Abstract: A process for the braking of a vehicle on road surfaces with varying frictional values influences the respective braking forces on the wheels of at least one axle via a common braking value. The inventive process recognizes differences between these frictional values, and the common braking value is adjusted so that the wheel located on the surface with the lower frictional value is locked at least intermittently, while the frictional value of the other wheel can be utilized advantageously. The common braking value is reduced at predetermined time intervals, so that the wheel located on the surface with the lower frictional value can start up again from the locked state when an increase in frictional value occurs. Depending on the reaction of the wheel located on the surface with the lower frictional value, it is then possible to decide whether further locking of this wheel is acceptable, or must be terminated because of anticipated damage to the tire, or reduction of travel stability.

Abstract: In an air spring strut for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle including an air spring head to be mounted to a vehicle body, a shock absorber having a piston rod resiliently supported in the air spring head and a cylinder receiving the piston rod with a damper piston, a tubular air spring piston mounted to the cylinder and extending therefrom into a cylindrical extension of the air spring head and a rolling sleeve bellows connected to the air spring piston and the cylindrical extension, the air spring piston is connected to the shock absorber cylinder elastically and has at its opposite end a slide structure disposed around a guide structure extending from the air spring head for slideably supporting the end of the tubular air spring piston to prevent adjacent wall portions of the rolling sleeve bellows from contacting each other.

Abstract: A shock absorber for a motor vehicle includes a compression stoke valve having one or more deflectable discs mounted on the piston on the rebound chamber side and a rebound stroke valve having one or more deflectable discs mounted on the piston on the compression chamber side. A compression flow passage extends through the piston, opening at one end into the compression chamber and having an opening at the other end into the rebound chamber which is closable by the deflectable disc or discs of the compression stroke valve. A rebound flow passage extends through the piston, opening at one end into the rebound chamber and having an opening at the other end into the compression chamber which is closable by the deflectable disc or discs of the rebound stroke valve. One or both valves further includes a flexible disc positioned between the deflectable disc or discs and the piston and extending partly across the associated passage to leave an opening in the passage.

Abstract: A disc pack for a wet disc brake assembly includes a plurality of rotating discs. The rotating discs adjacent the axial end of the disc pack are formed of a lower co-efficient of friction material than more centrally located discs. In this way, the wear across the disc pack is more uniform, and a greater load can be carried. In addition, in this way the centrally located discs provide greater braking work than they would if they had the same co-efficient of friction as the axially outermost discs. Applicant has determined that the axially outermost discs see greater force from the braking components, and thus would perform more work than the central discs given equal co-efficients of friction. In this way, the useful life of the disc pack is increased since more work is done by the central discs and wear is more uniform.

Abstract: An apparatus of reducing unwanted brake noise has a ring damper affixed around a periphery of brake drum in a drum brake system in a manner that permits relative motion and slippage between the ring damper and the brake drum when the brake drum vibrates during braking. In a preferred embodiment, the ring damper is an almost circular ring that is inserted in a groove formed in the periphery of the brake drum. The ring damper is held in place by the groove itself and by the interference pre-load or pre-tension between the ring damper and the brake drum.

Abstract: A pin slide mechanism 3 comprises a pair of support portions 23, 24 on a carrier 1 secured to a non-rotating portion of a vehicle. A support portion 24 provided on a tip end of an arm 28 extends from the carrier 1 inwardly of the vehicle. By slidably fitting a cylindrical portion 27 provided on a caliper body 2 via a sleeve 26 onto a pin portion 25a of a pin/bolt 25, the caliper body 2 is secured to the support portions 23, 24. The caliper has an increased weight by containing an electrically-driven device therein, and is supported by the support portions 23, 24 in a straddle-mounted fashion to prevent inclination of the caliper during braking.

Abstract: The brake shoes of a disc brake having a light-metal housing are supported in a circumferential direction and are axially slidable on supports which are fixed to the housing and made of a high-strength material. The supports are cast into the housing and supporting surfaces for the brake shoes are then shaped in a subsequent machining operation.

