Patent ID: 6366201
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: F16D

Abstract:
A brake lining wear indicator for indicating wear in a brake lining disposed between a brake surface and a brake actuator, said indicator comprising:a plurality of spaced apart erodable conductors disposed between said brake surface and said actuator, said plurality of erodable elements having progressively decreasing length in a direction between said brake surface and said actuator; and a plurality of resistors at least one each electrically connected and disposed between each of said plurality of conductors and a common ground in a indicator circuit, said indicator circuit electrically connected to said brake surface to complete a circuit extending through and across said brake surface and said common ground, wherein as said brake lining wears said plurality of erodable elements progressively erode to contact said brake surface thereby progressively adding said plurality of resistors in a parallel arrangement across said indicator circuit and progressively reducing an overall resistance between said brake surface and said common ground to indicate progressive brake lining wear.