Patent ID: 9440631
Filing Date: 2016-09-13
CPC Classification: B60T,F16D

Claim Text:
1. A method of monitoring a condition of a brake actuator used for actuating an air disc brake, comprising the steps of: providing a brake actuator having a pushrod being extensible from said brake actuator for actuating a lever arm of an air disk brake, and said pushrod being separable from the lever arm of the air disc brake actuator during a hanging brake condition; determining when said brake actuator is operating in a normal condition relative to a disposition of a brake pedal by sensing a length of telescopic extension of said pushrod from said brake actuator when said brake actuator is known to be operating in a normal condition; and when the disposition of the brake pedal is inconsistent with a condition of said brake actuator, identifying one of a plurality fault conditions of said brake actuator by detecting an over-stroke condition by sensing when said pushrod has extended beyond its normal limit, identifying the hanging brake condition by sensing said pushrod has separated from the lever arm when said brake actuator is disposed in a retracted position without sensing disposition of the lever arm, and identifying a non-functioning brake condition by sensing when said pushrod has not properly extended to its normal limit.