Sensor system

• US 7,555,375 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2005
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Haldex Brake Products AB (SAF-HOLLAND SE)
• Original Assignee: Haldex Brake Products AB (SAF-HOLLAND SE)
• Inventors: Persson, Anders, Arvidsson, Leif, Pettersson, Matti
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Cuong H
• Application Number:
  US11/301,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20060149440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 701 29- 31, 701/45, 701/70, 188/1.11 L, 188/1.11 W, 188/79.54, 303/122.03
• US Class Current: 701/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/221 Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/005 Force, torque, stress or strain
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/568 for synchronous adjustment of actuators arranged in parallel
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 66/02 Apparatus for indicating wear

Abstract

The present invention concerns a sensor system for monitoring at least the wear of lining material of a disc brake. It may also be used to monitor the stroke of the brake actuator. The sensor system receives signals from a first external and/or internal means and a second sensor means indicative of at least two different conditions of the brake. The major part of the sensor system is received on a cap to be fixed to the caliper and giving a measuring reference. The first means monitors the occurrence of a brake movement. The second sensor means monitors the actual position of a part indicating the wear of the brake lining material and/or the stroke of the brake actuator.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring at least two different conditions of a disc brake actuated by a lever arm, comprising sensing the position of a part of a disc brake using a calliper of the disc brake as a measuring reference, characterized in that the sensed position measures a wear of a brake lining material and a stroke of a brake actuation.

2. The method of claim 1, characterized in that an establishment whether a brake cycle has started or not is used to determine which type of measurement that is possible at that moment.

3. The method of claim 2, characterized in that the wear of the brake lining material is only measured when it is confirmed that the brake is in a predefined fixed position.

4. The method of claim 1, characterized in that a signal indicating the wear of the brake lining material is used to update a memory.

5. A method for monitoring at least two different conditions of a disc brake actuated by a lever arm comprising the steps of:

sensing a position of a part of a disc brake using a calliper of the disc brake as a measuring reference;

monitoring the occurrence of disc brake actuation with a first sensor at the sensed position;

producing a signal indicative of the occurrence of disc brake actuation;

monitoring the actual position of a part indicative of wear of disc brake lining material with a second sensor that uses a caliper of the disc brake as a measuring reference at the sensed position; and

producing a signal indicative of the wear of the disc brake lining material.