Brake Pad Monitor with Conductivity Measurement
AssigneeRobert Bosch GmbH
InventorsHamidreza Mohseni, Mark Phipps
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A brake pad apparatus having a conductivity sensor disposed thereon operable to generate conductivity data corresponding to the remaining thickness of the brake pad's friction lining. The conductivity data may be analyzed by a processor to estimate the remaining life of the brake pad for purposes of maintenance, diagnostic, or repair. The conductivity sensor may utilize a conductivity probe that comprises one or more insulation coatings to insulate conductive material from the friction lining. The brake pad apparatus may further comprise a wireless transmitter to transmit data to a processor external to the brake pad apparatus.
Claims20
A brake pad apparatus comprising:
- a backing plate having a mounting surface;
- a friction lining coupled to the mounting surface having a tribological surface substantially parallel to the mounting surface and a transverse surface substantially perpendicular to the tribological surface, the transverse surface having a traverse width substantially defining the distance of the tribological surface from the mounting surface;
- a first insulation coating disposed upon a portion of the transverse surface and having a first coating width substantially equal to the transverse width;
- a conductive material disposed upon the first insulation coating and having a conductive width substantially equal to the first coating width;
- a second insulation coating disposed upon the conductive material and having a second coating width substantially equal to the conductive width;
- a conductivity sensor electrically coupled to the conductive material and operable to measure the conductivity of the conductive material and generate corresponding conductivity data;
- and
- a wireless transmitter detachably coupled to the backing plate and in data communication with the conductivity sensor, the wireless transmitter operable to wirelessly transmit the conductivity data generated by the conductivity sensor.
A method for modifying a brake pad assembly having a backing plate and a friction lining comprising a tribological surface and a transverse surface having a transverse width substantially perpendicular to the tribological surface, the tribological surface substantially parallel to the backing plate at a distance substantially equal to the transverse width, the method comprising:
- applying to a portion of the transverse surface a first insulation coating along the transverse width;
- applying to the first insulation coating a conductive material along a width substantially equal to the width of the first insulation coating;
- and
- applying to the conductive material a second insulation coating along a width substantially equal to the width of the conductive material.
A brake monitor system comprising:
- a brake pad assembly having a backing plate and a friction lining coupled to a mounting surface of the backing plate, the friction lining comprising a tribological surface and a transverse surface substantially perpendicular to the tribological surface, the tribological surface disposed in a substantially parallel fashion to the mounting surface at a distance substantially equal to the width of the transverse surface;
- a first insulation coating disposed upon a portion of the transverse surface and having a width substantially equal to the width of the transverse surface;
- a conductive material disposed upon the first insulation coating and having a width substantially equal to the width of the first insulation coating;
- a second insulation coating disposed upon the conductive material and having a width substantially equal to the width of the conductive material;
- a conductivity sensor electrically connected to the conductive material and operable to measure the conductivity of the conductive material and generate corresponding conductivity data;
- a transmitter in data communication with the conductivity sensor and operable to transmit the conductivity data;
- and
- a processor in data communication with the transmitter and operable to receive the conductivity data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.