Brake tester

A brake tester for a vehicle having a fluid brake system, said system having a reservoir which fluidly communicates with a vehicle brake chamber upon actuation of a vehicle brake pedal, said brake tester comprising,

• a housing,
• valve means contained within said housing for controlling the fluid pressure within said reservoir,
• a pressure transducer operatively coupled with said brake chamber and adapted to generate an analog electrical output signal representative of the fluid pressure within the brake chamber, and
• circuit means for measuring the elapsed time between the depression of the brake pedal and the attainment of a first pressure within said brake chamber and for measuring the elapsed time between the subsequent release of the brake pedal and the attainment of a second pressure within said brake chamber, said second pressure being lower than said first pressure, said circuit means comprising:
• accelerometer means attached to the brake pedal which emits an output signal in response to movement of the brake pedal,
• an analog signal processor having an input coupled to the analog output signal from said pressure transducer wherein said signal processor generates a first timing signal upon the depression of said brake pedal and the attainment of said first pressure in said brake chamber and wherein said signal processor generates a second timing signal upon the release of said brake pedal and the attainment of said second pressure in said brake chamber,
• first timing means started by the signal from said accelerometer means and stopped by said first timing signal, and
• second timing means started by the signal from said accelerometer means and stopped by said second timing signal.