GB2332041A - Flashing brake lights for motor vehicle - Google Patents
Flashing brake lights for motor vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2332041A GB2332041A GB9725487A GB9725487A GB2332041A GB 2332041 A GB2332041 A GB 2332041A GB 9725487 A GB9725487 A GB 9725487A GB 9725487 A GB9725487 A GB 9725487A GB 2332041 A GB2332041 A GB 2332041A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- brake
- brake system
- predetermined value
- vehicle
- braking effect
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
- B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
- B60Q1/50—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
- B60Q1/52—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking for indicating emergencies
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
- B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
- B60Q1/44—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal
- B60Q1/444—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic for indicating braking action or preparation for braking, e.g. by detection of the foot approaching the brake pedal with indication of the braking strength or speed changes, e.g. by changing shape or intensity of the indication
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Lighting Device Outwards From Vehicle And Optical Signal (AREA)
Abstract
A brake system, in or for a wheeled motor road vehicle, of the kind comprising brake lights (8) which are illuminated when the brakes (4,6) are applied wherein means (10,11) are provided for sensing the braking effect when the brakes (4,6) are applied and for causing the brake lights (8) to repetitively flash or pulsate when the braking effect reaches or exceeds a predetermined value, eg by measuring the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the brake system.
Description
2332041 BRAKE SYSTEM IN OR FOR A WHEELED MOTOR ROAD VEHICLE This invention
relates to a brake system in or for a wheeled motor road vehicle.
Many serious road accidents are the result of a driver of a motor vehicle not realising soon enough that the vehicle immediately in front is braking very hard. Although most, if not all, road vehicles are fitted with brake warning lights the fact that the brake warning lights are illuminated simply indicates to the driver of a following vehicle that the brakes are being applied without giving any indication of the rate of deceleration of the vehicle concerned. Thus the first indication that a driver may get that the vehicle immediately in front is braking hard is when he realises that the distance between his own vehicle and the vehicle in front is reducing rapidly, by which time it may be too late for him to bring his vehicle to a halt and avoid a collision with the vehicle in front.
The object of the present invention is to provide a brake system for a road vehicle which will help to reduce the likelihood of collisions of the kind aforesaid, which on high-speed roads such as motorways, freeways, autobahns and the like are frequently multiple collisions involving a number of vehicles.
The present invention provides, in or for a wheeled motor road vehicle, a brake system of the kind comprising at least one brake light fitted to the rear of the vehicle, the system comprising means for sensing the braking effect when the brakes are applied and for causing the or each brake light to repetitively flash or pulsate when c 2.
the braking effect reaches or exceeds a predetermined value.
If, for example, said predetermined value corresponds to a deceleration of the vehicle of 0.3g and the vehicle is one of a group travelling on a motorway, freeway, autobahn or the like "in convoy" at 113 km/h (70 mph), which is equivalent to 31.4 m/sec (103 ft/sec), then the flashing or pulsating brake light(s) of the brake system according to the present invention will not only more readily attract the attention of the driver of a following vehicle but can give the driver of the following vehicle an extra second of time or an extra 31.4 m (103 ft) within which to brake and bring his vehicle to a halt.
Preferably the or each said brake light is a conventional brake light which is constantly illuminated in conventional manner when the brakes are applied and the braking effect is below said predetermined value.
The brake system may comprise hydraulic means containing hydraulic fluid which is pressurised to actuate the brakes when driver-operable means is operated and wherein said sensing means comprises means, such as a preset pressure switch, for sensing the pressure of said hydraulic fluid and for causing said brake light(s) to flash or pulsate when the pressure of said hydraulic fluid reaches or exceeds a predetermined value.
Said predetermined value may, for example, relate to a deceleration of the vehicle of substantially 0.3g or more.
1 G 3.
The arrangement may be such that when the braking effect reaches or exceeds said predetermined value the brake light(s) are caused to flash or pulsate at a rate of from 3 to 6 flashes per second. Advantageously, the arrangement may be such that the rate at which said brake light(s) are caused to flash or pulsate increases the more the braking effect exceeds said predetermined value.
The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing which diagrammatically illustrates an embodiment of a brake system according to the present invention.
The brake system illustrated comprises a conventional hydraulic circ uit 1 including a master cylinder 2 operable by a driver-operable brake pedal 3 and slave cylinders (not shown) for actuating disc brakes 4a associated with discs 4b connected to wheels 5 of a vehicle (not shown) and drum brakes 6 associated with rear wheels 7 of the vehicle. Brake lights 8 are provided which when the brake pedal 3 is operated and a switch 9 associated therewith is closed are illuminated.
