Abstract: The invention relates to a brake actuator, especially a brake actuator for rail vehicle brake calipers for a disc brake. Said brake actuator comprises a service brake unit with an electromotive drive system for clamping and releasing the brake, a safety brake unit with a pre-loaded spring device for clamping the brake, and a brake spindle for converting the movements of the electromotive drive system into a translatory movement for activating a brake clamping mechanism; especially for activating brake calipers. The invention is characterized in that the pre-loaded spring device and the brake spindle are positioned coaxially in relation to each other and are mechanically series-connected.

Abstract: A flexible sleeve for an air spring terminates in end portions which define a pair of open ends. The sleeve has inner and outer layers of a flexible material with a plurality of reinforcement elements disposed within the materials with the reinforcement elements extending throughout the end portions. Inner and outer layers of the end portions are joined to the inner and outer layers of the sleeve, by non-overlapping joints with the inner and outer layers of the end portions having a higher modulus of elasticity than the inner and outer layers of the sleeve.

Abstract: There is provided a maintenance-free sleeve bearing arrangement that is light in weight, has a long service life and does not require resupply of oil during operation. The sleeve bearing arrangement is comprised mainly of a shaft and a sleeve bearing, wherein the sleeve bearing formed of CRB ceramics, and/or the shaft formed of the CRB ceramics are used.

Abstract: A disc brake (3) of the kind comprising an axially fixed hub (2) and at least one slidable brake disc (4, 6) comprises resilient means (10) acting between the disc (4, 6) and the hub (2) to control certain aspects of the movement of the brake disc (4, 6) during use. The resilient means (10), is of a leaf spring format, acting between the disc (12, 14) and the hub to control the disc dynamics is mounted on the disc (4, 6). This leads to advantages in terms of spring structure and cost and independence of the resilient bias with respect to disc position and disc (12, 14) relationship to another disc (if present) and with respect to simplicity of mounting and avoidance of dirt entrapment. The mounting of the resilient means comprising clipping the resilient means over a drive key (12) of the disc (4, 6) though an aperture (23) defined within the resilient means (10) and having associated stiffening elements or strips (26a, 26b).

Abstract: A variable ratio of force-enlargement master cylinder for a braking system is described. The variable ratio of force-enlargement master cylinder has a cylinder, an outer piston, and an inner piston, in which comprise a plurality of cavities and openings therein. When a force is uniformly applied to the variable ratio of force-enlargement master cylinder, the flow rate of the fluid is preferably changed into a predetermined value by incorporating the cavities and openings located on the cylinder, the outer piston, and the inner piston in a suitable time.

Abstract: In combination with a hand brake system for a railway vehicle including first and second spaced-apart brake beams. First and second transfer levers are pivotally connected at a point intermediate the ends thereof to a respective one of the first and second brake beams. First and second force-transmitting members are interconnected between corresponding arms of the first and second transfer levers. Such first force-transmitting member including a brake actuator device operable in response to the supply of fluid pressure thereto for increasing the length of the first force-transmitting member, to accordingly increase the spaced-apart distance between the first and second brake beams. A transfer link is connected to the first transfer lever so as to be arcuately movable therewith in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of the first transfer lever. The improvement comprises a thrust block disposed on the first brake beam. The thrust block having a pin member disposed therein.

Abstract: To provide a brake cylinder unit wherein both the normal brake and the spring brake that is used as a parking brake, etc., can act, and in addition wherein it is possible to shorten the axial direction length. In a brake cylinder unit (1) wherein both the normal-service brake means (2) and the spring brake means (3) can act, there is provided a clutch means (4) that links the rod (111) and the second piston (21) when the pressure fluid ceases to act on the second action chamber (24) of the spring brake means (3), and the first piston (21) starts to move towards to the rod (111). This clutch means (4) comprises a screw (31) that is provided on the rod (111), a nut member (32) that is provided on the second piston (21) such that it can rotate, and a stop means (33) that stops the rotation of the nut member (32) when the second piston (21) starts to move towards the rod (111).

Abstract: A tool for pre-stressing of two races to be welded to one another includes a hub having a cylindrical lateral hub wall and a tubular chuck having a cylindrical lateral chuck wall coaxially received and movable in the lateral hub wall. One of the lateral walls has a cylindrical face of revolution for radially supporting and centering the two races. A first axial abutment is immovable with respect to the chuck and against which a first free axial face is engageable, while a second axial abutment is immovable with respect to the hub and against which a second free axial face is engageable. A coaxial mechanism for axially moving the chuck towards the hub and hence for tightening the second axial abutment axially towards the first axial abutment is provided such that the two races therebetween are tightened against one another until a pre-determined pre-stress value is obtained.

Abstract: A dynamically adjustable motion stabilizer, including a motion stabilizer in combination with a centering adjustment mechanism for yieldingly urging a relatively movable load member toward a normal or centered position relative to another load member, includes a telescoping body that shortens (retracts) as the load members move toward one another and lengthens (extends) as the load members move apart. The centering adjustment mechanism includes a spring assembly, a locking mechanism structured to lock the spring assembly, a releasing mechanism structured to unlock the locking mechanism, and a control mechanism structured to control the releasing mechanism.

Abstract: A control device for the parking brake of a motor vehicle has a hydraulic cylinder with a piston chamber that can be pressurized by means of a valve arrangement, and has a hydraulic piston connected mechanically to engagement elements of the parking brake. The parking brake is forced into an engaged or disengaged position depending on the hydraulic pressure in the piston chamber. The piston chamber connects to a pressure sensor providing pressure signals that represent the state of the parking brake and that are evaluated by an electrical control unit. The control unit defines a first predetermined pressure threshold corresponding to the engaged state of the parking brake, and a second predetermined pressure threshold corresponding to the disengaged state of the parking brake.

Abstract: A shock absorption mount has is generally C-shaped and has a top section, a bottom section, and a supporting section. The top section contacts an equipment mounting surface, while the bottom section contacts a foundation. The supporting section includes-an inclining section, an intermediate middle section, and a declining section. Preferably, the inclining section is a linearly inclining section and the declining section is a linearly declining section. The intermediate middle section has a curvilinear shape that has an elliptical inner segment and a circular outer segment. Preferably, the shock absorption mount is constructed of an elastomeric material having a flexural modulus in the range of about 10 and 100 ksi, a breaking strain greater than about 400%, and a yield strain greater than about 10%.

Abstract: A single fluid valve device operable for setting an overall viscous damping level, magnetic damping strength, and low speed damping profile. A stationary, controllable magnetorheological fluid valve device comprising a first annular body having gap setting features and controllable passageways formed within the fluid valve device, and a second body disposed adjacent to the first annular body, wherein the second body comprises a magnetic field generating means contained therein. A twin-tube damping device comprising an outer member containing an outer volume of magnetorheological fluid, an inner member containing an inner volume of magnetorheological fluid, a stationary, controllable fluid valve device disposed within the outer member, a piston rod mounted for movement with respect to the inner and outer members, a piston assembly attached to the piston rod and a pressurized volumetric compliance means.

Abstract: An reusable impact energy absorbing device utilized a liquid filled piston and cylinder assembly whereby upon application of an impact to the piston the piston will move along the length of the cylinder and discharge the liquid outwardly through a sequence of valves into an elastic balloon structure secured to the piston and cylinder assembly to capture the fluid. The valves may be two-way valves which will allow the return of the fluid from the elastic balloon to the cylinder due to the creation of a partial vacuum in the cylinder upon upward movement of the piston when the impact force is removed. Upon discharge of the fluid from the cylinder through each valve, the fluid is forced to travel through a restricted labyrinth to further dissipate the impact energy.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly has a support member secured to a vehicle to position a caliper over a rotor. The caliper has a housing with a bore therein for retaining a piston and a first friction member attached thereto in alignment with a first braking surface on the rotor and a bridge that straddles the rotor to position a second friction member in alignment with a second braking surface on the rotor. The bore receives pressurized fluid from a source that acts on the piston to develop an actuation force for moving the first friction member into engagement with the first braking surface and acts on the housing to cause the caliper to move the second friction member into engagement with the second braking surface to effect a brake application. The first and second friction members have a first initial thickness and the rotor has a second initial thickness that are reduced with each brake application.

Abstract: A rubber bearing with graduated damping characteristic has essentially a preferably cylindrical or approximately cylindrical inner part, a tubular outer sleeve arranged coaxially around the inner part as well as a pressure body with chambers for a damping agent. The pressure body is arranged in a fixed manner between the inner part and the outer sleeve. A rubber bearing which has a simple design and effectively damps forces introduced in different ranges of the characteristic due to its graduated damping characteristic is provided. The pressure body of the bearing is divided in the radial direction into a plurality of damping areas whose damping characteristics can be adjusted independently from one another by an intermediate sleeve arranged coaxially to the inner part and the outer sleeve.

Abstract: A bicycle cable disc brake is provided a disc brake pad adjustment mechanism to adjust the spacing between the friction pads. Basically, the cable disc brake has a first caliper housing portion containing a cable actuated mechanism, and a second caliper housing portion containing the disc brake pad adjustment mechanism. The disc brake pad adjustment mechanism has a caliper housing portion, an adjusting axle, an adjusting plate and an adjustment biasing member. The adjusting axle movably is coupled to the caliper housing portion to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the adjusting axle. The adjusting plate is coupled to the adjusting axle to move axially along the longitudinal axis of the adjusting axle upon rotation of the adjusting axle relative to the caliper housing portion. The adjustment biasing member is operatively disposed between the caliper housing portion and the adjusting axle and arranged to axially urge the adjusting axle against the caliper housing portion.

Abstract: A pneumatic support system and controller combination including pressurizable expandable chambers (1); a source of pressure and an exhaust characterized by: a unitary manifold assembly (14) including a circuit board (25); a manifold (27) and one or more microvalves (24) having a silicon based valve actuator responsive to a signal for controlling flow from said manifold with respect to one or more expandable chambers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one device for preventing unintentional movements.

Abstract: A brake stroke simulator includes a first movable member freely slidably disposed in a housing and defining a hydraulic pressure chamber at one end of the first movable member that is adapted to be supplied with hydraulic pressure corresponding to braking operation of a brake pedal, and a second movable member disposed at the other end of the first movable member in the housing movable integrally with the first movable member. A first spring biases the first movable member and a second spring biases the second movable member. A shock absorbing elastic member is compressed by the sliding movement of the first movable member against the biasing force of the first spring and is compressed by the sliding movement of the second movable member against the biasing force of the second piston.

Abstract: A releasable brake pedal system 10 for a vehicle includes a pedal assembly 12 operatively engageable by the driver of the vehicle and a hydraulic actuator assembly 20 for generating pressurized hydraulic fluid for actuating one or more brakes 44A-44D. The pedal system 10 further includes a pressure release valve 30 or 30′ coupled in fluid communication with the pressurized hydraulic fluid. The pressure release valve 30 or 30′ is operative to reduce the amount of pressure applied to the brakes 44A-44D during a detected vehicle deceleration indicative of a collision event. The pressure release valve 30 is responsive to a deceleration sensor 40 according to one embodiment, and valve 30′ employs a deceleration sensitive inertial mass 76 according to another embodiment. Accordingly, the pedal system 10 reduces forces that may otherwise be transferred to the pedal assembly 12 during a collision.