Vehicle diagnostic system
First Claim
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1. A method of alerting a vehicle operator to a brake assembly condition comprising the steps of:
- a) measuring a distance from a brake lining pad to an inner surface of a brake drum with a position sensor;
b) comparing the distance from the pad to the inner surface to a predetermined value; and
c) providing a signal to the vehicle operator indicating brake drag when the distance from the brake lining pad to the inner surface of the brake drum is not greater than the predetermined acceptable value.
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Abstract
A monitoring and information system for a vehicle'"'"'s brakes and tires. The system includes one or more position sensors and/or temperature sensors that are used to measure parameters of the vehicles brakes and tires. The measured parameters are compared to known threshold parameters with one or more comparitors. When one of the measured parameters is outside the limits of one of the threshold parameters, the system provides a signal indicating that an undesirable condition exists on one of the vehicles brakes or tires and provides information about the undesirable condition.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method of alerting a vehicle operator to a brake assembly condition comprising the steps of:
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a) measuring a distance from a brake lining pad to an inner surface of a brake drum with a position sensor;
b) comparing the distance from the pad to the inner surface to a predetermined value; and
c) providing a signal to the vehicle operator indicating brake drag when the distance from the brake lining pad to the inner surface of the brake drum is not greater than the predetermined acceptable value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of alerting a vehicle operator of an undesirable brake condition, comprising:
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a) measuring a temperature of a wheel component;
b) comparing the temperature of the wheel component with a known threshold temperature;
c) measuring a time period that the wheel component temperature exceeds the known threshold temperature;
d) comparing the measured time period with a known soak time; and
e) providing a signal to an operator of the vehicle indicating an undesirable condition when the temperature of the wheel component has exceeded the known threshold temperature for longer than the known soak time. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21)
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14. A method of alerting a vehicle operator to a brake condition comprising:
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a) measuring a thickness of a brake lining pad;
b) comparing the measured thickness of the brake lining pad to a known threshold brake lining thickness; and
c) providing a signal for such operator indicating the condition of the brake lining pad.
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19. A method of alerting a vehicle operator of brake adjustment comprising:
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a) measuring a distance from a brake lining pad to an inner surface of a brake drum;
b) comparing the distance from the brake lining pad to the inner surface of the brake drum to a range of predetermined acceptable values; and
c) providing a signal to an operator of the vehicle indicating a need for service when the distance from the brake lining pad to the inner surface of the brake drum is outside the range of predetermined acceptable values.
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22. A method of alerting a vehicle operator of brake imbalance comprising:
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a) measuring a thickness of a brake lining pad of a first brake assembly;
b) measuring a thickness of a brake lining pad of a second brake assembly;
c) determining a difference in thickness between the brake lining pad of the first brake assembly and the brake lining pad of the second brake assembly;
d) comparing the difference in thickness to a predetermined threshold value; and
e) providing a signal to the vehicle operator indicating brake imbalance when the difference in thickness exceeds the predetermined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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24. A method of alerting a vehicle operator of brake imbalance, a vehicle includes first and second brakes assemblies, said method comprising:
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a) measuring a temperature of a component of the first assembly;
b) measuring a temperature of a component of the second assembly;
c) determining a difference between the measured temperatures;
d) comparing the difference to a predetermined threshold value; and
e) providing a signal for the vehicle operator indicating brake imbalance when the difference in temperature exceeds the predetermined threshold value.
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25. An apparatus for indicating a condition of a vehicle brake assembly, such brake assembly includes a brake shoe having an outer surface, a brake lining pad connected to such outer surface of such brake shoe and a brake drum having an inner surface surrounding such brake shoe and brake lining pad, such brake shoe and brake lining pad being movable from a disengaged position wherein such brake lining pad is spaced apart from such inner surface of such brake drum and an engaged position wherein said brake lining pad is in forcible engagement with such brake drum, said apparatus comprising:
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a) a sensor for measuring a gap between the lining and the inner surface of the drum in the disengaged position;
b) a comparitor for comparing the measured gap to known values; and
c) an indicator in communication with said comparitor for indicating brake conditions determined by comparing the measured gap and the known values, said indicator being perceivable by a vehicle operator.
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31. An apparatus for indicating a condition of a vehicle wheel assembly comprising:
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a) a sensor coupled to said assembly for measuring a temperature of a wheel assembly component;
b) a first comparitor for comparing a measured temperature of the component to a known threshold temperature;
c) a timer for measuring a time period the measured temperature exceeds said known threshold temperature;
d) a second comparitor for comparing the measured time period to a known soak time; and
e) an indicator in communication with said first and second comparing means for indicating wheel assembly conditions determined by comparing the measured temperature and measured time to the known threshold temperature and soak time. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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35. An apparatus for indicating a condition of a vehicle brake assembly, such assembly includes a brake shoe having an outer surface, a brake lining pad connected to such outer surface of such shoe and a brake drum having an inner surface surrounding such brake shoe and brake lining pad, such shoe and pad being movable from a disengaged position wherein such brake lining pad is spaced apart from such inner surface of such drum and an engaged position wherein said pad is in forcible engagement with such drum, said apparatus comprising:
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a) a gap measuring mechanism for measuring a gap between the lining and the drum;
b) a first comparitor for comparing the measured gap to known values;
c) a sensor coupled to said brake assembly for measuring a temperature of a brake assembly component;
d) a second comparitor for comparing a measured temperature of the brake to known threshold temperatures;
e) a timer for measuring a time period the measured temperature exceeds said known threshold value;
f) a third comparitor for comparing the measured time period to a known soak time; and
g) an indicator in communication with said first, second and third comparitors for indicating dragging brakes, brake fade, tire ply separation possible, brakes out of adjustment, brake imbalance and brake lining status.
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36. A method of alerting a vehicle operator to a tire condition comprising:
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a) embedding a thermocouple in a tread of a tire;
b) measuring a temperature of said tread with said thermocouple;
c) comparing the temperature of said tread to a predetermined threshold value; and
,d) providing a signal to the vehicle operator indicating when the temperature of the tread exceeds the predetermined threshold value.
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37. An apparatus for indicating a condition of a vehicle tire comprising:
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a) a thermocouple embedded in a tread of a tire;
b) a comparitor for comparing a temperature of the tread to a known safe value; and
,c) an indicator in communication with said comparitor for indicating when said temperature exceeds said known safe value.
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Specification