Abstract: A pedal apparatus for a vehicle includes: a pedal arm mounted on a vehicle body by a hinge shaft and having one end connected with a pedal and the other end where a rack gear is formed; a link arm having a pinion gear at one end that meshes with the rack gear to pivot on a center shaft of the pinion gear with respect to the pedal arm, and having the other end where a locking pin is formed; and a plate mounted on the vehicle body, the plate having a sliding groove where the locking pin of the link arm is inserted, in which ridges and depressions are formed at regular intervals in the sliding groove so that the locking pin slides step by step while being locked to the ridges and depressions.

Abstract: A vehicle, comprising a brake operating lever, mounted to pivot on a lever bracket, a coupling unit, which couples a brake cable to the brake operating lever, a locking device with teeth and a locking bolt, tensioned against the teeth by means of a first spring element and a release unit, with at least one first lever, said locking bolt and the first lever having an articulation. A parking brake which permits a secure braking and release and also avoids making noise on operation and on releasing may be achieved, whereby the articulation for the locking bolt and the first lever is arranged on the lever bracket and the articulation is provided on the lever bracket in a displaceable manner.

Abstract: A brake actuating assembly for a vehicle having a brake system is provided. The assembly includes a mounting bracket for mounting the brake actuating assembly to the vehicle, and a pedal arm mounted to the mounting bracket for pivotal movement about a pivot axis. The pedal arm is connectable to the brake system such that movement of the pedal arm in a brake applying direction activates the brake system and movement of the pedal arm in a brake releasing direction de-activates the brake system. An arcuate rack of teeth is connected to the pedal arm, and a pawl that includes a tooth engages the rack. The assembly also includes a spring that has a first end that operatively connected to the pawl, and the second end that is operatively connected to the mounting bracket in an opening that includes a surface extending between a first stop and a second stop.

Abstract: A foot depressing parking brake apparatus including a brake pedal main body 3 pivotably supported by a support shaft 2, a ratchet plate 4 having ratchet teeth 4b and attached to the brake pedal main body 3, a ratchet pole 6 rotatably attached to a pivot pin 5 and constituting a shaft hole inserted with the pivot pin 5 by a long hole 7, and a toggle spring 10 for exerting a turning force to the ratchet pole 6, wherein a brake operating state in which a claw portion 6a of the ratchet pole 6 is brought in mesh with the ratchet teeth 4b of the ratchet plate 4 and a brake releasing state in which the meshing is released are realized.

Abstract: A foot-operated parking brake device for vehicles is provided with a shock absorbing member 60 on which a predetermined portion, e.g., an engaging claw 32d, except for a pole abutting portion 32e of a pole 32 is brought into abutting when a pedal arm 20 is moved from an original position to an abutting position where the engaging claw 32d of the pole 32 is brought into abutting on ratchet teeth 31a. An abutting surface 61 of the shock absorbing member 60 is formed to bring a lock mechanism 30 into the first state at least before the pedal arm 20 reaches the abutting position and to form a space between the pole abutting portion 32e and a release lever abutting portion 33a until the lock mechanism 30 is brought into the first state.

Abstract: A pedal release structure for a parking brake is disclosed. The structure preferably includes a locking lever rotatably mounted on an assembly bracket, a resilient unit for resiliently supporting the locking lever in order to rotate the locking lever in an opposite direction from the return direction of the parking brake pedal, a rotation scope limiting unit for limiting the rotation scope of the locking lever, a locking unit for allowing a release lever to lock the locking lever according as the release cable is pulled, and a releasing unit for allowing the release lever locked by the locking lever to be released. With this structure the release lever is enabled to continue acting on a torsion spring until the parking brake pedal is completely released even when the return speed of the parking brake pedal is slowed due to cold temperature.

Abstract: A parking brake operating device for vehicle, wherein a vehicle is held by a specified braking force by manually rotating a brake lever (2), a held state is released by rotatingly operating the brake lever (2) upward by a specified amount from the held state, and the braking force can be changed to an increasing side and held by further raising the brake lever upward from the held state beyond the specified amount, whereby a release operation can be performed without using a push button or a push rod.

