Abstract: A device and method of adjusting a variable boosting factor of a brake power booster is provided. A variable boosting factor is achieved by constructively defining a basic boosting factor of a brake power booster that may be overridden by electronic independent activation. In a preferred embodiment, the driver's pedal force is measured either directly at the brake pedal, or after the pedal force is boosted by the brake pedal on the piston rod of the brake power booster by means of a force. A nominal pressure specification is generated from this quantity by way of a variable amplifier and an electrical signal-adapting unit. The braking pressure which is produced from the driver's pedal force and the basic boosting factor of the brake power booster can be overridden by this independent activation.

Abstract: In a method of controlling a braking system in a vehicle, the action of the brakes is distributed between at least one front and one rear wheel by adjusting at least the braking pressure in the brakes on one of the rear wheels in order to establish a difference between the braking pressure on the front wheel and that on the rear wheel. The difference established between the braking pressure on the front wheel and that on the rear wheel is decreased in the presence of a prescribable condition. The presence of the prescribable condition depends at least on a detected parameter that represents the longitudinal velocity of the vehicle, and the established difference is continuously decreased.

Abstract: Hydraulic or electro-hydraulic braking systems which include at least one wheel braking device and micro-machined technology, such as microvalves, are described herein. The use of the microvalves helps to eliminate audible noise produced in the hydraulic systems as well as allows for reduced package size of the system. In particular, many of the braking systems described herein have Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) capabilities, and as such employ apply microvalves, dump microvalves and changeover microvalves. The microvalves may be digitally or proportionally controlled for selectively controlling the pressure supplied to the wheel brake cylinders.

Abstract: An improved air brake stroke gage including, an elastomeric-grommet around the push rod to seal the air brake housing during the "inactive" mode of the brake system, and a pivotally mounted reference marker to be shifted to selected positions to provide an easy and quick usual indication of the adjustment of the air brake system.

Abstract: In a method of operating an anti-lock automotive vehicle brake system for driving stability control and/or traction slip control which includes a brake force booster operable irrespective of the driver's wish, the brake force booster, at the commencement of control, will achieve its maximum attainable boosting force irrespective of the driver's wish, and the desired wheel braking pressures are adjusted by way of the ABS hydraulic unit, and at the end of the control, the independent actuation of the brake force booster will not be deactivated until the brake force booster has been reset to its initial position by returning the pressure fluid discharged from the wheel brakes into the low-pressure accumulators.

Abstract: A brake pipe control apparatus of the type that defines primary and control passage networks has been improved. The primary passage network interconnects the brake pipe to at least one pneumatic valve in the apparatus. The control passage network interconnects a source of control pressure to at least one magnet valve used to cause operation of the pneumatic valve(s). The improvement includes first and second check valves and a passageway added between the two passage networks. The first check valve is incorporated into the control passage network between an inlet channel thereof that connects to the source and a branched channel thereof that connects to the magnet valve(s). The first check valve is situated to prevent air from flowing to the source from the branched channel when pressure in the source is low relative to pressure in the branched channel. The passageway interconnects the branched channel and the primary passage network.

Abstract: Pressure in an air intake passage is changed according to an opening size of a throttle valve. The throttle valve is open when an engine performs a stratified charge combustion. The opening size of the throttle valve is selected based on a load applied to the engine when the engine performs a homogeneous charge combustion. A brake booster is connected to the intake passage and accumulates the pressure that is generated in the intake passage. The brake booster obtains braking force for the vehicle when the accumulated pressure is smaller than a predetermined reference value. The throttle valve is actuated by a controller to decrease the pressure in the intake passage when pressure in the brake booster detected by a pressure sensor is larger than the predetermined reference value. The reference value is corrected by the controller based on movement characteristics of the vehicle that is detected by velocity sensor.

