Abstract: A leaf spring assembly for the suspension of an axle of a vehicle, particularly a trailer, has a plurality of superposed steel plates, the ends of the longest of the plates being adapted or formed into means, preferably hooks, for mounting the leaf spring assembly into hangers affixed to the vehicle and the midpoint of the shortest of the plates having its lower surface adapted for being affixed to the axle. The leaf spring assembly is characterized by having a ratio of the horizontal distance between the centerlines of the hooks and the vertical distance between the tops of the hooks and the lower surface of the leaf spring assembly, such ratio being greater than about 6.0:1 and, most preferably, greater than 8.0:1. The leaf spring is further characterized by having a ratio of the length of the longest of the plates to the width of the plate of at least 20.0:1, with the width of all plates being essentially identical. The preferred leaf spring assembly comprises at least four such plates.

Abstract: An electronically controlled brake booster for a road vehicle brake system having a housing comprises a vacuum chamber (16) and a servo chamber (14) separated from said vacuum chamber (16) by a movable wall (18), an electromagnetically operatable control valve device (20) which is coupled to said movable wall (18) for common relative movement with respect to the housing of the brake booster and a sensor (32) which, for an electronic control device (ECU), senses operating conditions of the road vehicle brake system and produces signals characteristic for these operating conditions which signals are evaluated by said control device (ECU) for producing drive signals (S.sub.1a, S.sub.1b) for said control valve device (20), wherein the sensor is formed as a pressure sensor (32) and senses at least the pressure (p.sub.AK) prevailing in said servo chamber (14).

Abstract: A brake incorporates a load plate directly connected to an adjusting piston. Preferably, a bolt connects the two. The direct connection ensures even pressure from the plate to a friction material, and uniform wear.In the prior art, the connections tended to allow movement between the load plate and the adjusting piston. With this known type of connection, there has sometimes been uneven wear of the friction material. The present invention which directly fixes the load plate to the adjusting piston provides for even wear on the friction material, and better operation of the brake system.

Abstract: A brake apparatus of a motor vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission includes a brake circuit for applying a fluid pressure to wheel brakes to allow the wheel brakes to generate braking forces. The hydraulic pressure is generated by fluid pressure generating means according to an operated state of a brake pedal. The brake apparatus further includes a shift operating unit having a selector member that is placed in a selected shift position including a parking position for establishing a selected shift position of the automatic transmission. A control valve is disposed between the fluid pressure generating means and the wheel brakes in the brake circuit, such that the control valve is selectively placed in a first state wherein the wheel brakes communicate with the fluid pressure generating means, and a second state wherein the wheel brakes are disconnected from the fluid pressure generating means.

Abstract: A procedure is provided to end an automatic braking operation such that unwanted ending of the automatic braking operation is prevented. If a switching operation of the switching element takes place within a predetermined time interval after the triggering of the automatic braking operation, the automatic braking operation is not automatically ended. The system monitors whether another switching operation takes place within the time interval. The other switching operation is the reverse of the first switching operation. If another switching operation takes place during the time interval, a second relative motion between the push rod and the component which can be moved within a defined motional play has taken place in this time period. Since the brake pedal is continuing to be actuated, the automatic braking operation is not then ended.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system having a pair of hanger brackets. A first intermediate bracket dependent from a vehicle, a second intermediate bracket a pair of control arms, and a torque rod. One end of each control arm is pivotally mounted on a corresponding hanger bracket. Another end of each control arm, is pivotally attached to an axle seat. The torque arm is pivotally mounted between the first and second intermediate brackets. One end of a stabilizer bar is mounted to each control arm to increase the suspensions roll stability, and resistance to lateral deflection. In one embodiment, the stabilizer bar extends through a hole formed in each control arm, and in other embodiments, flanges extend outwardly from the stabilizer bar adjacent respective control arms for mounting the stabilizer bar to the control arms.

Abstract: A fluid injection nozzle having its components easily positioned and assembled. The fluid injection nozzle comprises: a first plate having a first slit-shaped hole for passing a fluid therethrough; and a second plate superposed on the downstream side of the first plate and having a second hole communicating with a portion of the first hole. A characterizing portion is formed in at least one of the first plate and the second plate at a portion other than the first hole or the second hole for discriminating the upstream and downstream sides.

Abstract: A mass spring system for use in a vehicle, in which an unsprung mass is coupled with a support by at least a bearing arm. The mass spring system includes an anti-roll/pitch mechanism including a spring. The spring has a first end coupled with the support and a second end coupled with the bearing arm. The spring defines an axis which can be moved by moving the second end of the spring for exerting on the bearing arm a countermoment corresponding to a load acting on the support. A force component of the spring depends on a distance between the first and second ends of the spring. The second end of the spring can pass through a path, defined on a circle lying on a surface of a sphere, while the first end of the spring lies in a center point of the sphere. The first end of the spring lies outside a plane defined by the circle.

Abstract: A torsion bar springing means for a suspension system, in which angular motions of first and second control members of the suspension linkage are respectively coupled to separate points of securement on the torsion bar, giving rise to a differential torsional spring resistance to displacements in the vehicle suspension system. This double-acting arrangement differs from conventional single-acting torsion bar springing mechanisms in which a spring device is interposed between an attachment point on the suspension linkage and an attachment point on the chassis of the vehicle. Advantages of simplicity, flexibility of adjustment and economy result from a Differential Torsion Spring mechanism according to the invention, which resists deflection of the suspension from within its geometric linkage.