In accordance with the present invention a pre-set pressure-sensitive switch 10 is provided in the hydraulic circuit 1 for sensing the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit 1 and for actuating a flasher unit 11 electrically connected to the brake lights 8 for causing the brake lights 8 to flash, e.g. at a rate of from 3 to 6 flashes per second, when the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit 1 reaches or exceeds a predetermined value corresponding to a predetermined braking effect. Advantageously the 4.
arrangement is such that the rate at which the brake lights 8 flash increases the more the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in said hydraulic circuit 1 exceeds said predetermined value.
Said predetermined value may correspond to a deceleration of a vehicle to which the brake system is fitted of substantially 0.3 g.
Whilst said means for sensing the braking effect has been described in said preferred embodiment as means for sensing the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the brake system, it will be understood that the sensing means may take any other desired form such, for example, as an accelerometer for sensing deceleration of a vehicle to which the brake system is fitted.
i _11 _5.
Claims (8)
1. In or for a wheeled motor road vehicle, a brake system of the kind comprising at least one brake light fitted to the rear of the vehicle, the system comprising means for sensing the braking effect when the brakes are applied and for causing the or each brake light to repetitively flash or pulsate when the braking effect reaches or exceeds a predetermined value.
2. A brake system according to claim 1, wherein the or each brake light is a conventional brake light which is constantly illuminated in conventional manner when the brakes are applied and the braking effect is below said predetermined value.
3. A brake system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the brake system comprises hydraulic means containing hydraulic fluid which is pressurised to actuate the brakes when driver-operable means is operated and wherein said sensing means comprises means for sensing the pressure of said hydraulic fluid and for causing said brake light(s) to flash or pulsate when the pressure of said hydraulic fluid reaches or exceeds a predetermined value.
4. A brake system according to claim 3, wherein said sensing means comprises a pre-set pressure switch.
5. A brake system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said predetermined value relates to a deceleration of the vehicle of substantially 0.3g or more.
1 1
6 6. A brake system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arrangement is such that when the brakes are applied and the braking effect reaches or exceeds said predetermined value the brake light(s) are caused to flash or pulsate at a rate of from 3 to 6 flashes per second.
7. A brake system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arrangement is such that the rate at which said brake light(s) are caused to flash or pulsate increases the more the braking effect exceeds said predetermined value.
8. In or for a wheeled motor road vehicle, a brake system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
1
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9725487A GB2332041A (en) | 1997-12-03 | 1997-12-03 | Flashing brake lights for motor vehicle |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9725487A GB2332041A (en) | 1997-12-03 | 1997-12-03 | Flashing brake lights for motor vehicle |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9725487D0 GB9725487D0 (en) | 1998-02-04 |
| GB2332041A true GB2332041A (en) | 1999-06-09 |
Family
ID=10822987
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9725487A Withdrawn GB2332041A (en) | 1997-12-03 | 1997-12-03 | Flashing brake lights for motor vehicle |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2332041A (en) |
Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2556443A1 (en) * | 1975-12-15 | 1977-06-16 | Helmut Bendler | Safety circuit for brake lights - has pressure switch operated from master cylinder and with flasher for heavy braking |
| GB2210442A (en) * | 1987-10-01 | 1989-06-07 | Christopher Hamlett | Brake display system |
| DE3818454A1 (en) * | 1988-05-31 | 1989-12-14 | Stephan Peiffer | Device for switching on hazard warning lights on a motor vehicle |
| GB2223366A (en) * | 1988-07-12 | 1990-04-04 | Nigel Mark Bovis | Emergency braking warning system for vehicles |
| GB2239701A (en) * | 1990-01-02 | 1991-07-10 | Ian Derek Cook | Road vehicle brake lights |
| DE4447029A1 (en) * | 1994-12-28 | 1996-07-04 | Schleussner Horst Thomas | Motor vehicle braking lights flasher |
-
1997
- 1997-12-03 GB GB9725487A patent/GB2332041A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE2556443A1 (en) * | 1975-12-15 | 1977-06-16 | Helmut Bendler | Safety circuit for brake lights - has pressure switch operated from master cylinder and with flasher for heavy braking |
| GB2210442A (en) * | 1987-10-01 | 1989-06-07 | Christopher Hamlett | Brake display system |
| DE3818454A1 (en) * | 1988-05-31 | 1989-12-14 | Stephan Peiffer | Device for switching on hazard warning lights on a motor vehicle |
| GB2223366A (en) * | 1988-07-12 | 1990-04-04 | Nigel Mark Bovis | Emergency braking warning system for vehicles |
| GB2239701A (en) * | 1990-01-02 | 1991-07-10 | Ian Derek Cook | Road vehicle brake lights |
| DE4447029A1 (en) * | 1994-12-28 | 1996-07-04 | Schleussner Horst Thomas | Motor vehicle braking lights flasher |
Non-Patent Citations (3)
| Title |
|---|
| WPI abstract 77-F1396Y & DE 2556443 A1 * |
| WPI abstract 89-371333 & DE 3818454 A1 * |
| WPI abstract 96-310223 & DE 4447029 A1 * |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9725487D0 (en) | 1998-02-04 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |