Patent Publication Number: US-2004051630-A1

Title: Vehicle with warning system

Description:
[0001] The invention relates to a vehicle in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. A vehicle of this type is generally known. When the known vehicle is in use, the drivers are always exposed to the risk that they will fail to notice other road users when changing road or lane. This is because the vehicle is large and the driver is usually sitting high above the road. Another problem is that the vehicle is generally long and is sometimes provided with a trailer or semi-trailer, and consequently the sideways movement of the vehicle is greater and the area where there are road users who can have problems is extra wide. The risk of the driver failing to notice other road users exists primarily if these other road users are on the other side of the vehicle from the side where the driver&#39;s position is located and if these other road users are relatively difficult to spot, as is the case with pedestrians and cyclists. However, it is precisely this group of road users who tend to be on the other side of the vehicle, and this is also the most vulnerable group of road users.  
       [0002] To reduce the risk of accidents involving this vulnerable group of road users, on the known vehicles there are mirrors which enable the driver, in countries where traffic drives on the right and the driver&#39;s position is on the left-hand side of the vehicle, to observe the part of the road on the right-hand side next to the vehicle via the mirrors and to check whether there are other road users in that area. This solution has the drawback that mirrors of this type generally provide only a limited view of the section of road to the right of the vehicle, and consequently the driver cannot always anticipate the expected behaviour of road users present in that area. Another drawback is that at dusk or in the dark, only road users with lights are visible, and consequently stationary cyclists and pedestrians are often not spotted. Also, the mirrors quickly become dirty, making it more difficult to see the area, and the mirrors do not cover the area just in front of the right-hand side of the vehicle.  
       [0003] One of the measures used to reduce the risk of accidents is for the other road users to be warned in a known way when the vehicle is changing road or lane by means of flashing direction-indicator lamps which are also visible from the side of the vehicle. Direction-indicator lamps of this type are identical for both sides of the vehicle and for all traffic situations. The drawback of the known direction-indicator lamps is that in situations with increased risks they do not have any specific extra visibility, and consequently they do not give other road users sufficient warning.  
       [0004] To avoid the abovementioned drawbacks, the vehicle is designed in accordance with the characterizing clauses of claim 1. As a result of additional warning means being fitted only to that side of the vehicle which is less visible to the driver, they will be given extra attention by the road users, and will show the road users on that side the potential risk when they are activated, while other road users, such as oncoming traffic, will not be deterred by the warning means. The warning means may therefore be designed in such a manner that they emit a stronger signal.  
       [0005] According to an improvement, the device is designed in accordance with claim 2. In practice, it has been found that accidents when the vehicle is changing road or lane occur primarily if the vehicle is travelling at a low speed. This is probably because lorries tend to corner at low speed. If accidents happen when changing lane, this mainly occurs when they are moving out into a queue of traffic, which also takes place at a low speed. If the warning means are not switched on at higher speeds, other road users are not unnecessarily distracted in straightforward situations, for example when approaching an exit slip road.  
       [0006] According to a further improvement, the vehicle is designed in accordance with claim 3. This prevents the warning means from being activated when the alarm device is switched on, for example during loading and unloading.  
       [0007] According to a further improvement, the device is designed in accordance with claim 4. This makes the warning means a light signal which is noticeable even to those who are hard of hearing.  
       [0008] According to a further improvement, the device is designed in accordance with claim 5. This gives a clear signal to the surrounding area and also means that the driver will hear that the warning means have been activated.  
       [0009] According to a further improvement, the device is designed in accordance with claim 6. As a result, at night, when the light signal is in any case very visible indeed, the driver can switch off the acoustic signal, so that noise pollution is avoided.  
       [0010] According to a further improvement, the device is designed in accordance with claim 7. This prevents the acoustic signal from inadvertently being left switched off after the vehicle has been driven at night.  
       [0011] The invention also comprises a warning system according to the preamble of claim 8. Warning means of this type are customary in the transport field and are designed in such a manner that, during standard use, they do not cause any disturbance to other road users. The result of this is that they are not noticed or are insufficiently noticed by the average road user in situations where extra care is important. To avoid this drawback, the device is designed in accordance with the characterizing clause of claim 8. As a result, the warning means are activated when the vehicle is driving slowly, i.e. in situations when major changes in direction are to take place or when the situation is not straightforward. As a result of additional warning means being activated in precisely these situations when the direction of the vehicle is changing as described above, road safety is enhanced.  
       [0012] According to an improvement, the warning system is designed in accordance with claim 9. This prevents the warning means from being activated when the vehicle is stationary along the road and flashing lights on the vehicle, generally the direction-indicator lamps, are activated all around the vehicle in order to draw the attention of other traffic to this fact.  
       [0013] According to a further improvement, the warning system is designed in accordance with claim 10. As a result, the warning system can also be used at night without noise pollution affecting the surrounding area.  
       [0014] According to a further improvement, the warning system is designed in accordance with claim 11. This prevents the acoustic signal from inadvertently being left switched off after the vehicle has been driven at night.  
       [0015] The invention also comprises switching equipment according to claim 12. Accommodating the switching means in separate switching equipment means that they can easily be fitted into vehicles, with the result that the warning means and/or the warning system can easily be fitted in vehicles. 
     
    
    
     [0016] The invention is explained below with reference to a number of exemplary embodiments and with the aid of a drawing, in which:  
     [0017]FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a lorry equipped with a warning system, and  
     [0018]FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic overview of the warning system shown in FIG. 1. 
    
    
     [0019]FIG. 1 shows a vehicle  1  which is composed of a lorry  4  to which a semi-trailer  9  is coupled. On the left-hand side, the lorry  4  is provided with a driver&#39;s position  8 . When sitting in the driver&#39;s position  8 , the driver can see the road on the left-hand side and behind the vehicle  1  via a left-hand wing mirror  7  and can see the road on the right-hand side and behind the vehicle  1  via a right-hand wing mirror  11 . Since the wing mirrors  7  and  11  are positioned at a high level and also cover the road behind the vehicle  1 , it is not possible to use these mirrors  7  and  11  to look at the road next to the lorry  4 .  
     [0020] By looking to his left, the driver can view the road next to the lorry  4  on the left-hand side, and by using a mirror  10  he can view the road on the right-hand side of the lorry  4 . Because the driver is sitting at a high level, it is difficult for him to see the area just in front of the lorry  4  and in particular the area to the right-hand side of and in front of the lorry  4  is difficult to see. In practice, it has been found that when using the two mirrors  10  and  11  it is not always possible to notice all road users who are situated to the right-hand side of and/or just in front of the vehicle  1 .  
     [0021] To improve this situation, the lorry  4  may be designed in such a manner that the mirrors  10  and/or  11  can be adjusted into two positions, in which case in the first position of the mirrors  10  and/or  11  the driver can see the part of the road which is usual during normal driving, and in the second position of the mirrors  10  and/or  11  the driver can see that part of the road where there may be road users who may be impeded when the lorry  4  and semi-trailer  9  is changing road lane. In the process, the mirror  11  is rotated, for example, eight degrees outwards and a few degrees downwards. If appropriate, the position of mirror  10  is adjusted accordingly.  
     [0022] The lorry  4  is provided with an ignition lock which can be switched on by the driver and by means of which control of the lorry  4  is switched on. The lorry  4  and the semi-trailer  9  are provided in a known way with direction indicators which can be switched on using a switch. On the front side, the lorry  4  is provided with a right-hand direction indicator  3  and a left-hand direction indicator  5 , and on the right-hand side the lorry is provided with a right-hand direction indicator  2 , and on the left-hand side the lorry is provided with a left-hand direction indicator  6 . Left and right direction indicators are also arranged at the back of the lorry  4  and at the back of the semi-trailer  9 . The direction indicators are provided in a known way with means which cause the lamps to start to flash after they have switched on. Furthermore, the lorry  4  is provided with an alarm device which ensures that, after this device has been switched on, the direction-indicator lamps start to flash all the way around, in order to alert other road users to an exceptional situation, for example to be switched on when the vehicle is stationary on the road.  
     [0023] To warn the road users who are driving or walking on the right-hand side of the lorry  4  when the right-hand direction indicator  2  or  3  is activated, a stroboscopic lamp  13 , which is switched on in a manner which is to be described below, is positioned at the side of the lorry  4 . After it has been switched on, this stroboscopic lamp  13  continuously emits short, bright flashes of light which can be seen from the entire side of the vehicle  1 , the lamp being most visible from in front of and at the front side of the vehicle  1 . The stroboscopic lamp  13  is provided with means, such as a cover and/or shield, or designed in such a manner that other road users are not blinded by the bright light. If appropriate, a plurality of stroboscopic lamps  13  may be arranged along the right-hand side of the vehicle  1 .  
     [0024] At the same time as the stroboscopic lamp  13 , an acoustic horn  12  can be activated, this acoustic horn  12  being arranged behind cladding on the right-hand front side of the lorry  4 . After it has been activated, the acoustic horn  12  emits a high-pitch, two-tone sound which road users on the right-hand side of the vehicle can easily recognize. The driver, who is seated at the driver&#39;s position  8 , can also hear the noise of the acoustic horn  12 , so that he knows that the stroboscopic lamp  13  is also switched on. If appropriate, a plurality of acoustic horns  12  may be positioned along the right-hand side of the vehicle  1 . Other sound sources, such as a bell, may also be used instead of a horn.  
