Method and apparatus for determining a brake overheating condition

• US 20040036592A1
• Filed: 08/12/2002
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Vertenten, Daniel P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,009,508 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/453
• 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 2066/001 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/006 without direct measurement of the quantity monitored, e.g. wear or temperature calculated form force and duration of braking

Abstract

A vehicle includes at least one wheel and an associated brake. Especially if the vehicle is traveling down an incline, the brake may overheat from prolonged use. The present invention provides an operator warning device which alerts the operator to a possible or actual brake overheat condition, based on any number of chosen non-temperature vehicle conditions. These conditions may include incline, machine speed, brake application pressure, and brake application duration.

Claims

1. A method for determining a brake overheating condition, comprising:

sensing a travel speed of a vehicle having a brake, and responsively producing a speed signal;

sensing an application state of the brake and responsively producing an brake application signal;

sensing an application time of the brake and responsively producing a time signal; and

receiving at least two of the speed, brake application, and time signals and responsively producing a brake overheat signal.

2. The method of claim 1, including:

receiving the brake overheat signal and responsively actuating an operator warning device.

3. The method of claim 2, including:

actuating the operator warning device responsive to the brake overheat signal being outside a predetermined acceptable overheat signal range.

4. The method of claim 1, including:

determining an inclined state of the vehicle and responsively producing an incline signal; and

producing the brake overheat signal responsive to the incline signal being outside a predetermined acceptable incline signal range.

5. The method of claim 1, including:

recording values of the brake overheat signal over time; and

providing a history log of the brake overheat signal.

6. The method of claim 3, including:

indicating to the operator when the brake overheat signal has returned to the predetermined acceptable overheat signal range.

7. The method of claim 3, including:

indicating to the operator when a sufficient time interval has passed that the brake overheat signal should have returned to the predetermined acceptable overheat signal range.

8. A method for determining an overheating condition of a brake on a vehicle, comprising:

generating a brake overheat signal based on at least two of;

a duration of application of the brake, a pressure of application of the brake, a travel speed of the vehicle, and an inclined state of the vehicle; and

activating a warning device responsive to the brake overheat signal being outside a predetermined acceptable overheat signal range.

9. A vehicle, comprising:

a machine body;

an operator compartment associated with the vehicle; and

a ground engaging system providing motive power to the machine body, including at least one wheel, at least one brake associated with the wheel, and a brake overheat warning system associated with the brake, the brake overheat warning system including;

an electronic control module;

a machine speed sensor adapted to produce a machine speed signal;

a brake application sensor adapted to produce a brake application duration signal; and

wherein the electronic control module receives the machine speed and brake application duration signals and responsively produces a brake overheat signal.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein at least one of an operator warning device and a brake overheat event recording device is actuated in response to the brake overheat signal being outside a predetermined acceptable overheat signal range.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein a machine incline sensor produces a machine incline signal and the electronic control module produces the brake overheat signal responsive to the machine incline signal.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein a warning signal duration signal indicates to the operator when the brake overheat signal has returned to the predetermined acceptable overheat signal range.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein a warning signal indicates to the operator when the brake overheat signal should have returned to the predetermined acceptable overheat signal range.