Abstract: A strut assembly for retaining a section of a vehicle in open position, and may be of an insulated type, heated type, or insulated and heated type, for use in a variety of varying temperature applications. The strut assembly may be connected to a power source of a vehicle and include a thermostatic control for maintaining a coil or one or more heating strips mounted in the strut assembly at a desired temperature. A protective sleeve or boot is provided about the plunger of the strut assembly. The strut assembly may be mounted to retain hinged side panels of a vehicle bed in an open position, with the bed being provided with collapsible support members therebeneath to provide added safety from side impacts.

Abstract: A braking apparatus for a hydraulic motor has a housing and a cylinder block. The apparatus includes fixed side frictional plates mounted to the housing and movable side frictional plates mounted to the cylinder block. In addition, a piston for pressing the fixed side frictional plates against the movable side frictional plates is also provided. A spring for thrusting the piston to move in a first direction thus tending to establish a first state in which the two sets of frictional plates are pressed together is also included. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a piston driving pressure receiving chamber disposed between the housing and the piston for thrusting the piston to move in a second direction under a pressure that is introduced into the piston driving pressure receiving chamber to establish a second state in which the two sets of frictional plates are separated from each other.

Abstract: A pressurized gas spring, which exerts an expulsion force on the piston rod entailing a maximum extension velocity of the piston rod, includes braking means effective at a velocity of motion due to external forces above the maximum extension velocity for limiting the velocity of motion to a desired measure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a disc brake arrangement for an individual wheel drive with rear-mounted planetary gear (3) for motor vehicles. A brake (7) is designed as pneumatically or hydraulically actuated disc brake and acts as a service, parking, emergency and auxiliary brake. The brake caliper (8) is situated below the horizontal center line of the wheel. The brake actuating device (9) is a combined diaphragm and spring accumulator cylinder situated in the axial direction and when the wheel head is assembled lies protected in a hollow axle body (10). An emergency release device (11) of the parking brake, which in case of failure of the vehicles own pressurized air system, allows towing, and is accessible from below through a hole (12) of the axle body (10).

Abstract: A wheel and brake assembly comprising an axle, a bearing supported on the axle, a wheel rotatably mounted on the axle by the bearing and a torque tube located in a fixed position about the axle. The torque tube includes a torque tube foot extending radially inward from the torque tube to the axle for support by the axle. At least one stator disc is connected with the torque tube and one rotor disc is connected with the wheel for conjoint rotation therewith. An actuator is provided for axially moving the rotor and stator discs into frictional engagement with one another for braking the wheel. A clamp is located at one end of the axle for axially clamping the bearing, torque tube, brake housing and axle. A vibration dampener operatively engages the torque tube and is arranged to attenuate vibrations in the torque tube and inhibit their transmission to the axle.

Abstract: A gas spring with a sealing and bearing assembly received within a casing of the gas spring adjacent to a rod slidably received through the assembly for axial reciprocation. The assembly has an annular retaining ring received within the casing, an annular bearing with a throughbore through which the rod reciprocates carried by the retaining ring, an annular retainer carried by the retaining ring downstream of the bearing, and a sealing member received within the retaining ring adjacent to the retainer and in firm engagement with the rod and retaining ring to provide a gas-tight seal between the rod and the retaining ring to prevent the escape of gas from the gas spring. The retainer preferably has a dovetail flange extending therefrom and the sealing ring has a complementarily shaped recess molded or press-fit onto the flange to attach the sealing ring to the retainer. The retainer is preferably firmly clamped to the retaining ring by rolling its upper edge over the retainer.

Abstract: An electrically actuated aircraft brake system and method which provides for brake wear measurement and running clearance adjustment. Brake wear and running clearance measurement are obtained by analyzing the output of position sensing circuitry. In a preferred embodiment, present brake disk stack height is measured using actuator position sensors, and the output of the sensors is compared by a controller to a reference brake disk stack height to provide an indication of the amount of brake wear. The reference brake disk stack height is obtained by lightly loading the brake disk stack and using the actuator position sensor or sensors to measure the displacement of the actuator ram or rams to the brake disk stack.

