Brake temperature and wear indicator

Claim 2

In a brake assembly having a brake housing, at least one stationary member to provide braking of a rotating member when subjected to a pressure force by a pressure plate; an indicator comprising: a movable probe member in contact with and releasably attached to said pressure plate wherein the degree of wear of said stationary and rotating members is indicated by the relative distance traveled by said probe member when said brake assembly is actuated; and a thermocouple disposed within said probe member, secured in thermal conductive engagement therein, for monitoring the temperature of said pressure plate.

Claim 3

The indicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable probe member further comprises: an axially elongated body having a first and second end, said first end releasably attached to said pressure plate, said second end extending through a bore in said brake housing and adapted for slidable movement therein.

Claim 4

The indicator as set forth in claim 2 further comprised by: said pressure plate, having a countersink bore extending therethrough, said first end of said probe member having a flanged portion coupling with said countersink bore and releasably attached thereto by a retaining device; and said second end is marked with a plurality of calibrated indicia to indicate the degree of brake wear.

Claim 5

In a brake assembly having a brake housing, at least one stationary member to provide braking of a rotating member when subjected to a pressure force by a pressure plate; an indicator comprising: a housing, defining a bore; a biasing means, disposed within said housing bore; and a movable probe member having an axially elongated body disposed within said housing bore and operatively engaging said biasing means, for reciprocal movement therein and having first and second ends extending outside of said housing bore, the first end positioned in contiguity with said pressure plate by said biasing means and having a thermocouple secured in thermal conductive engagement therein for monitoring the temperature of said pressure plate; and wherein the degree of wear of said stationary and rotating members is indicated by the relative distance traveled by said probe member when said brake assembly is actuated.

Claim 6

In a brake assembly having a brake housing, at least one stationary member to provide braking of a rotating member when subjected to a pressure force by a pressure plate; an indicator comprising: a housing, defining a bore; a biasing means, disposed within said housing bore; and a movable probe member having an axially elongated body disposed within said housing bore and operatively engaging said biasing means, for reciprocal movement therein and having first and second ends extending outside of said housing bore, the first end positioned in contiguity with said pressure plate by said biasing means and having a thermocouple secured in thermal conductive engagement therein for monitoring the temperature of said pressure plate; and wherein the degree of wear of said stationary and rotating members is indicated by the relative distance traveled by said probe member when said brake assembly is actuated.

Claim 7

The indicator as set forth in claim 4 wherein said housing is mounted within said brake housing.

Claim 8

The indicator as set forth in claim 5 wherein said biasing means is a spring.

Claim 9

The indicator as set forth in claim 6 wherein said second end of said probe member is marked with a plurality of calibrated indicia to indicate the degree of brake wear.

Claim 10

In a brake assembly having a brake housing, at least one stationary member to provide braking of a rotating member when subjected to a pressure force by a pressure plate; an indicator comprising: a housing, defining a bore; a biasing means, disposed within said housing bore; a movable probe member having an axially elongated body disposed within said housing bore and operatively engaging said biasing means, for reciprocal movement therein and having first and second ends extending outside of said housing bore; another probe member attached to the first end of said movable probe member, and in contiguity with said pressure plate by a force exerted on said movable probe member by said biasing means; a thermocouple disposed within said other probe member and in thermal conductive engagement therein for monitoring the temperature of said pressure plate; and wherein the degree of wear of said stationary and rotating members is indicated by the relative distance traveled by said probe member when said brake assembly is actuated.

Claim 11

In a brake assembly having a brake housing, at least one stationary member to provide braking of a rotating member when subjected to a pressure force by a pressure plate; an indicator comprising: a housing, defining a bore; a biasing means, disposed within said housing bore; a movable probe member having an axially elongated body disposed within said housing bore and operatively engaging said biasing means, for reciprocal movement therein and having first and second ends extending outside of said housing bore; another probe member attached to the first end of said movable probe member, and in contiguity with said pressure plate by a force exerted on said movable probe member by said biasing means; a thermocouple disposed within said other probe member and in thermal conductive engagement therein for monitoring the temperature of said pressure plate; and wherein the degree of wear of said stationary and rotating members is indicated by the relative distance traveled by said probe member when said brake assembly is actuated.

Claim 12

The indicator as set forth in claim 8 wherein said housing is mounted within said brake housing.

Claim 13

The indicator as set forth in claim 9 wherein said biasing means is a spring.

Claim 14

The indicator as set forth in claim 10 wherein said movable probe member is thermally non-conductive and said other probe member is thermally conductive.

Claim 15

The indicator as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second end of said movable probe member is marked with a plurality of calibrated indicia to indicate the degree of brake wear.

Claim 16

In an aircraft multi-disk brake assembly having an inboard end and an outboard end, including a brake housing at the inboard end and a brake stack at the outboard end comprising a pressure plate, and stationary members to provide braking to rotatable members when subjected to a pressure force by an actuating means on said pressure plate and the position of said pressure plate varying with the degree of wear of said brake stack; and indicator for sensing and indicating both the temperature and the degree of wear of said brake stack comprising: a housing, disposed within said brake housing, defining a bore having an axis positioned substantially perpendicular to said pressure plate; a biasing means, disposed within said housing bore; an axially movable probe member disposed within said housing bore, operatively engaging said biasing means for reciprocal movement therein and having inboard and outboard ends extending outside of said housing bore; said outboard end positioned in contact with said pressure plate by said biasing means; a thermocouple, disposed within said outboard end and secured in thermal conductive engagement therein; said inboard end being marked with a plurality of indicia for indicating the degree of brake wear; and wherein upon activation of said brake stack said probe member moves axially, maintaining contact with said pressure plate at the outboard end for monitoring the temperature of said brake stack and for determining the degree of wear of said brake stack by the distance traveled by said inboard end.

Claim 17

In an aircraft multi-disk brake assembly having an inboard end and an outboard end, including a brake housing at the inboard end and a brake stack at the outboard end comprising a pressure plate, and stationary members to provide braking to rotatable members when subjected to a pressure force by an actuating means on said pressure plate and the position of said pressure plate varying with the degree of wear of said brake stack; and indicator for sensing and indicating both the temperature and the degree of wear of said brake stack comprising: a housing, disposed within said brake housing, defining a bore having an axis positioned substantially perpendicular to said pressure plate; a biasing means, disposed within said housing bore; an axially movable probe member disposed within said housing bore, operatively engaging said biasing means for reciprocal movement therein and having inboard and outboard ends extending outside of said housing bore; said outboard end positioned in contact with said pressure plate by said biasing means; a thermocouple, disposed within said outboard end and secured in thermal conductive engagement therein; said inboard end being marked with a plurality of indicia for indicating the degree of brake wear; and wherein upon activation of said brake stack said probe member moves axially, maintaining contact with said pressure plate at the outboard end for monitoring the temperature of said brake stack and for determining the degree of wear of said brake stack by the distance traveled by said inboard end.