# US 11,077,877 B1 · Rollover prevention apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,877 B1 - Document ID: US11077877B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/384,506 - Filed: 2019-04-15 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2010-08-31 - Applicants: Michael R. Schramm - Inventors: Michael R. Schramm - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077877B1 ## CPC - B62D 6/002: {computing target steering angles for front or rear wheels (B62D7/159 takes precedence)} - B62D 1/16: Steering columns - B62D 5/005: {means for generating torque on steering wheel or input member, e.g. feedback} - B62D 6/008: {Control of feed-back to the steering input member, e.g. simulating road feel in steer-by-wire applications} - B62D 15/0215: {by measuring on the steering column} - B62D 15/025: {Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation (B62D1/28 takes precedence)} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract The rollover prevention apparatus defines an adaptive steering range limiting device comprising a control unit and a pair of opposing unidirectional brake assemblies mounted to a steering column position detection disc. The rollover prevention apparatus prevents the steering wheel of the vehicle from being turned beyond the threshold of vehicle rollover, but otherwise does not restrict the rotational range of motion of the steering wheel of a vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rollover prevention apparatus having a mode that allows a vehicle to be steered within a maximal non-rollover steering range of motion of said vehicle but prevents said vehicle from being steered beyond a rollover threshold of said vehicle at any rollover capable speed of said vehicle regardless of the source of an oversteer rotational load applied to a steering wheel of said vehicle, wherein said apparatus transitions from said mode in response to a predetermined application of rotational load to said steering wheel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said source of an oversteer rotational load applied to a steering wheel of said vehicle comprises a human applying an oversteer rotational load to said steering wheel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said predetermined application of rotational load to said steering wheel comprises a non-oversteer rotational load applied to said steering wheel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said source of an oversteer rotational load applied to a steering wheel of said vehicle comprises a human applying an oversteer rotational load to said steering wheel, and wherein said predetermined application of rotational load to said steering wheel comprises a non-oversteer rotational load applied to said steering wheel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein if said vehicle is steered beyond a rollover threshold of said vehicle, said vehicle rolls. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus includes an electronic control unit adapted to send an actuation signal to an actuator when a sensed driving parameter exceeds a predetermined magnitude. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is automatically actuated in response to the speed of said vehicle. ### Claim 8 A rollover prevention apparatus having a mode that allows a vehicle to be steered within a non-rollover steering range of motion of said vehicle but prevents said vehicle from being steered to a point of vehicle roll regardless of the source of a oversteer rotational load applied to a steering wheel of said vehicle, wherein said apparatus transitions from said mode in response to a predetermined application of rotational load to said steering wheel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said source of an oversteer rotational load applied to a steering wheel of said vehicle comprises a human applying an oversteer rotational load to said steering wheel. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said predetermined application of rotational load to said steering wheel comprises a non-oversteer rotational load applied to said steering wheel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said source of an oversteer rotational load applied to a steering wheel of said vehicle comprises a human applying an oversteer rotational load to said steering wheel, and wherein said predetermined application of rotational load to said steering wheel comprises a non-oversteer rotational load applied to said steering wheel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said steering point of vehicle roll varies according to the speed of said vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein if said vehicle is steered beyond a point of vehicle roll, said vehicle rolls. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said apparatus includes an electronic control unit adapted to send an actuation signal to an actuator when a sensed driving parameter exceeds a predetermined magnitude. ### Claim 15 A rollover prevention apparatus that allows a vehicle to be steered within a maximal non-rollover steering range of motion of said vehicle but prevents the turning of a steering wheel of said vehicle from being rotated to a point of causing a rolling wheel of said vehicle being turned to an angular position of vehicle roll at any rollover capable speed of said vehicle regardless of the source of an oversteer rotational load applied to said steering wheel of said vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said source of an oversteer rotational load applied to a steering wheel of said vehicle comprises a human applying an oversteer rotational load to said steering wheel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said predetermined application of rotational load to said steering wheel comprises a non-oversteer rotational load applied to said steering wheel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said source of an oversteer rotational load applied to a steering wheel of said vehicle comprises a human applying an oversteer rotational load to said steering wheel, and wherein said predetermined application of rotational load to said steering wheel comprises a non-oversteer rotational load applied to said steering wheel. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said steering point where said steering wheel causes a rolling wheel of said vehicle to be turned to an angular position of vehicle roll varies according to the speed of said vehicle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein if said rolling wheel of vehicle is turned beyond an angular position point of vehicle roll, said vehicle rolls. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said apparatus includes an electronic control unit adapted to send an actuation signal to an actuator when a sensed driving parameter exceeds a predetermined magnitude.