Patent ID: 6360850
Filing Date: 2002-03-26
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A brake lining wear sensor for indicating progressive brake wear in a brake lining disposed between a brake surface and a brake actuator, said sensor comprising:an encapsulated erodable element substantially disposed within said brake lining, said erodable element including; two substantially straight parallel rails extending in a first direction extending from said brake actuator to said brake surface; a plurality of resistors arranged in parallel and spaced apart in a direction between said brake actuator and said brake surface, said plurality of resistors being disposed between and connected to said parallel rails and spaced apart in said first direction; said two substantially straight parallel rails being connected to a sensing circuit for detecting progressive wear of said brake lining, wherein as said brake lining progressively wears said plurality of resistors progressively erode and progressively disconnect continuity of said plurality of resistors between said parallel rails thereby progressively changing an overall resistance between said parallel rails to thereby indicate progressive brake lining wear in said sensing circuit.