Force sensor for vehicle brake application
First Claim
1. A disc brake comprising:
- an actuation mechanism being movable to apply a braking force;
a pair of pistons movable upon receipt of said braking force to force a brake pad into contact with an item to be braked;
an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the location of said pistons to take up clearance with wear in said brake pad; and
a force sensor for sensing a reaction force to said braking force, and identifying a point of force application increase indicative of initial contact of said brake pad with the item to be braked, said force sensor sending a signal to an electric control for said adjustment mechanism.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A force sensor is incorporated into a disc brake, and is operable to sense the point of force application increase during application of the disc brake. The force will increase sharply once the brake pad initially contacts the rotor. The sensor is able to determine the point of this force increase, and provide this information to a control. The control powers an electric motor for providing electric motor adjustment of the position of the piston which drives the brake pad, to compensate for wear. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor includes a protective cover with a thin anvil between the cover and the sensor. The anvil is operable to transmit the force, and limit the force applied, to protect the sensor.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A disc brake comprising:
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an actuation mechanism being movable to apply a braking force;
a pair of pistons movable upon receipt of said braking force to force a brake pad into contact with an item to be braked;
an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the location of said pistons to take up clearance with wear in said brake pad; and
a force sensor for sensing a reaction force to said braking force, and identifying a point of force application increase indicative of initial contact of said brake pad with the item to be braked, said force sensor sending a signal to an electric control for said adjustment mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A disc brake comprising:
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an actuation mechanism being movable to apply a braking force;
a pair of pistons movable upon receipt of said braking force to force a brake pad into contact with an item to be braked;
an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the location of said pistons to take up clearance with wear in said brake pad; and
a force sensor for sensing a point of force application increase indicative of initial contact of said brake pad with the item to be braked, said force sensor sending a signal to an electric control for said adjustment mechanism, said force sensor being an electric sensor receiving a current and having a resistance that varies with the force applied to said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A disc brake comprising:
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an actuation mechanism being movable to apply a braking force;
a pair of pistons movable upon receipt of said braking force to force a brake pad into contact with an item to be braked, said actuation mechanism including an eccentric shaft, said eccentric shaft driving at least one bearing to in turn force said pistons and said brake pad toward the item to be braked, a bearing cup supporting said bearing and said eccentric shaft, said bearing cup received in a cavity in a housing for said disc brake;
an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the location of said pistons to take up clearance with wear in said brake pad; and
a force sensor for sensing a point of force application increase indicative of initial contact of said brake pad with the item to be braked, said force sensor sending a signal to an electric control for said adjustment mechanism, said force sensor being an electric sensor receiving a current and having a resistance that varies with the force applied to said force sensor, said force sensor being positioned between said bearing cup and said cavity, said force sensor being an electric sensor receiving a current and having a resistance that varies with the force applied to said force sensor. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification