Computer type brake analyzer with automatically controlled brake actuator
First Claim
1. In an apparatus for analyzing the braking performance of a wheeled vehicle having wheel brakes individually associated with at least two wheels and a brake actuator for simultaneously applying the wheel brakes, the combination which comprises:
- test means for rotating said wheels;
brake effort signal generating means for producing a separate brake effort signal for each wheel brake while the brakes are applied, each brake effort signal being representative of the braking effort of the respective wheel; and
brake actuator control means for applying the brake actuator until at least one brake effort signal reaches a predetermined value.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for analyzing the performance of wheeled, land vehicle brake systems is described wherein means are provided for driving the vehicle wheels at a predetermined speed and the operator or computer controlled brake actuator selectively applies the brakes in a series of simple successive steps comprising the test sequence. The pedal force, or other actuating force, the brake effort exerted by each wheel, and the imbalance between the braking effort of opposite wheels is measured and recorded on a strip chart or fed to a computer, to determine if the measured values fall outside of a predetermined range of values representing acceptable deviations from standard values. Any deviation of the brake effort from the acceptable values, or excessive imbalance between opposite wheels at any point in the test sequence, may be used as a basis for diagnosing and identifying a specific brake malfunction. The system can be enlarged to simultaneously test the brakes on all wheels of a land vehicle.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. In an apparatus for analyzing the braking performance of a wheeled vehicle having wheel brakes individually associated with at least two wheels and a brake actuator for simultaneously applying the wheel brakes, the combination which comprises:
-
test means for rotating said wheels; brake effort signal generating means for producing a separate brake effort signal for each wheel brake while the brakes are applied, each brake effort signal being representative of the braking effort of the respective wheel; and brake actuator control means for applying the brake actuator until at least one brake effort signal reaches a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. In an apparatus for analyzing the braking performance of a wheeled vehicle having wheel brakes individually associated with at least two wheels and a force responsive brake actuator for simultaneously applying the wheel brakes, the combination which comprises:
-
test means for rotating said wheels; brake effort signal generating means for producing a separate brake effort signal for each wheel brake while the brakes are applied, each brake effort signal being representative of the braking effort of the respective wheel; test level signal generating means for producing a test level signal representative of a pre-established brake effort; and brake actuator control means responsive to at least one brake effort signal and to the test level signal for applying a force to the brake actuator to cause the measured brake effort signal to reach the test level signal. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification