Control device
The integrated emergency system for motor vehicles simplifies tire repairs by incorporating a compressed air unit and electrically operated jacks, addressing the challenges of handling conventional tools and ensuring easy access and operation during emergencies.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE202023104906
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-08-29
- Publication Date
- 2025-01-23
- Estimated Expiration
- 2033-08-31
AI Technical Summary
Existing tire repair sets and jacks in motor vehicles are cumbersome to handle, require separate carrying and setup, and are not readily available during emergencies, posing operational readiness and safety challenges.
An integrated emergency system with a compressed air unit, electrically operated jacks, and a control unit that simplifies operation by being built into the vehicle, eliminating the need for separate tools and ensuring easy access and power supply through vehicle battery integration.
The system simplifies and expedites tire repairs by integrating tools within the vehicle, ensuring easy access and operation, reducing the complexity and time required for tire inflation and lifting during breakdowns.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to an emergency system for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] Motor vehicles of this type typically comprise a chassis in which a number of wheels with pneumatic tires are mounted. The pneumatic tires are equipped with tire valves, which allow the tires to be inflated.
[0003] Modern motor vehicles increasingly include a tool known as a tire repair kit, which allows users to temporarily repair minor punctures without having to rely on a spare tire or professional assistance. A tire repair kit typically consists of a special sealing fluid that is poured into a damaged tire and a compressed air unit, particularly a mobile compressor, for inflating the temporarily sealed tire. To use the tire repair kit or to replace the damaged tire, it may be necessary to raise the vehicle with a jack. In addition to conventional manually operated jacks, electric jacks, which use an electric motor for lifting, are gaining increasing popularity.However, using the jack correctly, and in particular positioning it at the designated jacking points, is crucial to ensuring the vehicle can be lifted properly to avoid injury to the user and / or damage to the vehicle. Handling both the tire repair kit and the jack can be cumbersome, and both tools must be carried in the vehicle and ready to hand in an emergency. Since they are rarely used, they are usually stored in a remote location, such as under the trunk floor, so they are not immediately available in an emergency. Furthermore, not only are the tools laborious to assemble, but they are also cumbersome to connect to a power supply and operate.
[0004] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide means for repairing a flat tire, the handling of which is simplified and easier than a conventional tire repair kit and a conventional car jack and which overcomes the disadvantages described above, for example with regard to readiness for use and operation.
[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by an emergency system for a motor vehicle having the features of claim 1 and the subclaims.
[0006] The emergency system according to the invention for a motor vehicle comprises a compressed air unit and a number of electrically operated car jacks, characterized in that the emergency system comprises a control unit which can be connected to the compressed air unit, the number of electrically operated car jacks and a vehicle battery, wherein the compressed air unit is designed to apply compressed air to tires of the motor vehicle, in particular in the event of a breakdown, and comprises a compressor and a compressed air tire inflation system, wherein the compressed air tire inflation system comprises a number of compressed air connections permanently installed on the motor vehicle, each of which comprises a flexible compressed air hose, wherein a free end of the respective compressed air hose can be connected to a tire valve, wherein the compressed air hoses can be completely stowed away in the motor vehicle when not in use and can be removed therefrom, and wherein the compressed air hoses are fed by the compressor;wherein the jacks are integrated into a chassis of the motor vehicle and each comprise a support extendable from the chassis toward the ground, wherein the supports are driven by a respective geared motor powered by the vehicle battery; wherein the control unit comprises a control unit configured to operate the control unit.
[0007] The emergency system for a motor vehicle is characterized by the fact that the compressed air unit, designed to temporarily pressurize the vehicle's tires in the event of a breakdown, comprises a compressor and a compressed air tire inflation system. The compressor can be located in the trunk of the vehicle. The compressed air tire inflation system comprises a number of compressed air connections permanently installed on the vehicle, each of which includes a flexible compressed air hose, with a free end of each compressed air hose connectable to a tire valve. The compressed air connections can be attached to the vehicle in such a way that, when removed, a wheel can be easily reached with each compressed air hose. It is therefore no longer necessary to carry a separate compressor for emergencies, search for it in the vehicle's accessories in the event of a flat tire, and then attach it to the wheel.Secondly, the emergency system is characterized by the fact that the jacks are integrated into the vehicle's chassis and each comprise a support that extends from the chassis towards the ground. The supports are driven by a geared motor powered by the vehicle's battery and can raise the vehicle at jacking points provided on the chassis. This eliminates the need to carry a separate jack for emergencies, search for it among the vehicle's accessories in the event of a flat tire, and position it on the wheel. Furthermore, the emergency system is characterized by the fact that the emergency system comprises a control unit that can be connected to the compressed air unit, the number of electrically operated jacks, and a vehicle battery. The control unit, connected to the vehicle's battery, can supply power to the compressor and the electrically operated jacks.It is therefore neither necessary to ensure a power source is available in the event of a breakdown, nor to connect a compressor and / or an electric jack to the power source. The compressor and the electrically operated jacks can be conveniently operated via the control unit, which is configured to operate the control unit. The control unit can be located on the control unit. The control unit can include an input unit, e.g., buttons, for operating the control unit. The control unit can include an output unit, e.g., a display.
