Abstract: A torsional vibration damper has a rotational axis and an annular housing having inner and outer members. The housing has an annular channel in which an inertia member is received. The channel has axially extending walls and is closed by an annular cover plate to retain the inertia member The inner edge of the cover plate is received in a rabbet in the inner channel wall and is joined to the wall by means of a weld. The inner and outer members are connected by an annular weld at a central hub. The weld may extend between two radial extremes which are separated by a distance substantially greater than the thickness of weld. The damper is easier to manufacture and assemble and has greater structural integrity.

Abstract: A new hand-activated brake device and method particularly for in-line roller skates is shown having numerous forms and mounting locations. All forms use direct hand pressure to activate the brake. Optimum slowing, stopping and balance is achieved to include when used in hilly areas. For skaters of all levels: beginner to advanced. Left and right skates can be operated simultaneously or singly. A brake assembly is retrofitted or manufactured to the skate and a rod is pushed by hand. An optional padded elastic strap assembly is provided for holding a rod in an easy to reach position along the outer lower leg area and skate. A brake pad contacts the skating surface and automatically retracts to maintain a desired ground clearance when hand pressure is released. The user need not maintain a constant grip on anything. Has unique safety and convenience features and options.

Abstract: A skateboard-like rolling device with a frame, wheels on the front and back of the frame, the wheels being freely rotatable around two wheel axles and at least one standing area provided between the two wheel axles. The device has a rear wheel arrangement formed by at least two wheels that are offset to one another in a direction along their axles.

Abstract: A differential steer is provided for use in a machine and includes a variable displacement motor operatively connected to a differential disposed between first and second output members. The variable displacement motor is an over-center type and the displacement thereof is varied from zero to maximum in both directions of movement. Pressurized fluid to drive the steer motor is received from the main system pump. A microprocessor senses the direction and rate of rotation of the steer motor output, the speed of the outputs from the differential, the magnitude of a steer input, and controls the output speed of the steer motor to the differential in response to the magnitude of the steer input. Consequently, the quantity of fluid taken from the main system pump is limited to only that necessary to rotate the steer motor at a rate necessary to satisfy the desired steer input.

Abstract: A motor vehicle for urban use has a chassis, a plurality of wheels mounted on the chassis, an electric motor, an electric energy source supplying current to the electric motor located inside one of the wheels, and gears including a conical gear provided on an axle of the electric motor and a circular gear provided in a casing, with a roller bearing received in a groove of the circular gear.

Abstract: An automatic dispensing apparatus for dispensing liquid at discrete time intervals, including a reservoir for containing a dispensable liquid, a dispensing tube positioned within the reservoir and in fluid communication with the liquid within the reservoir, and a dome at least partially enclosing the dispensing tube. The improved design has only two dispenser components, and use of the dome eliminates any trapping of air bubbles which can delay or prevent dispensing. A method for using the dispensing apparatus also forms a part of the present invention.

Abstract: A telescopic handle for a stroller comprises a handle, a pair of middle tubes securely fixed with the handle, a pair of outer tubes each securely fixed with a respective one of the middle tubes and the handle and having a through hole and a pair of inner tubes each movably received within the middle tubes and having a slot and a plurality of holes opposed to the outer tube holes. A controlling device is received within the through hole of each outer tube for determining which of the holes of the inner tube are selected and accordingly lengthen the handle or shorten the handle.

Abstract: A controllable brake (20) including a rotor (28) supported by a shaft (30) which is rotatably supported by bushings (42) received in housing (22). A coil assembly (48) creates a magnetic field within a pole piece (32), which is preferably manufactured from a powdered metal material, which preferably has a density of between about 6.8 and 7.0 gm/cm. A magnetically-soft medium is contained within first and second gaps (86, 88) located between pole piece (32) and rotor (28). In one aspect, a magnetic saturation zone (25) reduces the propensity of magnetizing the shaft (30). In another, the pole halves (24, 26) are received in radially-spaced pole pockets (37) formed in the housing (22) and include an axial bias spring (70) to ensure intimate contact. In another aspect, a lip projection (76) traps fluid (23) between the lip projection (76) and shaft (30) and minimizes fluid exposure to the shaft seal (44). In another aspect, cooling fins (55) or a projection (53) restrains rotation of the housing (22).

Abstract: A railway freight brake system for operating vehicles in a train wherein each vehicle responds in braking situations as if its effective net braking ratio was a desired train net braking ratio. Embodiments include vehicles receiving a brake signal and utilizing either a received train net braking ratio or utilizing a stored on-board train net braking ratio to control pneumatic equipment on-board the vehicle to produce brake forces on the vehicle generally corresponding to the net braking ratio of the train. Some embodiments use a common train line control to communicate both train net braking ratio and brake signals to the individual vehicle. Individual vehicles can receive periodic or initial train net brake ratio values.

Abstract: In a drive force reduction controller for reducing engine output when drive wheels slip, a first shift timing is applied to an automatic transmission during ordinary running, and a second shift timing is applied when engine output is reduced. The second shift timing is set so as to provide a shift-up at a vehicle speed higher than the first shift timing when the throttle opening is less than a predetermined opening such that the engine rotation speed after shift-up is equal to or greater than a predetermined rotation speed. It is also set to provide the shift-up at a vehicle speed lower than the first shift timing when the throttle opening is greater than a second predetermined opening greater than the first predetermined opening. In this way, stable drive force reduction control is performed regardless of the throttle opening, shift-up in the high vehicle speed region is prevented, and shocks due to shift-up of the transmission in the high vehicle speed region are mitigated.