Abstract: A device provided with a pedal arm (2) having pawl teeth (12), a latch pawl member (4) having a latch pawl (15) engageable with the pawl teeth (12) for maintaining and releasing a stepped-on position of the pedal arm (2), and a position changing member (5) for allowing the latch pawl member (4) to maintain the position of the pedal arm (2) when the pedal arm is further stepped on from a maintained position. The above constitution realizes a function of setting a braking force by a stepping operation, a function of releasing a braking force by a stepping operation and a function of increasing a braking force by an additional stepping operation.

Abstract: Some automobiles have mechanisms for adjusting the height of accelerator and brake pedals, and any clutch pedal, so that drivers large and small can adjust the pedals to the best height. All pedals are adjusted by a single reversible electric motor having a shaft connected directly or by a flexible shaft to the adjusting mechanisms. If any fault develops in any mechanism, the pedals may not be adjusted to the same height, which is hazardous to the driver. A safety switching system detects any serious misalignment of the pedals and de-energizes the motor. The system comprises separate switches which are operable by adjustment of the pedals, and are electrically connected in series with the power supply circuit for the motor. When the pedals are aligned, the bridging contactors of the switches are aligned and are effective to maintain the electrical continuity of the motor circuit. Each contactor has three contact sliders which successively engage staggered tabs on contact strips for the respective pedals.

Abstract: A foot brake release device so adapted that a slight and instant pull of a parking release knob for releasing the parking activated state at the parking brake pedal enables to completely release the parking activated state of the parking brake pedal, thereby removing separate inconvenient checking of full release of the parking actuated state and promoting a safe operation of an automobile, the device comprising: a parking brake pedal equipped at one side thereof with a ratchet gear and mounted rotatively; a ratchet plate equipped with a ratchet gear meshed to a ratchet gear and mounted rotatively; a torsion spring mounted at the ratchet plate for the parking brake pedal to rotate at a predetermined angle for maintenance of a locked state and to restrict the ratchet plate from rotating in one direction; and torsion spring slack keeping unit for maintaining slacked state of the torsion spring when the parking brake pedal is returned for rotation.

Abstract: A cable lock and release apparatus significantly reduces release efforts in cable lock mechanisms, as used in parking brake systems of a motor vehicle. The apparatus includes a cable actuator (20) rotatably disposed on a cable actuator shaft (26) and having a cable (22) attached to it. The cable actuator (20) includes a sector (28) having a plurality of sector teeth (30). A pawl member (32) includes a slotted pawl aperture (36) allowing rotation and translation of the pawl member about a pawl member shaft (31). A pawl tooth (34) is disposed on the pawl member for engagement with the plurality of sector teeth. A release means is provided for maintaining the pawl tooth in an engaged relationship with the plurality of sector teeth with the cable in the high tension position and releasing the pawl tooth from the engaged relationship with the plurality of sector teeth allowing the cable to return to the low tension position.

Abstract: An adjustable clutch pedal apparatus allows the adjustment of a first end of a pedal lever (18) to accommodate operators having varying anatomical characteristics. The apparatus includes a master cylinder (32) mounted on the pedal lever and an adjuster link (28) having a first end pivotally connected to a second end of the pedal lever and a first end pivotally connected to a first ground point (44). An anchor link (50) is pivotally connected to a second ground point at one end and a second point of a rocker (60) at the opposite end. A push rod (68) interconnects the rocker to the master cylinder, thereby allowing actuation of the cylinder upon displacement of the pedal and master cylinder assembly. The interconnection of the adjuster link, the pedal lever and a second point (62) on the rocker form a virtual ground point (72) allowing the first end of the pedal lever (18) to be adjusted between first and second pedal positions.

Abstract: A triaxial gyroscopic stabilizer for a movie or television camera has a camera in a cardan suspension unit, two three-stage gyroscopes, controlled linkages for adjusting course, banking and pitch, booster-converters, a set of accelerometers, a pitch angle sensor, an integrator, a system shut-off unit, a memory unit, low frequency filters, two computing units, a summator and course and pitch control levers. The cardan suspension unit has an external frame, a middle frame and a platform; the outer frame has the form of a half-fork bracket with an axis of rotation aligned along the course axis; the middle frame has the form of a fork bracket with an axis of rotation aligned along the course axis; the middle frame has the form of a fork bracket with an axis of rotation aligned along the axis of pitch. The first of the two three-stage gyroscopes is mounted on the platform, while the second is mounted on the middle frame.

Abstract: A vehicular foot-operated parking brake control apparatus is designed to achieve reliable and easy operation of the apparatus while also reducing the apparatus size and the stroke loss. The apparatus includes a mounting bracket that is adapted to be fixed to a vehicle body, and a pedal that is rotatably mounted on the bracket for rotation about a rotational axis, with the pedal being connected to a parking brake control cable. The pedal is provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth and a pawl is rotatably mounted on the bracket for rotation between a first rotational position in which the pawl is engaged with the ratchet teeth and a second rotational position in which the pawl is disengaged from the ratchet teeth. The pawl is slidably mounted on the bracket to slide between a first slide position and a second slide position. The apparatus is designed to allow the parking brake to be engaged and disengaged by pressing on the pedal.

Abstract: A parking brake mechanism for vehicles includes a cam plate free to rotate about main shaft with respect to a foot operated parking brake pedal lever and having cam portions. When a brake control cable is connected with the wheel brake assembly, the cam plate is held in integral relation with the brake pedal lever by one of the cam portions, a cam follower and a tension spring so that the cable cam be easily connected with the cam plate regardless of the biasing force of the tension spring.

Abstract: The improved motion-amplifying lever arrangement includes a pair of cooperating lobe members for effecting a mechanical advantage between the operating lever and an output cable during pivotal movement of the lever from an inoperative first position toward an operative second position, use being made of a spring clutch associated with the drive cam member for locking the lever in he brake-applied position, and a self-adjust device associated with the driven lobe cam member for removing cable slack when the operating lever is in the inoperative first position. In the preferred embodiment, the lobe members comprise lobe cams that are connected by a flexible strap of belt that extends between the cooperating cam surfaces and is secured at opposite ends to the cams, respectively.

Abstract: A parking brake control device has a torsion lock parking brake actuator which is operated by a foot pad attached to an operator lever. The foot pad is pushed down to set the parking brake. The parking brake is released by pushing down on the depressed foot pad or by a servomotor.

Abstract: The improved parking brake lever arrangement includes a pair of cooperating lobe members for effecting a mechanical advantage between the operating lever and the parking brake cable, use being made of a spring clutch associated with the drive lobe member for locking the lever in the brake-applied position, and a self-adjust device associated with the driven lobe member for removing cable slack when the operating lever is in the brake-released position. In the preferred embodiment, the lobe members comprise lobe cams that are connected by a flexible strap or belt that extends between the cooperating cam surfaces and is secured at opposite ends to the cams, respectively.

Abstract: An improved non-jamming self-adjust pawl and ratchet mechanism for use in an automotive parking brake system or the like, includes cam-out and cam-in devices that are spaced to define an overlap dwell distance to insure suitable engagement between the adjuster pawl and the adjuster ratchet as a foot or hand brake operating lever is pivoted from a brake disengaged position toward a brake fully-engaged position. In the case of the foot-operated lever, the spacing distance between the cam-out and cam-in devices is greater than the bounce-back travel distance of the lever upon the removal of cable tension load thereon.

Abstract: A cable tensioning system for removing slack from a parking brake cable or the like including an improved resettable holdout arrangement for retaining an adjuster ratchet in a spring-biased caged condition during transport and installation of the system in a vehicle. Three embodiments of the invention are characterized, respectively, by the use of an axially displaceable lockout pin that defines an abutment in the path of the adjuster ratchet, a lockout spring having an arm portion adapted to extend into a corresponding notch contained in the periphery of the adjuster ratchet, and a lockout pawl arrangement biased by a lockout spring for cooperation with the ratchet teeth.

Abstract: A cruise control system (10) for use with a hydrostatic drive system having a traction pedal (12) includes a pivotal link (42) and stops (44 and 46) comprising a lost motion connection between the traction pedal and the traction control linkage (30). Selective retention of the pump control lever is accomplished by a pair of electromagnets (64) responsive to a switch (88) associated with the lost motion connection.

Abstract: A gyroscopically stabilized apparatus for aiming an instrument at a target object. An external yoke is attached to the ends of a hub assembly which supports the gyro and camera platforms for rotation about pan, tilt and roll axes. The yoke is associated with an externally located vibration damping system interposed between the yoke and the support arm attached to the helicopter or other transporting vehicle. This makes possible a greater degree of helicopter pitch and roll without having any support structure impact the gyro and camera. In one embodiment the platforms are associated with separately rotatable hemispheres joined to provide a spherical fairing. In another embodiment the hemispheres are attached together for common rotation about pan and tilt axes.

Abstract: A cable operating apparatus includes a pawl and ratchet arrangement for maintaining an operating lever in a cable-tensioning position. The pawl is bifurcated to define a pair of pawl tips, the pawl being pivotable in opposite directions for effecting alternate engagement of the pawl tips with the ratchet. The pawl contains a slot that receives the pawl pivot pin and which permits lateral movement of the pawl between a pair of end positions. An overcenter spring arrangement alternately pivotally biases the pawl in opposite directions when the pawl is displaced toward the end positions, respectively. A cam arrangement serves to effect lateral displacement and pivotal movement of the pawl when the operating lever is pivoted from the released position toward a cable tensioning position.

Abstract: An improved parking brake cable control apparatus includes an automatic cable tensioning device that is operable at the beginning and end of every parking brake operating cycle to take up cable slack and maintain uniform cable tension. The foot-operated parking brake lever pivots on a main pivot shaft between brake-engaged and brake-released positions, a releasable pedal pawl being provided that cooperates with a conventional pedal ratchet. A cable-tensioning ratchet connected with the parking brake cable is rotatably mounted on the main pivot shaft, and cooperating therewith are a lock pawl and a drive pawl connected with the apparatus housing and with the lever, respectively. The lock pawl is released by a release lever when the pedal is pivoted toward the released position, and the drive pawl is disengaged when the lever is adjacent the disengaged position, thereby to activate the cable tensioning device.

Abstract: The application relates to a lockable and releasable pedal mounting arrangement for a foot-operated parking brake of a motor vehicle, which mounting is fastened to a cowl column in the driver's foot space in the junction region of a dashboard cowl and pivotable out of the foot space about a pedal pivot under the effect of a rearward deformation of the cowl as the result of an accident so that there is little adverse effect on the inner safety of the vehicle.

Abstract: A foot operated vehicle parking brake mechanism comprises a brake pedal lever and a brake cable actuator pivotal about a common axis, the brake pedal lever being operable upon depression to displace the cable actuator to a cable tensioning position in which the vehicle brake is set. The cable actuator and pedal lever are independently releaseably retained in the cable tensioning and depressed positions and, respectively, against the bias of the tensioned cable and a pedal lever biasing spring. A manually operable release mechanism operates to release the pedal lever from its depressed position and, during return of the pedal lever to its retracted position, the pedal lever operates to release the cable actuator for return to its released position.

