FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of two wheeler motor vehicles. More
particularly, the present invention is directed to a hazard warning system that
provides a hazard signal actuator and a turn signal switch to warn others of the
possibility of any danger experienced by a rider of a vehicle in which the said hazard
warning system is installed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The statements in this section merely provide background information related
to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art(s).
Prior art vehicular warning ,light systems commonly include a taillight
assembly, headlight assembly, brake light assembly, turn signal assembly, and an
emergency flasher assembly, all preferably employing incandescent light bulbs. Each
of these assemblies operates in a well-known manner to illuminate the roadway, to
indicate an impending stop or slowdown, indicate an impending turn, or indicate an
emergency condition of some nature.
Conventional vehicular warning lighting systems suffer from certain
drawbacks under modem driving conditions. For example, hazard signal indicator,
which is standard equipment on motor vehicles, require that a rider operate the hazard
signal indicator by pressing a push-button switch which may not be located on an
instrument measuring device. Typically, this hazard signal actuator is employed by
the rider when the rider is in a distressful situation or to warn others including other
riders, of the vehicle's presence. Therefore, if the rider misses to activate the hazard
indicator, other riders will not become aware of a rider's peril or the vehicle's
presence. For example, there are high risk of collision (esp. on a high speed highway)
between a failed two wheeler and other vehicles in case either the hazard indicator is
not present with the two wheeler or the rider misses to activate the same.
However, the present hazard warning actuator is preferably located around the
instrument measuring device (speedometer), in an upper stage of the front face
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adjacent to the right side of the instrument measuring device or may be disposed
proximate to the handle assembly. Therefore, the number of parts mounted around the
steering column of the two wheelers in assembling process gets increased leading to
the use of separate extended function circuit board and its associated wire harness and
thus more electronic parts. Further, the presence of multiple circuit boards and
plurality of wires invites complicacies and non-reliability too. Additionally, besides
the increased number of parts to be mounted around the steering column, the process
of assembling these parts require more labor and time which subsequently raises the
overall cost of production also.
Hence, there is an urgent need of a reliable, compact, easily assembled, and
less costly system for hazard warning systems for two wheelers to overcome the
above mentioned drawbacks available with the present two wheelers.
BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
The present subject matter relates to a hazard warning system for two
wheelers wherein the hazard warning system includes a turn signal switch, including
a left turn signal actuator and a right turn signal actuator, located on the handlebars of
the two wheelers for actuating respective left or right positioning bulbs. The left turn
signal actuator and the right turn signal actuator are provided outside a vehicle
information display instrument to indicate the direction of turning of two wheelers.
The hazard warning system is also provided with a hazard warning actuator
positioned on a vehicle information display instrument for flashing all the positioning
bulbs. The hazard warning system is governed by an electric circuit structure that
permits the flashing of left and/or right positioning bulbs wherein the electric circuit
structure further comprises of a winker relay that supply a voltage received fiom an
ignition supply to the positioning bulbs selectively via plurality of relays and a single
pole double throw switch. The electric circuit structure is also provided with a
microcontroller to instruct and operate the always open single pole single throw
switch (via relays) and the hazard warning actuator. These instructions and the status
of the positioning bulbs are indicated by the telltale and hazard telltale illuminated in
the vehicle information display instrument wherein the actuation of hazard warning
actuator predominates the flashing of positioning bulbs actuated by the turn signal
switch.
An object of the present invention is to dispose the vehicle information
display instrument between the handle bars of the two wheelers.
An object of the present invention is to position the turn signal switch
obliquely laterally from the headlight or tail light.
. An object of the present invention is to provide the microcontroller for
governing the modes of the hazard actuator switch and the turn signal switch.
An object of the present invention is to provide the turn signal switch with a
single pole double throw switch.
An object of the present invention is to respectively provide the turn signal
switch and the hazard warning actuator with an input and an output contact which are
respectively connected to the output in the telltale placed in the Vehicle Information
Display Instrument.
An object of the present invention is to include the output contacts and the
input contact within the turn signal switch.
An object of the present invention is to provide the two wheelers with an
ignition switch that includes a key switch.
