Abstract: A vehicular brake assembly comprises brake shoes and a brake disc. The brake shoes are fastened to a sheet plate and mounted inside an inner drum portion of the brake disc. The brake disc is operatively connected to an axle placed within a stationary axle housing that carries a mounting flange. The sheet plate is fastened to the mounting flange. An anchor pin is attached to the mounting flange and an opening is made in the sheet plate for the anchor pin to project therethrough to thereby serve as an abutment surface for the brake shoes transferring any force exerted on the brake shoes directly to the mounting flange. The brake disc is operatively engaged with a caliper adapted to grip an outward portion of the brake disc. The caliper slides are provided on the mounting flange to receive the caliper.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement which is provided for a vehicle with an electronic anti-lock control system and is used to enhance the driving stability in critical driving situations includes circuits for the individual control of the braking pressure on the front wheels and for limiting the yawing torque following braking maneuvers on .mu.-split road surfaces. In defined, especially critical driving situations, in particular during driving maneuvers with an abrupt change in .mu.-conditions or during braking maneuvers on .mu.-patch road surfaces, when predetermined criteria for a critical driving situation of this type are satisfied, a special control is started to bring about braking pressure reduction on the HM-wheel for a predetermined period which is responsive to vehicle speed.

Abstract: A layered tubing for use in a motor vehicle composed of a thick outer tubing having an inner and an outer face, the outer tubing made of an extrudable thermoplastic such as a polyamide like Nylon 12; a thin intermediate bonding layer bonded to the inner face of the thick outer layer, the bonding layer composed of an extrudable melt-processible thermoplastic capable of sufficiently permanent laminar adhesion to the polyamide outer tubing; and an inner hydrocarbon barrier layer bonded to the intermediate bonding layer, the inner layer composed of an extrudable, melt processible thermoplastic capable of sufficiently permanent laminar adhesion to the intermediate bonding layer, the thermoplastic containing as a major constituent a fluoroplastic such as polyvinylidine fluoride, polyvinyl fluoride, and the like.

Abstract: A retainer for releasably locking the male and female components of a quick connector. The retainer is releasably insertible into a transverse bore in the female component and is blocked from full insertion by a projection. An extension projects from the retainer and has an aperture sized to receive the tip end of the male component, but not a radial flange on the male component when the retainer is partially inserted into the female component. Forced insertion of the male component breaks off a ring portion of the extension thereby enabling the radial flange on the male component to fully move into the female component. The retainer can then be urged into the fully latched position locking the male and female components.

Abstract: A centrifugal clutch for use with a power door lock actuator. The centrifugal clutch includes an independently rotatable pinion cup having an integral pinion gear which meshes with a jack screw, and a driver rotatably secured to an output shaft of a drive motor. The driver has at least one radially outwardly opening recess formed therein with at least one slider slidably retained within the recess. The slider is biased in a radially inward direction by magnetic lines of force which are provided by a permanent magnet mounted within the driver. Alternatively, a number of sliders can be formed of magnetic material such that the magnetic sliders are mutually attracted to one another in a radially inward direction. A centrifugal force is generated when the driver is rotated. The centrifugal force overcomes the magnetic attractive force to throw the sliders radially outwardly into positive driving engagement with the pinion cup.

Abstract: A wiper arm for a lift-controlled windshield wiper device, in particular for an automotive vehicle, includes a coupling member that is also a component of a multiple joint assembly effecting lift control. A drive lever and a control lever are pivotably mounted on the coupling. The proposed improvement ensures that the wiper arm proximate the multiple joint assembly has a small overall height and can be manufactured at low cost. The coupling member that is part of the wiper arm is made as a sheet metal shaped part and has a profiled cross-section so that the drive lever or the control lever is connected to the coupling member so as to pivot within the height of the cross-section of the coupling member.

Abstract: A disc brake for a motor vehicle includes a rotor mounted to a wheel and rotatable about a first axis therewith; a pair of parallel-spaced pins removably mounted to the vehicle chassis so as to extend in a direction generally parallel to the first axis; a pair of brake shoes having slots for receiving the pins on either side of the rotor so as to place brake linings respectively mounted on the pins in opposition with complementary annular friction surfaces on either side of the rotor; and a caliper slidably supported by the two pins so as to straddle the rotor and both brake shoes, respectively. The slots of the brake shoes are defined in part by a finger configured to deflect responsive to a brake load and the deflection of the finger enables the sequential engagement of the brake shoes against the pins.

Abstract: A two-stage pilot valve for suspension control systems. The valve includes an annular pilot member so that fluid discharges in a radial direction, and it is preferable that the valve member is comprised of a resiliently suspended plate.Both the dynamic characteristics of the valve and its function in some respects (minimum opening pressure for the main stage) are improved due to these provisions.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for safety-critical control systems, for example, for the control of anti-lock brake systems, is based on an at least partly redundant processing of input data which are taken into account for generating control signals. The control system is disconnected upon non-correlation of the signals. A microprocessor system is provided for data processing and includes two or more central processor units permitting parallel processing of the input data. The output data of the CPUs are checked for correlation. Each write/read memory of the microprocessor system has a generator to generate a test information. The write/read memories and the read-only memories are extended by memory spaces for the test information. In every writing or reading access to the memories, the contents of the memory space is tested with the associated test information for correlation, and an error identification signal is generated in the absence of correlation or plausibility.

Abstract: A floating caliper-type disk brake for automotive vehicles, for supporting the circumferential forces and for guiding the brake pads including a brake carrier integrated into the steering knuckle of the vehicle. To insure a simple final assembly on the vehicle and to facilitate an automatic assembly, the floating caliper with brake pads attached thereto is supplied as a pre-assembled unit. The brake pads by means of leaf springs secured to their back plates are detachably fixed to the floating caliper. In the practice of the invention, the leaf spring of the outer brake pad, additionally serves to radially prestress the floating caliper vis-a-vis the carrier arms of the brake carrier, thereby eliminating another spring provided for this purpose. The assembly of the floating caliper on the vehicle is simplified because there is no need to assemble the said additional spring.

Abstract: A windshield wiper system and method comprising a controller which cooperates with a single sensor positioned in fixed relationship to a target situated on an armature of a drive motor which is driven in response to the controller. The wiper motor is a reversing wiper motor and changes direction in response to a change of polarity of drive signal generated by controller. An interrupt is situated on a drive train driven by the armature of the wiper motor and moves in correlation to the movement of a wiper blade. The sensor generates a pulse train associated with the movement of the wiper blade, and this pulse train gets interrupted by the interrupt when the wiper blade reaches a reversing position, such as an inwipe or an outwipe position. The interruption thereby gives controller an indication of when to reverse the polarity of the drive signal used to drive the wiper motor.

Abstract: Apparatus for improving the driving behavior of a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has front and rear axles, each having a plurality of wheels. Each wheel-has a brake. Sensor are provided for measuring the rotational speed of each wheel, the vehicle yaw rate and the vehicle lateral acceleration. An anti-lock braking system provides first preset pressure values for controlling each brake, to prevent the wheels from locking during braking. A traction slip control system provides second preset pressure values for controlling each brake, to prevent the wheels from slipping during acceleration. A brake effort proportioning system provides third preset pressure values for distributing braking pressure between the wheels of the front axle and the wheels of the rear axle. A yawing moment controller provides fourth preset pressure values used to control each brake during cornering, to avoid application to the vehicle of an unbalanced moment which would cause the vehicle to understeer or oversteer.

Abstract: A reset device for a blinker switch includes a pivoting reset element which is used which has two lateral arms on which opposing springs extending through the switch housing act. These springs both tension the reset element with respect to the steering spindle and produce a torque tending to restore the reset element to its middle setting. The problem of the invention is to do without the conventional draw springs. The invention solves this problem by means of a single compression spring acting on the reset element and providing both a force in the longitudinal direction of the reset element and the desired restoring torque.

Abstract: An auxiliary device is constituted by a U-bolt-shaped, pincer-like implement which, during the fabrication of semiconductor devices with a mesa structure from a starting substrate forming a wafer, serves to transfer the outline geometry of the individual semiconductor devices from one side of the wafer to the back of the wafer. The implement has at least one tracer at the end of one of its arms for engaging a sawed groove and for guiding the implement along the sawed groove on one side of the wafer. At the end of the other arm, a marking device with at least one marking stylus is provided whereby the course of the at least one sawed grooved can be transferred from the front side of the wafer to the back, and scribed there in the form of auxiliary lines.

Abstract: A mounting bracket assembly for mounting a night vision device to a headmount apparatus, made up of an attachment member, a mounting bracket and a hinge. The attachment member attaches the mounting bracket assembly to the headmount. The mounting bracket is generally U-shaped for holding a night vision device. The mounting bracket includes a coupling pad disposed at an end of the mounting bracket for receiving a coupling member attached to the night vision device, and a spring clip attached to the coupling pad for locking the coupling member of the night vision device to the coupling pad. The hinge couples the mounting bracket to the attachment member, and includes a pivot mechanism for allowing articulated movement of the mounting bracket relative to the attachment member.

Abstract: An accumulator for an anti-lock brake system includes a valve body portion defining an accumulator chamber, an accumulator piston slidably disposed within the accumulator chamber, a spring, and a cover. The accumulator chamber has a fluid inlet for connection to a source of pressurized fluid at a first end of the chamber. The chamber has a second end open to atmosphere. The accumulator piston separates the first end of the chamber from the second end of the chamber. The spring is disposed in the accumulator chamber between the piston and the second end of the chamber and biases the piston toward a first position. The cover closes the second end of the chamber and atmosphere and has micro-porous structure. The micro-porous structure is configured to block water molecules and to pass constituent molecules of air, thereby enabling air to be communicated across while preventing the intrusion of water into the chamber through the second end.

Abstract: A system for reducing Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) produced by motors which are powered by Pulse Width Modulation (PWM). It is believed that the PWM induces radiation at the PWM frequency and harmonics. The invention shields power cables which carry the PWM pulsed current, and provides capacitive shunting of one of the cables to ground.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a closing device for closing pressure fluid conveying channels in a housing by a closing member press fitted into a channel, the outside periphery of the closing member including at least one indentation into which, by press fitting the closing member into the channel, basic material of the housing is deformed to provide a form lock. The housing is made of a malleable aluminum alloy, and the closing member is made of steel.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a steering column stalk switch apparatus includes the steps of fixedly engaging a hub attached to an elongated shaft to one end of a hollow housing have apertures formed at opposite ends, movably mounting a button in one of the apertures in the housing, the button being movable between first and second positions and biased to the first position, mounting a first electrical contactor having first electrical contacts thereon in the button, movably mounting a second electrical contactor with second electrical contacts thereon in the housing, the first and second electrical contacts being co-planarly aligned, mounting a circuit board with conductive tracings in the housing such that the first and second contacts slidably engage the conductive tracings and complete circuits therebetween depending upon the position of the first and second electrical contacts, mounting the second electrical contactor on a movable carrier in the housing, biasingly mounting a detent paw on the carrier, aligni

Abstract: In an ordinary DC motor in a windshield wiper, operating speed tends to increase as the motor brushes become seated. The invention counteracts this tendency by providing a brush geometry which causes the effective angular position of a brush to change during seating. The change is in a direction which tends to reduce speed.