Abstract: In an electronic brake of a vehicle, it is to be prevented that an actuator that is arranged on each wheel of the vehicle and that comprises a self-locking mechanism effects an undesired continuous blocking of the wheel. For this purpose, an energy storage unit is arranged directly at the actuator, which, on the basis of a suitable control mechanism, ensures the release of the actuator for the respective wheel in case of failure of the current supply. In addition, given a changeover to such an emergency operation, the supply line is interrupted on the basis of a controlled switch, in order to ensure release of the actuator even in the case of a short-circuit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic vehicle brake system with a hydraulic pump and a high pressure hydraulic accumulator for external power braking and a conventional master cylinder that is used as a braking power set point adjuster for external power braking and is used to actuate the brake system by muscle power in the event of a failure of the external power brake system. The system connects an intake side of the hydraulic pump to a low pressure hydraulic accumulator into which brake fluid travels from the wheel brake cylinders when the wheel brake pressure decreases. The system has the advantage that no connections of the hydraulic pump to a reservoir of the master cylinder are necessary, which in the event of a leak, would jeopardize the function of both the external power service brake system and the muscle power auxiliary brake system.

Abstract: An integrated axle spindle and brake spider assembly for axles of heavy duty vehicles such as trucks, and trailer axles. The assembly is a one-piece member comprising a cylindrical hollow axle spindle and a brake spider extending radially outwardly from the axle spindle. The brake spider includes an actuator support plate provided with a support opening for a brake actuator cam shaft, and a pivoting end support plate provided with a pair of pivot pin bores receiving brake shoe supporting pivot pins. The integrated axle spindle and brake spider assembly is manufactured from a single steel alloy billet as a one-piece forging. The one-piece assembly reduces the overall weight of the component, cost of manufacturing, and improves positioning accuracy of brake components and structural integrity.

Abstract: A steering damper particularly for mountain bicycles of the type having a steer-tube including a cylinder having closures at the ends filled with oil of high viscosity. Within the cylinder there are a dam and vanes. The steering damper is integrated with the steer-tube and with the handlebars and steer-stem. The vanes of the steering damper are connected to the frame and are fixed. The housing and dam connected internally to the housing are disposed in, and connected to, the steer-tube so that when the handlebars are rotated, the housing and dam are rotated relative to the vanes. When the handlebars are being displaced from center, pressure is applied to the oil between the dam and a vane and the movement is damped. On the return stroke of the handlebars, the one-way valve in the vane involved is open, the oil between the dam and the vane is discharged, pressure is reduced and the damping is suppressed.

Abstract: In a hydraulic brake system which is appropriate for active braking operations, the condition that at least one of the low-pressure accumulators is completely emptied during active braking without the suction line from the suction side of the return pump to the brake line being open has to be prevented. Therefore, the current consumption and/or the rotational speed of the drive motor of the return pumps is sensed and evaluated. When the pump idles and the low-pressure accumulator is empty, the rotational speed rises and the current consumption drops. This signal is used to open an electrically operated change-over valve in the corresponding suction line. In addition, a memorized pattern can ensure that the electrically operated change-over valve is open already shortly before exhaustion of the low-pressure accumulator, with the result that the low-pressure accumulator is prevented from being completely emptied.

Abstract: A stationary disc for use in a wet disc brake assembly includes a plurality of holes drilled through the disc. The holes change the mass of the disc, and thus change the frequency of the entire disc brake assembly. This portion of the invention is particularly useful to modify the frequency such that it is not approximately equal to the frequency of an associated stationary member. In addition, the holes may be plugged with a material that becomes viscous at expected operational temperatures of the brake. This is valuable to provide a vibration dampener, that inherently becomes actuated when the brake heats.

Abstract: A bicycle shock-absorber is composed of an oil cylinder, a nut, a spring, a cover, and a radiator. The outer thread of the oil cylinder is engaged with the nut and the spring. The radiator is constructed of two corresponding half ring which are united by two bolts passing through at the sides to make the half rings to be affixed firmly around the oil cylinder. The radiator is mounted under the nut so as to cause the nut to resist the pressure of the spring. The radiator has a plurality of blades at intervals which can heat exchange with the air and dissipate heat while the bicycle is moving.

Abstract: A brake system (10) having a control member (12) through which a remotely located master cylinder (18) is selectively supplied with either a first operational fluid developed by a first pump (14), a second operational fluid developed by a second pump arrangement (500,600) or a third operational fluid from a storage system (302) as a function of a brake force applied to an input push rod (16) and a sensed flow of operational fluid through a shuttle valve (64) to the master cylinder for effecting a desired brake application. A electronic control unit (200) receives an input signal corresponding to the brake force and a sensed flow to activate the second pump arrangement (500,600). Whenever the fluid pressure of the first operational fluid is insufficient, the second pump is activated and the second operational fluid supplants the operation of the master cylinder (18) by the first operational fluid to effect the desired brake application.

