37 results about "Rumble strip" patented technology

An embodiment of the present invention includes a device to alter transfer characteristics of a road departure warning installation installed on a road to a driver of a vehicle, including a rumble strip sensor to sense input from a rumble strip and an adjustable vehicle component in communication with the rumble strip sensor, the adjustable vehicle component configured to automatically adjust to increase an amount of input from the rumble strip sensed by the driver. Another embodiment of the present invention includes a device to estimate lateral displacement of a vehicle based on the location of a rumble strip installed on a road with respect to the vehicle, the device including a processor configured to receive four signals indicative of contact of a rumble strip with respective associated four tires of the vehicle and to estimate a lateral distance that the vehicle has traveled beyond the detected rumble strip.

A lane departure avoidance system is provided with a rumble strip sensing device and a lateral lane departure rate determining component. The rumble strip sensing device is configured to detect an input from a rumble strip to a vehicle wheel that is indicative of a rumble strip engagement amount. The lateral lane departure rate determining component is configured to determine a lateral rate of lane departure of a vehicle based on a detection result of the rumble strip sensing device.

An embodiment of the present invention includes a device to alter transfer characteristics of a road departure warning installation installed on a road to a driver of a vehicle, including a rumble strip sensor to sense input from a rumble strip and an adjustable vehicle component in communication with the rumble strip sensor, the adjustable vehicle component configured to automatically adjust to increase an amount of input from the rumble strip sensed by the driver. Another embodiment of the present invention includes a device to estimate lateral displacement of a vehicle based on the location of a rumble strip installed on a road with respect to the vehicle, the device including a processor configured to receive four signals indicative of contact of a rumble strip with respective associated four tires of the vehicle and to estimate a lateral distance that the vehicle has traveled beyond the detected rumble strip.

A vehicle controlling method which includes detecting an engagement of a vehicle tire with a rumble strip of a road, and performing first and second vehicle controls. The first vehicle control includes operating a controller to control movement of the vehicle after the vehicle tire has disengaged from the rumble strip to bring the vehicle tire back into engagement with the rumble strip. The second vehicle control includes operating the controller to continue to control movement of the vehicle to maintain the vehicle tire in engagement with the rumble strip after the vehicle tire has been brought back into engagement with the rumble strip.

An embodiment of the present invention includes a device to alter transfer characteristics of a road departure warning installation installed on a road to a driver of a vehicle, including a rumble strip sensor to sense input from a rumble strip and an adjustable vehicle component in communication with the rumble strip sensor, the adjustable vehicle component configured to automatically adjust to increase an amount of input from the rumble strip sensed by the driver. Another embodiment of the present invention includes a device to estimate lateral displacement of a vehicle based on the location of a rumble strip installed on a road with respect to the vehicle, the device including a processor configured to receive four signals indicative of contact of a rumble strip with respective associated four tires of the vehicle and to estimate a lateral distance that the vehicle has traveled beyond the detected rumble strip.

A lane departure avoidance system is provided with a rumble strip sensing device and a lateral lane departure rate determining component. The rumble strip sensing device is configured to detect an input from a rumble strip to a vehicle wheel that is indicative of a rumble strip engagement amount. The lateral lane departure rate determining component is configured to determine a lateral rate of lane departure of a vehicle based on a detection result of the rumble strip sensing device.

An embodiment of the present invention includes a device to alter transfer characteristics of a road departure warning installation installed on a road to a driver of a vehicle, including a rumble strip sensor to sense input from a rumble strip and an adjustable vehicle component in communication with the rumble strip sensor, the adjustable vehicle component configured to automatically adjust to increase an amount of input from the rumble strip sensed by the driver. Another embodiment of the present invention includes a device to estimate lateral displacement of a vehicle based on the location of a rumble strip installed on a road with respect to the vehicle, the device including a processor configured to receive four signals indicative of contact of a rumble strip with respective associated four tires of the vehicle and to estimate a lateral distance that the vehicle has traveled beyond the detected rumble strip.

A vehicle suspension system (3) is provided that allows attention eliciting information such as rumble strips, bumps and road markers to be conveyed to the vehicle operator substantially without detracting from the performance of the vehicle suspension system. A control unit (10) determines if a prescribed warning condition exists according to vehicle information and / or road surface information acquired by an information acquiring unit, and performs a warning control including an extending and retracting movement of the actuator interposed between an sprung member (8) and an unsprung member (9) of the vehicle at a prescribed frequency when the warning condition is determined.

