Vehicle brake monitoring system

• US 20030222774A1
• Filed: 09/27/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hi-Tech Transport Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hi-Tech Transport Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Koenigsberg, Bernard L., Hart, Joel E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,891,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/453
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/403 Brake circuit failure
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2270/413 Plausibility monitoring, cross check, redundancy
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 8/885 using electrical circuitry

Abstract

A vehicle brake monitoring system including processing units receiving signals from each of the several brake stroke sensors mounted on a vehicle. The sensors adapted to generate signal corresponding to stroke movement of the brakes. The system adapted to process the sensor signal, signal from the vehicle'"'"'s stoplight and a time delay between changes in the stoplight signal and corresponding changes in the sensor signal to determine the current condition of a brake. This determination, whether made on a tractor or trailer, can then appear on the display of the data acquisition unit itself, or through data communications to a display in the vehicle'"'"'s cab; or on a warning light in the cab if the unit detects a malfunctioning brake.

Claims

1. A method for indicating performance condition of a brake associated with a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving a stoplight signal, the stoplight signal having an on state or an off state;

receiving a sensor signal corresponding to a stroke movement of the brake, wherein the corresponding sensor signal is divided into multiple zones corresponding to multiple positions of the brake within its stroke movement;

activating a time out clock adapted to generate a time out signal;

processing input data comprising the stoplight signal, the corresponding sensor signal and the time out signal; and

indicating output data indicative of the condition of the brake.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the condition of the brake is normal released brake, normal braking, overstroke, dragging brake, sensor failure or failed brake.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising activating an alarm upon generating the overstroke brake condition, the failure brake condition, the sensor failure condition or the dragging brake condition.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the sensor signal corresponds to voltage values and the multiple zones correspond to multiple ranges of the voltage values.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the processing input data comprises generating the sensor failure condition in response to receiving a low voltage sensor signal.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the multiple zones comprise Zone A, Zone B, Zone C, Zone D and Zone E, wherein Zone A corresponds to the brake being in the normal released brake condition, Zone B corresponds to the brake being normal braking condition, Zone C corresponds to the brake approaching the overstroke condition, Zone D and Zone E correspond to the brake being in the overstroke condition.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the processing input data comprises generating the failed brake condition in response to the sensor signal being in the Zone A, the stoplight signal reaching the on state and receiving the time out signal after a delay interval related to a time required for the brake to actuate.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the processing input data comprises generating the dragging brake condition in response to the sensor signal being in the Zone B, the stoplight signal reaching the off state and receiving the time out signal after a delay interval related to a time required for the brake to return from its actuated position to its non-actuated position.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the processing input data comprises generating the dragging brake condition in response to the sensor signal being in the Zone D, stoplight signal reaching the off state and receiving the time out signal after the delay interval related to the time required for the brake to return from its actuated position to its non-actuated position.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the processing input data comprises generating the overstroke brake condition in response to the stoplight signal being in the on state, the sensor signal reaching the Zone D and receiving a time out signal after a delay interval related to a time required for the stoplight signal to turn off after the sensor signal reaches the Zone D.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein the processing input data comprises generating the dragging brake condition in response to the stoplight being in the off state, the sensor signal reaching the Zone E, and receiving the time out signal after the delay interval related to the time required for the brake to return from its actuated position to its non-actuated position.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein the processing input data comprises generating the normal braking condition in response to the sensor signal being in the Zone B, and stoplight signal being in the on state.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the processing input data comprises generating the normal braking condition in response to the brake stroke sensor being in the Zone C and the stoplight signal being in the on state.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the processing input data comprises generating the normal braking condition in response to the sensor signal being in the Zone C and the stoplight being in the off state.

15. The method of claim 6, wherein the processing input data comprises generating the normal released brake condition in response to the sensor signal being in the Zone A, and the stoplight signal being in the off state.

16. The method of claim 6, wherein the processing input data comprises generating the overstroke brake condition in response to the stoplight signal being in the on state, and the sensor signal reaching the Zone E.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the output data indicative of the condition of the brake is indicated along with data indicative of a location of the brake.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a first brake actuation;

indicating the condition of the brakes upon the first brake actuation;

in response to indicating the condition of the brakes upon the first brake actuation activating a inspection delay counter having an expiration time; and

continuing to indicate the condition of the brakes upon the first brake actuation until the expiration time of the inspection delay counter is reached or a second brake actuation.

19. A vehicle brake monitoring system for monitoring condition of multiple brakes of a vehicle, the multiple brakes associated with a brake pedal, each of the multiple brakes associated with a brake actuator, each of the multiple brakes having a stroke movement, the system comprising:

stoplight signal generator adapted for generating a stoplight signal in response to the brake pedal being applied, the stoplight signal having a on state or a off state;

multiple brake stroke sensors correspondingly associated with the multiple brakes and adapted to correspondingly generate sensor signals indicating the stroke movement;

a time out clock adapted to generate a time out signal;

a processing unit, the processing unit being programmed to generate output data indicative of the condition of the multiple brakes by using their corresponding sensor signals, the stoplight signal and the time out signal.

20. The vehicle brake monitoring system of claim 19 further comprising a display unit adapted to display the output data indicative of the condition of multiple brakes of the vehicle.

21. The vehicle brake monitoring system of claim 19 further comprising a truck status data network connected to the processing unit.

22. The vehicle brake monitoring system of claim 21, wherein the truck status data network is a J1708, J1939 or PLC4TRUCKS data network.

23. The vehicle brake monitoring system of claim 21, wherein truck status data network is communicative with network compatible devices for monitoring condition of transmission, engine and Anti-Lock Brake System associated with the vehicle.

24. The vehicle brake monitoring system of claim 21, wherein each of the multiple brake stroke sensors comprises Hall-effect sensors adapted to transmit the sensor signal.

25. The vehicle brake monitoring system of claim 19, wherein the brake actuators are pneumatic actuators adapted to engage and disengage their associated brakes in response to the brake pedal being applied and released.

26. The vehicle brake monitoring system of claim 19, wherein the output data indicative of the condition of the brakes comprises normal released brake, normal braking, overstroke, failed brake, sensor failure and dragging brake.

27. The vehicle brake monitoring system of claim 26 further comprising an alarm, wherein the processing unit is programmed to activate the alarm upon indicating the condition of any one of the multiple brakes as overstroke, dragging brake, sensor failure or failed brake.

28. A vehicle brake monitoring system of claim 19, wherein the vehicle comprises a tractor unit and at least one trailer unit, wherein the processing unit comprises a master processing unit for monitoring the brakes of the tractor unit, and at least one remote processing unit for monitoring the brakes of the trailer unit.

29. The vehicle brake monitoring system of claim 28 further comprising:

power line cables; and

power line modem, the power line modem adapted for connecting the master processing unit with the at least one remote processing unit.

30. The vehicle brake monitoring system of claim 29, wherein the power line cables are further adapted to supply electrical power to the master processing unit and the at least one remote processing unit.

31. The vehicle brake monitoring system of claim 19, wherein diode wires are used to connect the processing unit and a stoplight signal multiplexor to the stoplight signal generator.

32. A vehicle brake monitoring system for indicating the performance of a vehicle brake, the system comprising:

stoplight signal, the stoplight signal having an on state and an off state;

brake stroke sensor for generating a sensor signal corresponding to a stroke movement of the brake;

a time out clock adapted to generate a time out signal; and

a processor for processing the stoplight signal, the sensor signal and the time out signal and indicating the performance of the brake.

33. The vehicle brake monitoring system of claim 32 further comprising a display unit for indicating the performance of the brake.

34. The vehicle brake monitoring system of claim 33, wherein the display unit is adapted to indicate the performance of a brake as normal released brake, normal braking, dragging brake, overstroke, sensor failure and failed brake.

35. The vehicle brake monitoring system of claim 32, wherein the processor is adapted to activate an alarm when the performance of a brake is indicated as overstroke, sensor failure, failed brake or dragging brake.