Abstract: To reduce as much as possible the extension of a vehicle transmission due to the cantilevered mounting of an electric retarder (2, 3) with two rotor discs (9) on the casing of the gearbox of this transmission, between the gearbox flange (14) and the journal cross (33) of the cardan joint (15), a tubular insert (23) and a reversed cardan flange (24) are provided successively. These two parts are applied one against the other along external collars which form an annulus (13) on which the rings (10) of the two rotor crowns of the retarder are mounted axially on each side.

Abstract: An electric retarder for vehicle is provided comprising on the one hand an inductor stator comprising a ring of electric coils (3) supported by an annular framework (1), which framework includes a central socket (5), radial arms (6) extending this socket and a ring (8) carried by these arms and supporting the coils, and on the other hand, an armature rotor comprising two magnetic disks (20) both connected, through rings of bent arms (14), to a central collar (15), itself secured angularly to a section (17) of the shaft of the vehicle to be slowed down. The socket has a truncated cone shape, the collar is connected to a central cylindrical pot (16) covering the narrow end of the socket and the shaft section is mounted in this socket via a small bearing (19) housed in the pot and a large bearing (20), of the axial thrust type, disposed at the widened end of the socket.

Abstract: An armature rotor for an electromagnetic retarder includes at least one disk (2) made from a ferromagnetic material connected to an inner fixing ring (7) by an annulus of arms (9) forming ventilation fins, the largest diameter portions of these arms projecting axially from the face of the disk opposite the air gap (E), and the crests of these portions being joined together by an annular web (10), the assembly formed by the disk, the ring, the arms and the web being formed of a single molded block. The maximum outer diameter of the ventilation stucture formed by the arms and the web is greater than the outer diameter of the disk, considered at the level of the mean plane of this disk. Two thin collars (13 and 14) defining therebetween a groove (15) extend the two axial faces of the disk radially outwardly.

Abstract: The invention concerns speed reducing equipment for vehicles, comprising an eddy current speed reducer itself comprising four inductor windings, a battery, and control means actuated by a five-position lever.Safety means are provided for automatically preventing the maintenance of the energization of the speed reducer corresponding respectively to positions 4 and 3 after respectively time delays of the order of 20 seconds and 3 minutes and the inductor windings are reinforced so that they may generate a number of ampere-turns greater than that which they are usually capable of producing, which makes it possible to obtain high torques when cold for a speed reducer of given dimensions.

Abstract: A vehicle hydraulic braking installation includes a main master-cylinder 1 operated by the driver's brake pedal with or without servo-assistance and an additional master-cylinder 13 which is operated when the driver releases the accelerator pedal. The additional master-cylinder is connected to the braking circuit only through the main master-cylinder. As soon as the main master-cylinder begins to be operated, the main master-cylinder cuts off any communication between the additional master-cylinder and the braking circuit.

Abstract: A control device for an eddy current retarder having a plurality of energizing windings comprises an insulating support carrying a plurality of connecting terminals for connection to the retarder windings and a junction terminal for connection to one pole of a power supply. A plurality of contactors are provided for controlling the energizing of the retarder windings, each contactor corresponding to a connecting terminal and comprising first and second fixed contact members, a bridge contact co-operating with the first and second fixed contact members, and a pull-on contactor winding controlling the bridge contact. A first contact plate connects the first contact member of each contactor to the corresponding connecting terminal and a second common contact plate connects the second contact members of the contactors to the junction terminal. Each contactor winding is connected to a respective control terminal which is connected to a control selector for consecutively energizing the control terminals.

Abstract: A hydraulic retarder for braking a shaft has a rotor comprising a rotor shell mounted on the shaft end and rotatively movable relative to a stator shell forming part of a stator enclosing the rotor. The shaft end projects from a housing upon which the stator is mounted by an apertured structure surrounding a driving pulley mounted on the shaft end. The apertured structure comprises lugs on the housing and a toothed ring on the stator, the teeth in the ring co-operating with the lugs so as to hold the stator centred on the axis of the shaft end irrespective of the angular position of the stator. Recesses between the teeth of the ring are disposed and dimensioned so that they provide the necessary openings for moving an endless belt into or out of the structure simply by moving the stator through an angle.