An assembly is provided for excavating cavities in a road surface for a variety of purposes, among them, the formation of rumble strips, the installation of light reflective road markers, the milling of potholes, boring of holes for various purposes and the like. The system is used in combination with a vehicle having a motor powered vertically movable rear lift gate which in use defines a vertically displaceable substantially horizontal platform. A cutting apparatus is secured to the upward facing surface of the lift gate with the actual cutting portion being mounted on a rotatable drive shaft extending laterally of the gate, such that the cutting portion projects at least partially below the bottom surface of the lift gate, whereby with the gate in a lowered position, the cutting portion can engage the surface of the road on which the vehicle resides. A motor is secured to the upper surface of the gate powers the drive shaft. The vertical position of the lift gate is adjustible with respect to the surface of said road, to control the depth of cut and thus the degree of excavation produced by the cutting apparatus.

The present application relates to road traffic monitoring to detect the number, speed and / or type of vehicles travelling on a road. Noise features (104) are deployed on, or formed in, the surface of a road (101). The noise feature (104) is arranged to generate a characteristic acoustic signature when traversed by the wheels of a vehicle (105) travelling within a lane of the road. A distributed acoustic sensor (102, 103) is deployed to detect occurrences of the characteristic acoustic signature. In some embodiments the noise element may comprise at least two distinct elements (104a, 104b), for instance rumble strips arranged transversely to the road, which are a known distance apart along the road. The acoustic signals from a wheel crossing both elements can be detected and used to determine the vehicle speed. The number of vehicle axles and axle separation can also be determined to categorize the type of vehicle. A plurality of noise features may be located in different lanes of a multi-lane road with noise features in different lanes arranged to generate different characteristic acoustic signatures.

A warning system for an automotive vehicle produces a vibration in the vehicle simulating a rumble strip to inform a driver of various events. A vibration with braking torque is produced by controlling individually brake fluid pressure in each wheel brake cylinder, independently of manual braking operations. The warning system is applied to a lane deviation prevention (LDP) system. The LDP system provides a warning with vibration and a control effort of yawing moment by wheel torque or steering torque.

In certain preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a grinding machine for creating depression patterns in a surface such as asphalt or concrete. The depression pattern may be a rumble strip for alerting drivers who drift off a driving lane, or may be for other uses. Use of a depression pattern (instead of protrusions) eliminates interference with snowplow operation in areas where plows are used. In the present invention, the grinding machine is based on a trolley which moves at a uniform height along a surface, and includes a forward “gauge” wheel which controls the relative grinding drum depth based on the wheel position and rotation. In a preferred embodiment, the grinding assembly is raised and lowered relative to the trolley in correspondence with the advancement of the trolley.

A rumble strip cutting machine having a drum that can be shifted from one side of the machine to the other. The machine includes a piston wheel that imparts an up and down motion to the frame so that rumble strips can be cut at desired intervals as the machine is driven along the road shoulder. The piston wheel includes a wheel mounting assembly on each side of the machine so that the wheel can be conveniently shifted from one side of the machine to the other. Additional structures allow for the flexing of the machine frame, applying pressure to the cutting drum, adjusting the depth of cut, tightening the belt used to drive the drum, and lifting the machine for job site transportation. The machine enables a method of cutting rumble strips close to obstructions on narrow shoulders while driving the machine in the direction of moving traffic.

A vehicle controlling method which includes detecting an engagement of a vehicle tire with a rumble strip of a road, and performing first and second vehicle controls. The first vehicle control includes operating a controller to control movement of the vehicle after the vehicle tire has disengaged from the rumble strip to bring the vehicle tire back into engagement with the rumble strip. The second vehicle control includes operating the controller to continue to control movement of the vehicle to maintain the vehicle tire in engagement with the rumble strip after the vehicle tire has been brought back into engagement with the rumble strip.

A method of operating a tire pressure monitor system on a vehicle to determine a wheel location of wheels equipped with pressure sensors. The method includes equipping a plurality of wheels with a pressure sensor, determining a plurality of pressure values from each pressure sensor, detecting a variation of the pressure values from a plurality of pressure sensors, and determining a wheel location based on a comparison of the variations of the pressure values. Variations useful for determining wheel location may include running over an object such as a rumble strip or pot-hole on the roadway, or the vehicle executing a turn.

A cutting head is provided for milling rumble strip depressions in a road surface. The cutting head has a center rotational axis and a transverse diameter that varies along the length of the rotational axis so that an outer cutting surface of the cutting head defines a plane curve, such as an ellipsoid with truncated ends. The cutting head is mounted on a milling machine and rotated about the rotational axis as it is moved alternately up and down into the road surface. As the milling machine moves down the road, the movement of the cutting head creates spaced apart rumble strip depressions in the road. Because of the elliptical configuration of the cutting head cutting surface, the dimensions of the depressions can be varied along both the forward and lateral axes by simply varying the depth of cut. The curved profile of the cutting head along the rotational axis creates rumble strip depressions that avoid the sharp ninety degree corners and vertical side walls found in conventional rumble strips.

A rumble strip forming machine is provided which includes a transport, a lift device, a grinder, and a drive means that connect drive portions of the transport to the grinder to synchronize engagement of a cutting device with the pavement with forward movement of the transport. The grinder is configured to provide both rotation of a pavement cutter and up and down movement of the pavement cutter while portions of the grinder remain in contact with the pavement.

A method of operating a tire pressure monitor system (12) on a vehicle (10) to determine a wheel location of wheels (14) equipped with pressure sensors (16). The method includes equipping a plurality of wheels (14) with a pressure sensor (16), determining a plurality of pressure values from each pressure sensor (16), detecting a variation of the pressure values from a plurality of pressure sensors (16), and determining a wheel location based on a comparison of the variations of the pressure values. Variations useful for determining wheel location may include running over an object such as a rumble strip or pot-hole on the roadway, or the vehicle (10) executing a turn.

A rumble-strip following system for automated vehicle steering includes a vibration-detector, a steering-device, and a controller-circuit. The vibration-detector is configured to detect vibration experienced by a host-vehicle traveling a roadway. The steering-device is configured to steer the host-vehicle. The controller-circuit is in communication with the vibration-detector and the steering-device. The controller-circuit is configured to determine that the vibration is indicative of a tire of the host-vehicle contacting a rumble-strip arranged parallel to a heading of the roadway, and operate the steering-device so the tire follows the rumble-strip.

A cargo carrier for portable rumble strips is mountable to a hitch assembly for a vehicle. The cargo carrier includes a basket configured to receive and retain a portable rumble strip for storage and transport, and a mounting assembly that includes a pintle adapted to be received in a receiver of a hitch assembly mountable to a vehicle. The basket has a frame that includes frame elements that define a bottom wall, relatively long front and back walls, and relatively short side walls that connect the front wall and the back wall. The front, back, and side walls extend from respective sides of the bottom wall in a common direction. And the basket further includes a rotating element at the top of at least one of the side walls to facilitate drawing rumble strips lengthwise over the side wall into or out of the basket.

An apparatus and method for milling rumble strips into a pavement surface with a cutting wheel. The cutting wheel has rows of a cutting and non-cutting surface and is rotated to alternately present and withdraw a cutting surface and a non-cutting surface to the asphalt and cut a periodic rumble strip pattern as the apparatus moves forward. This alternating pattern is achieved without any up and down motion of the cutting wheel, and the apparatus can be operated a relatively rapid speed.

The invention discloses an intelligent changeable rumble warning traffic marked lines. The intelligent changeable rumble warning traffic marked lines are formed by two rows of parallel lamp groups which are embedded on the ground; the lamp groups are formed by a plurality of lamp units; the lamp units are formed by a plurality of cube lamp covers which are arranged above the horizon line and a plurality of base bodies which are arranged under the horizon line; the length, the width and height of the cube lamp covers are from 1.5 to 3 cm; LED (Light Emitting Diode) lamps are embedded on bilateral sides of the lamp covers along the traffic marked lines; a white-basic-color lamp and a yellow-basic-color lamp are arranged in every LED lamp; distance between the lamp covers of every lamp unit is from 1.5 to 5 cm. According to the intelligent changeable rumble warning traffic marked lines, embossments are formed on the road surface due to the lamp bodies and an uneven road condition is formed in the traffic marked lines, so that when tires of vehicles pass the marked lines, an effect that the vehicles drive on a rumble strip is generated, drivers are warned that the vehicles are changing lines or departing from existing driving tracks, and the purpose of reducing traffic accidents is achieved.

Equipment for machining solid surfaces such as for example, surfaces made of asphalt or concrete or similar solid materials, in particular for making sound strips, said equipment comprising rotating machining or digging means carried by a main frame, and rotating means which engage said main supporting frame, wherein the rotation of said rotating means in a predefined direction of rotation results in said main supporting frame being rotated alternately in two opposite directions of rotation.

Disclosed is a movable rumble strip device comprising a plurality of main bodies aligned in the length direction; a plurality of joints which are respectively provided between each of the plurality of main bodies and are of shorter length than the main bodies; and coupling rods which extend in the width direction and couple the boundaries of the main bodies and joints in a rotatable fashion, wherein the main bodies and the joints are folded around central axes constituted by the coupling rods such that the joints are disposed alternately to each other and constitute an upper surface and a lower surface and the main bodies are disposed on the inside and constitute side surfaces.

In certain preferred embodiments, the present invention provides a grinding machine for creating depression patterns in a surface such as asphalt or concrete. The depression pattern may be a rumble strip for alerting drivers who drift off a driving lane, or may be for other uses. Use of a depression pattern (instead of protrusions) eliminates interference with snowplow operation in areas where plows are used. In the present invention, the grinding machine is based on a trolley which moves at a uniform height along a surface, and includes a forward “gauge” wheel which controls the relative grinding drum depth based on the wheel position and rotation. In a preferred embodiment, the grinding assembly is raised and lowered relative to the trolley in correspondence with the advancement of the trolley.

A system for retrieving a portable rumble strip from a roadway includes a carrier mountable to a vehicle for transporting retrieved portable rumble strips and a winch mountable to the carrier. The carrier has a support surface configured to support a rumble strip. And the winch includes a rotatable drum and a lead with a major dimension being a length dimension. A proximal end of the lead is connected to the drum such that rotation of the drum winds the lead about the drum. A hook is connected to a distal end of the lead opposite the proximal end. The hook is configured to engage and hold a portable rumble strip as the drum rotates to draw the lead and the hook to the winch, thereby drawing the engaged portable rumble strip into the carrier.

A cargo carrier for portable rumble strips is mountable to a hitch assembly for a vehicle. The cargo carrier includes a basket configured to receive and retain a portable rumble strip for storage and transport, and a mounting assembly that includes a pintle adapted to be received in a receiver of a hitch assembly mountable to a vehicle. The basket has a frame that includes frame elements that define a bottom wall, relatively long front and back walls, and relatively short side walls that connect the front wall and the back wall. The front, back, and side walls extend from respective sides of the bottom wall in a common direction. And the basket further includes a rotating element at the top of at least one of the side walls to facilitate drawing rumble strips lengthwise over the side wall into or out of the basket.

A system for retrieving a portable rumble strip from a roadway includes a carrier mountable to a vehicle for transporting retrieved portable rumble strips and a winch mountable to the carrier. The carrier has a support surface configured to support a rumble strip. And the winch includes a rotatable drum and a lead with a major dimension being a length dimension. A proximal end of the lead is connected to the drum such that rotation of the drum winds the lead about the drum. A hook is connected to a distal end of the lead opposite the proximal end. The hook is configured to engage and hold a portable rumble strip as the drum rotates to draw the lead and the hook to the winch, thereby drawing the engaged portable rumble strip into the carrier.

A vehicle suspension system (3) is provided that allows attention eliciting information such as rumble strips, bumps and road markers to be conveyed to the vehicle operator substantially without detracting from the performance of the vehicle suspension system. A control unit (10) determines if a prescribed warning condition exists according to vehicle information and / or road surface information acquired by an information acquiring unit, and performs a warning control including an extending and retracting movement of the actuator interposed between an sprung member (8) and an unsprung member (9) of the vehicle at a prescribed frequency when the warning condition is determined.