     [0025] At the same time as the stroboscopic lamp  13  being switched on, it is also possible for the position of the mirrors  10  and/or  11  to be adjusted, so that the driver has a better view of road users who may be impeded when the vehicle is changing lane or road.  
     [0026]FIG. 2 diagrammatically depicts switching equipment  14  and the connections by means of which the switching equipment  14  is connected to connections which are present in the lorry  4 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the switching equipment  14  is a separate unit, but it is also possible for the functions of this switching equipment  14  to be integrated in the control system which is present in the lorry  4 .  
     [0027] The switching equipment  14  is connected to the control system and components of the lorry  4  via a plug connection  26 . By means of a connection  16 , the switching equipment  14  is connected to a power source, such as the 24-volt connection of a battery, and by means of a connection  17  the switching equipment  14  is connected to earth. Via a connection  20 , the switching equipment  14  receives the signal that the left-hand direction indicator is switched on, and via a connection  21  the switching equipment  14  receives a signal that the right-hand direction indicator is switched on; if appropriate, these may be pulsed signals which match the flashing of the lamps of the direction indicators. If both connections  20  and  21  are activated simultaneously, the switching equipment  14  knows that the alarm device is switched on. In another embodiment, the alarm device may also emit a signal directly to the switching equipment  14  via the connection  20  after it has been switched on.  
     [0028] The lorry  4  is provided with a speedometer which, via a connection  22 , emits a signal which is representative of the speed to the switching equipment  14 . In the switching equipment  14 , it is possible to detect whether the lorry  4  is travelling at a speed which is lower than a set value. This value can be set by means of an adjustment screw  15 . By way of example, the adjustment screw  15  can be used to set a value between thirty and fifty kilometres per hour.  
     [0029] Via a connection  23 , the switching equipment  14  receives a signal that the ignition lock has been switched on by the driver. This signal is used to switch the switching equipment  14  on and off. In the vicinity of the driver&#39;s position  8  there is a reset switch which emits a signal to the switching equipment  14  via a connection  24 . This reset switch can be used to turn the acoustic horn  12  on or off. An indicator LED  25  is used to show whether or not the acoustic horn  12  is switched off. The driver will switch off the acoustic horn  12  if it is causing excessive noise pollution, for example at night. The standard setting is for the acoustic horn  12  to be switched on, and the switching equipment  14  is moved to the standard setting after the switching equipment  14  has been switched off and on using the ignition key.  
     [0030] The switching equipment  14  is programmed in such a manner that, if the speed of the lorry  4  is below the set value, when the right-hand direction indicator is activated, a connection  18  receives a signal, with the result that the stroboscopic lamp  13  is activated. When the alarm installation is activated, the stroboscopic lamp  13  is not activated. Also, a connection  19  will receive a signal, with the result that the acoustic horn  12  is activated. If appropriate, the driver can suppress activation of the acoustic horn  12  by actuating the reset switch. If the lorry  4  is provided with adjustable mirrors  10  and/or  11 , they will adopt a different position when the stroboscopic lamp  13  is activated.  
     [0031] The exemplary embodiment has described a lorry  4  with a semi-trailer  9 . It will be clear that the invention can also be used in a corresponding way for other vehicles in which the driver does not have a sufficiently clear view of other road users. Examples of other vehicles are buses, articulated lorries with trailers, lorry cabs, working vehicles, such as road sweepers, mobile cranes and delivery vans.  
     [0032] In the embodiment discussed, it has been assumed that the driver&#39;s position  8  is on the left-hand side of the vehicle  1 . In that case, the driver has a less clear view of the area to the right-hand side of the vehicle, and consequently the stroboscopic lamp  13  and the acoustic horn  12  are arranged on that side. If the driver&#39;s position  8  is on the right-hand side of the vehicle  1 , the stroboscopic lamp  13  and the acoustic horn  12  are, of course, arranged on the left-hand side.