Abstract:
A system and method for electro-mechanical brake wear adjustment includes an adjustable end plate configured to translate along an axis, a piston configured to translate along the axis relative to the adjustable end plate, a disc pack disposed between the adjustable end plate and the piston, such that movement of the piston toward the adjustable end plate compresses the disc pack against the adjustable end plate, the disc pack including a brake plate facing a brake disc, an actuator operatively coupled to the adjustable end plate and configured to move the adjustable end plate relative to the disc pack along the axis, and a controller operatively coupled to the actuator and configured to effect motion of the adjustable end plate via the actuator.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The disclosure relates generally to systems and methods used in machine brakes and braking, and more particularly to automatically adjusting brake system components to address brake wear. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Mobile machines may include a mechanical transmission drivingly coupled to opposing traction devices by way of front and/or rear differentials and final drives (one located between each differential and an associated traction device). Each differential receives a shaft power input from the transmission and produces two shaft power outputs directed through the final drives to the traction devices. The final drives may function to reduce a rotational speed of the differential output to a level appropriate to drive the associated traction devices and thereby propel the machine. 
         [0003]    Each final drive may include a stationary housing, an axle rotatably disposed within the housing and driven by the differential, and a brake assembly connected between the housing and the axle. Some brake assemblies include a plurality of friction plates connected to rotate with the axle, a plurality of separator plates disposed between adjacent friction plates and rotationally constrained at their periphery by the housing, and a piston configured to push the friction plates and separator plates together, thereby transferring torque via friction between the friction plates and the separator plates to retard rotation of the axle. Such frictional torque transfer can result in brake wear. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,086,504 (“the &#39;504 patent”), entitled “Disk brake comprising an adjuster module,” purports to address such brake wear. The &#39;504 patent describes at least one adjusting system located in the brake caliper and arranged on one or more sides of the brake disc. In contrast, a process and system for automatically adjusting a mounting plate in response to brake wear is not known. These and other shortcomings of the prior art are addressed by this disclosure. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    According to an aspect of the disclosure, a brake system for a machine includes an adjustable end plate configured to translate along an axis, a piston configured to translate along the axis relative to the adjustable end plate, a disc pack disposed between the adjustable end plate and the piston, such that movement of the piston toward the adjustable end plate compresses the disc pack against the adjustable end plate, the disc pack including a brake plate facing a brake disc, an actuator operatively coupled to the adjustable end plate and configured to move the adjustable end plate relative to the disc pack along the axis, and a controller operatively coupled to the actuator and configured to effect motion of the adjustable end plate via the actuator. 
         [0006]    According to another aspect of the disclosure, a method for adjusting brake components on a machine includes sensing, with a controller having a sensor, at least one distance associated with a piston and at least one of an adjustable end plate and a disc pack having a disc and a plate, determining, with the controller having a processor, based on the determination of the at least one distance, whether the at least one distance is greater than a predetermined maximum distance, activating, with the controller, in response to determining that the at least one distance is greater than the predetermined maximum distance, an actuator configured to position an adjustable end plate, and positioning, with the actuator and in response to activating the actuator, the adjustable end plate. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective bottom view of a machine including a brake system, according to an aspect of the disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of a brake system, according to an aspect of the disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross-sectional view of a brake system, according to an aspect of the disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates a partial cutaway view of an actuator configured to adjust the position of the adjustable brake plate, according to an aspect of the disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates a process flow for collecting data associated with the brake system and adjusting the position of the adjustable end plate. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]    Aspects of the disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout, unless specified otherwise. 
         [0013]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the exemplary machine  100  includes one or more wheels  102  configured to support and propel the machine  100  on a ground surface (not shown) and a brake system (referred to in  FIG. 1  as  FIG. 2 ) operatively coupled to the wheels  102 . The machine  100  further includes a pump  124  and a tank  126 . The pump  124  may be driven by a prime mover such as an engine  128  or a motor (not shown). 
