Sensorized brake pad calibration machines, systems, and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11670118-B2
Application number	US-202117443797-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2021
Priority date	Jun 29, 2017
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

Various machines, systems, and methods for generating calibration data for a sensorized brake pad are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system includes a fixture, a brake pad retainer, a pressure plate, an actuator and a controller. The actuator applies a pressure to the sensorized brake pad and signals from the pressure sensors are received. Calibration data is generated based on the signals received from the pressures sensors when the pressure is applied to the sensorized brake pad.

First claim

The following is claimed:

1. A brake pad calibration machine, comprising:
a fixture;
a brake pad retainer supported by the fixture and configured to hold a sensorized brake pad relative to the fixture;
an actuator supported by the fixture, the actuator controllable to apply force to the sensorized brake pad, and the calibration machine adjustable to adjust an angle θ between a force direction of the actuator and a plane formed by a surface of a friction element of the sensorized brake pad; and
a controller configured to:
control the actuator to apply force to the sensorized brake pad in the force direction to apply both normal and shear forces to the surface of the friction element of the sensorized brake pad; and
receive one or more signals from one or more force sensors of the sensorized brake pad when the force is applied to the sensorized brake pad; and
generate calibration data based on the signals received from the force sensors when the force is applied to the sensorized brake pad.

2. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to monitor a thickness of friction material of the brake pad during application of the normal and shear forces.

3. The machine of claim 2 , wherein the controller is further configured to store the calibration data in a memory.

4. The machine of claim 3 , wherein the memory is on-board the sensorized brake pad.

5. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the machine comprises an electrical connector configured to engage with an electrical connector of the sensorized brake pad.

6. The machine of claim 5 , wherein the controller is further configured to cause movement of the electrical connector of the calibration machine into engagement with the electrical connector of the sensorized brake pad.

7. The machine of claim 1 , further comprising a second actuator supported by the fixture, the controller configured to control the second actuator to apply a force to the sensorized brake pad in a second force direction.

8. The machine of claim 7 , wherein the second force direction is tangential to the surface of the friction element of the sensorized brake pad.

9. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator such that a ratio of the shear force to the normal force is less than a static coefficient of friction of the friction element of the brake pad.

10. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the actuator such that a ratio of the shear force over the normal force is equal to about tan θ.

11. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to move the actuator to adjust the angle θ.

12. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the force sensors comprise a normal sensor and a shear sensor.

13. A brake pad calibration machine comprising:
a fixture;
a brake pad retainer supported by the fixture and configured to hold a sensorized brake pad relative to the fixture;
a first actuator supported by the fixture and configured to apply a first force to the sensorized brake pad in a force direction of the first actuator at a first angle formed between the force direction of the first actuator and a plane formed by a surface of a friction element of the sensorized brake; and
a second actuator supported by the fixture and configured to apply a second force to the sensorized brake pad in a force direction of the second actuator at a second angle formed between the force direction of the second actuator and the plane formed by the surface of the friction element, the second angle different than the first angle; and
a controller configured to:
control the first actuator to apply force to the sensorized brake pad in the force direction of the first actuator to apply force to the friction element of the sensorized brake pad;
control the second actuator to apply force to the sensorized brake pad in the force direction of the second actuator to apply force to the friction element of the sensorized brake pad;
receive one or more signals from one or more force sensors of the sensorized brake pad when the force is applied to the sensorized brake pad; and
generate calibration data based on the signals received from the force sensors when the force is applied to the sensorized brake pad.

14. The machine of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to store the calibration data in a memory.

15. The machine of claim 14 , wherein the memory is on-board the sensorized brake pad.

16. The machine of claim 13 , wherein the machine comprises an electrical connector configured to engage with an electrical connector of the sensorized brake pad.

17. The machine of claim 13 , wherein the first actuator is controllable to adjust the first angle.

18. The machine of claim 13 , wherein the second angle is tangential to the surface of the friction element.

19. The machine of claim 13 , wherein the one or more force sensors comprise a normal sensor and a shear sensor.

20. The machine of claim 13 , wherein the first angle is normal to the surface of the friction element and the second angle is tangential to the surface of the friction element.

Assignees

• Itt Italia Srl

Inventors

• Serra Stefano
• Solari Mattia
• Meduri Laura
• Truccone Paolo

Classifications

• F16D69/00

  Friction linings; Attachment thereof; Selection of coacting friction substances or surfaces (clutching elements F16D13/60; braking members F16D65/02) · CPC title

• B60Y2304/09

  Testing or calibrating during manufacturing · CPC title

• G01M17/04

  Suspension or damping · CPC title

• G01L5/28 Primary

  for testing brakes · 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