Spike Cable Snare for Vehicle Pursuit Immobilization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for stopping fleeing vehicles are either dangerous, ineffective, or pose risks to innocent bystanders, as they often require direct vehicle contact, incorrect tire targeting, or deployment issues with spike strips, electromagnetic pulses, or reliance on vehicle electronics.

Innovation Solution

A spike cable mechanism where two projectile weights, connected by a cable with hooked barbs, are launched from a pursuing vehicle to bracket and wrap around a fleeing vehicle's rear tire, converting kinetic energy into angular momentum to deploy spikes in front of the tire, causing it to deflate and immobilize the vehicle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If spike strips are laid down across the road to stop a fleeing vehicle, then the tire can be deflated, but the suspect vehicle may lose control and crash into another vehicle or pedestrian

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetire deflation effectivenessVSAvoidrisk of losing control and crashing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention targets only the rear tire specifically, rather than affecting all tires. The snare is designed to wrap around and deflate a single rear tire, preserving front tire functionality for steering control while still achieving vehicle immobilization through rear tire deflation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The device segments the tire deflation function from the steering control function by selectively targeting only the rear tire. This separation allows the front tires to remain inflated and functional for maintaining directional control, while the rear tire deflation provides the stopping mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If electromagnetic pulse is used to disable vehicle electronics, then the vehicle can be stopped remotely, but it will not work on vehicles without electronic ignition or vulnerable to electronic countermeasures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectronic disabling capabilityVSAvoideffectiveness against all vehicle types

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces electronic disabling methods with a mechanical tire deflation system. The snare device physically wraps around the tire and uses mechanical force to puncture and deflate it, providing a universally effective method that works on all vehicle types regardless of their electronic systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The device uses a disposable snare mechanism that is launched, deployed, and then discarded after use. The snare wraps around the tire, deflates it, and the device remains on the vehicle or is left behind, providing a simple, inexpensive, and universally applicable solution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Productivity

If pursuit intervention technique is used to throw the suspect vehicle out of control, then the vehicle may be stopped, but the police vehicle and suspect vehicle could both go out of control endangering everybody on the road

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle stopping capabilityVSAvoidrisk to police vehicle and public safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the stopping function from direct police vehicle contact. Instead of the police vehicle physically pushing or colliding with the suspect vehicle, a separate projectile snare device is launched to perform the tire deflation, eliminating the need for aggressive contact and associated dangers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The snare device serves as an intermediary between the police vehicle and the suspect vehicle. It is launched from the police vehicle but independently performs the tire deflation function, acting as a mediator that achieves the stopping objective without requiring direct contact between the two vehicles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method safely and effectively disables a fleeing vehicle by targeting the rear tire, minimizing the risk of losing control and allowing for a controlled stop without endangering innocent people or causing collateral damage.

Implementation Method 1

converting kinetic energy into angular momentum to deploy spikes in front of the tire

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectKinetic energy conversion to angular momentum: Angular Momentum Conservation

Data Source

PatentUS7210875B1Entrapment snare for the termination of vehicle pursuits

Publication Date: 2007.05.01 GOODMAN MICHAEL C

AI summary

An entrapment snare, consisting of two small but heavy weights connected by a flexible cable covered with spikes, is designed to be launched from a pursuing law enforcement vehicle at one of the rear tires of a fleeing vehicle. One heavy weight is attached to each end of the flexible cable. The weights are forcefully projected, at ground level, in a forward direction at one of the rear tires of the fleeing vehicle such that the weights bracket the tire. Initially, the two projectile weights have forward linear momentum and the cable connecting them is slack. The middle of the cable hits the target tire at or near where the rubber meets the road and the cable goes into tension. Very quickly, the two ends of the cable attached to the projectile weights pull tightly into place in front of the target tire.