Abstract: A method of determining a status of a brake actuator of a brake assembly includes sensing one or more activations of the brake actuator, storing the one or more activations in a computer memory, sensing a depth of a parameter of the one or more activations, storing the depth of the parameter of the one or more activations in the computer memory, and determining a status of the brake actuator based on the depth of the parameter of the one or more activations.

Abstract: Systems and methods of overriding a conventional trailer emergency brake system to preclude and alert others as to inadvertent or premature movement of the trailer are described herein. One implementation includes a safety valve operatively positioned in the emergency braking system of a trailer that may be engaged to override the brake valve located in a tractor to prevent a truck driver from prematurely or inadvertently moving the trailer. In addition, the system may include a one way check valve to allow hydraulic fluid upstream of the safety valve to bleed out of the brake system when the safety valve is closed (to prevent movement of the trailer) before the emergency brakes for the trailer are set by the driver. A communication system may also be provided to alert the driver via a remotely located computing device that the emergency brakes for the trailer need to be set.

Abstract: A brake mechanism having a chain locator comprises a chain coupled between a braking mechanism and a railway car brake system, a marker is releasably secured to the chain, and a sensor is coupled to the railway car proximate the chain for detecting the state of the railway car brake system. The chain is moveable between a first position in which the marker is not sensed by the sensor, and a second position in which the sensor detects the marker.

Abstract: The invention includes a system and method for controlling a brake system for a motor vehicle. The system determines actual brake torque by measuring the strain in an elongated portion of a suspension knuckle, the elongated portion being attached to a brake caliper which engages a disc brake to create the actual brake torque. The system can use the determined actual brake torque to best apply a proper blend of brake torques between the caliper and disk brake and a regenerative braking system through a closed loop analysis method.

Abstract: A spring loaded smart loading dock bumper has an indicator light that illuminates when the bumper is pressed. As a trailer backs up to a loading dock, for example, drivers often have a hard time judging when their trailer will be close enough to the loading dock, often resulting in bumping into the loading dock, damaging the dock and/or the trailer. With the spring loaded smart loading dock bumper, the backing trailer can bump into the dock bumper, causing the bumper to resilient move to depress a switch, illuminating a light that can be easily seen by the driver.

Abstract: A device and method to override a conventional trailer emergency brake system that may include a safety valve to override the brake valve located in a tractor. A preferred safety valve may be located in a sidewall of a trailer. In one position, a preferred safety valve may prevent compressed air from being transmitted to the trailer parking brakes so that a truck driver is unable to release the trailer brakes. In another position, a preferred safety valve may divert compressed air to one or more devices to alert a driver, a dock worker or others of an effort to release the trailer parking brakes. In another position, a preferred safety valve may permit compressed air to be transmitted so that a truck driver is able to release the trailer brakes.

Abstract: The brake indicator is a cylindrical device, measuring approximately one quarter of an inch in length and three-eighths of an inch in width. This component is a high temperature insulator pressed part with a round rod, as well as a wire configuration with terminal rubber booth protection. The wiring serves as the communication conduit between the brakes and the dashboard panel control inside the vehicle. The brake indicator assembly's sensor rod is positioned flush with each brake pad. Thus, the sensor rod will have contact with the rotor every time the brakes are depressed. As such, the indicator sensor rod will touch the rotor behind the brake pad before the pad wears down enough for a metal-on-metal contact. When the sensor rod touches the rotor, the wiring activates the warning light on the vehicle's dashboard, thereby informing the driver of the potential problem.

Abstract: A vehicle brake monitor assembly for an air disk brake includes a brake actuator having a pushrod projecting from inside a chamber of said brake actuator. The pushrod releasably actuates a lever arm of a caliper thereby moving the disk brake into a braking position when the pushrod is in an extended position and releasing the disk brake from the braking position when the pushrod is in a retracted position. The pushrod includes a pushrod shaft and a contact member biased in a telescoping relationship relative to the pushrod shaft and the lever arm of the caliper abuts the contact member counteracting the bias of the contact member. A sensor is integrated with the assembly proximate the contact member and detects movement of the pushrod relative to the lever arm and to the pushrod shaft.