         [0014]    According to an exemplary aspect, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the brake system  204  may be a spring-applied disk brake system including one or more brake discs  208  and one or more brake plates  222  making a disc pack. The brake discs  208  may be connected to the wheel  102  shown in  FIG. 1 . The brake system  204  may include a piston  212  associated with at least one of the brake discs  208  on one side of the piston  212  and a compression spring  218  on the other side of the piston  212 . The compression spring  218  may force the piston  212  toward the brake disc  208 , and fluid pressure from the spring  218  side of the piston  212  may bias the piston  212  toward the brake disc  208  (see  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0015]    As the brake system  204  is applied, the piston  212  may move axially to apply the brake plate  222  and the brake disc  208  against an adjustable end plate  262 . The brake disc  208  may be made of iron, steel, or the like. Friction between the brake disc  208  and the adjustable end plate  262  may cause the brake disc  208  to wear and decrease in thickness. As the brake discs  208  decrease in thickness, the piston  212  may have to increase the axial distance it must travel to force the brake plate  222  and brake disc  208  against the adjustable end plate  262 . 
         [0016]    The adjustable end plate  262  may be arranged between a fixed end plate  278  and the brake disc  208  and brake plate  222  so that the adjustable end plate  262  may axially move toward and away from the brake disc  208  and brake plate  222  and in between the brake disc  208  and brake plate  222  and the fixed end plate  278 . The adjustable end plate  262  may be coupled with the fixed end plate  278  via pins  284  which may fit into apertures formed in both of the fixed end plate  278  and the adjustable end plate  262  (shown and explained in more detail in  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0017]    According to an aspect of the disclosure, a sensor  264  may be mounted on the piston  212 , on the adjustable end plate  262 , or elsewhere within or near the brake system  204  where the sensor  264  may determine the movement of the piston  212 . In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , the sensor  264  is mounted on the piston  212 . The sensor  264  may be configured to determine the distance between the piston  212  and the brake plate  222  and the brake disc  208 , and/or the distance between the piston  212  and the adjustable end plate  262 . As the brake discs  208  become worn, the distance that the piston  212  may travel to apply pressure with the brake plates  222  and brake discs  208  may increase. Increased distance between the piston  212  and brake plates  222 , brake discs  208 , and/or adjustable end plate  262  may affect the efficiency of the brake system  204 . The sensor  264  may be configured to determine the distance the piston  212  is traveling to apply pressure with the brake plate  222  and the brake disc  208 . The sensor  264  could be a proximity sensor, infrared, radar, encoder, linear encoder, Hall affect sensor, potentiometer, inductive position sensor, linear variable differential transformer, inductive proximity sensor, rotary encoder, incremental encoder, or the like. 
         [0018]    The sensor  264  can also be part of and/or operatively linked to an electronic control module  270 . The electronic control module  270  may also include a processor (not shown), a computer readable memory (not shown), and a transceiver (not shown). The processor can be, for example, dedicated hardware as defined herein, a computing device as defined herein, a programmable logic array (PLA), a programmable array logic (PAL), a generic array logic (GAL), a complex programmable logic device (CPLD), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or any other programmable logic device (PLD) configurable to execute the functions for the electronic control module  270 . The computer readable memory may include computer readable storage media, for example tangible or fixed storage of data, or communication media for transient interpretation of code-containing signals. Computer readable storage media, as used herein, refers to physical or tangible storage (as opposed to transient signals) and includes without limitation volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable storage media implemented in any method or technology for the tangible storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. In one or more aspects, the actions and/or events of a method, algorithm, or module may reside as one or any combination or set of codes and/or instructions on a computer readable memory or machine readable medium, which may be incorporated into a computer program product. 
         [0019]    In another aspect of the disclosure, the distance data captured by the sensor  264  may be compiled by an electronic control module  270 . The computer readable memory associated with the electronic control module  270  may include an operating system, a communication component, and the like. The operating system together with the various components may provide software functionality for the electronic control module  270 . The computer readable medium may include a high-speed, random-access memory. Also, the computer readable medium may be a non-volatile memory, such as magnetic fixed disk storage, SIM, UICC, cloud-based memory, flash memory or the like. Computer readable storage media, as used herein, refers to physical or tangible storage (as opposed to signals) and includes without limitation volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable storage media implemented in any method or technology for the tangible storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. 
