Abstract: A brake booster (12) having a housing (18) with an interior separated into a front chamber (26) and a rear chamber (28) by a wall (30) retained on a peripheral surface (106) of a cylindrical body (34) of a hub (32). The cylindrical body (34) is characterized by having a radial flange (100) that extends from a first end (44), a ledge (102) located adjacent the radial flange (100), an annular shoulder (104) that extends from the peripheral surface (106) and a groove (108) located between the ledge (102) and shoulder (104). The groove (108) has a depth (d) adjacent the shoulder (104) that is approximately equal to the height (h) of the shoulder (104) above the peripheral surface (106) and a side wall (110) that transitions from the groove (108) into the ledge (102). The wall (30) is characterized by a metal disc (38) having an axial flange (202) that extends from a first end (204) into an annular slot (218) in a diaphragm (36) to define a lip (40).

Abstract: A braking device comprising a master cylinder (2), a primary piston (3), a manual control member (4), a booster (6) coupled to the manual control member (4) and an emergency assist valve (VA). The emergency assist valve comprising a reaction piston (17) through which there passes a ratio control (T) having a head (26a) situated in a chamber (35) lying between the reaction piston (17) and a bushing (36) located further forward in a bore (18) in the primary piston. The bushing (36) has a bore (37) in which there can slide a rapid piston (38), the rear end (45) of which forms, with the head (26a) of the ratio control, a valve (C). The valve (C) is capable of closing the inlet to a passage (39) in the rapid piston against the action of a spring (41). The braking device comprises a means (26, 27, 30) for preventing a sharp retreat of the reaction piston (17) when the manual control member (4) is released after slow braking.

Abstract: A method of attaching a bearing (216) and hub (214) to a knuckle (212) in a corner assembly (220) of a vehicle to prevent the introduction of lateral moments into a plurality of rollers (232,234,232′,234′) retained in the bearing (216). The bearing (216) has an inner race (222) and an outer race (226) with the plurality of rollers (232,234,232′,234′) being retained between an outer race (226) and an inner race (222). The hub (214) has a cylindrical body with a flange (220) located adjacent a first end (219) and a mounting surface (224) located adjacent a second end (213). The flange (220) has a plurality of axial openings (250,250′ . . . 250n) that are spaced in an arc with respect to an axis of the cylindrical body. After the inner race (222) is located on the mounting surface (224), the inner race (222) is fixed to the cylindrical body. Thereafter, hub (214) is placed on a tool (242) such that a plurality of pins (248,248′ . . .

Abstract: A plunger arrangement (46,56,58) for a braking servomotor that has an actuating piston to provide a force to activate a master cylinder. The plunger arrangement (46,56,58) is located in a bore of a movable wall (14) that separates the interior of the servomotor into a front chamber and rear chamber, The plunger arrangement (46,56,58) is connected to a resiliently returned control rod (38) and slides in bore as a function of an input force to define a braking application. The end of the plunger arrangement (46,56,58) is slidingly fitted so as to bias a reaction disk of the actuating rod and transmit a reaction force to the control rod. The plunger arrangement (46,56,58) includes a unidirectional clutch device (56) comprising a key (60) and a sleeve (58) that are slidably mounted on a plunger (46) such that when the control rod (38) is actuated at a given speed the sleeve (58) is locked in the bore of the movable wall (14), independently of the control rod (38), to maintain a braking application.

Abstract: An adjustable timing system controlled by a water meter indicator activates an electric shut-off valve at a main water supply to a building or apartment unit if a continuous flow of water exceeds the time setting. The timing system may optionally be set to a full open condition bypassing the timing function and allowing unrestricted water flow or an off condition preventing any water flow. The timing system is reset to begin anew timing the continuous flow of water each time that flow ceases and may be manually reset after a continuous flow of water has exceeded the time setting or a power interruption has disabled the water flow.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly for a vehicle wherein first and second brake shoes are positioned on a backing plate and radially aligned with a drum by a resilient arrangement. The resilient arrangement is characterized by first and second spring each of which have a first helical coil located between a first engagement section and a second engagement section, a second helical coil that extends from a first end of the first engagement section to a second end and a third helical coil that extends from a first end of the second section to second end. The second ends of the first and second engagement sections are connected to the backing plate such that the first and second engagement sections contact the first and second shoes and the second and third helical coils urge the first and second shoes toward the backing plate while the first helical coils urges the first and second shoes toward an actuator and an adjuster to define a rest position for the first and second brake shoes.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly has a support member secured to a vehicle to position a caliper over a rotor. The caliper has a housing with a bore therein for retaining a piston and a first friction member attached thereto in alignment with a first braking surface on the rotor and a bridge that straddles the rotor to position a second friction member in alignment with a second braking surface on the rotor. The bore receives pressurized fluid from a source that acts on the piston to develop an actuation force for moving the first friction member into engagement with the first braking surface and acts on the housing to cause the caliper to move the second friction member into engagement with the second braking surface to effect a brake application. The first and second friction members have a first initial thickness and the rotor has a second initial thickness that are reduced with each brake application.