[0008] In embodiments, the compressed air hoses are retractable from the motor vehicle. The compressed air hoses can be arranged in a storage compartment in the underbody of the motor vehicle. When not in use, the compressed air hoses can be completely stowed within the motor vehicle and retractable from the motor vehicle. The storage compartment can be opened downwards, i.e., toward the floor beneath the motor vehicle. An opening in the storage compartment can be closed by a pivoting flap.
[0009] In embodiments, the compressed air hoses can be wound onto a respective reel 82 and pulled out therefrom in the event of a breakdown. When not in use, the compressed air hoses can be completely wound onto the respective reel and stored in a storage compartment in the motor vehicle.
[0010] In some embodiments, each tire is assigned an electrically operated jack and a compressed air connection. It is conceivable that one jack can be assigned to multiple wheels. It is conceivable that one compressed air connection can be assigned to multiple wheels. It is conceivable that multiple jacks can be assigned to one wheel. In embodiments, the compressed air hoses are fed by at least one pressure tank connected to the compressor. The emergency system may comprise a pressure tank. The pressure tank may be located, for example, in the trunk of the motor vehicle. The pressure tank may be configured to store compressed air generated by the compressor. The pressure tank may comprise a pressure regulator for monitoring the pressure in the pressure tank.
[0011] In embodiments, the control unit can be connected to a device necessary for operating the motor vehicle. The control unit can be connected to a device necessary for starting up the motor vehicle, e.g., an immobilizer of the motor vehicle. The control unit can be configured to display an operating status of the device necessary for starting up the motor vehicle.
[0012] In embodiments, the control unit is configured to activate and / or deactivate the device required for starting the motor vehicle. The control unit can be configured, for example, to activate and / or deactivate an immobilizer of the motor vehicle.
[0013] In embodiments, the control unit is connectable to a bus system of the motor vehicle. The control unit can be configured to receive information from a motor vehicle device connected to the motor vehicle bus system. The control unit can be connected, for example, to a tire pressure monitor of the motor vehicle via the bus system. The control unit can be configured to send information to the motor vehicle device connected to the motor vehicle bus system. The control unit can, for example, send a tire pressure to the tire pressure monitor. The bus system can be a CAN bus, for example.
[0014] In embodiments, the control unit comprises a wired and / or wireless remote control, wherein the control unit is configured to operate the control unit via the remote control. The control unit may comprise a remote control. The remote control may be connected to the control unit via a wired connection. The remote control may be connected to the control unit wirelessly. The control unit may be configured to operate the control unit via the remote control.
[0015] In embodiments, the control unit is connectable to a mobile device, for example, a mobile phone, wherein the control unit is configured to operate the control unit via the mobile device. The control unit can be configured for wireless connection to the mobile device. The control unit can be connected to the mobile device, for example, via a Bluetooth connection. The mobile device can be connected in the immediate vicinity of the motor vehicle. It is also conceivable for the mobile device to be connected to the control device without the mobile device being located near the motor vehicle. The mobile device can be the remote control. Brief description of the drawings
[0016] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of the components of the emergency system according to the invention for a motor vehicle according to one embodiment; Fig. 2 a partial side view of a motor vehicle in the area of the rear left wheel with the emergency system according to the invention for a motor vehicle according to the embodiment. Detailed description of embodiments
[0017] Fig. Figure 1 schematically shows a plan view of a motor vehicle 200. This is a conventional road vehicle with four wheels 72, 74, 76, 78, which are arranged at the front right and left and at the rear right and left, with respect to the direction of travel (indicated by an arrow A), on a chassis 202 of the motor vehicle 200 (not shown in detail).
