Claims:WE CLAIM:

1. A system for simulating humidity to check effect of humidity on braking performance of a vehicle, the system comprising;
a flexible canopy capable of being configured around friction elements of the brake assembly;
at least one humidifier to be configured within the flexible canopy;
a timer connected to the humidifier to start and stop the humidifier;
a jack for removing the wheels; and
a plurality of stands for keeping the vehicle firmly thereon after removing the wheels,
wherein upon removing wheels of the vehicle, the frictions elements of the brake assembly are kept in the flexible canopy along with the humidifier for predefined period so as to create humidity within the canopy for testing the effect of humidity on friction elements of the braking assembly.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the friction elements of the brake assembly comprises brake pad, brake disc, brake liners and brake drum.

3. A method for simulating humidity to check braking performance of a vehicle, the method comprising:
cleaning the vehicle underbody to remove dirt particles are around friction elements of a brake assembly to be tested;
parking the vehicle on flat surface;
removing all wheels of the vehicles with a jack;
keeping the vehicle on stand firmly after removing wheels of the vehicle;
keeping friction elements of a brake assembly inside a flexible canopy along with a humidifier, wherein the friction elements of a brake assembly comprises a brake pad, brake disc, brake liners and brake drum;
pouring water in the humidifier and connect the humidifier to power supply through a timer control;
keeping the humidifier ‘ON’ for predefined period;
soaking the friction elements of the brake assembly for at least 12 hr after keeping humidifier OFF for a predefined period; and
conducting grabbing and morning sickness test on the vehicle to check effect of humidity on the vehicle.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the humidifier is kept on for at least 2 minutes and OFF for 15 minutes.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the grabbing and morning sickness test comprises:
applying low brake pedal force of about 4-5 kg f in unladen condition at a speed of 40 kmph or 40% V max whichever is less and record the data;
repeating the test for atleast 10 times; and
comparing results with base readings.

, Description:Field of invention

The present invention relates to vehicle validation and more particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for simulating humidity for checking performance of humidity of the braking system of the vehicle.

Background of the invention

Brake components of the vehicles such as brake liners are made of fiber compound. During rainy season or humid environment, these components soak water therein. These may cause the braking system to produce groan noise which is related to stick- slip due to difference between static and dynamic frictions. This also causes very sensitive/aggression braking with small effort on brake pedal.

Hence, the vehicle braking systems are checked for the effect of the humidity thereon. Vehicle validation is continuous process in R&D facility of the vehicle manufacturer. Testing effect of humidity is one of the validation methods to check effect on the braking system of the vehicle.

Existing method of conducting the test is to keep wet cloth over brake drum assembly and soak the brake drum assembly overnight. The test is conducted on next day morning, which is known as a morning sickness test. In this test, humidity is developed around brake assembly consisting brake shoes, brake liner, wheel cylinder, back plate and hub for mounting brake drum and wheel. However, this is very raw method of developing humidity around the braking components which may not give accurate test results. In this method, humidity does not develop the way it should get created.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a system and method to simulate humidity around braking components for effective testing effect of humidity on the braking components of the vehicle.

Objects of the present invention

An object of the present invention is to create effective simulation of the humidity around braking components of the vehicle.

Another object of the present invention is to simulate humidity around braking component of the vehicle to test the effect of humidity on the braking components.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides a system for simulating humidity to check braking performance of a vehicle. The system comprises a flexible canopy/envelope capable of being configured around friction elements of the brake assembly. Specifically, the friction elements of the brake assembly comprise brake pad, brake disc, brake liners and brake drum.

The system further comprises at least one humidifier (20) connected to a power supply through a timer. The humidifier is to be configured within the flexible canopy. The timer is configured to make the humidifier (20) ON and OFF at predefined intervals.

The system furthermore comprises a jack for removing wheels and a plurality of stand for keeping the vehicle thereon firmly after removing the wheels. Upon removing wheels of the vehicle, the frictions elements of the brake assembly are kept in the flexible canopy/envelope along with the humidifier for predefined period so as to create humidity within the canopy for testing the effect of humidity on friction elements of the braking assembly.

Brief description of the figures

The objectives and features of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 shows a schematic drawing of a system for simulating humidity to check braking performance of a vehicle.

Detailed description of the present invention:

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiment.

The present invention provides a system and method for simulating humidity to check braking performance of a vehicle. The system develops humidity with humidifier around the braking system near wheel. The humidifier is put near the wheels and a flexible canopy/envelop is developed around it in such a way that complete brake system will be inside envelop to generate humidity around brake system. The braking system is then checked for effect on humidity thereon.

Referring now to figure 1, there is shown a system (100) for simulating humidity to check effect of humidity on braking assembly (50) of a vehicle. The system (100) comprises a flexible canopy/envelope (10), at least one humidifier (20), a timer, a jack and plurality of stands.

The flexible canopy/envelope (10) is made of material which does not allow air and water to escape therethrough. For example, a plastic film. The flexible canopy/envelope (10) is capable of being configured around friction elements of the brake assembly (not shown). Specifically, the friction elements of the brake assembly (50) comprise brake pad, brake disc, brake liners and brake drum.

The flexible canopy/envelope (10) is selected of such a size which can accommodate friction elements of the braking assembly (50) as well as the at least one humidifier (20) therein. The humidifier (20) is selected from the humidifier known in the art. Specifically, the humidifier (30) is connected to a power supply through a timer. The timer is configured to make the humidifier (20) ON and OFF at predefined intervals.

To cover the friction elements of the braking assembly (50) within the flexible canopy/envelope (10), the wheels are removed by means of a jack and the vehicle is kept on a plurality of stands firmly.

Upon removing wheels of the vehicle, the frictions elements of the braking assembly (50) are kept in the flexible canopy/envelope (10) along with the humidifier (20) for predefined period so as to create humidity within the canopy for testing the effect of humidity on friction elements of the braking assembly.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method for simulating humidity to check effect of humidity on braking performance of a vehicle. The method is described in conjunction with system (100). The method comprises cleaning the vehicle underbody to remove dirt particles are around friction elements of a brake assembly to be tested. The vehicle is parked on a flat surface and all wheels of the vehicles are removed with a jack.

The method further comprises keeping the vehicle on stand firmly after removing wheels of the vehicle.

The method furthermore comprises keeping friction elements of a brake assembly inside a flexible canopy/envelope along with a humidifier, wherein the friction elements of a brake assembly comprises a brake pad, brake disc, brake liners and brake drum.

The method furthermore comprises pouring water in the humidifier and connecting the humidifier to power supply through a timer control. The timer control is configured to make the humidifier ON and OFF for predefined period. In an embodiment, the humidifier is kept ON for at least 2 minutes and OFF for 15 minutes. This is a continuous cycle.

Once the humid environment is created inside the flexible canopy/envelope, the method comprises keep soaking the friction elements of the brake assembly for at least 12 hr.

Thereafter, grabbing and morning sickness test are conducted on the vehicle to check effect of humidity on breaking system of the vehicle.

In an embodiment, the grabbing and morning sickness test comprises applying low brake pedal force of about 4-5 kg f in unladen condition at a speed of 40 kmph or 40% V max whichever is less and record the data, repeating the test for at least 10 times comparing results with base readings recorded before the test.

Advantages of the invention

1. The system is easy to use and provides simple technique of generating humidity.
2. The system is consistent in developing humidity and hence results can be compared.
3. The system and method are process based and not person based, leading to consistent results.
4. The system and method can be used to develop humidity for testing effect of humidity on the braking system irrespective of any season.
5. The system provides proper cycle of generating humidity there is hence control on generating humidity.

The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention described in the present embodiment. Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein; however, it is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure, or matter. The embodiments of the invention as described above and the methods disclosed herein will suggest further modification and alterations to those skilled in the art. Such further modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.