Abstract: A disc brake assembly includes a frame which is movably disposed relative to a rotor and a central opening on the frame carries a pair of friction elements facing opposite sides of the rotor. An adjuster assembly is disposed within the central opening to control the position of the pair of friction elements relative to the rotor. The adjuster assembly includes a lever pivotally engaging the frame and an extendible assembly cooperating with the lever and frame to control the pivotal position of the lever relative to the frame. An actuator extends into the central opening and is engageable with one of the friction elements and the lever. Upon operation of the actuator, the one friction element separates from the lever to engage the rotor and the frame moves to engage the other friction element with the rotor. A pawl is responsive to movement of the actuator to control extension of the extendible assembly.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly includes a pair of brake shoes which are movable from a non-braking position to a braking position in engagement with a rotatable member. A hydraulic actuator is engageable with the pair of brake shoes to move the latter to the braking position and a strut extends between the pair of brake shoes to substantially define the non-braking position. The strut comprises a unitary sleeve with a bore for receiving projections extending from the pair of brake shoes. The bore is stepped with a threaded portion and a tapered diameter portion. The threaded portion engages one of the projections on one of the brake shoes such that rotation of the unitary sleeve by a pawl causes the unitary sleeve and other brake shoe to move away from the one brake shoe. The unitary sleeve is radially expanded at an intermediate location to define a ratchet wheel in engagement with the pawl.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydraulic brake booster and a shuttle valve which is operable to limit the pressure communicated to a pressure chamber within the hydraulic brake booster. The shuttle valve is disposed within a control valve which is operator-actuated to communicate pressurized fluid to the pressure chamber so as to provide a power assist to braking via a piston responsive to pressurized fluid in the pressure chamber. The shuttle valve is exposed to the pressure chamber and movable relative to the control valve when the pressure in the pressure chamber is above a predetermined value in order to terminate or decrease communication of pressurized fluid to the pressure chamber. At the same time the shuttle valve cooperates with the control valve to reopen communication to an outlet as the control valve operates to close communication thereto during braking.

Abstract: A brake lining wear sensor produces an audible signal when it engages a rotating brake drum upon a predetermined amount of lining wear. The sensor is disposed within a groove between a friction lining and a brake shoe rim. Portions of the sensor project away from a body portion and engage the rotating brake drum to produce the warning signal. The projecting portions also cooperate with surfaces of the brake shoe rim or the friction lining to retain the sensor within the groove.

Abstract: In a drum brake assembly a hydraulic actuator is engageable with a pair of brake shoes to move the same into engagement with a rotatable member. A parking lever also cooperates with the pair of brake shoes to move the same into engagement with the rotatable member and an anchor plate forms a connecting member between the pair of brake shoes. A backing plate supports the pair of brake shoes and the anchor plate. The anchor plate is movably supported by the backing plate and a latch cooperates with the anchor plate in a first position to fix the anchor plate to the backing plate. The latch is movable to a second position spaced from the anchor plate to permit the latter to move relative to the backing plate. In order to control the position setting of the latch, the latch is coupled to the parking lever so that the latch remains in the first position until the parking lever is moved whereupon the latch is also moved to the second position.

Abstract: Hydraulic servo-mechanism having a housing in which is defined a cavity with an input member and an output member mounted coaxial therein and each supporting a single sprocket. In a bore of the housing having its axis perpendicular to that of the input and output members, a distribution spool is slidably disposed, with push rod and means facing its respective ends for imparting movement thereto. A double sprocket is rotatably mounted at each outer end of the respective push rod means. The housing rotatably supports another double sprocket which is disposed in substantially the same plane as the sprockets of the input and output members. A first chain meshes with the sprocket of the input member and a first set of the teeth of each of the double sprockets. A second chain meshes with the sprocket of the output member and a second set of the teeth of each of the double sprockets.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake booster provides a housing within which a spool valve is slidably mounted. The housing forms a pressure chamber and the spool valve is movable from a first position venting the pressure chamber to a second position, communicating the pressure chamber to a fluid pressure source as the spool valve moves toward the second position. A piston or cylindrical accumulator is also slidably mounted in the housing and moves in response to pressurized fluid in the pressure chamber to actuate braking. In order to hydraulically actuate braking when the pressure source is disabled, the piston includes a storage chamber within which pressurized fluid from the pressure chamber is stored. With the source disabled an operator actuating means moves the spool valve to the second position to close the pressure chamber to the pressure source.

Abstract: A fluid pressure generator, such as a master cylinder, includes a housing with a bore for movably supporting a pair of pistons. The pair of pistons cooperate with the housing and with each other to substantially define a pair of pressure chambers which are communicated with respective brake assemblies. A first piston of the pair of pistons is movable within the housing to pressurize a primary pressure chamber and the second piston of the pair of pistons is movable in response to pressurized fluid within the primary pressure chamber so as to pressurize a secondary pressure chamber. The second piston carries a valve assembly and includes a passage to provide fluid communication between the secondary pressure chamber and its respective brake assembly.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit breaker comprising an inlet chamber supplied with pressurized fluid from a pump and connected to a hydraulic circuit of the open-center type through a variable constriction, to a control chamber via a passage of reduced cross-section provided in a differential piston which separates both chambers from each other, and to a hydraulic accumulator through a check-valve, and further comprising a variable-volume vessel in communication with the control chamber and comprising a valve element responsive to the pressure reigning in said chamber for opening or closing a leak passage of restricted cross-section intended to allow the vessel to be discharged. In order to simplify the manufacture of the device and make easier its possible adjustment, the present invention proposes to realize the variable-volume vessel as an interchangeable capsule which is received in the proper control chamber and additionally serves as an abutment for limiting the stroke of the differential piston.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly provides a torque member which is juxtaposed with a rotor for the purpose of movably supporting a caliper. The caliper cooperates with a pair of friction elements to urge the latter into engagement with the rotor during a brake application as the caliper moves relative to the torque member. In order to movably support the caliper relative to the torque member, the torque member and caliper include a pair of matching slots for receiving a pair of pins. A pair of split cylindrical sleeves are also received within respective slots to engage the torque member and caliper. The sleeves define bores which receive the pins to form a clearance therewith. Consequently, during a braking application one of the sleeves is contracted radially to transmit braking torque from the caliper to the torque member via the one sleeve and its corresponding pin. The sleeves and pins maintain the caliper in spaced relation to the torque member at all times.

Abstract: An improved drum brake adjuster includes an adjustable strut with threadably engaged parts disposed between a pair of brake shoes to maintain a controlled spacing between the brake shoes. The adjuster includes an extendible member engaging one of the brake shoes and extending to lengthen the strut in response to the force of an adjusting spring. A pivot member engages the extendible member and the other brake shoe. The adjuster also includes a resilient member and a clutch device disposed between the extendible member and the pivot member. The resilient member and the clutch device cooperate to prevent change in the length of the strut unless brake lining wear occurs.

Abstract: A band brake assembly includes a housing which carries a rotatable member and a band with a friction lining substantially surrounding the rotatable member. A parking brake lever is connected to a parking brake actuator and also to a plurality of links which are connected to respective ends of the band. The parking brake lever engages the housing and pivots relative to the housing to move the links and separate the band ends and contract the band in response to the movement of the parking brake actuator. A pivotal connection joins the links to each other and to the parking brake lever.

Abstract: A solenoid valve comprising a housing having opposed inlet and outlet ports which communicate via a passage containing a poppet member movable in response to energization of a coil is disclosed. A flexible wall is further provided in said passage to define inlet and outlet chambers communicating respectively with said inlet and outlet ports. A second passage in said flexible wall connects said chambers, and a resilient spring urges a valve seat defined in said second passage into fluid tight engagement with the poppet member, whatever the position of the latter. The poppet member is movable between a first position in which it urges the wall against an abutment, thereby preventing any communication between the inlet and outlet ports, and a second position in which the wall is movable relative thereto, whereby said wall acts as a non-return valve between the inlet and outlet ports.

