The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 22, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 03, 1998
Dennis A. Kramer, Troy, MI (US);
Mark E. Malinowski, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC, Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A brake shoe assembly includes a brake lining and a housing. The brake lining has a predetermined thickness which gradually wears away and increases in temperature during a vehicle braking application. The housing is positioned to wear away and increase in temperature concurrently with the brake lining. An electrical wear loop circuit is encapsulated in the housing for directing power from a power source to a remote indicator in response to a wear opening in the loop circuit. A thermally sensitive switching element is encapsulated in the housing and connected in electrical series with the wear loop circuit for directing power from the power source to the remote indicator in response to the temperature of the housing exceeding a predetermined temperature threshold. In a preferred embodiment, the switching element has a first resistance when the temperature of the housing is below the predetermined temperature threshold and a second resistance which approximates an open circuit when the temperature of the housing is above the predetermined temperature threshold. Thus, when the temperature of the housing is above the predetermined temperature threshold, the second resistance of the switching element directs power from the power source to the remote indicator.