System and method for determining brake lining wear using a temperature detector and a brake actuation system

摘要

A system for indicating the amount of material in a brake lining includes a frictional brake surface and a brake lining having a sensor for detecting when the temperature of the brake lining exceeds a predetermined temperature. A brake actuation system actuates the brake lining against the frictional brake surface. A controller counts the number of temperature detections and the number of brake actuations during a predetermined period and produces a first signal when a ratio of the number of temperature detections to the number of brake actuations is equal to or greater than a first predetermined value. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the controller produces a second signal when the ratio of the number of temperature detections to the number of brake actuations is equal to or greater than a second predetermined value and less than the first predetermined value. The invention further includes a method for determining wear based upon this structure.