Abstract: A drum brake includes a pair of brake shoes which are carried by and pivotally anchored to a backing plate. The pair of shoes are engageable with a brake drum to effect a brake application. A running clearance is maintained between the brake shoes and the drum when the brakes are released by an adjusting member which includes an adjusting lever pivotally carried by one of the shoes and a fixed-length spacer carried between the adjusting lever and the other brake shoe. An extensible member is carried between one end of the adjusting lever and the one brake shoe and a three-bar linkage effects an extension of the member to compensate for wear of the brake shoes. The adjusting lever forms one bar of the linkage and carries the other two bars. The second bar of the linkage is pivotally engaged with the adjusting lever and with the spacer and is biased so as to move the spacer away from the adjusting lever during a brake application.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly includes a pair of brake shoes which are movable to a braking position by a hydraulic actuator. In order to maintain the pair of brake shoes adjacent the drum an adjuster is disposed between the pair of brake shoes opposite the hydraulic actuator. The adjuster carries a parking mechanism to manually move the pair of brake shoes to the braking position independently of the hydraulic actuator. The parking mechanism comprises a pair of levers which are pivotally connected to projections on the adjuster and the levers oppose one of the pair of brake shoes such that pivoting of the pair of levers moves the adjuster and the other brake shoe away from the one brake shoe. A spacer and a washer are disposed between the one brake shoe and abutment surfaces on each pair of levers and the adjuster movably supports the spacer and the washer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a suspension member and the process for constructing the suspension member. The suspension member comprises a folded single sheet of metal which is enlarged at one end to couple to a wheel assembly and U-shaped at the other end to pivotally connect with a vehicle frame. The process of constructing the suspension member comprises the steps of stamping a single sheet from a piece of stock, deforming the sheet to form a pocket defining the enlarged end, folding the sheet to form a substantially rectangular cross section and welding the seam between adjoining edges of the folded sheet. In order to support a spring assembly a tube extends through the folded sheet and cooperates with the spring assembly to attach the latter to the folded sheet.

Abstract: A brake assembly includes a backing plate, a pair of brake shoes slidably mounted on the backing plate, and a wheel cylinder supported on the backing plate between contiguous ends of the shoes. A retaining clip attaches the wheel cylinder to the backing plate. The retaining clip includes a base and a pair of opposed tabs extending from the base. One portion of each tab resiliently and releasably attaches the clip to the backing plate. Another portion of each tab projects into a recess in the wheel cylinder to resiliently and releasably retain the wheel cylinder in a mounted position on the backing plate. The clip and the wheel cylinder are capable of being attached to the backing plate from the same side of the backing plate.

Abstract: In a hydraulic circuit breaker comprising a housing with an inlet orifice connectable to the outlet of a hydraulic pump, a first outlet orifice connectable to the pressure chamber of a hydraulic pressure accumulator, and a second outlet orifice connectable to an open-center hydraulic circuit, a stepped bore in said housing, a piston of the differential type slidable in a fluid-tight manner in said bore and defining therewith an inlet chamber communicating with the inlet orifice and a control chamber, a constriction orifice of variable cross-section being provided between the inlet chamber and the second outlet orifice, and said inlet chamber communicating with said control chamber through a first passage comprising a first restriction and being also connected to the first outlet orifice by a connection comprising a non-return valve, there is further provided a resilient vessel having a variable-volume compartment connected to said control chamber, said vessel being adapted to connect said compartment to a sec

Abstract: The present invention relates to a suspension member which cooperates with a bracket, a traction bar, and a shock absorber in order to connect a wheel assembly to a vehicle frame. The suspension member comprises a sheet of metal which is deformed to receive and fixedly secure a spindle which rotatably supports a wheel assembly. The suspension member is engageable with a brake assembly to support the latter relative thereto and also opposes torque developed during braking. In a preferred embodiment the suspension member comprises a pair of metal sheets which are deformed to form mirror images of each other so that upon fastening, they support the spindle and cooperate with the brake assembly to provide braking for the wheel assembly.

Abstract: A tool comprising a receptacle having a cylindrical portion defining a space therewithin adapted to receive a resilient seal after deformation of the latter by an external member is disclosed. A movable member carried by said receptacle comprises a tubular portion slidably received on the cylindrical portion and movable from a first position in which said tubular portion is opposite the space towards a second position in which said tubular portion is offset relative to the space against the action of a first spring. The tubular member is provided with an aperture adapted to receive the external member, and an element is slidably carried in said space and resiliently urged away from the latter by a pair of second springs, thereby expulsing the seal in a corresponding groove when the tubular member is moved towards its second position.