Abstract: A pneumatic brake booster (10) having a moving piston (22) for urging an actuating rod (34) of a master cylinder (28) in response to actuation of a plunger (56). The plunger has a front end that passes through the piston (22) that forms a first feeler (62) that penetrates a reaction disc (44) located between the piston (22) and the actuating rod (34) to transmit to the plunger (56) a reaction force of the master cylinder (28) and a second feeler (68) that is pushed by the plunger (56) when the control rod (46) is actuated at a rate higher than a determined rate and immobilized by a one-way engagement device (70) in an axial position that varies with respect to the piston (22) and then is driven by the piston to push the second feeler (68) into the disc (44) so that the first feeler (52) applies a braking force more rapidly.

Abstract: A master cylinder piston for use in a motor vehicle having a flap (22) that is biased towards a position to shut off a pressure-fluid passage (24) by a return spring (28) resting on a cage (30). A flange (38) on a cage (30)for the Spring (28) is located in an annular groove (44) provided in the housing (20) for the flap (22) when the cage (30) bears axially on an inner shoulder (64) of the housing (20).

Abstract: A reaction device wherein a ratio of input force to output force for a brake booster is sequentially changed during a brake application. An actuation force derived from a pressure differential acts on a movable wall and is communicated through a cage as an output force to an push rod. The output force is a functional ratio of the input force as modified by a reaction disc and elastic means during a brake application. The reaction device functions as a rigid member until the input force reaches a first predetermined level Fd and a first boost ratio is in effect until a second predetermined force Fe is reached and a second boost ratio is in effect until a third predetermined input force level Ff is reached and a third boost ratio is in effect until a fourth predetermined fource level is reached.

Abstract: A pneumatic brake booster comprising an envelope of longitudinal axis formed of a dish having a rim and a lid. The envelope defines an interior volume that is divided into a variable-pressure work chamber and a low-pressure chamber by a skirt. The skirt is mounted to sealingly slide along the longitudinal axis of the envelope. The skirt has a central orifice with a pneumatic piston sealingly mounted therein. The sealing between the variable-pressure work chamber and the low-pressure chamber is achieved by a first sealing member arranged between a radially internal first end of the skid and a radially external end of the piston and a second sealing member arranged at a radially external second end of the skid and an internal surface of the rim. The skid provides sealing between the radially external first end of the skirt and the radially internal second end of the skirt.

Abstract: A movable wall for separating an interior of a housing for a brake booster into a first chamber and a second chamber. The movable wall is characterized by a diaphragm, a backing plate and a hub member. The diaphragm has a peripheral bead secured to the housing and an axial bead located in a groove in a cylindrical body of the hub member. The groove has a front face that is separated from a rear face by an arcuate transition surface located between a bottom of the groove and the front face. The axial bead has a profile corresponding to the groove and an arcuate lip that extends from a rear surface. The lip is connected by a convolute to a radial section of the disc portion of the diaphragm while the backing plate has an axial opening surrounded by a radial surface that engages the front face of the groove. The axial bead engages the radial surface to urge the radial annular surface into engagement with the front face of the groove while sealing the front chamber from the rear chamber.

Abstract: A valve arrangement for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid between a working chamber and an outlet chamber that passes between a seal and a seat surrounding an orifice to the outlet chamber. Fluid flowing through the orifice produces a first turbulence produces a broad band sound that is within an acceptable audible level. An actuation force applied to an input rod after overcoming a force of a return spring moves the seal toward the seat to restrict the flow of fluid from the working chamber through the orifice. The restriction in the flow of fluid through the orifice produces a second turbulence in the fluid that is communicated to the outlet chamber. The seal has an annular ring that extends into the orifice to divert the flow of fluid having the second turbulence away from the return spring to attenuate the development of a reaction in the return spring that would significantly add to the broad band sound.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a belt wherein a plurality of strips of a first material are sewn together to create an outer member having a desired length with a plurality of vertical seams. A layer of a second material is placed over the seams and sewn thereto create a plurality of vertical slots. After staves are inserted in the slots, a layer of a resilient material is placed over the second material and a layer of perforated material is placed over the resilient material. A strip of material is placed on the peripheral surface of the inner and outer members and sewn to define the belt. First and second fasteners on the first and second side sections joined together to apply a force through the staves to provide support for an underlying area of the torso of an individual to assist in attaining a desired posture.

Abstract: A support for a disc brake has first and second bores in a first projection and third and fourth bores in a second projection located in a same horizontal plane and the first and third bores aligned in a first vertical plane and the second and fourth bores aligned in a second vertical plane. A first pin retained in the first and third bores extend through a first lever to position a first friction member adjacent a rotor while a second pin extends through the second and fourth bores to position a second friction member adjacent the rotor. Pressurized fluid is supplied to act on a piston retained in the first lever such that the first lever pivots on the first pin and the second lever pivots on the second pin to thereafter move the first and second friction members into engagement with the rotor and effect a brake application.

Abstract: A brake actuating assembly includes a cam member that has first and second cam surfaces. A first piston in a first hydraulic circuit is selectively enabled to axially translate the cam member from a released position to an actuation position while an actuation piston moves friction surfaces into engagement with a rotor to effect a brake application. During a brake application, pressurized fluid is diverted away from a second piston in a second hydraulic circuit that is later enabled to return the cam member to the released position. A resilient assembly selectively engages the second cam surface to obliquely move the cam member toward the actuation piston during a brake application. An electrically actuable valve supplies pressure fluid that acts on and moves the resilient assembly away from the second cam surface and thereafter allow a second hydraulic piston to return cam member to the released position.

Abstract: A brake booster comprising an envelope (2) having a longitudinal axis (X) formed of a first (4) and of a second (6) shell to define an interior volume divided by moving a skirt into a low-pressure first chamber and a variable-pressure second chamber. A three-way valve (12) actuated by a control rod places the front chamber and the rear chamber in communication at rest and during a braking phase interrupts the communication between the front chamber and the rear chamber and thereafter allows communication of pneumatic fluid at high pressure to the rear chamber. The booster is attached to the master cylinder by a clip-fastening arrangement wherein tabs (52) that radially extend from a sleeve tube (48) are plastically deformable in the radial direction on enter into a passage (54) in a flange (56) of the master cylinder and returning to the initial position when the attachment operation is complete.

Abstract: A braking device for a motor vehicle, including a master cylinder (2) with a primary piston (3) subjected to an actuating force of an input force exerted by a manual operating member (4) and a boost force exerted by a booster (6) coupled to the manual operating member (4) and an emergency assist valve (VA). Valve (VA) comprises: a reaction piston (19) sliding in a bore (20) of the primary piston (3) and urged toward a position of rest by by an elastic return member (22); a rapid piston (32) having a cross section smaller than the reaction piston (19) and sliding in a sealed manner in a bore (31) of a bushing (30) in bore (200; and a ratio control (27) actuated by a plunger distributor (10) driven by the manual operating member (4). The elastic return member (22) is arranged outside of the primary piston (3) and a transmission element (T) is provided to transmit a return force of the elastic return member (22) to the reaction piston (19).

Abstract: A spacer for positioned a boost unit in an engine compartment of a vehicle. The spacer is defined by a wall located between a front face and a rear face, bearing surfaces, an axial opening with a flange thereon, ribs that extend from the flange to define a plurality of radial slots, an axial slot that extends from the front face toward the rear face and a peripheral slot that connects the axial slot with the engine compartment. A base of a boot that surrounds a hub on the boost unit engages the front face to define a flow path from the engine compartment to the hub. Tabs on the spacer assure that the front face is aligned with the base while the radial ribs prevent the base from engaging the wall to assure that the size of flow path remains constant during the communication of air to the hub.

Abstract: A track has a housing with a bore therein that extends from a first end to a second end, a linear slot at the top of the bore, a radial projection perpendicular to the linear slot, an axial groove in the bore, a plurality of radial openings that extend through the radial projection, a first leg thereon tangent to the top and a second leg tangent to the bottom of the bore. First and second cylindrical members on a ladder are located in the bore and a bolt inserted into each radial opening. Each bolt has a head that is located in the axial groove and a shaft that extends through an opening in a deck on a watercraft. A nut attached to each shaft such that the legs and a base on the radial projection are urged into engagement with the deck to affix the ladder to the deck.

Abstract: A brake booster having a movable partition (6) through which an output force is carried through a first reaction device (24,25) to a brake system in response to an input force applied to a brake rod (9). A second reaction device (29-34) is located between the brake rod (9) and the first reaction device (24,25) and includes a first spring (34) that is compressed by a predetermined reaction force and the input force such that any further input force is carried through a second spring (32) into the movable partition (6) to provide and additional force in the development of an output farce corresponding to a desired a brake application.

Abstract: A pneumatic brake booster for a motor vehicle, of the type in which the movements of a control rod (38) are able to determine the openings and closings of at least one axial intake valve (52) which is inserted between a pressure source subjected to the pressure (Pa) higher than the first pressure (P1) and a rear chamber (18) of the booster, and of at least one axial equalizing valve (50) which is inserted between a front chamber (16) and the rear chamber (18), to actuate a moving partition (14) inserted between the front chamber (16) and the rear chamber (18), characterized in that it comprises a tubular element (76) of which axially offset transverse faces (78, 80) comprise first elements (82, 84) for sealing the axial intake and equalizing valves (50, 52) and that the control rod (38) is able to operate via two concentric springs (40, 122) having different stiffnesses.

Abstract: A brake booster having a housing is separated into a first chamber and a second chamber by a wall connected to a hub. The hub has a cylindrical body with an axial bore that retains a control valve for sequentially connecting the first chamber with the second chamber to provide for the equalization of fluid pressure therein to define a first mode of operation and interrupting communication between the first and second chambers while connecting the second chamber to a surrounding environment to allow air to enter into the second chamber and create a pressure differential across the wall to defining a second mode of operation. The pressure differential acts on the wall to develop an output force that pressurize fluid to effect a brake application. The brake booster is characterized by a first input member responsive to a manual input and a second input member responsive to an ECU for moving the control valve from the first mode to the second mode to respectively develop first and second brake applications.

Abstract: A tandem brake booster has a housing defined by a front shell that is joined to a rear shell to create an interior cavity. The interior cavity is divided by first and second diaphragm assemblies that are separated by a partition member to respectively isolate a first chamber from a second chamber and a third chamber from a fourth chamber. The first and third chambers are connected to fluid having a substantially constantly first pressure while the second and fourth chambers are connected to selectively receive the fluid at the first pressure or fluid at a second pressure. The partition member is characterized by a disc with a cylindrical body extending from a ledge formed on a peripheral surface of the disc and a flange located on the cylindrical body between the ledge and an end face of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A brake fluid reservoir (10) for a motor vehicle having at least one impervious and flexible wall (12) whose capacity is adjusted to the volume of brake fluid contained therein to avoid placing the reservoir at a depression with a drop in the level of brake fluid. The flexible wall (12) forms a pouch containing brake fluid and has an outlet arrangement (16) that is initially closed by an impervious membrane (32) that is punctured to supply brake fluid to a second reservoir (20) connected to a brake system.