John S Probst

US Patent:

6357291, Mar 19, 2002

Filed:

Dec 22, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/469803

Inventors:

Blair Matthew Jenness - Farmington Hills MI
John Stephen Probst - Belleville MI

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, Inc. - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

B60T 800

US Classification:

73129, 340453

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for measuring brake bias in a brake system on a vehicle includes a brake bias measuring pad, such that the brake bias measuring pad is operatively positioned within a brake caliper in the brake system. The apparatus also includes a load measuring mechanism disposed within the brake bias measuring pad, such that the load measuring mechanism measures a load applied by a brake caliper piston on the brake bias measuring pad. The method includes the steps of measuring a load applied by a brake caliper piston on a brake bias measuring pad operatively positioned within a brake caliper in a brake assembly of the brake system. The method also includes the steps of determining a brake caliper pressure based on the load applied by a brake caliper piston on the brake bias measuring pad and determining a load in the brake caliper based on the caliper pressure. The method further includes the steps of determining a brake bias for a brake assembly as a ratio of the brake caliper load for the brake assembly versus a total of the brake caliper loads for each brake assembly in the brake system and adjusting the brake pressure in the brake system based on the brake bias.

US Patent:

7778748, Aug 17, 2010

Filed:

Nov 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/561519

Inventors:

John Probst - Sherrills Ford NC, US
Terry Satchell - Hendersonville NC, US

Assignee:

Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI

International Classification:

G01M 17/00

US Classification:

701 29, 701 33, 701 35, 701 36, 7311703

Abstract:

A systems and method for testing a vehicle suspension may include a kinematics rig and a main control unit having a graphical user interface (GUI). The system can provide for automated testing, control, data acquisition and analysis, and sensor handling for conducting comprehensive performance testing of vehicle chassis and suspension systems in a contained solution. All requisite tests for suspension systems analysis may be user-selectable and configurable from the GUI and executed via software based on test procedures stored in memory. The system's data acquisition capabilities may be easily integrated into standard industry analysis tools.