Abstract: A variable resistance controller for electrical braking systems and the like wherein the form on which the resistance wire is wound has spaced apart flats into which some of the coils are drawn during winding. This arrangement provides alternate lands and depressions over which a leaf spring type contact rolls. The preferred arrangement has only two coils per land to give increased contact pressure of the leaf spring therewith and to provide predetermined incremental increases in electrical output as the leaf spring rolls from one land to the other. In the preferred embodiment, the spacing of the lands is arranged so that the electrical output is proportional to the hydraulic actuating pressure.The preferred embodiment also includes a diode connected between the output of the controller and ground through a fusible link to permit the collapsing magnetic field of the controlled braking electromagnets to draw current through the diode on deactuation of the unit to bypass the wound resistor.

Abstract: An improved seal is disclosed for hydraulically sealing a piston-cylinder assembly used in activation of a floating caliper disc brake. The improved seal comprises an annular groove circumscribing the cylinder wall within which a ring type elastomeric seal is seated so as to sealingly engage the piston. The floor of the annular groove has a flat portion and sloped portion. By varying the ratio of the flat portion to the sloped portion a desired axial force resisting retraction of the piston into the cylinder may be pre-determined thereby preventing excessive brake shoe drag upon the rotor.

Abstract: A brake proportioning apparatus which restricts and proportions the application of brake pressure to the wheels of a vehicle under certain conditions is provided. Spring forces and spring rates are utilized to provide a differential brake force to a proportioning valve and provide linear or non-linear programming of fluid pressure.

Abstract: A brake shoe assembly is disclosed for use in an automotive disc brake of the floating caliper type. The brake shoe assembly comprises a backing plate and a friction material pad secured thereto. The backing plate is configured to receive riveted, bonded or molded friction material thereto. The friction pad leading and trailing edges may be chamfered to vary the pad surface area in the event of uneven wear and thereby modify the pad surface loading to correct for same.

Abstract: A trim attachment for a motor vehicle wheel includes a plurality of generally conical retention members which engage and secure the trim attachment directly to complementary conical surfaces on conventional threaded lug nuts utilized to retain the wheel in the vehicle. The retention members are spaced about the trim attachment in a pattern corresponding to that of the wheel lug nut. The members include a central conical surface which engages the conical portion of the lug nut, a stop structure positioned uniformly at one end of each conical surface which engages the body of the lug nut, a resilient camming structure disposed uniformly at the other end of each conical surface which resiliently engages the conical surface of a lug nut and a free standing triangular tab adjacent the camming surface and pointing away therefrom which guides and engages the trim attachment onto the lug nuts.

Abstract: An electromagnet for brakes and clutches having outer and inner poles and an electrical coil for creating a magnetic field between these poles is provided having a circumferential gap in the forward portion of the outer pole. The gap reduces the flux density over the forward portion of the magnet face while increasing the flux density over the rearward portion. The variable flux density over the magnet face thus establishes an unbalance of forces attracting the magnet toward the armature plate causing the magnet to engage the armature plate heel first thereby eliminating "squeal" caused by magnet gouging and two plane wear of the magnet's friction face.

Abstract: An anti-rattle or biasing member is positioned between the torque receiving member of an automotive disc brake and the brake shoe backing plate urging said backing plate into an anti-rattling engagement with said torque carrying member.

Abstract: A skid control system which compares a current representative of wheel deceleration with an alterable reference current using an integrating comparator to control the brakes of a vehicle. The reference current has an initial value which represents a wheel deceleration indicative of an incipient skid condition and is increased to a substantially higher value after the current representative of wheel deceleration reaches the initial reference current value and is reduced to a very low value after a predetermined period of time. When the current representative of wheel deceleration exceeds the reference current by a predetermined degree as determined by the integrating comparator, the brakes are released. The brakes are reapplied after the current representative of wheel deceleration no longer exceeds the reference current at a time determined by the integrating comparator.

Abstract: A wheel rim construction that cooperates with the tire bead seat to insure retention of the tire, even under a "run flat" condition. The bead seat portion of the rim is formed with a plurality of circumferentially extending radial projections that cause gripping of the tire bead to form a mechanical interlock between the projections and wheel flange. The radial projections are formed during the roll forming of the wheel rim by extruding the rim material into grooves in the upper finishing roll so that the permanently formed projections lie radially outward of the basic rim profile.

Abstract: An improved method of making vehicle wheel rims particularly suitable for use with materials having relatively low ductility, such as aluminum, is disclosed. A circumferential drop center well is formed about the periphery of the band and work hardened so that the well material exhibits higher strength and lower ductility than the remaining band material. The strength and ductility differential between the well and band material adjacent thereto assists in confining material movement in subsequent rim forming operations and induces drawing of the rim bead seat area material.

Abstract: A method and a machine for performing final finishing operations upon a wheel to minimize both axial and radial run-out. The assembled wheel, including the rim and attached wheel center is placed in the machine and the rim and particularly the bead seat portion is deformed both radially and axially into a true condition. While held in this condition, the center hole, the bolt hole chamfers, and the axial locating surfaces are finish machined.

Abstract: A low cost skid control system is disclosed that incorporates a skid detector circuit for detecting a skid condition in combination with a hold capacitor ramp circuit that maintains the brake release signal beyond the termination of the skid signal from the output of the detector circuit when a severe skid condition is encountered. The level of charge on the hold capacitor ramp circuit is adapted to relate to the severity of the wheel speed departure from the approximated vehicle speed. In one embodiment, this is accomplished indirectly by providing a peak acceleration circuit which stores the maximum wheel acceleration value attained during wheel spin-up when brake pressure is relieved. The peak acceleration value is then utilized to vary the charge rate of the hold-on capacitor during the succeeding braking period.

Abstract: An electromagnetically actuated drum type brake embodying an improved support for the actuating magnet. The magnet is supported by a lever and when energized effects pivotal movement of the lever to actuate the brake. The support between the lever and magnet permits some floating movement of the magnet so as to accommodate for surface irregularities and relative movement between the magnet and the lever as is necessary to effect brake actuation. The support, however, restricts the degree of relative movement between the magnet and lever to acceptable values while transmitting the actuating force from the magnet to the lever. The support comprises an integral tab formed at the outer end of the lever which extends into an aperture in the magnet with sufficient clearance to permit limited movement in several directions. Rotary movement is, however, not restricted by this connection.