Abstract: A vibration damper (1) has a sensor device (27), including a cylinder (3) which is filled with damping medium and in which a piston rod (5) is guided so as to be axially movable, wherein the vibration damper has a compensation chamber (13) which receives at least the damping medium volume displaced by the piston rod, wherein the sensor device has a first sensor component (29) which is stationary with respect to the cylinder and has a component (17) which carries out a movement synchronous with the piston rod, wherein a floating body (17) floats on a damping medium surface (19), and the floating body constitutes the sensor component that carries out a movement synchronous with the piston rod.

Abstract: A device for indirectly sensing tension of a chain in a railroad handbrake includes an elongated bore formed through a holding pawl of the handbrake, sensor target attached to the holding pawl and a sensor mounted in close proximity to an upper end of the housing so as to sense the sensor target. The ratchet wheel of the handbrake positions the sensor target for operative sensing alignment with the sensor during at least partial handbrake application. A biasing member moves the sensor target away from the operative sensing alignment during handbrake release.

Abstract: A brake monitoring device for sensing a value which reflects the actuation and/or release stroke of a thrust element of a brake actuating mechanism, which thrust element is guided in a housing of a brake caliper. The thrust element acts via a brake lining onto a brake disc by a lever. A sensor is configured to detect variations of a physical quantity at least one component of the brake actuating mechanism. The sensor and component are arranged such that relative movement between them generates constantly repeating variations of the physical quantity along a path. The path is formed between the component of the thrust element and the sensor in axial direction of the thrust element by means of a linear extension from the end of the thrust element facing the brake disc, axially away from the brake disc.

Abstract: A disk brake, in particular for a motor vehicle, is provided. The disk includes a rotatable brake disk, a brake caliper covering the brake disk, an actuator for applying an actuation force and a friction lining applicable to the brake disk by means of the actuation force, and a device for measuring the actual braking force. In order to obtain the more reliable and accurate actual braking force measurement, the device for measuring the actual braking force uses the elastic enlargement of the brake caliper in the form of a measuring parameter and comprises an element having a first end secured to the brake caliper and a second free end, wherein a gap is formed in the extension direction between the brake caliper and the element. The device for measuring the actual braking force produces a signal according to the actual measure gap width.

Abstract: A vehicle brake monitor assembly for an air disk brake includes a brake actuator having a pushrod projecting from inside a chamber of said brake actuator. The pushrod releasably actuates a lever arm of a caliper thereby moving the disk brake into a braking position when the pushrod is in an extended position and releasing the disk brake from the braking position when the pushrod is in a retracted position. The pushrod includes a pushrod shaft and a contact member biased in a telescoping relationship relative to the pushrod shaft and the lever arm of the caliper abuts the contact member counteracting the bias of the contact member. A sensor is integrated with the assembly proximate the contact member and detects movement of the pushrod relative to the lever arm and to the pushrod shaft.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices and methods, which relate to the arrangement of a sensor on the shaft of a rail vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a shock absorber having a damping fluid compensation chamber with a gas charge. In one aspect, a partition separates a first chamber portion from a second chamber portion, wherein the first portion of the chamber is at a first initial gas pressure and the second portion of the chamber is at a second initial pressure. A valve separates the first and second chamber portions and opening the valve commingles the first and second chamber portions so that the combined chamber portions are at a third pressure. In another aspect, a piston disposed through a wall is in pressure communication with the gas charge and is biased inwardly toward a pressure of the charge, whereby an indicator is movable by the piston in response to the pressure.

Abstract: A brake sensor apparatus is provided, including a base unit, a movement unit, a spring, a first buckle unit and a second buckle unit. The movement unit is partially confined inside the base unit so that the movement of the movement unit is restricted to a short distance and along the direction of the base unit. The spring is to allow the retracted movement unit to be moved to the original position. The first buckle unit and the second buckle unit are engaged respectively to the outer wall of base unit and movement unit, and can be hanged and buckled to the positions of brake wire of the brake. In this manner, when the bicycle brakes, the movement unit is retracted into the base unit so as to trigger the trigger switch to connect the connected circuit.

