VEHICLE BRAKE WARNING DEVICE

• US 3,689,880 A
• Filed: 09/16/1970
• Issued: 09/05/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Il, 60625, Robert G. McKee, 2033 Sherman Avenue, Thomas W. Haase, 4654 North Sacramento Boulevard
• Original Assignee: Il, 60625, Robert G. McKee, 2033 Sherman Avenue, Thomas W. Haase, 4654 North Sacramento Boulevard
• Inventors: Robert G. McKee, 2033 Sherman Avenue, Thomas W. Haase, 4654 North Sacramento Boulevard, Il, 60625
• Primary Examiner(s): Alvin H. Waring
• Assistant Examiner(s): Glen R. Swann, III
• Application Number:
  US05/072,653
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 340/52A 188/1A 200/61.A
• US Class Current: 340/454
• 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 66/024 Sensors mounted on braking members adapted to contact the brake disc or drum, e.g. wire loops severed on contact

Abstract

A warning device for vehicle brakes provides a warning signal when the brake linings become excessively worn or when the linings become dangerously overheated. A conductive metal pin is inserted through the brake lining support so that one end of the pin is positioned in the brake lining. The pin is provided with a moisture-proof insulating coating which covers the one pin end and extends toward, but terminates before, the other pin end. An insulating washer is inserted over the other pin end and is snugly received about the insulating coating on the pin, and an insulated conducting wire is electrically connected to the pin adjacent to the other pin end. A hardenable insulating fluid is thereafter applied to the exposed portion of the conducting wire and the pin to insulate all exposed metal surfaces. If desired, a disc of low-melting-point metal can be positioned over the pin end before the hardenable insulating material is applied. When the brake lining is worn to the level of the insulation-coated pin, the insulation abrades and the pin eventually makes contact with the rotating braking element, either the brake drum or the brake disc, thereby completing an electrical circuit and activating a warning signal, intermittently each time the brakes are applied. If the brake linings become excessively heated, the insulation will melt and permit the pin to make contact with the lining support and activate a warning signal whether the brakes are applied or not. If the pin is equipped with the metal disc, the disc will also melt and insure electrical contact between the pin and lining support.

Claims

1. A method of providing a vehicle brake with a warning device, the vehicle brake including a brake lining and a lining support, comprising the steps of inserting an insulation-coated metal conducting pin through an opening in the lining and lining support, the conducting pin having an enlarged head end positioned in the lining and preventing the pin from passing completely through the opening, the insulating coating of the conducting pin extending through the lining support but terminating before the other end of the pin, positioning a washer over the other pin end and against the lining support, the washer and pin being sized so that the pin extends through the washer and the insulating coating terminates within the washer to provide an annular recess between the pin and the washer, filling the recess with a flowable but hardenable insulating material, positioning an exposed portion of an insulation-covered electrical conductor about the pin adjacent the other pin end, peening the other pin end to secure the pin, conductor, and washer, and applying a flowable but hardenable insulating material over the otheR pin end and the exposed portion of the electrical conductor to insulate the pin and the conductor from the lining support.

2. The method of claim 1 including the step of placing a metal slug adjacent the other pin end before applying the insulating material over the pin end and conductor.

3. In combination with a vehicle brake lining and a metal lining support, a warning device comprising an electrically conducting metal pin having a pair of pin ends, an electrically insulating moisture-proof coating on the pin covering one pin end and extending toward but terminating before the other pin end, the one pin end being positioned in the brake lining and the pin extending through an opening in the lining support, an insulating washer having a central opening receiving the pin, the washer opening being sized to receive the pin and the insulating coating therearound, the insulating coating on the pin extending only partway through the washer opening to provide an annular recess between the pin and the washer, the recess being filled with the insulating material, an insulation-covered conducting wire secured to the pin adjacent the other pin end, the conducting wire adapted to be electrically connected to a warning signal, and moisture-proof insulating material covering the other pin end and extending to the insulating washer and to the insulating covering on the wire to insulate the pin and wire from the lining support.

4. The combination of claim 3 including a layer of soft electrically conducting material on the one pin end, the conducting material being covered by the insulating coating, the conducting material being softer than the conducting pin and adapted to engage a rotating brake element without scoring the braking element.

5. The combination of claim 3 in which the conducting wire is secured to the conducting pin by an electrical connector, the one pin end having an enlarged head portion positioned in the brake lining and the other pin end being peened over the electrical connector to secure the connector against the washer.

6. In combination with a vehicle brake lining and a metal lining support, a warning device comprising an electrically conducting metal pin having a pair of pin ends, an electrically insulating moisture-proof coating on the pin covering one pin end and extending toward but terminating before the other pin end, the one pin end being positioned in the brake lining and the pin extending through an opening in the lining support, an insulating washer having a central opening receiving the pin, the washer opening being sized to receive the pin and the insulating coating therearound, an insulation-covered conducting wire secured to the pin adjacent the other pin end, the conducting wire adapted to be electrically connected to a warning signal, a metal slug positioned adjacent the other pin end and the insulating washer, the slug having a melting point below 650* F., and moisture-proof insulating material covering the other pin end and the metal slug and extending to the insulating washer and to the insulating covering on the wire to insulate the pin and wire from the lining support.

7. The combination of claim 6 in which the metal slug has a melting point lower than the melting point of the insulating coating.

8. The combination of claim 6 in which the metal slug has a melting point lower than the melting points of the insulating coating and the insulating washer but greater than the melting point of the moisture-proof insulating material.

9. In combination with a vehicle brake lining and a metal lining support, a warning device comprising an electrically conducting metal pin having a pair of pins ends, an electrically insulating moisture-proof coating on the pin covering one pin end and extending toward but terminating before the other pin end, the one pin end being positioned in the brake lining and the pin extending through an opening in the lining support, an insulating washer having a central opening receiving the pIn, the washer opening being sized to receive the pin and the insulating coating therearound, an insulation-covered conducting wire secured to the pin adjacent the other pin end, the conducting wire adapted to be electrically connected to a warning signal, and moisture-proof insulating material covering the other pin end and extending to the insulating washer and to the insulating covering on the wire to insulate the pin and wire from the lining support, the insulating coating on the conducting pin being flowable at a temperature below 650* F.

10. In combination with a vehicle brake lining and a metal lining support, a warning device comprising an electrically conducting metal pin having a pair of pin ends, an electrically insulating moisture-proof coating on the pin covering one pin end and extending toward but terminating before the other pin end, the one pin end being positioned in the brake lining and the pin extending through an opening in the lining support, a generally cup-shaped insulating washer having an upstanding peripheral wall and a central opening, the central opening of the washer receiving the pin and being sized to receive the pin and the insulating coating therearound, an insulation-covered conducting wire secured to the pin adjacent the other pin end, the conducting wire adapted to be electrically connected to a warning signal, a metal slug having a melting point below 650* F. positioned within the peripheral wall of the insulating washer, and moisture-proof insulating material covering the metal slug and the insulating washer and extending to the insulating covering on the wire to insulate the pin and slug and wire from the lining support, the washer and the insulating coating on the conducting pin being formed of material which will flow at a temperature below 650* F. whereby the metal slug will flow to make contact between the conducting pin and the lining support if the temperature reaches 650* F.

11. The combination of claim 10 in which the melting point of the moisture-proof insulating material is above 650* F.

12. The combination of claim 10 in which the metal slug is formed of solder.

13. The combination of claim 10 in which the metal slug is formed of solder and the washer and the insulating coating on the conducting pin are formed of material which will flow at a temperature below 600* F.