Traction enhancing deployment system
AssigneeCommercial Vehicle Systems, Inc.
InventorsWayne L. Mann, Dennis R. Partlow
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for deployment of traction enhancing agents uses an infrared detecting sensor to receive ambient IR from a roadway, whereby the road surface temperature is determined. The determined temperature is supplied to a traction enhancing agent deployment controller, so that the amount and selection of particular agents can be governed based on the particular road surface temperature. Variations are thereby accommodated, so the most appropriate agent or agents in an appropriate combination and density can be applied.
Claims35
A traction enhancing agent dispensing system for enhancing the traction along a surface, comprising:
- an infrared sensing means with an unobstructed view of said surface for determining a temperature of said surface from infrared radiation directly emitted from the surface;
- and
- means for controlling a traction enhancing agent dispensing device based on the determination of the temperature, said controlling means employing the determination of temperature independent of contact with the surface or with a material from the surface.
A traction enhancing agent dispensing system for enhancing the traction along a surface, comprising:
- vehicle carrying a traction enhancing substance therein;
- a traction enhancing substance dispenser associated with said vehicle for dispensing said traction enhancing substance;
- an infrared sensing means with an unobstructed view of said surface for determining a temperature of said surface from infrared radiation directly emitted from the surface;
- and
- means for controlling said traction enhancing agent dispenser based on the determination of the temperature, said controlling means employing the determination of temperature independent of contact with the surface or with a material from the surface.
A traction dispensing control system for enhancing the traction along a surface, comprising:
- a speed sensor for providing a speed indication of a dispensing vehicle;
- a first dispensing controller adapted for dispensing traction enhancing agents to the surface based on a speed component input;
- an infrared sensing means with an unobstructed view of said surface for determining a temperature of said surface from infrared radiation directly emitted from said surface, said determining being accomplished independent of contact with said surface;
- and
- a second dispensing controller receiving the speed indication from said speed sensor and the surface temperature from said temperature sensor, said second dispensing controller providing the speed component input to said first dispensing controller, wherein said second controller is adapted to alter the speed component input signal to said first dispensing controller based on the surface temperature as measured by said infrared sensing means, independent of contact with said surface, for adjusting deployment rates in response to surface temperature,
- said second dispensing controller employing the surface temperature independent of contact with a material from the surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.