Abstract: In an anti-lock brake control system for a vehicle, first presumed vehicle speeds are calculated in first vehicle speed calculating devices for every wheel based on wheel speeds detected by wheel speed detecting sections. A second presumed vehicle speed is calculated in a second vehicle speed calculating device based on the value of a lower one of the first presumed vehicle speeds calculated in the first vehicle speed calculating devices corresponding to the left and right rear wheels. A higher one of the first presumed vehicle speeds calculated in each of the first vehicle speed calculating devices and the second presumed vehicle speed calculated in the second vehicle speed calculating device is selected as a presumed vehicle speed corresponding to the wheel in a high-select device. The operations of actuators are controlled based on results of calculation of slip rates of wheels based on presumed vehicle speeds and wheel speeds for every wheel.

Abstract: A coiled wave spring obtained by winding a corrugated wire into a coil shape, wherein mutually overlapping top portions and mutually overlapping base portions of the spring are in mutual contact and predetermined gaps are defined between mutually overlapping slope portions which connect the top and base portions, the first loop of the spring, that is, on the upper side, and the second loop, that is, on the lower side, are in mutual contact in an axial direction thereof only between the top portions and between the base portions, and the gaps are defined between the slope portions to prevent mutual contact. When the spring receives a load and undergoes deformation, the top portions and the base portions come into mutual contact, respectively, but hardly generate friction. Since the gaps are defined between the mutually overlapping slope portions, friction does not occur at these portions, either.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing shocks in a line connecting two objects is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a housing and a resilient member within the housing. The shock absorbing apparatus is incorporated into the line on which it will be used with flexible cables coupled to the resilient member and extending out of the housing. The line may be coupled to the shock absorbing apparatus by means of a restriction tube and is then connected to the two objects.

Abstract: An electronic brake controller for actuating electric wheel brakes of a towed vehicle which includes a sleep mode.

Abstract: A coil spring (10) for an overrunning spring clutch assembly wherein the coil spring (10) includes a crossover coil (20) having a longitudinal crossover gap (24) formed therein, and a dynamic balance weight (40) secured in combination with one of the internally opposed surfaces (24s) of the longitudinal crossover gap (24). The dynamic balance weight (40) is configured such that, when assembled in combination with a central arbor (32) and coaxial clutch members (34) of the overrunning spring clutch assembly, the dynamic balance weight (40) is spaced apart from the central arbor (32) and each of the clutch members (34). Furthermore, the dynamic balance weight (40) is fabricated from a material having a density .rho..sub.BW which is greater than the density .rho..sub.CC of the base material from which the crossover coil (20) is fabricated.

Abstract: In an anti-skid control braking system for a four-wheel drive vehicle with a feature of determination of a road wheel drive state according to the present invention, a determination of an actual drive state of the four-wheel drive vehicle, namely, a determination of whether the four-wheel drive vehicle is running in a two-wheel drive state in which a driving force generated by an engine via a power transmission is distributed through a transfer only toward mainly driven road wheels (rear road wheel pair) or in a four-wheel drive state in which the driving force is distributed through the transfer toward the mainly driven road wheels and secondarily driven road wheels (front road wheel pair) at a predetermined distribution ratio is based on at least one of front and left road wheel speeds (V.sub.WFL, V.sub.WFR, and V.sub.WR) which is detected for the rear road wheel pair without installation of a special-purpose switch (or sensor) especially used to detect the drive state of the four-wheel drive vehicle.

Abstract: In a fixed head burner (13), which may be used in the manufacture of optical fibers and preforms for optical fibers, a machined quartz nozzle (10) is provided for insertion into a threaded aperture (14) of the fixed burner head (13), the quartz nozzle (10) being sized to provide sufficient space between the quartz nozzle (10) and the burner head (12) to allow for relative differences in thermal expansion and contraction to prevent stress fracture of the quartz nozzle (10). A seating surfaces (85) is machined on the quartz nozzle (10) for contact with a machined surface (90) of the burner head (12), and the quartz nozzle is held in place by a spring (18) placed behind the quartz nozzle (10), the spring (18) being held in place by a threaded end cap (24). The secure retention of the quartz nozzle (10) within an aperture (14) in the burner head (12) is further aided by the pneumatic pressure of gases applied to a rear surface (20) of the quartz nozzle (10).

Abstract: Spring apparatus is provided which includes coil springs having intermediate and end coils suitable for interconnection in order to form a continuous spring which maintains a constant load-deflection characteristic over all intermediate coils unaffected by the joint end coils. This configuration therefore finds particular utility in providing bias without compromise of sealing, electromagnetic shielding and/or conductivity.

Abstract: Vibration damper with adjustable damping force comprising a cylinder in which a piston with a piston rod is guided so that it can move axially, whereby the piston divides the cylinder into a first and a second working chamber, with at least one damping valve which is located in a flow connection between the two working chambers and can be influenced in terms of its damping force response curve by means of external adjustment means, whereby the damping valve consists of single valves, the action of which is cumulative, whereby a first single valve consists of a throttle which has a small cross section, and a second single valve comprises at least one valve disc which is under a spring load, and whereby the action of the first and second single valves can be adjusted individually by adjustment means.

Abstract: Warning of engagement of a vehicle's ABS is provided by a warning sound such as a horn or pre-recorded sound. The warning sound is produced when the vehicle's speed exceeds a predetermined threshold. Alternatively, the warning sound may be adjusted to increase in volume with higher speeds. The warning sound warns drivers outside the vehicle.

