Method and apparatus for determining a brake overheating condition

A vehicle includes at least one wheel and an associated brake. Especially if the vehicle is traveling down an incline, the brake may overheat from prolonged use. The present invention provides an operator warning device which alerts the operator to a possible or actual brake overheat condition, based on any number of chosen non-temperature vehicle conditions. These conditions may include incline, machine speed, brake application pressure, and brake application duration.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a temperature-monitoring system for a brake on a vehicle, and, more specifically, to such a system which determines and/or predicts a brake overheat condition using non-temperature characteristics of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND

A vehicle such as a work machine, wheel loader, backhoe loader, on- or off-highway truck, or the like is normally equipped with a number of wheels. Generally, the wheels are mounted in pairs on an axle. A friction-style service brake of a known type is associated either with each wheel or each axle. A “wet” axle, having axle oil or another fluid circulating within an enclosing structure, is an example of a common configuration in the industry.

Brake overheating is a very common and serious condition. The brakes can easily overheat when they are applied for a long duration, or a closely-spaced series of shorter duration applications. When a brake overheats, the two main resultant failure modes are axle oil failures (in a wet axle) and brake failures. Axle oil failure occurs because heat makes the axle oil less viscous and more “runny”, with the consequence that the oil does not flow and adhere as needed to properly lubricate axle components. The axle components then can wear prematurely. Brake failures fall, for the most part, into three categories related to the friction discs: glazing, warping, and carbonization.

Glazing is the term used when the friction disc surfaces become heated, perhaps at least partially melted, and lose relative friction with their partner discs. While glazing effects the characteristics of the brake initially, as the glazed brake is applied, the glazing becomes worn away to expose the friction material beneath and the brake can eventually regain close to normal function. Warping occurs when heat causes the friction discs to twist or melt. A warped disc only frictionally engages its partner disc at high or low points along the surface of the warped or partner disc, thus exacerbating the overheating problem at those points and possibly causing a loss of braking force. Finally, carbonization is when the material which makes up the surface of the friction discs loses structural integrity because of the heat and chunks or flakes off, causing similar ill effects as does warping.

Unlike glazing, both warping and carbonization damage the brake permanently, necessitating replacement of the damaged friction discs. Brakes are extremely difficult and time-consuming to access due to their location on the vehicle, and brake components are very costly. It is thus desirable to detect or predict an overheat condition before permanent damage occurs to the brakes.

Generally, brake overheating occurs when the vehicle is traveling down an incline and the operator is “riding” the brake to control the speed of the machine by resisting gravitational force. Brakes are normally sized to bring the vehicle to a stop on level ground with an application duration of 3–5 seconds. Tests in the field have shown that permanent brake damage from overheating can begin in as short as a 15–20 second application. Though on level ground the vehicle would have long since stopped by the 15-second mark, such a damage-threshold brake application duration is often exceeded by downhill-travelling vehicles and the brakes of such a machine can overheat. A warning or prediction system is needed to alert an operator of a present or impending brake overheat event so that permanent damage can be averted or minimized.

Prior art systems often use an axle oil temperature sensor to measure an actual temperature of the axle oil and compare that temperature to a range of allowable temperatures, alerting the operator if the temperature exceeds the range. However, the sensor may be located inconveniently far from the brake because of spacing and wiring constraints and consequently may not detect all instances of brake overheating due both to the distance of the sensor from the brake and to the unpredictable circulation of axle oil. Sensors can easily malfunction in the stressful environment inside the axle or brake, as well.

Also, even when the operator is alerted of overheat conditions, damage may have already begun to occur and may become irreversible in the time that it takes the operator to stop the vehicle to let the brakes cool. Therefore, a proactive warning is desirable as long as the number and frequency of warnings without an associated overheat event are small enough that the operator does not disregard the warning.

Additionally, cooling of an overheated brake sufficient to allow further use generally takes on the order of 15–30 seconds, depending upon the temperature of the brake and the setup of the vehicle. Operators are often held to a tight work cycle schedule and may wish to minimize stopped time. If the brakes are not permitted to fully cool before vehicle travel resumes, a low-level overheat situation results. While no permanent warping or carbonization may occur, such a constant low-level overheat may bring about an axle-oil failure as described above and allow catastrophic wear to axle components. Accordingly, a system which indicates to the operator when the brakes have cooled to an acceptable level would be of value to an operator trying to keep to a strict productivity schedule while still protecting the components of the vehicle.