[0018] The wheels 72, 74, 76, 78 have, as in Fig. 2 for the rear left wheel 74, each has a pneumatic tire 74a. In the event of a flat tire and a loss of pressure in one of the wheels, either the damaged wheel must be replaced with a spare wheel or the tire damage leading to the pressure loss must at least be temporarily repaired. To replace the damaged wheel with a spare wheel or at least temporarily repair the damaged wheel, the motor vehicle must be raised at a predetermined position on the chassis. After the damaged wheel has been replaced or repaired and then re-inflated, the motor vehicle can be lowered again.
[0019] For this case, the emergency system 100 comprises a compressed air unit 20, a number of electrically operated jacks 42, 44, 46, 48 and a control unit 10.
[0020] The control unit 10 is connected to the compressed air unit 20, the number of electrically operated jacks 42, 44, 46, 48, and a vehicle battery 50. The control unit 10 comprises a control unit 12. The control unit 12 is configured to operate the compressed air unit 20 connected to the control unit 10 and the number of electrically operated jacks 42, 44, 46, 48. The control unit 10 is configured to supply the electrically operated jacks 42, 44, 46, 48 with power via the vehicle battery 50.
[0021] The jacks 42, 44, 46, 48 are connected to the control unit 10 via power lines 42a, 44a, 46a, 48a. The jacks 42, 44, 46, 48 are, as shown in Fig. 2 for the rear left, are integrated into the chassis 202 of the motor vehicle 200. The car jacks 42, 44, 46, 48 can be folded out of the chassis 202 downwards towards the floor 90. Each car jack 42, 44, 46, 48 comprises a support 44b that can be extended downwards from a housing 44a towards the floor 90. The support 44b is operated by a geared motor 44c. The geared motor 44c drives the support 44b to extend out of the housing 44a and to retract into the housing 44b. By extending the support 44b from the housing 44a, the support 44b can be pressed against the floor 90 and thus the chassis 202 can be raised together with the motor vehicle 200. When not in use, the jack 44 is completely retracted into the underbody of the motor vehicle 200, at least from the side of the motor vehicle 200, and is invisible. The respective gear motor 44c of the jacks 42, 44, 46, 48 is connected to the control unit 10.The respective gear motor 44c of the jacks 42, 44, 46, 48 is operated via the control unit 12 of the control unit 10. A jack 42, 44, 46, 48 to be operated is selected via the control unit 12 of the control unit 10. Multiple jacks 42, 44, 46, 48 can be selected and operated simultaneously via the control unit 12.
[0022] The compressed air unit 20 is configured for the temporary pressurization of tires 72, 74, 76, 78 of the motor vehicle 200 in the event of a breakdown. The compressed air unit 20 comprises a compressor 22 and a compressed air tire inflation system. The compressor 22 is connected to a pressure tank 24. The pressure tank 24 stores the compressed air generated by the compressor 22. The compressed air tire inflation system comprises a number of compressed air connections 32, 34, 36, 38 permanently installed on the motor vehicle 200. The compressed air connections 32, 34, 36, 38 each comprise a flexible compressed air hose 80. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the compressed air hose 80 can be wound onto a reel 82 in a storage compartment 84 in the underbody of the motor vehicle 200 and can be pulled out therefrom. When not in use, the compressed air hose 80 is completely wound onto the reel 82 and stowed in the storage compartment 84 in the motor vehicle 200. The storage compartment 84 can be opened downwards, i.e., toward the floor 90 beneath the motor vehicle 200. An opening 86 of the storage compartment 84 can be closed by a pivoting flap 88.
[0023] To inflate the tire 74a of the wheel 74, the flap 88 is opened, and the flexible compressed air hose 80 is pulled downward from the opening 86 out of the storage compartment 74. The reel 82 can be configured to automatically retract the compressed air hose 80, and the extraction of the compressed air hose 80 occurs against a rotational preload of the reel 82. The length of the compressed air hose 80 is sufficient to reach the tire valve 74b of the tire 74a from the position of the compressed air connection 34 in any rotational position of the wheel 74. The free end of the compressed air hose 80 can be connected to the tire valve 74b. The tire 74a is inflated via the compressed air connection 34. For this purpose, the compressed air connection 34, as well as the other compressed air connections 32, 36 and 38, are connected via compressed air lines 32a, 34a, 36a, 38a to the pressure tank 24 fed by the compressor 22 and supplied with compressed air.The compressed air connection 34 is operated via the control unit 12 of the control unit 10. A compressed air connection 32, 34, 36, 38 to be operated can be selected via the control unit 12 of the control unit 10. Multiple compressed air connections 32, 34, 36, 38 can be selected and operated simultaneously via the control unit 12.
