Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining hydraulic pressure in a spring applied hydraulicly released brake actuator and activating a parking brake light upon stroking the actuator to apply the parking brake in the system, the apparatus including a housing, a compression spring axially aligned in the housing, a cap mounted on one end of the housing, a cylinder formed in the cap, a piston mounted in the cylinder, a spring cup operatively connecting the piston to the compression spring, the piston rod being operatively connected to the piston and to the brake, a tubular housing having a magnetic switch at each end axially aligned with the piston rod, and a cylindrical tube having a magnet mounted thereon aligned with the tubular housing for actuating one or the other of the magnetic switches, one of the switches being actuated on a drop of pressure in the system and the other switch being operatively connected to a parking brake light to signal a loss of pressure in the system and actuation of the parking brake.

Abstract: A caliper brake assembly adapted to be mounted on a frame or housing in a position to engage each side of a brake disc, the assembly including a pair of bushings mounted on the frame, a one piece caliper housing mounted on the bushings, a brake pad assembly mounted on the bushings on each side of the brake disc, a ball ramp rotor assembly mounted on one side of the caliper housing for moving the brake pads into engagement with the brake disc, a flat spring mounted on the brake pad assemblies to prevent vibration of the brake pad assemblies.

Abstract: A heavy duty brake assembly including a caliper mounted on a housing in a position to bridge a brake disc, a pair of screws mounted on the housing, a bushing and a washer mounted on each of the screws, a notch formed in the periphery of each of the bushings intermediate the ends thereof, a self-adjusting repeatable retraction device mounted on each of the bushings for supporting the caliper, the device including a plastic sleeve mounted on each of the bushings, a pair of tabs formed in each of the sleeves and aligned with the notches to limit the paths of travel of the sleeve with respect to the bushings, a bell spring formed on one end of each of the sleeves for biasing the caliper to a neutral position with respect to the disc and a seal formed on each end of the plastic sleeve to seal the sleeve to the bushing.

Abstract: A heavy duty caliper brake assembly mounted in a position to engage a brake disc, the caliper including means for supporting the caliper on the housing, a brake pad mounted on the caliper on each side of the disc, a rotor mounted on one leg of the caliper in a position to engage one of the brake pads and a ball ramp assembly positioned between the caliper and the rotor for moving one of the brake pads into engagement with the brake disc on rotation of the rotor with respect to the caliper.

Abstract: A caliper brake assembly for a bicycle having a fork, a wheel having an axle mounted in said fork, and a brake disk mounted on the wheel, the assembly including a caliper housing mounted on the fork in a position to bridge the brake disk, the housing including an arm connected to the axle and a blind bore in the housing having a closed end and an open end, a piston mounted in the bore on each side of the disk, each piston including a brake pad, a master cylinder assembly connected to the bore, the caliper housing including passages connecting the open end of the blind bore to the closed end of the blind bore, and a lever assembly mounted on the bicycle for actuating the master cylinder assembly to pressurize the bore and move the pistons into engagement with the disk to brake the rotary motion of the wheel.

Abstract: A caliper type brake for braking a brake disc including a caliper having a recess in the caliper on one side of the disc, a piston mounted in the caliper on the other side of the disc and including a recess, each recess having one or more ribs forming two or more cavities in each recess and a brake pad mounted in each recess, each brake pad being formed with a number of frangible portions, which break on engagement with the ribs to separate the brake pads into separate sections corresponding to the number of cavities in the recesses.

Abstract: An apparatus for actuating an emergency brake on loss of fluid pressure in a brake system, the apparatus including a housing for one or more compression springs, a piston and cylinder assembly mounted in the housing and being operatively connected to the fluid system and to the emergency brake to release the brake on sensing brake system fluid pressure and to apply the brake on loss of system pressure in the brake system, the spring or springs being permanently housed in the housing in a precompressed condition so that the piston and cylinder assembly can be removed from the housing without releasing the springs.

Abstract: A self-adjusting, wear-compensating device for a floating caliper disc brake of the type having a pair of brake pads positioned to engage the disc brake rotor, the device including a rotor and a stator mounted in the caliper housing, the rotary motion of the rotor being converted to linear motion in the stator toward one of the brake pads, a threaded shaft is mounted in a threaded bore in the stator and has one end positioned to engage the brake pad and the other end extending into the rotor, and a one-way clutch is mounted on the other end of the shaft and is operatively connected to the rotor to impart rotary movement to the shaft relative to the stator whenever the rotor rotates more than a predetermined amount to advance the shaft an incremental amount, the clutch is protected from overload damage by a star ring mounted on the shaft in a position to allow the clutch to slip on the shaft.

Abstract: A torque limiting one-way clutch assembly including a bearing housing having a central bore and a number of grooves around the bore, each groove including a recess at one end, a ramp inclined toward the recess, a roller in each of the grooves, a spring assembly mounted on one end of the housing, the spring assembly including a flexible member extending into each of the grooves for bearing the rollers towards the recess, and a torque ring mounted on the outside surface of bearing housing and having an internal diameter smaller than the bearing housing to provide a frictional fit between the torque ring and the outside surface of the bearing housing.

Abstract: A high torque brake/lock differential for connecting a first shaft to a second independent shaft so that the shafts are either prevented from rotating or rotated at the same speed. The differential drive system includes a drive member mounted on one of the shafts, a clutch plate assembly mounted on the other shaft for axial motion into engagement with the drive member. The differential brake system including a frame fixedly mounted with respect to the shafts and a brake assembly mounted on the frame for connecting the shafts to the frame. The brake assembly and clutch assembly each including a set of plates and a set of discs which are selectively actuated by an actuator plate mounted on the frame. The actuator plate is positioned to move a thrust bearing into engagement with the clutch assembly in one direction of motion and a brake ring into engagement with the brake assembly in the other direction of motion. A compensating assembly is provided for compensating for wear of the clutch plate assembly.

Abstract: An anti-rotation device for a lever operated brake actuator for an all terrain vehicle of the type having brake cables connected to the brakes for the wheels of the vehicle. The actuator including a housing mounted on the vehicle, a lever arm pivotally mounted in the housing and being operatively connected to the brake cables, a sheath enclosing each of the brake cables and having one end secured to the vehicle in close proximity to the brakes. The anti-rotation device including an adjusting member connected to the other end of the sheath and mounted for axial movement in the housing, the adjusting member also including a threaded bore; a cable adjusting member mounted for rotary motion in the housing and having a threaded stud matingly engaging the threaded bore in the adjusting member, a thumb wheel mounted on the threaded stud for adjusting the length of the sheath and a cover mounted on the housing and including a number of ribs for preventing rotation of the thumb wheel.

Abstract: A brake/locking differential for connecting a first shaft to a second shaft so that the shafts are either braked to a stop or rotated at the same speed, the differential including a clutch plate mounted on one of the shafts and a friction plate mounted on the end of the other shaft for axial motion into engagement with the clutch plate, a frame fixedly mounted with respect to the shafts, a cam plate mounted in the frame in a parallel relation to the friction plate, a sealed thrust bearing mounted on the other of the shafts for axial motion into engagement with the friction plate, an actuator plate positioned between the cam plate and the bearing for moving the bearing and friction plate into engagement with the clutch plate, and a brake ring mounted on the frame for moving the friction plate into engagement with the clutch plate to brake the rotary motion of the shafts and further including a compensating assembly for adjusting the axial position of the actuator plate, thrust bearing, brake plate and friction

Abstract: A replaceable cartridge assembly for master cylinder having a housing with a longitudinal bore and an oil inlet connected to the longitudinal bore. The assembly includes a cylinder removably mounted in the longitudinal bore, a pair of seal rings mounted on the cylinder and located on each side of the oil inlet, an axial bore in the cylinder having a fluid outlet at one end connected to the brake system, and a pair of ports connecting the space between the seal rings to the axial bore in the cylinder. A piston in the cylinder has a cup seal around the outside and an O-ring seal spaced from the cup seal. A collar in the end of the axial bore in the cylinder retains the piston in the bore while a spring in the axial bore in the cylinder biases the piston away from the end of the cylinder.

Abstract: A lever operated brake actuator for an all terrain vehicle, the actuator including a housing and a lever arm pivotally mounted in the housing, the lever arm including an arcuate curved groove, a cable equalizer in the form of a unitary member having a spherical or ball shaped center section and a pair of prongs forming a slot at each end of the equalizer, a connecting member is provided on the end of each cable, the connecting members being positioned in the slots between the prongs, the connecting members being free to pivot in the slots in the equalizer to maintain equal tension on the brake cables and the equalizer being able to pivot in the bath of motion of the lever arm to maintain a straight line connection of the cables to the equalizer.

Abstract: A brake actuator for an all-terrain vehicle, the actuator including a housing and a cover, a hand-operated lever arm pivotally mounted in the housing and projecting outwardly from the housing through said cover, the lever arm being operatively connected to the brake cables for the wheels, a locking segment mounted for pivotal movement in the housing, a ratchet-type cam surface on the segment, the segment being biased to move into locking engagement with the lever arm, the ratchet-type cam surface being spaced at progressively greater distances from the pivot axis to block the lever arm at increasing distances from the brakes.

Abstract: A sealed thrust bearing including a housing having a circular base, an outer cylindrical wall formed around the outer edge of the base, and a cylindrical hub at the center of the base spaced from and coaxial with the cylindrical wall, a thrust bearing positioned in the space between the wall and hub, the thrust bearing including an inner race centered on said hub, a set of ball bearings seated on the inner race, and an outer race centered on the hub and seated on the ball bearings, the outer wall including a collar formed around the outer edge of the wall and a V-shaped ridge on the inside of the outer edge of the collar located in a position to sealingly engage the outer edge of the outer race and an outwardly angled lip around the inside of the hub positioned to sealingly engage the inner edge of the outer race to thereby seal the bearing lubricant within the housing.

Abstract: A floating caliper disc brake including a fixed mounting block, a caliper mounted to float on the fixed mounting block and being located in a position to bridge the edge of a disc, a first friction pad supported by the caliper for movement into engagement with one side of the disc, a housing mounted on said caliper on the opposite side of the disc, a second friction pad supported in the housing for movement into engagement with the other side of the disc, the caliper moving in response to the engagement of the second friction pad with the disc to move the first friction pad into engagement with the other side of the disc and a rubber spring on the mounting block to bias the caliper on release of the second friction pad from the disc to release the first friction pad from the disc, the caliper being free to move with respect to the ribs wherever the retraction capability of the ribs is exceeded by the movement of the caliper.

Abstract: A brake light switch and brake line connector assembly for a master cylinder, the assembly including a pressure actuated light switch having a threaded stem which is adapted to be connected to a threaded opening provided in the high pressure side of the master cylinder, the threaded stem including an inner passage and an annular groove around the outside connected to the passage by a port, and a Banjo connector assembly including a Banjo connector and a pair of soft metal washers, the Banjo connector being mounted on the annular groove in the threaded stem of the light switch and sealed thereon by the washers, to connect the master cylinder to the brake line.