Abstract: A spring applied parking brake system for a vehicle including a housing connected with the vehicle chassis, a pivot arm assembly for connection with the parking brake cable of the vehicle, a main spring biasing the pivot arm assembly toward a brake-applied position relative to the housing, a spring compression assembly operable to displace the pivot arm assembly toward a brake-released position relative to the housing, a retaining device normally retaining the pivot arm assembly in the brake-released position, and a release device for releasing the retaining assembly, whereby the pivot arm assembly is released for displacement by the main spring toward the brake-applied position. Preferably, the retaining device includes a helical clutch spring mounted concentrically on a rotatable hub portion of the pivot arm assembly and the compression assembly includes a hydraulic or pneumatic pump and piston.

Abstract: A mono-stable brake system having a mono-stable magnetic array composed of one or more permanent magnets and one or more electromagnets, the stable brake system condition being the brake applied mode in which the magnetic array is magnetically latched by permanent magnet power, without any electromagnet power, to a rotatable member being braked. To release the brake, the permanent magnet field strength is neutralized or at least decreased by appropriate energization of the one or more electromagnets until the magnetic array is moved by magnetic force away from the rotatable member being braked. The brake is preferably in a vehicle braking system, and particularly a trailer braking system, in which the electromagnets are kept energized at all times when the brake is released for trailer movements. The amount of brake application in the service braking mode is controlled by decreasing the magnetic field strength of the one or more electromagnets in accordance with the braking action demand placed on the system.

Abstract: A magnetic latching mechanism and method having permanent magnets and electromagnets arranged to alternately magnetically latch one member to either of two other members using the magnetic flux of the permanent magnets. The magnetic flux of the electromagnets is used to modify the permanent magnetic flux to cancel its magnetic latching to one of the other members and attract the one member to the other of the other members so that the one member is moved to disengage from the one member and engage that other member. The electromagnets are then deenergized and only the permanent magnets' magnetic flux magnetically latches the one member to that other member. The process is reversed to move the one member back into latching engagement with the member with which it in disengaged, magnetically released, relation. The mechanism is disclosed as being used to actuate and release parking brakes by acting on a parking brake actuating arm to move, latch and release that arm.

Abstract: A latching mechanism includes a latch member pivotally connected with a mounting bracket for movement between latched and released positions, together with a spring clutch device that normally permits pivotal movement of the latch member toward the latched position. The latch member includes a cam surface that is operable by a striker member to displace the latch member from the released position to the latched position as the striker member is displaced toward the mounting bracket (for example, during the closure movement of a hood component to which the striker member is attached). A release device serves to operate the spring clutch to a released condition, whereupon the latch member is spring-biased toward the released position, thereby to unlock the striker member from the mounting bracket.

Abstract: A cable tensioning system for removing slack from a parking brake cable or the like including an improved resettable holdout arrangement for retaining an adjuster ratchet in a spring-biased caged condition during transport and installation of the system in a vehicle. Three embodiments of the invention are characterized, respectively, by the use of an axially displaceable lockout pin that defines an abutment in the path of the adjuster ratchet, a lockout spring having an arm portion adapted to extend into a corresponding notch contained in the periphery of the adjuster ratchet, and a lockout pawl arrangement biased by a lockout spring for cooperation with the ratchet teeth.

Abstract: A spring connector accumulator includes a helical compression spring, and a pair of connector body members that extend in opposite directions through the spring for maintaining the same in a predetermined preloaded partially compressed condition. The body members include first end portions adapted for connection with cable end fittings, respectively, intermediate portions that extend through the spring, and second end portions that abut opposite ends of the spring. In a first embodiment, the body members include main abutment surfaces that are snapped into abutting engagement to maintain the spring in a preloaded partially compressed condition. In a second embodiment, the spring is partially compressed to the desired preloaded condition between a pair of opposed spaced hook portions on each of the body members, respectively.