Abstract: An adjustment arrangement or adjuster for a hydraulic brake actuator (5) of the type having a piston (13) which moves a preferred distance within a cylindrical bore (18) in a housing (7) between a quiescent retracted position with a preferred clearance space (25) between one piston end (10) and a brake member (2) of a heat stack (1), and an extended position with the one piston end (10) engaging and actuating the brake member (2) in response to the application of hydraulic fluid pressure, includes a return spring (19) which, upon relief of the hydraulic pressure, urges the piston (13) back from the brake member (1) engaging position to the retracted position.

Abstract: An interactive safety helmet for a bicyclist, making it possible for a group of bicyclists wearing like helmets to communicate with each other and thereby coordinate their activities. The helmet is formed by an outer shell shaped to fit onto the head of the bicyclist and an inner cushioning liner having a pair of miniature loud speakers embedded therein at opposing sides adjacent the ears of the bicyclist. Extending from the shell is a gooseneck supporting a microphone at a position adjacent the mouth of the bicyclist. Mounted on the shell is a miniature radio transceiver whose transmitter section is coupled to the microphone and whose receiver section is coupled to the loud speakers. The transceiver is connected by a line extending from the helmet to an external battery power pack. In operation, a bicyclist wearing the helmet can by talking into the microphone and listening to the loud speakers interact with other bicyclists in the group.

Abstract: A coordinated engine and transmission traction control method is disclosed for reducing driven wheel speed transients related to transmission shifting during a traction control event. The method includes sensing a driven wheel speed, and estimating a driving surface coefficient of friction based on the sensed wheel speed. The method also includes prolonging a transmission upshift by reducing a rate of change of a commanded speed ratio in proportion to the estimated driving surface coefficient of friction, and decreasing engine torque during the transmission upshift. A system including a wheel speed sensor and control logic is also disclosed for performing the method.

Abstract: An improved ductile iron vehicle hub and method for producing the same wherein the method includes the steps of (a) providing a vehicle hub formed from ductile iron and including a generally axially extending body having a centrally located opening formed therethrough, the body including an open inner end, an open outer end, and a generally radially outwardly extending flange; and (b) shot peening selected outer surfaces of the body of the vehicle hub to induce compressive stresses therein to improve the fatigue life the vehicle hub.

Abstract: In an acceleration slip control system for a motor vehicle, (a) a device for detecting the temperature of brake fluid at the end of an acceleration slip control or, (b) a device for detecting the hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinder at the end of the acceleration slip control, is installed in order that a predetermined time period for which a releasing device for reducing the hydraulic pressure of a wheel cylinder is released to open a fluid passage leading to a reservoir, may be made variable in accordance with the detected brake fluid temperature or the hydraulic pressure. Alternatively, (c) a device for detecting the hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinder in real time is installed in order that the releasing means for reducing the hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinder may be released until the hydraulic pressure of the wheel cylinder becomes lower than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A parking brake lock-in key switch system for a truck or bus brake system is disclosed. The system has two parking brake lock-in valves. One parking brake lock-in valve is installed in the air line piping between the primary air tank and the push pull double check valve and the second parking brake lock-in valve is in the air line piping between the secondary air tank and the push pull double check valve. The parking brake lock-in valves are air operated valves which when closed will lock in actuated parking brakes. The parking brake lock-in valves are operated by a solenoid operated pilot valve which provides air from an air supply to close the lock-in valves when the ignition key is moved to the `off` position. An actuated parking brake will be locked in because new air from the respective tanks will be prevented from flowing to the push pull double check valve and hence the brake chambers. The parking brake lock-in valve does not vent off downstream piping when it closes.