Abstract: A brake or clutch lining (10; 12) has a friction lining (22) arranged on a carrier plate (20). For purposes of detecting a critical operating temperature, an electrically conductive material (24) that has a phase-transition temperature that falls within the range of the critical operating temperature of the friction lining to be detected is provided in at least one place in the friction lining (22).

Abstract: A temperature and/or wear sensor for brake or clutch devices is designed as a thermocouple in which the conductors (20, 22) that are electrically insulated from each other are arranged inside a friction lining (14) and can be connected to each other so as to be electrically conductive by means of a rotatably mounted brake element (12), clutch element or the like, with which the friction lining can be engaged in order to brake or to depress the clutch (FIG. 1). The conductors can be coupled to an electric oscillating circuit.

Abstract: Structure disposed within a brake housing for measuring the displacement of a reference within said brake housing so as to indicate the brake stroke condition on a vehicle braking system.

Abstract: A system configured to estimate a change in temperature of a brake component of a vehicle brake during a braking operation. The system includes a weight estimation module for estimating a weight of a vehicle to which a brake is fitted, a volume estimation module for estimating a volume of a brake component, a temperature model module for calculating a change in temperature during brake application based on a relationship between the weight of the vehicle as estimated by the weight estimation module, the volume of the brake component as estimated by the volume estimation module, the deceleration of the vehicle, and further constants of the vehicle and/or the brake.

Abstract: An electric brake actuator for the brake system of an aircraft is presented. A brake actuator includes a piston driven by a cylindrical nut and screw arrangement, driven by an appropriate motor of the actuator. Application of brake force results in a reactionary force that deflects the top cover of the actuator. The axial component of this deflection correlates directly with the brake force applied. A beam is interposed between this cover and a top cap, such that deflection of the beam correlates to applied brake face. Piezo-resistive devices are connected to the beam and, through a whetstone bridge, provide an electrical output signal correlating to applied brake force.

Abstract: A force measuring device for a parking brake of a vehicle has a housing, having a Bowden cable for actuating the parking brake and having a force measuring element for determining the cable force. The Bowden cable is guided through the housing and has first and second stops which are fastened to the Bowden cable, wherein under loading of the Bowden cable, the first stop is fixedly supported on a housing inner side and the opposite, second stop is supported on the force measuring element which is provided between the housing and the second stop, wherein a movement of the second stop is generated corresponding to the loading of the Bowden cable, which movement leads, at the force measuring element, to a corresponding measurement value for the force transmitted by the Bowden cable. The force measuring device is provided for parking brakes for passenger vehicles.

Abstract: A bicycle motion sensing arrangement is provided has a bicycle wheel, a bicycle brake and a sensor. The bicycle wheel includes an air valve stem and a magnet mounted to the air valve stem. The bicycle brake is configured to be mounted to a bicycle frame. The sensor is fixedly attached to the bicycle brake at a location to detect rotational behavior of a bicycle wheel by sensing the magnet mounted to the air valve stem.

Abstract: A disc brake, in particular its brake lining, is provided with at least one temperature indicator which changes state after a permitted operating temperature is exceeded and/or remains in its position after a permitted operating temperature is exceeded. The temperature indicator may be, in particular, a coating of an adhesive or paint, an affixed label or an affixed tag.

Abstract: In a method for determining the temperature of a wheel-braking device of a brake system, the current disc temperature of the brake disc is determined based on the last-determined disc temperature, the energy supplied to the brake disc since the last temperature determination, and the energy discharged by the brake disc since the last temperature determination. The current caliper temperature of the brake caliper of the wheel-braking device is determined by means of the current disc temperature of the brake disc.

Abstract: Exciter rings, wheel assemblies and methods of assembling. In some aspects, a wheel assembly includes a brake rotor including a barrel section having an interior surface defining a barrel cavity, and a projection extending from the interior surface of the barrel section into the barrel cavity. The wheel assembly also includes an exciter ring formed separately from the brake rotor and engagable with the projection within the barrel cavity to removably connect the exciter ring to the brake rotor. In other aspects, an exciter ring is formed separately from and removably connectable to a brake rotor and includes a body portion having an outer surface, the body portion including a detent protruding outwardly from the outer surface and extending around the outer surface of the body portion. The exciter ring also includes a flange extending radially outwardly from the body portion and having a plurality of apertures.

Abstract: A device and method for measuring slack in a vehicle braking system is described. The device includes an elongated body and a slidable member disposed within a channel of the elongated body. The elongated body has markings for measuring distance, and the slidable member may have a flange or magnet on one end. The slidable member slides out from one end of the elongated body and contacts a fixed compartment. The vehicle braking system is then activated and the movement of the push rod is measured. The other end of the slidable member may be narrow and contain depth markings for measuring tread depth of tires.

Abstract: Pistons 3 and 7 are pressed to a friction member 11 at two points that are positioned at a rotating-in side and a rotating-out side in a rotating direction of a brake rotor 10. An axial force control is performed for the piston 3 on the rotating-out side, and a position control based on the position of the piston 3 on the rotating-out side is performed for the piston 7 on the rotating-in side.

Abstract: A load indicator for use with a railway car hand brake that is connected to a railway car brake rigging comprising a housing, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted in the housing, each of the plurality of levers having a first end and an opposite second end, a plate coupled to each of the plurality of lever second ends, wherein the plate is moveable with respect to the housing, and a plurality of springs each operatively coupled between a respective one of the plurality of lever first ends and the housing. At least one of the plurality of lever first ends is moveable between a first position in which tension exerted on the plate from the railway car hand brake is within a predetermined range, and a second position in which tension exerted on the load indicator from the railway car brake rigging is outside the predetermined range.

Abstract: A motor vehicle having a brakeshoe housing that shifts in a predetermined direction relative to a vehicle frame as brakeshoes it carries wear has a brakeshoe-wear monitor with a proximity sensor mounted on the frame and responsive to a position of the brakeshoe housing relative to the direction. Circuitry connected to the sensor evaluates a proximity signal therefrom.

Abstract: A bicycle motion sensing arrangement is provided has a bicycle wheel, a bicycle brake and a sensor. The bicycle wheel includes an air valve stem and a magnet mounted to the air valve stem. The bicycle brake is configured to be mounted to a bicycle frame. The sensor is fixedly attached to the bicycle brake at a location to detect rotational behavior of a bicycle wheel by sensing the magnet mounted to the air valve stem.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a hand brake mechanism having a gravity based release hold mechanism with a visual indicator to prevent unwanted application of the railcar brakes and indicate such release hold condition. The release hold mechanism comprises a gravity based member pivotally linked to a release shaft preventing reverse rotation of the release shaft causing an unintended take-up of the chain. A detent retaining device disposed within the railcar hand brake housing further provides improve reliability of the operation. The gravity based member incorporates an indicator portion having a reflective coating to indicate such release hold position of the railcar hand brake.

Abstract: The present invention provides a motor-driven brake system comprising: a brake body for enabling brake pads to be pressed against a disk rotor attached to a member which supports a wheel of a vehicle, to thereby brake the wheel under a pressing force, the brake pads being adapted to be driven by means of an electric device; a pressing-force maintaining mechanism for maintaining the pressing force generated by the brake body, to thereby effect a parking brake operation; pressing-force detecting means adapted to detect the pressing force generated by the brake body; and a control device for controlling the electric device and the pressing-force maintaining mechanism, the control device comprising: elapsed time measuring means adapted to measure elapsed time during the parking brake operation by the pressing-force maintaining mechanism; and pressing-force reduction predicting means adapted to predict, based on the elapsed time measured by the elapsed time measuring means and a value of the pressing force as dete

Abstract: A multicolored indicator part and cover part are attached to a truck brake slack adjuster and S cam shaft. Relative motion of the brake slack adjuster and the S cam shaft causes relative motion of the two parts to reveal the colors on the indicator part. Good, warning, and danger colors are provided in highly reflective surfaces seen in a walk around inspection of a truck.

Abstract: A vibration damper including a damping element in a housing supports a component via a mounting bracket clamped between upper and lower plates after making horizontal adjustments. A hollow adjusting screw, a fixing screw and a counternut achieve a vertical adjustment, and a connection to the damping element. A hollow guide screw and an indicating pin axially slidably extending therethrough have visual alignment sights that indicate the vertical adjustment (via the adjusting screw) of the damping element relative to the housing, to facilitate achieving an optimal neutral loading of the damping element despite dimensional tolerances.

Abstract: A brake system including an electromechanical brake actuator having an actuator ram for exerting a brake force on a brake stack of a wheel to be braked in response to a control signal. In addition, the brake system includes a force sensor for sensing the brake force exerted on the brake stack by the actuator ram and outputting a force feedback signal based thereon; and a position sensor for sensing a position of the actuator ram and outputting a position feedback signal based thereon. Moreover, the brake system includes a controller for providing the control signal to the electromechanical brake actuator based on the force feedback signal and the position feedback signal.

Abstract: For an air-operated disc brake there is provided an internal brake actuator stroke indicator which provides an indication, readily ascertained from outside the brake caliper, of the amount of actuator stroke remaining in a disc brake apparatus before a remaining available actuator stroke limit is reached. In one embodiment, the stroke indicator is a mechanical device, readable through a sight glass in a caliper port, coupled to the brake actuator in a manner which results in rotary motion of the indicator when the brake actuator is displaced through its stroke. Alternatively, the indicator may be a rotary sensor such as an electrical potentiometer coupled to the actuator, where the potentiometer sends an electrical signal indicative of the actuator stroke to an external display, such as a remote actuator stroke display at a vehicle operator's position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for testing the functional reliability of parts subject to wear and/or functional parts, whose position can change, or components thereof in a pneumatic or electromechanically actuated disc brake, in particular for a commercial vehicle. According to said method, reflectable signals are emitted by a transmitter to the functional part that is to be tested, the reflected signals are received by the receiver and the actual and desired values are compared and evaluated.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a digital sensor for monitoring the wear of lining material of a disc brake. The sensor is to be attached to the end of an adjusting shaft of an adjusting mechanism, which mechanism is used for adjusting the position of brake pads in relation to the brake disc. The sensor has two or more code parts of which one is rotated continuously by rotation of the adjustment shaft. The code parts have paths of codes to be read by detectors placed on a PCB. The PCB has circuitry to relate the position of the sensor to the wear of the lining material.

Abstract: A control system for an electromechanical brake with self-reinforcement has: means for recognizing a brake failure means for detecting the actual state of motion of the device to be braked and means for opening and closing the brake upon recognition of a failure dependent upon the detected state of motion of the device to be braked. The means for recognizing the state of motion detection in particular the rotational velocity of a brake disk assigned to the brake.

Abstract: An adjusting mechanism alters the heel height on a prosthetic foot and works independently of any articulating ankle joint or foot style, without changing the original dynamic alignment of a prosthetic leg. In a two chamber hydraulic closed system—a fluid material is allowed to flow through the two chambers by means of pistons that push the fluid material equally from one chamber to another until the desired heel height is obtained. Once the correct position is obtained, the ports are closed by means of a push button stop, which closes the ports and stops all transfer of fluid between the ports holding the heel in position during use.

Abstract: Elevator brake (2) with a brake shoe (4, 6) and a brake lining (10, 12) attached thereto, at least one brake lining temperature sensor (10, 12) arranged in the brake shoe (4, 6), at least one ambient temperature sensor (22), and a brake monitoring circuit (14) that is connected to and receives information from the temperature sensors (10, 12, 22), characterized by the fact that the brake lining temperature sensor (10, 12) has a generally cylindrical shape and a temperature-sensitive front end, by the fact that the brake lining temperature sensor (10, 12) is arranged in a through hole (28) in the brake shoe (4, 6) in such a way that its temperature-sensitive front end is generally 7 level with the contact surface (26) between the brake shoe (4, 6) and the brake lining (10, 12), and by the fact that the brake lining temperature sensor (10, 12) is insulated from the inner wall of the through hole (28).

