Patent ID: 8473173

Claim:
An automatic vehicle braking system for prohibiting vehicle propulsion upon detection of a triggering event adjacent to a vehicle, said automatic vehicle braking system comprising: a plurality of sensors adapted to be attached to the vehicle, each of said sensors generating and transmitting an object signal upon detecting the triggering event; a processor communicatively coupled to said sensors; a memory communicatively coupled to said processor, said memory including software instructions that cause said processor to generate a first input signal upon receiving said object signals from said sensors; a logic gate communicatively coupled to said processor; a vehicle gear sensor communicatively coupled to said logic gate, said vehicle gear sensor generating and transmitting a second input signal upon detecting a real-time gear level of the vehicle; and a vehicle braking system communicatively coupled to said logic gate and being responsive thereto; wherein said logic gate generates an output signal upon receiving said first and second input signals respectively, said output signal controlling an operating mode of said vehicle braking system; wherein said vehicle braking system comprises a solenoid switch responsive to said output signal from said logic gate; and an air valve communicatively coupled to said solenoid switch and being responsive thereto such that said air valve activates the vehicle braking system by permitting air to pass downstream of said air valve and to existing vehicle brake pads; wherein said air valve comprises a casing having an inlet port and an outlet port situated downstream from said inlet port, and a piston linearly reciprocated within said casing, wherein said inlet port is adapted to be in fluid communication with the existing air tank of the vehicle; wherein said outlet port is adapted to be in fluid communication with an existing brake pad of said vehicle braking system; wherein said piston has a linear notch formed therein, said notch being linearly reciprocated along a linear path within said casing such that said notch becomes selectively isolated and accessible to said outlet port when said vehicle braking system is deactivated and activated respectively; wherein said air valve is a bypass air valve comprising a second inlet port in fluid communication with said casing and adapted to be operably coupled to the existing brake pedal of the vehicle such that air is prohibited and permitted to enter said casing when said piston is at a fully displaced and a fully retracted position within said casing respectively; wherein said piston isolates said second inlet port from said outlet port when said piston is fully displaced within said casing such that said vehicle braking system automatically overrides a user input at the existing brake pedal.