Abstract: In a damping force variable hydraulic shock absorber 6 including a main valve 18 for opening and closing a main passageway 19 communicating with two main oil chambers 7a, 7b defined by a piston 9 within a cylinder 7, an auxiliary oil chamber 31 for causing a pressure within a high pressure side one of the oil chambers to act on the main valve 18 for movement in a valve closing direction, a pilot valve 35 provided for opening and closing a pilot passage 36 communicating the auxiliary oil chamber 31 to a low pressure side one of the oil chambers such that when the pressure within the auxiliary oil chamber 31 exceeds a preset pressure the pilot valve operates to open the pilot passage 36 to allow a working fluid to escape through the auxiliary oil chamber 31 toward the low pressure side thereby to vary the force biasing the main valve toward the closing direction, and preset pressure variable means 44 for variably controlling the preset pressure, a valve body 42 and a valve opening, both of the pilot valve 35, a

Abstract: A vehicle braking system including an antilock braking system or a traction assist braking system, or both, operatively coupled therewith, is disclosed. The system includes a pump assembly including a housing defining a main bore, an inlet bore, and an outlet bore. A reciprocatable piston is retained in the main bore. An inlet check valve is operable to pass fluid to the outlet bore when the piston reciprocates. An outlet check valve is inserted into the outlet bore and operates to pass fluid from the pump assembly when the piston reciprocates. A deformable flange extends sufficiently outward from a valve body of the outlet check valve. The flange secures the outlet check valve within the outlet bore when the flange is deformed into displacing engagement with the outlet bore. Further, a method of securing a valve in a bore of a pump assembly is disclosed.

Abstract: An engaging device is provided which includes support members having respective splines that face with each other in a radial direction, a plurality of first friction plates that mesh with the spline of one of the support members, a plurality of second friction plates that mesh with the spline of the other support member, the first and second friction plates alternately overlapping with each other in an annular overlap portion of the engaging device, and a hydraulic piston that is held by the one support member to be movable in a direction of an axis of relative rotation of the support members. The hydraulic piston has a plurality of pressing parts that are spaced from each other in a circumferential direction, for pressing the first and second friction plates in an axial direction thereby to given an engaging force to the friction plates.

Abstract: The disclosure involves the combination of a vehicle chassis such as that used on a construction machine, e.g., a loader/backhoe. The chassis has a channel and a holding tank, e.g., a hydraulic oil tank, supported on the channel by first and second tank mounting ears. In the improvement, the channel includes a panel having outer and inner surfaces and first and second mounting plates are against the inner surface. First and second mounting fasteners extend through the first and second tank mounting ears, respectively, through the chassis panel and into the first and second mounting plates, respectively. A new method for mounting a holding tank to a vehicle chassis is also disclosed.

Abstract: In a first type, there is provided, inside an inner tube of a twin-tube type of damper, a pressurizing chamber to be defined by a free piston which is slidably fit onto an outer surface of a rod. A fluid pressure from an outside pressure source is supplied to the pressurizing chamber to push down a damper piston via the free piston to thereby forcibly contract the damper. In a second type, there is provided inside an inner tube a cylinder which is slidably fit onto an outer surface of a rod, and a piston mounted on the rod is inserted into the cylinder. A fluid pressure from the pressure source is supplied to the pressurizing chamber inside the cylinder to push down the rod via the piston to thereby forcibly contract the damper. In a third type, a rod is slidably inserted into a partition wall in an intermediate portion of a damper main body of a mono-tube type of damper.

Abstract: An annular nut cooperates with threaded sectors, which are formed on the reservoir tube of a shock absorber having a coil over spring preload, to provide for adjustment of the preload. The threaded sectors are equispaced angularly about the longitudinal axis of the reservoir tube of the shock absorber, and the threads of the threaded sectors are disposed in the planes that are substantially traverse to the longitudinal axis of the reservoir tube. The annular nut abuts the adjacent end of the coil over spring and the spring end is attached to the nut so that the spring and annular nut rotate together.

Abstract: A pump device includes main and auxiliary eccentric portions integrated with a motor output shaft on the side of its base end and on the side of its pointed end. The main eccentric portion is larger in diameter than the auxiliary eccentric portion. A needle roller bearing and a ball bearing are fitted to the outer peripheries of the eccentric portions. Main and auxiliary pumps include a pair of plungers which abut on the outer peripheries of the bearings, respectively, and are driven by the main and auxiliary eccentric portions.