Abstract: A hydraulic unit for wheel slip control, which is located between a master cylinder and wheel brake cylinders. Reflection damping devices are installed in main brake lines located between the hydraulic unit and the master cylinder which damp pressure waves that originate at control valves of the hydraulic unit. When the control valves are triggered in the wheel slip control mode the pressure waves are largely kept away from the master cylinder. By the means of length adaptation of the main brake lines, the brake lines can also contribute to the damping.

Abstract: A brake apparatus applies a braking force from a stationary member to a moving member adapted to move relative to the stationary member. Magnets are arranged on the stationary member along the linear motion or rotational direction of the moving member and magnets are arranged on the moving member so that the stationary side magnets face the moving side magnets. When magnetic attractive/repulsive forces between the magnets on the moving and stationary members act in a direction to accelerate the moving member, the magnets on either one side are allowed to escape in the same direction. When magnetic attractive/repulsive forces act in a direction to decelerate the moving member, the magnets are restrained from movement in the same direction. This brake avoids any temperature rise due to local heat generation during braking.

Abstract: A full-function brake valve for a tandem trailer is contained within a single housing and provides a boost to the control air signal arriving at the full-function valve so that the control air signal can be delivered to a second trailer full-function valve without degradation of the control air signal. The signal boost function is provided by an aperture in the piston of the relay valve that connects the control air inlet to the supply air, to cause the supply air pressure to boost the control air signal.

Abstract: A fluid control system for use with vehicles, in particular, trailers, includes a branch conduit (19, 25, 42, 80, 96) which is to be connected to a pressure supply line (20) and a control line (22) to enable priming of the control line (20) so that signals generated upon application of the vehicle brake pedal are more quickly transmitted to the trailer brakes. This overcomes problems associated with delay in application of the trailer brakes. An electrically operated solenoid valve (11) controls fluid flow through the branch conduit so that upon application of the vehicle brake pedal the solenoid valve is operated to open the branch conduit to allow pressurized fluid to flow from the supply line (20) to the control line (22) for a predetermined time period to prime the control line (22).

Abstract: A brake shoe having an elongate generally clam-shell shaped metallic support or backbone member, the leading edge of which is provided with a deflectable tongue portion bent at an angle and flexible relative to the main body portion, with first and second brake pads molded thereabout to provide a unitary assembly, with a fastening member secured generally perpendicular to the main body portion. The first and second brake pads are formed of dissimilar material and separated by a recess or V-shaped notch to permit flexing at the recess. The leading brake pad is formed of a long wearing low friction material, while the trailing or rear brake pad is formed of high friction compound. The backbone member is formed by stamping, with the two brake pads molded over the stamping.

Abstract: A seismic shock isolator and method of strengthening structures against seismic shock. The shock isolator includes a cylinder having a damping chamber and an accumulator chamber and a piston movable into the damping chamber. The damping chamber can contain compressible liquid or incompressible liquid. The piston has a damping head and a first control orifice, and the accumulator chamber is separated from the damping chamber by a wall having a second control orifice having a higher exponent than the first control orifice. Movement of the piston into the damping chamber creates a combination of damping and stiffening having a spring component. When the isolator has compressible liquid therein, the spring and stiffening is produced by a compression of the liquid. When the isolator contains an incompressible liquid, the stiffening and spring component are obtained by a yielding of a column which movably supports the wall which divides the damping chamber from the accumulator chamber.

Abstract: A shock absorber comprises a tubular sleeve (46) and a load applying member (45) having a nut (47) normally in engagement with an end of the sleeve (46). Under loading the nut is drawn into the sleeve to cause permanent radial deformation of the sleeve wall thereby absorbing the loading.

Abstract: A wheel brake assembly for shopping carts is characterized by a hub adapted for rotation about an axis, a coil spring coaxially mounted on the hub, and a pair of annular disks coaxially mounted on the spring. One of the disks is stationary and has one end of the spring connected therewith. The other disk is rotatable and has the other end of the spring connected therewith. Rotation of the rotatable disk in one direction to a braking position draws the spring ends together so that the coil spring constricts on the hub to prevent rotation of the hub about the axis. Rotation of the rotatable disk in the other direction to a release position pushes the spring ends apart to relax the coil spring and allow the hub to rotate.

Abstract: There is disclosed a vibration dampener comprising a body for disposition tween two relatively movable members, the body being formed from a carrier of a gel material and particles having electrorheological properties embedded in the carrier with the particles electrically aligned and pseudo-bonded. Upon a displacement force being applied to the body, as by one of the members, the particles resist motion relative to other of the particles. There is further disclosed a method for making the aforesaid vibration dampener wherein the dampener has a current passed through it while the carrier cures into a gel material.

Abstract: A braking system actuator includes a casing which accommodates therein a plurality of electromagnetic valves for controlling operations of a hydraulic circuit. A plurality of terminals which are connected to an external circuit are embedded in a surrounding wall of the casing with a given distance for insulation from each other. Connecting portions of the terminals for the electromagnetic valves extend from the surrounding wall of the casing to reach the neighborhood of corresponding solenoid terminals of the electromagnetic valves for connection therewith. On the other hand, connecting portions of the terminals for a motor which drives a hydraulic pump are connected to positive and negative terminals of the motor, respectively.

