Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A brake lining wear detector for a brake including an electrically conductive brake shoe and brake drum comprising: a. an electrically conductive leaf spring spaced apart from said brake shoe, said leaf spring being biased at one end towards said shoe; b. means for connecting the other end of said leaf spring to a first arcuate portion of said shoe, said connecting means electrically insulating said other end from said first portion; c. an electrically conductive plate connected to said one end of said leaf spring, said plate being mounted on the side of said spring facing said brake shoe and being spaced apart from said shoe; d. a pin connected to said conductive plate, said pin extending through an aperture in a second arcuate portion of said brake shoe a predetermined distance into the brake lining, said pin being slidable within the brake lining and spaced apart from said drum; and e. first means coupled to said brake shoe, said plate and said leaf spring for providing a brake lining wear signal when said plate contacts said brake shoe.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A brake lining wear detector for a brake including an electrically conductive brake shoe and brake drum comprising: a. an electrically conductive leaf spring spaced apart from said brake shoe, said leaf spring being biased at one end towards said shoe; b. means for connecting the other end of said leaf spring to a first arcuate portion of said shoe, said connecting means electrically insulating said other end from said first portion; c. an electrically conductive plate connected to said one end of said leaf spring, said plate being mounted on the side of said spring facing said brake shoe and being spaced apart from said shoe; d. a pin connected to said conductive plate, said pin extending through an aperture in a second arcuate portion of said brake shoe a predetermined distance into the brake lining, said pin being slidable within the brake lining and spaced apart from said drum; and e. first means coupled to said brake shoe, said plate and said leaf spring for providing a brake lining wear signal when said plate contacts said brake shoe.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The wear detector of claim 1 wherein said pin is made of an electrically conductive material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The wear detector of claim 2 wherein the spaced apart distance between said conductive plate and said brake shoe is equal to said spaced apart distance between said conductive pin and said brake drum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The wear detector of claim 3 further comprising second means coupled to said conductive pin, said conductive brake drum and said conductive spring for providing a brake lining wear signal when said conductive pin contacts said brake drum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The wear detector of claim 4 wherein said conductive pin comprises an inner section of an electrically conductive material and an outer section of an electrically non-conductive material, said inner section extending longitudinally through said outer section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brake lining wear detector is connected to a plurality of wheels and said first means includes means for signaling the wear condition for each respective brake lining.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the brake lining wear detector is connected to a plurality of wheels and said first means includes means, common to all the wheels, for signaling the wear condition of the brake linings.