Brake system and method

1. A system configured to estimate a change in temperature of a brake component of a vehicle brake during a braking operation, the system comprising:

a weight estimation module for estimating a weight of a vehicle to which a brake is fitted;

a volume estimation module for estimating a volume of a brake component, wherein the brake component has known original volume, and wherein the volume of the brake component is determined by subtracting from the original volume a value corresponding to a braking counter value multiplied by an average amount of wear during a braking operation, and by further subtracting a value corresponding to a distance counter multiplied by an average wear of the brake component during normal non-braking driving; and

a temperature model module for calculating a change in temperature during brake application based on a relationship between the weight of the vehicle as estimated by the weight estimation module, the volume of the brake component as estimated by the volume estimation module, deceleration of the vehicle, and further constants of at least one of the vehicle and the brake.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the weight estimation module is configured to derive the weight of the vehicle from air pressure in an air suspension system of the vehicle or from a load sensitive regulating valve of a brake system of the vehicle.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the weight estimation module is configured to derive the weight of the vehicle by comparing a measurement of engine torque with vehicle acceleration.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the weight estimation module is configured to derive the weight of the vehicle by estimating brake torque during braking.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the volume estimation module includes a counter to detect duration of braking.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature model module further uses distribution of a brake force to calculate the change in temperature of the brake component.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature model module further uses a factor for a proportion of energy entering the brake component to calculate the change in temperature of the brake component.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature model module further uses data from an inclinometer to calculate deceleration overcoming the effect of gravity.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the brake component is a brake disc.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the volume estimation module uses a continuous brake pad wear sensor output to derive a value for the volume of the brake disc.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the volume estimation module includes a counter of total distance traveled with the brake component in place in the vehicle.

12. A method of estimating a change in temperature of a brake component of a vehicle brake during a braking operation, the method comprising the steps of:

a) estimating a weight of a vehicle to which a brake is fitted;

b) estimating a volume of a brake component, wherein the brake component has a known original volume, and wherein estimating the volume further includes subtracting a value corresponding to a braking counter value multiplied by an average amount of wear during a braking operation from the original volume, and subsequently subtracting a value corresponding to a distance counter multiplied by an average wear of the brake component during normal non-braking driving to determine an estimated volume; and

c) calculating a change in temperature of the brake component based upon a change in velocity of the vehicle, the estimated weight of the vehicle, the estimated volume of the brake component, and further constant values of the brake.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the weight is estimated from air pressure in an air suspension system of the vehicle or from a load sensitive regulating valve of a brake system of the vehicle.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the weight of the vehicle is estimated by comparing a measurement of engine torque with vehicle acceleration.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the weight of the vehicle is derived by estimating brake torque during braking.

16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of estimating the volume uses a counter to detect the duration of braking.

17. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the change in temperature is further calculated by using distribution of the brake force during braking.

18. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the change in temperature is further calculated using a factor for a proportion of energy entering the brake component.

19. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the change in temperature is further calculated using data from an inclinometer to determine deceleration overcoming the effect of gravity.

20. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the brake component is a brake disc.

21. The method according to claim 20 , wherein the volume is estimated by using a continuous brake pad wear sensor.

22. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the step of estimating the volume uses a counter of total distance traveled with the brake component in place in the vehicle.

23. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the further constants of at least one of the vehicle and the brake comprise at least one of a speed value at a beginning and end of a braking operation, a density of the brake disc, a heat capacity of the brake disc, and a distribution of the brake force between wheels of a vehicle.