Motor vehicle stability monitoring and alarm system and method

A method for providing a warning of a potentially unsafe condition existing within a motor vehicle moving at a speed, said vehicle of the type including left and right front wheels each rotating at an angular velocity in contact with a road surface, said left and right front wheels supporting said motor vehicle on said road surface, said method including the following steps:

• (a) measuring a first time interval relating to the angular velocity of said left front wheel;
• (b) measuring a second time interval relating to the angular velocity of said right front wheel;
• (c) determining the difference between said first and second time intervals;
• and
• (d) generating an alarm if said determined difference exceeds a threshold level.

A method for providing a indication of loss of front wheel traction of a moving large motor vehicle of the type including left and right front wheels each rotating at an angular velocity, said left and right front wheels rotating in contact with a road surface and supporting said vehicle, said method including the following steps:

• (a) measuring the angular velocity of said left front wheel;
• (b) measuring the angular velocity of said right front wheel;
• (c) measuring the speed of said vehicle;
• (d) generating a threshold level related to a maximum theoretical difference between said vehicle left and right front wheel angular velocities attributable to said vehicle transversing a curved path at said vehicle speed in response to said measured vehicle speed;
• (e) determining the difference between said left and right front wheel measured angular velocities;
• and
• (f) generating an output signal if said determined difference exceeds said generated threshold level.

A method for providing an indication of the stability of a moving motor vehicle of the type including first and second front wheels which rotate nominally in synchronization with one another and further including first and second rear wheels supporting a load, said front and rear wheels having tires mounted thereon for rotating in contact with a road surface, said front and rear wheels supporting said motor vehicle on said road surface said method comprising the following steps:

• (a) monitoring desynchronization between said first and second front wheels;
• (b) monitoring the distribution of forces exerted by said load on said first and second rear wheels;
• (c) monitoring the speed said vehicle;
• (d) generating an alarm if said monitored desynchronization of said first and second front wheels exceeds a threshold level responsive to said monitored speed, including the step of testing, in response to an amount of desynchronization between said front wheels, if said monitored desynchronization is caused by said motor vehicle transversing a curved path and inhibiting said alarm generation if said testing step reveals said vehicle is transversing said curved path;
• and
• (e) generating an alarm in response to said monitored forces distribution if said force exerted by said load on one of said first and second rear wheels is substantially different from the force exerted by said load on the other of said first and second rear wheels.

A method for monitoring the stability of a motor vehicle of the type including left and right front wheels each having a rotational velocity and left and right rear wheels supporting a motor vehicle as said vehicle moves along a road surface, said vehicle carrying a load, said method comprising:

• (a) sensing a first parameter related to force exerted by said load on said left rear wheel;
• (b) sensing a further parameter related to force exerted by said load on said right rear wheel;
• (c) comparing said sensed first and second parameters and generating a first signal if said sensed first and second parameters are substantially different from one another;
• (d) sensing the rotational velocity of said left front wheel;
• (e) sensing the rotational velocity of said right front wheel;
• (f) generating a second signal if said sensed right front wheel rotational velocity is substantially different from said sensed left front wheel rotational velocity;
• and
• (g) providing an audible and/or visual warning in response to said first and second signals.

Apparatus for providing a warning of a potentially unsafe condition existing within a motor vehicle of the type including left and right front wheels each rotating at an angular velocity and supporting said motor vehicle as it moves along a road surface, said apparatus including:

• first timing means operative coupled to said left front wheel for measuring a first time interval relating to the angular velocity of said left front wheel;
• second timing means operatively coupled to said right front wheel for measuring a second time interval relating to the angular velocity of said right front wheel;
• means connected to aid first and second timing means for determining the difference between said first and second time intervals;
• and
• means connected to said determining means for generating an alarm if said determined difference exceeds a threshold level.

Apparatus for providing a indication of loss of front wheel traction of a moving large motor vehicle of the type including left and right front wheels for supporting said motor vehicle as it moves along a road surface, said wheels having tires contacting said road surface mounted thereon, said apparatus comprising:

• first measuring means operatively coupled to said left front wheel for measuring the angular velocity of said left front wheel;
• second measuring means operatively coupled to said right front wheel for measuring the angular velocity of said right front wheel;
• speed measuring means operatively coupled to said vehicle for measuring a parameter related to the speed of said vehicle;
• means connected to receive said measured vehicle speed parameter for generating a threshold level related to a maximum theoretical difference between said vehicle left and right front wheel angular velocities attributable to said vehicle transversing a curved path at said vehicle speed in response to said measured vehicle speed parameter;
• means connected to said first and second measuring means for determining the difference between said left and right front wheel measured angular velocities;
• and
• means connected to said determining means and to said threshold generating means for generating an output signal if said determined difference exceeds said generated threshold level.

