METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUS FOR FRICTION PAD WEAR AND BRAKE CONDITION MONITORING

• US 20100030490A1
• Filed: 07/30/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Wright, George L., Wright, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,877,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/34
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/001 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 66/02 Apparatus for indicating wear

Abstract

A brake, system, and method are presented. The brake includes friction material, a backing pad, sensor-wear material embedded within the friction material, and an electronics assembly. The electronics assembly is configured to measure a characteristic of the sensor-wear material, such as the electrical resistance or the temperature of the sensor-wear material. The sensor-wear material may be applied to the brake using a variety of approaches. A condition of the brake, such as a brake-wear value or an estimated-mileage value is determined, based on the measured characteristic of the sensor-wear material. A brake-wear state may be determined by comparing the brake-wear value to one or more thresholds. The brake-wear value, estimated-mileage value, and/or the brake wear state may be indicated on a brake-wear indicator.

Claims

1. A brake, comprising:

friction material;

a backing pad;

sensor-wear material embedded within the friction material; and

an electronics assembly configured to measure a characteristic of the sensor-wear material.

2. The brake of claim 1, wherein the brake is configured for use with a vehicle.

3. The brake of claim 2, wherein the brake is a disc-brake pad.

4. The brake of claim 2, wherein the brake is a drum-brake shoe.

5. The brake of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the sensor-wear material is an electrical resistance of the sensor-wear material.

6. The brake of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the sensor-wear material is a temperature of the sensor-wear material.

7. The brake of claim 1, wherein the electronics assembly comprises an energy harvester.

8. The brake of claim 1, wherein the electronics assembly is configured to determine the condition of the brake.

9. The brake of claim 8, wherein the condition of the brake is a brake-wear value.

10. The brake of claim 8, wherein the electronics assembly is configured to transmit the condition of the brake.

11. The brake of claim 10, wherein the interface is a wireless interface.

12. A system, comprising:

a first brake configured for use in a vehicle, comprising;

friction material,

a backing pad,

sensor-wear material embedded within the friction material, and

an electronics assembly; and

a brake-wear calculator, comprising;

a processing unit,

a brake-wear indicator,

data storage, and

machine-language instructions stored in the data storage and executable by the processing unit to perform functions including;

receiving a first measurement of a condition of the first brake, and

displaying an indication of the condition of the first brake on the brake-wear indicator, wherein the indication of the condition of the first brake is based on the first measurement.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the machine language instructions executable to display the indication of the condition of the first brake are executable to display an indication that the condition of the first brake is critical.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a second brake adapted for use in the vehicle, comprising;

friction material,

a backing pad,

sensor-wear material embedded within the friction material, and

an electronics assembly.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the functions further include:

receiving a second measurement of a condition of the second brake, and

displaying an indication of the condition of the second brake on the brake-wear indicator, wherein the indication of the condition of the second brake is based on the second measurement.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the functions further include displaying a brake status comprising:

an indication of the condition of the first brake,

a location of the first brake,

an indication of the condition of the second brake, and

a location of the second brake.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the brake-wear indicator comprises a stop-light display.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the brake-wear indicator comprises a percentage view.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the functions further include:

displaying an MS-health indicator.

20. A method, comprising:

measuring a characteristic of sensor-wear material on a brake component to determine brake wear;

determining a condition of the brake based on the brake wear; and

indicating the condition of the brake.