Wheel brake caliper with integral brake pad torque sensing

A brake caliper for use with a rotor comprising:

• a channel on one side of the rotor;
• opposing brake pads adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the rotor, one of the brake pads being movable toward an other of the brake pads by sliding in the channel, and the brake pads being movable to apply a braking force against the rotor and generating a braking torque;
• a torque transfer device adapted to be resiliently supported by the brake caliper and in mechanical communication with one of the brake pads, the torque transfer device being movable with respect to the brake caliper in response to the braking torque, the torque transfer device comprising
• a channel member in the channel in sliding contact with the one of the brake pads.
• a torque transfer member connected to the channel member, and
• a spring member positioned between the brake caliper and the torque transfer member;
• and
• a torque sensor mounted in a sensing relationship with the torque transfer device, the torque sensor generating a sensor signal in response to a change in position of the torque transfer device.

A brake caliper for use with a rotor comprising:

• opposing brake pads adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the rotor, the brake pads applying a braking force against the rotor and generating a braking torque;
• a torque transfer device adapted to be supported by the brake caliper and in mechanical communication with one of the brake pads, the torque transfer device being movable with respect to the brake caliper in response to the braking torque;
• and
• a torque sensor comprising a magnet adapted to be mounted on the brake caliper and a magnetic field sensor mounted on the torque transfer device in a sensing relationship with the magnet, the torque sensor operable to generate a sensor signal in response to a change in position of the torque transfer device and torque sensor relative to the magnet.

A braking system comprising:

• a rotor;
• opposing brake pads adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of the rotor, the brake pads applying a braking force against the rotor and generating a braking torque;
• a torque transfer device adapted to be resiliently supported by the brake caliper and in mechanical communication with one of the brake pads, the torque transfer device being movable with respect to the brake caliper in response to the braking torque;
• and
• a torque sensor mounted in a sensing relationship with the torque transfer device, the torque sensor operable to generate a sensor signal in response to a change in position of the torque transfer device, wherein the torque sensor comprises:
• a magnet mounted on the torque transfer device and movable with respect to the brake caliper in response to the braking torque;
• and
• a magnetic field sensor mounted at a location permitting the magnetic field sensor to detect a change in a magnetic field of the magnet in response to a change of position of the magnet.

A method of sensing a braking torque generated by a brake caliper forcing opposed brake pads against opposite sides of a rotor, the method comprising:

• opposing the braking torque with a member in mechanical communication with a brake pad and movable relative to the brake caliper;
• sensing a change in position of the member, the change in position of the member being related to a magnitude of the brake torque;
• and
• sensing a change in a magnetic field caused by a change in position of the member.