Abstract: A vehicle braking system is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the system has an actuator frame with a bore fluidly connected to the wheel brake and to a master cylinder. A piston, mounted within the bore, is operationally associated with a non-rotative nut which is threadably engaged by a power screw. To maximize reaction speed, a high efficiency thread is utilized between the power screw and the non-rotative nut. Therefore, pressure within the actuator can backdrive the piston. To prevent backdriving of the piston, there is a spring locking mechanism. The spring locking mechanism has a driver, a driven member and a coil spring with a loop.

Abstract: An arrangement for a master cylinder and a vacuum booster for an automotive vehicle is provided including a vacuum booster having a first travel axis generally parallel with a travel axis of a vehicle and a housing for attachment to the vehicle, a master cylinder for fluidly actuating a braking system, the master cylinder having a piston slidably mounted along a second travel axis generally perpendicular to the first travel axis, a tubular enclosed conduit relay housing having a first end connected with the booster housing having a first opening and a second opening, the relay housing being connected with and supporting the master cylinder housing at a position spaced away from the vacuum booster housing, and a relay link pivotally mounted with respect to the relay housing by the pin, the relay link transmitting force between the booster and the master cylinder via first and second pivotally connected clevises.

Abstract: A fastening arrangement for connecting a first member to a second member which has a threaded bore is provided which includes a bolt having a head on one end and an attached shank with a threaded portion, a flange connected with the first member, the flange having a support surface for supporting the bolt head, and a bore intersecting the support surface allowing for penetration of the bolt shank, the bore also having at least two radially inward protruding guides for centering the bolt shank within the bore, and at least one compliant finger integrally formed and connected with the flange which by insertion of the bolt is deformed to a position to compliantly bias the bolt shank against at least one of the guides and to also retain the bolt shank within the bore.

Abstract: A push rod is connected in pivotal retained relation to a polymeric member such as a power booster air valve polymeric insert having a stiffness less than that of an air valve. In a preferred embodiment, the insert is fitted on the spherical ball end of the push rod, and the insert with the push rod is then inserted into a recess in the member. The insert has a plurality of arms extending from the insert base end at a slight angle outwardly relative to the insert axis. The insert also has an attached metallic end on its base end to better distribute the force input from the push rod to the air valve. The arms and the member recess are provided with various cam surfaces which force the arms inwardly in cantilever fashion during the insertion movement, and the arms have surfaces on their outer ends which fit within an annular groove in the cylindrical side wall of the member recess, locking the insert to the rod spherical ball end and also within the member recess.

Abstract: A disc brake is provided with a modified outer brake pad to brake flange contact area. The modified contact area leaves a substantial portion of the outer brake pad unsupported leading to reduced outer diameter/inner diameter radial taper wear of the brake pad.

Abstract: A double-stitch sewing machine is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a throat plate and feed dog with a needle opening for supporting a material to be sewn, a reciprocating needle to penetrate the material, the needle having an eyelet for insertion of a needle thread, the needle being able to penetrate through the sewn material and carry the needle thread through the needle opening, a rotating hook for pulling on the needle thread after insertion of the needle thread through the needle opening, forming a loop in the needle thread with a first leg of the loop being joined with the sewn material and the needle and a second leg of the loop being joined only with the sewn material, a bobbin carrier mounted within the rotating hook having an adjacent clearance with the rotating hook, allowing the rotating hook to cause the needle thread to be brought underneath the bobbin carrier, the bobbin carrier dispensing bobbin thread in cooperation with the rotating hook pulling of the needle thread, a firs

Abstract: A recliner arrangement for a vehicle seat is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a seat cushion unit, a seat backrest unit pivotally connected to the seat cushion unit, a linear recliner for selectively adjusting the pivotal location of the backrest unit, and an energy absorber interposed between the linear recliner and the seat backrest unit, the energy absorber being operative upon a predetermined magnitude of force exerted thereon.

Abstract: A disc brake with a caliper housing having first and second side walls, the first wall having a cavity with a piston slidably mounted therein, the piston having a first shoe for frictional engagement with one of the sides of a rotor, the housing also having a bridge spanning the sides of the rotor and extending from the bridge, the housing having a second wall with an attached second shoe for frictional engagement with the rotor opposite the first shoe. A bracket is connected with the vehicle having first leading and second trailing reaction arms. The caliper is slidably mounted with the bracket arms. Extending the piston from the caliper housing to actuate the brake brings the shoes into engagement with the rotor and causes the inboard shoe to react on the trailing bracket arm and the caliper housing to react in the trailing direction into the leading bracket arm.

Abstract: An automotive reservoir arrangement is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a reservoir body capable of holding fluid to a first elevation, a vent cap connected with the reservoir body above the first elevation, a conduit connected with the reservoir at a level below the first elevation, a cylinder fluidly connected with the conduit at a second elevation below the first elevation, the cylinder having a flange, a filler tube sealably slidably inserted within the cylinder being spring biased to extend to a third elevation higher than the first elevation, and a cap for sealing the filler tube and the cap engaging with the flange of the cylinder to retain the filler tube at a fourth elevation below the first elevation.

Abstract: A dual rail adjuster arrangement is provided that is hidden beneath the floor. The adjuster can be used for front or rear seat applications and offers the necessary strength and stability that prior wheeled adjusters cannot. In addition, the present invention offers the ability to remove the seat so that a van cargo area can be cleared in a relatively simple manner. The adjuster arrangement is non-obtrusive, and the floor is left relatively flat when the seats are removed. In a preferred embodiment, the adjuster includes an elongate stationary rail that is substantially recessed below the vehicle floor. The rail is positioned into a formation in the floor or, if additional strength is necessary, into a reinforcement that extends below the floor. A slider rail is fitted at the stationary rail and is supported by roller ball bearings or other similar means interposed between the two rails.

Abstract: A valving arrangement as provided for a vehicle brake booster wherein an inlet valve has two ring members. The inlet valve, by providing the two ring members, one ring member inserted within another member, is less vulnerable to leaks due to a lack of parallelism.

Abstract: A vehicle braking system is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the system has an actuator frame with a bore fluidly connected to the wheel brake and to a master cylinder. A piston, mounted within the bore, is operationally associated with a non-rotative nut which is threadably engaged by a power screw. To maximize reaction speed, a high efficiency thread is utilized between the power screw and the non-rotative nut. Therefore, pressure within the actuator can backdrive the piston. To prevent backdriving of the piston, there is a spring locking mechanisms. The spring locking mechanism has a driver, a driven member and a coil spring with a contacting mass at its end. The contacting mass is nested within the driven member.

Abstract: An electro-hydraulic braking system for a vehicle is provided including, in a preferred embodiment, a master cylinder, an alpha first pressure transducer providing a signal in response to the pressure of the fluid delivered by the master cylinder, an accumulator for accepting fluid from the master cylinder, an electric actuator for delivering and relieving pressurized fluid to the brake in response to the alpha pressurizer transducer in a normal mode of operation, an isolation valve isolating the master cylinder from the wheel brake when the braking system is in a normal braking mode and exposing the master cylinder with the wheel brake during an occurrence of an electric failure, and an accumulator shut-off valve to diminish the capacity of the accumulator when the master cylinder is exposed to the wheel brake due to an electric failure.

Abstract: A vehicle braking system is provided. In a preferred embodiment, the system has an actuator frame with a bore fluidly connected to the wheel brake and to a master cylinder. A piston, mounted within the bore, is operationally associated with a non-rotative nut which is threadably engaged by a power screw. To maximize reaction speed, a high efficiency thread is utilized between the power screw and the non-rotative nut. Therefore, pressure within the actuator can backdrive the piston. To prevent backdriving of the piston, there is a spring locking mechanism. The spring locking mechanism has a driver, a driven member and a coil spring with a tang at its end. The driven member has an elastomeric torsion member to absorb torsion shocks.

Abstract: A wheel cylinder has a body, pistons, boots and seals. A screw assembly positioned between the two pistons holds the pistons apart to maintain the specified clearance between the brake linings and the brake drum while the brake is released. If a predetermined amount of outward movement of the pistons occurs during brake actuation, the screw rotates with further piston outward movement. When the brake is released, the pistons return inwardly, and the screw is locked against reverse rotation by means of a clutch, preventing the pistons from returning more than the prior predetermined amount of outward movement before screw rotation began. A clutch seal on an extension of one clutch member seals in a piston cylinder section. The other clutch member is formed on that piston next to one end of the cylinder section. The cylinder section axially beyond the seal is vented to atmosphere.

Abstract: A vacuum-actuated brake booster which can better utilize a wire elongated member type travel clip is brought forth. The brake booster provides a dual durometer rear bearing having a first soft portion for sealing and supporting the power piston and a second harder portion for cushioning the travel clip upon its engagement with the rear housing.

Abstract: A drum brake comprising a drum; first and second brake shoes which carry friction lining material; at least one hydraulic actuator engaging the brake shoes for moving the friction lining material into contact with the drum on actuation thereof, a clearance existing between the friction lining material and the drum in the non-actuated position of the hydraulic actuator; a wear adjuster for adjusting the value of the clearance, the wear adjuster comprising a screw-threaded rod engaging the first brake shoe, a nut rotatably threaded on the screw-threaded rod and engaging the second brake shoe, ratchet teeth integrally formed on either the screw-threaded rod or the nut, an adjuster actuator having an integral pawl thereon and being pivotally mounted on one of the brake shoes, an actuator spring to bias the pawl into contact with the ratchet teeth; and a heat sensitive member mounted on said one brake shoe, the heat sensitive member being engageable with the adjuster actuator only when the temperature exceeds a pr

Abstract: A braking system is provided which, in a preferred embodiment, includes a master cylinder having a bore with first and second diameters, a first piston slidably mounted within the master cylinder having a first periphery sealed with the bore first diameter and a second periphery sealed with the bore second diameter, the first piston establishing within the master cylinder bore a first pressure chamber between the first and second sealed peripheries and a second pressure chamber between the first piston second sealed periphery and the bore closed end, the first piston also having a central bore exposed to the second pressure chamber, first and second fluid lines joining the first and second pressure chambers with the wheel brake, a second piston slidably sealably inserted within the first piston bore, the second piston having a flange and having limiting displacement away from the bore closed end, a spring captured between the first piston and the second piston flange, a pressure sensor to determine the pressu

Abstract: A disc brake is provided with a modified outer brake pad to brake flange contact area. The modified contact area leaves a substantial portion of the outer brake pad unsupported leading to reduced outer diameter/inner diameter radial taper wear of the brake pad.

Abstract: Anti-lock/traction control braking system for a vehicle is provided which in a preferred embodiment includes a master cylinder, a brake, a controller providing a signal when a wheel condition is within preset parameters, an isolating value to separate the brake from the master cylinder means when the braking system goes into an anti-lock braking or traction control mode of operation, an anti-lock braking actuator including a bore fluidly connecting with the brake and having a piston reciprocally mounted within and a first motor responsive to a signal given by the controller for powering the anti-lock braking piston. A traction control actuator is also provided having fluid connections with the master cylinder and the anti-lock braking actuator. The traction control actuator has at least one piston reciprocally mounted within a bore.