Abstract: When an element of the electro-hydraulic brake circuit (1) is malfunctioning, a master cylinder (2) can brake the vehicle. A brake actuation simulator (8) is then disconnected from the master cylinder (2) by means of an O-ring gasket (22) after the gasket has been compressed between a groove (16) in a secondary piston (11) and a bore (24) in the master cylinder. In order to prevent the gasket from being extruded from the groove during brake release (or brake pedal release) resulting from sudden braking, the invention makes provision for a pressure relief duct (32) to be provided inside the secondary piston. Extra pressure can then be discharged during brake release (or brake pedal release) through the brake release duct (32) from the inside of the chamber (30) of the simulator towards the primary chamber (10) of the master cylinder.

Abstract: A pneumatic servomotor for power-assisted braking for a motor vehicle having a control rod (38) for opening and closing at least one axial inlet valve (52) that is interposed between a front chamber (16) connected to a pressure source having a pressure (Pa) greater than a first pressure (P1) and a back chamber (18) and at least one axial balancing valve (50) for actuating a moving partition (14) located between the front chamber (16) and the back chamber (18). The servomotor being characterized by one-piece floating tubular element (76) having axially offset transverse faces (78,80) that have sealing elements (82,84) for sealing the axial inlet valve (52) and the balancing valve (50) with the control rod (38) being activated by a dish-shaped washer (49) carrying two springs (40,122) of different stiffnesses.

Abstract: A pneumatic brake booster with reduced dead travel comprising a skirt (10) which can move in a sealed manner in a casing, delimiting a low-pressure chamber and a variable-pressure chamber, with respect to a pneumatic piston (16) over a certain travel. The displacement of the pneumatic piston being controlled by the skirt in a first direction when the skirt comes into contact with a first face of an annular plate (100) which is arranged in the low-pressure chamber and is fastened rigidly to the pneumatic piston, and the displacement of the piston in a second direction is controlled by an elastic means mounted in the low-pressure chamber and bearing by one of its ends on a second face of the annular plate (100).

Abstract: A quick-coupling device having a support (18) on which a female member (20) is mounted in a manner to move between a position of retaining a male member (14E) in a position fitted into the female member (20) to a position of releasing the male member (14E) from the female member (20). This device has a lever (24) articulated to the support (18) between a rest position, wherein the lever (24) is separated from the female member (20), to a position of collaboration that allows the female member (20) to be driven toward a position to allow the male member (14E) to be released. The lever (24) includes structure (26) for guiding the male member (14E) in such a way as to encourage guidance of the male member (14E) to mate with the female member (20) when the lever (24) is in the rest position.

Abstract: A brake booster having a first shell joined to a second shell through a flange (26) on the first shell and a peripheral surface (204) on the second shell. Axial slots (36,36?, . . . 36n) on the flange that extend from an opened end toward a shoulder engage radial slots (38,38?, . . . 38n) to create a first plurality of arcuate projections (40,40?, . . . 40n) that are sequentially separated from a second plurality of arcuate projections (42,42?, . . . 42n). Each arcuate projection (40) has parallel sides that extend from a radial plane (11) on the flange while each arcuate projection (42) has first and second radial tabs (44, 46) thereon. Each arcuate projection (40) is deformed into sealing engagement with an edge (206) on the peripheral surface (204) to position the peripheral surface (204) under the flange while creating an axial gap (x) between the radial tabs (44,46) and the edge (206) to provide a visual inspection of the sealing engagement.

Abstract: A caging arrangement for setting a spring height and correspondingly chamber size in a master cylinder. A cylindrical member has a convoluted surface that is placed in a bore of a piston and a ball is pressed into the cylindrical member to radially expand the convoluted surface into engagement with the piston. A spring is placed on the piston and a disc placed on the spring. A first end of a valve stem having a radial projection is passed through the disc and a force applied to the valve stem while holding the piston stationary such that the radial projection engages and outwardly moves an inward flange on the cylindrical body to allow the radial projection to move past the inward flange. The force is removed and the spring expands until the radial projection engages the inward flange to set distance between the piston and the valve stem.