Abstract: An electronic braking system for trailers. A control system is incorporated into the braking equipment of a towing vehicle to provide a trailer braking command signal. This signal is regulated so as to balance the braking between the towing vehicle and the trailer through the assessment of forces in the coupling between the two vehicles. The assessment is made indirectly and is calculated from forces measured in the suspension components of at least two axles of the towing vehicle and the changes occurring therein during braking.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hydropneumatic vibration damper of variable damping force, with a cylinder which is arranged between a piston rod guide and a bottom valve and in which a piston provided with at least one valve and connected to a piston rod subdivides the cylinder interior filled with damping fluid into a working space located on the piston rod side and a lower working space. A container surrounds the cylinder at a radial distance, thereby forming a compensating space which is filled with damping fluid and gas, while the lower working space can be connected hydraulically to the compensating space via a bottom valve and an electromagnetically actuable valve device is provided between the interior of the cylinder and the compensating space. The entire electromagnetically actuable valve device, taking effect between the interior of the cylinder, preferably the working space located on the piston rod side, and the compensating space, is arranged on that side of the bottom valve which is opposite the cylinder.

Abstract: This is an invention of an improved disc brake for motor vehicles. The disc brake is of a floating caliper design with a U-shaped caliper-holder body extending through a floating caliper. Two brake pads are seated on flanges of the floating caliper. The floating caliper is a single piece, substantially rectangular, rigid frame having a hydraulic cylinder with a piston for urging the brake pads towards each other.

Abstract: A turning state of a vehicle is detected to specify an outer side front wheel and an inner side rear wheel of a turning circle. A controlling device controls the brake fluid pressures of wheel cylinders of the specified wheels so that the brake fluid pressure of the wheel cylinder of one of the specified wheels is made smaller than a master cylinder pressure while substantially simultaneously the brake fluid pressure of the wheel cylinder of the other wheel of the specified wheels is made larger than the master cylinder pressure.

Abstract: A rotational dampening apparatus 10 includes a cup-shaped housing member 12 and, mounted for rotational movement in the cup-shaped housing member, a rotor member 14 and a dampening member 16, the dampening member being held compressed between the rotor member and the cup-shaped housing member. The cup-shaped housing member includes a substantially planar annular end wall 32 and a cylindrical side wall 34 extending from the end wall. The rotor member and the cylindrical side wall respectively define cooperating first and second circular connection areas 38, 36 for snap-lock connecting the rotor member 14 to the housing member 12. The first and second circular connecting area form a bearing surface upon which the rotor member rotates. A first dampening interface A is created between a set of ribs 60 disposed on the end wall of the housing member and the bottom face surface 52 of the dampening member.

Abstract: The invention is an accessory for a motorcycle of the type having a nonvertical, slanted radiator with a first reservoir, a second reservoir, and a core between the first and second reservoirs, comprising: a cover portion having an upper end, a lower end, an opening between the upper and lower ends, and an outer surface having a lower boundary at the lower end; a projecting portion having an upper surface extending generally outwardly from the lower boundary and sloping upwardly in a generally inward direction; and a means for mounting the cover portion over the radiator so that the cover portion covers the first and second reservoirs and the opening is aligned with the core.

Abstract: A self-tuning type vibration damping apparatus for damping vibration of a vibration damping target includes a sphere, and a sphere case attached to the vibration damping target to movably accommodate the sphere.

Abstract: Radio-based control of railroad train brakes is effected in which brake systems are computer controlled. An End of Train (EOT) system is used in which microprocessor circuits of a Locomotive Control Unit (LCU) and an EOT unit are programmed to perform these and other functions. The computer system has several states. On power on, the system enters the Setup state during which the system stores about one minutes worth of both brake pipe and equalizing reservoir pressure data. This data is later used to determine the rate of change of these pressures to determine stability. Once setup is complete, the system enters the Stability state during which operating pressures are determined. When the equalizing reservoir pressure, the brake pipe pressure and the brake pipe pressure at the end of the train are stable, the EOT unit is commanded to update operating pressures stored in its microprocessor control circuit. Once the several pressures have been found to be stable, the system goes to the Release state.

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: A drum brake assembly as provided with a rack and pinion actuator. The rack and pinion actuator includes a pinion gear driving a pair of racks, with the racks driving the brake shoes into engagement with the brake drum. The pinion gear is provided with an adjustment thread which transmits rotation to an adjustment member. The adjustment member monitors the amount of rotation of the pinion gear during actuation, and a mechanism drives the adjustment member and the pinion gear back to its non-actuated position after completion of the braking cycle. The mechanism limits the amount of return movement of the pinion gear as necessary to provide adjustment of the brake stroke.

Abstract: A solenoid coil inverted within a flux casing has at least one lead wire extending through a flux ring mounted in an end of the flux casing. The coil is coupled to a circuit board or overmolded lead frame which is positioned adjacent to a valve body with a solenoid valve sleeve extending through the circuit board or lead frame into the coil. A flexible coupling allows the coil to move relative to the circuit board or lead frame.

Abstract: An air supply system for a vehicle includes an internal combustion engine that powers the vehicle and a compressor that receives air from the intake manifold of the engine or from an air filter. The compressor operates in either a loading or unloading mode and supplies air to the vehicle braking system. During the loading mode, air flows from the compressor through a dryer and is stored in a reservoir that supplies air to the brakes when the brakes are actuated. The dryer removes moisture and contaminants from the compressed air before the air is stored in the reservoir. A valve independently controls the compressor and dryer. A first sensor produces a fueling status signal in response to monitoring the fueling status of the engine and a second sensor produces a reservoir pressure signal in response to measuring the air pressure in the reservoir.