An object of the present invention is to structure the hazard warning actuator
with a mechanical push button.
An object of the present invention is to provide the electric circuit structure
with a first relay and a second relay.
Another object of the present invention is to supply a voltage to the relays
which voltage is subsequently tuned for supplying the same to the positioning bulbs.
Another object of the present invention is to supply a voltage reduced by
current reducing resistors for illuminating the telltale in the vehicle information
display instrument.
Another object of the present invention is to provide telltale for indicating the
status of the turn signal switch and a hazard telltale for indicating the status of the
hazard warning actuator and thus that of the positioning bulbs in the vehicle
information display instrument.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the electric circuit
structure with electronic components such as but not restricted to resistors, Zener
diode, and the like.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a less costly, easy,
reliable and compact hazard warning system for two wheelers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The summary narrated above and the following detailed description of the
invention can be understood with the drawings appended to this claim. The
illustrations provide the details of the invention. However, it should be understood
that the invention is not limited to the arrangements shown. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 shows perspective views of the two wheelers in an embodiment of the present
subject matter.
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the vehicle information display apparatus
(speedometer) in an embodiment of the present subject matter.
FIG. 3 shows an electric circuit structure governing a hazard warning system in an
embodiment of the present subject matter.
FIG. 4 shows an electric circuit governing the left turn signal switch in an
embodiment of the present subject matter.
FIG. 5 shows an electric circuit governing the right turn signal switch in an
embodiment of the present subject matter.
FIG. 6 shows an electric circuit governing the hazard warning actuator in an
embodiment of the present subject matter.
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the vehicle inforniation display apparatus
(speedometer) provided with the hazard telltale stating the status of the hazard
warning actuator in an embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The embodiments of the present subject matter are described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present subject matter is not
limited to these embodiments which are only provided to explain more clearly the
present subject matter to the ordinarily skilled in the art of the present disclosure. In
the accompanying drawings, like reference alphabets and numerals are used to
indicate like components.
The present subject matter relates to a hazard warning system that provides a
hazard warning actuator 102 and a turn signal switch 104 to warn others of the
possibility of any danger experienced by a rider of a vehicle 200 in which the hazard
warning system is installed. The following description is merely exemplary in nature
and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. The present
invention will hereinafter be described in detail below as applied to a motor cycle
200. However, the principles of the present invention are also applicable to other
powered two wheeler vehicles 200. Leftward and rightward directions (see the
leftward and rightward directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1) will be described
with respect to directions as viewed by the rider seated on the motorcycle 200.
FIG. 1 illustrates a two wheeler 200 that may include a fuel tank and an
engine mounted ahead of a rider's seat on a frame and two relatively large sized
wheels on which the frame rides. The structure is necessarily provided with a pair of
left and right front fork members rotatably supported by a head pipe on the front end
of the vehicle kame. The steering of the two wheelers is possible via a front wheel
which is mounted on the front fork member whereas the rear wheel (drive wheel) is at
the rear end. FIG. 1 shows a handlebar 106 secured to an upper portion of the front
fork member, and the front and rear portion of the handle bar 106 is covered with a
handle cover which is further divided into forward and backward portions. The two
wheeler 200 is further provided with a Vehicle Information Display Instrument (as
shown in FIG. 2) (such as a speedometer) located between the handle bars 106 of the
two wheeler 200. The Vehicle Information Display Instrument 300 may be viewable
by the rider of the vehicle 200 when the rider is seated in the seat and operating the
vehicle 200. The Vehicle Information Display Instrument 300 may be disposed
generally in front of the rider so that the rider can inspect or view a variety of
information that form part of the Vehicle Information Display Instrument 300, which
information may indicate an operating condition or conditions of the vehicle. The
vehicle information display instrument 300 may be provided with audio/visual
warning indicators comprising information such as speed, the fuel level, telephone,
bluetooth, rpm of the engine, tell tale symbols, turn signal indicator, hazard warning
indicator and / or other indicators.
The present subject matter relates to the hazard warning system that includes
the turn signal switch 104 and the hazard warning actuator 102 provided to actuate
warning signals about possibility of any danger experienced by a rider of a vehicle
200. The turn signal switch 104, necessarily including a left turn signal switch 104L
and a right turn signal switch 104R, may be mounted on the right handlebar 106 of
the motorcycle 200. The turn signal switch 104 can be turned on and off selectively
by the rider of the motorcycle 200 to indicate the direction in which the motorcycle is
turned. The turn signal switch 104 activates the positioning bulbs 108 (left or right)
that may be positioned obliquely laterally from the headlight or tail light. These
positioning bulbs 108 are typically flashing lights distributed on the outside of the
vehicle to alert other road users of imminent danger, risks, hazards or of a sudden
stop or declaration. In an embodiment of the present subject matter, these positioning
bulbs are actuated by the hazard warning actuator 102 and the turn signal switch 104
in a preferred embodiment of the present subject matter. The hazard warning actuator
102 actuates a hazard mode by blinking the left and right positioning bulbs 108
simultaneously when the hazard warning actuator 102 is turned on as discussed later.
In an embodiment of the present subject matter, the present invention
discloses an electric circuit structure that governs the said hazard warning system
comprising the hazard warning actuator 102 and the turn signal switch 104. In a
preferred embodiment of the present subject matter, the electric circuit structure
operates in a winker mode for blinking either left or right positioning bulbs mounted
on left and right sides of the motor cycle 200 respectively, when the turn signal
switch 104 is turned on, aqd a hazard mode for blinking the left and right positioning
bulbs 108 simultaneously when the hazard warning actuator 102 is turned on.
More specifically, the turn signal switch 104 has one input and one output
contact (each for left switch contact and right switch contact), which is subsequently
connected to the telltale 118 (118L and 118R) located in the Vehicle Information
Display Instrument 300, in an embodiment of the present subject matter. In an
embodiment of the present subject matter, an always open single pole single throw
switch (discussed later) receives the required voltage from a winker relay 100 (via
relays as discussed later) which gets activated on turning on an ignition switch
provided with the two wheeler 200 for starting and stopping the engine of the two
wheeler. The ignition switch may comprise of a key switch. When the ignition switch
is turned on, e.g., when the key inserted therein is turned, the ignition supply is
connected to the electric circuit for supplying electric power to the electric circuit.
More specifically, when the ignition switch is turned on, the ignition supply a voltage
of, for example but not limited to, 13 V to the electric circuit. In a preferred
embodiment of the present subject matter, the hazard warning system is active only
when the ignition switch is turned on or when the aforesaid voltage of 13 V is
supplied from the ignition supply.
The output contact and the input contact are included within the turn signal
switch 104 which is provided with a single pole double throw switch 122 (as shown
in FIG. 3). The left switch contact serves as a connection terminal for instructing the
left positioning bulbs to blink, whereas the right switch contact serves as a connection
terminal for instructing the right positioning bulbs to blink. When the rider actuates
the turn signal switch 104 connected to the input contact in one or the other direction,
the input contact becomes connected to the left switch contact or the right switch
contact, whereupon the rider actuate, which is connected to the input contact, applies
the input voltage from the winker relay 100 to the electric circuit structure. In an
embodiment of the present subject matter, the hazard warning actuator 102 has one
input and one output contact which is connected to the relays (via the microcontroller
110) and subsequently to a hazard telltale 124 (positioned in the vehicle information
display instrument) respectively (as shown in FIG. 3). The hazard warning actuator
102 may be a mechanical button (shown in FIG. 7), such as a pushbutton, which can
be pressed by the rider as per the requirements. The hazard warning actuator 102,
which is constructed in the foregoing manner, is simple in structure and inexpensive
to manufacture.
