Abstract: A device for cooling brake fluid in a brake operating unit which comprises first and second flow channels having respective one ends connected to a cylinder of a brake element. The brake fluid circulates in the cylinder using both of the first and second flow channels by repetition of applying and releasing the brakes. As a result, it is possible to provide a device for cooling a brake fluid, wherein vapor-lock can be presented with certainty, the brake element that is a drum brake or a disc brake is improved in safety and reliability, friction materials such as brake shoes or pads are restrained from rising in temperature and a fade phenomenon is also reduced so that a stable braking operation can be obtained.

Abstract: An adjustable coil over suspension assembly (10) for use in high-performance racing vehicles is provided which includes a central, telescopically intermitted suspension assembly (20) with an elongated coil spring (22) disposed over the assembly (20) and extending along the length thereof. Spring adjusting means (24) is provided for selective adjustment of the compression of spring (22) and includes a threadably mounted body (46) bearing against one end of the spring (22) and carrying a detent device (36, 56) for permitting rotation of the body (46) through a predetermined arc with seating of the body (46) after each such rotation. Accurate adjustment of the assembly (10) is assured because the operator can readily determine through perceptible "clicks" the degree of spring compression change during rotation of the body (46).

Abstract: A device for detecting operation of a brake pedal comprises: a first hydraulic chamber 9 in which fluid is pressurized by a first piston 7 connected with a brake pedal 1 when the brake pedal 1 is pushed downward; a second hydraulic chamber 13 communicated with the first hydraulic chamber 9 via an orifice 11 of small diameter; a first hydraulic pressure sensor 19 for detecting hydraulic pressure in the first hydraulic chamber; and a second hydraulic pressure sensor 20 for detecting hydraulic pressure in the second hydraulic chamber. The control unit 24 controls a motor (braking device) 22 in accordance with a difference .increment.P in pressure obtained by the values of detection conducted by the first hydraulic pressure sensor 19 and the second hydraulic pressure sensor 20.

Abstract: An installation kit for installing an absorption device on a piece of equipment and then rendering the device tamper-proof with respect to the damping setting thereof, including an absorption device having an adjustment member for adjusting the damping setting thereof, and locking mechanism for locking the adjustment member after the damping setting has been set to a desired level. The kit also includes an obstruction element to be applied to the locking mechanism for prohibiting access to the locking mechanism. The obstruction element is a mass of deformable material disposed on a sheet material that facilitates alignment of the mass of deformable material with the locking mechanism during transfer of the mass of deformable material into the locking mechanism. The invention also relates to a method of adjusting the damping setting of an absorption device and then rendering the device tamper-proof with respect to the damping setting thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dither spring structure and method of dither spring manufacture. The dither spring structure includes a central hub, an outer toroidal rim, a plurality of flexible reeds and a plurality of lobes. The reeds extend between the hub and the rim, and one of the lobes is positioned between each pair of adjacent reeds. The rim is defined by a plurality of spaced arcuate segments with one of the segments at a radial outward end of each of the reeds. Each arcuate segment has first and second wing elements extending transversely to each side of its respective reed, and a free end of the first wing element of one reed is spaced from a free end of the second wing element of an adjacent reed to produce thermal stress relief. The dither spring structure can be manufactured via electro-discharge machining (EDM) using a single continuous pass of an EDM cutting element.

Abstract: A spring-mass vibration absorber for absorbing vibration in a structure. The vibration absorber comprising a baseplate having a first surface and a second surface, and a plurality of recurved springs connecting the baseplate to the structure. Each of the recurved springs is fixedly connected to the first surface of the baseplate at a baseplate connection point, and fixedly connected to the structure at a structure connection point.

