Abstract: An anti-lock brake control system capable of performing optimal control of braking hydraulic pressure in a motor vehicle having four wheels while preventing brake application from being released by setting an optimal pseudo vehicle speed by effectively making use of the wheel speeds of four wheels in arithmetic determination of a pseudo vehicle speed on a wheel basis. The anti-lock brake control system includes wheel speed detector (101a to 101d) for detecting rotation speeds of four wheels, respectively, reference wheel speed arithmetic calculators (102a to 102d) for setting limits on the wheel speed of the wheels in consideration of positional relations of the wheels relative to one wheel of concern to thereby determine a reference wheel speed, and pseudo vehicle speed arithmetic calculators (103a to 103d) for arithmetically determining the pseudo vehicle speed on the basis of the reference wheel speed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring slack adjustment for braking in a vehicle is applicable to either drum or disc brake assemblies. The vehicle has several axle assemblies each with a pair of brake assemblies. A typical disc brake assembly includes a rotating disc, an actuator, a caliper with a brake lining supported on a backing plate, and a slack adjuster for adjusting the travel distance of the caliper to the disc. The actuator moves the brake linings of the caliper into contact with the rotating disc to brake the vehicle, resulting in a temperature increase in the brake linings. Temperature sensors are embedded in the brake linings of each brake assembly on each axle of the vehicle. The temperature of each brake lining is measured and compared with the temperature of the brake lining of its brake pair on the same axle. If the ratio of the two brake lining temperatures achieves a predetermined limit, a slack adjuster is deemed out of adjustment and a warning signal is sent to the vehicle operator.

Abstract: A shock absorber has a base valve assembly which includes a compression valve assembly and an acceleration valve assembly. The compression valve assembly controls a fluid path through the base assembly to provide a firm damping characteristic for the shock absorber during low acceleration movement. The acceleration valve assembly controls a second fluid path through the base assembly to provide a soft damping characteristic for the shock when the shock absorber experiences acceleration beyond a specified amount.

Abstract: Method of stabilizing valve lift-off movement in an automotive hydraulic shock absorber having compression and expansion chambers filled with a hydraulic shock-absorber fluid is diclosed. The chamber are divided by a valve body which has one or more orifices that have fluid flow therethrough controlled by a spring biased valve that lifts off from the valve body when the fluid pressure differential between chambers is above a predetermined amount.

Abstract: An improved method for final balancing a brake drum determines the location and length of a first constant depth cut and a second constant depth cut along the squealer band which are necessary to correct the imbalance, and using a cutting machine, makes the first and second constant depth cuts at the predetermined location and for the predetermined length along the squealer band to produce a final balanced brake drum. Preferably, the cutting machine is a milling machine which produces a plunge type entrance/exit cut. It is a further feature of the invention to provide a feather type entrance/exit cut to reduce the stress concentrations, and produce a cosmetically more appealing final balanced brake drum.

Abstract: A controlled stop system for an AC electric locomotive includes a braking effort control circuit responsive to a braking command regulating braking effort produced by AC traction motors coupled in driving relationship to wheels of the locomotive. The control circuit is responsive to a vehicle speed signal for adjusting motor operation to maintain braking effort to about zero speed. A filter processes the speed signal before application to the braking effort control circuit such that the control circuit operates as a speed regulator at zero speed to maintain the vehicle in a stopped condition.

Abstract: A sphere, in particular a pneumatic sphere, which comprises a rigid jacket (11) having an upper portion (11a, 21a) and a lower portion (11b) and a pliable, deformable membrane (2) arranged inside this jacket in such a way as to delimit an upper chamber (3) and a lower chamber (4), the membrane being attached in the area of junction (11c) between the upper and lower portions and being movable between an extreme lowered position and an extreme raised position. The jacket has a flattened overall shape and, in the extreme raised position, the membrane substantially coincides with the inner surface of the upper portion (11a, 21a) of the jacket.

Abstract: A piston-cylinder unit includes a piston which divides the cylinder into two working chambers, a sealing valve seals a flow path between the two working chambers in the stationary operating condition of the unit. The sealing valve has a valve element consisting of an axially movable radially sealing sealing ring in conjunction with a valve ring, which at its back is supported by a spring-biased member. The slide member and the valve ring form therebetween a flow-off chamber having a flow-off opening that is sized so that unrestricted fluid flow is permitted so as to prevent the formation of a ram pressure in the flow-off chamber. The sealing ring is movable between three axial positions relative to the valve ring. At a center position, the sealing ring seals the flow path against fluid flow. At the two other positions, the sealing ring permits fluid flow in opposite directions.

Abstract: A substitute for a lubricated metal-on-metal bushing for mounting the spring eye of a heavy over-the-road truck includes a sleeve part and a pin, the pin having bonded to it a polyurethane elastomer with a 65 D Shore hardness. Similar bushings are substituted for other metal-on-metal bushings in the suspensions and brakes of heavy over-the-road vehicles.

Abstract: An improved brake structure for casters including a caster frame having a through pivot hole, two rollers mounted pivotally at the ends of the through pivot hole of the caster frame and having inner teeth, a rotary shaft pivotally mounted at a rear end of the caster frame to support an object such as a leg of a table or chair, a trigger element pivotally mounted at a front end of the caster frame, a first stop element for stopping the relative movement of the inner teeth of the rollers, a first spring element for urging the first stop element. The brake structure is characterized in that a second stop element is pivotally disposed below the trigger element and capable of horizontal displacement. The second stop element includes a front urging portion and a rear bent baffle wall. The trigger element further includes a trigger tab extending downwardly therefrom. When the trigger element deflects, the trigger tab will push the baffle wall.

