Safety system for a baggage tractor
AssigneeHi Performance Electric Vehicle Systems, Inc.
InventorBrian Seymour
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A safety system for a baggage tractor is provided that addresses the problems associated with tipping over or flipping of vehicles due to excessive speed around turns. Additionally, the safety system for a baggage tractor is provided that is fully integrated to ease replacement of a combustion engine in a baggage tractors with an electric motor and automated safety control system.
Claims22
A safety system for a baggage tractor having an electric motor connected to a battery for propelling the baggage tractor, the safety system comprising:
- a motor controller connected to the electric motor via a wiring harness;
- a g-force sensor associated with the motor controller and generating g-force data relating to a magnitude of a g-force generated by the movement of the baggage tractor, the data transmitted from said at least one sensor to said motor controller;
- a processor in said motor controller;
- a storage accessible by said processor, said storage having a first and a second g-force threshold value saved thereon, the first and second g-force thresholds defining a range;
- said processor receiving the g-force data generated by the g-force sensor and comparing the g-force data to the first g-force threshold value, wherein when the g-force data equals or exceeds the first g-force threshold value but does not exceed the second g-force threshold value, said processor causes said motor controller to automatically reduce power transmitted from the battery to the electric motor based on the received g-force data laying within the range to thereby cause a reduction in the speed of the baggage tractor, and
- wherein if the g-force data received exceeds the second g-force threshold value, the motor controller will reduce the power transmitted to the electric motor by a maximum selected or programmed amount.
A method of operating a baggage tractor having an electric motor connected to a battery for propelling the baggage tractor, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a motor controller to the electric motor via a wiring harness;
- connecting at least one sensor to a processor;
- generating g-force data with a g-force sensor, the magnitude of the g-force data being related to a g-force acting on the g-force sensor due to the baggage tractor turning;
- transmitting the g-force data from the at least one sensor to the processor;
- providing a first and a second g-force threshold value stored in the storage, the first and second g-force thresholds defining a range,
- comparing the g-force data to the first g-force threshold value saved on a storage and accessible by the processor;
- wherein when the g-force data equals or exceeds the first g-force threshold value but does not exceed the second g-force threshold value, the motor controller automatically reduces power transmitted from the battery to the electric motor based on the received g-force data laying within the range to thereby cause a reduction in the speed of the baggage tractor;
- and
- wherein if the g-force data received exceeds the second g-force threshold value, the motor controller will reduce the power transmitted to the electric motor by a maximum selected or programmed amount.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.