Abstract: A control mechanism of the soft release type includes a cylindrical drum about which is concentrically arranged a helical clutch spring the coil turns of which are normally contracted radially inwardly into frictional engagement with the outer periphery of the drum, characterized in that the drum is formed of powdered metal that is impregnated with damping oil. Owing to the direction of the coil turns, the drum may be rotated only in a first direction relative to the spring, and upon radial outward expansion of the spring, the viscous film of the damping oil between the outer periphery of the spring affords controlled soft-release of the drum for rotation in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An electronically controlled parking brake system for a vehicle including a housing connected with the vehicle chassis, a movable member adapted for connection with the parking brake cable of the vehicle, a main spring biasing the movable member toward a brake-applied position relative to the housing, an electric motor operable to displace the movable member toward a brake-released position relative to the housing, a retaining device normally retaining the movable member in the brake-released position, and a release device for releasing the retaining device, whereby the movable member is released for displacement by the main spring toward the brake-applied position. Preferably, the retaining device includes a helical clutch spring mounted concentrically on a rotatable drive screw that drives the movable member in the brake-released direction, and the release device includes a solenoid for releasing the clutch spring.

Abstract: Parking brake apparatus of the reaction cable type includes quick-release cable slack adjusting means having a releasable clip member for retaining an adjusting rod against the biasing force of an adjusting spring at a given position relative to the reaction bracket housing. The clip member is of U-shaped resilient construction including a pair of leg portions that are resiliently biased together on opposite sides of a transverse wall portion of the housing containing an opening in which the rod is movably mounted. The clip member is displaceable orthogonally relative to the rod between a locking position in engagement with an annular groove contained in the rod, and a released position remote from the groove, whereby the rod is biased by the spring to remove cable slack.

Abstract: An electromechanical parking brake system is provided including an electric driving gear motor connected with a parking brake cable track member by a releasable connection, preferably in the form of a pawl and ratchet arrangement. In accordance with one feature of the invention, a manually-operable override device is provided for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet, thereby to disconnect the electric drive motor. According to another feature, the pawl is automatically disengaged from the ratchet when the cable track member is in the brake-released condition, so that a cable-tensioning device is actuated to remove slack from the parking brake cable.

Abstract: Cable operating apparatus includes an automatic cable slack removing arrangement, characterized in that the cable tension-adjusting pawl is mounted both for pivotal movement between engaged and disengaged positions relative to the tension-adjusting ratchet, and for lateral movement between nested and extended positions relative to a pocket defined within the operating handle to which the pawl is connected. A cable-tension pawl spring biases the pawl toward the engaged and extended positions, so that when the pawl is engaged with the cable-tension ratchet, the cable tension will bias the ratchet in a direction to displace the pawl to its nested position in frictional engagement with the bottom wall of the pocket, whereby the pawl is more positively maintained in the ratchet-engaged condition.

Abstract: A parking brake assembly of the blind-cable-connection type including a backing plate containing an opening, a helical guide spring arranged to guide a flexible resilient inner cable member toward a ramp surface on a parking brake lever for the blind connection to the inner cable member to the lever, characterized in that the angle of inclination of the ramp surface relative to the cable axis is contained in a plane that is both parallel with the longitudinal axis of the lever and that is inclined at an acute angle relative to the axis of the inner cable member. This construction permits the parking brake lever to be simply and economically formed from a blank of flat metal stock, the cable-retaining slot being defined by a slot contained between bifurcated portions of the ramp surface. The helical guide spring includes portions having tightly wound turns, thereby to assist in connecting the spring with the backing plate and/or with the parking brake lever.

Abstract: A parking brake assembly of the blind-cable-connection type including a backing plate containing an opening, a helical guide spring arranged to guide a flexible resilient inner cable member toward a ramp surface on a parking brake lever for the blind connection to the inner cable member to the lever, characterized in that the angle of inclination of the ramp surface relative to the cable axis is contained in a plane that is both parallel with the longitudinal axis of the lever and that is inclined at an acute angle relative to the axis of the inner cable member. This construction permits the parking brake lever to be simply and economically formed from a blank of flat metal stock, the cable-retaining slot being defined by a slot contained between bifurcated portions of the ramp surface. The helical guide spring includes portions having tightly wound turns, thereby to assist in connecting the spring with the backing plate and/or with the parking brake lever.

Abstract: A cable operating apparatus includes a pawl and ratchet arrangement for maintaining an operating lever in a cable-tensioning position. The pawl is bifurcated to define a pair of pawl tips, the pawl being pivotable in opposite directions for effecting alternate engagement of the pawl tips with the ratchet. The pawl contains a slot that receives the pawl pivot pin and which permits lateral movement of the pawl between a pair of end positions. An overcenter spring arrangement alternately pivotally biases the pawl in opposite directions when the pawl is displaced toward the end positions, respectively. A cam arrangement serves to effect lateral displacement and pivotal movement of the pawl when the operating lever is pivoted from the released position toward a cable tensioning position.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for manufacturing corrosion resistant cable. In the process, a corrosion resistant, organic based, alkyl silicate-zinc coating solution is applied to wire as the wire is twisted into cable. The solution dries on the wire in air, leaving an inorganic silicate-zinc coating on the wire. The cable is then coated with a plastic. The process is particularly useful for manufacturing brake cables.

Abstract: A soft-release lever-operated control system for parking brake cables is disclosed including a helical main clutch spring arrangement permitting movement of the operating lever only toward the brake-engaged position, and a release device for releasing the main clutch spring to permit return of the operating lever toward the brake-released position. According to another embodiment of the invention, a second helical clutch spring arrangement is provided that is activated when the operating cable is returned to the brake-released position, thereby to activate a cable tension adjusting device that removes slack contained in the inner brake cable operating member. According to a further embodiment, a push-to-release arrangement including a toggle pawl and spring device is operable upon tapping of the operating lever to place the system in a brake-released condition.

Abstract: An improved parking brake cable control apparatus includes an automatic cable tensioning device that is operable at the beginning and end of every parking brake operating cycle to take up cable slack and maintain uniform cable tension. The foot-operated parking brake lever pivots on a main pivot shaft between brake-engaged and brake-released positions, a releasable pedal pawl being provided that cooperates with a conventional pedal ratchet. A cable-tensioning ratchet connected with the parking brake cable is rotatably mounted on the main pivot shaft, and cooperating therewith are a lock pawl and a drive pawl connected with the apparatus housing and with the lever, respectively. The lock pawl is released by a release lever when the pedal is pivoted toward the released position, and the drive pawl is disengaged when the lever is adjacent the disengaged position, thereby to activate the cable tensioning device.

Abstract: A parking brake cable assembly of the reaction conduit type is disclosed including a cable slack adjusting device connecting a second inner strand brake operating member with the floating reaction bracket that is displaced upon straightening of an initially bent conduit associated with a first inner strand brake operating member. The cable slack adjusting device includes a bracket housing containing a first opening that is connected with one end of the reaction conduit and that receives the first inner strand member, and a second opening that receives for free axial displacement a cylindrical end fitting that is connected at one end with the second inner strand member. The other end of the cylindrical end fitting is provided with an abutment against which one end of a compression spring abuts. The other end of the compression spring engages a quick-release adjustment or lock-out knob that is operable to a disengaged condition in which the compression spring expands to remove slack from the cable.

Abstract: An improved brake lever assembly of the overcenter toggle type is disclosed, wherein the brake operating lever is preferably pivotally connected with the stationary mounting plate assembly about a pivot axis that is laterally displaced from the linear axis of travel of an inner cable member relative to the concentrically arranged tubular outer sheath, thereby to reduce wear of the inner cable guide means. According to an important feature of the invention, an improved anchor plate arrangement is provided for connecting one end of the outer sheath member with one end of the stationary mounting plate assembly.

Abstract: A three-piece self-retaining conduit anchoring device is disclosed for connecting a co-axial cable assembly with a support structure, including an inner sleeve member, an outer sleeve member concentrically arranged about the inner sleeve member, and a collar member concentrically arranged about the outer sleeve member. One end of the collar member abuts one side of the support, the other end of the collar member being supported against axial displacement by flange portions at the corresponding ends of the inner and outer sleeve members. The outer sleeve member includes a plurality of circumferentially arranged external resilient prongs that engage the other side of the support, which outer sleeve member is connected against axial displacement relative to the inner sleeve and collar members. Consequently, the collar flange and the outer sleeve prongs grip opposite surfaces of the support structure to rigidly connect the anchoring device thereto.