GB2467588A

GB2467588A - Vehicle immobilising system

Info

Publication number: GB2467588A
Application number: GB0902121A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher John Brummell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-10
Filing date: 2009-02-10
Publication date: 2010-08-11
Also published as: GB0902121D0

Abstract

The system comprises a laser 3 or other coherent radiation source to deflate vehicle pneumatic tyres. The system may be aimed directly or indirectly. It may be mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a police vehicle 2, it may be hand-held or fixed and triggered manually or automatically. Safety interlocks may be employed to reduce risk to people and property.

Description

I

Title: Vehicle Immobilising System

Background:

This invention relates to a laser based system for immobilising vehicles.

In the UK alone, approximately 40 people die very year in police pursuit accidents (Source BBC Radio 4, 2007). The cost in police time, damage and the use of support aircraft to follow, for example, stolen vehicles is huge. The current approved methods of stopping a vehicle include "boxing" and the use of "stingers" which are laid across the road and burst the tyres as the car is driven over them. fri the USA, firearms have been used to burst tyres. The alternative is to follow the vehicle and "wait it out".

All the existing methods have limitations. Boxing can be a high-risk strategy and can put Police officers at risk. A stinger can be driven around and avoided. A "follow and wait" strategy increases the risk to the public and can have a high cost. It is estimated that to keep a Police helicopter in the air costs �5000 per hour. Shooting at the tyres with a firearm is a high-risk strategy, which is only considered in extreme circumstances.

Statement of Invention:

This invention proposes to overcome these problems by allowing the controlled and safe deflation of the tyres whilst in pursuit. Ideally this would be when the vehicle is travelling slowly to reduce the risk of injury to the occupants, the public and the police whilst reducing the costs of such pursuits. The invention proposes to use a laser or other coherent radiation source.

Advantages: The ability to deflate tyres from a distance ensures minimal risk to the public and law enforcement officers, whilst enabling a timely conclusion to pursuits, thereby reducing costs, reducing risks to the public and improving arrest rates.

Vehicle Immobilising System: This invention relates to a laser based system for immobilising vehicles. This invention utilises a laser, fired at a tyre continuously, pulsed or as a single pulse depending on the required degradation of the tyre and the subsequent deflation of the tyre. The effect of the laser beam on the tyre is to cause a combination of melting and a chemical breakdown of the tyre compound. The internal pressure of the tyre causes the tyre to fail and the tyre to deflate. lyre rubber has good absorption properties of C02 laser transmitted frequencies, centred on 9.4 and 10.6 micrometers.

The system may be deployed in a variety of ways, for example, vehicle mounted, on a fixed base or as a hand-held system.

The aiming system can be direct (e.g. the laser are mounted on a steerable platform), or indirect using mirrors or fibre-optics. The aiming mechanism can be pneumatic, hydraulic or electro-mechanical. Alternatively, the laser may be fixed and is triggered by the target vehicle.

The system can be used in both civilian and military, eg checkpoint, environments.

The drawings: Specific examples of the Vehicle Immobilising System will now be described.

Figure 1 shows a vehicle-mounted system.

Figure 2 shows a fixed system.

Figure 3 shows a shoulder-mounted system.

Example I -Figure 1

The target vehicle (1) is pursued by a police vehicle (2). On the police vehicle (2) there is a steerable unit (3) mounted on a vibration-reducing platform (4). An expanded view of the steerable unit (3a) shows the components of the unit and contains a sighting visible frequency laser (5), a CCIV video camera (6) and the main C02 laser (12) and associated control systems (11), which will deflate the tyre. The visible frequency laser (5) is used as a targeting aid, together with the CCIV video camera (6). The video feed is taken in to the interior of the police vehicle and displayed on a screen (7). The targeting laser and the main, C02 laser are aligned together and with the video camera on a steerable, vibration reducing platform. The operator selects the pulse length (8) based on a number of parameters, which may include assumed tyre condition and thickness, speed of the vehicle, whether the laser needs to penetrate mud flaps and weather conditions. Using the aiming system (9) to point the steerable platform at the tyre, when the targeting laser is sighted on the target vehicle's tyre, and when it is safe to do so, the pulse or pulses is fired using the fire control system (10). The lens of the laser is normally covered to maintain optical integrity and is uncovered shortly before the main C02 laser (12) pulse is fired. The laser beam (13) hits the target tyre and degrades the tyre sufficiently to ensure total deflation rendering the car difficult to drive.

The angle of the laser is limited to prevent accidental reflection and is aimed downwards to ensure a "miss" hits the road surface. Various safety systems may be employed to ensure safe use, including a speed interlock, targeting only tyre material (using absorption properties) or only on a rotating surface (using interlerometry techniques).

Example 2-Figure 2

A ground-mounted C02 laser unit (1) is aimed across the road at a height to hit the tyre of the target vehicle (2) only. An expanded view of the unit (1 a) shows the components of the unit. A secondary infrared source (3) is shone across the path of the target vehicle at a reflector (4). The operator selects the appropriate pulse duration (5). When the target vehicle breaks the infrared beam, this is detected by the control circuitry (6) and the main C02 laser (7) is triggered. The laser beam (8) is aimed at a fixed height to cause damage to the wall of the tyre, resulting in deflation of the tyre(s).

The process may be repeated on a second tyre and on subsequent vehicles, or may be set as a lire once" system.

Example 3-Figure 3

A shoulder-mounted C02 laser. The laser is mounted in a shoulder-mounted unit (1) which is aimed manually on the target vehicle (2). An expanded view of the shoulder-mounted unit (Ia) shows the constituent components. The operator sets the pulse length (3) and aims the unit using an optical sight (4). The sight may be a standard telescopic sight or an enhanced sight, using, for example, night vision systems or infrared systems. Once the system is aimed at the target, the operator manually triggers (5) the C02 laser (6). The laser beam (7) causes the tyre to deflate.

Claims

The claims: 1. A system for deflating a vehicle pneumatic tyre using a laser, or alternative amplified coherent radiation, for the purpose of slowing or immobilising a vehicle.
2. The system, as claimed in claim 1, does not rely on a projectile or anything emitted from the system other than amplified coherent radiation (e.g. a laser) to deflate the tyre.
3. The system, as claimed in claim 1, may be aimed manually, using a direct mechanical system, mirrors or fibre-optics.
4. The system as claimed in claim I may be fixed and triggered by the target vehicle and the trigger may be optical, electro-mechanical, radar, sonic.
5. The system as claimed in claim I may be triggered automatically, including, but not limited to, optical, electromechanical or magnetic systems, or may be triggered manually.
6. The system as claimed in claim I may include safety systems including, but not limited to, speed interlocks, targeting on tyre compounds using absorption techniques or interferometry techniques.