DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING THE GRIP OF A TIRE FITTED TO A MOBILE VEHICLE TRAVELING ON A ROAD SURFACE, AND MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT INCORPORATING SUCH A DEVICE

Abstract

A device for improving the grip of a tire fitted to a mobile vehicle traveling on a road surface, this device being on board the mobile vehicle and comprising: means for detecting and characterizing the presence of water on the road surface in front of the mobile vehicle, means for processing information received from the detection and characterization means and for generating control instructions, and means for emitting a power laser beam directed toward a portion of road surface in front of a tire of the mobile vehicle, which means are designed to vaporize or sublimate the water present in front of the tire in response to control instructions. The device is used, in particular, for motor vehicles and aircraft.

Claims

1. A device for improving grip of a tire fitted to a mobile vehicle traveling on a road surface, the device being on board the mobile vehicle and comprising: means for detecting and characterizing the presence of a liquid on the road surface in front of the mobile vehicle, means for processing information received from the detection and characterization means and for generating control instructions, and means for emitting a power laser beam directed toward a portion of road surface in front of at least one tire fitted to the mobile vehicle, which means are designed to vaporize or sublimate the water present in front of the at least one tire in response to control instructions.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing and control means are configured to further process information received from at least one braking safety system fitted to the mobile vehicle.

3. The of claim 2, wherein the detection and characterization means comprise a camera having an image-capture field directed toward a portion of road surface in front of the mobile vehicle.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the detection and characterization means further comprise means for measuring or estimating an external temperature in a vicinity of the road surface.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for emitting a laser beam comprise an optical laser module positioned under the mobile vehicle and arranged so as to project the laser beam onto a portion of road surface in front of a tire of the mobile vehicle.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the means for emitting a laser beam further comprise a laser source module controlled by the processing and control means and connected to the optical module via optical fiber means.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the optical laser module is configured to scan a laser beam over the road surface according to a predetermined scanning trajectory.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein the braking safety system comprises an anti-lock braking system.

9. The device of claim 2, wherein the braking safety system comprises an emergency braking system.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein the braking safety system comprises an electronic stability program.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the control and processing means are connected to an electronic control unit of the mobile vehicle.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is mounted to a vehicle comprising a body to which the means for emitting the laser beam are attached, wherein the device further comprises means for detecting movement of the body and for transmitting detection information to the control and processing means.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for deflecting at least a portion off liquid water located in front of the at least one tire.

14. The device of claim 1, further comprising means for cooling at least one component of the device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the cooling means comprises a heat transfer fluid circuit.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the cooling means of the device are independent of a cooling system of the mobile vehicle.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for emitting a laser beam are further configured to create a plasma for diverting at least a portion of water present in front of the at least one tire.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the means for emitting a laser beam are further configured to create a deflection shock wave.

19. A method for improving grip of a tire fitted to a mobile vehicle traveling on a road surface, implemented in a grip optimization device according to claim 1, the method comprising: detecting and characterizing presence of water on the road surface in front of the mobile vehicle, transmitting information for detecting and characterizing the presence of water on the road surface, processing the detection and characterization information to generate control instructions, and emitting a power laser beam directed toward a portion of road surface in front of at least one tire fitted to the mobile vehicle, so as to vaporize or sublimate the water present in front of the at least one tire in response to the control instructions.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising processing information received from at least one braking safety system fitted to the mobile vehicle.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the detection and characterization comprises using a camera having an image-capture field directed toward a portion of road surface in front of the mobile vehicle.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the detection and characterization further comprises measuring or estimating an external temperature in a vicinity of the road surface.

23. A motor vehicle comprising: a body including a front bumper; at least one tire; and a device for improving grip of the at least one tire to a road surface, the device including: means for detecting and characterizing the presence of water on the road surface in front of the motor vehicle, means for processing information received from the detection and characterization means and for generating control instructions, and means for emitting a power laser beam directed toward a portion of the road surface in front of at least one tire fitted to the motor vehicle, the means for emitting the power laser beam being arranged in the front bumper of the motor vehicle.

24. The motor vehicle of claim 23, further comprising means for deflecting at least a portion of the liquid water located in front of the at least one tire.

25. An aircraft comprising: a body; landing gear including at least one tire; and a device for improving grip of the at least one tire to an airstrip, the device including: means for detecting and characterizing the presence of water on an airstrip in front of the aircraft when traveling on the airstrip, means for processing information received from the detection and characterization means and for generating control instructions, and means for emitting a power laser beam directed toward a portion of airstrip in front of at least one tire of the landing gear of the aircraft, the means for emitting the power laser beam being arranged on the landing gear.

26. The aircraft of claim 25, further comprising means for deflecting at least a portion of the liquid water located in front of the at least one tire.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] Other advantages and particularities of the present disclosure will become apparent on reading the detailed description of implementations and embodiments that are in no way exhaustive, and the following appended drawings:

[0051] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the device applicable to any traveling vehicle, in a first version in a servo-controlled ablation mode.

[0052] FIG. 2 is an example of the device applied to a motor vehicle traveling on a wet road.

[0053] FIG. 3 is a curve showing the relationship between the wavelength (in m) of a light beam and the absorption (in m.sup.1) of this wave by the water.

[0054] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a specific version of the grip optimization device according to the present disclosure, in servo-controlled tandem mode, implementing a water deflection system.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows the operating mode of the version of the grip optimization device illustrated in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] Since these embodiments are in no way limiting, it will particularly be possible to consider variants of the present disclosure comprising only a selection of the features described or illustrated, subsequently isolated from the other features described or illustrated (even if this selection is isolated within a phase comprising other features), if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the present disclosure from the prior art. This selection comprises at least one feature, preferably functional, without structural details, and/or with only a portion of the structural details if this portion alone is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the present disclosure from the prior art.

[0057] With reference to FIG. 1, the grip optimization device 10 according to the present disclosure comprises a control and processing unit (ECU) 1 receiving as input information for detecting the presence of water and characterizing this water from a camera and sensors 9, the information being transmitted by the electronic control unit (ECU) 12 of the vehicle, and information on the braking conditions emitted by the braking system 6.

[0058] The control and processing unit 1 controls a laser source module 13 that is supplied by an electrical power unit 11. This laser source module 13 emits a laser beam that is transmitted via an optical fiber 2 to an optical module 3 arranged in the bumper of the vehicle thus equipped and intended to direct a laser beam toward a portion of road surface upon the command of the control and processing unit 1.

[0059] With reference to FIG. 2 and in the context of the device applying to a motor vehicle 100 and for the purpose of optimizing braking, the electronic control unit 1 can advantageously be housed in the engine bay; the wheels receiving the device according to the present disclosure will be the front wheels. The transmission laser beam is transferred by an optical fiber 2 to the bumper where the optical module 3 emitting the effective beam 7 is housed. This optical module 3 contains a lens block.

[0060] The laser source module 13 is cooled by a heat transfer fluid circuit comprising hydraulic pipes 41,42, a hydraulic pump 4 and a ventilated cooling radiator 5.

[0061] The effective laser beam 7 can vary in shape: it can thus be linear and parallel to the leading edge of the tire or else angled or else in the shape of a V, sine wave or any other shape that will enable its effectiveness to be optimized.

[0062] Then, in order to optimize the effectiveness of the laser beam on the ground, the focal distance between the lens block and the ground must remain within a low tolerance range. Indeed, the device according to the present disclosure can include feedback control of the focal distance as a function of the body movements. A braking phase will result in a movement where the front of the vehicle will lower a few centimeters; in contrast, an acceleration phase will lower the rear of the vehicle. It is then conceivable to apprehend the body movements in order to have a usable beam within its efficiency range.

[0063] As soon as the grip optimization device 10 is activated, a power current must be available very quickly from an electrical power unit 11 on board the vehicle. Depending on the type of vehicle, whether a combustion, electric or hybrid engine, the available current may be redirected from the auxiliary functions (on-board computer, Hi-Fi, comfort components) to the safety device 10.

[0064] Water can be in different physical states: rain, snow, ice; the vaporization energy necessary is therefore directly related to the physical state of the water to be vaporized. Studying the water absorption coefficient (in cm-1) determines the wavelength of the laser to be used.

[0065] With reference to FIG. 3, which illustrates the relationship between the wavelength of a light beam and the absorption of this wave by the water, it is possible to refine the choice of laser technology to be used. Erbium laser: In particular, YAG emits a beam with a wavelength of 2.9 m, which corresponds to a water absorption peak in the infrared invisible range. In addition, this type of laser emits a beam that can be easily transported via optical fiber, which is a significant advantage for the embeddability of the device.

[0066] The optical power required will be dependent on the tire width, vehicle speed, ambient temperature and amount of water present on the road surface.

[0067] In a second embodiment illustrated by FIGS. 3 and 4, the grip optimization device 20 comprises, in addition to all the components of the first embodiment that has just been described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a turbine 21 controlled by the control and processing unit (ECU) 1 and powered by the electrical energy unit 11, and a blower module 22 arranged inside the vehicle so as to be able to divert a portion of the water present in front of a tire fitted to this vehicle, this deflection effect being combined with an ablation effect of the water present in front of this rotating tire.

[0068] Of course, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments that have just been described and numerous other embodiments can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. In particular, the different components of the grip optimization device fitted to a motor vehicle can be arranged in locations other than those described in FIG. 2.