Non-lethal, rapidly deployed vehicle immobilizer

A device for capturing a target vehicle travelling along a pathway, comprising:

• first and second support members;
• a first elongate flexible member which, with the device in at least a deployed condition, is held extending at least partially between said first and second support members at a first height profile that is effective to engage the target vehicle as said target vehicle passes between the support members;
• a second elongate flexible member which, with the device in at least the deployed condition, is held extending at least partially between said first and second support members at a second height that is effective to allow the target vehicle to pass over a central portion of the second elongate flexible member as said target vehicle passes between the support members;
• first and second couplings secured to the first elongate flexible member and receiving the second elongate flexible member so that the first elongate flexible member, the first and second couplings, and a portion of the second elongate member spanning the first and second couplings collectively define a closed loop;
• wherein:
• the second elongate member has first and second portions respectively beyond the first and second couplings, the first and second portions held relative to the pathway so that, at some point by which the target vehicle has passed over the central portion of the second elongate flexible member, the carrying forward by the target vehicle of the first elongate flexible member produces tension in the first and second portions causing the closed loop to constrict about the target vehicle;
• and
• the first and second portions are held relative to the pathway via first and second frangible links which release the first and second portions when said tension in the first and second portions exceeds a threshold tension, the first and second frangible links are each characterized by:
• a housing;
• a threaded shaft;
• a segmented internally threaded member sized to receive the shaft in threaded engagement, the member shiftable between a retracted position within the housing in which the housing prevents radial expansion of the member sufficient to release the shaft and an extended position in which radial expansion is permitted sufficient to release the shaft;
• a spring member biasing the internally threaded member from the extended position toward the retracted position;
• wherein a tension between the housing and shaft greater than a threshold tension is effective to shift the threaded member to the extended position and release the shaft.

A device for capturing a target vehicle travelling along a pathway, comprising:

• first and second support members;
• a first elongate flexible member which, with the device in at least a deployed condition, is held extending at least partially between said first and second support members at a first height profile that is effective to engage the target vehicle as said target vehicle passes between the support members;
• a second elongate flexible member which, with the device in at least the deployed condition, is held extending at least partially between said first and second support members at a second height that is effective to allow both the front and rear pairs of tires of the target vehicle to pass over a central portion of the second elongate flexible member as said target vehicle passes between the support members;
• first and second couplings secured to the first elongate flexible member and receiving the second elongate flexible member so that the first elongate flexible member, the first and second couplings, and a portion of the second elongate member spanning the first and second couplings collectively define a closed loop;
• wherein the second elongate member has first and second portions respectively outwardly beyond the first and second couplings, the first and second portions held relative to the pathway so that, at some point by which the target vehicle front and rear pairs of tires have passed over the central portion of the second elongate flexible member, the carrying forward by the target vehicle of the first elongate flexible member produces tension in the first and second portions causing the closed loop to constrict about the target vehicle.

A device for capturing a target vehicle travelling along a pathway, comprising:

• first and second support members;
• a first elongate flexible member which, with the device in at least a deployed condition, is held extending at least partially between said first and second support members at a first height profile that is effective to engage the target vehicle as said target vehicle passes between the support members;
• a second elongate flexible member which, with the device in at least the deployed condition, is held extending at least partially between said first and second support members at a second height that is effective to allow the target vehicle to pass over a central portion of the second elongate flexible member as said target vehicle passes between the support members;
• first and second ratchets secured to the first elongate flexible member and receiving the second elongate flexible member so that the first elongate flexible member, the first and second ratchets, and a portion of the second elongate member spanning the first and second ratchets collectively define a closed loop;
• wherein the second elongate member has first and second portions respectively beyond the first and second ratchets, the first and second portions held relative to the pathway so that, at some point by which the target vehicle has passed over the central portion of the second elongate flexible member, the carrying forward by the target vehicle of the first elongate flexible member produces tension in the first and second portions causing the second elongate member to be drawn through the ratchets in an associated direction which causes the closed loop to constrict about the target vehicle and wherein, in at least a first condition, the first and second ratchets permit movement of the second elongate flexible member through each such ratchet only in an associated direction which causes the loop to constrict.