Patent ID: 8910753

Claim:
A system for monitoring the brakes of a truck and generating a signal when a brake unit is in need of attention comprising: A) brake system of a truck which includes (1) a plurality of brake units, and (2) each brake unit being associated with a brake of a wheel; B) each brake unit including (1) a brake chamber assembly, (2) a diaphragm unit which is operably connected to an air supply via a brake pedal in the truck to be receive air when the brake pedal is actuated, (3) a push rod connected to the diaphragm unit to be moved by the diaphragm unit when the diaphragm unit receives air, (4) a slack adjuster connected to the push rod to move therewith, and (5) connecting elements connecting the slack adjuster to brake shoes of the truck to move those brake shoes a distance which corresponds to the movement of the slack adjuster; C) a brake unit monitor associated with each brake unit, each brake unit monitor including (1) a base plate mounted on the brake chamber, (2) a first microswitch mounted on the base plate adjacent to the slack adjuster, (3) a first microswitch activating element mounted on the base plate and connected to the first microswitch to operate the first microswitch when the first microswitch activating element is operated, and (4) the first microswitch activating element being located on the base plate spaced apart from the slack adjuster a distance which allows the first microswitch activating element to be contacted by the slack adjuster when the slack adjuster has moved a pre-set distance and to be untouched by the slack adjuster when the slack adjuster has moved a distance less than the pre\-set distance; and D) a signal system which includes (1) a first signal element located in the truck, (2) the first signal element being electrically connected to the first microswitch of each of the brake unit monitors on the truck to be activated when the slack adjuster of any one of the brake unit monitors moves a distance at least equal to the pre-set distance and contacts the first microswitch activating element to operate the first microswitch, and (3) a second signal located on the truck, said second signal being associated with all of the brake units on the truck, said second signal being electrically connected to the fast microswitch of each brake unit to be activated when the slack adjuster of one brake unit monitor moves a distance at least equal to the pre-set distance and contacts the first microswitch activating element to operate the first microswitch of the one brake unit associated therewith.