Brake adjustment monitoring system

• US 5,967,266 A
• Filed: 06/26/1997
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Douglas R. Carnegie
• Original Assignee: Douglas R. Carnegie
• Inventors: Carnegie, Douglas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Butler, Douglas C.
• Application Number:
  US08/883,589
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 188/1.11 R, 188/1.11 W, 188/1.11 L, 188/1.11 E, 73/121, 73/129, 340/454, 116/208, 192/30 W, 303/20, 324/207.2, 324/207.24, 324/207.26
• US Class Current: 188/1.11L
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/08 Brake cylinders other than ultimate actuators with built-in wear-compensating mechanisms, ultimate actuators F16D
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/003 Position, angle or speed
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 66/00 Arrangements for monitoring working conditions, e.g. wear, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 66/021 using electrical detection or indication means
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 66/025 sensing the position of parts of the brake system other than the braking members, e.g. limit switches mounted on master cylinders

Abstract

A brake adjustment monitoring system for displaying the status of the brake adjustment of each of the vehicle'"'"'s brakes and warning the vehicle operator of a serious maladjustment. The inventive device includes a push rod movement measuring device coupled to each push rod for providing a first signal representative of the linear motion of the push rod to a first position and a second signal representative of the linear motion of the push rod to a second position, the first and second positions indicating successively greater linear motion of the push rod and thereby representing greater degrees of maladjustment of each brake, an alarm, a display and an electronic switch operably coupled to the push rod movement measuring device for providing the first and second signals to a microcontroller, the microcontroller for processing the first and second signals, for providing an alarm signal to the alarm and for providing a display signal to the display.

Claims

1. A brake adjustment monitoring system for use with a vehicle having an air brake system including a plurality of air chambers, each air chamber being secured to an undercarriage of the vehicle by an air chamber mounting bracket such that it is stationary with respect thereto, the air brake system further including a plurality of push rods having a threaded extension at one end thereof, the push rods being movable with respect to the undercarriage and extending from each air chamber for linear motion with respect thereto, and a braking mechanism including a slack adjuster operably connected to each push rod threaded extension through a push rod clevis, the improvement comprising:

a push rod movement measuring means coupled to each push rod for providing a first signal representative of the linear motion of the push rod to a first position and a second signal representative of the linear motion of the push rod to a second position, the first and second positions indicating successively greater linear motion of the push rod;

an alarm means;

a first display means for receiving a first and a second electrical signal from the push rod movement measuring means, the first signal indicating that brakes of a vehicle are worn beyond a predetermined level, the second signal indicating that the brakes have worn to an unsafe level;

a switching means operably coupled to the push rod movement measuring means for providing the first and second signals to a controller means, the controller means for processing the first and second signals, for providing an alarm signal to the alarm means and for providing a display signal to the first display means; and

the push rod movement measuring means further comprising an attachment bracket having first and second ends, the attachment bracket being attachable at the first end to the push rod threaded extension and extending perpendicularly therefrom, a connecting bracket pivotally attachable to the second end, the connecting bracket having a threaded bore at one end thereof, a movable member having a threaded extension and a cylindrical sliding portion, the threaded extension being adjustably receivable in the threaded bore and the cylindrical sliding portion being slidably receivable in an extension bracket cylinder, the extension bracket cylinder being formed in an extension bracket pivotally attachable to the air chamber mounting bracket, the cylindrical sliding portion further comprising a contact means disposed therearound for contacting a first pair of electrical contacts disposed in the extension bracket cylinder and generating the first signal and for contacting a second pair of electrical contacts disposed in the extension bracket cylinder and generating the second signal, wherein a width of the contact means is about equal to the distance between the first and second pair of electrical contacts.

2. The brake adjustment monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the threaded extension being threadably inserted through an adjustment nut, said adjustment nut being tightenable against the connecting bracket for preventing rotation of the movable member for permitting precise positioning of the contact means of the movable member with respect to the electrical contacts, a second adjustment nut being fixedly coupled to said movable member and adapted for receiving a tool therearound.

3. The brake adjustment monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the alarm means further comprise a buzzer and a warning light.

4. The brake adjustment monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the first display means further comprise an array of light emitting diodes comprising a column of green light emitting diodes, a column of yellow light emitting diodes and a column of red light emitting diodes, the yellow light emitting diodes being energized in the case of linear motion of the push rod to the first position, the red light emitting diodes being energized in the case of linear motion of the push rod to the second position, and the green light emitting diodes being energized in all other cases.

5. The brake adjustment monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the array of light emitting diodes further comprise a first array comprising a first column of green light emitting diodes, a first column of yellow light emitting diodes and a first column of red light emitting diodes and a second array comprising a second column of green light emitting diodes, a second column of yellow light emitting diodes and a second column of red light emitting diodes, the first array being representative of the linear motion of the push rods on a left side of the vehicle and the second array being representative of the linear motion of the push rods on a right side of the vehicle, the yellow light emitting diodes being energized in the case of linear motion of the push rod to the first position, the red light emitting diodes being energized in the case of linear motion of the push rod to the second position, and the green light emitting diodes being energized in all other cases.

6. The brake adjustment monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the display means further comprise a plurality of shift registers operably connected in series, a first shift register for energizing the first column of green light emitting diodes, a second shift register for energizing the first column of yellow light emitting diodes, a third shift register for energizing the first column of red light emitting diodes, a fourth shift register for energizing the second column of green light emitting diodes, a fifth shift register for energizing the second column of yellow light emitting diodes and a sixth shift register for energizing the second column of red light emitting diodes.

7. The brake adjustment monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the switching means further comprise a first and second multiplexer, the first multiplexer for receiving the first signal and the second multiplexer for receiving the second signal.

8. The brake adjustment monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the controller means further comprises a means for providing a speed control signal to a vehicle engine speed control means.

9. The brake adjustment monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the first display means is disposed within a cab of the vehicle.

10. The brake adjustment monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a second display means disposed outside of a cab of the vehicle on the passenger'"'"'s side thereof.

11. The of claim 1, further comprising a third display means disposed outside of a cab of the vehicle on the passenger'"'"'s side thereof.

12. A brake adjustment monitoring system for use with a vehicle having an air brake system including a plurality of air chambers, each air chamber being secured to an undercarriage of the vehicle by an air chamber mounting bracket such that it is stationary with respect thereto, the air brake system further including a plurality of push rods having a threaded extension at one end thereof, the push rods being movable with respect to the undercarriage and extending from each air chamber for linear motion with respect thereto, and a braking mechanism including a slack adjuster operably connected to each push rod threaded extension through a push rod clevis, the improvement comprising:

a push rod movement measuring means coupled to each push rod for providing a first signal representative of the linear motion of the push rod to a first position and a second signal representative of the linear motion of the push rod to a second position, the first and second positions indicating successively greater linear motion of the push rod;

an alarm means;

a first display means for receiving a first and a second electrical signal from the push rod movement measuring means, the first signal indicating that brakes of a vehicle are worn beyond a predetermined level, the second signal indicating that the brakes have worn to an unsafe level;

a switching means operably coupled to the push rod movement measuring means for providing the first and second signals to a controller means, the controller means for processing the first and second signals, for providing an alarm signal to the alarm means and for providing a display signal to the first display means;

the push rod movement measuring means further comprise an attachment bracket having first and second ends, the attachment bracket being attachable at the first end to the push rod threaded extension and extending perpendicularly therefrom, a connecting bracket pivotally attachable to the second end, the connecting bracket having a threaded bore at one end thereof, a movable member having a threaded extension and a cylindrical sliding portion, the threaded extension being adjustably receivable in the threaded bore and the cylindrical sliding portion being slidably receivable in an extension bracket cylinder, the extension bracket cylinder being formed in an extension bracket pivotally attachable to the air chamber mounting bracket, the cylindrical sliding portion further comprising a contact means disposed therearound for contacting a first pair of electrical contacts disposed in the extension bracket cylinder and generating the first signal and for contacting a second pair of electrical contacts disposed in the extension bracket cylinder and generating the second signal, wherein a width of the contact means is about equal to the distance between the first and second pair of electrical contacts;

the threaded extension being threadably inserted through an adjustment nut, said adjustment nut being tightenable against the connecting bracket for preventing rotation of the movable member for permitting precise positioning of the contact means of the movable member with respect to the electrical contacts, a second adjustment nut being fixedly coupled to said movable member and adapted for receiving a tool therearound;

the alarm means further comprising a buzzer and a warning light;

the first display means further comprising an array of light emitting diodes comprising a column of green light emitting diodes, a column of yellow light emitting diodes and a column of red light emitting diodes, the yellow light emitting diodes being energized in the case of linear motion of the push rod to the first position, the red light emitting diodes being energized in the case of linear motion of the push rod to the second position, and the green light emitting diodes being energized in all other cases;

wherein the array of light emitting diodes further comprise a first array comprising a first column of green light emitting diodes, a first column of yellow light emitting diodes and a first column of red light emitting diodes and a second array comprising a second column of green light emitting diodes, a second column of yellow light emitting diodes and a second column of red light emitting diodes, the first array being representative of the linear motion of the push rods on a left side of the vehicle and the second array being representative of the linear motion of the push rods on a right side of the vehicle, the yellow light emitting diodes being energized in the case of linear motion of the push rod to the first position, the red light emitting diodes being energized in the case of linear motion of the push rod to the second position, and the green light emitting diodes being energized in all other cases;

wherein the switching means further comprise a first and second multiplexer, the first multiplexer for receiving the first signal and the second multiplexer for receiving the second signal

wherein the controller means further comprises a means for providing a speed control signal to a vehicle engine speed control means;

wherein the display means further comprise a plurality of shift registers operably connected in series, a first shift register for energizing the first column of green light emitting diodes, a second shift register for energizing the first column of yellow light emitting diodes, a third shift register for energizing the first column of red light emitting diodes, a fourth shift register for energizing the second column of green light emitting diodes, a fifth shift register for energizing the second column of yellow light emitting diodes and a sixth shift register for energizing the second column of red light emitting diodes;

wherein the first display means is disposed within a cab of the vehicle;

a second display means disposed outside of a cab of the vehicle on the passenger'"'"'s side thereof; and

a third display means disposed outside of a cab of the vehicle on the passenger'"'"'s side thereof.