In an embodiment of the present subject matter, the electric circuit of the
hazard warning system is further provided with two parallelly placed relays (112,
114) that get powered with the voltage supplied from the winker relay 100 on huning
the ignition switch ON. These relays are provided with two out pins termed as
'Common' C and 'Normal Open' NO which are successively energized, to supply the
voltage as received from the winker relay 100, to consecutively supply the said
voltage to the positioning bulbs 108 and thus to the hazard telltale 124 (in the Vehicle
Information Display Instrument) as shown in the circuit in FIG. 3. The circuit is also
provided with atleast two always open single pole single throw (SPST) switch 120 to
complete the circuit in an embodiment of the present subject matter. The operation of
the hazard warning system and the signal indicators are as mentioned below:
FOR TURNING LEFT
The rider actuates the left turn signal switch to activate the left side
positioning bulbs lO8L if the rider wishes to turn the motorcycle 200 to the left of its
movement. FIG. 4 shows that the pressing of the left turn signal switch supplies the
voltage received from the winker relay 100 via the single pole double throw switch
122 to the telltale 118L in Vehicle Information Display Instrument 300. In an
embodiment of the present subject matter, the circuit is also provided with current
limiting resistors R122, R105 and R8 and capacitor C1 that reduce the voltage as
received from the winker relay 100 to a required voltage for glowing telltale 118L in
Vehicle Information Display Instrument 300 so as to indicate the hctioning of the
left side positioning bulbs lOSL as warning indicators on vehicle information display
instrument 300.
FOR TURNING RIGHT
In a similar way, the rider actuates the right turn signal switch 104R to
activate the right side positioning bulbs lO8R if the rider wishes to turn the
motorcycle 200 to the right of its movement. FIG. 5 shows that the pressing of the
right turn signal switch supplies the voltage received from the winker relay 100 via
the single pole double throw switch 122 to the telltale 118R in Vehicle Information
Display Instrument 300 In an embodiment of the present subject matter, the circuit is
also provided with a current limiting resistor R121, R102 and R9 and capacitor C2
that reduce the voltage as received from the winker relay 100 to a required voltage for
glowing telltale 118R in Vehicle Information Display Instrument 300 so as to
indicate the functioning of the left side positioning bulbs lO8R as warning indicators
on vehicle information display instrument 300.
FOR HAZARD WARNING ACTUATOR
During operation of hazard warning actuation, a total of four lights, i.e., the
two left lO8L (front and rear) and two right (front and rear) lO8R positioning light
bulbs, are simultaneously energized to flash so as to make the motorcycle 200 highly
visible to looming vehicles. The rider actuates the hazard warning actuator 102 to
inform and warn others including other riders about the distressful situation of the
vehicle's hazardous situation. In a preferred embodiment of the present subject
matter, the hazard warning actuator 102 is located on the vehicle information display
instrument 300 as shown in FIG 7. In an embodiment of the present subject matter,
the voltage is supplied to the relays (112, 114) by a driver circuit (as shown in dotted
box in FIG. 3) wherein the voltage is subsequently dropped to a dropped voltage (via
TR11) at a transistor TR12 which gets actuated by TR13 governed by the
microcontroller, as shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 6 further shows that on actuating the hazard warning actuator 102 the
circuit gets completed which subsequently supply the voltage (dropped) to the all the
four positioning bulbs 108 (via relays (112, 114)) and subsequently to the telltale 118
and the hazard telltale 124, in an embodiment of the present subject matter. The first
relay 112 and the second relay 114 are provided with the two out pins termed as
'Common' C and 'Normal Open' NO which are successively energized, to supply the
voltage as received from the winker relay 100, to consecutively supply the said
voltage to the positioning bulbs 108 and thus to the hazard telltale 124 (in the vehicle
information display instrument) as shown in FIG. 6.
Henceforth, the dropped voltage gets equally supplied to the left lO8L as well
as right 1MR positioning bulbs, thus lighting all the bulbs simultaneously. In an
embodiment of the present subject matter, the microcontroller 110 supplies a voltage
to actuate TR4 to guide the glowing of the hazard telltale 124 in the vehicle
information display instrument 300. In other words, the dropped voltage is further
reduced by R6 to supply the required voltage to the corresponding hazard telltale 124
placed in the vehicle information display instrument 300 of the motorcycle. The
electric structure may also be provided with a forward biased diode D to control the
flow of reverse current into the structure from the electric circuit structure to the
ignition, in an embodiment of the present subject matter. In an embodiment of the
present subject matter, the hazard warning indicator are visible in terms of the hazard
telltale 124 located in the vehicle information display instrument 300 of the
motorcycle. The glowing of the hazard telltale 124 may indicate the functioning of
the hazard warning actuator wherein the corresponding pulses of the hazard telltale
124 may be generated by the winker relay 100 in an embodiment of the present
subject matter as shown in FIG. 7. In an embodiment of the present subject matter,
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the relays (112, 114) may be substituted by other switching devices such as
optoisolators / optocouplers, FET, and the like.
