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US 9,447,832 B2Granted
Vehicle brake monitoring system and method
AssigneeNBS Innovative Solutions, Ltd.
InventorsJamie Bishop Todd, Sam Jamison Todd, Jerid Allan Leclair
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle brake monitoring system comprises at least one sensor for detecting relative rotational position of a brake camshaft during vehicle braking. The at least one sensor is unconnected to the camshaft for remotely detecting the position. Processing structure communicates with the at least one sensor, and processes the output of the at least one sensor to determine brake status.
Claims40
A vehicle brake monitoring system comprising:
- a magnet mounted adjacent an end of a brake camshaft, the brake camshaft being rotatable during vehicle braking and causing the magnet to rotate;
- a first non-contact magnetic sensor spaced axially from the end of said brake camshaft and fixed in position relative to said brake camshaft, said first non-contact magnetic sensor configured to sense continuously rotation of said magnet during vehicle braking and generate corresponding output;
- a second non-contact magnetic sensor moveable with a slack adjuster during vehicle braking, said second non-contact magnetic sensor spaced axially from the end of said brake camshaft and configured to sense continuously relative movement of said magnet and second non-contact magnetic sensor during vehicle braking and generate corresponding output;
- and
- processing structure communicating with the first and second non-contact magnetic sensors, the processing structure configured to process the output of the first non-contact magnetic sensor to determine brake wear and process the output of the second non-contact magnetic sensor to determine brake stroke length.
2 more elements
A vehicle brake monitoring apparatus comprising:
- a magnet mounted on an end of a brake camshaft, the brake camshaft being rotatable during vehicle braking and causing the magnet to rotate;
- a non-contact magnetic sensor in axial alignment with and spaced from the end of said brake camshaft, said non-contact magnetic sensor being moveable with a slack adjuster during vehicle braking, said non-contact magnetic sensor being configured to sense continuously relative movement of said magnet and non-contact magnetic sensor during vehicle braking and generate corresponding output indicative of brake stroke length.
A method of monitoring a vehicle brake, the method comprising the steps of:
- during vehicle braking, (i) continuously and remotely sensing, using a first non-contact magnetic sensor axially spaced from and fixed relative to an end of a brake camshaft, rotation of a magnet mounted on the end of said brake camshaft during rotation of the brake camshaft and in response generating corresponding output and (ii) continuously and remotely sensing, using a second non-contact magnetic sensor moveable with a slack adjuster, relative movement of the second non-contact magnetic sensor and the magnet during rotation of the brake camshaft and pivoting of the slack adjuster and generating corresponding output;
- communicating the sensor output to processing structure;
- and
- comparing, by the processing structure, the sensor output to previous sensor output to determine brake wear and brake stroke length.
1 more element
A vehicle brake comprising:
- an activator responsive to actuation of a vehicle brake pedal during vehicle braking;
- a push rod coupled to said activator, said push rod being extended linearly by said actuator during vehicle braking;
- a slack adjustor coupled to said push rod adjacent one end thereof and to a brake camshaft adjacent an opposite end thereof, the slack adjuster acting as a lever to impart rotation of said brake camshaft in response to linear movement of said push rod;
- a magnet mounted adjacent an end of said brake camshaft adjacent said slack adjuster;
- a first non-contact magnetic sensor axially spaced from the end of said brake camshaft and fixed in position relative to said brake camshaft, said first non-contact magnetic sensor configured to sense continuously rotation of said magnet during vehicle braking and generate corresponding output indicative of brake wear;
- and
- a second non-contact magnetic sensor axially spaced from the end of said brake camshaft and moveable with said slack adjuster during vehicle braking, said second non-contact magnetic sensor configured to sense continuously relative movement of said magnet and second non-contact magnetic sensor during vehicle braking and generate corresponding output indicative of brake stroke length.
4 more elements
A system for determining vehicle brake status comprising:
- a magnet mounted on an end of a brake camshaft, the brake camshaft being rotatable during vehicle braking and causing the magnet to rotate;
- a first non-contact magnetic sensor in axial alignment with and spaced from the end of said brake camshaft, said first non-contact magnetic sensor being fixed in position relative to said brake camshaft, said first non-contact magnetic sensor being configured to sense continuously rotation of said magnet during vehicle braking and generate corresponding sensor data;
- a second non-contact magnetic sensor in axial alignment with and spaced from the end of said brake camshaft and moveable with a slack adjuster during vehicle braking, said second non-contact magnetic sensor configured to sense continuously relative movement of said magnet and second non-contact magnetic sensor during vehicle braking and generate corresponding sensor data;
- and
- processing structure configured to process the sensor data to determine brake wear and brake stroke length.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.