Brake Dust Measurement via Elemental Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing brake dust measurement systems inaccurately quantify brake dust due to interference from rubber powder, metal powder, and foreign matter, as they rely solely on particle counting and sizing without elemental analysis.

Innovation Solution

A brake dust measurement system that includes a sampling unit, elemental analysis unit, and calculation unit to quantify brake dust based on elemental analysis results and content information from the brake, reducing interference and providing accurate measurements by calculating the amount of brake dust produced from both brake pads and rotors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If particle counting and sizing methods are used to measure brake dust, then the measurement process is simple, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to interference from rubber powder, metal powder, and foreign matter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement process complexityVSAvoidbrake dust measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the measurement parameter from physical characteristics (particle size and count only) to chemical composition (elemental content). By using an elemental analysis device to detect specific elements characteristic of brake dust materials, the system can distinguish brake dust from rubber powder, metal powder, and foreign matter, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining acceptable system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical/p physical measurement approach (particle counting and sizing) with a chemical analysis approach (elemental analysis). This substitution enables the system to identify brake dust based on its elemental composition rather than relying solely on physical properties, resolving the contradiction between measurement simplicity and accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If elemental analysis is performed on sampled air to identify brake dust composition, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional analysis equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrake dust identification accuracyVSAvoidsystem structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and analyzes only the elemental composition characteristics necessary for identifying brake dust, rather than performing comprehensive analysis of all particles. By focusing on specific elements that are characteristic of brake dust materials, the system achieves high measurement precision while limiting the complexity of the elemental analysis device to only what is necessary

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The elemental analysis device is designed to perform multiple functions: identifying brake dust, distinguishing it from other particles, and potentially analyzing different types of brake dust compositions. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing comprehensive measurement capabilities in a single integrated system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If sampling is performed in an enclosed chamber to isolate brake dust, then the measurement reliability improves, but pressure fluctuations and sampling-induced changes affect measurement conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement consistencyVSAvoidpressure stability in chamber

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces feedback control to monitor and compensate for pressure fluctuations and sampling-induced changes in the enclosed chamber. By continuously monitoring pressure and other environmental parameters, and adjusting sampling rates or chamber conditions accordingly, the system maintains measurement reliability while minimizing the adverse effects of pressure variations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate measurement of brake dust production by distinguishing brake dust from other particles, improving the system's practicality and reducing errors caused by pressure fluctuations and sampling-induced changes in measurement conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a sampling unit that samples air inside the chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSampling:

Implementation Method 2

an elemental analysis unit that performs elemental analysis of the sampled air

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElemental analysis:

Data Source

PatentUS11543331B2Brake dust measurement system and brake dust measurement method

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 HORIBA LTD

AI summary

The present invention provides a brake dust measurement system that can accurately measure an amount of brake dust produced. The brake dust measurement system, in which a specimen having a brake is placed in a chamber and which measures brake dust produced from the brake, includes a sampling unit that samples air inside the chamber, an elemental analysis unit that performs elemental analysis of sampled air sampled by the sampling unit, a storage unit that stores elemental content information of a single or multiple elements contained in the brake, and a calculation unit that calculates an amount of brake dust contained in the sampled air on the basis of elemental analysis results of the elemental analysis unit and the elemental content information.