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US 6,501,375 B1Granted
Brake monitoring system
AssigneeIndian Head Industries, Inc.
InventorsBob R. Weant, Alan C. Lesesky, Graydon Choinski, Richard Rink, Henry T. Dangson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A brake monitoring system generally includes a plurality of brake monitors mounted on each of a plurality of brake actuators. Each brake monitor generally comprises a sleeve mounted to a push rod which moves relative to a stone shield on the brake actuator. The displacement of the sleeve relative to the stone shield is measured to determine the stroke of the brake actuator. This information is sent via an RF transmitter to a controller which determines the condition of each of the brakes.
Claims50
A vehicle brake monitor comprising:
- a brake actuator including a brake component which moves during actuation of said brake actuator having a sleeve;
- a sensor detecting the movement of said brake component sleeve, said sensor generating a continuous signal indicating a displacement of said brake component continuously from an initial position to an overstroke position of said brake component.
A vehicle brake monitor compromising:
- a brake actuator having a brake component which moves during actuation of said brake actuator;
- a sensor mounted in a stone shield in said brake actuator detecting the movement of said brake component, said sensor generating a continuous signal indicating a displacement of said brake component continuously from a rest position to an overstroke position of said brake component.
A vehicle brake monitoring comprising:
- a brake actuator having a brake component which moves during actuation of said brake actuator;
- a sensor detecting the movement of said brake component, said sensor generating a continuous signal indicating a displacement of said brake component continuously from a rest position to an overstroke position of said brake component;
- and
- an RF transmitter transmitting said signal.
1 more element
A vehicle brake monitoring system comprising:
- a brake actuator;
- a sensor associated with said brake actuator, said sensor generating a signal based upon a predetermined stroke distance of said brake actuator;
- a pressure switch generating a pressure signal when air pressure in said brake actuator reaches a predetermined level;
- a controller receiving a signal from said sensor, said controller receiving said pressure signal;
- said controller indicating a worn brake condition when said sensor indicates that said brake actuator has moved said predetermined stroke distance and said pressure switch is not generating said pressure signal.
2 more elements
A controller for a vehicle brake monitoring system comprising:
- means for receiving a plurality of signals indicating conditions of a plurality of brake actuators;
- means for analyzing said plurality of signals and generating a warning based upon said analysis;
- a socket and a programming clip selectively programming said controller to recognize said signals from one of a plurality of predefined configurations of brake actuators on a vehicle.
A vehicle brake monitoring system comprising:
- a brake actuator having a brake component which moves during actuation of said brake actuator;
- at least three magnets;
- a first magnet sensor and a second magnet sensor, said first and second magnet sensors each generating a signal indicating the presence or absence of one of said magnets;
- one of said magnets and said magnet sensors mounted to move with said brake component along a path, the other mounted adjacent said path;
- said first and second magnet sensors each generating said signal when said brake component is in a rest position;
- said first magnet sensor generating said signal and said second magnet sensor not generating said signal when said brake component is in a first actuated position;
- said second magnet sensor generating said signal and said first magnet sensor not generating said signal when said brake component is in a second actuated position;
- a brake circuit generating a brake signal based upon a driver attempting to actuate said brake actuator;
- a controller receiving said signals from said magnet sensors, said controller receiving said brake signal from said brake circuit;
- said controller indicating a dragging brake condition when at least one of said first and second magnet sensors are not generating said signal and said brake circuit is not generating said brake signal.
7 more elements
A vehicle brake wear warning system comprising:
- a plurality of brake actuators;
- a sensor associated with each said brake actuator, each said sensor generating a signal indicating a condition of said associated brake actuator, each said sensor including a wireless RF transmitter transmitting said signal;
- a controller having a wireless RF receiver receiving said signals from said sensors, said controller generating a warning based upon said signals from said sensor.
A vehicle brake monitor comprising:
- a brake actuator having a brake component which moves during actuation of said brake actuator;
- a magnet comprising magnetized particles in a polymer matrix;
- a sensor detecting relative movement of said magnet, one of said magnet and said sensor mounted to move with said brake component, said sensor generating a signal indicating a displacement of said brake component.
A vehicle brake monitoring system comprising:
- a brake actuator having a housing and a push rod movable relative to said housing;
- a sensor detecting movement of said push rod generating a signal indicating a position of said push rod relative to said housing from a rest position to a second position;
- a passive RF transmitter receiving a signal from said sensor and receiving energy via a transmitted RF signal from another RF source thereby transmitting the signal generated by said sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.