Abstract: Small boats being trailer launched from steep ramps are in danger of spilling water over the transom if the bow is held high by the trailer. The invention is for a two component jack screw mechanism that can lower the trailer tongue below the trailer hitch without disconnecting it from the towing vehicle. One component coupled to the trailer tongue has a vertical tower that fits within a second tower attached to the second component that is coupled to the trailer hitch. A manually operated crank attached to a jack screw within the two towers lowers the tongue and the bow of the boat so that the boat may float from the trailer.

Abstract: A damping valve, in particular for a vibration damper, including a cylinder filled with damping medium in which a piston rod with a piston is housed. The piston rod can move axially and the piston divides the cylinder into two working chambers. The damping valve can be adjusted by means of a magnet coil in connection with an armature and has an emergency operating setting. A stop is provided for the valve position for the emergency operating setting. The position of the stop relative to the armature can be used to define a passage cross section for the emergency operating setting.

Abstract: A piston is slidably fitted in a cylinder for dividing the interior of the cylinder into upper and lower cylinder chambers. A reservoir is connected to the piston. A primary passage communicates between the upper cylinder chamber and the reservoir. The primary passage includes a primary damping valve. A secondary passage is connected to the primary passage to bypass the primary damping valve. A constant orifice, a filter, and a damping force adjusting valve are provided in the secondary passage. The primary damping valve includes a pilot line. The pilot line is connected downstream of the filter. The flow resistance of the damping force adjusting valve is directly adjusted by changing the cross sectional flow area of the damping force adjusting valve. The valve opening pressure of the primary damping valve is adjusted by changing the pilot pressure introduced from the pilot line. When the filter becomes clogged, the primary passage ensures the flow of the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: The invention is in the field of aircraft shock struts, of the type having a piston cylinder and a piston head, for slowing movement of an aircraft structure toward the ground, particularly during landing or take-off. The invention provides a more constant change in pressure across the piston head, that is generally independent of piston head speed, relative to the prior art. The piston head has a damped valve poppet received within the piston head moveable from a first position wherein the damped valve poppet covers a pressure relief orifice to a second position that uncovers a pressure relief orifice, thereby providing a more constant change in pressure across the piston head.

Abstract: This invention relates to a pneumatic power cylinder dashpot piston which formed of an elastomeric cylinder and a sleeve and having a space between the interior wall of the cylinder and the exterior wall of the sleeve, and the space is filled with a fluid. The piston is connected to a power shaft of a power cylinder. The sleeve is corrugated and is formed integrally with the cylinder so as to prevent the escape of the fluid through a joint. The interior cylinder wall is tapered from the center thereof in opposite directions so that the cylinder, engaged by a disk on the power shaft, gradually comes into contact with an end portion of the cylinder whereby the corrugations of the sleeve are compressed at one end and the other corrugations are straightened.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a swing-away hitch for trailers, in particular the boat trailer market. Boat trailers are longer than the boats itself for towing purposes. When having to store the boat and trailer in a small space, the tongue with the hitch of the trailer becomes an obstacle. This invention allows a trailer to be parked in spaces that could only hold the size of the boat by swinging the hitch to the side. The design of this invention consists of sandwiching a tube (tongue of the trailer) between two plates with holes that align with tubular sleeves welded on opposite sides at the end of a hitch cover to convert it to a swing-away hitch. Pins are inserted to mount the swing-away hitch onto the swing-away hitch assembly. In a towing position, both pins stay in their sleeves. In stowaway position, one pin is removed and the swing-away hitch swivels via the remaining pin away to the side of the trailer.