Abstract: A fluid-filled Active Vibration Absorber (AVA) (20) is described for attaching to, and controlling dynamic vibration of the member (22). The AVA (20) is comprised of primary tuning mass (23) preferably including an additional inertial tuning mass (26) which is associated with a primary resonant frequency (fn1), a flexible element (28) for interconnecting the primary mass (23) and, thus, interconnecting inertial tuning mass (26) to member (22), at least one, and preferably two, fluid chambers, (30) and (32), each having a defined volume stiffness Kv'1, Kv'2, a fluid (34) contained within the at least one and preferably two, fluid chambers, (30) and (32), a moveable piston (36) dynamically interacting with the fluid (34) in the at least one fluid chamber and preferably, in first and second fluid chambers, (30) and (32), to cause pressure variations which dynamically drive the primary tuning mass (23) within a range about the primary resonant frequency (fn1).

Abstract: The strut comprises a ball bearing (42) located below the lower retainer ) of the spring (4). The ball bearing (42) is centered on an eccentric collar (27) in order to shift the center of the ball bearing (42) by a distance e from the axis of the shock absorber. Rotation between the body (2) of the shock absorber and the hub holder (5) displaces the center of the ball bearing (42), which shifts the lower retainer (41) accordingly. Using a suitable measuring bench, the strut is adjusted precisely upon the assembling thereof.

Abstract: To achieve a lowering of a dynamic spring constant in an air column resonance region of a tire without increasing the hardness of an elastic body of a liquid-encapsulated bushing, an outer tube and an inner tube are connected by a bushing rubber. Front liquid chambers and rear liquid chambers are placed in communication with each other by first communication passages. The upper liquid chambers and the rear liquid chambers are placed in communication with each other by second communication passages and a third communication passage. If a load of 80-250 Hz is input in a Z-Z' direction, the peak of the dynamic spring constant is shifted toward a higher-frequency side by the third communication passage and a dynamic spring constant in the air column resonance region (220-250 Hz) of a tire is lowered, thereby reducing road noise.

Abstract: A magnetorheological fluid device which exhibits excursion (stroke or rotation) dependent resistance (force or torque) which is obtained passively. Linear and rotary embodiments are described. The devices described herein include various ways for passively varying magnetic circuit reluctance to accomplish the stroke or rotation dependent characteristic.

Abstract: A portable vehicle fluid drain device is disclosed. The device includes a vertical drain tube which supports a vehicle fluid drain bowl. The drain tube is manually adjusted to an elevated position, latched in place while the vehicle fluid is drained, and unlatched to descend at a rate less than that of free fall due to the use of a friction brake. The friction force imparted by the brake on the drain tube is adjusted by rotating a wing nut on a carriage bolt to squeeze the inner edges of two wishbone arms against the drain tube. A method of using a vehicle fluid drain device with a brake and a self-latching mechanism is disclosed.

Abstract: A brake for a hoist gear is provided with a pair of brake shoes for braking a disk to be braked arranged on a winding drum side by pressing both sides of the disk. Floating pin fitting piece portions protrude integrally from a body of a bearing supporting the winding drum. A caliper is attached to the fitting piece portions through floating pins. Axis points of the floating pins are arranged in point symmetry of approximately 180.degree. in respect of an axis point of a push rod inserted into the caliper in order to uniformly contact the disk face.

Abstract: Cooperating brake discs, rotors, and stators all are located at the same side of a pair of cam plate flanges. The cam plate flanges are coupled to an inner sleeve and input gear, respectively, with balls and ball ramp sockets for forcing apart the cam plate flanges when an output side is driven relative to an input side. The brake is effective to prevent relative rotation of the output side relative to the input side, but is released by rotation of an input gear for driving the inner sleeve.

Abstract: A wheeled vehicle can be positioned in a garage by a positioning device that includes a mounting bracket attachable to the garage floor, or garage wall near the floor, an elongated arm structure pivotably attached to the mounting bracket for swinging motion between an operating positioning along the floor and a stored position against the garage wall, and a tire-engageable ramp affixed to the elongated arm structure remote from the mounting bracket. The arm structure has an adjustable length for varying the spacing of the ramp from the garage wall.

