Vehicle brake system testing device and method
First Claim
1. A passive vehicle brake system testing device, comprising:
- an extendable rod;
a steering wheel engaging element located at a proximal end of the extendable rod and a brake pedal engaging element located at a distal end of the extendable rod;
a first sensor adapted to detect an amount of brake pedal travel produced by a user of the device by detecting extension of the extendable rod;
a second sensor adapted to detect an amount of depressing force applied to the brake pedal by a foot of the user, the second sensor mounted on a foot contact portion of the brake pedal engaging element so as to reside beneath the foot of the user when the foot of the user is placed against the foot contact portion of the brake pedal engaging element;
a controller in electronic communication with the first and second sensors so as to receive output signals therefrom, the controller including a microprocessor and memory and programmed to analyze data provided by at least the first sensor and the second sensor; and
a display associated with the controller for indicating at least a pass or failure status of a brake system test to the user of the device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for testing the brake system of a vehicle. Embodiments of the invention generally include an extendable rod that is adapted for removable installation between the steering wheel and brake pedal of a vehicle whose brake system is to be tested. Manual depression of the brake pedal with the device in place causes an extension of the extendable rod, the magnitude of which is measured by an associated sensor as brake pedal travel. A force sensor is provided to detect the amount of force applied to the brake pedal by a user'"'"'s foot during testing. A controller receives signals from the sensors and determines whether the brake system passes the test. The controller may be coupled to an on-board diagnostics connector of the vehicle to receive and analyze other vehicle data, and to read the VIN of the vehicle.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A passive vehicle brake system testing device, comprising:
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an extendable rod; a steering wheel engaging element located at a proximal end of the extendable rod and a brake pedal engaging element located at a distal end of the extendable rod; a first sensor adapted to detect an amount of brake pedal travel produced by a user of the device by detecting extension of the extendable rod; a second sensor adapted to detect an amount of depressing force applied to the brake pedal by a foot of the user, the second sensor mounted on a foot contact portion of the brake pedal engaging element so as to reside beneath the foot of the user when the foot of the user is placed against the foot contact portion of the brake pedal engaging element; a controller in electronic communication with the first and second sensors so as to receive output signals therefrom, the controller including a microprocessor and memory and programmed to analyze data provided by at least the first sensor and the second sensor; and a display associated with the controller for indicating at least a pass or failure status of a brake system test to the user of the device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A passive vehicle brake system testing device adapted for removable installation between a steering wheel and brake pedal of a vehicle, comprising:
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an extendable rod; a substantially hook-shaped steering wheel engaging element located at a proximal end of the extendable rod for removably coupling the extendable rod to a rim portion of a vehicle steering wheel, and a brake pedal engaging element located at a distal end of the extendable rod, the brake pedal engaging element having a substantially hook-shaped portion for removably coupling the extendable rod to a vehicle brake pedal and a foot contact portion for receiving a foot of a user of the device; a stroke measurement sensor associated with the extendable rod and adapted to detect an amount of brake pedal travel by detecting an amount of extendable rod extension resulting from user depression of the brake pedal to which the testing device is coupled; a brake pedal depression force sensor mounted on the foot contact portion of the brake pedal engaging element so as to reside between the foot of the user and the brake pedal of a vehicle to be tested when the brake pedal engaging element is coupled thereto and the foot of the user is placed against the foot contact portion of the brake pedal engaging element, the brake pedal depression force sensor adapted to measure the amount of depressing force exerted by the foot of a user on the brake pedal of a vehicle during testing; a controller in electronic communication with the stroke measurement sensor and brake pedal depression force sensor so as to receive output signals therefrom, the controller including a microprocessor and memory and programmed to analyze data provided by at least the stroke measurement sensor and brake pedal depression force sensor to determine a pass or failure status of a test based on whether a given amount of brake pedal depression force results in an acceptable of amount of brake pedal travel; an on-board diagnostics port on the controller for coupling the controller to an on-board diagnostics connector of the vehicle to be tested; and a display associated with the controller for indicating at least a pass or failure status of a brake system test to the user of the device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of testing a vehicle brake system by manual depression of the vehicle brake pedal, comprising:
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providing a vehicle brake system testing device adapted for removable installation between a steering wheel and brake pedal of a vehicle to be tested, the device further comprising; an extendable rod having a substantially hook-shaped steering wheel engaging element located at a proximal end of the extendable rod and a brake pedal engaging element located at a distal end of the extendable rod, a stroke measurement sensor adapted to detect an amount of brake pedal travel by detecting an amount of extension of the extendable rod, a brake pedal depression force sensor mounted on the brake pedal engaging element, a controller in electronic communication with the stroke measurement sensor and brake pedal depression force sensor so as to receive output signals therefrom, the controller including a programmed microprocessor and memory, and a display associated with the controller; installing the vehicle brake system testing device between the steering wheel and brake pedal of a vehicle to be tested; starting the engine of the vehicle if the engine is not already running; causing the controller to initiate a brake system test; depressing the brake pedal of the vehicle while stepping on the brake pedal depression force sensor until the display on the controller indicates some predetermined brake pedal depression force; maintaining the brake pedal in the depressed position for some predetermined amount of time; receiving at the controller, data signals from the stroke measurement sensor and brake pedal depression force sensor; releasing the brake pedal; using the programmed microprocessor of the controller to analyze the data received from the stroke measurement sensor and brake pedal depression force sensor and to determine whether a given amount of brake pedal depression force results in an acceptable of amount of brake pedal travel; and communicating to a user a pass or failure status of the test using the display on the controller of the vehicle brake system testing device. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification