Brakes – With condition indicator – Wear
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-19
2002-09-10
Schwartz, Christopher P. (Department: 3683)
Brakes
With condition indicator
Wear
C340S442000, C340S454000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06446764
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a monitoring apparatus, more particularly to a monitoring apparatus for wheel units of an automobile.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a conventional brake assembly for braking a brake disk of a wheel is shown to include a pad-mounting seat unit
76
, a brake pad unit
78
, a retaining housing
90
, a compression spring
94
, a sound generating unit
88
, and a seal
95
.
As illustrated, the brake pad unit
78
is fixed on the pad-mounting seat unit
76
, and has a retention recess
80
. The brake pad unit
78
is movable together with the pad-mounting seat unit
76
toward the brake disk (not shown) to frictionally contact the brake disk and stop rotation of the wheel. The housing
90
is fixed on the pad-mounting seat unit
76
, and defines a chamber
106
with a distal open end
92
. The sound generating unit
88
includes a block body
85
disposed slidably and movably within the chamber
106
, and having a fastener element
84
with a bifurcated enlarged end
86
that extends into the recess
80
of the brake pad unit
78
via a passage
82
in the brake pad unit
78
so as to be retained in the recess
80
. The seal
95
is removably mounted on the open end
92
of the housing
90
so as to conceal the sound generating unit
88
. The compression spring
94
is disposed in the chamber
106
, and has two opposite ends abutting against the brake pad unit
78
and the sound generating unit
88
.
In case the enlarged end
86
of the fastener element
84
wears out concurrently with the brake pad unit
78
due to frequent braking operation of the brake assembly, the block body
85
will be pushed away from the brake pad unit
78
by virtue of the restoration force of the compression spring
94
so as to remove the seal
92
from the housing
90
. Under this condition, air flows into air passages
102
,
104
in the block body
85
to activate a diaphragm
100
that is disposed within the block body
85
of the sound generating unit
88
, thereby generating a warning sound.
The aforesaid conventional brake assembly includes a relatively large number of components, each of which is formed separately prior to assembly thereof, thereby resulting in a long assembly time and high manufacturing costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring apparatus for wheel units of an automobile that can monitor pressure condition in pneumatic tires of the wheel units and wear condition of brake pads of the wheel units.
According to the present invention, a monitoring apparatus is adapted for use with a wheel unit of an automobile. The wheel unit includes a pneumatic tire and a brake system for braking the pneumatic tire. The brake system includes a conductive first brake member mounted on the pneumatic tire, and a second brake member provided with a brake pad that is disposed adjacent to the first brake member. The brake system is operable so as to enable the second brake member to move toward the first brake member such that the brake pad frictionally contacts the first brake member to brake the pneumatic tire. The monitoring apparatus comprises:
a conductive coupling member adapted to be embedded in the brake pad such that the conductive coupling member is spaced apart from the first brake member by a thickness of the brake pad when wearing of the brake pad has yet to reach a predetermined worn-out state;
a wear detecting circuit coupled electrically to the coupling member for detecting wear condition of the brake pad, the wear detecting circuit being capable of outputting a wear signal when the brake system is activated and the brake pad ceases to space apart the conductive coupling member from the first brake member;
a pressure detecting unit for detecting pressure condition in the pneumatic tire and for generating a pressure signal in accordance with the pressure condition in the pneumatic tire;
a processing unit coupled electrically to the wear detecting circuit and the pressure detecting unit for receiving the wear signal and the pressure signal therefrom; and
an indicating unit coupled electrically to and enabled by the processing unit to indicate whether the brake pad has reached the predetermined worn-out state and to further indicate the pressure condition in the pneumatic tire.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3975706 (1976-08-01), Kato
patent: 4334428 (1982-06-01), Fima et al.
patent: 4837553 (1989-06-01), Pompier
patent: 6169480 (2001-01-01), Uhl et al.
patent: 6194999 (2001-02-01), Uhl et al.
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