US 12,312,027 B1
Rollover prevention apparatus
Michael R. Schramm, Perry, UT (US)
Filed by Michael R. Schramm, Perry, UT (US)
Filed on Feb. 3, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/431,969.
Application 18/431,969 is a continuation of application No. 18/157,049, filed on Jan. 19, 2023, granted, now 11,926,379.
Application 18/157,049 is a continuation of application No. 17/391,001, filed on Aug. 1, 2021, granted, now 11,565,747, issued on Jan. 31, 2023.
Application 17/391,001 is a continuation of application No. 16/384,506, filed on Apr. 15, 2019, granted, now 11,077,877, issued on Aug. 3, 2021.
Application 16/384,506 is a continuation of application No. 15/442,573, filed on Feb. 24, 2017, granted, now 10,259,494, issued on Apr. 16, 2019.
Application 15/442,573 is a continuation of application No. 14/733,042, filed on Jun. 8, 2015, granted, now 9,580,103, issued on Feb. 28, 2017.
Application 14/733,042 is a continuation of application No. 14/145,950, filed on Jan. 1, 2014, granted, now 9,050,997, issued on Jun. 9, 2015.
Application 14/145,950 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/222,157, filed on Aug. 31, 2011, granted, now 8,634,989, issued on Jan. 21, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/385,535, filed on Sep. 22, 2010.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/378,482, filed on Aug. 31, 2010.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B62D 1/16 (2006.01); B62D 5/00 (2006.01); B62D 6/00 (2006.01); B62D 15/02 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 6/002 (2013.01) [B62D 1/16 (2013.01); B62D 5/005 (2013.01); B62D 6/008 (2013.01); B62D 15/0215 (2013.01); B62D 15/025 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An anti-roll steering apparatus having:
a steering input device mechanically slaved to at least one steerable guide wheel of a vehicle such that a movement of said steering input device which causes a corresponding change in an angular position of said at least one steerable guide wheel relative to the body of said vehicle and such that a change in an angular position of said at least one steerable guide wheel relative to said body of said vehicle causes a corresponding movement of said steering input device,
at least one sensor that senses the magnitude of at least one driving parameter comprising at least one of vehicle speed, degree of steering turn, vehicle center of gravity, vehicle suspension stiffness, vehicle wheelbase width, vehicle loading, vehicle tire pressure, traction between a road and vehicle tires, and road bank angle,
at least one actuator that actuates upon receipt of an actuation signal, and
an electronic control unit that sends an actuation signal to said actuator when a sensed driving parameter exceeds a predetermined magnitude,
wherein said apparatus has a first mode such that for the duration of when said apparatus is in said first mode, always allows said vehicle to be steered within a maximal non-rollover steering range of motion of said vehicle but always prevents said vehicle from being steered to a point of roll of said vehicle at any rollover capable speed of said vehicle regardless of an oversteer load being applied to said steering input device and without locking said steering input device such that all movement of said steering input device is prevented, and
wherein said apparatus has a second mode that allows said vehicle to be steered within a maximal non-rollover steering range of motion of said vehicle but does not prevent said vehicle from being steered to a point of roll of said vehicle, and
wherein said apparatus transitions from said first mode to said second mode in response to an application of a non-oversteer load to said steering input device, and
wherein if said at least one steerable guide wheel is turned beyond an angular position point of a rollover threshold of said vehicle, said vehicle will roll over.