Abstract: A vehicle brake assembly provides an indicator system in which the operating shaft assembly rotates about a pivot axis to rotate a cam member attached thereto against a cam surface which extends from an indicator adjustment shaft. The cam member drives the cam surface and attached indicator adjustment shaft to overcome a biasing member, actuate an overstroke sensor, and simultaneously retract an indicator post to provide a visual indication. Another indicator system includes an overstroke sensor located within the brake housing in an angular position relative the pivot axis adjacent a path of the operating shaft assembly. Another indicator system includes a mechanical overstroke member that buckles in response to contact with the operating shaft to provide overstroke identification from outside the brake housing.

Abstract: A method for electric braking of a vehicle trailer and a device for vehicle trailers is provided. The vehicle trailer has a rigid hitch or drawbar arrangement (7) and is braked by the overrun forces generated as a result of braking of the tractor vehicle (2). The brake device (1) has a force measuring arrangement which can be mounted at the rigid hitch arrangement (7) and statically records the compression and tension forces acting axially on the hitch arrangement (7) using tensometer strips (24, 25) to determine the wheel brake force needed for braking via a controller that correspondingly actuates the electrical wheel brakes.

Abstract: A brake actuator assembly includes a sensor mounted to a push rod which is in communication with a transceiver antenna. The sensor provides positional information of the push rod relative to the antenna. A clearance between a friction element and a rotating brake member is determined based on displacement of the push rod and known mechanical relationships within the brake actuator.

Abstract: In a method for determining the state of a motor vehicle brake, particularly the brake-lining state or the brake-lining thickness, a temperature sensor is arranged in the brake lining of the motor vehicle brake, and the temperature detected by the sensor is used to determine the brake state. In addition to a first temperature value, at least one second temperature value detected after the first temperature value and the time duration between the detection time points of the two temperature values are employed. The brake state is determined based on an evaluation of a time profile of temperature values sensed by said sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a disc brake (10) having two brake shoes (12, 14), which for generating a clamping force (A, A′) are pressable against both sides of a brake disc (16), and having an actuator device (26) for actuating at least one of the brake shoes (12, 14). The disc brake (10) has a detection device, which detects the coming-into-abutment of at least one of the brake shoes (12, 14) against the brake disc (16) and during the coming-into-abutment adopts a characteristic state. This discrete state may be a switching state electrically evaluable for open- or closed-loop control purposes and may be used for open- or closed-loop control of a brake system comprising the disc brake (10).

Abstract: A device can indicate the total load of a brake disk made of carbon-fiber-reinforced ceramic material. In order to create such a device, which can be used for brake disks and other friction elements made of carbon-fiber-reinforced ceramic material, an indicator element can be provided in the brake disk starting from the friction surface. The oxidation stability of this indicator element is reduced with respect to the material of the brake disk.

Abstract: In a method for determining the temperature of a wheel-braking device of a brake system, the current disc temperature of the brake disc is determined based on the last-determined disc temperature, the energy supplied to the brake disc since the last temperature determination, and the energy discharged by the brake disc since the last temperature determination. The current caliper temperature of the brake caliper of the wheel-braking device is determined by means of the current disc temperature of the brake disc.

Abstract: A braking assembly (102) and method for use with a brake by wire system provides braking forces to first and second wheels (104, 106) as a function of first and second electrical brake signals. A first hydraulic brake assembly (108) coupled to the first wheel (104) applies a first braking force to the first wheel (104). A second hydraulic brake assembly (110) coupled to the second wheel (106) applies a second braking force to the second wheel (106). A first pressure sensor (112) senses a pressure of the first hydraulic brake assembly (108) and responsively produces a first pressure signal. A second pressure sensor (114) senses a pressure of the second hydraulic brake assembly (110) and responsively produces a second pressure signal. A controller (116) receives a desired brake actuation signal and responsively determines the first and second electrical brake signals.