Method and apparatus for determining a brake overheating condition
First Claim
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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 a brake application signal;
sensing an application time of the brake and responsively producing a time signal; and
receiving at least two of the speed signal, brake application signal, and time signal and producing a brake overheat signal based thereon.
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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.
41 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for determining a brake overheating condition, comprising:
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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 a brake application signal; sensing an application time of the brake and responsively producing a time signal; and receiving at least two of the speed signal, brake application signal, and time signal and producing a brake overheat signal based thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for determining an overheating condition of a brake on a vehicle, comprising:
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generating a brake overheat signal based on a duration of application of the brake, a pressure of application of the brake and at least one of;
a travel speed of the vehicle, and an inclined state of the vehicle; andactivating a warning device responsive to the brake overheat signal being outside a predetermined acceptable overheat signal range.
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9. A vehicle, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for determining a brake overheating condition of a vehicle without directly measuring any temperature, comprising:
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measuring at least a wheel speed and a brake application duration; using at least the wheel speed and the brake application duration to determine oyerheating information from a look-up table; and actuating an alarm that notifies an operator of the vehicle of the existence of a brake overheating condition if the look-up table indicates a brake overheating condition resulting from the particular combination of the wheel speed and the brake application duration. - View Dependent Claims (15, 18)
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16. A method for determining a brake overheating condition of a vehicle comprising:
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measuring at least a wheel speed and a brake application duration; processing at least the wheel speed and the brake application duration in an electronic control module (ECM) onboard the vehicle, the ECM using at least the wheel speed and the brake application duration to determine the existence of a brake overheating condition without the need for directly measuring the temperature of the brake; and actuating an alarm that notifies an operator of the vehicle when the ECM indicates a brake overheating condition. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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19. A vehicle comprising:
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at least one wheel for supporting the vehicle; a brake associated with the at least one wheel; an electronic control module (ECM) onboard the vehicle comprising a memory and a processor, the processor using inputs from sensors to calculate when a brake overheating event has occurred because the temperature of the brake has exceeded a predetermined threshold; the processor activating an operator warning device for warning the operator each time a brake overheating event has occurred; each time the operator waning device is activated, the processor also causing information about each brake overheating event to be stored in the memory to create a brake overheat history log of brake overheat events; and the processor also causing information about whether the vehicle motion is stopped in response to each activation of the operator warning device to be recorded in the memory and form a part of the brake overheat history log. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification