Speed Controlled Patents (Class 116/37)
  • Patent number: 7598849
    Abstract: A heads-up speed sensing display and control system for apprising an operator of the risk of operating a vehicle at various speeds has a risk indicator display with a plurality of illuminable elements, such as three different colored LEDs, illuminable in a plurality of patterns, each of the plurality of patterns having a predetermined correlation to vehicle speed, such as green for safe, yellow for caution and red for hazardous. A speed sensor, such as a Hall-effect device is coupled to a driven element of the vehicle, like a speedometer cable, and causes the speed sensor to generate a signal indicative of vehicle speed. A control unit receives the speed signal and selects an illumination pattern to indicate the risk of operation at the speed the vehicle is then traveling. The display may be wired or wireless and be attached to a windshield, face guard or helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Inventors: David Gallant, Randy Oliver
  • Patent number: 7494256
    Abstract: A vehicle instrument cluster for indicating a value of a vehicle parameter. The vehicle instrument cluster includes a display member formed of a transparent material and display segments integrally formed within the display member. The display segments are configured to diffuse light and the display segments form at least a portion of indicia associated with the vehicle parameter. A first illumination system has a light source and a motor connected to an optical member. The optical member is movable in response to a change in the value of the vehicle parameter. The optical member selectively directs the light from the light source to within the display member to illuminate at least a portion of the display segments that form the indicia to indicate the value of the vehicle parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Yazaki North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Zinoviy Kelman, Ching Fong
  • Patent number: 7327239
    Abstract: A heads-up speed sensing display and control system for apprising an operator of the risk of operating a vehicle at various speeds has a risk indicator display with a plurality of illuminable elements, such as three different colored LEDs, illuminable in a plurality of patterns, each of the plurality of patterns having a predetermined correlation to vehicle speed, such as green for safe, yellow for caution and red for hazardous. A speed sensor, such as a Hall-effect device is coupled to a driven element of the vehicle, like a speedometer cable, and causes the speed sensor to generate a signal indicative of vehicle speed. A control unit receives the speed signal and selects an illumination pattern to indicate the risk of operation at the speed the vehicle is then traveling. The display may be wired or wireless and be attached to a windshield, face guard or helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: InVision Systems, LLC
    Inventors: David Gallant, Randy Oliver
  • Patent number: 6020813
    Abstract: The turn signal system of the invention utilizes a timing circuit to electrically activate and deactivate the flashing turn signal. The invention system also utilizes a pair (left, right) of auxiliary, spring-loaded, momentary contact, normally open switches arranged such that if the driver actuates the turn signal lever for a turn, even though the lever is in the actuated position for that turn, the turn signal flashing circuit is reactivated by the momentary closing of the auxiliary switch and the cycle is restarted. The system of the invention is also characterized by the timing circuit being dependent for its operation on signals received from the vehicle's speed sensor such that the timing circuit will not operate unless there is a signal from the speed sensor to indicate the vehicle is moving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventors: Carl N. Harris, Dewey F. Harris
  • Patent number: 5952570
    Abstract: A horizontal speed indicator for a rotary-wing aircraft includes first and second sensors for determining, respectively, the heading and the horizontal speed of the aircraft. The indicator processes the signals delivered by the first and second sensors, and displays the processed signals on a screen, which includes a compass rose which can rotate when the aircraft alters its heading, and a scale which represents the horizontal speed of the aircraft. The scale includes cross wires and concentric circles, and is capable of moving with respect to the compass rose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Eurocopter
    Inventors: Raymond Jacques Gerard Berlioz, Vincent Frederic Saintagne
  • Patent number: 5048451
    Abstract: A vehicle safety or caution sign is attached to the side of a vehicle. The sign is held by an elongated member which is coupled by a first pivot to a mounting member that attaches to the vehicle. The first pivot enables the sign to be swung in a fore and aft direction relative to and toward and from the vehicle. The sign has a bearing member secured thereto and which operates as a second pivot and is coupled with the elongated member to enable the sign to hang in a generally vertical position when the vehicle is moving at a slow speed or is stopped, and to enable swinging of the sign to a generally horizontal position when the vehicle is moving in excess of a predetermined speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignee: CHR Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter H. Reimers, Gerald Muirhead
  • Patent number: 4189706
    Abstract: A multiple speed detection and control device for vehicles includes a speed detector associated with the vehicle speedometer arranged to sequentially detect multiple, predetermined, speed values, and an electric junction box connected in the major electrical lines of vehicle and connected with the speed detector, with the junction box having special fuses for the various electrical circuits, whereby the speed detector disrupts the fuses at the predetermined speeds to disrupt one or more of the electrical circuits to cause a particular failure of the electrical functions of the vehicle circuits, indicating speed above a predetermined speed, to an ultimate vehicle shut down above a maximum speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1980
    Inventor: Knox, Leonard S.
  • Patent number: 4169414
    Abstract: A drive for high-speed locomotives has a variable-speed electric motor which transmits torque to the input shaft of a hydrodynamic power transmission having a hydrodynamic torque converter and a hydrodynamic coupling for transmission of torque to the output shaft which drives the wheels through the medium of a mechanical transmission and cardan shafts. The control unit of the drive engages the converter in the lowest speed range, the coupling in the highest speed range, and the coupling or the converter in the intermediate speed range. In the intermediate speed range, the coupling is engaged when the control unit ascertains that the ratio of maximum traction effort of the drive in engaged condition of the coupling at the momentary intermediate speed to the resistance which the locomotive encounters exceeds one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1979
    Assignee: Voith Getreibe KG
    Inventor: Helmut Muller