Abstract: A hydraulic control unit for a vehicle anti-lock brake system is disclosed which comprises a bore defining a chamber symmetrical about an axis and having a sidewall and a bottom wall. A fluid inlet passage is open to the bore from one of the walls and a damping orifice of substantially restricted diameter relative to the inlet passage is in open communication with the inlet passage. An attenuator is seated within the chamber and is sealed relative to the chamber to preclude the flow of brake fluid from the control unit. The attenuator includes a compressibly deformable solid core member that substantially fills the chamber.

Abstract: A braking device for a motor saw including a rotatable brake drum (11), a brake band (12) surrounding the brake drum and actuatable by a spring (26) which is adapted to stretch the brake band around the brake drum, and a toggle joint mechanism (18,20) adapted to release the brake band from the drum against the action of the spring and to latch the braking device in an operating position in which the brake band is released from the brake drum. The toggle joint mechanism is actuatable by a control means (16) for adjusting the position of the brake band. The toggle joint mechanism is adapted, in the case of rupture of the brake band, to be adjusted by the spring to a position in which re-adjustment of the control means to the operating position is prevented.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber having discrete damping levels in the rebound direction includes a piston that reciprocates within a pressure tube and divides the pressure tube into rebound and pressure chambers. A passage extends through the piston for establishing fluid communication between the rebound and pressure chambers. A one-way, pressure responsive valve normally closing the passage opens in response to fluid pressure of a predetermined magnitude in the rebound chamber when the piston moves in the rebound direction. The side wall of the pressure tube has bleed holes that lead to a bypass channel that is controlled by an electronically controlled or actuated solenoid valve that opens and closes the outlet of the bypass channel to change the damping characteristics in the rebound and jounce directions in response to suspension conditions.

Abstract: A vibration isolator includes a substantially sealed space within a housing 4 forming a liquid chamber by partitioning the sealed space with a diaphragm 5. The liquid chamber is further partitioned into first and second chambers 7 and 8 by a rubber partition wall 6. An orifice passage 9 is arranged to communicate between these two chambers 7 and 8. The rubber partition wall 6 is provided at its intermediate portion with a membrane portion 11, a part of which is adapted to serve as a stopper portion 12. When the membrane portion 11 is bent and deformed downwardly, the stopper portion 12 is pushed, at its front end, on a partition wall supporting member 14 for deformation. The repulsion force of the stopper portion 12 by the deformation varies non-linearly in response to the deformation of the membrane portion 11 and as a result, the spring characteristic of the membrane portion 11 also becomes non-linear.

Abstract: A motion dampener to dampen the movement of an attached object such dampener having a flexible container holding electro-viscous fluid with at least two electrodes therein such that when electric current passes between the electrodes within the electro-viscous fluid, the fluid becomes more viscous to limit the range of movement of the container and the attached object.

Abstract: A rotary damper comprising a housing and a cylindrical rotor rotatably supported in the housing, and an annular clearance between the rotor and housing being filled with a viscous flowable material, wherein the housing comprises a pivot extending from one end inwardly within the housing and forming an annular space with the housing; and the rotor comprises an annular cylindrical portion received by the annular space and forming annular clearances filled with the viscous material at both sides thereof.

Abstract: A process and system for attaining a desired braking value is disclosed. The actual braking value is adjusted until the desired braking value is attained. Conventionally the braking hysteresis worsens the response of a brake and, thereby, worsens the quality of the regulation of a braking system with regulated braking value. Known processes reduce the brake application energy in steps if the actual braking value is too great until the braking hysteresis has been overcome and the desired braking value has been attained. Whereas, the present invention decreases the brake application energy ZS by a value (HyS+W) consisting of the braking hysteresis HyS associated with the desired braking value and a effect drop-off W. This decrease occurs in the case of excessive actual braking value BI. The process accelerates the attainment of the desired braking value BS. The preferred area of application for the invention are braking systems in the automotive industry.

Abstract: A dynamic vibration absorber for a rotating machinery element preferably of the bifilar pendulum vibration absorber type wherein the absorber system includes one or more pair(s) of masses having identical paths of movement relative to the axis of the rotating element whose vibrations are being absorbed, the individual absorber masses of a given pair moving out-of-phase with respect to one another relative to the rotating element wherein a disturbance torque with a frequency that is a multiple of the rotation rate of the rotating element is absorbed by a one-half relative frequency motion of the corresponding half-order absorber pair. The half-order absorber pairs are driven primarily by centrifugal forces, move with a frequency one-half that of the disturbance torque and use non-linear Coriolis forces as the source of the counteracting torque.

Abstract: In a cornering identification method which, in particular, is provided for automotive vehicles with anti-lock control or traction slip control, the rotating velocities of the two wheels of the one (non-driven) axle are measured and a correction value is continuously determined for the difference in the rolling circumferences of the tires of the two wheels. A reference value (THR) is developed which is representative of a straight-line course and, in accordance with a predetermined time pattern, this reference value is continuously corrected in dependence on the velocity difference of the two wheels. For cornering identification, a velocity difference value (DIF) is compared with the reference value (THR). At the beginning, i.e., after the start of cornering identification, the reference value (THR) will be corrected in relatively short periods which will be prolonged as the ride goes on. The rate of change (.DELTA. THR) of the reference value (THR) is likewise high at the beginning, decreasing thereafter.

Abstract: A brake rotor exhibits improved air flow cooling characteristics and includes an optimum number of vanes, a passage profile designed to reduce flow restrictions and an alternate longer-shorter vane configuration to accommodate the rotor air flow regime.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake circuit is intended for a motor vehicle provided at least with an electrically pilot-controlled braking function, and including at least a master cylinder (1), an electric pump (2), first and second brake motors (3, 4), first and second respective solenoid valves (5, 6), and a low-pressure capacity (7). In addition to a conventional accumulation chamber (8), the capacity (7) comprises an access chamber (13) which interacts with the accumulation chamber (8) to form a simplified distributor which offers additional switching options which can be used for a new braking function.

Abstract: A system for anti-lock brake and traction control has a control circuit comprising a microprocessor on a silicon die. Inputs from several variable reluctance wheel speed sensors are multiplexed to a single channel on the same die for signal processing including diagnostics, A/D conversion, square wave generation for each sensor by a state machine, end wheel speed determination from the square waves. The state machine algorithm tracks signal peaks and valleys and uses a dual hysteresis method of generating output transitions to capture all cycles of a signal having single cycle anomalies while rejecting noise. A single rear wheel sensor having twice the frequency of front wheel sensors for equal wheel speeds is processed twice as often as each front sensor. The diagnostics include detecting sensor and harness short and open circuits by comparison of signals to programmable thresholds and fault timing and latching by gauging open and short signals against programmable time limits.

Abstract: A brake system has a variable front/rear axle braking force distribution for a racing car. An electrohydraulic braking force control device with an electronic computer stage is provided in the system to take account of the aerodynamic axle load changes occurring at high speeds. This computer stage forms, from the vehicle speed and dynamically determined magnitudes, or magnitudes assumed to be appropriate, of the coefficient of friction .mu..sub.B effective at the vehicle wheels, an optimized braking force distribution factor. The brake pressure connected into the rear wheel brakes is caused to follow up the brake pressure connected into the front wheel brakes in such a way that the rear axle braking force follows the front axle braking force.

Abstract: A brake friction pad assembly is provided with a metallic backing plate element, a friction pad element having a mating surface, an air-dried and thermally cured elastomeric adhesive material film joined in cure-bonded relation to the mating surface of the friction pad element, and mechanical fasteners joining the friction pad element and adhered elastomeric adhesive material film to the backing plate element with the elastomeric adhesive material film in an intermediate position.

Abstract: A distributor for controlling the distribution of fluid to a brake system which includes an anti-lock and an anti wheelspin function and in particular functional operation during a brake condition wherein the front wheels are actuated at the same time a single back wheel is actuated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brake fluid pressure control apparatus provided with a flow valve which, during the normal operation, when a spool is in the stationary position, a master cylinder communication port is communicated with a wheel cylinder communication port while the pump communication port is closed, and during an antiskid control operation, a pump communication port and a wheel cylinder communication port are communicated, as well as a switching device to switch between the first and the second conditions. In the first condition, a master cylinder communication port is communicated with the output fluid passage of the master cylinder while the communication between the pump communication port and the master cylinder communication port is shut off.

Abstract: There is provided a vibration damping device comprising a flexible body fing an enclosed chamber, a plurality of electrically conductive members located within the chamber and spaced from each other along a common axis, the common axis being parallel to an inside surface of the flexible body. A fluid fills the chamber and is in contact with the flexible body inside surface and exposed surfaces of the conductive members, the fluid being resistant to shear stress when activated by an electric potential. The conductive members are arranged in the flexible body so as to provide an open region bounded at least in part by the conductive members and extending through the flexible body. Wires connected to an electrical power source are provided for electrically energizing the conductive members to create an electric field between each pair of neighboring conductive members and to create an electric field in the open region, thereby activating the fluid in the open region and between each pair of conductive members.

Abstract: A cast-aluminum floating caliper of a floating-caliper spot-type disc brake is reinforced by means of reinforcing elements of a high-tensile material. In accordance with one embodiment of this invention the floating caliper is provided with recesses in an area adjacent the brake disc and the brake shoes. Bolts extend through the recesses in the direct vicinity of the radially outside brake disc edge. Commercially available steel bolts preferably are used. These measures optimize the floating caliper weight, stiffness and manufacturing cost.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved walking beam assembly for use in the rear suspension of a heavy-duty vehicle. The walking beam assembly is constructed in a manner wherein the bushing segments incorporated therein may be easily removed and replaced. Such ease of replacement is facilitated by the polyurethane construction of the bushing segments. When inserted into the vehicle suspension, the walking beam incorporating the bushing segments is prevented from moving laterally relative the vehicle frame.

Abstract: An anti-skid control system for use in an automotive vehicle comprises a brake detecting device for detecting a braking operation of the vehicle, a deceleration detecting device for detecting an deceleration of a road-wheel during the braking operation, and a control device for controlling the braking operation in order to establish the maximum value of the deceleration. Independent of a surface of a road, the minimum braking distance is obtained.