Abstract: An assembly for dampening vibration movement between a cylinder and a concentric duct, where the cylinder is positioned radially inside the duct, includes a damper attached to the duct. The damper includes a housing attached to the duct, a contact member positioned at least partially inside the housing and having a contact surface adjacent an outer surface of the cylinder, and a cap threadedly engaged with the housing for applying a load on the contact member in a direction toward the cylinder.

Abstract: A clutch and a workpiece support incorporating the same selectively restrict rotation of a rotatable member through the use of one or more rollers that are pinched between the outer surface of the rotatable member and corresponding convergent surfaces disposed on a housing opposing such outer surface. In effect, each roller is interposed between a surface on a fixed housing and an outer surface of a rotatable member such that rotation of the rotatable member rolls the roller toward a converging gap to restrict further rotation of the rotatable member. A biasing mechanism biases the roller toward the converging gap, and a release mechanism is utilized to quickly and efficiently decouple the roller from the rotatable member by biasing the roller in a direction away from the converging gap and thereby preventing the roller from inhibiting rotation of the rotatable member.

Abstract: A clutch and a workpiece support incorporating the same selectively restrict rotation of a rotatable member through the use of one or more rollers that are pinched between the outer surface of the rotatable member and corresponding convergent surfaces disposed on a housing opposing such outer surface. In effect, each roller is interposed between a surface on a fixed housing and an outer surface of a rotatable member such that rotation of the rotatable member rolls the roller toward a converging gap to restrict further rotation of the rotatable member. A biasing mechanism biases the roller toward the converging gap, and a release mechanism is utilized to quickly and efficiently decouple the roller from the rotatable member by biasing the roller in a direction away from the converging gap and thereby preventing the roller from inhibiting rotation of the rotatable member.

Abstract: An improved hinge mechanism for use with a portable computing device is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a hinge mechanism includes a first gear and a first deformable braking mechanism that is coupled to the first gear. The first deformable braking mechanism is substantially axially aligned with the first gear along a first axis. The hinge mechanism also includes a second gear that engages the first gear during rotation of the first gear, as well as a second braking mechanism. The second braking mechanism is arranged to be substantially axially aligned with the second gear along a second axis. The second braking mechanism contacts the first deformable braking mechanism to cause the first deformable braking mechanism to deform during rotation of the first gear. Finally, the hinge mechanism includes a linking mechanism that allows a constant distance to be maintained between the first axis and the second axis.

Abstract: A braking system for small vehicles which includes a disc which is connected to the wheel of the vehicle which is to be braked. The disc is connected so that it rotates in a substantially parallel plane to the plane of rotation of the wheel. Two friction pads are each pivotally mounted on one of two tines of a fork structure and are positioned on opposite sides of the disc. A user manually rotates the fork causing the friction pads to be applied against the opposite sides of disc and opposing the rotation of the disc in order to brake the wheel. A spring biases the fork structure to ensure that the friction pads do not contact the sides of the disc when the brake is not being applied.

Abstract: The invention concerns a roller ski, each of which has a longitudinal support (1) equipped with a ski binding (5) to secure a ski boot, on which support (1), front and back, rubber-tired running wheels (3, 8, 9) are situated, one or more of which are provided with a return catch. In order to provide such roller skis with a braking device which is simple in design and construction and which can be operated by the skier by executing a movement of the body usually made during skiing, the invention provides for equipping, in particular, the rear running wheels (8), located on the side facing the adjacent roller ski with a brake lining (10) laterally mounted on the running wheel (8), which brake lining projects slightly inwardly above the inner lateral boundary (11) of the longitudinal support (1) which extends in the direction of movement.

Abstract: A fire escape device suitable for receiving a person or persons to be safely descended from a relatively high elevation to the ground. The device includes a substantially box-like housing which contains a drum with a supporting cable and gear system. A basket is suspended at the base of the housing whereby a person or persons is/are lowered.

Abstract: A braking member, which is a roller, is pressed against a braked surface of an object by an element having a pressing surface which is elongated in the direction of relative movement and is parallel to the braked surface. Movement of the braking roller along the pressing surface is limited by two fixed stops which engage the roller braking surface. The braking force for each of the two directions of relative motion may be independently varied, for a fixed pressing force, by varying the inclination of the stop surface which is engaged by the roller surface.

Abstract: A magnetic friction device for permitting one machine member to be moved relative to another by applying a predetermined force and for holding one member in a fixed position when the force is discontinued. One member is magnetically susceptible and has a smooth surface interfacing with but slightly spaced from a surface on the other member. The other member's surface has one or more recesses in which there are magnetic disks of a polymer impregnated with magnetic particles. The disks are attracted to the smooth surface to produce a design controlled predetermined frictional force.

Abstract: A brake for a roller skate that prevents rolling backward comprising a pair of rollers (37) eccentrically mounted on an axle (36) and positioned immediately adjacent the front wheels (17) so as to allow forward rotation but to bind against and brake the wheel when the wheel initiates backward rotation.

Abstract: In a sporting air gun in the nature of a recoilless pressurized-air weapon, having a recoilable system which is translatably mounted so as to slide forward and backward on the gunstock of the weapon in a direction which is generally longitudinal. The recoil system compensates by opposed motion the impulse from the firing of the weapon arising from the impulse of each projectile, from the propellant gas, and from individual components which are accelerated for the purpose of the firing. The system minimally comprises a breech casing to which a barrel, a firing mechanism, other functional parts of the weapon, or added masses may be attached to increase the weight of the system. The system has a center of mass lying off the line of action of the impulse resulting from the firing, whereby a torsional impulse is superposed on the firing-resultant impulse. The improvement in the air gun includes at least one torsional impulse generator which is positioned in or on the weapon.

Abstract: A braking device including a circular rotor coaxially fixed to the shaft of a rotary machine, a brake drum made of a material for elastic deformation and mounted on the rotor, and rollers interposed between the circular rotor and the brake drum. The rollers are adapted for rotation around the axis of the rotor as long as the brake drum maintains circularity, and adapted to be locked between the rotor and the brake drum when the brake drum is caused to deviate from circularity.

Abstract: A cycling exerciser comprises a frame within which is mounted a pedal-driven wheel. A lever carrying a pair of rollers is pivotally mounted on the frame and the rollers are biased into engagement with the wheel by means of a weight also carried by the lever. The position of the weight along the lever is adjustable so as to adjust the degree of bias and thereby regulate the resistance to rotation of the wheel provided by the rollers.

Abstract: A brake for locking a dolly caster wheel against rotation in either direction; the brake including a pair of parallel, spaced apart jam rollers each of which is carried on a frame, the frame being movable by means of a single push button so to move both rollers selectively in or out of a position wherein the rollers are jammed or wedged between the wheel periphery and a stationary bracket that forms a rigid part of the caster assembly.

Abstract: A gravity undriven roller conveyor is provided with speed control so as to maintain articles travelling thereon within a narrow speed range generally independent of the length of the conveyor, the starting speed of the article, and the load of the conveyor by providing an elastomeric tired wheel on a bracket beneath the cylindrical rolls of a conveyor so as to engage two adjacent cylindrical rolls and absorb kinetic energy through hysteresis properties of the material of the elastomeric tire on the wheel. Vertical adjustment is provided with a rigid screw mounting or a biased spring mounting, and flanges radially overlapping the tire are provided on the wheel so as to limit the compression of the tire through such vertical adjustment to within the elastic limit of the elastomeric material.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for a roller blind comprises a housing in which is rotatable a drive wheel by a flexible member such as a chain. A roller blind is connected to a shaft which carries this drive wheel and is, therefore, rotatable with the drive wheel for raising and lowering of the roller blind. A friction-type brake wheel is jointly rotatable with the drive wheel in the housing and has an outer periphery against which radially engage rollers carried on a pair of pincher-type levers whose one ends are pivoted together and whose other ends are interconnected by a screw device so that the force which the rollers exert radially on the friction wheel can be controlled. This force determines the braking effect between the shaft and the housing so that the blind carried by this mounting assembly remains stationary in any set position.

Abstract: A braking system for engaging a vehicle's wheel including a first braking step to retard the vehicle and a second braking step to halt the vehicle while still avoiding skidding.

Abstract: A braking device for sleds, according to which rollers are used as braking elements which by means of an actuating element are moved from a non-braking position into a braking position while being pressed against the surface of the sliding path for the sled. According to a preferred design of the invention, pairs of rollers are employed with the rollers of each pair having different diameters.

Abstract: A braking device for retarding and controlling the speed of moving objects such as cartons, pallets and the like, travelling down an inclined roller conveyor system. The device comprises a primary roll journalled in a housing and having a peripheral surface actuable by a said moving object and a secondary roll journalled within the housing actuable by the primary roll. The secondary roll is loosely journalled in a bracket pivotally mounted on an axle coaxial with the primary roll and is biased by an adjustable pressure plate having a bevelled portion at one end to an at-rest position in proximity to the primary roll. Rotation of the primary roll under the weight of an object travelling thereon rotates the secondary roll by frictional interengagement against the bias of the pressure plate whereby the secondary roll becomes wedged between said primary roll and the pressure plate bevelled portion for retarding the rotation of the primary roll.

Abstract: A damping apparatus for retarding motion of a movable body is disclosed. The apparatus has a damper unit with at least two rollers having resilient peripheral surfaces. The rollers are free wheeling relative to one another and roll along a guide in contact with opposite guide surfaces. The damper unit further includes a carrier rotatably carrying the rollers. The carrier is operably connectable to the movable body such that a force is applied to the carrier in response to motion of the body to urge the rollers against the guide surfaces at an intensity which progresses in relation to the magnitude of the applied force to resiliently compress the resilient peripheral surfaces against the guide surfaces as the rollers rotationally travel therealong, to retard motion of the body.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly of the type used primarily in an automobile or like motor vehicle environment and including a disc member attached to the wheel, and a lining and lining assembly disposed immediately adjacent the disc for frictional engagement therewith. The lining is interconnected to a lining support element in the form of a rotatable hub wherein the lining itself and the hub are rotationally and linearly movable relative to one another such that frictional engagement between the lining and the disc occurs when the disc and the lining are moving in the opposite rotational directions to accomplish maximum frictional engagement and accordingly, more efficient braking action on the wheel to which the disc is attached.