Brake wear sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A brake wear sensor that comprises:
- a pair of electrically conductive plates, a body mounting said plates spaced from and insulated from each other, and with each said plate having an edge adjacent to a surface of said body, said plates being disposed in said body in spiral parallel orientation about an axis perpendicular to said surface of said body, said body including means for mounting said body to a brake pad so as to bring said surface into contact with a brake rotor, and means for electrically connecting said plates to electrical circuitry for monitoring wear at said surface as a function of changes in capacitance between said plates.
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Abstract
A brake wear sensor in which a body of electrical insulating material mounts a pair of electrically conductive plates such that edges of the plates are spaced from each other at a surface of the body. The body has an external thread adapted to be received within an internally threaded opening in a brake pad to position the surface of the body and the edges of the plates adjacent to a braking surface of the brake pad. Electrical circuitry is connected to the plates for monitoring wear at the surface of the body as a function of changes in capacitance between the plates, and a gauge is coupled to the circuitry for indicating brake wear as a function of such changes in capacitance.
47 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A brake wear sensor that comprises:
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a pair of electrically conductive plates, a body mounting said plates spaced from and insulated from each other, and with each said plate having an edge adjacent to a surface of said body, said plates being disposed in said body in spiral parallel orientation about an axis perpendicular to said surface of said body, said body including means for mounting said body to a brake pad so as to bring said surface into contact with a brake rotor, and means for electrically connecting said plates to electrical circuitry for monitoring wear at said surface as a function of changes in capacitance between said plates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A brake wear sensor that comprises:
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a pair of electrically conductive plates, a body mounting said plates spaced from and insulated from each other, and with each said plate having an edge adjacent to a surface of said body, said body including means for mounting said body to a brake pad so as to bring said surface into contact with a brake rotor, means for electrically connecting said plates to electrical circuitry for monitoring wear at said surface as a function of changes in capacitance between said plates, and electrical circuitry connected to said plates for monitoring brake wear as a function of changes in capacitance between said plates, said electrical circuitry comprising a variable frequency oscillator in which said plates are connected as a frequency control component of said oscillator. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A brake wear sensor that comprises:
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a pair of electrically conductive plates, a body mounting said plates spaced from and insulated from each other, and with each said plate having an edge adjacent to a surface of said body, said body including means for mounting said body to a brake pad so as to bring said surface into contact with a brake rotor, means for electrically connecting said plates to electrical circuitry for monitoring wear at said surface as a function of changes in capacitance between said plates, and electrical circuitry connected to said plates for monitoring brake wear as a function of changes in capacitance between said plates, said electrical circuitry comprising an oscillator having an output coupled to said plates such that voltage drop across said plates varies as a function of capacitance between said plates. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A brake wear sensor that comprises:
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a pair of electrically conductive plates, a body of electrical insulating material mounting said plates such that edges of said plates are spaced from each other at a surface of said body, said body in having an external thread adapted to be received within an internally threaded opening in a brake pad to position said surface and said edges of said plates adjacent to a braking surface of the brake pad, said plates being disposed in said body in spiral parallel orientation about an axis perpendicular to said surface of said body, electrical circuitry connected to said plates for monitoring wear at said surface of said body as a function of changes in capacitance between said plates, and means coupled to said circuitry for indicating brake wear as a function of said changes in capacitance. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification