Abstract: The ball scooping position of a ball is setted downwardly of a reference line and the angle of the ball scooping position with respect to the reference line is setted at an angle of −15°. The end face of the rising portion of a tube is disposed so as to coincide with the reference line. The axis of the rising portion is setted so as to be present outside of a line corresponding to the ball center locus of a raceway. The inner surface of the pickup portion of the tube is connected with the ball scooping position of the ball rolling groove of a nut by a surface which exists outside of the ball rolling groove of the nut.

Abstract: A dampener including a valve movable between an open position and a closed position to selectively alter the compression damping rate of the shock absorber. The valve may include a self-centering feature which operates to keep the valve body centered about the valve shaft. The dampener may also include a timer feature, which retains the valve in an open position for a predetermined period of time after it is initially opened.

Abstract: A visual display system comprising: a base; a first vertical front surface connected to the base; an angled back surface connected to the first vertical front surface having an angle of incidence from the first vertical front surface of between 10 and 40 degrees; a vertical back surface connected to the angled back surface having a top edge; a second vertical front surface secured to the top edge forming a first slot between the second vertical front surface and vertical back panel for holding product information; and an angled front panel connected to the second vertical front surface forming a second slot between the angled back surface and the angled front panel for holding product information.

Abstract: A gas spring device includes a pressure adjustor having an actuator mechanism which regulates the rate of discharge through a pressure-release valve in equal bursts small enough to permit precise adjustment of the internal working pressure of the gas spring. Manually turning the actuator mechanism provides a consistent application of intermittent inertial force to the gas spring pressure-release valve so that resultant equal bursts provide a controlled release of pressure, even from imprecise manual operation. The chance of over-bleeding is eliminated since the mechanics of the actuator mechanism provides a single metered burst of released gas regardless of how quickly or slowly it is turned, thus the size of the burst is not dependent on the operator's skill. Because the adjustor mechanism is integrated directly into the device, it is compact and does not interfere with other surrounding mechanical structures.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an actuating unit for an electromechanically operable disc brake for automotive vehicles which is generally comprised of a drive unit or an electric motor, an actuating element, by means of which one of two friction linings that are slidably arranged in a brake caliper is moved into engagement with a brake disc, as well as a first and a second reduction gear. In order to uncouple the second reduction gear from the first reduction gear, it is disclosed in the present invention that the electric motor, the first reduction gear, and the second reduction gear are configured as at least two assemblies which can be handled independently.

Abstract: A pressure plate for a disc brake pad is provided with ears having increased thickness to ensure retention of the pad in the brake housing when the friction material is worn. The increased thickness is obtained by linearly displacing one or more sections of the ears perpendicular to the plate by stamping, and preferably by fine blanking. This process optimizes the life of the stamping tools and does not require subsequent machining.

Abstract: A scooter hand/foot braking mechanism comprises a frame with its rear end of the frame being pivoted to rear wheel; a braking plate related to a flat portion having at its front end formed an arc portion and its rear end a pivot holder for accommodating a pivot inserted through by a return coil before the braking plate being pivoted to the frame; a pair of wings respectively extending from both sides at the upper end of the arc portion with each attached at its inner side with a felt keeping a certain spacing from the rear wheel as long as the braking either by hand or by foot not applied; and the linkage related to an arc portion having its upper end curved to form a plane provided with a hole and fixed under the flat portion of the braking plate with a bolt and a nut while another hole provided in the arc portion to restrict the braking wire to pull the linkage and the braking plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a brake rotor including a central disc portion and an extending portion located at a periphery of the central disc portion. A friction portion having a first friction plate is attached to the extending portion and a second friction plate is attached to the first friction plate. The extending portion can be a “U” shaped configuration adapted to allow the first friction plate to expand in a radial direction in an amount substantially equal to the second friction plate under a condition of elevated temperature.

Abstract: A backing plate for a railroad brake shoe includes side edges, ends, and an integral lug section located remote from the ends. The backing plate has a generally convex top surface, a generally concave bottom surface, and a longitudinal axis. Located transverse to the longitudinal axis, the lug section has an arcuate shape with an apex and legs and has a plurality of reinforcing members which are integrally formed as part thereof. The apex of the lug section forms a key or lug slot for insertion of a key which secures the backing plate to a brake head. The reinforcing members can take the form of at least one reinforcing rib which is laterally spaced from the lug slot and extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the backing plate. The reinforcing member may also be comprised of an offset portion. Bores may be located on the periphery of the backing plate to impart additional strength thereto.

Abstract: A brake cable mounting structure for a drum brake which, even if the distance from the brake mounting surface to the brake shoe center in the width direction is short, secures an effective stroke of the brake cable, facilitates the layout of the brake cable mounting section and the crank mechanism, and reducing the size of the anchor by only needing to support the brake force. To that end, a brake cable mounting structure for a drum brake is provided, wherein the pipe-like section, in which the outer casing of the brake cable is attached, is formed integrally with the spacer positioned between a part of the back plate around the anchor which supports one adjacent ends of the pair of brake shoes and the brake mounting member.

Abstract: A crash attenuation system having an impact head, and energy absorption mechanism. The energy absorbing mechanism has a mandrel for rupturing thin-walled tubes in a controlled rupture to absorb impact forces from a colliding vehicle. A frame may be used to mount the system to a truck, trailer, guardrail, median barrier end treatment, or a crash cushion. Stress concentrators may be incorporated into the tubes and the mandrels to selectively control rupturing and energy dissipation.

