Systems and methods for detecting a stuck brake friction component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9550486-B2
Application number	US-201514718362-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2015
Priority date	May 21, 2015
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

A system for detecting a stuck brake friction component of a motor vehicle may include a tire pressure monitoring system and a steering wheel angle sensor. The system may also include a controller configured to receive signals from the tire pressure monitoring system and the steering wheel angle sensor and to generate a notification if the signals indicate that one or more of the friction components of the vehicle's braking system is stuck in an engaged position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for detecting a brake friction component that has not disengaged from a complimentary brake friction component, comprising:
a tire pressure monitoring system;
a steering wheel angle sensor; and
a controller configured to determine whether a friction component remains in an engaged position after completion of a braking event based on a vehicle tire pressure change and a steering wheel angle and to generate a notification when the friction component remains engaged.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive signals corresponding to a current tire pressure of each tire of a vehicle from the tire pressure monitoring system and the steering wheel angle from the steering wheel angle sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to calculate a pressure change of each tire by comparing a stored tire pressure of each tire with the current tire pressure of each tire.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a threshold pressure change indicative of a friction component that has not disengaged from a complimentary brake friction component based on barometric pressure, ambient air temperature, and miles driven during the vehicle's current drive cycle.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the threshold pressure change is about 20% to about 30% above a starting cold pressure for each tire.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the threshold pressure change after a time period of about 600 seconds to about 800 seconds from vehicle startup.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the pressure change of each tire with the threshold pressure change.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to flag a tire if the pressure change of the tire is greater than the threshold pressure change.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the steering wheel angle to a threshold value for each flagged tire.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein, if the flagged tire is a front tire, the threshold value is about 5 degrees.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein, if the flagged tire is a rear tire, the threshold value is about 2.5 degrees.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the notification if the steering wheel angle exceeds the threshold value for one or more of the flagged tires.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the notification if the steering wheel angle exceeds the threshold value for at least about 2 minutes.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle's braking system comprises a disc-braking system, and wherein the controller is configured to generate the notification if the controller determines that one or more calipers of the disc-braking system remains in an engaged position with a rotor of the disc-braking system.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle's braking system comprises a drum-braking system, and wherein the controller is configured to generate the notification if the controller determines that one or more brake shoes of the drum-braking system remains in an engaged position with a drum of the drum-braking system.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a notification system configured to receive a signal from the controller and indicate that one or more of the friction components remains in the engaged position.

17. A method for detecting a brake friction component that has not disengaged from a complimentary brake friction component, comprising:
receiving signals corresponding to a current tire pressure of at least one tire of a vehicle and an angle of a steering wheel of the vehicle;
calculating a pressure change of the at least one tire;
comparing the pressure change of the at least one tire with a threshold pressure change;
flagging a tire if the pressure change of the tire is greater than the threshold pressure change; and
generating a notification if the angle of the steering wheel exceeds a threshold value for one or more of the flagged tires.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein calculating the pressure change of the at least one tire comprises comparing a stored tire pressure for the at least one tire with the current tire pressure of the at least one tire.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein generating the notification comprises providing a warning to the vehicle's driver that one or more of the vehicle's friction components remains in an engaged position.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein providing the warning comprises providing a warning that a front, right brake friction component remains in the engaged position if a front, right tire is flagged and the angle of the steering wheel exceeds about 5 degrees in a counterclockwise direction.

21. The system of claim 19 , wherein providing the warning comprises providing a warning that a front, left brake friction component remains in the engaged position if a front, left tire is flagged and the angle of the steering wheel exceeds about 5 degrees in a clockwise direction.

22. The system of claim 19 , wherein providing the warning comprises providing a warning that a rear, right brake friction component remains in the engaged position if a rear, right tire is flagged and the angle of the steering wheel exceeds about 2.5 degrees in a counterclockwise direction.

23. The system of claim 19 , wherein providing the warning comprises providing a warning that a rear, left brake friction component remains in the engaged position if a rear, left tire is flagged and the angle of the steering wheel exceeds about 2.5 degrees in a clockwise direction.

24. A method for detecting a brake friction component that has not disengaged from a complimentary brake friction component, comprising:
receiving signals corresponding to current vehicle tire pressure from a tire pressure monitoring system and steering wheel angle from a steering wheel angle sensor;
determining whether a brake friction component remains in an engaged position after completion of a braking event based on the signals; and
generating a notification when the friction component remains engaged.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Dudar Aed M

Classifications

• 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

• B60T8/885

  using electrical circuitry · CPC title

• B60C23/0408

  transmitting the signals by non-mechanical means from the wheel or tyre to a vehicle body mounted receiver · CPC title

• B60T17/22 Primary

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

• B60T2270/406

  Test-mode; Self-diagnosis · CPC title