Wear component and warning system

• US 20060042734A1
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Turner, Douglas D., Higgins, Jeffrey D., Matola, Laurence F.
• Application Number:
  US10/924,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20060042734A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/154.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/24 Wear-indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/246 Tread wear monitoring systems
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/001 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 66/02 Apparatus for indicating wear
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10027 with wear indicating feature

Abstract

A wear component includes an acceptable wear portion, a marginal wear portion, and a sensor disposed below the acceptable wear portion and configured to generate a condition signal in response to an energizing signal.

Claims

1. A wear component, comprising:

a first wear portion;

a second wear portion; and

a wireless sensor disposed at a predetermined location within said first wear portion, said sensor being configured to generate a condition signal in response to an energizing signal.

2. The wear component of claim 1, wherein said sensor comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

3. The wear component of claim 1, wherein said wear component comprises a brake pad.

4. The wear component of claim 1, wherein said wear component comprises a tire.

5. The wear component of claim 1, wherein said sensor is disposed at least partially below said first wear portion.

6. A wear component warning system, comprising:

a wear component having an acceptable wear portion, a marginal wear portion, and

a sensor disposed at a predetermined depth within said wear component, said predetermined depth being dependant upon the destructive characteristics of said wear component;

the sensor being configured to generate a condition signal;

a transmitter configured to provide an energizing signal to said sensor; and

a receiver configured to receive said condition signal and energizing signal.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said sensor comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said transmitter comprises a tire pressure sensor.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said transmitter comprises a magnet.

10. The system of claim 6, further comprising a processor configured to detect a transmission of said energizing signal by said transmitter and to detect a reception of said condition signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said receiver is integral to said processor.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said processor is located within a vehicle.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said processor is external to a vehicle.

14. A brake pad warning system, comprising:

at least one brake pad having an acceptable wear portion, a marginal wear portion, and

a radio frequency identification tag (RFID tag) disposed at a predetermined depth within said brake pad, the RFID tag being configured to generate a condition signal;

a transmitter configured to provide an energizing signal to said RFID tag;

a receiver configured to receive said condition signal and said energizing signal; and

a processor in communication with said transmitter and said receiver.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said transmitter comprises a magnet.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said transmitter comprises a tire pressure sensor.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the tire pressure sensor also serves as a local receiver and relays the current status of a wear component.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said transmitter is integral to said processor.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein said receiver is integral to said processor.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein said processor is configured to be located within a vehicle.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said processor is part of a tire pressure monitoring system.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein said processor is part of one of the following systems:

a remote keyless entry system, a radio system, or an RF receiver.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein said processor is external to a vehicle.

24. The system of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of said brake pads.

25. The system of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of sensors within a single brake pad.

26. A tire tread warning system, comprising:

at least one tire having an acceptable wear portion, a marginal wear portion, and

a radio frequency identification tag (RFID tag) disposed at a predetermined depth within said tire and configured to generate a condition signal;

a transmitter configured to provide an energizing signal to said RFID tag;

a receiver configured to receive said condition signal and read said energizing signal; and

a processor in communication with said transmitter and said receiver.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said transmitter comprises a tire pressure sensor.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the tire pressure sensor also serves as a local receiver and relays the current status of a wear component.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein said transmitter is integral to said processor.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein said receiver is integral to said processor.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein said processor is configured to be located within a vehicle.

32. The system of claim 26, wherein said processor is part of a tire pressure monitoring system.

33. The system of claim 26, wherein said processor is external to a vehicle.

34. The system of claim 26, further comprising a plurality of said tires.

35. The system of claim 26, further comprising a plurality of sensors within a single tire.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein said energizing signal is transmitted by magnetic field effects caused by relative movement between a magnet and said sensor.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said magnet is fixedly secured to the vehicle and said sensor is secured on rotatable element.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein said magnet is imbedded in a rotatable element and the sensor is fixedly secured to the vehicle.

36. A method of monitoring a condition of a wear component, comprising:

transmitting an energizing signal to a sensor located with said wear component to cause said sensor to transmit a condition signal;

determining whether said condition signal is transmitted in response to said energizing signal; and

providing a warning if said condition signal is not transmitted in response to said energizing signal.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein transmitting said energizing signal comprises transmitting a tire pressure signal from a tire pressure sensor.

41. The method of claim 36, and further comprising the use of a device external to an automobile for transmitting said energizing signal, determining whether said condition signal is transmitted in response to said energizing signal;

and providing said warning.