Heavy truck brake system using instrumented anchor pins

Abstract

A force detecting load cell, which is designed to be a direct replacement for existing anchor pins, is used as the load-bearing member and measuring and diagnostic device in brake systems. The working dimensions of the cell and the parts replaced are the same, except that the cell has short zones of decreased diameter so that strains are concentrated in these zones. Electrical strain gages are positioned within these zones with connections to exterior measuring and monitoring instrumentation. The arrangement and orientation of the gages in the concentrating zones permit measurement of the applied brake loads both as to magnitude and direction.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . For use in an operating vehicle having brakes as part of an operating brake system: a force and torque measuring apparatus for use in said system, comprising: load bearing members; an anchor pin means as part of the load-bearing members; said anchor pin means having a plurality of force detecting load cells and measuring devices within said brakes; exterior measuring and monitoring instrumentation means; and connection means connected to said anchor pin means and said instrumentation means to permit measurement of the applied brake loads as to either magnitude or direction or both, during vehicle and brake system operation.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the cells have working dimensions comprising short zones of decreased diameter so that strains are concentrated in these zones; and electrical strain gages are positioned within these zones connected to said connecting means to effect said measurements.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the vehicle is a heavy truck.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the said anchor pin is oriented with respect to a predetermined reference point in order to obtain the applied brake load direction.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising incorporating an indication means in said vehicle and connected to said system to convey real-time system performance to the operator.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  further comprising using a processing means connected to said system to analyze and determine individual brake system performance and generate a warning when performance is reduced to a predetermined reference value.  
     
     
         7 . For use in connection with an operating vehicle having wheels and brakes in a brake system, a method of sensing and correcting brake function in said system, comprising the steps of systematically making wheel to wheel force/torque comparisons during operation of said vehicle and brake system in order to determine whether there is any degradation in brake system performance; and then taking corrective action based on those comparisons.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  further comprising using a means of correction verification to verify manual brake adjustments through an additional processing following correction adjustments.  
     
     
         9 . A method of sensing and monitoring individual brake performance over time in operating heavy truck brake systems in order to determine any degradation in brake system performance; and then taking corrective action based on the performance history.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 9  further including using a processing means to analyze and determine wheel to wheel force/torque comparisons and generate a warning when wheel to wheel differences become unbalanced to a predetermined reference value.