Abstract: A cantilever feedback mechanism includes an upper cantilever and a lower cantilever. The upper cantilever and lower cantilever have a resistance spring rate to facilitate movement of the bellows over a selected range of resistances. The upper cantilever has downwardly oriented upper cantilever stops. The lower cantilever has upwardly oriented lower cantilever stops that engage the upper cantilever stops. Mean are provided for applying a preload to maintain the lower cantilever stops and the upper cantilever stops engaged until a force urging movement exceeds the preload.

Abstract: A spring-type brake actuator for a pneumatically-operated vehicle brake is provided, in which the parking brake release piston is formed from at least one stamped actuator piston plate, preferably a stamped aluminum plate. Preferably the biasing force of the power spring of the spring brake actuator bears on a stamped spring seat cap element which is interposed between the power spring and the stamped actuator piston plate. In addition, the parking brake release piston flexible diaphragm may be captured between the stamped actuator piston plate and a stamped backing plate by affixing the backing plate to a joining member, where the joining member includes a threaded insert to receive a manually-actuated parking brake release actuation tool.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for regulating a restriction system. In one exemplary embodiment, a restriction system is provided having a restriction device coupled to a port with a fluid disposed in the device, such that the restriction device is adapted to form a restriction in a pathway corresponding to an amount of fluid contained in the device, and a pressure adjustment unit in communication with the port and effective to maintain a substantially constant equilibrium pressure between the pressure adjustment unit and the restriction device. The pressure adjustment unit is configured to regulate an amount of fluid in the restriction device in response to a fluid pressure acting on the device.

Abstract: An improved airspring assembly includes a collapsible support member disposed within the pressurizable chamber of an airspring having a flexible sidewall. The support member is configured such that it extends and collapses along a longitudinal axis of the chamber responsive to pressurization and depressurization of the chamber, respectively. The support member also is configured such that it retains a substantially rigid outer perimeter, thereby restricting movement of the chamber's flexible sidewall toward the longitudinal axis when the chamber is depressurized. The support member also is configured such that it does not interfere with the full stroke of the airspring.

Abstract: An improved vacuum motor for actuating heat, ventilating and air conditioning control systems (HVAC), which uses a conical spiral spring and a bonded connection between the housing and cap to reduce weight, size, cost and noise. The motor includes a bellows which forms an airtight compartment inside the motor housing with the cap and a plunger connected to the bellows. The conical spring biases the bellows to a fully expanded position. A negative pressure or vacuum in the air line connected to the housing causes the bellows to collapse and compress the spring. As the bellows collapses, the attached plunger is pulled axially into the motor housing. The movement of the plunger actuates the connected HVAC device.

Abstract: In a method for displacing forces, particularly loads (P), either a force (P) acting on a guide surface (23) is reduced by an opposing force and simultaneously displaced, or a pressing force (P) is caused to act on a guide surface (23) in order to produce a displacing force (P2). In order to reduce the frictional resistance of the force (P) on the base (A, B) on which it acts, this force can be reduced by an opposing force and the force then displaced. The opposing force is produced, for example, by a known self-guided membrane cell (20) or a piston. Part of the force is supported displaceably on a wedge surface (23). This method permits advantageous displacement of forces, particularly loads, in opposition to friction forces.

Abstract: A bicycle brake system with at least one master cylinder that is connected to a hand lever, and at least one wheel cylinder that is connected thereto by a hydraulic brake line is to be improved in that a hollow body (38) that is of elastic material and closed at one end is installed in a master cylinder (12); in that interior space (39) accommodates a pushrod (44) that is adjacent to the hand lever (13) and its closed face end (37) rests against a piston (34) that is supported against the accumulator within the reducible pressure chamber (30) of the master cylinder.

Abstract: A chain-carrying pulley (1) is journalled on a shaft (3) fastened to an arm (4) pivotally connected to another arm (5) which in turn is rigidly fastened to the rear axle casing (6) of a vehicle. An inflatable bellows (7) extends between the arms. When inflated, for instance by pressurized air, the bellows displaces the movable arm (4) from a folded position relative to arm (5) bringing the pulley (1) into contact with the wheel. The pulley is returned to a storage position by springs (10) joined to the arms when the bellows is deflated.

Abstract: In a drive device operated by pressure fluid a progressive linear or swinging or rotary movement of a driven element is produced by means of at least one lifting element. Between the lifting element and the driven element there is arranged at least one wedge which carries out a stepwise reciprocating movement under the influence of the lifting element. In this way the driven element is pushed forward step by step in the loaded direction via a force locking. This drive device permits a force-locked connection to the object to be moved.

Abstract: A toy has a housing in which is movably mounted a primary movable member. The primary movable member moves from a first position to a second position. The toy includes a first mechanism for moving the primary movable member from the first position to the second position and a second mechanism which moves the primary movable member from the second position to the first position, while concurrently governing the rate of the movement from the second position to the first position. Associated with the primary movable member are one or more secondary movable members. The secondary movable members are capable of moving between two positions in response to movement of the primary movable member between its first and second position. When more than one secondary movable member is included, as the primary movable member moves from the second position to the first position, the secondary movable members are sequentially moved.

Abstract: A differential pressure unit having overrange valves loosely mounted on a valve stem connected between the ends of a respective pair of movable bellows ends. A pair of spiral range springs bias both valves toward open positions. The valves include annular elastomers bonded to the edges of the apertured discs. The apertures in the discs act to allow the elastomers to seat and to unseat without causing lock-up. The discs are retained between plates and snap rings.

Abstract: Aneroid bellows assembly utilized in the emergency oxygen supply systems of aircraft includes a leaf spring mounted at its center to an adjustably positioned end fitting located on the axis of an evacuated bellows spring. The outer edges of the leaf spring are engaged with an adjustable ring threadedly mounted on the outer rim of a tubular housing member in which the bellows spring is mounted. The adjustable end fitting and ring permit elements having a substantial size tolerance to be assembled together and readily adjusted to achieve precise calibration.

Abstract: A dispensing unit which may be readily incorporated in an enclosure, such as a conventional can. The dispensing unit includes a readily collapsible bag in which a product to be dispensed is stored, and a plurality of spring strips. Each of the spring strips is of a construction to inherently roll into a coiled form and constantly urging the collapsing of the container. When the container is incorporated in an enclosure of the general can type including an upper end unit secured to a body by a seam, upper end portions of the spring strips may be anchored within the seam.

Abstract: A rotary actuator for converting reciprocating motion to rotary motion including a housing having spaced-apart end plates connected by guide rods. A bellows is provided having opposite sides one of which is connected to one of the end plates, the bellows being adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure so that the bellows expands from a collapsed to an expanded position. A guide plate is provided movably mounted on the guide rods with the other bellows side being connected thereto. A rack and pinion assembly is provided mounted on the other end plate, the rack being connected to the guide plate so that expansion and contraction of the bellows causes linear movement of the rack thereby imparting rotary movement to the pinion. A spring acts between the guide plate and the other end plate thus resisting expansion of the bellows and returning it to the collapsed position upon the release of fluid pressure.

Abstract: A pressure switching valve device including: a valve adapted to open and close an orifice defined in a valve seat; a diaphragm cooperating with the valve and so loaded as to maintain the valve in its open or closed position; and an atmospheric density compensating mechanism in engagement with the diaphragm to compensate for the opening and closing operations of the valve in response to the variation in atmospheric density, whereby the valve is opened and closed by impressing a given pressure on the diaphragm. This valve device features that the direction of a force exerted on the diaphragm so as to maintain the valve in its normally open or closed position is in coincidence with the direction of a force exerted by the atmospheric density compensating mechanism.

Abstract: An actuator device includes a chamber partly bounded by a movable wall and connected to atmosphere through a permanently open orifice and an electromagnetic valve which is maintained in a closed position when de-energized and which controls the connection to said chamber of a volume of gas at other than atmospheric pressure when said valve is open.

Abstract: A suction throttling valve is provided which is especially adapted for use as a part of a compact unit consisting of a thermostatic expansion valve, suction throttling valve, and a receiver-dryer, in an automotive air conditioning system. The suction throttling valve is characterized by the incorporation therein of a bellows assembly of unique construction, which includes a bellows, an evacuating tube for evacuating the bellows to a predetermined pressure, and a needle valve. The bellows assembly can be easily and quickly adjusted relatively to the valve housing, in a manner such as to obviate the use of extremely expensive and sophisticated testing equipment. Construction has also been simplified to eliminate certain parts previously used in other valves of this character.

Abstract: An actuating mechanism for moving an indicator, an operational tool or a structual component with a high degree of precision over precisely predeterminable distances to desired points of operation, which comprise a shaft, slidably mounted upon said shaft in end to end relation a sequence of interconnected actuating components of selectively variable length axially of said shaft each having limit stop means for positively and precisely predetermining its conditions of minimum and maximum length and thus its possible increment in length, said increments being arranged to differ for the individual components, means at one end of the sequence of components on said shaft for positively blocking movement of said sequence of components in one direction while leaving the opposite end free to move on said shaft in response to increases in the axial length of any one of said components, means selectively operable to actuate said components individually so that they assume either their condition of minimum length or the