Automotive Diagnostic Tool for Pedal Pressure Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current diagnostic and maintenance tasks for automotive, farming, construction, trucking, recreational, and aviation vehicles require human labor to apply pressure to pedals, lacking accurate measurement of distance traveled and pressure applied, leading to potential brake system leaks and inaccurate diagnostics.
Innovation Solution
A diagnostic and maintenance tool featuring a ram rod housing, extension actuator, measurement device, and controller to measure and control the extension of a ram rod, allowing for precise distance and pressure measurement and application, reducing human error and labor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If human labor is used to apply pressure to pedals for diagnostic and maintenance tasks, then the tasks can be performed with simple equipment, but accurate measurement of distance traveled and pressure applied cannot be obtained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical system with an automated electromechanical system. A motor-driven lead screw mechanism substitutes for human foot pressure, while linear transducers and encoders provide precise digital measurement of position and force, eliminating the need for manual estimation and achieving accurate quantifiable data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary measurement devices (linear transducers, encoders, force sensors) between the actuation mechanism and the pedal. These intermediaries capture precise data about position and force applied, serving as mediators that translate physical actions into measurable signals for diagnostic purposes.
2Loss of information
If manual pedal pressure application is used, then the equipment remains simple, but quantifiable data for accurate testing and recommendations cannot be produced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through sensors that continuously monitor the position of the lead screw and the force applied to the pedal. This feedback is processed by a controller that provides real-time data about the diagnostic process, enabling accurate measurement of pedal travel distance and pressure applied, and allowing for precise diagnostic recommendations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical assessment with an automated system using motor-driven actuation and electronic sensing. The substitution of human sensation and estimation with electronic sensors and digital measurement provides objective, quantifiable data that eliminates information loss associated with manual evaluation.
3Reliability
If human technicians perform brake system diagnostics by feel, then no additional measurement equipment is needed, but microscopic leaks and braking issues cannot be accurately detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the unreliable human sensory system with precise electronic measurement devices. Linear transducers and force sensors objectively measure pedal position and pressure, providing reliable diagnostic data that does not depend on technician skill or fatigue, thereby detecting microscopic leaks and subtle braking issues that manual inspection misses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary sensing devices that act as mediators between the brake system and the diagnostic process. These sensors provide an objective interface that captures precise mechanical data, serving as reliable intermediaries that translate physical brake system states into measurable diagnostic information.
4Extent of automation
If automated actuation is implemented, then remote operation and precise measurement are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a motor-driven lead screw mechanism to replace manual actuation, achieving automated remote operation. The motor can be controlled remotely or programmatically, and the lead screw provides precise mechanical conversion of rotational motion to linear motion, enabling accurate pedal actuation without direct human intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated actuation system serves multiple functions: it applies controlled force to the pedal, measures the force applied through feedback sensors, records the distance traveled, and provides data for diagnostic analysis. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by consolidating several diagnostic capabilities into a single integrated system.
Data Source
AI summary
A diagnostics and maintenance tool can be used for performing diagnostics and maintenance of automotive, farming, construction, trucking, recreational and aviation vehicles & equipment. The diagnostics and maintenance tool can be used to measure distance traveled and pressure applied to brake, clutch and acceleration pedals, for example. The tool can reduce labor costs by reducing the time it takes perform certain diagnostic and maintenance activities. The tool can increase customer satisfaction by increasing accuracy and providing quantifiable data versus just going off of “human hunches.” The tool can reduce misdiagnoses by a technician who does not have to rely on “guesswork” or “process of elimination” for certain tasks. The tool may attach between a support and a component where distance traveled and applied pressure is to be measured. The tool may be pre-programmed to apply a known pressure or distance or may be remotely operated.