The hazard warning system in accordance with the present subject matter
positions the hazard warning actuator 102 and its corresponding telltale on the vehicle
information display instrument 300 of the motorcycle that distinctly provides an easy
option of actuating the hazard warning actuator 102. This advantageously reduces the
confusion of actuation in between the hazard warning actuator 102 and the turn signal
switch 104 (left and right). Further, the position of hazard warning actuator 102 on
the vehicle information display instrument 300 effectively reduces the complexity of
the switches on the handlebars 106 and thus reduces the cost too. In particular, the
position of hazard warning actuator 102 on the vehicle information display
instrument 300 teduces the use of separate extended function circuit board and its
associated wire harness. Moreover, such hazard warning system requires less labor
and time which automatically controls the overall cost of production also. Hence, the
hazard warning system of this present subject matter is thus directed to serve the
diverse and complex requirements of effective and advanced hazard warning system
in the two wheelers and the like.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to
the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept
thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as
illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the
appended claims rather than by the foregoing description and all variations,
substitutions and changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency
of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

WE CLAIM:
1. A hazard warning system for two wheeler 200 comprising:
a turn signal switch 104 comprising a left turn signal switch 104L and a right
turn signal switch 104R located on the handlebars 106 of the two wheeler 200
for actuating respective left or right positioning bulbs (108L and 108R)
provided on the two wheeler 200 for indicating the direction of turning of two
wheeler 200;
a hazard warning actuator 102 provided on a vehicle information display
instrument 300 for flashing all the positioning bulbs 108;
an electric circuit structure for governing flashing of left and/or right
positioning bulbs 108 wherein the electric circuit structure comprises:
a winker relay 100 for supplying a voltage received from an ignition
supply to the positioning, bulbs 108 selectively via atleast two relays
(112,114) and a single pole double throw switch 122;
a microcontroller 110 to instruct and operate the always open single
pole single throw switch 120 via relays (112 &114), and the hazard
J
warning actuator 102;
a hazard telltale 124 and a telltale 118 (118L and 118R) illuminated in the
vehicle information display instrument 300 to indicate the respective status of
the hazard warning actuator 102 and the turn signal switch 104 wherein the
actuation of hazard warning actuator 102 predominates the flashing of
positioning bulbs 108 actuated by the turn signal switch 104.
2. The hazard warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two relays
(112,114) are connected in COMMON connection.
3. The hazard warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric circuit
structure is provided with atleast two always open single pole single throw
switch 120.
4. The hazard warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turn signal
switch 104 is provided with an input contact which is connected to the winker
relay 100, and an output contact, which is connected to the telltale 118 in the
information display instrument 300 via the single pole double throw switch
5. The hazard warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output contacts
and the input contact are included within the turn signal switch 104.
6. The hazard warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the left and right
switch contact serves as respective connection terminals for instructing the
left and right positioning bulbs 108 respectively.
7. The hazard warning system as claimed in claim I , wherein the hazard warning
actuator 102 may be a mechanical button such as a pushbutton, which can be
pressed by a rider.
8. The hazard warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each relay (112,
114) is provided with two out pins termed as 'Normally Open' NO and
'Common' C which are successively energized to supply the voltage as
received from the winker relay 100 to the positioning bulbs 108 and thus to
the hazard telltale 124.
9. The hazard warning system gs claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of
resistors tune down the voltage received from the winker relay 100 to a
voltage required for illuminating the telltale 118 located in the vehicle
information display instrument 300.
10. The hazard warning system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hazard warning
system operates only when an ignition switch is activated in two wheeler 200.