Abstract: An adjuster mechanism in a drum brake wherein a rotation of a star wheel on a shaft of an extendable strut is limited to a single increment define the pitch of a plurality of teeth on the star wheel. The limitation is achieved by a lever that is carried by a web of a brake shoe has a first blade that in perpendicular alignment with a first tooth of the plurality of teeth while a second blade is offset from a second tooth and located in a plane that is substantially parallel with the pitch. When the lever is pivoted on the web through a predetermined angle, the first blade slides into engagement with a third tooth while the second blade moves through the offset and into engagement with the second tooth to connect the lever with the star wheel. Any further pivoting of the lever by movement of the web toward the drum results in the lever and star wheel moving together.

Abstract: An actuator mechanism in a drum-in-hat park brake having a housing with a first end that engages a first web of a first brake shoe and a second end that engages a second web of a second brake shoe. A lever pivotally retained in the housing has a first end that engages the first web and a second end with a hook thereon for receiving a loop end of a linkage connected to an input member. On receipt of an input force the lever pivots and exert an actuation force on the first and second webs to correspondingly moves first and second friction members associated with the first and second brake shoes into engagement with a drum to effect a brake application.

Abstract: The invention provides a pneumatic servomotor for an assisted braking of a motor vehicle, of the type comprising a unidirectional clutch device, which includes a coaxial sleeve (58), sliding on a plunger (46), and axial-locking means, which are capable of locking said sleeve (58) in an end front axial position, in which it locks the piston (22) independently of the control rod (38), when an input force is applied at a given speed on the control rod (38) integral with the plunger (46), characterised in that the unidirectional clutch device comprises damping means, made of an elastomeric material and interposed between a stop-forming transverse intermediate face (59) of the plunger (46) and an opposite transverse face (76) of the sleeve (58), so as to permit, once the input force is released and when the locking means no longer lock the sleeve (58), the noiseless return of the sleeve (58) to its rear rest position.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster has a housing with a stepped bore for retaining a cylindrical piston and a control bore for retaining a control valve. The cylindrical piston defines, with the stepped bore, an output chamber, a relief chamber and a power chamber; and includes a second stepped bore for a reaction piston. The reaction piston includes an axial bore, receiving a plunger defining an actuation chamber and a poppet valve. The input force initially moves the plunger and poppet valve to interrupt communication between the actuation and relief chambers; and thereafter moves the plunger to pressurize fluid in the actuation chamber, creating an input signal. The input signal activates the control valve; generating a regulated pressurized fluid, supplied directly to a second set of wheel brakes and acts on the cylindrical piston, to pressurize operational fluid supplied to a first set of wheel brakes.

Abstract: A control valve (10) having a plunger (64) with a stem having a flange defined by a first diameter (66) loosely located in a first diameter (58) of a bearing (50) and a second diameter (68) sealingly located in a second diameter (56) of the bearing (50). A space between the flange and the bearing (50) defining a dampening chamber (82) such that on movement of plunger (64) toward an actuation chamber (54), fluid is drawing through a controlled flow path (x) into the dampening chamber (82). Under certain operational conditions, fluid pressure in the actuation chamber (54) maybe subjected to oscillation and the fluid in the dampening chamber (82) cancels the effect to the oscillation such that plunger (64) remains in a substantially stationary position corresponding to an input force applied thereto to effect a brake application.

Abstract: A disc brake having a ball-in-ramp actuator retained in a caliper for supplying a piston with a static clamping force to move first and second friction members into frictional engagement with a rotor to effect a parking brake application. The clamping force is transmitted from the ball-in-ramp actuator into the piston through an adjustment screw mechanism. The disc brake being susceptible to a thermal expansion and a thermal contraction and as a result the effect of the clamping force applied to bring the first and second friction members into engagement with the rotor may change during a time period that the parking brake application is initiated until it is terminated.