Abstract: A brake pressure control device is provided that prevents the accumulation of contaminants which will interfere with a pressure rise, and supplies adequate hydraulic pressure during sudden braking, thereby ensuring very safe braking. A piston 16 housing a valve plug 24 is housed inside a cavity 12, and a first variable restrictor 32, formed between the cavity and the piston, and a second variable restrictor 33 and a third variable restrictor 34, both formed between the piston and the valve plug are arranged in series, and a fluid path with passage to main brake line I on the wheel cylinder side is connected between the second variable restrictor and third variable restrictor.

Abstract: A magnetic valve that switches at high differential pressures and furnishes a large flow cross section. The magnetic valve has an armature, which when current is supplied to a coil is movable toward a pole core counter to the force of a restoring spring. The armature is capable of opening an auxiliary valve of small sealing diameter directly and a main valve of large sealing diameter indirectly. The auxiliary valve and the main valve have a common closing body, which is movable relative to the armature with a limited stroke. The auxiliary valve communicates through a conduit of the closing body with the outflow side of the magnetic valve. In the open position of the magnetic valve, the closing body is held by a stop ring of the armature. The magnetic valve is suitable in particular for slip-controlled hydraulic brake systems of motor vehicles.

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: A hydraulic jack includes three chambers (3, 4, 5), two of these three chambers being annular and enclosing a sliding cylindrical element (8) including a first piston (9) delimiting the two annular chambers (3, 4), and a second piston (10) delimiting the third, substantially cylindrical chamber (5) which is contiguous with one of the two annular chambers (3, 4). The hydraulic jack is used in hydropneumatic suspensions for automotive vehicles.

Abstract: A damper includes a piston that carries a relatively compact control valve for controlling fluid flow through the piston. The control valve provides a variable amount of damping by regulating damper fluid flow between the extension chamber and the compression chamber of the damper during extension and compression strokes. Pressure regulation across the piston is controlled through two alternate flow paths as determined by the control valve. Damping through the first flow path is relatively soft and is determined according to the deflective characteristics of a single bi-directional annular disc valve. Damping through the second flow path is relatively firm and is determined by the first bi-directional single annular disc and a second bi-directional single annular disc in series.

Abstract: An engine mount with hydraulic damping for motor vehicles, which has at least two chambers, which are provided with at least partially elastically deformable walls in a housing and are filled with a damping fluid, and a common wall of the chambers with a valve plate, in which a cage with a decoupling diaphragm made of an elastically deformable material arranged in it is provided. This decoupling diaphragm includes a round disk with constant cross section and is arranged in the cage without axial clearance, at right angles to the common chamber. The openings of the cage have a cross section tapering in the outward direction from the decoupling diaphragm due to oblique limiting surfaces.

Abstract: A device for attaching a disk-brake pad (2) to a piston (1) in a brake. The piston (1) has an opened internal volume (100) bordered by a chamfer (101) and exhibiting an internal peripherial widening (102). The device includes a passive fastening component (5) fastened to a backing (20) having an edge (50) detached from the backing (20) to define a gap (51) and an active fastening component (6) which is mounted to slide in the piston (1). The device is fastened to the pad (2) by first clips (61) inserted in the gap (51) and to the piston by second clips (62) inserted in the peripherial widening (102).

Abstract: A bonded composition type railroad brake shoe is disclosed in which the keybridge cavity of the brake shoe backing plate is filled with composition brake lining material for reinforcement and dampening of the keybridge. An insert located in the keybridge cavity comprises a pair of spaced-apart ribs that are upturned from a base plate such that the insert partitions the keybridge cavity. The insert is bonded in place by the composition brake lining material, which is formed with a keyway by the insert. The insert further serves to reinforce the keybridge in conjunction with the composition brake lining material therein.

Abstract: The invention in directed to a bearing to damp oscillatory masses and includes a rubber-elastic support body, a receiving device mounted at and/or in the support device and connecting the bearing to the oscillatory mass, and a housing frictionally bracing the support body against a mount. The support body is fitted in such manner with at least one clearance extending substantially in the axial direction of the support body that when the bearing is loaded statically, the outer walls of the clearance are mutually apart.

Abstract: A pressure medium actuated braking system comprises at least first and second braking circuits, and a multi-circuit braking power imparting device, such as a motorcar brake valve. The first braking circuit assigned to, e.g., the rear axle, has a first pressure medium storage container, at least one braking cylinder, and a first control valve system which connects the braking cylinder to the first pressure medium storage container or to a pressure medium sink (atmosphere) depending on a first control signal produced by the motorcar brake valve. The second braking circuit, assigned to, e.g., the front axle, has a second pressure medium storage container, first and second braking cylinders, and a second control valve system which connects the first and second braking cylinders to the second pressure medium storage container or to a pressure medium sink depending on a second control signal generated by the motorcar brake valve.

Abstract: SM valves 50FL, 50FR are in an open position which opens a line when electric power is OFF and are switched to a closed position when energized by a brake controller 30. These SM valves 50FL, 50FR are formed integrally with the pressure regulation valves (here, the closed position refers to the position (pressure regulation position) where the lines are opened when pressure applied from W/C 2FL, 2FR side is over a predetermined value and the SM valves function as pressure regulation valves). Also, restrictions 50FLS, 50FRS are provided across a switching region where the opening and closing of the SM valve 50FL, 50FR is executed in the M/C 234 side to apply pressure between the restrictions 50FLS, 50FRS and the switching region. In this way, aeration which occurs when high pressure fluid is returned to the M/C side is prevented and thus, vapor locks can be prevented.