Abstract: A helical spring is formed by winding a fiber bundle onto a core at a predetermined wind angle and then winding the wound core onto a grooved mold. The fibers have a thermosetting material thereon which is cured as the wound core advances along the groove by heating of the mold, the mold rotated to achieve this advance. A frictional engagement at the delivery end is set up between the wound core and the groove to pull and stretch the wound core and to thereby optimally orient the fibers before setting.

Abstract: A liquid sealed suspension unit includes a first member and a second member which are independent of each other and which are coupled together. A cylindrical rubber mount (43) is fastened to the first member, and the second member is mounted so as to be slidable in an axial direction thereof relative to the cylindrical rubber mount (43). The cylindrical rubber mount (43) has a plurality of rubber layers (46a, 46b, 46c) laminated via a plurality of cylindrical members (45a, 45b, 45c) such that they are different with respect to at least either of (i) thickness in their radial direction and (ii) height in their axial direction. A spring member (57), in the form of at least one spring coil, is interposed between a damper plate member (50) and an inner surface of a vessel (40) at the bottom of the vessel. This construction provides an increased displacement amplitude in the axial direction, and an excellent vibration absorptivity for both a roll and a pitch can be achieved.

Abstract: This invention relates to a wheel hub and brake disc arrangement for a vehicle wheel comprising a hub mounted via a bearing on a stub axle, a brake disc non-rotatably mounted on a carrier portion of the hub and a lock ring axially fixed at an end of the carrier portion. The lock ring has a first side surface lying in contact with a surface on the brake disc and a second side surface located radially inwardly of the first side surface, the second side surface being in contact with a surface of the hub. The lock ring also has areas located radially between the first and second side surfaces which lack contact both with the surfaces on the brake disc and the brake hub. The lock ring is also provided with circumferentially spaced bosses. The lock ring permits limited axial displacement of the brake disc, relative to the carrier portion of the hub, upon axial loading of the brake disc.

Abstract: There is provided a liquid enclosing type vibration isolating apparatus which reduces a number of members to be aligned and which simplifies the assembling procedure in liquid, so as to reduce assembling steps and production cost. A cylindrical rubber body has a reinforcing intermediate cylinder, a concave groove and a through hole to form an orifice passage. The cylindrical rubber body is formed integrated with a diaphragm at a lower end of the cylindrical rubber body. A partitioning member has, on its peripheral part, an orifice passage concave portion. A first assembling step is conducted in air wherein a partitioning member is fitted into the cylindrical rubber body, so as to form an air chamber between the diaphragm and the partitioning member, while aligning the through hole with the orifice passage concave portion.

Abstract: The pressure increases of a hydraulic pressure control module for controlling the braking forces of wheels are decided on the basis of wheel speeds and a vehicle speed estimated from the maximum wheel speed. In this case, on condition that the incremental rate of the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the vehicle speed exhibited before the incremental rate exceeds the threshold value is kept as an estimated vehicle speed, which is used for deciding the pressure increases. Thus, the pressure increases can be appropriately decided even in a situation where a motor vehicle passes through a very-low-.mu. road part or a drop in road level.

Abstract: A brake control system is comprised of a vehicle environment recognition device for obtaining vehicle environment including a road condition, an actuator for applying hydraulic pressure set at a target value to each wheel cylinder, and a controller for calculating the target value on the basis of the vehicle environment. The controller controls the wheel cylinder pressure by driving the actuator so as to adjusting the wheel cylinder pressure at the target value. Therefore, it becomes possible to ensure the same braking distance by the same depression degree of the brake even in various road conditions.

Abstract: A vehicular anti-lock braking system includes a source of pressurized brake fluid connected to a pair of diagonally opposed wheel brakes. First and second normally open isolation valves are connected between the source of pressurized brake fluid and the wheel brakes so that fluid reaches one of the wheel brakes after passing through only one of the isolation valves and reaches the other of the wheel brakes after passing through both of the isolation valves. A normally closed dump valve is connected between the source of pressurized fluid and one of the isolation valves so that fluid is selectively routed from both of the wheel brakes and passed through the dump valve to relief fluid pressure at the wheel brakes.

Abstract: In traffic-related stationary phases, a drive ratio of the transmission remains engaged with the engine running on a road vehicle equipped with automatic transmission. The service brake automatically remains activated for a short time after the vehicle has come to a halt as a result of a targeted braking operation. Thereby, the driver is allowed to remove his/her foot from the brake pedal, and the vehicle can be held stationary in a reliable manner on a flat or sloping road surface. This holding braking mode of the vehicle service brake system is cancelled when the driver actuates the accelerator pedal whose position is monitored by a switch.

Abstract: A cushioned braking system for cushioning the impact of a moving vehicle for amusement for children is disclosed. The braking system comprises a double ended air cylinder having a first cylinder end and a second cylinder end. A first head member and a second head member close the first and second cylinder ends, respectively. A first piston rod extends axially outward from the cylinder through the first head member. A first piston is on the first piston rod within the cylinder. A second piston rod extends axially outward from the cylinder through the second head member. A second piston is on the second piston rod within the cylinder. A spring assembly resiliently connects the first piston to the second piston within the cylinder. The spring assembly serves to bias the first and second pistons toward a reference position. The cylinder also has a vent for controlling air flow within the cylinder.

Abstract: A disk brake device for use with a bicycle has a driven plate extending out from one of a pair of yokes receiving the driven plate therein. The driven plate defines therethrough a channel, such that an adjusting bolt is able to be inserted therethrough. A driving plate added between a driven plate and a brake shoe has a stud extending into the channel of the driven plate to be in contact with the adjusting bolt, such that movement of the adjusting bolt will result in the movement of the driving plate. Accordingly, the movement of the driving plate will cause the brake shoe to move closer to the disk securely positioned between two brake shoes.