Abstract: A guide pin (24) attached to a caliper (21) and located in a bore (28) of an anchor bracket or carrier member (22) in a disc brake (10). The carrier member (22) and caliper (21) move with respect to each other in response to a force developed by a piston for urging friction pads (18,20) into engagement with a rotor (12) to effect a brake application. The guide pin (24) is characterized by a head (36) having a shaft (38) extending therefrom into a bearing (62,64) which is located between the shaft (38) and housing surrounding the bore (28). The bearing (62,64) has dissimilar resistances to stiffness in a radial plane than in a tangential plane such that vibratory forces are attenuated and dynamic forces generated during a brake application are absorbed to maintain alignment between the friction pads (18,20) and rotor (12).

Abstract: A secondary source of braking for large hydraulically braked vehicles utilizing the available power source (38) provided by typically available anti-skid and traction control braking systems. The invention improves the time response of a secondary braking traction control system by utilizing stored fluid in the low pressure anti-skid braking system accumulators (34) to provide for faster build of pressure by the pump motor (38). Fluid is stored and utilized based on vehicle behavior and operational states and is based upon the principal the traction control, anti-skid braking and secondary braking requirements are generally mutually exclusive. This allows for a decreased response time of the secondary braking system and also provides for improved initial cycle response of typical traction control events that utilize the system configuration.

Abstract: A control apparatus (12) in a brake system (10) has a housing (20) with an inlet port (26), a gear port (32), a relief port (38), and an outlet port (42). A piston (44) located in a first bore (22) has a first peripheral surface (50) with first (52) and second (54) grooves separated by a land (56) and a second bore (60) respectively connected to the first (52) and second (54) grooves by first (62) and second (64) radial passages. A spool (68) which has a peripheral surface (74) with a control groove (76) is connected to a third bore (88) therein by a cross bore or passage (86) and retained in the second bore (60) by a snap ring (96). An input rod (92) which is located in the third bore (88) has a shoulder (94) which engages the spool (68) while an end cap (98) that is connected to the housing (20) retains the piston (44), spool (68) and input rod (92) in the housing (20).

Abstract: A drum-in-hat brake assembly (10) having first (12) and second (14) brake shoes retained on a backing plate (16) by first (18) and second (20) pins connected to the backing plate (16). The first (12) and second (14) brake shoes are aligned on the backing plate (16) by an anchor post (40) and connected to a reverse actuator (26). The reverse actuator (26) receives an input force to respectively move first (42) and second (44) friction pads associated with the first (12) and second (14) brake shoes into engagement with a drum (46) to effect a brake application. The reverse actuator (26) includes a first lever (52) and a second lever (54), each of which have a flat plate (60,76) that extends through an opening (62) in the backing plate (16). A resilient member (90) located in the opening (62) maintains the flat plates (60,76) in a same perpendicular plane with respect to the backing plate (16).

Abstract: A boosted braking device for a motor vehicle having a master cylinder (200) and a pneumatic booster (100). The master cylinder (200) is equipped with a primary piston (30) which receives an actuating force to increase pressure in a primary hydraulic circuit (I) which increases an increase in pressure in a secondary hydraulic circuit (II) and a secondary piston (31) which is subjected to the hydraulic pressure in the primary circuit (I). The pneumatic booster (100) is controlled by the application of an input force through which an actuation force is applied to the primary piston (30). The primary piston (30) has a hollow cylinder (200) the interior of which is in communication with the primary hydraulic circuit (I). A reaction piston (34) which slides in a leaktigth fashion inside of the hollow cylinder (200) urged toward the master cylinder by a first elastic force provided by a first elastic member (46).

Abstract: A drum brake (10) having first (14) and second (16) brake shoes retained on a backing plate (20) and moved into engagement with a drum (18) to effect a brake application corresponding to a desired braking input supplied to a actuator member (28) is disclosed. The actuator member (28) has a housing (50) with a first bore (54) therein connected to a cross-bore (56). A pinion (58) located in the first bore (54) has a shaft with first end (60) and a second end (62). The shaft has teeth (58) thereon adjacent the first end (60) and a gear (64) connected to the second end (62). First (74) and second (76) racks which are located in the cross-bore (56) have teeth (67,67') thereon which mesh with the teeth (68) on the pinion (58). A first linkage member (28) connects the first rack (74) with the first brake shoe (14) while a second linkage member (28') connects the second rack (76) with the second brake shoe (16).

Abstract: The hydraulic and electric powered parking brake system (10) comprises a redundant or simultaneous operation of the system (10) to meet Federal Safety Standards. A dash mounted control knob (24) operates a hydraulic brake application mechanism (20) which transmits a hydraulic pressure to a hydraulically operated pilot piston (70). The control knob (24) also operates a switch (30) to send an electrical signal to an electrical control unit (100) which sends an electrical signal to a solenoid (80). The solenoid (80) and hydraulic pilot piston (70) can be operated, independently or simultaneously, to displace a control valve (60) located within a parking actuator assembly (114) and effect the release of hydraulic pressure from spring apply and hydraulic release actuators (16, 90) connected to vehicle brakes (18). The hydraulic fluid is released past the control valve (60) and to a reservoir (52).