Abstract: A disc brake caliper with auxiliary system to cool brake fluid for use in a high performance automobile includes a brake caliper (12) and a cooling system (14). The brake caliper (12) has a housing (34), a first conduit (60), and a second conduit (74). The first conduit (60) conveys a hydraulic fluid to first and second bores (48, 50), whereby pistons received within the bores (48, 50) may be activated to press friction pads (22, 26) against a rotor (16) and provide a braking action. The second conduit (74) conveys a coolant through the housing (34) to a region proximal the first conduit (60). The cooling system (14) comprises the second conduit (74), a pump (94), and a radiator (96) connected in series via connective plumbing (92) to form a fluid circuit.

Abstract: A brake pressure control apparatus for regulating a brake pressure for braking a wheel of a motor vehicle, the apparatus including a device, for obtaining a wheel speed, a device for obtaining a reference wheel speed, on the basis of a vehicle speed, a commanding device for generating brake control commands for regulating the wheel brake pressure, and a pressure regulator for regulating the brake pressure according to the brake control commands, the apparatus further including an overshoot obtaining device for obtaining an estimated amount of an overshoot drop of the wheel speed, which overshoot drop is estimated to occur after commencement of a decrease of the brake pressure, so that the commanding device generates the brake control commands depending upon whether the wheel speed is higher or lower than a critical wheel speed, that is, the reference wheel speed minus the estimated amount of the overshoot drop of the wheel speed.

Abstract: A damping force control type hydraulic shock absorber has a piston that has main hydraulic fluid passages and valve mechanisms and also has a piston rod connected thereto. One side of the cylinder of the shock absorber is provided with a damping force control mechanism having a guide member and a shutter, which open and close a bypass passage, and a valve mechanism that generates damping force by controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid through the bypass passage. Damping force characteristics are changed by rotating the shutter with a rotary actuator. Since the damping force control mechanism is provided on the side of the cylinder and the piston is provided with only the main hydraulic fluid passages and the valve mechanisms, the size of the piston assembly is relatively small. Accordingly, the stroke of the piston rod can be increased.

Abstract: A brake shoe assembly is provided in which the brake shoe table has at least one longitudinal channel running along the upper surface thereof. A generally smooth arcuate brake shoe lining is fastened to the table, so that a longitudinal chamber is formed comprising the channel and the portion of the bottom surface of the lining which covers the channel. The chamber is constructed so as to affect the natural excitation frequency of the brake shoe to be outside the range of the excitation frequency of the brake drum, to thereby reduce or eliminate resonance of the two frequencies upon actuation of the brake.

Abstract: A brake for a portable stand includes a bracket for attaching the brake to the stand, a sleeve attached to one edge of the bracket, and a plunger movable within the sleeve. A toggle joint, connected between the bracket and one end of the plunger, has a pivot plate as one arm of the toggle joint and a handle attached to the pivot plate for extending and retracting the plunger. A foot attached to the free end of the plunger is either a friction pad or a caster and is attached to the plunger by a leveling screw. The edge of the bracket includes a recess for receiving the toggle joint in an over-center position.

Abstract: A relay valve device for a relayed type brake system in which the compressed air of the auxiliary reservoir is connected to an equalizing reservoir instead of directly to the brake cylinder, as in a conventional system. Since the equalizing reservoir volume is fixed, as compared to the brake cylinder volume which varies with piston displacement, the equalizing reservoir volume must be greater than the final brake cylinder volume in order to obtain a full equalization pressure that matches the full service application pressure in a conventional brake system. The relay valve device employs a control piston that is subject opposingly to the equalizing reservoir pressure and the effective brake cylinder pressure delivered by the relay valve device.

Abstract: In a motor vehicle brake system, a force increase gradient (Fv ped) at the brake pedal is determined and, in response thereto, the brake pressure is boosted in a manner which provides for successively associating respective threshold values (Fv max) with respective instantaneous force increase gradients (Fv ped) at the brake pedal during a braking operation. The instantaneous actual value of the force increase gradient (Fv ped) is compared with the respective threshold value (Fv max), and the brake pressure booster is controlled in response to the result of this comparison.

Abstract: A full function brake valve for a semi-trailer is contained within a single housing and provides ports for receiving supply air and control air, and for delivering and receiving air from reservoirs, service brakes and spring brakes, and delivering air to an exhaust. The internal valves include a pressure protection valve which communicates with a first check valve and a quick release valve to pressurize spring brake chambers, and a reservoir check valve and a relay valve to respectively pressurize a reservoir and to deliver supply air to service brakes. An orifice preferably provided in a second check valve permits partial air flow to the spring brakes to release the spring brakes for towing the vehicle.

Abstract: An electrorheological device capable of containing an electrorheological fluid between two electrodes and having members for applying an electrical potential between the electrodes, characterised in that the device has members for subjecting the fluid to varying compressive or tensile stress in operation.

Abstract: A hydraulic unit for wheel slip control, which is located between a master cylinder and wheel brake cylinders. Reflection damping devices are installed in main brake lines located between the hydraulic unit and the master cylinder which damp pressure waves that originate at control valves of the hydraulic unit. When the control valves are triggered in the wheel slip control mode the pressure waves are largely kept away from the master cylinder. By the means of length adaptation of the main brake lines, the brake lines can also contribute to the damping.