Abstract: A calibration process for a pneumatic-assistance servomotor in a braking circuit of a motor vehicle. The values of the output pressure (Pmc) of a hydraulic master cylinder associated with the servomotor and of the negative pressure inside the working chamber of the servomotor are measured and recorded with respect to a given negative-pressure value (Pfc) inside a negative-pressure chamber of a servomotor for several operating points P1, P2, P3, P4 of the servomtotor. The operating points being located on either side of a saturation point to precisely determine the coordinates of the saturation point and thereby provide an accurate control of advanced functions of the servomotor with respect to braking operation, the braking assistance and/or the monitoring of the performance or of the ageing of the servomotor.

Abstract: A first and second tie rods locating between a front shell and a rear shell of a brake booster through which a master cylinder is connected to a support member. Each of the first and second tie rods have a head that engages the rear shell and a first shaft that extends from the head in a first direction along a first axis through the front shell and the flange and a second shaft that extends from the head in a second direction offset from the first shaft along a second axis through the rear shell and the support member. Fasteners are secured to the first, second, third and fourth shafts such that the front shell and rear shell are compressed between the flange and support member and forces are transmitted into the support member without creating a moment that would change the axial alignment of the first and third shafts.

Abstract: A braking amplifier for a vehicle having a vacuum chamber (10), a working chamber (12) separated by a housing (14), a shutter (30) and an intermediate chamber (64). The intermediate chamber (64) is located in the housing (14) and defined by a plurality of circular zones (44) arranged around and axis (6) of the amplifier that are in communication with the vacuum chamber (10). The end of the circular zones (4) have a rear section (50) that form a seat (52) for the shutter (30). The shutter (30) selectively engaging seat (52) to interrupt communication between the vacuum chamber (10) and the intermediate chamber (64) and thereafter place the intermediate chamber (64) in communication with the working chamber (12) to effect a brake application.

Abstract: A master cylinder with increased safety having a piston produced by molding a plastic or aluminum alloy. The piston slides in a bore blocked off by an end wall. A valve for the master cylinder bears at rest against a pin that is fixedly mounted in the body of the master cylinder passes through the piston via a longitudinal slot. The dimensions of the master cylinder are determined such that the piston bears against the pin before coming into contact with the end wall of the master cylinder body.

Abstract: A method and structure for connecting a pneumatic booster (S) to a brake pedal (F) by nesting a second element (3) inside a second element (2) of a control rod (1). The second element (3) is held one inside the first element (2) by a spring clip (25) that is housed in a circular groove (26) of an adapter (5) to define an elastic attachment and allow for play to be taken up to stabilize the connection.

Abstract: A parking brake having first and second brake shoes each of which has a first end that engages an anchor post on a backing plate and a second end that engages an adjuster. An actuator that is located adjacent an anchor post engages a first end and an adjuster engages a second end of webs for the first and second brake shoes. A brake cable that is connected to the actuator provides a force for moving the first and second brake shoes into engagement with a drum to effect a brake application. The adjuster is characterized by the adjuster mechanism including a yieldable member for reducing the space between the second end engagement between the webs to limit braking force to a predetermined maximum. A strut of the adjuster compresses at loads above a predetermined set load to thereby reduces the effective braking diameter, input loads and hence output torque.

Abstract: An apparatus for teaching a person a technique for striking a volleyball. The apparatus has a chute with first and second side walls for directing volleyball toward a pivotable arm attached to the chute. A passage in the arm connects a cone thereon with a source of vacuum while the weight of a valve on the arm positions the arm in a vertical position. An indexing member sequentially retains volleyballs in the chute and sequentially presents a volleyball to the cone. An input acts to release a lock on the indexing member and thereafter allow a volleyball to roll from the chute toward the cone where the vacuum sucks the volleyball onto the cone. The weight of the volleyball causes the arm to pivot from the vertical position and rotate the volleyball to a position for a player to spike the volleyball.

Abstract: A disc brake for a vehicle having a housing with a cavity therein that is divided by a thrust plate into a fluid chamber and an atmospheric chamber. A converter located in the fluid chamber includes a fixed reaction plate and a sliding plate that are separated by a plurality of balls located in variable depth grooves in the sliding plate and a reaction plate. A rotary input applied to an input shaft caused the sliding plate to rotate and move linearly as the balls move within the grooves to provides a force that acts through the thrust plate to moves a piston that is located in the atmospheric chamber to effect a mechanical brake application. Pressurized fluid supplied to the fluid chamber acts on the thrust plate that moves thrust plate and moves the piston to effect a hydraulic brake application.

Abstract: A control valve of a hydraulic brake booster for use in a brake system. The control valve is characterized by a shuttle member having a stem on a first end and an annular projection on a second end. The stem has an annular surface thereon that is matched with an orifice from an supply chamber such that metered pressurized fluid is uniformly presented to an actuation chamber to effect a brake application while the annular projection is matched with a flange on an actuator piston such that the pressurized fluid present in the actuation chamber is uniformly metered to a reservoir.

Abstract: A mechanically and hydraulically actuated brake cylinder for a motor vehicle having a body with a chamber for receiving an axially movable piston (4) that is connected to a pivoting shaft (11) that has a part that is located outside of the body. Pressurized fluid is presented to the chamber to hydraulically actuate a brake application while a rotational torque is applied to the shaft (11) to mechanical actuate a brake application through a ball-ramp mechanism that converts the rotational torque into translational movement for the piston. The ball-ramp mechanism is defined by a rotary plate (28) fixed to the shaft (11) with a first ramp ribs (31), second ramp ribs (32) on the piston (4) and balls (33) housed in the ramp ribs.

Abstract: A tank intended for an electrohydraulic braking system comprises, according to the present invention, a first chamber (7) for the supply of a primary hydraulic circuit of a master cylinder with brake fluid, a second chamber (9) for the supply of a secondary hydraulic circuit of the master cylinder (not shown) with brake fluid, a third chamber (11) for the supply of a hydraulic pump with brake fluid, and a fourth chamber (13), a measuring one, which accommodates a detection device, indicating when the brake-fluid level inside the tank is too low. The tank has a flow path for the interconnection of the first chamber (7), the second chamber (9) and the third chamber (11) when the hydraulic-fluid level is higher than a safety level, and for the fluid-tight separation of said chambers when the hydraulic-fluid level is lower than the safety level.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster has an actuator arrangement for a control valve that includes a ball that is located in a first sleeve retained in a stepped bore of a cylindrical member and a pin that is retained in the cylindrical member. The pin has a first end that is located in an actuation chamber and is connected with a first input member and a second end that extends into the stepped bore to engage the ball. The first end on receipt of a first input force initially moves the pin and ball from a position of rest to interrupt fluid communication between the actuation chamber and a reservoir and thereafter moves the sleeve to selectively initiate metered communication of pressurized fluid to the actuation chamber that acts on a first piston to effect a first brake application of a wheel brake. A second sleeve that surrounds the pin has a lip on a first end that engages the cylindrical member to position a second end thereon in an auxiliary actuation chamber within the housing of the brake booster.

Abstract: This invention relates to a master cylinder (10), inside a bore (14) of which two axial primary and secondary pistons (16, 18), are slidingly fitted, and in which at least one sealing means (48, 50) is disposed in contact with each piston, defining a supply chamber (56, 60) and a pressure chamber (58, 62). Each piston (16, 18) comprises a bore (78, 80), open in the direction of the front pressure chamber (58, 62), and the piston (18) comprises a valve-forming through-hole (88), opening into its periphery and into its bore (80), in order to isolate the front pressure chamber when it passes beyond the sealing means so as to produce a braking pressure, characterised in that the front pressure chamber (62) associated with at least one piston (18) comprises at least one tubular cylindrical element (90) extending axially outside the piston (18) and rearwards of the sealing means (50) for the obturation of the through-hole (88) according to a reduced stroke (Cm2).