[0024] Various options can be provided for the individual operation of the compressed air connections 32, 34, 36, 38 and the jacks 42, 44, 46, 48. For example, the compressed air connections 32, 34, 36, 38 and the jacks 42, 44, 46, 48 can be operated via the control unit 12 of the control unit 10. The control unit 12 can comprise a number of switches for operating the control unit 10. The control unit 12 can comprise a display for operating the control unit 10. As shown in Fig.1, the control unit 12 is connected to a remote control 14. The remote control 14 can be connected wirelessly to the control unit 12. The control unit 12 is configured to operate the control unit 10 via the remote control 14. The remote control 14 is configured to operate the compressed air connections 32, 34, 36, 38 connected to the control unit 10 and the car jacks 42, 44, 46, 48 via the control unit 12 in the immediate vicinity of the motor vehicle 200. The control unit 12 can be connected to a mobile device 16 as a remote control, for example a mobile phone. The control unit 12 is configured to operate the control unit 10 via the mobile device 16. The compressed air connections 32, 34, 36, 38 connected to the control unit 10 and the jacks 42, 44, 46, 48 can be operated via the mobile device 16 connected to the control unit 12.
[0025] The control unit 10 is connected to a bus system 60 of the motor vehicle 200. The control unit 10 can receive information from a device of the motor vehicle 200 connected to the bus system 60 of the motor vehicle 200. The control unit 10 can send information to the device of the motor vehicle 200 connected to the bus system of the motor vehicle 200. For example, after inflating the wheel 74a, the control unit 10 can send a tire pressure reading to a tire pressure monitor of the motor vehicle 200.
[0026] The embodiment shown is of course not limited to the features shown but can, as far as technically possible, include all of the features mentioned.
Claims
[1] Emergency system (100) for a motor vehicle (200), comprising a compressed air unit (20) and a number of electrically operated jacks (42, 44, 46, 48), characterized by that the emergency system (100) comprises a control unit (10) which is connectable to the compressed air unit (20), the number of electrically operated jacks (42, 44, 46, 48) and a vehicle battery (50), wherein the compressed air unit (20) is designed to pressurise tires (72, 74, 76, 78) of the motor vehicle (200), in particular in the event of a breakdown, and comprises a compressor (22) and a compressed air tire inflation system, wherein the compressed air tire inflation system comprises a number of compressed air connections (32, 34, 36, 38) permanently installed on the motor vehicle (200), each comprising a flexible compressed air hose (80), wherein a free end of the respective compressed air hose (80) is connectable to a tire valve (74b), wherein the compressed air hoses (80) are completely stowable in the motor vehicle (200) and removable therefrom when not in use, and wherein the compressed air hoses (80) are fed by the compressor (22); wherein the number of electrically operated jacks (42, 44, 46, 48) are integrated into a chassis (202) of the motor vehicle (200) and each comprises a support (44b) extendable from the chassis (202) towards the ground (90), wherein the respective support (44b) is driven by a respective geared motor (44c) fed via the vehicle battery (40); wherein the control unit (10) comprises a control unit (12) which is configured to operate the control unit (10). [2] Emergency system (100) according to claim 1, characterized by that the compressed air hoses (80) can be pulled out of the motor vehicle. [3] Emergency system (100) according to claim 1, characterized by that the compressed air hoses (80) can be wound onto a respective reel 82 and then pulled out of the motor vehicle. [4] Emergency system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat each tire (72, 74, 76, 78) is assigned an electrically operated jack (42, 44, 46, 48) and a compressed air connection (32, 34, 36, 38). [5] Emergency system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the compressed air hoses (80) are fed by at least one pressure tank (24) connected to the compressor (22). [6] Emergency system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the control unit (10) can be connected to a device necessary for commissioning the motor vehicle (200). [7] Emergency system (100) according to claim 6, characterized by that the control unit (10) is arranged to activate and / or deactivate the device necessary for putting the motor vehicle (200) into operation. [8] Emergency system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the control unit (10) can be connected to a bus system (60) of the motor vehicle (200). [9] Emergency system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the control unit (12) comprises a wired and / or wireless remote control (14), wherein the control unit (12) is configured to operate the control unit (10) via the remote control (14). [10] Emergency system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the control unit (12) is connectable to a mobile device (16), for example a mobile phone, wherein the control unit (12) is configured to operate the control unit (10) via the mobile device (16).