Abstract: In a disc brake having, a thrust piece which extends parallel to the plane of the brake rotor and which presses a brake pad against the rotor in the direction of the axis of the rotor, an adjusting mechanism is provided which includes a torque-dependent one-way coupling for obtaining automatic, wear-compensating adjustment of the gap between the brake pad and the brake rotor. The torque-dependent one-way coupling is coupled to the thrust piece in such a way that it moves along with the thrust piece in the direction of the axis of the rotor.

Abstract: A regulating valve device is provided for utilization with an end-of-train unit in order to reduce a train brake pipe pressure from the rear end in accordance with a pressure reduction initiated at the locomotive on the front end. A stepping motor under control of a microprocessor controls the compression of a spring to establish a target pressure corresponding to a pressure command signal transmitted from the locomotive to the end-of-train unit. The service exhaust valve device regulates the brake pipe pressure to the target pressure corresponding to the spring compression set by the stepping motor and includes an arrangement for overriding the motor control in the event of a fault condition that prevents the motor from resetting the spring to its initial compression when it is desired to recharge the brake pipe to release a brake application.

Abstract: An electronic brake controller for actuating electric wheel brakes of a towed vehicle which includes a zero adjusting circuit for a pendulum in an inertia sensor.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for pressure control, in particular, to adjust braking pressures in a utility vehicle, are proposed. Two individual controllers (10, 11) are assigned respectively to an inlet valve (2) and to a discharge valve (3). A pilot control value consisting of a fixed value y.sub.v and of a memorized value .DELTA.y.sub.v is additively input to the output values of these controllers. The memorized components .DELTA.y.sub.v are the integration result of the I (integration) components of the individual controllers (10, 11) for the duration of a pressure increase (inlet valve) or pressure decrease (discharge valve). The memorizing process is ended after approximately five to ten brake applications and the value of .DELTA.y.sub.v which is then reached is used as an individual pilot control value.

Abstract: An electronic brake controller for actuating electric wheel brakes of a towed vehicle which includes a remote manual control.

Abstract: An aircraft disc stack (1) comprises a plurality of interleaved stator and rotor discs (3,4) keyed respectively to a torque tube (5) and a wheel hub (not shown). The stack (1) further comprises bi-functional friction/load-transmitting discs in the form of end stator discs (10,13). These discs (10,13) are subject to uneven loading because the non-friction surfaces (12,15) are in use compressed on areas less than the load bearing areas of the opposing friction faces (11,14). This can lead to premature disc failure and in the past load spreader plates have been used to distribute loading over these areas to minimize the risk of failure. In this invention portions of the load bearing areas of non-friction surfaces (12,15) are toughened ie: material underlying these surfaces is toughened, to increase their resistance to deformation, fracture and/or wear thereby removing the need for additional load spreader plates which were hitherto required.

Abstract: A fluid control circuit (10) for operation of a brake comprises a first circuit part (11) including an actuator (12) having a chamber (13) and an operating part (14), the operating part (14) being movable to release or apply the brake when fluid under an operating pressure is fed to the chamber (13), an arrangement (17) to expel fluid from the chamber (13) when the operating pressure is released, thus to apply or release the brake, a second circuit part (18), a control valve (20) operable in a first condition to permit fluid to pass under the operating pressure to the chamber (13) of the actuator (12) in the first circuit (11) part and when in a second condition to permit fluid to pass from the first circuit part (11) into the second circuit part (18), the second circuit part (18) further comprising a buffer (23) to which fluid pressure is communicated from the first circuit part (11) when the control valve (20) is moved to its second condition, and a proportional fluid valve (30) to control the flow of fluid

Abstract: A shock absorber (10) is longitudinally compressible and extendable under the influence of vehicle suspension loads. The shock absorber (10) includes a tubular structure (16) which defines upper and lower hydraulic fluid chambers (52, 50) above and below a piston (18). A control rod (28) is supported for movement longitudinally through the piston (18) simultaneously with compression and extension of the shock absorber (10). The control rod (28) and the piston (18) together define a hydraulic fluid flow path extending through the piston (18) between the upper and lower fluid chambers (52, 50).

Abstract: A mounting member fixed to an engine and a mounting member fixed to a vehicle body are interconnected by a hollow elastomeric block which has a variable-volume primary fluid chamber defined therein. A subsidiary fluid chamber having a diaphragm on a portion of an outer wall thereof communicates with the primary fluid chamber through two fluid passages. A movable plate forming a portion of the outer wall of the primary fluid chamber is connected to a voice coil motor, and by one example, is driven at the same phase as a vibration applied from the engine. During a normal traveling, both the fluid chambers communicate with each other through the fluid passage having a smaller length. During idling or during a low speed traveling, a switch-over valve is operated to permit both the fluid chamber to be put into communication with each other through the fluid passage having a larger length.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake system for braking a vehicle wheel includes a hydraulic fluid source, a pump connected to the hydraulic fluid source for pumping hydraulic fluid based on operation of an operating member of the vehicle and a connecting arrangement having one end connected to the pump. A wheel cylinder which is adapted to be mounted adjacent a brake disk of a vehicle wheel includes a brake pad element for being urged against the brake disk upon the application of a hydraulic fluid pressure to impart a braking force to the brake disk. The brake pad element is movable with the brake disk when the brake disk element is urged against the brake disk. In addition, a movable pressure increasing element is positioned adjacent the brake pad element and is movable away from the brake pad element as a result of the brake pad element moving with the brake disk.