Abstract: A hydraulic modulator for an anti-lock brake and traction control system for a vehicle in which a brake liquid pressure, produced in a master cylinder during a normal braking operation, is accumulated in an accumulator via a one-way valve, and a gate valve is provided between the master cylinder and the accumulator so as to prevent brake liquid of an unduly high-pressure from being accumulated in the accumulator, thereby enhancing the durability of the device.

Abstract: A brake fluid pressure control apparatus is disclosed which is capable of providing a good brake feel at the initial stage of pressure reapplication. The brake fluid pressure control apparatus comprises a pressure receiving device 25 and a valve mechanism 19 for closing a fluid passage 10 from a master cylinder 7 to wheel cylinders 8. The wheel cylinder fluid pressure is held by closing the fluid passage when the vehicle is brought to a halt with the brake applied, so that the vehicle can be held stationary if the driver takes his food off the brake pedal. When the pressure is to be applied again from the master cylinder 7, the pressure applied during the initial period of this reapplication of the master cylinder pressure is received by the pressure receiving device.

Abstract: An anti-lock braking control method for a vehicle for preventing locking of vehicle wheels, wherein brake hydraulic pressure is controlled in accordance with a wheel speed to be controlled in each brake control system or channel. The increase in the brake hydraulic pressure in one of the brake control channels is started when a predetermined condition is determined to be met in that control channel and after the predetermined condition is also determined to by met in another control channel. The predetermined condition is determined to be met for a control channel when the system speed Vs for that control channel becomes higher than a speed Vv-.DELTA.Vo, which corresponds to the estimated vehicle speed Vv lowered by a predetermined minute value .DELTA.Vo.

Abstract: A backing plate is formed by way of a liquid metal forging process or a die-casting process by using an aluminum alloy or an aluminum-based composite material. Essential portions to which forces are applied are formed with a large thickness, and the remaining portions with a small thickness. In addition, as another embodiment, iron pieces are embedded in portions to which forces are applied or which are liable to be worn.

Abstract: An anti-lock control arrangement for preventing locking of vehicle wheels by increasing, holding constant and decreasing brake hydraulic pressure through a plurality of control channels on the basis of system speeds Vs, an estimated vehicle speed Vv, a target speed VT and accelerations and decelerations dVs/dt of the vehicle wheels. With respect to one of the control channels, the target speed VT is modified when there is a speed difference .DELTA.V between corresponding one of said system speeds Vs and the highest wheel speed VwH at the time of start of braking. The modified target speed is defined by a speed lowered by the speed difference .DELTA.V than said target speed VT.

Abstract: A brake control system for a vehicle in which a brake pressure is generated in accordance with a signal from an electronic control unit for applying the brake pressure to vehicle wheels, characterized in that a mechanical brake system is automatically actuated when an unexpected electrical fault has occurred in an electrical brake system.

Abstract: A brake control device to be used for brake control and traction control of a motor vehicle includes a shuttle valve, a modulator, a traction control valve and a throttle valve. The shuttle valve selects a higher air pressure either from a brake valve, which operates when the brake is applied, or from a traction control valve, which opens during traction control to prevent wheel slippage. The shuttle valve allows the higher of the two air pressures to enter the modulator, which converts the entering air pressure to a brake hydraulic pressure to be supplied to the wheel cylinders of the motor vehicle. The throttle valve provided between the traction control valve and the shuttle valve decreases the air pressure from the traction control valve to be transmitted to the modulator when the traction control is activated. The throttle valve and the shuttle valve cooperate to increase the number of discharge air passages so that the brake control device has a greater discharge capacity when the brakes are released.

Abstract: A friction material for operating in oil containing 5 to 70 wt. % of fibrillated ramie fibers with a freeness of 400 to 700 ml and a friction material for operating in oil further containing cotton pulp and/or aramid fibers in addition to said fibrillated ramie fibers. They improve the wear resistance of friction material under the conditions of high-speed and high-pressure applied and in moisture-containing oil.

Abstract: A traction controlling apparatus employable in a multi-axle vehicle wherein anti-lock braking and traction controlling can be achieved with a small number of channels. The traction controlling apparatus is constructed such that air pressure control type cut valves are disposed at intermediate positions in hydraulic lines such that wheel cylinders for driving wheels and wheel cylinders for follower wheels are hydraulically communicated with each other. The hydraulic lines can be opened or closed by actuating the air pressure control type cut valves, and air pressure delivered from the traction control valve is applied tot he air pressure control type cut valves so as to allow the hydraulic paths to be closed by the air pressure control type cut valves only when the vehicle is held in the traction controlling state.

Abstract: In a brake control device with a traction control function, there is provided a traction control valve for connecting a first conduit extending from a first pressure source to a brake valve to a second conduit extending from a second pressure source for arbitrarily switching the route of the pressure of air supplied from the traction valve to the modulator. With this construction, it is possible to obtain the compact brake control device capable of reducing the number of parts and enhancing the brake responsiveness with a low cost.

Abstract: A hydraulic retarder including a rotor vane fixable to a rotational shaft rotating with vehicle wheels to relatively be unrotatable with respect thereto, a stator vane substantially unrotatable with respect to the vehicle body, and a clutch apparatus for engaging the rotational shaft with and disengaging same from the rotor vane. The clutch apparatus is provided with a plurality of clutch plates which are engaged with the rotational shaft to be axially slidable and alternately provided among a plurality of pressure plates. The rotor vanes, stator vanes and clutch apparatus is accommodated in a casing secured to the vehicle body parts within which an operation fluid is filled. The hydraulic retarder of the invention further includes plungers disposed spaced apart from one another and penetrating through the casing with fluid sealingly and located at an end of the support member. A drive apparatus disposed outside the casing for actuating the clutch apparatus by depressing the plunger into the casing.

Abstract: An anti-lock/traction modulator which includes a hydraulic pressure passage circuit for an anti-skid control and a hydraulic pressure source circuit for a traction control in which an accumulator disposed at an inlet side of a pump for accumulating a predetermined pressure and which circuit supplies a brake pressure to the hydraulic circuit for the anti-skid control merely during the traction control operation. These circuits are connected to each other through a piston so that brake pressure is supplied to brake cylinders of vehicle wheels from the piston during the traction control operation.

Abstract: An anti-lock control method for preventing a vehicle from yawing during braking, while driving on a split road surface. The amounts of the pressure increase in a right wheel and a left wheel control system, controlled independently of each other, are compared with each other. When there is a difference between the two pressure increase amounts, it is determined that the control system having the greater pressure increase amount is the high road-side control system whereas the other control system, having the smaller pressure increase amount, is the low road-side control system. The brake hydraulic pressure in the high road-side control system is controlled so that it does not excessively increase.

Abstract: An anti-lock control arrangement for a vehicle which employs a control map for effectively preventing a wheel lock during braking. The control map is defined in terms of acceleration-deceleration values of a vehicle speed, which is to be controlled, and a speed difference between a target speed and a vehicle speed. The control map is read during anti-lock operation to effectuate control of the brake hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A process for producing a friction material under low-temperature conditions using, as a reinforcement, one or more fibers selected from a metal fiber, an organic fiber and an inorganic fiber and, as a binder, a compounded pitch that consists of a mesophase pitch and sulfur and/or an aromatic nitro compound. The content of an optically anisotropic phase in the mesophase pitch is at least 80% and the softening point of the mesophase pitch is not higher than 270.degree. C. The friction material produced exhibits consistent friction characteristics over a broad temperature range.

Abstract: In a three-channel anti-lock control apparatus in which brake hydraulic pressure for left and right rear wheels is controlled through a common control channel based on a lower wheel speed selected from left and right rear wheel speeds, a pressure increase rate only for one of the right and left wheels, which one has a higher speed than the other, is increased in a case where a speed difference between left and right rear wheel speeds is not less than a predetermined value .DELTA.V and the common control channel is not in a pressure decrease status.

Abstract: A clip-type wear indicator suitable for use with a disk brake. The disk brake includes a rotor, a pair of slidable friction pads located on opposite sides of the rotor, the friction pads including a lining and a backing plate attached thereto and extending radially therefrom, a stationary support member radially spaced from the rotor and having a mating guide, and a caliper adjacent to the backing plates for urging the linings against the rotor. The clip is secured to the stationary support member when the upper, lower, left and right suppressing pieces are brought into elastic engagement with the mating guide on the stationary support member. The upper suppressing piece has a notch that is positioned so that when the caliper urges the lining against the rotor and edge of at least one of the backing plates is aligned with the notch when the lining is worn to such an extent that the friction pads should be replaced.

Abstract: A dust-proof boot comprising an internal engaging ring extended from one end of an expansible bellows portion and an external engaging ring provided upwardly thereof and capable of being spread is provided at an extended base of the internal engaging ring with an air flow port for guiding pressure from the inside of the bellows portion into the internal engaging ring. In mounting the dust-proof boot on a support provided with a guide hole, the internal engaging ring of the dust-proof boot is fitted into an internal groove of the support, after which compressed air is supplied from the interior of the bellows whereby the compressed air spreads the external engaging ring via the air flow port and the external engaging ring is fitted into an external groove.

Abstract: Chitin-containing material is heat-treated in organic solvent or in the solvent with water, and then .beta.-1, 4 glycoside decomposing enzyme is added for decomposing the chitin-containing material by enzyme reaction. Or, chitin-containing material is ultrasonicated in organic solvent or in the solvent with water, and then chitin-containing material is decomposed by enzyme reaction of .beta.-1, 4 glycoside decomposing enzyme. Further, chitin-containing material is exposed in the solution containing urea and/or surfactant, and then chitin-containing material is let co-exist with .beta.-1, 4 glycoside decomposing enzyme under the presence or non-presence of urea and/or surfactant for decomposing chitin-containing material. Or, at the time of exposing chitin-containing material in the solution containing urea and/or surfactant, the solution is heated and the .beta.-1, 4 glycoside decomposing enzyme is added for decomposing chitin-containing material.

Abstract: A device for preventing the squeak in a disc brake apparatus in which friction pads comprised of a semi-metallic or a non-asbestos material are pushed onto a disc rotor to perform braking is characterized in that the disc rotor is circumferentially divided by the use of slits or couplings so that the frequency of second-order resonance in the longitudinal vibration of the rotor is higher than 15 kHz and thus inaudible to humans.