Abstract: There is provided a gas spring 20 in which: a cylinder groove 29 is formed on an inner surface of a cylinder 21 with a piston 23 therein, the piston 23 being fixed at one end of a rod 22 and the cylinder groove 29 extending in an axial direction of the cylinder throughout the range of piston stroke except an area near a stopper 30; and an airlock chamber is definable nearby the stopper of the cylinder so that damping operation can be performed when being fully extended at the end of the extending phases, the piston being formed of a porous material to communicate air between chambers provided at both sides of the piston.

Abstract: A hybrid vehicle with control of the amount of discharge from an oil pump in accordance with the amount needed. The hybrid vehicle includes an oil pump (55) driven by a rotation from a secondary side (a carrier CR) of a one-way clutch (F1), an engine (11), a generator (16), and an output shaft (14) connected by a planetary gear unit (13). The one-way clutch (F1) is provided between the carrier (CR) of the planetary gear unit (13) and the engine (11). The rotation of the carrier (CR) via the planetary gear unit (13) is adjusted by controlling the generator (16) under command of a vehicle control unit (41), to appropriately adjust the amount of discharge from the oil pump (55) based on a detected running load.

Abstract: A driveline retarder coupled to a vehicle driveline where a ball ramp actuator having a control plate and an activation plate separated by rolling elements is energized by an electrical coil is used to apply a clamping load on a clutch pack which frictionally couples a rotating shaft to a gerotor hydraulic pump which is used to absorb rotational energy to create a braking torque on the vehicle driveline to aid in vehicle braking. A coupling plate is electromagnetically attracted to the electrical coil thereby transferring a braking torque to the control plate through a flex plate.

Abstract: A multi-disc brake (30,60) includes a piston housing (32,62) and attached torque tube (34,64) located about an axle (67,97). Axially adjacent the piston housing (32,62) is a brake actuator (40,70). In one embodiment, the piston housing (32) is located axially between an actuator member (59A) of the brake actuator (40) and a thrust sleeve (20) located about the axle sleeve (19) and abutting a wheel sleeve (16) engaging a wheel bearing assembly (12). In another embodiment, the actuator member (89A) can extend to engage a stationary portion (91) of the axle (97).

Abstract: A torque is transmitted from a steering assistance motor to a steering shaft via a gear. The first rotation restraining element, which is radially deformed by being sandwiched between the outer circumference of the steering shaft and the inner circumference of the gear, exerts a radial force corresponding to the radial deformation on the steering shaft and the gear, to generate a torque based on friction for restraining the relative rotation between the shaft and gear. The restraining torque generated based on the deformation of the first rotation restraining element is smaller than the breaking torque of the second rotation restraining element, which is fitted to the steering shaft and the gear via clearances so as to restrain the relative rotation between the shaft and gear.

Abstract: In a road finished having rear and front wheel carriage units and a hydrostatic all-wheel drive, wherein in addition to rear drivable wheels, at least two front wheels are drivable with a hydrostatic single wheel drive unit which contains a speed-variable hydraulic motor, each single wheel drive unit comprises a hydraulic speed-adjustable motor, a planetary gear set which drives the wheel in a gear reducing manner, and a unidirectional overriding clutch which is arranged between the hydraulic motor and the planetary gear set for either positively connecting the hydraulic motor automatically in the forward drive direction with the planetary gear set or for completely releasing the motor from the planetary gear set.

Abstract: A hand operated hydraulic brake system includes a manual, lever operated master cylinder control which transfers hydraulic pressure from the master control to one or more hydraulic slave actuating cylinders. The system transfers force through the use of rolling diaphragms in a completely sealed hydraulic containment system. Actuated by the lever, the applied force is transmitted through a hydraulic line, or lines against piston rams to force brake pads against a rim, disk or other braking surface of a wheel.

Abstract: A parking brake system for use on a railway car includes an actuator which is adapted to be attached to a service brake actuating lever arm of the railway car and to receive a flow of non-compressible holding liquid from a reservoir through a first valve unit. The first valve unit permits the liquid to freely flow to and from the actuator in a first position and only permits flow of the liquid towards the actuator in a second position. With this arrangement, movement of the service brake actuating lever arm automatically causes the actuator to be supplied with holding liquid from the reservoir, which liquid can be selectively retained by shifting of the first valve unit to the second position. Furthermore in accordance with the invention, the actuator can be shifted by supplying pressurized holding liquid thereto through the use of a motor driven pump circuit including a pressurizable reservoir.

Abstract: An improved child walker with a variety of safety features is disclosed. The child walker preferably includes three rolling supports which are stable and tip resistant in a wide variety of circumstances. The child walker provides for braking when one of the rolling supports passes an edge or a ledge of the floor surface. The rolling mechanism of the child walker advantageously limits the direction of travel allowed by the child to improve safety, and can be adjusted to control the speed of the walker.

Abstract: In a grip bar for a collapsible baby carriage, first and second portions 4 and 5 are coupled with each other by a rigid link member 28 within a joint 6, so that the first and second portions 4 and 5 symmetrically operate with respect to the joint 6. Thus, angles formed by the respective first and second portions 4 and 5 relative to the joint 6 can be kept identical to each other, whereby locking members 23 and 24 for both of the first and second portions 4 and 5 can be reliably and concurrently engaged in open state locking concave portions 19 and 20 or closed state locking concave portions 21 and 22. In this manner, it is possible to reliably and easily attain a locking state of both of the first and second portions 4 and 5 in either a linear open state or a folded state.