Measuring and testing – Brake testing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-24
2002-07-09
Dombroske, G (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Brake testing
C340S453000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06415658
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Description of Background Information
A previously proposed probe is capable of cutting a wear detecting electric wire without damaging a retention member, even when the retention member is arranged in a slightly slanted position against an opposing rotor (Japanese Patent Publication (Unexamined) Hei No. 10-2363). As shown in
FIG. 6
of the present application, the probe includes an electric wire
2
folded in a U-shape and received in a retention member
1
so that folded portion
3
is exposed from an edge face
1
A of the retention member. A half-cylindrical supporting protrusion
4
is installed on edge face
1
A to support folded portion
3
of electric wire
2
in a strained condition in which folded portion
3
is mounted on supporting protrusion
4
. According to this structure, since folded portion
3
of electric wire
2
is supported at a position in which it protrudes from edge face
1
A, edge face
1
A approaches a position in which it is separated from the rotor even if retention member
1
is arranged in a slightly slanted position against the rotor, and therefore folded portion
3
can be cut without damage.
However, a problem has been discovered in the above-mentioned structure. For example, when the probe of the above-mentioned structure is assembled in a brake shoe and arranged in confrontation with a brake drum which rotates in the direction of arrow A in
FIG. 6
, as the wear of the brake shoe continues and folded portion
3
of electric wire
2
contacts the brake drum, folded portion
3
is drawn out from supporting protrusion
4
by a friction force, and then folded portion
3
is elastically deformed in a position in which it is forcibly laid down on supporting protrusion
4
while being deflected in a direction as shown by arrow B of FIG.
6
.
It is feared that when folded portion
3
of the electric wire
2
is in this position, the timing of the cut may be changed in comparison with the position in which it is securely mounted on the supporting protrusion
4
, and the accuracy of the wear detection of the brake shoe is lessened.
2. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a probe for wear detection of a brake element and for indicating when replacement of the brake element is required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is accomplished based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object is to be able to cut the folded portion in a secure position by suppressing the deflection of the folded portion of an electric detection wire.
To attain this object, the present invention includes a wear detection probe which is assembled in a brake element and is capable of contacting a brake drum or rotor to detect whether the degree of wear of the brake element has reached its useful limit by the presence of a disconnection of the electric detection wire. The probe is equipped with a retention member in which the electric detection wire is inserted and is folded in a U-shape. A supporting protrusion which extends along the central direction of the edge face is formed on the edge face of the retention member and an inner peripheral side of the folded portion protrudes from the edge face of the retention member and is supported by the mounting of the U-shape folded portion on the supporting protrusion. Regulating walls sandwich the folded portion at the supporting protrusion and limit the deflection of the folded portion.
As the U-shape folded portion of the electric detection wire begins to contact an opposing brake drum or rotor, deflection is limited by the regulating walls even if a deflecting force acts in a direction along the supporting protrusion, and the folded portion of the electric detection wire is retained in a condition in which it is firmly mounted on the supporting protrusion. Accordingly, the folded portion is in a condition in which it is gradually cut as it is firmly held, and the circuit is disconnected. Therefore, the wear of the brake piece can be detected with high accuracy.
According to an aspect of the invention the wear detection probe includes a retention member having an edge face and a supporting protrusion extending along a diametric direction of the edge face. An electric detection wire includes a U-shaped folded portion, with an inner peripheral side of said folded portion protruding from the edge face and extending over and being supported by a top face of the supporting protrusion. The retention member includes first and second opposed regulating walls, with the folded portion of the electric detection wire passing between the first and second regulating walls, thereby limiting deflection of the folded portion, whereby the electric detection wire is adapted to actuate a wear indicator when the folded portion is cut and the electric detection wire is no longer continuous.
The wear detection probe further includes a groove formed in the edge face of the retention member, and the supporting protrusion extends along a bottom face of the groove. The supporting protrusion has a semicircular cross-section.
The edge face of retention member may be formed as a truncated cone having a top face. The top face of the supporting protrusion is in the same plane as the top face of the truncated cone.
The wear detection probe of the present invention may be installed in a brake shoe of a drum brake or a brake pad of a disc brake.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3986164 (1976-10-01), Hirai et al.
patent: 4016533 (1977-04-01), Ishikawa et al.
patent: 4183012 (1980-01-01), Kimura
patent: 4742326 (1988-05-01), Gregoire et al.
patent: 4869350 (1989-09-01), Fargier et al.
patent: 5454450 (1995-10-01), Tanigawa
patent: 5833033 (1998-11-01), Takanashi
patent: 6065359 (2000-05-01), Takanashi et al.
patent: 6158275 (2000-12-01), Asao et al.
patent: 4120527 (1992-01-01), None
patent: 0610828 (1994-08-01), None
patent: 0814276 (1997-12-01), None
patent: 10-2363 (1998-01-01), None
Matsunaga Takehiro
Takanashi Hitoshi
Dombroske G
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd.
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