Abstract: An improved traction control system for a vehicle which ensures that when a driver has performed a voluntary operation to reduce the driven wheel speed during carrying-out of a traction control, a deceleration greater than required is avoided, thereby avoiding an uncomfortable feeling provided to the driver. The improvement to the traction control system includes a control unit for stopping the traction control in response to the driver's operation to reduce the driven wheel speed during carrying-out of the traction control.

Abstract: A brake unit for a scooter mainly includes a foot pedal having an eccentric head integrally formed at a lower rear portion thereof, a brake shoe, a rear-wheel support, and a push element having a spring put around it. The foot pedal is pivotally mounted to a front part of the rear-wheel support and the brake shoe is mounted to a rear part of the rear-wheel support between a rear wheel and the foot pedal. The push element is connected to a middle part of the rear-wheel support with a front end thereof normally pushed against the foot pedal by the spring and a rear end thereof connected to a fastening screw forward extended from the brake shoe. When the foot pedal is stepped down, the eccentric head thereof contacts with the front end of the push element and pushes the push element rearward to force the brake shoe tightly against the rear wheel and thereby brake the scooter.

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: An active vibration damping system for damping vibration of a subject member, comprising: a fluid-filled vibration damping device having an elastic body partially defining a primary fluid chamber filled with a non-compressible fluid whose pressure is variable with the elastic deformation of the elastic body, an oscillating plate partially defining an auxiliary fluid chamber filled with the non-compressible fluid whose pressure is variable with the oscillation of the oscillating plate, and a drive means for generating a driving force for oscillating the oscillating plate; and a control device applying an electric drive pulse signal to the drive means and having a pulse signal generator for generating a control pulse signal whose frequency corresponds to that of the subject member's vibration, a phase modulator for modulating a phase of the control pulse signal depending upon a condition of the subject member's vibration, and a driving force regulator for adjusting a waveform of the control pulse sign

Abstract: A bushing apparatus for interconnecting two members and allowing relative motion therebetween allows decoupled spring rates in the axial and radial directions. The bushing apparatus includes an inner cylindrical member (14) having a first outer surface (20) and first and second ends (16, 18). First and second stops (22) which project radially outward from the first outer surface of the inner cylindrical member are positioned at the first and second ends, respectively. An outer cylindrical member (24) having a first inner surface (26) is arranged coaxially with the inner cylindrical member. A bearing member (28) having second inner and outer surfaces (29, 31) is interposed coaxially between the inner and outer cylindrical members. The second inner surface of the bearing member is cylindrical and slidable relative to the first outer surface of the inner cylindrical member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of adjusting a predetermined, variable braking pressure in the wheel brakes of a brake system, in which the input quantities which determine the braking pressure in the individual wheel brakes are ascertained in a control and data-processing system, and actuation times of hydraulic valves, setting signals of actuators, etc., are established. These input quantities preferably reproduce the pressure, the pressure fluid volume, or the wheel slip. The input quantities and their time derivatives are weighted for the individual wheels and added in a pressure controller. The sum is further processed in a non-linear transmission element.

Abstract: A wheel bearing includes a roller bearing and a wheel flange is disposed around the bearing. The periphery of the wheel flange is profiled over approximately half its axial width with a peripheral locking receptacle in the form of a polygon or polyhedron shape for receiving a brake disk or brake drum thereon and for transmitting the torque between the brake disk or drum and the wheel flange. In addition, fastening bolts between the brake disk or drum and the wheel flange are received in holes in the wheel flange for holding the brake disk or drum to the wheel flange. But, the torque is transmitted due to the peripheral locking receptacle formed on the wheel flange.

Abstract: This invention related to a multi-layered damped pad spring adapted for use in a disc brake assembly. The disc brake assembly includes an anchor bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle component, a brake caliper adapted to be secured to the anchor bracket, a pair of friction pads carried by the disc brake assembly and adapted to be disposed on opposite axial sides of an associated brake rotor, and actuation means for selectively moving the friction pads into frictional engagement with the rotor. The pad spring is carried by the disc brake assembly and is disposed between the anchor bracket and at least one end of one of the pair of friction pads. In a preferred embodiment, the pad spring is a multi-layered pad spring and includes an outer layer disposed adjacent the friction pad and in contact with at least a portion thereof, and an inner layer disposed adjacent the anchor bracket and in contact with at least a portion thereof.

Abstract: A disc brake caliper comprises a housing (1) to be arranged to straddle a vehicule brake disc, a cover (2) attached to the housing, two thrust sleeves (8), which are connected to a brake pad (5) and which are axially movable in the housing, a cross bar (9) connecting the two thrust sleeves, and a lever (17) for transmitting a brake force from a brake cylinder (4), attached to the caliper, to a cross bar. Bearing tappets (20), parallel with the cross bar, are fixedly connected to the inside of the cover. The lever has a curved wedge (19) with two cylindrical surfaces (19′, 19″) in engagement with corresponding cylindrical surfaces of the bearing tappets and the cross bar, respectively. An adjuster mechanism (28) is arranged on a splined shaft (29) rotatably journalled in the bearing tappets.