Abstract: A motorcycle disk brake rotor in the shape of an annular ring is (i) mounted to the motorcycles rear wheel at the outside of its annulus and (ii) swept by the yoke of a disk brake caliper that is mounted to the inside of the annulus. A belt pulley affixes at its exterior circumferential region--either rigidly or "floating"--the exterior annular region of the disk brake rotor which is in the shape of the annular ring. A motorcycle disk brake caliper assembly is anchored at one mounting point to the motorcycle's rear axle shaft, and at a second mounting point to the motorcycle's suspension swingarm, engages the disk brake rotor from the inside of its annulus. The combined disk brake and belt pulley assembly is compact and visually regularly appearing. It may suitably be stylized with the same pattern as are the wheels of the motorcycle.

Abstract: In a vehicle wheel hub bearing unit the bearing forms a rotating radial flange (11) adapted for securing to a radial flange (12) of a disc or drum brake member and rotate fixedly therewith. The brake flange (12) is located in the same radial plane as the bearing flange (11) and secured directly to the peripheral portion thereof. Radial bulk of the bearing assembly is reduced and deformation of the bearing races and braking surface is avoided.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved lever driven bicycle including a shifting mechanism for controlling a drive ratio between the oscillating lever and the drive wheel. The drive lever arrangement may be located about the front or rear wheels of the bicycle and, when about the rear wheel, may include a sole lever or dual levers. The drive lever arrangement includes a drive lever, a force applicator, a shifting mechanism, and a force converter which together transform the oscillating displacement of the lever to a rotation of the drive wheel. The shifting mechanism includes a slide block located about the lever which engages with the drive lever upon downward motion of the drive lever and controllably slides along the drive lever upon upward motion of the drive lever. The position of the slide block corresponds to a drive ratio between the drive lever and the drive wheel.

Abstract: A child carrier includes a frame, wheels disposed at the lower portion of the frame, a hand-pushed bar joined to the frame, a seat attachable to the frame by a fore swing arm and a rear swing arm. The fore swing arm and the rear swing arm are hinged respectively to the front and rear of the frame and are capable of swinging the seat. The child carrier further includes a switching device that permits a caregiver to adjust the distance between the lower ends of the fore and rear swing arms so that the seat can swing in a horizontal gliding motion or a pendulum type rocking motion. The carrier can also be used as a common hand-pushed carriage when the seat is fixed. The child carrier further includes an anti-swing latch capable of coupling the frame to the fore swing arm to prevent the seat from moving relative to the frame. The seat is adjustable to provide a forward or rearward facing stroller or carriage seat and is removable from the frame to provide a bassinet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a brake fluid pressure control valve having a plunger 23 slidably fitted in a cylinder hole 22 in a cylinder housing 21 and a retainer 24 which holds the posture of the plunger 23 and seals one end of the cylinder hole 22 by using an O-ring 31 serving as a sealing member, the control valve being characterized in that the plunger 23 is formed with a step 27a, the cylinder housing 21 is provided with an engagement hole 29, which engages with the step 27a and is formed in the direction crossing with respect to the plunger 23, and a pin 30 is inserted in the engagement hole 29 so that the plunger 23 is prevented from coming off by the pin 30. Further, the engagement hole 29 is also used as an air bleeding path adjacent to an installation hole for an air bleeder 40.

Abstract: A vibration damper, especially for a motor vehicle, with at least one tubular structural component part, an axially displaceable piston rod which is guided out of the tubular structural component part, a fastening element which is fixedly secured with the piston rod and which can be fastened with a wheel suspension or a body of a motor vehicle, and a protective tube which is arranged at the piston rod and encloses the tubular structural component part. The protective tube is connected with the piston rod in a positive engagement and/or in a frictional engagement in its region facing the fastening element.

Abstract: An integrated brake pad and back plate having a brake pad section formed from a first fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composite (FRCMC) material and a back plate section formed from a second FRCMC material. The brake pad and back plate are integrated because the sections are molded together to form an integral, unitary structure. The first FRCMC material used in the brake pad section includes a pre-ceramic resin in its ceramic state, fibers and possibly a filler material. The types and amount of these constituents are generally chosen so as to impart characteristics desirable in brake pads, such as high temperature and erosion resistance, and a high coefficient of friction. The second FRCMC material used in the back plate section includes a pre-ceramic resin in its ceramic state and fibers.