Thermocouples – Tyres and braking systems
With Therma thermocouples for temperature measurement in tyres and braking systems, you gain not only professional motorsports sensor expertise, but also important control values and parameters for successful races and the optimised configuration of your systems.
The brake fluid thermocouple from Therma impresses not just with its compact dimensions, but also with its easy installation. It is screwed in instead of the bleeder valve to measure the temperature of the brake fluid. The subsequent sheathing wire can then be conveniently reshaped in the required direction. The braking system is bled via its thread when the thermocouple is screwed in.
Measurement of the brake fluid temperature supplies not only surface measurement of the brake disk, but also important control values for successful and safe races. On long races or in races with numerous downward slopes, the brake disk can heat up disproportionately. The radiant heat generated as a result also has a direct effect on the brake fluid and heats it up. Depending on the type of brake fluid used, this can easily reach around 140 – 260 °C. Specialist motorsports brake fluids can even have boiling points above 340 °C. The air bubbles that form as a result can primarily cause compression of the gas when the brake pressure builds up, which in worst-case scenarios can lead to complete failure of the braking system, but in any case is associated with a serious loss of braking performance. The measurement values also help to optimise the braking system.
With the Therma friction thermocouple, the surface temperature of the brake is determined during travel. By attaching the mounting adapter, the spring-mounted sensor is guided onto the brake disk with consistent pressure using a bayonet cap. This ideally compensates movements caused by centrifugal forces and vibrations, as well as the reduction in volume caused by disk wear, and guarantees a valid measuring result.
The brake disk friction sensor measures the surface temperature of the brake disk. It yields key information about temperature development. This information provides indicators of braking performance, outgassing and temperature radiation. A brake disk running too hot during a race massively loses effectiveness and braking in the usual and most effective manner is no longer possible. If the temperature is too high, the brake pads also start to outgas. A layer of gas forms between the lining and the disk, resulting in a further reduction in braking performance.
The infra-red temperature sensor from Therma is ideal for measuring the current tyre temperature. The temperature of the tyre and the associated effects are crucial factors for success in motorsports. The tyre pressure is extremely temperature-dependent. The measuring values collected through the sensor allows conclusions to be drawn regarding the ideal configuration of the vehicle. Large fluctuations have a direct influence on the vehicle’s performance and the tyre’s lifetime.
Images of thermocouples for tyres and braking systems