Due to the difficulty and expense of brake repairs, it is also desirable for a log or history of overheat (or near-overheat) events to be kept. This allows the owner of the vehicle to identify a particular operator or work site with a high incidence of overheat events. The owner may then provide additional operator training or a vehicle modification, such as an axle oil cooler, to avoid further overheat events.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,947, issued Jan. 14, 1992 to Joachim Feldmann et al. (hereafter referenced as '947) discloses a method for the approximate determination of an average temperature of a device component of a brake device. The average temperature is determined by the deformation of the device component at the start of a brake actuation and at a point in time t1following the start, as well as by a temperature-dependent change of the elasticity module of the material of the device component. '947 calculates the brake temperature indirectly, thus avoiding the temperature sensor difficulties described above. However, the '947 method requires that a number of specialized device sensors be placed near or on the brake components, thus negating the time, resource, and efficiency savings provided by the lack of a temperature sensor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1adepicts a vehicle100having a machine body102which carries a cab104. A ground engaging system106provides motive power to the vehicle100. The ground engaging system106has at least one wheel108. Two wheels108are shown inFIG. 1a, and it is assumed for the sake of description that the wheels108are mounted on axles (not shown) in a known manner. At least one wheel108or its axle has a brake110associated therewith. Again for descriptive purposes, it will be assumed herein that the brake110is a wet friction disc brake, but the present invention will function as intended with any of a number of known types of brake110.

A brake overheat warning system (shown generally at120by the dashed line) using the logic ofFIG. 2ais associated with the brake110and is shown inFIG. 1b. The brake overheat warning system120includes an electronic control module (ECM)112, a machine speed sensor122, and a brake application sensor124.

The machine speed sensor122provides a machine speed signal, representing a ground speed of the vehicle100, to the ECM112in any suitable manner. One known manner of producing the machine speed signal involves timing a rotation of the wheels108.

The brake application sensor124provides a brake application duration signal to the ECM112. The brake application duration signal may be produced by timing the operator's activation of a brake control114or in any other suitable manner which produces a value for the length of time the brake110has been actuated.

The brake overheat warning system120preferably includes an incline sensor116which determines if the vehicle100is traveling on level ground or on a slope. A pendulum sensor is an example of a suitable incline sensor116, though any method known in the art for measuring the incline of machine travel will suffice.

Optionally, a brake pressure value is supplied to the ECM112. The brake pressure value may be a predetermined constant or a brake pressure sensor126, as shown inFIG. 1b, can be used to provide a brake pressure signal based on an amount of force with which the brake is being applied to stop the wheel. The predetermined pressure value could even be omitted or set to zero, having the same effect as an omission, without harm to the present invention, if the operator or programmer of the brake overheat warning system120wishes to disregard the pressure of application of the brake. The below description assumes the presence of a non-zero pressure value, however.

Preferably, an operator warning device118alerts the operator to a possible or actual brake overheat condition, based on any suitable number or combination of the above vehicle conditions (incline, machine speed, brake application pressure, and brake application duration). This operator warning device118may provide a signal to the operator tactilely, visually, audibly, or in like manner. The operator warning device118should be of a form such that the operator will quickly notice and understand the overheat warning and take steps to rectify the overheat situation.

A brake overheat history log may also record brake overheat or other brake temperature-related events (whether or not the operator was notified of the event) for future reference. This history log may reside in the ECM112in a known manner or in any other retrievable format and location.

The logic which transforms the vehicle conditions into an operator warning is shown inFIG. 2a, and the optionalFIGS. 2band2c. Control starts at first control block200ofFIG. 2a; the method of actuation of the brake overheat warning system120may be automatic or manual, and the brake overheat warning system120may operate continuously or intermittently. For the sake of description, it will be assumed herein that the brake overheat warning system120is active full-time. At second control block202, the values for machine speed (V), brake application pressure (P), and brake application duration (D) are read or supplied, as discussed above.

Optionally, the logic ofFIG. 2bis applied between blocks202and206ofFIG. 2a, in order to bring in the incline factor of the brake overheat warning system120. Should the incline option be included, control leavesFIG. 2aat point A. I is read at sixth control block214. At first decision block204, I is compared to Icrit, a predetermined value of the minimum incline, or a range of acceptable inclines, for which the brake overheat warning system120is operational. If I is greater than (for a fixed Icritvalue) or falls outside (for an Icritrange) Icrit, then control returns to the logic ofFIG. 2aat point B; otherwise, control returns to first control block200inFIG. 2a.

