a steering wheel, and said control means comprises a means for detecting steering wheel angles and steering rates.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said control means comprises: a sensor detecting indications of a rollover predictive factor; and a processor receiving data from said sensor, comparing the data with a preselected threshold value, and activating said applicator when said preselected threshold value is reached.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for reducing the danger of vehicle rollover under application of a steering induced lateral force applied to a moving land vehicle having a front end, a rear end, a pair of steerable and laterally spaced apart front tires, and a pair of laterally spaced apart rear tires, comprising: sensing a rollover predictive factor effecting the vehicle; determining from said sensed factor that a predetermined threshold danger of overturn has been reached; and in response to said determination, applying to a tire contact patch of at least one of the vehicle tires a fluid capable of reducing ground traction of the tire; whereby the vehicle is enabled to dissipate the steering induced lateral force by sliding laterally.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for reducing the danger of vehicle rollover under application of a steering induced lateral force applied to a moving land vehicle having a front end, a rear end, a pair of steerable and laterally spaced apart front tires, and a pair of laterally spaced apart rear tires, comprising: sensing a rollover predictive factor effecting the vehicle; determining from said sensed factor that a predetermined threshold danger of overturn has been reached; and in response to said determination, applying to a tire contact patch of at least one of the vehicle tires a fluid capable of reducing ground traction of the tire; whereby the vehicle is enabled to dissipate the steering induced lateral force by sliding laterally.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein: said step of sensing the rollover predictive factor further comprises sensing an anticipated lateral direction of rollover; and said step of applying fluid further comprises applying fluid to a tire on the lateral side of the vehicle in the anticipated lateral direction of rollover.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein said step of applying fluid further comprises: applying fluid to all tires on the lateral side of the vehicle in the anticipated lateral direction of rollover.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-01-09 | 2004-07-10 | 2005-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-01-09 | 2008-07-10 | 2009-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-01-09 | 2012-07-10 | 2013-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |