Vehicles - Automotive and Trucks
Analyzed automobiles regarding brake failures, steering failures,
transmission failures, lamp failures, truck rollover accidents and many other
vehicle accidents. These investigations were focused on mechanical
engineering factors of dynamics, control systems and engineering mechanics.
Analyzed battery explosions that were caused by arcing within the battery
case. Battery cases could have been designed so that if an electrical
discharge within the case should occur and cause an explosion, the case would
fail in a manner that would protect nearby persons from injury.
Analyzed brake failures that were caused by loss of vacuum and by brake
pedal failures. It was shown that vehicles couldn't be stopped under certain
circumstances when vacuum is lost to the power brakes.
Analyzed cruise control systems relative to their potential to cause cars to
accelerate out of the driver's control. It was shown that Electromagnetic
Interference could cause cruise control systems to accelerate a car beyond the
driver's ability to control the vehicle.
Analyzed engine controls regarding their potential to cause cars to
accelerate out of the driver's control. This event is often called, "Sudden
Acceleration Incident" in government literature. It was shown that
Electromagnetic Interference could cause the engine of a vehicle to operate at
Wide-Open Throttle without the driver depressing the accelerator pedal.
Analyzed seat-belt reels and the location of seat belt anchor points for seat
belts. It was shown that improper location of the seat belt anchor points
could result in the occupant being subjected to large unbalanced compressive
forces upon their spine.
Analyzes steering failures caused by hydraulic pump failures and control
valve failures. It was found that failure of a spring within the servo valve
in the power steering control valve could cause the car to become unsteerable.
Analyzed vehicles to determine possible causes for a car accelerating out of
the driver's control. The Department of Transportation, National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration terms this event SAI (Sudden Acceleration
Incident). It was shown that a number of the engine control and cruise
control components each have the potential to cause the car to accelerate out
of control.
Analyzed the explosive separation of multi-part truck rims. Particular
emphasis was given to the mismatching of the truck tire rim and the retaining ring.
Analyzed transmissions for unexpected vehicle movement after the driver
placed the transmission in PARK. This condition is often referred to as
Illusory Park. Particular emphasis was focused on the lack of any warning
given to the driver that the vehicle was not safely constrained.
Prepared crash reconstruction analyses for frontal and side-impact accidents
using the computer programs Edsmac and Edcrash. These programs have been used
to recreate and reconstruct both side and frontal impact collisions.
Testified regarding control and safety guards for a wide variety of
machines. As a designer and manufacturer of special equipment for many years,
extensive background was utilized to evaluate many machines. These machines
have ranged from all types of machine tools to equipment that grinds wooden logs.
Analyzed construction equipment regarding tip-over accidents.
Malfunctions of the control systems and of the power train. Equipment
analyzed has included front-end loaders, paving machines and concrete pumping
machines.
Testified in cases where conveyors started unexpectedly and operators were
entrapped within the rollers and belts. Conveyors investigated have included
both auger and belt conveyors.
Analyzed equipment involved in tip-over accidents and in electrocution
injuries. The equipment was operated remotely and by direct hands-on levers.
Testified regarding tractor rollover injuries and auger conveyor entrapment
injuries. Studied a wide variety of different farm machines. Typically, the
cause of the accident was improper guarding and warnings.
Testified regarding equipment used in pizza restaurants and in manufacturing
various food products. Often the cause of the injury was the coasting of the
cutting blades after the machine was shut off.
Analyzed accidents involved with roll over injuries and improper use of the
trucks. Inadequate driver training has also been an issue.
Analyzed various control systems and guards for a wide variety of machine
tools. Having owned and operated many different machine tools, an extensive
background was used in these cases.
Analyzed printing machines used in schools to assess the safety of the
equipment. Lack of guarding and coasting after shut down were consideration
in these cases.
Analyzed guards and control systems. The difficulty in interconnecting the
guard and the control system was often an issue.
Analyzed metal and wood cutting saws. The objective was to assess the
guards to determine whether they satisfied established standards. Often the
issue of 'kick-back' was part of the analysis.
Analyzed, as a mechanical engineer, the function of various machines used in
manufacturing processes. Having owned and operated many different machines
and equipment, an in-depth background was used to evaluate various functions
of many different types of equipment.
Analyzed the strength of various chairs. These analyses included evaluating
manufacturing and design flaws. In some cases tipping stability was a
consideration.
Analyzed the control systems and the actuating means for various doors.
Powered over-head doors have been studied extensively.
Analyzed elevator doors to determine why they opened inappropriately.
Analyzed their tipping stability as determined by the width of the base, the
center of gravity and the weight of the unit.
Analyzed ladders that slipped sideways and fell or collapsed. The ladders
were both aluminum and wood.
Testified regarding guards for lawn mowers and the potential for mowers and
weed eaters to throw debris which injures operators and nearby people. The
potential for powered lawn mowers to move from neutral into a powered gear has
been an issue.
Testified regarding the mechanical strength of such implants as
intramedullary nails and hip joint replacements. The analyses have centered
on the strength of the implant, the forces and thus stresses that the implant
must resist and the manufacturing processes used to manufacture the implant.
Analyzed equipment that was thought to have caused a fire by tipping over or
by an electrical malfunction. The tipping stability of a gas-fired heater was
an issue in one case. The electrical grounding was an issue in another case.
Analyzed coefficient of friction and different kinds of 'hidden hazards'
that caused a person to fall. Equipment was used to measure the coefficient
of friction under various conditions and often with the injured person's
actual shoe that was worn at the time of the accident.