Apparatus for providing an indication of the stability of a moving motor vehicle of the type including first and second front wheels and further including first and second rear wheels rotatably supporting a motor vehicle carrying a load as said;

• motor vehicle moves along a road surface, said wheels each having a tire mounted thereon, said tires rotatably contacting said road surface, said apparatus comprising:
• desynchronization monitoring means operatively coupled to said first and second front wheels for monitoring an amount of desynchronization between said first and second front wheels;
• force distribution monitoring means operatively coupled to the rear of said vehicle for monitoring the distribution of forces exerted by said load on said first and second rear wheels;
• means coupled to said vehicle for monitoring the speed said vehicle;
• first alarm generating means connected to said desynchronization monitoring means and to said speed monitoring means for generating an alarm if said monitored desynchronization of said first and second front wheels exceeds a threshold level signal responsive to said monitored speed, including means responsive to said monitored amount of desynchronization for testing if said monitored amount of desynchronization is caused by said motor vehicle traversing a curved path and for inhibiting said alarm generation of said testing reveals said desynchronization is caused by said vehicle traversing said curved path;
• and
• second alarm generating means connected to said force distribution monitoring means for generating an alarm in response to said monitored forces distribution if said force exerted by said load on one of said first and second rear wheels is substantially different from the force exerted by said load on the other of said first and second rear wheels.

Apparatus for providing an indication of the stability of a moving motor vehicle of the type including first and second front wheels and further including first and second rear wheels supporting said motor vehicle as said vehicle moves along a road surface, said wheels having tires mounted thereon, said tires rotating in contact with said road surface, said motor vehicle carrying a load, said apparatus comprising:

• desynchronization monitoring means operatively coupled to said first and second front wheels for monitoring the degree of desynchronization between said first and second front wheels, said desynchronization monitoring means including:
• sensing means operatively connected to said first front wheel for generating a first pulse train at a rate responsive to the rotation rate of said first front wheel, and
• interrupt processing means, connected to receive said first pulse train, for timing the intervals between successive pulses in said first pulse train, including means for ignoring pulses in said first train which occur less than a preset time period after immediately preceding pulses in said pulse train;
• means coupled to said vehicle for monitoring the speed said vehicle;
• and
• alarm generating means connected to said desynchronization monitoring means and to said speed monitoring means for generating an alarm if said monitored degree of desynchronization of said first and second front wheels exceeds a threshold level responsive to said monitored speed.

Apparatus for providing an indication of the stability of a moving motor vehicle of the type including first and second front wheels having tires mounted thereon and further including first and second rear wheels also having tires mounted thereon, said tires supporting a load, said apparatus comprising:

• desynchronization monitoring means operatively coupled to said first and second front wheels for monitoring the degree of desynchronization between said first and second front wheels, said desynchronization monitoring means including:
• sensing means operatively connected to said first front wheel for generating a first pulse train at a rate responsive to the rotation rate of said first front wheel, and
• interrupt processing means, connected to receive said first pulse train, for timing the intervals between successive pulses in said first pulse train, including means for determining whether more than one successively timed interval are less than a predetermined minimum time interval and for generating an enabling signal in response to said determination;
• and
• alarm generating means connected to said desynchronization monitoring means and to said interrupt processing means monitoring means for generating an alarm if said monitored degree of desynchronization of said first and second front wheels exceeds a threshold level and said enabling signal is present.

Apparatus for providing an indication of the stability of a moving motor vehicle of the type including first and second front wheels having tires mounted thereon and further including first and second rear wheels also having tires thereon and supporting a load, said apparatus comprising:

• force distribution monitoring means operatively coupled to the rear of said vehicle for monitoring the force exerted by said load on said first rear wheel;
• rolling averaging means connected to receive said monitored force for generating a rolling average value of said monitored force, said rolling average value responsive to an average previously generated by said averaging means and also responsive to said monitored force;
• and
• alarm generating means connected to said rolling averaging means for generating an alarm if said average value distribution at least in part indicates said force exerted by said load on one of said first and second rear wheels is substantially different from the force exerted by said load on the other of said first and second rear wheels.

Apparatus for providing an indication of the stability of a moving motor vehicle of the type including first and second front wheels having tires mounted thereon and further including first and second rear wheels also having tires thereon and supporting a load, said apparatus comprising:

• desynchronization monitoring means operatively coupled to said first and second front wheels for monitoring the degree of desynchronization between said first and second front wheels;
• force distribution monitoring means operatively coupled to the rear of said vehicle for monitoring the distribution of forces exerted by said load on said first and second rear wheels;
• and
• alarm generating means connected to said desynchronization monitoring means and to said force distribution monitoring means for:
• generating an alarm if said monitored degree of desynchronization of said first and second front wheels exceeds a threshold level,
• generating an alarm in response to said monitored forces distribution if said force exerted by said load on one of said first and second rear wheels is substantially different from the force exerted by said load on the other of said first and second rear wheels, and
• silencing any alarm generated for more than a predetermined time period.

An arrangement for monitoring the rate of rotation of a rotating wheel of a moving motor vehicle, comprising:

• ferromagnetic target means disposed on said wheel;
• inductive proximity sensing means for producing an output whenever said target moves into proximity therewith;
• and
• mounting bracket means disposed on said motor vehicle for retaining said sensing means in a substantially fixed position relative to said wheel, said mounting bracket means comprising:
• base mounting plate means for coupling to said vehicle, said base mounting plate means including means for defining a central hole therethrough so as to permit a kingpin grease fitting to extend through said plate means, said base mounting plate means further including a mounting tab having a hole therethrough;
• elongated bracket means for coupling to said base mounting plate means, said bracket means including means for defining an elongated slot therein;
• fastening means passing through said tab hole and through said elongated slot for connecting said bracket means to said tab and for permitting the position of said bracket means to be adjusted relative to the position of said base mounting plate means;
• and
• sensor mounting bracket means fastened to said elongated bracket means for retaining said sensing means in close proximity to said wheel.

A method for providing a warning of potentially unsafe and hazardous loss of traction and/or other conditions existing with respect to wheels of a motor vehicle, said motor vehicle of the type that moves along a road surface at a speed and includes first and second tires rotatably mounted on a common axle, said first and second tires supporting said motor vehicle as said vehicle moves along said road surface, said first tire and said second tire each for rotating in contact with said road surface at rates nominally proportional to the speed of said vehicle, said method including the following steps:

• (a) producing a first electrical signal responsive to the rate at which said first tire rotates;
• (b) producing a further electrical signal responsive to the rate at which said second tire rotates;
• (c) determining, in response to said first and further electrical signals, the difference between the rate at which said first time rotates and the rate at which said second tire rotates;
• (d) measuring the speed said motor vehicle is moving;
• (e) generating a threshold signal having a level responsive to said measured motor vehicle speed;
• and
• (f) providing an alarm if said determined difference exceeds said threshold level, said alarm indicating that at least one of said first and second tires is slipping with respect to said road surface.

A method for providing a warning of potentially unsafe and hazardous loss of tire traction existing with respect to a motor vehicle, said motor vehicle of the type that moves along a road surface at a speed and including first and second tires rotatably mounted thereon, said first and second tires supporting said motor vehicle as said vehicle moves along said road surface, said first tire and said second tire each for rotating in contact with said road surface at rates nominally proportional to the speed of said vehicle, said method including the following steps:

• (a) producing a first electrical signal responsive to the rate at which said first tire rotates;
• (b) producing a further electrical signal responsive to the rate at which said second tire rotates;
• (c) generating, in response to said first and further electrical signals, a difference signal proportional to the difference between the rate at which said first tire rotates and the rate at which said second tire rotates;
• (d) measuring the speed said motor vehicle is moving;
• (e) generating a threshold signal having a level responsive to a maximum curvature radius said motor vehicle is capable of turning through at said measured motor vehicle speed;
• and
• (f) generating an alarm if said determined difference exceeds said threshold level, said alarm indicating that at least one of said first and second tires is slipping with respect to said road surface.