         [0020]    According to an aspect, the electronic control module  270  may determine based on distance data from the sensor  264  that the piston  212  is moving beyond a maximum predetermined distance. In response, the electronic control module  270  may be configured to automatically adjust the location of the adjustable end plate  262 . For example, the electronic control module  270  may determine that the adjustable end plate  262  should move closer to the brake discs  208  so that as the brake discs  208  wear, the adjustable end plate  262  may be repositioned to decrease the distance between the brake discs  208  and the adjustable end plate  262 . 
         [0021]    The electronic control module  270  may be configured to communicate with an actuator  260 . The electronic control module  270  may both transmit and receive signals. According to an aspect, when the electronic control module  270  has determined that the adjustable end plate  262  needs to be repositioned, the electronic control module  270  may transmit a signal to the actuator  260  to activate the actuator  260  to apply a force to the adjustable end plate  262  and thereby move the adjustable end plate  262  to a different location with respect to the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222 . 
         [0022]    According to an aspect, the adjustable end plate  262  may be adjusted by the actuator  260 . The actuator  260  may be electrically powered or hydraulically powered. For instance, the actuator  260  may be a servomotor, a screw actuator, a solenoid valve with hydraulic pressure, or the like. The actuator  260  may apply a force that can be translated to the adjustable end plate  262  with a gear train, hydraulic pressure, or the like. 
         [0023]    The actuator  260  may be powered by and configured to communicate with the electronic control module  270 , which may receive power from a machine battery (not shown). The actuator  260  may also be powered by a battery and/or the main power source (not shown) on the machine  100 . The adjustable end plate  262  may be coupled, such as, e.g., fastened, bolted, welded, screwed or the like, to the shaft  420  of the actuator  260  or otherwise attached to the actuator  260  (see  FIG. 4 ). Thus, if the actuator  260  is instructed by the electronic control module  270  to adjust the placement of the adjustable end plate  262 , the actuator  260  may engage the adjustable end plate  262  through the shaft  420 . The actuator  260  movement may cause the attached adjustable end plate  262  to move closer to or away from the brake discs  208 . The actuator  260  may communicate wirelessly with the electronic control module  270  on a communication channel as defined herein. 
         [0024]    Further, it should be noted that the electronic control module  270  may embody any general machine controller capable of controlling the actuator. Examples of such circuitry may be, but not limited to, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), signal-conditioning circuitry, communication circuitry, and other appropriate circuitry. 
         [0025]    Although, it is disclosed herein that the brake system  204  is implemented in the machine  100  embodied as the large mining truck, a person having ordinary skill in the art may acknowledge that the machine  100  disclosed herein in exemplary in nature and hence, non-limiting of this disclosure. Any machine  100  including one or more rotatable members and a spring applied brake system operatively coupled to the rotatable members, which are embodied as the wheels  102  and the brake system  204  in the disclosure, may employ the hydraulic system disclosed herein. 
         [0026]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , the brake system  204  of the present disclosure may be axially mounted outward, or to the left when viewing the drawing, of a radially extending flange  312 . In the instant example, the flange  312  may be an integral part of a conically tapered axle housing  314  such as is found on a relatively large mining truck or the like. A drive train member  322  may be rotatably supported on the axle housing  314  to the outside of the brake system  204  by an antifriction bearing  324 . The drive train member  322  may have an axially inwardly extending flange  328  with an external spline  327  thereon, and a radially outwardly extending flange  328 . A wheel rim arrangement generally identified by the reference numeral  334  may be secured to the flange  328 , and a tire  336  may be mounted thereon. 
         [0027]    The brake system  204  may include an inner end plate  338  secured to flange  312  of the axle housing  314 . Formed in this inner end plate  338  may be a radially inwardly extending inlet passage  348  and an axially oriented branch passage  349 , as well as an outlet passage  350  axially extending therethrough, which may be respectively in fluid communication with an inlet conduit  352  and an outlet conduit  354 . These conduits may be operationally connected to a cooling system  356  for the purpose of normally continuously circulating a cooling fluid through the brake system  204 . 
         [0028]    Centrally disposed about the periphery of the brake system  204  may be a cylindrical connecting shell  372  having a plurality of internal teeth (not shown) formed thereon. The cylindrical connecting shell  372  may extend axially in spanning relation between the inner end plate  338  and the adjustable end plate  262 . 
