Electronic monitor to measure amount of wear on brake lining - has wedge in hole through brake lining displaced as lining wears to operate potentiometer in brake pad support

摘要

The brake lining (1) has a hole (4) through its entire thickness and through the support plate (2). A wedge (11), with wider end towards the braking surface (3), inside the hole is displaced as the brake lining thins. The inner end of the wedge displaces the operating slider (10) of a potentiometer mounted in the support plate. A simple circuit computes the brake lining thickness. Thermal insulation mountings for the potentiometer reduce thermal effects from the braking. An alternate design uses a plunger, displaced by brake wear, operating a rotating potentiometer via a rack and pinion coupling. The vehicle braking system can even out the brake wear over a time period, via the computed measurements. ADVANTAGE - Accurate brake wear indication, improved brake management.