Brake Hub-Drum Indicia for Wheel Speed Sensor Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smaller electric brake systems for towable trailers face spatial constraints and increased costs for reliable wheel sensors, which are susceptible to damage and environmental factors, and their performance is affected by trailer loading and movement.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system with detectable indicia on the brake hub-drum's interior rim, spaced from the backing plate, allows for consistent placement and protection from debris, using sensors like Hall effect or magnetic devices that can detect wheel speed and operating conditions without loss of functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wheel sensors are mounted on smaller electric brake systems for towable trailers, then wheel speed detection capability is provided, but spatial constraints prevent consistent sensor placement and reliability is reduced due to hub-drum movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from mounting sensors on the external surface of the brake assembly to placing them within the internal cavity of the brake hub-drum. This dimensional change from external to internal mounting provides a protected environment that accommodates sensor placement while shielding it from environmental factors and physical damage, thereby improving reliability without requiring additional external space.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is nested within the brake hub-drum cavity, utilizing the existing internal space of the brake assembly. This nesting approach allows the sensor to be housed within the structural confines of the brake system itself, eliminating the need for additional mounting space while protecting the sensor from external damage and environmental exposure.
2Reliability
If reliable and durable wheel sensors are used in smaller and less expensive brake systems, then sensor performance and durability are improved, but manufacturing and system costs increase noticeably
Solution Approach 1:
The brake hub-drum structure serves multiple functions: it provides the braking surface, structural support, and simultaneously acts as a protective housing for the sensor. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate protective housings or complex mounting mechanisms, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while ensuring sensor protection and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the sensor mounting function with the existing brake hub-drum structure. By integrating the sensor housing function into the brake assembly itself, the design eliminates redundant components and reduces overall system complexity, thereby lowering manufacturing costs while maintaining sensor reliability and protection.
3Measurement precision
If sensors are placed closer to the wheel environment for accurate detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but sensors become susceptible to damage from road debris and environmental exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is nested within the protected cavity of the brake hub-drum, positioning it close enough to the wheel rotation for accurate speed detection while simultaneously shielding it from road debris and environmental factors. The brake hub-drum structure acts as a natural protective barrier that allows the sensor to maintain optimal detection proximity without direct exposure to harmful external elements.
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
The solution provides durable, reliable, and cost-effective wheel speed detection, enhancing traffic safety and maintaining sensor reliability across varying trailer conditions and sizes, while minimizing component weight and maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor, such as a Hall effect or magnetic sensor, is mounted on the backing plate
Implementation Method 2
A sensor, such as a Hall effect or magnetic sensor, is mounted on the backing plate to detect wheel speed and/or other operating conditions
Data Source
AI summary
Detectable indicia are provided on the interior circumferential rim of the brake hub-drum adjacent to, and spaced apart from, the backing plate of the brake. A sensor is mounted on the backing plate to detect wheel speed and/or other operating conditions detectable from the motion and/or relative location or condition of those indicia. The number of indicia used and the indicia spacing along the interior circumferential rim is selected as needed for a given type of sensor and/or a given application. In the case of a speed sensor, the indicia can be a series of notches in the rim along the entire interior circumferential rim, resembling a series of “teeth” into that rim. The width of those teeth can be formed wide enough to accommodate movement of the hub-drum relative to the backing plate and/or the sensor, without loss of system functionality, according to the sensing tolerances of a given sensor being used in a given application.