Kenneth Lang

US Patent:

40238644, May 17, 1977

Filed:

Sep 29, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/617714

Inventors:

Thomas J. Lang - Torrance CA
Joseph A. Lang - Huntington Station NY
Kenneth G. Lang - East Northport NY
Robert L. Davis - Lloyd Harbor NY

Assignee:

Lang Davis Industries, Inc. - Huntington NY

International Classification:

B60T 720

US Classification:

303 20

Abstract:

An automatic stability control system is provided which senses the lateral acceleration of a vehicle by way of strain gauge sensors, or the like, to provide lateral acceleration signals to an amplifier. Since strain gauge sensors which operate on the piezoelectric effect provide very weak signals, special amplifier circuits must be employed. The amplified signals control a brake assembly on the vehicle to simultaneously, continuously and gradually apply the right and left brakes with a force proportional to the lateral acceleration signals in order to eliminate swerving or swaying of the vehicle. The amplifier is mounted in the vehicle and includes a sensitivity adjustment for setting a threshold point corresponding to a minimum lateral acceleration force to which the system will respond. Sensor configurations are also used which have strain gauges to sense the regular brake fluid pressure of the vehicle in combination with the lateral force sensing sensors. Additional sensitivity adjustments are provided for the amplifiers of these configurations.