         [0029]    A connecting drum  390  may rotate with movement of the machine  100  and may have a plurality of external teeth  394  on which are keyed the brake discs  208 . These brake discs  208  may be interleaved with the brake plates  222  which may be similarly keyed to the internal teeth of the connecting shell  372 . 
         [0030]    As is illustrated, the fixed end plate  278  and the adjustable end plate  262  may be arranged closely in relation to the external spline  327  of the wheel hub  322 . The adjustable end plate  262  may be ring-shaped so that it has a cutout center. The fixed end plate  278  may be bolted to the connecting shell  372  via a bolt  382 . The fixed end plate  278  may also serve as a ground base for the actuator  260 . In order for the actuator  260  to be grounded to the fixed end plate  278 , so that the actuator  260  may engage the adjustable end plate  262 , the fixed end plate  278  may have an aperture or opening  383  allowing the actuator  260  to penetrate through the fixed end plate  278  with the shaft  420  (see  FIG. 4 ) to engage the adjustable end plate  262 . The actuator  260  may connect to or engage the surface of the adjustable end plate  262  in order to position the adjustable end plate  262 . The actuator may be lined with a pair of seals  392  within the aperture to prevent fluid leakage and to limit the axial movement of the adjustable end plate  262 . To facilitate the axial movement of the adjustable end plate  262 , a pair of pins  284  may connect the adjustable end plate  262  to the fixed end plate  278 . 
         [0031]    In this example, an internal seal arrangement  391  may be arranged between the axel housing  314  and the rotatable connecting drum  390 , and an external seal arrangement  306  may be arranged between the fixed end plate  278  and the adapter member  308  secured to the axel housing  314 . The external seal arrangement  306  may be needed to contain fluid from the inlet conduit  352 , the inlet passage  348 , and an annular chamber  302 . The fluid may be routed back to the cooling system  356  via the outlet passage  350 . To maintain the external seal arrangement  306 , the fixed end plate  278  may remain fixed while the adjustable end plate  262  may change positions by moving axially toward or away from the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222 . 
         [0032]    To adjust the positioning of the adjustable end plate  262  relative to the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222 , the adjustable end plate  262  may be attached to at least one actuator  260  configured to axially move the adjustable end plate  262  toward or away from the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222 . It may be desirable to move the adjustable end plate  262  closer to the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222  as the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222  wear, increasing the distance that the brake piston  212  must travel to reach the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222  and compress them onto the adjustable end plate  262 . The actuator  260  may be affixed to the fixed end plate  278  to facilitate the axial movement of the nearby adjustable end plate  262 . 
         [0033]    In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, the brake system  204  may be fully peripherally cooled by the circulation of fluid from the inlet conduit  352 , the inlet passage  348 , to the internal annular chamber  302  and to the interleaved brake discs  208  and brake plates  222 . Subsequently, the fluid may be routed axially inwardly back to the cooling system  356  by way of the outlet passage  350  and outlet conduit  354 . 
         [0034]    In accordance with one aspect&#39;of the disclosure, the control system  357  may allow only a predetermined volume of fluid to be exhausted from the chamber  340  upon the selective release of service braking by the machine  100  operator. The allowance of a volume of fluid to be exhausted from the chamber  340  may permit limited retracting of the piston  212  axially away from the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222 , and may automatically adjust any slack to a predetermined value to thereby improve service braking response upon the reengagement thereof. For example, the volume of fluid exhausted from the chamber  340  may be limited to an amount sufficient to provide approximately 0.005 inch clearance (0.0127 centimeters) between each of the brake discs  208  and the brake plates  222 . The limiting of fluid exhausted from chamber  340  may minimize the drag and power loss while simultaneously limiting the maximum amount of travel distance of the piston  212  independently of any wear of the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222  so that the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222  may be rapidly reengaged. 
         [0035]    A spring chamber  344  may be defined intermediate to the piston  212  and the inner end plate  338 , and the inlet conduit  352  may allow cooling fluid pressure to be communicated there. The presence of cooling fluid in the spring chamber  344  may result in a force tending to move the piston  212  leftward in opposition to the force resulting from substantially the same pressure acting thereon in the annular chamber  302 . 