Abstract: A method and a device for controlling the braking system of a vehicle that includes at least two subvehicles. In this context, at least one of these subvehicles is provided with an electrically controllable braking system. A correcting quantity is determined from operating variables of the first subvehicle for influencing the longitudinal forces between the vehicle sections during a braking process. The correcting quantity is determined repeatedly during a braking process, the determination of the correcting quantity being effected more quickly at the beginning of a braking than in the course of the braking process. Furthermore, the correcting quantity is determined in such a way that the ratio of braking force to normal force in both subvehicles is essentially adjusted to the same value.

Abstract: Active damping oscillator including first magnetic pole portions fixed to one of an inner shaft member and an outer sleeve, second magnetic pole portions fixed to the other of the shaft member and outer sleeve, at least one permanent magnet associated with the first magnetic pole portions, and at least one coil associated with the second magnetic pole portions, and wherein the first magnetic pole portions and the second magnetic pole portions are opposed to each other in a radial direction of the shaft member with a predetermined radial gap therebetween, and are offset from each other in an axial direction of the shaft member such that the shaft member is held in a predetermined neutral axial position by first magnetic forces of the first magnetic pole portions which act between the first and second first magnetic pole portions, in a non-energized state of at least one coil, and such that the shaft member and outer sleeve are axially moved relative to each other against the first magnetic forces by second mag

Abstract: A brake mechanism includes a pair of brake arms each having a middle portion pivotally secured to a cycle at a shaft and each having a brake shoe secured to the lower portion. The lower portion of the brake arm includes a protrusion having a head. A ring is rotatably secured to the shaft and has a spring rod engaged with the protrusion of the brake arm for biasing the brake shoe away from the wheel rim of the cycle. A screw is engaged with the ring for rotating the ring relative to the tube and to adjust the biasing force of the spring rod against the brake shoe.

Abstract: The visual alignment aid for connecting the ball of the hitch on a towing vehicle to the socket on the tongue of the trailer is a device constructed of three components which are connected to each other by hinges. One of the components is a base component, a second one of the components has a convex mirror attached thereto and the third of the components has a means for attaching the device to the rear of a vehicle. All three components may assume an angulated position relative to each other and the vehicle to establish a correct line of vision between the driver and the ball and the socket. The three components can be arrested relative to each once a correct line of vision has been established. Color coding may be used on the arresting means to indicate the angulated positions. The same device could be used on a different type of vehicle and once a correct line of vision has been established for that different vehicle, a different color would be used to indicate the rotational positions.

Abstract: Apparatus for both attenuating vibrations below a given load and absorbing shock above the given load. A hydraulic damper unit is equipped with a spring that preloads the device and positions the damper in a neutral or centered position. The spring holds the damper unit centered until the preload force is exceeded in either tension or compression. Elastomeric rod ends connect the damper unit to a mass to be protected and a supporting structure. The elastomeric rod ends have a response such that they attenuate vibrations up to the preloading force of the spring whereupon the elastomer is fully compressed thus permitting the damper to be displaced to absorb shock loads that are greater than the preload break-away force.

Abstract: This invention is intended to provide a semi-active rotary damper that can obtain a large breaking force to disperse a large torque. The rotary damper 100 comprises a damping shaft 111 to be connected to a rotating shaft, and a closed hollow cylindrical housing 113 surrounding the damping shaft 111. A first fluid chamber 116A and a second fluid chamber 116B are formed between an outer face of the damping shaft 111 and an inner face of the housing 113 by a partition 115 and a wing 112. The first fluid chamber 116A and the second fluid chamber 116B are filled with magnetorheological fluid. Meanwhile, an annular solenoid 114 fixed to the housing 113 forms a portion of a flow path 126, 125 and 127 between the first fluid chamber 116A and the second fluid chamber 116B.

