On-Board Brake Stroke Monitoring System
On-board brake stroke monitoring systems have been developed to communicate air braking issues in real time with the drivers, inspectors, or mechanical personnel. These systems are designed to inform the vehicle operator of a number of different issues that could potentially happen with an air braking system.
The most common braking system issues are due to over stroking, non-releasing, or inoperative pushrod travel issues. When these issues arise the truck brakes can either work at a lower than the necessary levels or become completely inoperable.
By installing an on-board stroke monitoring system driver will be alerted to these potential issues in real time as they happen. The cab of the truck will have a driver interface installed that is designed to light up LED lights when potential braking issues are discovered.
Since drivers are often unaware of existing brake defects and reduced braking capability, brake monitoring systems provide valuable information to let the driver know when brakes are out of adjustment or not working properly so that corrective measures can be taken to maintain the vehicle's safe operation.
The on-board brake stroke monitoring system is able to alert the driver to multiple safety issues regarding the braking system. Drivers could be alerted to worn, seized, or out of adjustment manual and automatic slack adjusters, slack adjusters that have not been installed properly, pushrods that have been cut too short, ruptured actuator diaphragms or leaking airlines, plugged or crimped airlines, frozen or stuck air valves, cracked or broken brake drums, brakes shoes that may be "hung-up" due to other faults in the foundation brake system or slack adjuster faults, push rods that have not retracted due to components binding, broken parking brake springs, and worn S-cams.
