Brake abrasion amount display device

Abstract

To provide a brake abrasion amount display device capable of displaying an abrasion degree of a friction material in a visually recognizable manner.SOLUTION: A brake abrasion powder display device is a brake abrasion amount display device mounted to a vehicle that brakes a wheel by pressing a friction material against a material subjected to friction, and includes: a recovery part for recovering abrasion powder generated from the friction material; a container for accommodating the abrasion powder recovered by the recovery part; a detection part for detecting a recovery amount of the abrasion powder in the container; and an indicator part for converting the recovery amount of the abrasion powder in the container into an abrasion amount of the friction material on the basis of a detection result from the detection part and displaying the abrasion amount in a visually recognizable manner.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a brake wear amount indicating device. [Background technology]

[0002] When braking a vehicle wheel, friction material is pressed against rotating bodies such as a disc rotor and a brake drum, which generates wear powder from the friction material. Patent Document 1 listed below discloses a recovery device for recovering the wear powder thus generated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-210107 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The above-mentioned recovery device only recovers wear particles generated from the friction material. However, to detect when the friction material has reached its wear limit, it is necessary to use the conventional audible detection method in which a metal piece is brought into contact with the surface of the rotating body, or the electrical detection method in which a short circuit in an electric wire is detected.

[0005] With such conventional detection methods, it is difficult to predict when the friction material will reach its wear limit, and therefore, when the conventional detection method detects that the friction material has reached its wear limit, the driver of the vehicle may be required to take immediate action.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a brake wear amount display device that enables the degree of wear of the friction material to be recognized. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve at least some of the above-mentioned problems, and can be realized as the following aspects or application examples.

[0008] (1) The brake wear amount display device according to this application example is a brake wear amount display device provided on a vehicle that brakes its wheels by pressing a friction material against a frictioned material, and includes a collection unit that collects wear powder generated from the friction material, a container that stores the wear powder collected by the collection unit, a detection unit that detects the amount of wear powder collected in the container, and an indicator unit that converts the amount of wear powder collected in the container into the amount of wear of the friction material and recognizably displays it based on the detection result of the detection unit.

[0009] According to this application example, wear powder generated from the friction material is collected and stored in a container, and the amount of collected wear powder in the container can be converted into the amount of wear of the friction material and recognizably displayed. Therefore, according to this application example, the degree of wear of the friction material can be recognized.

[0010] (2) In the brake wear amount display device according to the application example of (1) above, the indicator unit displays the relationship between the amount of wear powder collected in the container and the wear limit of the friction material in a recognizable manner based on the detection result of the detection unit.

[0011] According to the above configuration, the degree of wear of the friction material relative to its wear limit can be recognized, and a user such as a driver can easily recognize when it is time to replace the friction material.

[0012] (3) In the brake wear amount display device according to the application example of (1) above, the collection unit uses negative pressure, which is lower than atmospheric pressure, to collect wear powder generated from the friction material.

[0013] According to the above configuration, the collection unit collects wear powder generated from the friction material by utilizing negative pressure, which is lower than atmospheric pressure. When magnetic force or the like is used to collect wear powder generated from the friction material, it may be difficult to collect the wear powder depending on the material of the friction material. Therefore, according to the above configuration, it is possible to collect wear powder without being affected by the material of the friction material.

[0014] (4) In the brake wear amount display device according to the application example of (1) above, the detection unit outputs the detection result via wireless communication, and the indicator unit converts the amount of wear powder contained in the container into the amount of wear of the friction material based on the detection result output from the detection unit and visually displays the converted amount.

[0015] According to the above configuration, it is possible to omit a cable or the like for outputting the detection result of the detection unit, thereby eliminating restrictions on the placement position of the detection unit and reducing costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a part of a vehicle and a mechanical configuration of a brake wear amount display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 3 is a schematic diagram showing the mechanical configuration of the indicator portion of the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical configuration of the brake wear amount display device of the present embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical configuration of a modified brake wear amount display device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] 1. Mechanical configuration of vehicle and wear amount display device 1 is a schematic diagram showing a part of a vehicle 1 according to this embodiment and the mechanical configuration of a brake wear amount display device 100. The vehicle 1 according to this embodiment is an automobile, specifically a truck. The vehicle 1 includes wheels 10, a brake operating unit 20, a braking unit 40, a negative pressure generating unit 60, and the like.

[0018] The brake operation unit 20 operates the braking unit 40 in response to a brake operation (depression operation). The brake operation unit 20 includes a brake pedal 22, a brake booster 24, a master cylinder 26, and the like.

[0019] The brake pedal 22 receives a brake operation from the driver of the vehicle 1. The depression force acting on the brake pedal 22 is amplified by a booster 24 and then transmitted to a master cylinder 26.

[0020] The inside of the booster 24 is separated into an atmospheric pressure chamber on the brake pedal 22 side and a negative pressure chamber on the master cylinder 26 side, and when the driver of the vehicle 1 depresses the brake pedal 22, the pressure difference between the atmospheric pressure chamber and the negative pressure chamber amplifies the depression force acting on the brake pedal 22. Note that negative pressure means air pressure lower than atmospheric pressure.

[0021] When the depression force amplified by the booster 24 drives a piston in the master cylinder 26, the brake fluid (so-called brake oil) filled in the master cylinder 26 is pushed out. The brake fluid is transmitted to the braking unit 40 through the piping 28, and hydraulic pressure (hydraulic pressure) is transmitted to the braking unit 40.

[0022] The braking unit 40 applies brakes to the wheel 10. The braking unit 40 corresponds to a drum brake type, and includes a cylindrical housing 42, an annular friction material 44, a wheel cylinder 46, a pair of brake shoes 48, a friction material 50, and the like.

[0023] The friction material 44 is an annular rotating body that rotates together with the wheel 10. Specifically, the friction material 44 is a brake drum. When the hydraulic pressure of the brake fluid is transmitted to the wheel cylinder 46, the piston of the wheel cylinder 46 is driven, and the brake shoe 48 connected to the piston is pressed against the inner surface of the friction material 44.

[0024] A friction material 50 is attached to the surface (outer surface) of the brake shoe 48 that faces the friction target material 44, so when the brake shoe 48 is pressed toward the inner surface of the friction target material 44, the friction material 50 is pressed against the inside of the friction target material 44. Specifically, the friction material 50 is a brake lining.

[0025] That is, the braking unit 40 applies brakes to the wheel 10 by pressing the friction material 50 against the friction target material 44. When the friction material 50 is pressed against the friction target material 44 as the wheel 10 is braked, wear powder P is generated from the friction material 50. In the braking unit 40 of this embodiment, the housing 42 is sealed, and the wear powder P remains inside the housing 42.

[0026] The negative pressure generating unit 60 generates a negative pressure that is lower than atmospheric pressure. The negative pressure generating unit 60 includes a negative pressure tank 62, an air pressure sensor 64, a negative pressure pump 66, and the like.

[0027] The negative pressure tank 62 is connected to the negative pressure chamber of the booster 24 via a pipe 70. That is, the inside of the negative pressure tank 62 and the inside of the negative pressure chamber of the booster 24 are in communication with each other. The negative pressure tank 62 is also provided with an air pressure sensor 64 for measuring the air pressure inside the negative pressure tank 62, etc.

[0028] The negative pressure pump 66 is a general-purpose pump that can be electrically controlled, and generates negative pressure in the negative pressure tank 62 and the negative pressure chamber of the booster 24 by sucking out the air from the negative pressure tank 62 and the negative pressure chamber of the booster 24, etc.

[0029] The vehicle 1 of this embodiment also includes a brake wear amount display device 100. The brake wear amount display device 100 is a device that displays the degree of wear of the friction material 50 in a recognizable manner based on the amount of wear powder P generated from the friction material 50.

[0030] The brake wear amount display device 100 includes a collection unit 110, a container 120, a detection unit 130, and an indicator unit 140 (see FIG. 2).

[0031] The collection unit 110 collects wear debris P generated from the friction material 50. The collection unit 110 includes a brake operation sensor 112, piping 114, and a valve 116. In this embodiment, negative pressure is used as a means for collecting the wear debris P, and therefore the collection unit 110 also includes a negative pressure generating unit 60.

[0032] The brake operation sensor 112 is provided in the brake operation unit 20 and detects whether or not a brake operation is being performed.

[0033] A part of the piping 114 forms a flow path for the wear debris P. One end of the piping 114 is connected to the housing 42 of the braking unit 40. The other end of the piping 114 is connected to the negative pressure tank 62 of the negative pressure generating unit 60.

[0034] A valve 116 and a container 120 are provided midway along the pipe 114. The valve 116 is a general-purpose valve that can be electrically controlled. Specifically, the valve 116 is provided on the pipe 114 closer to the negative pressure generating unit 60 than the container 120.

[0035] In this embodiment, when the brake operation sensor 112 detects the start of the brake operation, i.e., when the friction material 50 in the braking section 40 starts to press against the frictioned material 44, the recovery section 110 switches the valve 116 from a closed state to an open state.

[0036] When the valve 116 switches from the closed state to the open state, the pressure difference between atmospheric pressure and negative pressure causes the wear powder P generated from the friction material 50 to be sucked together with air at one end of the pipe 114, travel along the pipe 114, and be stored in the container 120. In other words, the wear powder P collected by the collection unit 110 is stored in the container 120.

[0037] When the brake operation sensor 112 detects the end of the brake operation, that is, when the braking section 40 stops pressing the friction material 50 against the frictioned material 44, the recovery section 110 switches the valve 116 from the open state to the closed state.

[0038] Furthermore, in order to prevent foreign matter such as dust from being sucked in from one end of the pipe 114, it is preferable to provide a filter with meshes coarser than the abrasion powder P or to use pipe 114 with an opening dimension slightly larger than the abrasion powder P. Furthermore, in order to prevent the abrasion powder P from passing through the container 120, it is preferable to provide the outlet of the container 120 at a position different from the inflow direction of the abrasion powder P or to provide a filter with meshes finer than the abrasion powder P at the outlet of the container 120.

[0039] The detection unit 130 detects the amount of collected wear powder P in the container 120. Specifically, the detection unit 130 is a level sensor provided in the container 120, and has information such as the bottom area and height of the container 120 in advance. The detection unit 130 detects the volume of the group of wear powder P in the container 120 from the accumulated amount of wear powder P, the bottom area of ​​the container 120, and the height of the container 120.

[0040] In addition, when a level sensor is used as the detection unit 130, even a small amount of wear powder P will cause a change in height due to accumulation, that is, in order to improve the detection accuracy of the detection unit 130, it is preferable that the shape of the container 120 be small in width and large in height.

[0041] In addition, such a brake wear amount display device 100 can also convert the amount of wear powder P generated from each of the multiple friction materials 50 provided on the vehicle 1 into the wear amount of the friction material 50 for each wheel 10 and display it visibly.

[0042] For example, if the vehicle 1 is a four-wheel truck and is equipped with four wheels 10 (first wheel 10a, second wheel 10b, third wheel 10c, fourth wheel 10d), four pipes 28 (first pipe 28a, second pipe 28b, third pipe 28c, fourth pipe 28d), and four braking units 40 (first braking unit 40a, second braking unit 40b, third braking unit 40c, fourth braking unit 40d), and the amount of wear powder P generated from each of the plurality of friction materials 50 is converted into the amount of wear of the friction materials 50 and displayed visibly for each wheel 10, The wear amount display device 100 includes four pipes 114 (first pipe 114a, second pipe 114b, third pipe 114c, fourth pipe 114d), four valves 116 (first valve 116a, second valve 116b, third valve 116c, fourth valve 116d), four containers 120 (first container 120a, second container 120b, third container 120c, fourth container 120d), and four detection units 130 (first detection unit 130a, second detection unit 130b, third detection unit 130c, fourth detection unit 130d).

[0043] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the mechanical configuration of the indicator unit 140 of this embodiment. Fig. 2 is also a schematic diagram showing the indicator unit 140 in the case where the brake wear amount display device 100 includes four containers 120, four detection units 130, etc.

[0044] The indicator unit 140 is provided, for example, on the instrument panel of the vehicle 1, and converts the amount of wear powder P collected in the container 120 into the amount of wear of the friction material 50 based on the detection results of the detection units 130, and displays the amount in a recognizable manner. In the example shown in Fig. 2, the indicator unit 140 converts the amount of wear powder P collected in each container 120 into the amount of wear of the friction material 50 for each wheel 10 based on the detection results of the four detection units 130, and displays the amount in a recognizable manner.

[0045] Specifically, the indicator unit 140 displays the amount of wear debris P collected in the container 120 in a recognizable manner as the occupancy rate of the wear debris P in the container 120 based on the volume of the container 120 and the detection result of the detection unit 130.

[0046] In this embodiment, the volume of the container 120 is equal to or greater than the volume of unused friction material 50. Furthermore, for the purpose of controlling the vehicle 1, a limit line is set as a threshold value for the amount of collected wear debris P, and this limit line corresponds to the wear limit of the friction material 50. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the occupancy rate of the wear debris P in the container 120 reaches the limit line, it means that the friction material 50 has reached its wear limit.

[0047] In other words, the indicator unit 140 can be said to display the relationship between the amount of wear debris P collected in the container 120 and the wear limit of the friction material 50 in a recognizable manner based on the detection result of the detection unit 130.

[0048] 2, in this embodiment, four bar graph meters are used as a specific method for displaying the amount of collected wear powder P in the container 120. The upper left of the four bar graph meters indicates the amount of collected wear powder P corresponding to the left front wheel, the upper right indicates the amount of collected wear powder P corresponding to the right front wheel, the lower left indicates the amount of collected wear powder P corresponding to the left rear wheel, and the lower right indicates the amount of collected wear powder P corresponding to the right rear wheel. The left end of each bar graph meter for wear powder P indicates the amount of collected wear powder P is zero, and the right end indicates the limit line mentioned above, and as the amount of collected wear powder P increases, the colored bar extends from the left end to the right end.

[0049] The container 120 can be attached to and detached from the wheel 10, and the wear powder P in the container 120 can be disposed of at any time. In order to correlate the amount of wear powder P indicated by the indicator part 140 with the degree of wear of the friction material 50, it is preferable to dispose of the wear powder P in the container 120 when, for example, the friction material 50 is replaced.

[0050] 2. Electrical configuration of the wear amount display device 3 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical configuration of the brake wear amount display device 100 of this embodiment. In addition to the indicator unit 140, the brake wear amount display device 100 also includes a control unit 160 and a memory unit 170, and the control unit 160, memory unit 170, air pressure sensor 64, vacuum pump 66, brake operation sensor 112, valve 116, detection unit 130, and indicator unit 140 are electrically connected to one another via a circuit 180 such as a bus. As described above, the brake wear amount display device 100 can also include a plurality of valves 116 and detection units 130.

[0051] The control unit 160 is an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) of the vehicle 1, and performs overall control of the brake wear amount display device 100. The storage unit 170 is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a solid state drive (SSD), or any combination thereof.

[0052] The storage unit 170 stores programs and data for controlling the operation of the various components of the brake wear amount display device 100. Information acquired by the various components of the brake wear amount display device 100 is also stored as data in the storage unit 170 as appropriate. Information acquired by the various components of the brake wear amount display device 100 may also be stored as data in the storage unit 170 so as to be updated.

[0053] As described above, the air pressure sensor 64 detects the air pressure inside the negative pressure tank 62 etc. Therefore, the air pressure sensor 64 stores air pressure information indicating the air pressure inside the negative pressure tank 62 etc. as air pressure data 172 in the storage unit 170. The air pressure data 172 is updated as appropriate.

[0054] As described above, the brake operation sensor 112 detects whether or not a brake operation is being performed. Therefore, the brake operation sensor 112 stores operation information indicating whether or not the brake pedal 22 is being operated as operation data 174 in the storage unit 170. The operation data 174 is updated as appropriate.

[0055] As described above, the detection unit 130 detects the amount of wear powder P collected in the container 120. Therefore, the detection unit 130 causes wear powder amount information indicating the amount of wear powder P collected in the container 120 to be stored in the storage unit 170 as wear powder amount data 176. The wear powder amount data 176 is updated as appropriate. As described above, if the brake wear amount display device 100 includes multiple detection units 130, the wear powder amount data 176 is stored in the storage unit 170 for each detection unit 130. Furthermore, as described above, the detection unit 130 specifically detects the volume of the group of wear powder P in the container 120, and therefore the wear powder amount data 176 specifically indicates the volume of the group of wear powder P in the container 120.

[0056] Furthermore, display data 178 is pre-stored in the storage unit 170. The display data 178 is various data for displaying the amount of collected wear debris P in the container 120 so that it can be recognized by the indicator unit 140. The display data 178 includes, for example, data indicating the volume of the container 120, image data, etc.

[0057] As described above, the memory unit 170 stores programs and data for controlling the operation of various components of the brake wear amount display device 100, and the control unit 160 executes the programs to function as a pump operation processing unit 162, a valve operation processing unit 164, a display processing unit 166, etc.

[0058] The pump operation processing unit 162 refers to the air pressure data 172 and controls the negative pressure pump 66 so that the air pressure in the negative pressure tank 62 or the like becomes negative.

[0059] The valve operation processing unit 164 refers to the operation data 174 and switches the valve 116 from the closed state to the open state when the brake operation is started, that is, when the friction material 50 in the braking unit 40 starts to press against the frictioned material 44.

[0060] Furthermore, the valve operation processing unit 164 refers to the operation data 174 and switches the valve 116 from an open state to a closed state when the brake operation is terminated, i.e., when the pressing of the friction material 50 against the frictioned material 44 in the braking unit 40 is terminated.

[0061] The display processing unit 166 refers to the wear powder amount data 176 and the display data 178, and displays the amount of wear powder P collected in the container 120 in a recognizable manner on the indicator unit 140. Specifically, the display processing unit 166 displays the amount of wear powder P collected in the container 120 as the occupancy rate of the wear powder P in the container 120 in a recognizable manner.

[0062] With this brake wear amount display device 100, wear powder P generated from the friction material 50 is collected and stored in the container 120, and the collected amount of wear powder P in the container 120 can be converted into the wear amount of the friction material 50 and recognizably displayed. Therefore, with the brake wear amount display device 100, the degree of wear of the friction material 50 can be recognized.

[0063] Furthermore, in the brake wear amount display device 100, the indicator unit 140 displays the relationship between the amount of wear powder P collected in the container 120 and the wear limit of the friction material 50 in a recognizable manner, based on the detection result of the detection unit 130. Therefore, the brake wear amount display device 100 makes it possible to recognize the degree of wear of the friction material 50 relative to its wear limit, and allows a user such as a driver to easily recognize when it is time to replace the friction material 50.

[0064] Furthermore, in the brake wear amount display device 100, the collection unit 110 uses negative pressure, which is lower than atmospheric pressure, to collect the wear powder P generated from the friction material 50. When magnetic force or the like is used to collect the wear powder P generated from the friction material 50, it may be difficult to collect the wear powder P depending on the material of the friction material 50. Therefore, the brake wear amount display device 100 can collect the wear powder P without being affected by the material of the friction material 50.

[0065] This concludes the description of the embodiment of the present invention, but the specific configuration shown in this embodiment is just an example, and the aspects of the present invention are not limited to the configuration shown in this embodiment.

[0066] 4 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical configuration of a modified brake wear amount display device 100. In the modified brake wear amount display device 100, the detection unit 130 itself includes a communication unit 132, and the brake wear amount display device 100 further includes a communication unit 134. The communication units 132 and 134 are communication circuits, modules, or the like for performing wireless communication.

