Abstract: An anti-spin brake energizer includes a friction member pivotally mounted adjacent a brake rotor. A solenoid urges the friction member into engagement with the rotor in response to a spinning wheel condition. The engaged friction member wedges between a piston and the rotor and wedges the piston away from the rotor. The movement of the piston away from the rotor generates a fluid pressure signal in a chamber communicated to the brake to retard the rotation of the rotor to thereby eliminate the spinning condition. A relief valve communicates the chamber with the master cylinder to terminate the fluid pressure signal in response to deactivation of the solenoid and to permit return of the friction member to its rest position spaced apart from the rotor.

Abstract: An automatic load-leveling pump is adapted for use with an air adjustable shock absorber to maintain a substantially constant vehicle height despite changes in vehicle loading. The pump includes a housing connected to the vehicle axle and a pump piston connected to the vehicle frame. A feedback device slides within the housing in response to air pressure and includes a cylinder, which, together with the pump piston, encloses a compression chamber. The feedback device moves in response to air pressure to control the compression ratio of the compression chamber.

Abstract: Control valve in which the reaction torque is created firstly by hydraulic reaction means and secondly by resilient means to provide for a second gradient of reaction torque; the invention consists in a control valve having a star-shaped rotor rotatably mounted in a disc chamber of a stator to define notably with a constituting member of that chamber several working chambers, the arms of said star-shaped rotor being of unequal lengths to provide for a first gradient of reaction torque, as known per se, and the improvement consisting in that the member is rotatable with respect to a surrounding intermediate member of said stator and that resilient means are located between members to provide for a second gradient of reaction torque.

Abstract: The articulated joint consists of a spherical ball with a stem which is assembled to pivot in a housing by means of a bearing member made from plastics material having an annular flange supported by a closing washer and provided with a series of slots which subdivide it into petals arranged between the ball and the bottom of the housing. The petals are in the form of wedges and are loaded by elastic elements made of the same material as the spherical ball race and which bear on the annular flange to ensure the preloading and automatic taking up of play.

Abstract: A disc brake includes a torque plate (14) which supports a caliper (20) via at least one pin assembly (24). The pin assembly comprises a first part (48) and a second part (50). The second part defines a first friction surface (55) with the first part and a second friction surface (57) with the caliper. The first friction surface generates less friction than the second friction surface to assist a rotor 12 in "knocking-back" a pair of friction elements (42) and (44), thereby substantially eliminating drag between the rotor and the pair of friction elements.

Abstract: A fluid-operated brake embodying a pressurized fluid chamber with a single supply and bleed fitting is provided. The pressurized fluid chamber can be a wheel cylinder of a drum brake or a caliper housing of a disc brake, by way of example. The chamber has a single port therein in which a fitting is mounted, the fitting being designed to supply fluid under pressure to the chamber and to bleed gas, commonly air, from the chamber. With only a single opening for the chamber, one boss can be eliminated to save weight, and machining of that boss is also eliminated to save costs. The single opening also achieves greater flexibility in design options.

Abstract: A self-resetting warning actuator (42) for a vehicle brake system includes a housing (27) having a bore (44) which defines a recess (58). A pair of pressure responsive pistons (50, 54) are received in the housing bore and each is exposed to the pressure in one brake circuit. A roller member (48) is disposed in the housing recess and between the pistons. When the brake system is operating normally, the pressures in the two brake circuits are substantially equal and the pistons define a neutral position. Should one of the circuits fail, the pistons are shifted from their neutral position by the resulting pressure difference between the circuits. The housing recess defines a ramp which forces the roller member between the pistons when the pistons shift from their neutral position. A signaling device, by its response to the movement of the pistons, provides a warning to the vehicle operator.

Abstract: A self-energized, self-contained power steering unit is provided. The power steering unit requires no external power source for the pressurized fluid supplied therein to assist the steering. Instead, the unit has a pump which supplies fluid under pressure, with the pump being operated by the motion of the vehicle on which the power steering unit is used. Preferably, two pumps are employed at ends of the power steering unit and are operated by the motion of the tie rods of the vehicle. The unit requires no external passages but contains an accumulator and a reservoir connected to two annular cylinders by internal passages and an internal spool valve controlled by the steering mechanism.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster includes a housing 12 with a first chamber 40 and a second chamber 42. An input member 54 extends into the first chamber 40 and is exposed to the second chamber 42. The input member is movable within the first chamber 40 to increase fluid pressure within the second chamber 42 and this fluid pressure operates a control valve 90 to communicate fluid pressure to the first chamber 40. The fluid pressure in the first chamber 40 acts against the input to bias the same toward the second chamber 42. An output member 70 is movable in response to the fluid pressure within the second pressure chamber 42 to actuate braking.

Abstract: A master cylinder provides a housing defining a reservoir and movably carrying a pair of pistons within a bore in communication with the reservoir. The pair of pistons cooperate with the housing to substantially define a pair of pressure chambers which communicate with respective brake circuits. One of the pistons forms a cavity to receive a reaction piston and the one piston also carries a proportioning valve. The reaction piston forms an auxiliary chamber within the one piston and the proportioning valve is exposed to the auxiliary chamber. The reaction piston extends outwardly into one of the pressure chambers to engage the housing and the valve member is responsive to the fluid pressure in the other pressure chamber to control fluid communication between the auxiliary chamber and the reservoir.

Abstract: An absolute-control numerical hydraulic actuating device with display of the output position, comprising a hydraulic jack, a distributor formed with orifices and a selector connected to the orifices in order to make the required hydraulic connections for hydraulic locking in the desired output position.According to the invention, the orifices of the distributor can be selectively connected by the selector to the active chamber of the jack in order hydraulically to lock the output positions in accordance with numerical orders supplied to the selector, and additional intermediate locking positions are created by the provision of additional rows of orifices which can be selectively connected to the high-pressure source, to the low-pressure source, or to the active chamber of the jack through a further selector.

Abstract: A control valve comprised of a stator defining a discoidal chamber enclosing a star-shaped rotor, enclosures being defined between supply arms and discharge arms of the rotor respectively moving in front of fluid supply apertures and fluid discharge apertures and defining with said chamber variable supply passages and variable discharge passages, wherein the improvement consists of intermediate arms between each couple of supply and discharge arms, dividing the enclosure into two cavities, said intermediate arm cooperating and/or defining intermediate ports for variable communication between both cavities, one of which for providing pressure and the other for providing modulation.

Abstract: A pressure regulator for an anti-skid/anti-spin brake system includes a regulator which adjusts an accumulator pressure to the brake fluid pressure generated during an operator brake application. The adjusted pressure may then be communicated to a wheel brake by a modulator valve during the final phase of an anti-skid cycle. In the absence of an operator brake application a spring biases the regulator so that a reduced accumulator pressure is available for communication to the brake during anti-spin operation. A piston responds to brake pressure generated during an operator brake application to prevent the spring from influencing the adjusted accumulator pressure.

Abstract: A floating-caliper disc brake (10) includes a non-rotating torque member (38) which carries the caliper (22) in fixed radial position relative to the disc (12) via a pair of pins (50). The torque member and caliper each have matching grooves (46, 48) which, when placed in registry, define a pair of apertures (49) between the caliper and the arms (40, 42) of the torque member. The pins are complementary in cross-section to the shape of these apertures so as to space apart the caliper and the torque member when the pins are inserted into the apertures. Brake torque is transferred from the caliper to the torque member solely through the pins which may be made of a material resistant to corrosion. Sliding of the caliper along the pins provides for axial movement of the caliper relative to the torque member and brake rotor, but the caliper is otherwise restrained from movement in the radial and circumferential directions.

Abstract: A remotely controlled manual hub clutch assembly includes an axle and a wheel hub rotatably mounted on a vehicle housing. A pair of relatively movable coupling portions provide an engageable and disengageable driving connection between the axle and the wheel hub. The vehicle operator may engage and disengage the coupling members by moving a linkage connected to a movable one of the coupling members. A synchronizer prevents engagement of the coupling members until the rotation speeds of the wheel hub and the axle are substantially equalized so that the hub clutch can be engaged or disengaged while the vehicle is in motion. A non-rotating sleeve surrounds the axle and acts as a linkage to operate the coupling members.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly includes a caliper movable relative to a rotor for the purpose of urging a pair of friction elements into engagement with the rotor. A housing of the caliper defines a stepped bore for receiving a piston which cooperates with the housing to form a pressure chamber within the stepped bore. A plate within the pressure chamber separate the pressure chamber into a pair of cavities and a valve assembly controls communication of fluid pressure to one of the pair of cavities and to the other cavity. During initial fluid pressure build-up in the caliper, the valve assembly remains in a first position to communicate fluid pressure to one of the cavities so that the plate and piston advance to a braking position at a first rate of speed.

Abstract: A device for hydraulically assisted steering of a motor vehicle, comprising a steering control member extended by a sleeve, a rotor and a torsion-bar connecting the rotor and the steering control member; the sleeve includes a first group of two pairs of passage means and the rotor includes a second group of two pairs of passage means each passage means of said second group being shaped such that it can communicate with two passage means belonging to two different pairs of said first group, a source of high pressure and a drain being permanently connected to a pair of passage means of one group, respectively, and the edges of passage means of at least one group, directed along the axis of the sleeve, having a non linear profile defined as a function of the characteristic .DELTA.p=f(.theta.) desired.

Abstract: The tandem master cylinder is provided with an equalizer device comprising a plunger mounted intermediate two chambers which are respectively connected to the two cavities of the master cylinder. At least one of the ducts connecting the master cylinder and the equalizer device is formed with a constriction slowing down the flow of brake fluid so as to permit a pressure buildup in one of the braking circuits, in case of failure of the other circuit, since the very start of the pedal stroke.

Abstract: A hydraulic rotary distributor comprising two rotary members connected respectively to an input shaft and to an output shaft for controlling the supply in pressurized fluid to a power-assistance motor as a function of their relative angular position. According to this invention, are provided locking means dependent of a control pressure for preventing said rotary members from relative rotation until the torque applied to the input shaft exceeds a predetermined value. The invention is particularly intended for use in power steering mechanisms for automotive vehicles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a two-compartment reservoir for liquid, comprised of two superposed parts and provided with a transfer channel which opens into both compartments and which runs parallel to the plane of the liquid contained in the reservoir.The junction plane of the two parts of the reservoir is inclined, with respect to the bottom of each of them, at an angle ".alpha./2", which permits to manufacture with the same parts two types of reservoirs: the first one for horizontal installation and the other one for inclined installation, at an angle ".alpha.".Suitable grooves, provided in the walls, of the two parts cooperate in both cases to form the transfer channel parallel to the plane of liquid.The invention is particularly useful in hydraulic braking systems for automotive vehicles.