At third control block206, a calculated brake overheat value Evalis determined from V, P, and D. Evalrepresents the likelihood that the brake110has overheated or will do so shortly, depending upon the warning type chosen by the user. The warning type (imminent or actual overheat event) may be factory-preset or chosen by an operator or owner. The precise nature of Evalmay be an equation or summing of signals, an example of which is shown inFIG. 2a, a lookup table, or any other suitable means of combining and/or weighting V, P, and D in a desired manner. Historical V, P, and D values may also be taken into account when calculating Eval. The relationship of V, P, and D which produces Evalis specific to the vehicle and may be readily determined by one skilled in the art. Once Evalis determined in the chosen manner, control passes to second decision block208.

At second decision block208, Evalis compared to a predetermined acceptable overheat value, Ecrit. Ecritmay be a single value, as shown, or a range of values called an acceptable overheat value range. The comparison may be accomplished in any suitable manner. Ecritmay be determined experimentally and represents a combination of V, P, and D which indicates a current or impending overheat event about which the operator should be warned. If Evalfalls outside the Ecritvalue or range at second decision block208(a simple greater than/equal to comparison as shown is an example), control returns to first control block200. Otherwise, control passes to fourth control block210.

At fourth control block210, a brake overheat signal (BOS) is produced. Control then passes to fifth control block212, where the BOS is optionally, as indicated by the dashed line, sent to the operator warning device118and actuates the same. The BOS may instead or also be sent to a log file for historical purposes. Control then returns to first control block200, whether or not the command in fifth control block212is carried out.

Optionally, the logic ofFIG. 2cis included in the brake overheat warning system120.FIG. 2csupplementsFIG. 2ato provide a warning signal duration (WSD) value which indicates to the operator when the brake has or should have cooled sufficiently to resume vehicle100operation. The description of the present invention places theFIG. 2clogic between points C and D ofFIG. 2a, but any suitable placement may be used in practice. At first decision block300, V is compared to zero, to determine if the vehicle100has been stopped responsive to the BOS. If the vehicle100is still traveling, control follows a predetermined one of the two dashed (to signify optional) lines and either proceeds to point D ofFIG. 2a, wherein theFIG. 2alogic is repeated until the vehicle100has stopped, or returns to first decision block300ofFIG. 2cand “holds”, or loops, until the vehicle100has stopped. A programmer or operator chooses one of the two dashed lines in order to provide a desired response from the brake overheat warning system120; either path permits the brake overheat warning system120to operate properly.

If the vehicle100has stopped, control passes from first decision block300to first control block302, where the WSD value is obtained. The WSD value is predetermined from a lookup table, equation, clock, or other suitable source and indicates a duration for the actuation of the operator warning device118. The WSD is then sent to the operator warning device118at second control block304. At the expiration of the WSD period, the operator warning device118is automatically deactivated or otherwise indicates to the operator that the vehicle100has been stopped for long enough that the brake should have cooled sufficiently to avoid the overheat event. The WSD value may also or instead be based on a sensed temperature of the axle or brake110. From second control block304, control then passes back to point D ofFIG. 2a.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As a vehicle100equipped with a brake overheat warning system120according to the present invention travels, the ECM112monitors the V, P, and D values. Optionally, the logic of the brake overheat warning system120is employed if the I value indicates that the vehicle100is traveling down an incline. The brake overheat warning system120may also or instead be activated manually by the operator or automatically based on another characteristic of the vehicle100.

Regardless of the method of activation, the brake overheat warning system120calculates the BOS as described above. If Evalis such that a brake overheat event is occurring or imminent, the operator receives a warning via the operator warning device118. Upon receiving the warning, the operator should stop the vehicle100to allow the brakes110to cool and avoid or lessen heat damage to the brakes110. Preferably, the WSD loop (FIG. 2c) determines if the vehicle100has been stopped and then deactivates the operator warning device118or otherwise indicates to the operator when the brakes110should be cool enough that vehicle100travel may resume.

The activation of the operator warning device118may be recorded in the brake overheat history log for future reference by the operator or owner of the vehicle100. A large number of overheat events may indicate that additional operator training or a vehicle100device, such as an axle oil cooler or jake brake, is appropriate.

If the vehicle100is not stopped responsive to the warning, such lack of response may also be recorded in the brake overheat history log and may be used as evidence of improper operation to invalidate warranty claims related to overheated brakes110.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.