Vehicle overturn monitor

A vehicle overturn monitor including a device for providing a continuous display of overturn probability, comprising:

• a critical angle display;
• an operator input device for controlling the critical angle display;
• at least one sensor for measuring a quantity corresponding to a dynamic force that contributes to a net dynamic force that may potentially cause the vehicle to overturn during negotiation of the curve if the direction of the net dynamic force exceeds the critical angle;
• and
• a dynamic force display connected to the circuit for displaying a direction of a net dynamic force on the vehicle,
• wherein the critical angle display and the dynamic force display are included in a display unit so as to permit an operator of a vehicle to continuously monitor how close the direction of the net dynamic force is to the critical angle, and thereby determine how close the vehicle is to turning over.

A vehicle overturn monitor including a device for providing a warning that an overturn is imminent, comprising:

• an operator input device for inputting information enabling predetermination of a critical angle;
• at least one sensor for measuring a quantity indicative of a lateral force on the vehicle and at least one sensor for measuring a quantity indicative of a vertical force on the vehicle;
• a circuit for deriving an angle of net lateral and vertical forces on the vehicle based on inputs from the sensors;
• a comparison circuit for comparing the angle of the net lateral and vertical forces on the vehicle with the input critical angle;
• and
• an alarm circuit for alerting an operator of the vehicle that the angle of the net lateral forces on the vehicle is approaching the critical angle and that a roll over is therefore imminent.

A monitor as claimed in 21, further comprising:

• an operator input device for controlling the critical angle display;
• at least one sensor for measuring a quantity corresponding to a dynamic force that contributes to a net dynamic force that may potentially cause the vehicle to overturn during negotiation of the curve if the direction of the net dynamic force exceeds the critical angle;
• and
• a dynamic force display connected to the circuit for displaying a direction of a net dynamic force on the vehicle,
• wherein the critical angle display and the dynamic force display are included in a display unit so as to permit an operator of a vehicle to continuously monitor how close the direction of the net dynamic force is to the critical angle, and thereby determine how close the vehicle is to rolling over.

A vehicle overturn monitoring method, comprising the steps of:

• pre-determining and displaying a critical angle at which a vehicle is likely to overturn based on input vehicle and load information;
• displaying an angle of net dynamic forces on the vehicle during negotiation of the curve by continuously monitoring a net dynamic force vector resulting from said forces, said forces including forces resulting from crosswind pressure, vehicle vertical acceleration, and vehicle lateral acceleration, for comparison with the displayed predetermined critical angle;
• automatically comparing said net dynamic force vector with the critical angle and alerting the operator of the vehicle when the net dynamic force vector approaches the critical angle;
• and
• enabling the operator of a vehicle to easily determine safe speeds for negotiating a curve before the vehicle negotiates the curve based on said critical angle and on curve radii and bank information posted in a manner visible to the operator of the vehicle as the vehicle approaches the curve.

An overturn monitoring method, comprising the steps of:

• predetermining a critical angle, the critical angle being the direction of net dynamic forces on the vehicle that will cause the vehicle to overturn;
• controlling a critical angle display so that the critical angle display indicates the predetermined critical angle;
• measuring dynamic forces on the vehicle and calculating an angle of net dynamic forces on the vehicle;
• and
• displaying the angle of net dynamic forces on the vehicle together with the critical angle in such a manner that the display of net dynamic forces on the vehicle can be visually compared by an operator of the vehicle with the critical angle display.

An overturn monitoring method, comprising the steps of:

• predetermining a critical angle, the critical angle being the direction of net dynamic forces on the vehicle that will cause the vehicle to overturn;
• inputting the predetermined critical angle to a monitoring device;
• measuring dynamic forces on the vehicle and calculating an angle of net dynamic forces on the vehicle;
• comparing the angle of net dynamic forces on the vehicle to the predetermined critical angle;
• and
• activating an alarm when the angle of net dynamic forces on the vehicle equals the predetermined critical angle.
• displaying the angle of net dynamic forces on the vehicle together with the critical angle in such a manner that the display of net dynamic forces on the vehicle can be visually compared by an operator of the vehicle with the critical angle display.

An overturn monitoring method, comprising the steps of

• calculating a critical angle, the critical angle being the direction of net dynamic forces on the vehicle that will cause the vehicle to overturn;
• controlling a critical angle display so that the critical angle display indicates the calculated critical angle;
• providing a chart of maximum safe speeds as a function of the critical angle and curve radii;
• observing a sign having posted thereon a radius of an approaching curve;
• and
• locating on the chart a maximum safe speed at which the approaching curve may be negotiated based on the displayed critical angle and the posted curve radius.