Abstract: Disclosed is an air-applied, mechanically-held brake assembly and a vehicle air brake system employing the same. The air brake system typically includes a push-pull or hand-brake valve for park and emergency applications, a treadle valve for service applications, reservoirs of air under pressure, and other valving and plumbing. The brake assembly applies and releases the brake upon the supply and exhaust, respectively, of air from a first pressure chamber. The brake assembly locks and unlocks the brake in an applied position by the exhaust and supply, respectively, of air from a second pressure chamber. The locking mechanism of the brake assembly is designed to compound the force of the fluid pressure in the first pressure chamber with the force of the fluid pressure supplied to the second pressure chamber when unlocking the brake to compensate for back pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for damping dynamic response in a primary structure in one, two, or three dimensions, includes a secondary mass, and a spring and a viscoelastic element, the spring and viscoelastic element interposed between the primary structure and the secondary mass. The apparatus may include a housing for the secondary mass, the spring and the viscoelastic element, should the spring, viscoelastic element, or both the spring and viscoelastic element, be interposed between the secondary mass and the housing. A method for damping dynamic response in a primary structure in one, two, or three dimensions is also disclosed.

Abstract: A holder for the vibration-decoupled fastening of a substantially flat machine part having at least one recess. The holder has a hollow cylindrical sleeve manufactured of a tough, preferably metallic, material which is surrounded radially on the outside--in a non-rotatable manner--by an elastomeric body. The body has an annular groove surrounding the sleeve, which groove has an axial size which corresponds substantially to the thickness of the machine part and a groove bottom which is adapted to the shape of the recess. The groove bottom and the limitation of the recess can be brought into engagement with each other under initial elastic stress.

Abstract: An improved sliding bearing system for railroad locomotives having pedestal legs includes a channel-shaped unit of a wear resistant thermoplastic, including a base and two upstanding flanges ported with mounting apertures, plus two inserts made of strips of a more resilient thermoplastic, with one of the inserts mounted in the base adjacent to one of the flanges and the other insert mounted in the base adjacent to the other flange, so they are operable to compress and expand under loading variations, along with fastening members with undersized bosses relative to the diameter of the apertures in the flanges, operable to secure the unit to the pedestal leg in a manner that its flanges will slip on the associated pedestal leg under loading variations to accommodate the resiliency of the inserts, enabling the unit to shift on the face of the leg to better distribute the loading on the unit more uniformly, whereby the service life of the unit is extended.

Abstract: A fluid pressure boosting type brake system includes a fluid pressure source including a fluid pump and a pressure tank connected to the pump, and a control valve capable of controlling the output pressure from the fluid pressure source to a fluid pressure corresponding to the degree of brake operation to output it. In this brake system, the fluid pump can be driven in accordance with the consumption of fluid pressure in a brake device, thereby insuring a reliable sufficient fluid pressure in the fluid pressure source.

Abstract: A brake system comprising a brake drum having an outer peripheral surface, and a brake band including a flexible band-shaped metal member having fixed and actuation brackets mounted near the opposite ends thereof. The band-shaped metal member is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the brake drum with the fixed bracket being fixed to an anchorage pin. The brake band also includes a lining member fixed on the band-shaped metal member. An actuator is coupled to the actuation bracket for acting a force on the band-shaped metal member to bring the lining member into surface contact with the outer peripheral surface of the brake drum at a speed. Oil grooves are formed in the lining member for discharging oil from a space between the lining member and the brake drum to control the speed at which the lining member comes into surface contact with the brake drum. The oil grooves have an oil discharging capacity increasing as going from the fixed bracket toward the actuation bracket.

Abstract: To make a ballast-free permanent rail way, an asphalt base is applied to a substructure comprised of concrete. Railway ties, which have a recess in the center on their underside, are laid on the asphalt base. In order to secure the ties against transverse forces and to assure accurate fitting and wear-free anchoring, the ties have a first bore in the center and the substructure has a blind bore. The blind bore is filled with an adhesive and then a dowel or a threaded rod is inserted into the blind bore which passes through a sliding spacer sleeve inserted into the first bore.

Abstract: A suspension's coil spring insulator provides increased surface area insulation at the top and bottom end coil to vehicle spring seat mating points. Preassembly retention capability and radial location features are provided on the insulator.

Abstract: An automotive disc brake assembly comprises a disc rotor made of graphite cast iron with a structure of pearlite, and a brake pad made of organic material. The disc rotor has a first thermal conductivity falling in a range from 0.090 to 0.140 cal/cm.sec..degree.C. The brake pad has second thermal conductivity falling in a range from 0.65 to 3.00 Kcal/mh.degree.C. The second thermal conductivity falls in a range from 0.65 to 0.98 Kcal/mh.degree.C. provided that the second thermal conductivity satisfies the following relationship with the first thermal conductivity:.lambda..sub.R .gtoreq.-0.152.times..lambda..sub.P +0.24where, .lambda..sub.R is first thermal conductivity, and .lambda..sub.P is the second thermal conductivity. The disc brake assembly is successful in improving heat check resistance ability which is substantially influenced by thermal conductivity of the disc rotor and the brake pad.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper has a rotor (38) with vanes (36) sweeping through respective working chambers (56, 54) defined by a stator ring (12) with integral stator abutments (50). An orifice (64) is formed in each vane to permit flow past each vane which has reduced temperature dependence. Valves (66) in the vanes open at excessive torque. One stator abutment (50) is hollowed to enable overall dimensions of the damper to be reduced. In one embodiment the hollowed stator abutment receives a spool valve (70) enabling replenishment of the working chambers when at low pressure. In other embodiments the hollowed stator abutment accommodates the other torsion bar spring of a pair, so enabling the spring spacing to be reduced.

Abstract: A disc brake with caliper mounted brake shoes and including the negative feedback of the brake shoe friction forces to oppose the applied hydraulic brake actuating force for the purpose of reducing variations in brake torque due to random variations in the coefficient of friction between brake shoes and brake disc. The brake shoe friction force feedback is accomplished by means of a fulcrumed lever at each shoe, and with the hydraulic piston actuating force applied to the shoe and lever assembly through a ball bearing mounted on the piston that permits the entire sliding friction force of the brake shoe to be converted, without diminution to a force acting in a direction opposite the applied brake actuating hydraulic force. Feedback embodiments are shown both for the rigidly mounted brake caliper with two opposed actuating pistons, and for the sliding or floating brake caliper with a single actuating piston and an opposed caliper reaction force.

Abstract: A shock absorber including a casing, a piston rod having a portion in the casing, a piston head mounted on the piston rod for dividing the casing into chambers on opposite sides thereof, a piston head having a central bore therein having an inner peripheral surface which flares outwardly at opposite ends thereof, and a plurality of interspersed grooves and ridges on the piston rod within the bore for permitting flow of liquid between the chambers to thereby provide fluid amplification through the spaces between the inner peripheral surface of the piston head and the outer peripheral surface of the piston rod.

Abstract: The improved hoist includes a direct current brake and a control therefor. In the brake control, the AC current is rectified with DC current being sent to the brake solenoid. When the hoist is operating, the brake solenoid is energized to hold the brake in the unactivated position. A timer and power reducer are utilized to reduce the power on the solenoid while the hoist is in operation, thus reducing the energy expended while the hoist is in operation. The operating speed of the brake is increased since less power must be dissipated from the solenoid before the brake can be actuated.

Abstract: The invention relates to a braking mechanism for braking the chain of a portable power chain saw when a hazardous state occurs. The operating lever rotatably mounted on the chain saw casing is in operative connection with a control lever acting on a brake band by means of a lever-like device. Thus, in the braking position the control lever is transferred into an angular position with a simultaneous position change of the two brake band articulation points. As a result, the brake band is applied to the brake drum, which ensures that the braking mechanisms act without any delay.

Abstract: A bending spring or similar component made of fiber compound material is so onstructed that the stress on the fiber reinforcing strands is optimized while the stress on the matrix of resinous impregnating material is reduced. For this purpose fiber inserts divide the matrix of suitable binder material which holds unidirectionally extending reinforcing fibers embedded in the matrix. The fiber inserts have a main fiber orientation extending about radially to the longitudinal bending axis of the spring. The fiber inserts may comprise layers of fiber webbings, for example double layers, whereby the fiber orientation in one webbing may differ from the fiber orientation in the other webbing.

Abstract: An improved cushioning or shock absorbing device attachable to the ends of a generally cylindrical container for transporting or storing radioactive material, especially spent nuclear fuel elements, has a substantially uniform dampening or cushioning characteristic even for different impact directions. The device is cap-shaped, having an annular part with a plug part in the outer end thereof. The annular part includes a strong rigid inner sleeve extending from the open end of the device partly between the two parts. The inner end of the plug part has a sheet metal disc-like inner cover secured to the sleeve for detachment on impact. Both parts are divided into a plurality of interior chambers by sheet metal plates, the chambers being filled with cushioning material.

Abstract: A shock absorber has a cylinder, a piston dividing the cylinder into two chambers, and a valve in the piston which opens to permit hydraulic fluid to flow through the piston when the compression rate of the shock absorber exceeds a limit value. The valve is moved to its open position by the pressure of hydraulic fluid in the chamber in the path of piston movement, and it is biased toward its closed position by a spring on the piston, a constant pressure gas in a reference chamber on the piston and the pressure of hydraulic fluid in the chamber behind the path of piston movement. Fluid from the contracting chamber is released by a check valve into a storage space.

Abstract: A box spring assembly which includes a generally rectangular frame, a welded wire grid disposed above and aligned with the frame, a plurality of upwardly extending limited deflection wire springs which are mounted at their lower ends on the frame and at their upper ends are interlocked with the welded wire grid, and corner springs which are yieldable and are supported on the corners of the frame so as to support the corners of the grid. Each of the limited deflection springs is formed at its upper end with an attaching portion that is connected to the grid merely by moving it from an initial assembly position to an interlocked position, without the requirement of any notches in the grid. This structure enables assembly of the grid and the springs without the requirement for the usual attaching clips.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel brake, particularly for a railway vehicle, has an elongate friction pad for engagement with a braking surface. In order to provide for adjustment of the pad without excessive length of the brake, the friction pad is hollow and an elongate adjuster member is located within the friction pad. Relative rotation of the pad and adjuster member, which occurs when there is excessive wear of the friction material, causes axial movement of the friction material to compensate for the wear.

Abstract: A shock absorber assembly for absorbing shocks encountered by a drill string wherein the shock absorber assembly is for use with a drill string having a working fluid therein and includes a body member affixed to the drill string, a mandrel mounted for reciprocal longitudinal movement with respect to the body member and a fluid dampening member floated within the central bore of the body member in engagement with the body member and the mandrel for absorbing shocks transmitted between the body member and the mandrel.