Brake fade and brake capacity gauge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10328921-B2
Application number	US-201615005608-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2016
Priority date	Jan 25, 2016
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

A controller can display via an instrument cluster a brake capacity based on a temperature of friction material of at least one brake of a vehicle and a predicted brake fade threshold that is derived from a speed, mass, and current angle of inclination of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An information console for a vehicle comprising:
a gauge configured to display a capacity of vehicle brakes; and
a controller configured to output the capacity to the display based on a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of friction material of the vehicle brakes and a predicted brake fade threshold derived from a speed, mass, and current angle of inclination of the vehicle, and a brake material coefficient characterized by historical changes in brake temperature associated with a brake force and brake duration.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the predicted brake fade threshold is further derived from an expected change in elevation along a predetermined route.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the predicted brake fade threshold is further derived from an expected brake force required along a predetermined route.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the predicted brake fade threshold is further derived from an expected change in elevation associated with a current location and a direction of travel.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the temperature signal is an output from a thermocouple or a result of a brake model.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to output a warning if the capacity is less than a threshold or the temperature exceeds the predicted brake fade threshold.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the capacity is based on a difference between the predicted brake fade threshold and the temperature.

8. A computer-implemented method comprising:
outputting by a controller a capacity of vehicle brakes to a display based on a temperature associated with a friction material of the vehicle brakes and a predicted brake fade threshold derived from a speed, mass, and current angle of inclination of the vehicle, and a brake material coefficient characterized by historical changes in brake temperature associated with a brake force and brake duration.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the capacity is based on a difference between the temperature and predicted brake fade threshold.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the predicted brake fade threshold is further derived from an expected change in elevation associated with a current location and a direction of travel.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the predicted brake fade threshold is further derived from an expected brake force required along a predetermined route.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Fraser John G
• Lewandowski Andrew Denis
• Matthews Jason Christopher
• Rhein Lawrence Robert
• Mateyk Jeremy

Classifications

• F16D2066/001

  Temperature · CPC title

• F16D66/00

  Arrangements for monitoring working conditions, e.g. wear, temperature · CPC title

• B60T2201/022

  Collision avoidance systems · CPC title

• B60T17/221 Primary

  Procedure or apparatus for checking or keeping in a correct functioning condition of brake systems (hydraulic pressure systems in general F15B19/00, F15B21/04; testing structures or apparatus G01M) · CPC title

• B60T17/22 Primary

  Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices · CPC title