Abstract: An electronic fail safe circuit ensures that if there is a microprocessor failure during a brake application, this failure does not result in a release of the brakes. This is accomplished by the fail safe circuit forcing the appropriate solenoids to the self-regulating valve's hold state for a certain amount of time. This, in combination with the self regulating valve, accomplishes the desired outcome of a minimum disruption in the brake application and, specifically, prevention of an erroneous brake release. To further enhance the reliability of the system, a dual battery power supply is used. Each battery is tested prior to doing a brake application. Each battery has to pass the test, i.e., each battery individually must have enough charge to complete the brake application, before the brake application is undertaken.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a viscous damper of the labyrinth ring type for incorporation in a mounting for a TV or video camera for damping pan or tilt movement of the camera. The damper has a stator (10) having a multiplicity of upstanding concentric annular fins (12) and a rotor (17) having a corresponding multiplicity of concentric annular fins (32) projecting downwardly which interleaf with clearance with the upstanding flanges of the stator, the space between the fins being filled with a viscous fluid to provide a resistance to relative movement between the rotor and stator. The rotor is adjusted with respect to the stator by a motor driven lead screw. A speed sensor measures speed of the rotor with respect to the stator and torque applied to the camera by the hand control to pan or tilt the camera is measured by a strain gauge associated with the hand control. A control system is provided for the motor embodying a microprocessor preprogrammed with one or more algorithms coordinating torque and speed.

Abstract: A tandem vacuum servo unit includes a movable power piston having a supporting portion and a front movable wall member having a first engaging portion for engaging the movable power piston. The first engaging portion has an input side face that engages the output side face of the supporting portion along a first contacting portion. A rear movable wall member has a second engaging portion whose input side face engages the output side face of the first engaging portion along a second contacting portion. The first contacting portion is spaced radially outwardly of the second contacting portion. This construction of the vacuum servo unit increases the durability of the front movable wall member.

Abstract: A friction pad for braking cooperates with a support member, which receives a brake torque produced in the friction pad, in forming a recess and projection fitting portion. A pad clip is interposed between the friction pad and the support member to thereby be able to reduce the sliding resistance of the friction pad. An anchor piece, which extends downwardly from a U-shaped portion of the pad clip, is inclined and disposed in such a manner that a pad contact portion, which serves as a contact portion between the anchor piece and friction pad is situated more outwardly in the rotor diameter direction than a support contact portion serving as a contact portion between the anchor piece and the support member. Due to such arrangement of the anchor piece, the energizing actions of the anchor piece and rotor diameter direction pressing portion with the support member contact portion as the fulcrum thereof can restrict the movement of the friction pad to thereby prevent generation of a rattling noise.

Abstract: An improved electro-hydraulic brake system having features for improving the pedal feel of the system, while further having design features which contribute to the economy of manufacture of certain components of the system. The system provides for an electrically powered normal source of pressurized hydraulic brake fluid, and a manually powered backup source of pressurized hydraulic brake fluid to the vehicle brakes in the event of failure of the normal source. During normal braking, fluid from the backup source is redirected from the vehicle brakes to a pedal simulator. The pedal simulator preferably includes arrangements of spring loaded pistons, expansion volumes, and damping orifices, together with valves selectively controlling the flow of fluid to and from the pedal simulator which provides for an improved pedal feel during vehicle braking.

Abstract: An arcuate brake lining apparatus for use with an arcuate brake drum is disclosed that includes a brake shoe table having an inner edge and an outer edge. There is an outer lip on the outer edge of the brake shoe table. A gripper is detachably attached to the brake shoe table. An inner lip is provided on the gripper. There is at least one brake lining segment having a braking surface configured for engaging an arcuate brake drum. The at least one brake lining segment has an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge being configured for engaging the inner lip of the gripper, and the outer edge being configured for engaging the outer lip of the brake shoe table. In the method of using the arcuate brake lining apparatus, when the at least one brake lining segment is to be replaced, the gripper is removed from the brake shoe table, and the at least one brake lining segment is moved in a direction from the outer edge toward the inner edge for disengaging the outer edge from the outer lip.