BRAKE LINING TEMPERATURE PROBE

• US 3,674,114 A
• Filed: 09/11/1970
• Issued: 07/04/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald W. Howard
• Original Assignee: Donald W. Howard
• Inventors: Howard, Donald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reger, Duane A.
• Application Number:
  US05/071,529
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 116/67R,114AE,114Y 188/1A 200/61.4,61.44 340/52A,52B,57
• US Class Current: 188/1.11R
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/001 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 66/00 Arrangements for monitoring working conditions, e.g. wear, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 66/02 Apparatus for indicating wear
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 66/024 Sensors mounted on braking members adapted to contact the brake disc or drum, e.g. wire loops severed on contact

Abstract

A probe carried in a brake shoe is responsive to the temperature of the lining material and is also responsive to wear of the lining material in excess of a predetermined amount. The probe includes a housing in thermal communication with the lining material and in electrical communication with the rounded brake shoe backing plate. A loop of wire is carried in the probe and is connected to an indicating device in the operator'"'"''"'"'s compartment of the vehicle through an appropriate control device. When the friction material has worn a predetermined amount, the wire loop is brought into engagement with the member to be braked, thereby actuating the indicating device only while the brake is applied. Subsequent wear of the lining material severs the wire loop to actuate the indicating device at all times while the vehicle'"'"''"'"'s ignition is on. One end of a bi-metallic metal strip is secured to the housing and the other end of the bi-metallic strip is spaced a predetermined distance from a terminal affixed to the wire loop. As the temperature of the brake lining increases, the other end of the bi-metallic strip is brought into engagement with the terminal, thereby providing an electrical circuit between the wire loop and the grounded brake shoe backing plate, thereby actuating the indicating device.

Claims

1. In a vehicle:

a member to be braked connected to an electrical ground;

a friction member having a backing plate connected to an electrical ground and a lining carried by said backing plate for engagement with said member to be braked;

an electrically conductive probe carried by said friction member electrically insulated from said backing plate and initially spaced a predetermined distance from the edge of said lining, said probe being brought into electrical engagement with said grounded brake drum upon a predetermined amount of lining wear;

a thermally responsive element carried by said friction member in thermal communication with said lining and in electrical communication with said grounded backing plate, said thermally responsive element electrically connecting said probe to said grounded backing plate when the temperature of the lining attains a predetermined level;

a warning device; and

a control device connected between said probe and said warning device for actuating the latter when said probe is connected to an electrical ground.

2. The invention of claim 1:

said probe being severed upon engagement with said member to be braked after said lining has worn a distance in excess of said predetermined amount;

said control device being responsive to severing of the probe to continuously actuate said warning device.

3. The invention of claim 1:

said thermally responsive element being a bimetallic strip.

4. The invention of claim 1:

an electrically conductive housing carried by said friction member, said probe being carried by said housing; and

insulating material disposed between said probe and said housing to prevent electrical communication therebetween;

said thermally responsive element including a bimetallic strip, one end of said bimetallic strip being secured to said housing, the other end of said strip being initially spaced from said probe, but moving into engagement with said probe when said lining attains said predetermined temperature level.