Material wear indication system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a friction plate having a wear surface, and a wear indicator that emits the particulate matter to provide a wear indication when the wear surface of the friction plate has been eroded to an emission level; and
a sensor operable to detect the particulate matter.
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Abstract
A material wear indication system is provided that includes a friction plate capable of engaging a moving surface and a wear indicator. The friction plate includes a wearable portion and a non-wearable portion. In one embodiment the wear indicator is embedded in the non-wearable portion and is prevented from contacting the moving surface until the wearable surface has been sufficiently eroded. When the wear indicator contacts the moving surface it emits a particulate matter that can be detected by a sensor. The sensor is operable to generate an electrical signal that is transmitted to a control unit when the wearable surface has eroded thereby exposing the wear indicator to the moving surface.
74 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a friction plate having a wear surface, and a wear indicator that emits the particulate matter to provide a wear indication when the wear surface of the friction plate has been eroded to an emission level; and a sensor operable to detect the particulate matter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus comprising:
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a friction plate; a wear indicator coupled with the friction plate and emits a particulate matter to provide a wear indication; and a control device configured to receive a wear indication signal based upon a presence of the particulate matter. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus comprising:
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a plurality of friction plates; a wear indicator embedded in the plurality of friction plates and emits particulate matter; and wherein the particulate matter provides a wear indication via a sensor operable to detect the particulate matter. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method, comprising:
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engaging a wear surface with a friction surface of a friction plate device; emitting a particulate matter as a result of the engaging; and generating a wear signal due to the emission of particulate matter. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification