Imminent icing condition enunciator
AssigneeCommercial Vehicle Systems, Inc.
InventorWayne L. Mann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An imminent icing condition detector employs an infrared sensor with a focusing element to receive ambient infrared energy from a surface, particularly a road surface, and the output of the sensor is processed to provide an indication of the likelihood of icing conditions and to accordingly control a traction control substance deployment system, such as a truck that dispenses a de-icing, anti-icing, or traction substance, such as sand, salt, or other material or mixture of materials in solid granular, liquid, or mixed form.
Claims35
An apparatus for controlling the dispensing of a traction substance onto a surface, comprising:
- an infrared sensor for determining the temperature of a surface;
- a traction enhancing substance deployment system;
- and
- a controller in data communication with the infrared sensor and the traction enhancing substance deployment system, the controller determining in accordance with a signal from the infrared sensor whether icing conditions are likely and selectively controlling traction enhancing substance deployment system in accordance with the determination,
- wherein the infrared sensor includes an extraneous radiation shield in shielding arrangement with said infrared sensing means, said shield comprising a terraced structure projecting outwardly from said sensing means for reflecting extraneous infrared radiation outwardly away from said infrared sensing means.
An apparatus for controlling the dispensing of a traction substance onto a surface, comprising:
- an infrared sensor for determining the temperature of a surface;
- a traction enhancing substance deployment system;
- a controller in data communication with the infrared sensor and the traction enhancing substance deployment system, the controller determining in accordance with a signal from the infrared sensor whether icing conditions are likely and selectively controlling traction enhancing substance deployment system in accordance with the determination;
- a contamination sensor for detecting obstruction of the infrared sensing means by contamination;
- and
- an amplifier for providing increased amplification of a signal from said sensing means in response to detection of an increase in obstruction by the contamination sensor.
A method of controlling the dispensing of a traction substance onto a surface to enhance vehicle traction, comprising:
- measuring while traveling over the surface in a vehicle the ambient infrared radiation being radiated from the surface;
- determining from the infrared radiation being radiated from the surface whether icing conditions are likely;
- selectively dispensing a traction control substance onto the surface if icing conditions are likely;
- detecting contamination obstructing the infrared sensor;
- and
- providing increased amplification of a signal from the infrared sensor in response to detection of an increase in contamination obstructing the infrared sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.