Abstract: A powered, personal transportation apparatus for transporting an individual in a standing position, the apparatus including a platform supported by wheels, on which the user stands, the platform having a circular profile which defines substantially the entire outer periphery thereof, and some of the wheels of the apparatus being powered for driving the apparatus in translation and turning, the apparatus being configured such that it is able to turn completely around within its own profile whereby it is easily maneuverable in confining spaces.

Abstract: A brake system for a vehicle having a traction control or anti-spin function for controlling wheel slip on differentially driven wheels of a vehicle. The system includes left and right fluid pressure operated brake mechanisms associated with left and right driven wheels of the vehicle. First and second brake valves control the communication of fluid pressure to the left and right brake mechanisms. In normal operation, an operator actuatable treadle concurrently operates both valves to simultaneously apply fluid pressure to the brake mechanisms as a function of treadle depression. Each brake valve includes a pilot pressure operated section for actuating a main fluid control section. Wheel speed sensors associated with the left and right driven wheels continuously monitor the rotational speed of the wheels.

Abstract: A vehicle power steering system uses an electric motor to drive a pump at a variable speed to provide power steering fluid at a variable flow for power assist to operator steering efforts. The system has a speed control for the electric motor which derives a command speed signal from an input load signal, the speed being switched in a switching region of the power steering fluid pressure signal between a low speed for standby operation and a higher speed to supply the power steering operation demands. The system includes sensor apparatus for providing a power steering load signal and a power steering fluid temperature sensor. The speed control derives the input load signal in the switching region by modifying the power steering load signal in response to the power steering fluid temperature sensor and a motor speed signal to compensate for temperature and speed dependent losses.

Abstract: If cylinder bores formed in a caliper parallel to each other are communicated together through a pipe casted in the caliper, the pipe tends to come out of the caliper into a cylinder bore. A separate short pipe is provided to communicate the cylinder bores. The pipe has an engaging portion so as to extend in a diametric direction of the short pipe to prevent longitudinal shift of the short pipe. The engaging portions can be provided easily by forming a recess or a protrusion on the outer periphery of the pipe and casting the pipe in the caliper.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with an automotive vehicle supported on traction and follower road wheels to control the braking forces applied to the respective road wheels. A target vehicle deceleration is calculated based on a driver's force exerted to apply braking to the vehicle. Target braking forces required for the respective road wheels are calculated in a manner to achieve the target vehicle deceleration based on loads to be shared by the respective road wheels. Target brake torque for the respective road wheels are calculated based on the calculated target braking forces. Drive torque for the respective road wheels are calculated. The drive torque calculated for the respective traction road wheels are used to correct the corresponding target brake torque calculated for the respective traction road wheels so as to calculate target traction road wheel brake torque.

Abstract: In a hydraulic braking system, during normal service braking, the output from a master cylinder (3) is disabled and a brake (12) is applied from a high pressure hydraulic source (24) under the control of electric control means (30) including a solenoid operated actuator (6) responsive to electrical signals from a transducer (2) associated with the pedal (1), and upon failure of the electrical control means a direct flow path is defined between the master cylinder (3) and the brake (12) and through which the brake can be applied from the master cylinder by movement of the pedal in the "push through" mode.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an air spring system wherein an adequate carrying off of heat is ensured for a shock absorber (18) which is completely within an air spring (16) which includes a flexible member (4) and a roll-off piston (6). The interior spaces (12, 14) of the flexible member (4) and the roll-off piston (6) communicate with each other. In lieu of a conventional clamping plate, a funnel-shaped insert (22) is disposed between the flexible member (4) and the roll-off piston (6). The insert (22) surrounds the shock absorber (18) in such a manner that an annular nozzle-shaped narrow (23) results between the walls of the shock absorber (18) and the inner surface of the funnel-shaped insert (22). Openings (26) are disposed on the outer region of the insert (22). These openings (26) as well as the nozzle-shaped narrow (23) define a connection between the volume (12) of the flexible member (4) and the volume (14) of the roll-off piston (6).