         [0036]    When service braking is desired, the machine  100  operator may manipulate the control system  357  to selectively supply pressure to the chamber  340  through the conduit  364 . With no fluid pressure present in either of the chambers  335  or  340 , such as may normally take place under parking conditions, the compression spring  218  may apply a relatively substantial force serving to bias the brake piston  212  leftward when viewing the drawing. The force from the compression spring  218  may force the brake piston  212  against the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222  to compress them against the adjustable end plate  262 . Alternatively, an intermediate plate (not shown) may provide an intermediate layer between the brake discs  208  and the adjustable end plate  262  so that the contact between the brake discs  208  and the adjustable end plate  262  is indirect, but that the force from the compression spring  218  may still be transferred onto the adjustable end plate  262  to apply the brake system  204 . 
         [0037]    The brake discs  208  may be frictionally coupled to the support structure including the connecting shell  372 , the adjustable end plate  262 , and the axle housing  314 , to hold the connecting drum  390 , wheel hub  322 , and the wheel rim arrangement  334  in a fixed position. 
         [0038]    As the piston  212  moves leftward in  FIG. 3 , the piston  212  may engage the brake discs  208  to push the brake discs  208  against the adjustable end plate  262 . When the distance that the piston  212  must move to apply pressure to the brake discs  208  exceeds a predetermined maximum distance, the electronic control module  270  may determine that the adjustable end plate  262  may need to be repositioned. The adjustable end plate  262  may need to be moved closer to the brake discs  208  to reduce the distance the piston  212  must travel to compress the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222  onto the adjustable end plate  262 . In order to accomplish the adjustment, the electronic control module  270  may activate the actuator  260 , which may in turn adjust the positioning of an attached or engaged adjustable end plate  262  until the electronic control module  270  determines based on data from the sensor  264  that the piston  212  distance traveled is acceptable. Thus the sensor  264  may regularly sense distance data and communicate the distance data to the electronic control module  270  for evaluation. 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  shows a more detailed view of an actuator  260 , specifically a servomotor in this aspect. The actuator  260  may have gears  430  to create an output force. The output force may be transferred via a shaft  420 . The shaft  420  may be connected to the adjustable end plate  262  on one side or may be arranged to engage the adjustable end plate  262  on the circular surface of the adjustable end plate  262  that surrounds the cutout center of the adjustable end plate  262 . The actuator  260  may be configured to communicate wirelessly or wired (along a communication channel as defined herein) with the electronic control module  270 . To communicate wirelessly, the actuator  260  may have a receiver  440  which may be part of a transceiver. The receiver  440  may be configured to receive signals from the electronic control module  270  to activate the actuator  260 . Activation of the actuator  260  may include activating the gears  430  to move the shaft  420 . According to an aspect, rotation of the gears  430  may result in movement of the shaft  420  toward or away from the actuator  260 . 
         [0040]    The actuator  260  may be arranged so that movement of the shaft  420  toward or away from the actuator may correspond in movement of the shaft  420  toward or away from the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222 . In such an aspect, as the gears  430  may rotate and correspondingly move the shaft  420  toward the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222 , the adjustable end plate  262  that may be connected to or engaged by a side of the shaft  420  may correspondingly move with the shaft  420  toward the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222  in order to reduce the distance that the piston  212  (see  FIG. 3 ) must travel to compress the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222  onto the adjustable end plate  262 . In some configurations, it may also be desirable to use more than one actuator  260  to position the adjustable end plate  262 . If more than one actuator  260  is used to position the adjustable end plate  262 , each actuator  260  may be connected to or configured to engage the circular surface surrounding the cutout center of the adjustable end plate  262 . 
         [0041]    The disclosure may include communication channels that may be any type of wired or wireless electronic communications network, such as, e.g., a wired/wireless local area network (LAN), a wired/wireless personal area network (PAN), a wired/wireless home area network (HAN), a wired/wireless wide area network (WAN), a campus network, a metropolitan network, an enterprise private network, a virtual private network (VPN), an internetwork, a backbone network (BBN), a global area network (GAN), the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, an overlay network, a cellular telephone network, a Personal Communications Service (PCS), using known protocols such as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), CDMA (Code-Division Multiple Access), Long Term Evolution (LTE), W-CDMA (Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access), Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, and/or the like, and/or a combination of two or more thereof. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0042]    This disclosure could be applied to any brake system for a mobile machine or other systems having a brake system. The system and process may increase brake efficiency, improve operation of the machine using the brake system, and reduce the need for component repairs and replacements. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , if the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222  have worn to the degree that the piston  212  may have to travel a longer distance than is optimal to engage the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222  onto the adjustable end plate  262 , the position of the adjustable end plate  262  may be adjusted. As brakes are applied during the operation of the machine  100 , the electronic control module  270  may activate the sensor  264  to read at least one distance involving the piston  212  and the brake discs  208 , brake plates  222 , and/or adjustable end plate  262 . The at least one distance measured by the sensor  264  may be provided to the electronic control module  270 , which may determine if the at least one distance is within a predetermined acceptable limit If the at least one recorded distance is outside of a predetermined limit, then the electronic control module  270  may activate the actuator  260  to adjust the position of the adjustable end plate  262 . 
         [0044]    The adjustable end plate  262  may be configured to move toward and away from the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222 . To accomplish this movement, the adjustable end plate  262  may be attached to or engaged by an actuator  260  configured to axially move the adjustable end plate  262  toward or away from the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222 . It may be desirable to move the adjustable end plate  262  closer to the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222  as the brake discs  208  wear, increasing the distance that the brake piston  212  must travel to apply the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222  to the adjustable end plate  262 . The actuator  260  may be a servo motor, a screw actuator, a solenoid valve, or the like. 
         [0045]    The adjustable end plate  262  or the brake piston  212  may be configured with at least one sensor  264  to communicate with an electronic control module  270 , which may record data from at least one sensor  264 . The sensor  264  may be configured to detect the distance between the brake piston  212  and the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222 , and/or the distance between the brake piston  212  and the adjustable end plate  262 . Data related to these distances may be stored in the electronic control module  270 , which may contain a processor (not shown) and computer readable memory (not shown). 
         [0046]    In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, the electronic control module  270  may determine based on sensor  264  data that a distance related to the piston  212  is beyond a maximum predetermined value. In response, the transceiver of the electronic control module  270  may send a signal to activate the actuator  260  to adjust the positioning of the adjustable end plate  262 . 
         [0047]    The receiver  440  of the actuator  260  may receive the signal from the transceiver of the electronic control module  270 . In response, the actuator  260  may activate. Activation may include rotating gears  430  of the actuator  260  to create an output force. The output force may be transferred via a shaft  420  so that when the gears  430  rotate, the shaft  420  may move toward the brake discs  208  and brake plate  222 . The adjustable end plate  262  may be connected to a proximal side of the shaft  420  so that when the shaft  420  moves toward the brake plates  222  and the brake plates  222 , the adjustable end plate  262  also moves toward the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222  as a result. The result of this repositioning of the adjustable end plate  262  may be a reduction in the distance the piston  212  may have to move to engage the brake discs  208  and brake plates  222  so that the brake system  204  operates more effectively as brakes wear. 
         [0048]      FIG. 5  shows the process of adjusting the position of the adjustable end plate  262 . At step  502 , the electronic control module  270  may be activated. Activation of the electronic control module  270  may include activation of any sensors  264  associated with the electronic control module  270 . Once the electronic control module  270  has been activated at step  502 , the brake system  204  may be applied at step  504 . When the brake system  204  is applied, the sensor  264  may determine data associated with the movement of the piston  212  in step  506 . The electronic control module  270  may be configured to receive the data at step  508 . 
         [0049]    Once the electronic control module  270  has received the data associated with the movement of the piston  212  in step  508 , the electronic control module  270  may determine whether the distance data has exceeded any predetermined parameters at step  510 . If the distance data is outside of any predetermined parameters, the electronic control module  270  may activate the actuator  260  at step  512 . If the distance data is not outside of any predetermined parameters, the process returns to step  504  when the brake system  204  is applied. Once the actuator  260  has been activated at step  512 , the actuator  260  may operate to move the adjustable end plate  262  at step  514 . The process then may repeat with the application of the brake system  204  in step  504  as a feedback loop to continue to determine, as the brake system  204  is applied, whether or not the adjustable end plate  262  needs repositioning. 
         [0050]    It will be appreciated that the foregoing description provides examples of the disclosed system and technique. However, it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the particular example being discussed at that point and are not intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated. 
         [0051]    Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.