Software based brake shoe wear determination
First Claim
1. A software-based apparatus for determination of brake shoe/pad wear, said software-based apparatus comprising:
- a) a friction brake effort means disposed to receive and combine a brake cylinder pressure signal and a brake cutout indication signal for determining friction brake effort and generating a friction brake effort signal;
b) a signal multiplication means connected to receive and combine said friction brake effort signal with a car speed signal for determining an amount of energy being absorbed during a software-based logic cycle and generating an absorbed energy signal;
c) an integration with respect to time means connected to receive and combine said absorbed energy signal with a brake shoe/pad changeout signal for summing a resultant energy and generating a friction energy summation signal; and
d) an evaluation of energy absorption level means connected to receive and combine said friction energy summation signal with a brake shoe energy absorption limit signal for generating at least one of a brake shoe inspection request signal and a brake shoe/pad remaining signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
By calculating energy used by friction brake equipment, the amount of friction brake shoe/pad wear is monitored. As amount of energy supplied reaches a percentage of the friction brake shoe/pad energy design limit, and indication for inspection is provided. If the supplied friction energy continues to increase the brake material must be replaced. The software logic limits are tunable for custom configuration by maintainace personnel. This invention measures amount of friction effort supplied with respect to time and distance in a software controller brake system and allows the software to determine when the friction brake material must be replaced on actual data and avoids costly damage from braking with worn out shoes/pads. This invention annunciates through the software when the friction material requires inspection and replacement and provides software logic to indicate remaining material thickness.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A software-based apparatus for determination of brake shoe/pad wear, said software-based apparatus comprising:
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a) a friction brake effort means disposed to receive and combine a brake cylinder pressure signal and a brake cutout indication signal for determining friction brake effort and generating a friction brake effort signal;
b) a signal multiplication means connected to receive and combine said friction brake effort signal with a car speed signal for determining an amount of energy being absorbed during a software-based logic cycle and generating an absorbed energy signal;
c) an integration with respect to time means connected to receive and combine said absorbed energy signal with a brake shoe/pad changeout signal for summing a resultant energy and generating a friction energy summation signal; and
d) an evaluation of energy absorption level means connected to receive and combine said friction energy summation signal with a brake shoe energy absorption limit signal for generating at least one of a brake shoe inspection request signal and a brake shoe/pad remaining signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification