Abstract: Energy storing suspension components for use in suspension systems for wheeled vehicles and trailers are disclosed. The energy storing suspension components include an axle seat portion, an end, and a limb extending between the axle seat portion and the end. The limb includes a first taper wherein the limb decreases in width as the limb extends toward the end, a second taper wherein the limb decreases in thickness as the limb extends toward the end, wherein along the limb there is at least a portion where both the first taper and second taper are present, and a third taper that is further from the axle seat portion than the first taper and wherein the limb increases in width as the limb extends toward the end. Also disclosed are combinations of bushings and energy storing suspension components having an end configured to include an eye.

Abstract: A vehicle braking arrangement includes a braking plate connected to a vehicle by a link arrangement. The braking plate is movable from a rest position to a braking position where contact is made with the ground, and includes a sealing rim arranged to at least partially contact the ground such that an at least partly enclosed volume is formed. The vehicle braking arrangement includes a low pressure container connected to the volume via a valve assembly. Air pressure in the low pressure container is below the air pressure of ambient air in the rest position of the braking plate. The valve assembly is arranged to be opened when the braking plate is in the braking position such that the pressure is lowered in the volume and the braking plate is pressed against the ground by a conferred pressure difference between air outside the volume and air in the volume.

Abstract: A surgical patient support includes a foundation frame, a support top, and a brake system. The foundation frame includes a first column and a second column. The support top is coupled to the first column and the second column for rotation about a top axis extending along the length of the support top.

Abstract: A disc brake caliper, has a caliper body having a pair of half-calipers which define a housing compartment for a portion of an associable brake disc. The half-calipers being placed on opposite sides to the housing compartment in an axial direction parallel to the rotation axis of the associable brake disc. At least one half-caliper is fitted with at least one housing seat for a piston suitable to press a pad against the associable brake disc, in the axial direction. The housing seat passes through the respective half-caliper so as to extend between an inner wall facing the housing compartment and an outer wall of the half-caliper, axially opposite the housing compartment. A cup-shaped hollow insert is housed inside the housing seat so as to present a closed end wall, placed on the side of the outer wall of the half-caliper, and a cavity having an aperture facing axially towards the housing compartment.

Abstract: A stopper mechanism includes a second cylinder disposed at an end in a first cylinder, a second piston disposed so as to be able to move according to a movement of a piston rod to be fitted into the second cylinder, and an annular piston ring having ends in a circumferential direction by being partially cut off. A circumferential groove is formed on an outer circumferential of the second piston. The circumferential groove includes a bottom surface, a one-side end surface, and an opposite-side end surface. The piston ring is axially movably disposed in the circumferential groove. The piston ring includes axial abutment portions, and radial abutment portions at the both ends of the piston ring. When the piston ring abuts against the one-side end surface of the circumferential groove, a first passage is forced between the one-side end surface and an end surface of the piston ring.

Abstract: A caliper brake apparatus includes: a guide plate that supports a brake shoe; an anchor pin that supports the guide plate and is provided in a caliper main body to be free to advance and retreat; a piston provided in the caliper main body to be free to advance and retreat; a piston plate that is fixed to the piston and supported by the anchor pin; an elastic membrane that is provided so as to define a pressure chamber in the caliper main body, and that moves the brake shoe via the piston, the piston plate, and the guide plate; and an intermediate member disposed between the piston plate and the guide plate. The intermediate member is interposed between the piston plate and the guide plate such that a gap is formed between the piston plate and the guide plate.

Abstract: A brake system includes a master cylinder, an electric servo brake, and an electric motor. The electric motor drives a screw that engages a pair of helical gears which are each mounted on a respective shaft. Each shaft further mounts a gear that meshes with a respective gear rack. The electric servo brake includes a body that defines rails which guide the gear racks. A lever is supported on each end by one of the gear racks, and is connected to a support via a pivot point. The support lies flat against a side of a reaction disk that lies against a push rod that actuates the master cylinder.

Abstract: An energy absorber includes a base sheet and a plurality of energy absorbing units with end walls and associated leaf spring or helicoid accessories extending from the base sheet. The accessories reduce buzzes, squeaks and rattles associated with an environment of use. In one embodiment, the leaf springs are defined by slits in a domed portion of the end walls. In another embodiment, the helicoid is formed by for example a milling step performed on an end wall. The side walls buckle or bend after absorbing energy. Methods related to the above are also described.

Abstract: A brake assembly for a vehicle comprising a wheel comprising a hollow section and a rim, the rim comprising a first portion comprising an electrically conductive material and a second portion adjacent to the first portion comprising a plurality of a permanent magnets and a stator comprising at least one electromagnetic coil arranged to be located within the hollow section of the wheel, wherein the stator is moveable between a first position in which the at least one electromagnetic coil is inductively coupled to the first portion of the rim when the wheel is rotating relative to the stator, and a second position in which the at least one electromagnetic coil is inductively coupled to the second portion of the rim.

Abstract: A shock absorber has a pressure tube with a piston assembly slidably disposed within the pressure tube and attached to a piston rod. The pressure tube is disposed within a reserve tube and a working fluid reservoir is formed between the pressure tube and the reserve tube. The piston assembly divides the pressure tube into an upper working chamber and a lower working chamber. A base valve assembly controls a flow of working fluid between the working fluid reservoir and the lower working chamber. The base valve assembly includes a frequency dependent valve system that provides an increased level of damping for each compression stroke of the piston assembly during low frequency movements of the shock absorber. A lesser level of damping is provided for each compression stroke during high frequency movements of the shock absorber.

Abstract: A brake device for a vehicle may include: a driving unit positioned in a drum and supplying rotation power; a nut screw positioned between first and second brake shoes; a first push rod having both sides connected to the first brake shoe and the nut screw, and pressurizing the first brake shoe through the rotation of the nut screw; a fixing protrusion fixed to a case surrounding the nut screw; a rotation connection part coupled to the fixing protrusion to restrict rotation of the rotation connection part; a rotation control part inserted into the rotation connection part so as to be screwed to the rotation connection part; and a second push rod having both sides connected to the second brake shoe and the rotation control part, and moved together with the rotation control part in a longitudinal direction so as to pressurize the second brake shoe.

Abstract: A frictional rope brake that is adjustable to control the rate of descent for it given cargo weight and disengage from the cargo once the cargo has contacted its drop zone is provided. The frictional rope brake includes a braided cage, an inlet collar, an outlet tunnel, and an adjustable tensioner for adjusting frictional forces applied to the rope by the braided cage.

Abstract: An air spring height sensor (100) is provided which comprises a receiver (101) for receiving a height signal and an evaluation unit (200). The receiver is adapted for being mounted to an air spring so as to sense a height signal with respect to said air spring. The evaluation unit comprises an input terminal (201), a multiplexer (240), a first signal branch (210) starting from the input terminal and terminating at a first multiplexer input (241), and a second signal branch (220) starting from the input terminal and terminating at a second multiplexer input (242). The first signal branch includes a first amplitude limiter (211) being adapted to cut off the amplitude above a predetermined first threshold value. The multiplexer is adapted to select a measurement signal from one of the inputs of the multiplexer.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake control apparatus for attaching to an open ended handlebar of a vehicle, the handlebar having a longitudinal axis. A brake housing is attachable to the handlebar, the brake housing including a first section residing outside the handlebar and abutting the open end of the handlebar, and a second section sized and shaped to be received inside the handlebar. A master cylinder is disposed within the first section, the master cylinder having a bore with a bore axis that is oriented transverse to said axis of the handlebar and a master cylinder actuator is in operative association with the master cylinder. A micro-adjust mechanism, a macro-adjust mechanism, and a clamp mechanism is also provided.

Abstract: A biasing device that returns to a rest position when the biasing device is subjected to one of a first compression by a first object and a first tension by a second object in which the first tension causes a second compression of a third object, in which the first compression causes a second tension of the third object, in which elongation of the rod assembly simultaneously occurs with the first tension and the second compression, and in which elongation of the rod assembly simultaneously occurs with the second tension and the first compression.

Abstract: A line-locking brake system consists of a brake pressure generator which, in conjunction with a brake fluid solenoid isolates the front brake circuit from the master cylinder while maintaining a precise brake pressure in the front brake hydraulic system. The brake pressure generator consists of a pressure amplifier having a high pressure chamber located in the flow path from the master cylinder to the front brake cylinders and a low pressure chamber in fluid communication with a regulated gas pressure source. When activated, the brake pressure generator applies a pressure to the front brake circuit that is directly proportional to the pressure of the regulated gas and therefore is precisely controllable irrespective of wear on parts, driver fatigue or other variables.

Abstract: A shock absorber comprising a tubular first portion in the form of a shock absorber casing telescopically receiving a tubular second portion in the form of a piston is disclosed. The first portion has an alignment member which encapsulates a friction element wrapped around said second portion. The alignment member is longitudinally movable in between a first stop bearing and a second stop bearing. The novel friction element has a plurality of tips or protrusions which extend, parallel to the longitudinal direction of the piston, towards the two stop bearings and which hit either of said bearings during the oscillatory back and forth movement of the alignment member during operation.

Abstract: A brake temperature detection device: acquires a kinetic-energy based temperature rise, which is an increase in an amount of brake heat that occurs when kinetic energy generated in a running vehicle is converted into thermal energy by braking; acquires a braking-energy based temperature rise, which is an increase in an amount of brake heat that is calculated from an amount of work done when a brake's friction material is pressed against a friction target material; determines state of slope of a road surface on which the vehicle is running; and detects a brake temperature in accordance with an increase in an amount of brake heat generated in braking. The brake temperature detection device selects, based on the state of slope, either the kinetic-energy based temperature rise or the braking-energy based temperature rise as the increase in the amount of brake heat generated in braking and achieves brake temperature detection.

Abstract: A hybrid electro-mechanical brake (EMB) includes an actuator mounted at one side of a housing and generating a motor clamping force. A primary piston is connected to a spindle, which rotates by a motor clamping force of the actuator, to linearly move when the spindle rotates. A secondary piston linearly moves and is mounted between the housing and the primary piston to form a hydraulic chamber between the second piston and the primary piston. The hybrid EMB system generates a brake force by using the motor clamping force of the actuator and a hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic chamber. The actuator actuates to move the primary piston toward a front end of the secondary piston to increase a pressure in the hydraulic chamber, which is sealed, so that the brake force transferred to the secondary piston increases.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method provide emergency differential braking for effecting braked steering of an aircraft. A brake input device is provided that not only allows for emergency and parking brake functions, but also enables differential braking. The brake input device (e.g., a parking and/or emergency brake lever, pedal, handle, etc.) can be used in a brake system including a brake system control unit (BSCU), one or more electro-mechanical actuator controllers (EMACs) and a brake assembly including one or more electrical actuators. Each EMAC is electrically coupled to one or more of the actuators so as to provide electrical power for driving the actuators. Each EMAC is also communicatively coupled to the BSCU so as to receive braking data therefrom. In an emergency, the input device sends braking signals directly to the brake actuators.