Abstract: An improved winch is provided which is useful in tightening and adjusting ropes, rigging, lines and sheets. The winch includes a rotatable winch member having a central non-circular aperture extending therethrough and a crank member having a shaft portion which has a non-circular cross-section complementary with the shape of the aperture and interengageable therewith so that rotation of the shaft causes rotation of the winch member. A handle member is hinged to the upper end of the shaft portion so as to pivot between an operating position at right angles with the shaft portion to facilitate rotation of the shaft portion and winch member and an inoperative stowable position projecting from the end of the shaft portion in alignment with the axis thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for setting up a vertical gyroscopic device mounted on a moving craft, wherein the action of roll reset means is eliminated only with a delay time with respect to the rotation of the mass, this delay time being such that upon its expiration the kinetic moment of the mass in rotation is sufficient to ensure the stability thereof and the erector system is controlled in the sense of activation only with another time delay necessary to reduce the movement of precession of the device. The invention is applicable to the guiding or control of missiles or aircraft.

Abstract: Parking brake release apparatus for a vehicle of the type which has a frame, wheels, a parking brake for at least one of its wheels, a parking brake pedal pivotally mounted to the frame to apply the parking brake, the pedal having a braking and a brake release condition, a brake return opposing braking movement of the parking brake pedal, and an engine to provide driving power to at least one of the wheels. The engine when operating has a range of possible rotational frequencies (rpm). The release apparatus itself comprises a releasable lock adapted to lock the parking brake pedal in its braking condition. A lock release is adapted selectively to release the lock means and to prevent the lock means from locking.

Abstract: A turn rate indicator for an aircraft includes magnetic substance pieces facing each other, one being rotatable integrally with a gimbal and the other being fixed to a body. Because of the attracting force generated between the magnetic substance pieces, a pointer of the indicator returns to its zero point smoothly and certainly.

Abstract: An electrostatic pickoff well suited for use in a two-axis electrostatically-captured rotor rate gyroscope is shown. Displacement currents, which flow between stator electrodes and the V-shaped annular electrically conductive rotor capturing the rotor, are processed so as to produce signals related to rotor position but independent of capture currents. When closed through a 5 degree-of-freedom positional servomechanism, rotor position signals are effective in producing rotor capture with net zero rotor current without producing rotor distorting forces.

Abstract: A two-axis rate gyroscope of the captured type is provided having a cylindrical rotor with one or more inwardly projecting flanges. The rotor is disposed within a sealed toroidal cavity in a rotor housing and the interior of the cavity is evacuated to a "hard" vacuum. An electrostatic suspension system restrains the rotor from translatory movement along the gyroscope spin axis and two axes perpendicular thereto so that a virtually frictionless spin bearing is provided for the rotor. The suspension system functions to prevent relative angular rotation between the rotor and the rotor housing about two precession axes. The rotor housing is mounted on a flexure joint which prevents translatory movement of the housing along three orthogonal axes but permits rotational movement of the housing about the two precession axes.

Abstract: A parking brake mechanism for a motorcycle having a rear brake pedal which is to be depressed for applying a brake on a rear road wheel. An annular ratchet wheel is rigidly connected to the pivoted end of the rear brake pedal for simultaneous rotation therewith, and one or more pawls pivotally mounted within the ratchet wheel are spring biased into engagement with teeth formed on its inside surface. Normally, the pawls are held out of engagement with the ratchet teeth by a rotary cam ring. Upon angular displacement of this cam ring relative to the pawls, the ratchet mechanism functions to permit the rear brake pedal to be depressed but to prevent its return motion. The cam ring can be actuated either by a retractable footrest or by a hand lever on the steering handle of the motorcycle.

Abstract: A multi-axis antenna pedestal with two controlled axes configured with elevation over azimuth on a gravity and gyro stabilized platform. The assembly is suspended with right-angled pivotal axes in substantially the same horizontal plane, and structure pivoted about the upper two controlled axes is statically balanced and the center of gravity of the entire pivotally mounted assembly is on the vertical axis and below the gimbal plane. The platform structure includes at least one gyro motor and rotor system pivotally mounted in the platform structure on an axis parallel to one of the right angled pivotal axes of the platform pivotal mounting. The center of gravity of the one gyro motor and rotor system is below its pivotal mounting in the platform structure, and when two such gyro motor and rotor systems are employed the pivotal mounting axes of each parallels an individual axis of the platform pivotal mounting.