[0067] In the modified brake wear amount display device 100, the detection unit 130 outputs the detection result via wireless communication, and the indicator unit 140 converts the amount of wear powder P contained in the container 120 into the amount of wear of the friction material 50 based on the detection result output from the detection unit 130 and visually displays it.

[0068] The modified brake wear amount display device 100 can omit cables and the like for outputting the detection results of the detection unit 130. Therefore, the modified brake wear amount display device 100 can eliminate restrictions on the placement location of the detection unit 130 and reduce costs.

[0069] In addition, in the above embodiment and its modified examples, the vehicle 1 has been described as a truck, but the vehicle 1 is not limited to the above embodiment and its modified examples. The vehicle 1 may be, for example, a passenger car or a motorcycle.

[0070] The braking unit 40 may also be compatible with a disc brake type. When the braking unit 40 is compatible with a disc brake type, the braking unit 40 includes a friction material 44, a brake caliper, and a friction material 50 in a housing 42, where the friction material 44 is a disc rotor and the friction material 50 is a brake pad.

[0071] Furthermore, the configuration of the collection unit 110 is not limited to the above embodiment and its variations, as long as it is capable of collecting the wear debris P and storing it in the container 120. For example, the collection unit 110 may utilize the negative pressure on the intake side of the engine mounted on the vehicle 1. The collection unit 110 may also utilize something other than negative pressure to collect the wear debris P. Furthermore, the collection unit 110 may operate even when the brakes are not applied, and may, for example, be constantly operating.

[0072] 2 as long as it is possible to recognizably display the amount of collected wear debris P in the container 120. For example, a pie chart display may be used instead of a bar graph meter. Furthermore, the display is not limited to an instrument panel, and may be, for example, a display that displays an image that indicates the amount of collected wear debris P in the container 120 converted into the amount of wear of the friction material 50, or a projector that projects an image that indicates the amount of collected wear debris P in the container 120.

[0073] Furthermore, as long as the detection unit 130 is capable of detecting the amount of collected wear powder P in the container 120, the type of the detection unit 130, i.e., the method of detecting the amount of collected wear powder P, is not limited to the above embodiment and its variations.

[0074] Furthermore, in the above embodiment and its modified examples, the detection unit 130 constantly detects the amount of wear powder P collected in the container 120, but the timing of detecting the amount of wear powder P collected in the container 120 is not limited to the above embodiment and its modified examples, as long as it is possible to detect the amount of wear powder P collected in the container 120. For example, the detection unit 130 may detect the amount of wear powder P stored in the container 120 when the braking unit 40 stops pressing the friction material 50 against the frictioned material 44, that is, when the valve 116 switches from the open state to the closed state. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1 vehicle 44 Frictioned material 50 Friction material 100 Brake wear indicator 110 Collection Department 120 containers 130 Detection unit 132 Communications Department 134 Communications Department 140 Indicator part P Wear powder

Claims

1. A brake wear amount display device provided on a vehicle that brakes wheels by pressing a friction material against a friction target material, a collection unit that collects wear powder generated from the friction material; a container for accommodating the abrasion powder collected by the collection unit; a detection unit that detects the amount of wear powder collected in the container; an indicator unit that converts the amount of wear powder collected in the container into the amount of wear of the friction material based on the detection result of the detection unit and recognizably displays the converted amount; A brake wear amount display device comprising:

2. 2. The brake wear amount display device according to claim 1, wherein the indicator unit recognizably displays a relationship between the amount of wear powder collected in the container and the wear limit of the friction material based on the detection result of the detection unit.

3. The brake wear amount display device according to claim 1, wherein the collection unit collects wear powder generated from the friction material by utilizing a negative pressure that is lower than atmospheric pressure.

4. The detection unit outputs a detection result via wireless communication, the indicator unit visibly displays the amount of wear powder stored in the container based on the detection result output from the detection unit. The brake wear amount display device according to claim 1 .

Images