Abstract: An automatic load brake having a wear-induced locking mechanism for a hoist is disclosed. In various embodiments, the load brake includes a first shaft defining an annular hollow portion and a radially outer surface; a second shaft defining an engagement portion and a radially inner surface, the radially inner surface configured to engage the radially outer surface; a first reaction plate coupled to the first shaft; a second reaction plate coupled to the second shaft; and a plurality of friction discs, with at least one of the plurality of friction discs coupled to a cup and disposed between the first reaction plate and the second reaction plate, the annular hollow portion of the first shaft being configured to lock to the engagement portion of the second shaft upon thinning of the plurality of friction discs.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present application discloses an anti-fall device including a trigger mechanism, a deformable structure and a shell. The deformable structure is connected with the trigger mechanism and is set to be compressed and elastically deformed when located in the shell. The trigger mechanism is set in the shell and is configured to drive the deformable structure to move in a direction away from the trigger mechanism, so that the deformable structure pops out of the shell and recovers to a natural state from a compressed state.

Abstract: Earth vibrators, such as servo-hydraulic vibrators, are improved to produce more output force and less distortion at very low frequencies by capturing mass from the vehicles which carry them, adding sufficient inertial mass to the reaction mass without adding much vehicle and equipment weight while also avoiding increases to the servo-hydraulic vibrator's stroke length. In particular, improvements to servo-hydraulic vibrators, at low frequencies, will couple some mass from the carrier vehicle frame and its load using non-rigid coupling only when additional mass is needed using dampers connected between the reaction mass and the carrier vehicle's frame, with the added damping being applied by a control system at very low frequencies of output where the vibrator is otherwise unable to produce force equal to its hold-weight.

Abstract: A position sensing system and method for a braking assembly for a vehicle. The braking assembly includes a rotor, a caliper assembly disposed around the rotor and having a fixed mount bracket and a floating portion which moves when the brakes are applied. The position sensing system has a sensing element and a reference portion. The sensing element is attached to a location of the braking assembly such that the reference portion moves in relation to the sensing element when the floating portion moves. The sensor assembly is configured to generate a signal correlative to the relative positions of the sensing element and reference portion. The position sensing system includes a processor configured to store predetermined signatures and determine a condition of a component of the vehicle based on a match between the signal and one of the predetermined signatures.

Abstract: A hydraulic braking system for a bicycle may include a hydraulic control device that is configured with multiple timing ports positioned within a stroke of a piston of the hydraulic control device. The multiple timing ports are located at different positions along an operational and/or axial length of a cylinder of the hydraulic control device.

Abstract: A wheel immobilization device for preventing unintended movement of a wheel of a mobile object of a type having a wheel includes a rope body that includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end and that has an elongate, pliable, and flexible configuration, the rope body having a plurality of strands twisted together between the first and second ends. The immobilization includes a tail portion situated at the first end of the rope body, the tail portion having a linear configuration and a leader end. The immobilization device includes a retaining portion opposite the tail portion and situated at a second end of the rope body, the retaining portion including a loop that defines a head opening configured and operable to receive the tail portion therethrough.

Abstract: A quasi-zero stiffness electromagnetic vibration isolator for ultra-low frequency vibration reduction and isolation is provided. When the vibration isolator is in a static equilibrium position, upper and lower air gaps are equal, and electromagnetic attraction forces of upper and lower stator assemblies to a mover assembly are equal. When the load tends to move upwards, the mover assembly is subjected to an upward resultant force, when the load tends to move downwards, the mover assembly is subjected to a downward resultant force, showing the characteristic of negative stiffness. A negative stiffness mechanism composed of the upper stator assembly, the lower stator assembly and the mover assembly is connected in parallel with the positive stiffness springs to achieve a quasi-zero stiffness.

Abstract: A damper device for a bicycle having a housing extending in the axial direction and disposed therein, a chamber which forms a chamber volume that is sealed outwardly. The chamber volume extends in the axial direction from a first end to a second end. In the axial direction, at least one adjustment member is rotatably disposed between the ends of the chamber volume. The adjustment member is configured as an annular member and is rotatably received at the housing and surrounds at least part of the housing. By way of movement of the adjustment member, at least one operational setting of the damper device is changeable by means of a mechanical transmitting device.

Abstract: A magnetic fluid damper includes a housing defining a cavity; a plurality of mass blocks located in the cavity and spaced from each other in a first direction; at least one energy dissipating assembly, in which the plurality of mass blocks and the at least one energy dissipating assembly are arranged alternately along the first direction in the cavity, in which each energy dissipating assembly includes a first permanent magnet and a first porous medium member, pores of each first porous medium member being filled with first magnetic fluid; and a plurality of reset parts cooperating with the plurality of mass blocks in one-to-one correspondence to apply restoring forces in a second direction to the mass blocks, in which restoring forces received by two mass blocks adjacent in the first direction are not equal.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for damping vibration of a structural component or power-transmission shafts are disclosed. Damping devices, systems, and methods utilize a lightweight damping device, which is targeted at reducing the resonant amplitude of the first several beaming modes and/or torsional modes of bending a structural component comprising a hollow shaft or strut. The damping device includes a stiff concentric tube with damping elements disposed at each end. The device is inserted within the original structural component or shaft and attached thereto. When the primary shaft undergoes bending due to modal characteristics, the damping elements react to dissipate energy, which effectively reduces the resonant amplitude.

Abstract: A vibration absorbing apparatus is disclosed for functioning as a practical mechanical metamaterial for anisotropic vibration control. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus provides a plurality of rail units positioned in a side-by-side arrangement so as to form at least one rail unit layer. Each rail unit provides a first plate and an opposing second plate slidably engaged with the first plate. The first plate provides at least one substantially linear slide rail extending therefrom. The second plate provides a corresponding at least one substantially linear slot sized for slidably receiving the corresponding at least one slide rail. At least one resilient connector extends between the first and second plates so as to maintain slidable engagement between the first and second plates. Additionally, the at least one slot of each rail unit of the at least one rail unit layer is oriented in substantially the same direction.

Abstract: The damper assembly includes a tubular member, a rod, a primary piston, a secondary piston, and a resilient member. The tubular member includes a sidewall and a cap positioned at an end of the sidewall. The sidewall and the cap define an inner volume. The sidewall includes a shoulder separating the tubular member into a first portion and a second portion. The resilient member is disposed between the secondary piston and the cap and thereby is positioned to bias the secondary piston into engagement with the shoulder.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a heat shield. The heat shield may comprise a first layer comprising a first material, a second layer radially outward of the first layer comprising a second material, and a third layer radially outward of the second layer comprising a third material, wherein the first layer is coupled to the second layer by at least one post and at least one support extending from a radially outer surface of the first layer.

Abstract: A prepressed emergency air spring assembly includes an upper cover plate, an air bag, an upper end plate and a lower end plate. The periphery of the upper end plate is connected with an outer periphery of the lower end plate through the air bag. A steel spring is arranged between the upper cover plate and the upper end plate in a pressing mode. A plurality of hourglass elastomers are arranged between the upper cover plate and the upper end plate along a circumferential direction of the steel spring.

Abstract: Example vehicle restraint systems and related methods are disclosed. An example vehicle restraint system includes a wheel chock having an inclined tire-engaging surface, where the wheel chock is movable to an installed position at which the wheel chock is to engage the freight transporter. The vehicle restraint system includes a take-up reel and a retractable elongate member to be at least partially wrapped around the take-up reel. The retractable elongate member to extend between the wheel chock and a platform structure.

Abstract: A ventilated braking band for brake disc having a first plate and a second plate; the first plate has at least a first inner surface, and the second plate has a second inner surface. The first inner surface defines a first inner surface plane or level (z1-z1) coinciding with said first inner surface, and the said second inner surface defines a second inner surface plane or level (z2-z2) coinciding with the second inner surface. The ventilated braking band has connecting elements which extend in an axial direction between the first inner surface and the second inner surface. The ventilated braking band has at least one bulge. The at least one bulge is partially interpenetrated with: at least one portion of the first foot, thus forming a structural continuity with the first foot, thus avoiding the first inner surface level from being reached; or at least one portion of a second foot, thus forming a structural continuity with the second foot, thus avoiding the second inner surface level from being reached.

Abstract: A brake rotor assembly includes a rotor member and a cooling member. The rotor member has a first exterior surface and a second exterior surface. The cooling member is coupled to at least one of the first and second exterior surfaces of the rotor member.

Abstract: A buffer includes a first seal portion, a second seal portion, a washer, and a bent portion. An annular body is provided between the washer and a rod guide, the first seal portion is provided on the inner peripheral side of the washer, or the inner peripheral side of the annular body, and the rod guide and an outer cylinder are radially spaced apart from each other at least on one end side of the outer cylinder. The outer peripheral side of the annular body has a bent portion bent and extending to the portion where the rod guide and the outer cylinder are radially spaced apart from each other, and the second seal portion is provided on the outer peripheral side of the bent portion.

Abstract: An active vibration damper includes a lower outer wall for placement on a floor, and front and rear outer walls, with the front and/or rear outer wall including first and second receptacles in an outer side thereof. The first receptacle receives a permanent magnet and is pot-shaped to maintain a closed configuration of the front and/or rear outer wall. A primary part of an electrical linear actuator is fixed at least on an inside of the lower outer wall, and a secondary part is arranged above the primary part and acted upon by the primary part. Retaining elements fixed to an inside of the upper outer wall movably hold the secondary part for displacement in a substantially linear manner in a left-right direction when the primary part is correspondingly impinged on. A magnetic back iron yoke is received in the second receptacle at the height of the secondary part.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional magnetic negative-stiffness mechanism and a multi-dimensional magnetic negative-stiffness vibration isolation system composed thereof are provided. The multi-dimensional damping system is composed of a positive-stiffness mechanism, a multi-dimensional negative-stiffness mechanism, a floating frame, a vibration isolated body, and a mounting base. The positive-stiffness mechanism is a traditional elastic element connected to the vibration isolated body and the mounting base, and provides supporting forces in an X direction, a Y direction, and a Z direction, and a basic vibration isolation function. The multi-dimensional negative-stiffness mechanism is composed of at least two negative-stiffness magnetic groups. Each negative-stiffness magnetic group may provide one-dimensional or two-dimensional negative stiffness.