Abstract: An electromechanical brake unit in a housing (1) is provided with a drive sleeve (8) subjected to a torque of a prestressed coil spring (6), a locking spring (16) between the drive sleeve and the housing for permitting rotation of the former in a first direction, and a control sleeve (17), which is rotatable by a control motor (20) in the first direction to open the locking spring and allow the drive sleeve to rotate the same angular distance as the control sleeve. In order to obtain rotary force transmission from the drive sleeve (8) over the locking spring (16), if the control sleeve (17) is not held against rotation, the locking spring has a slightly smaller external rest diameter than the bore in the housing (1), with which it is to cooperate, whereas the control motor (20) is provided with means to hold it against rotation in its rest position, unless the current supply is broken.

Abstract: A vehicle is provided for moving within pipes to determine the condition of the interior of the pipes. The vehicle has at least one wheel which is capable of travelling on walls of magnetic material. Each wheel comprises an outer wheel member having an annular peripheral wall. An arm is rotatably mounted on the central portion of the outer wheel member. The arm has a pair of magnetically permeable members disposed widthwise of the vehicle body. A magnet is mounted on the arm with its poles in contact with the pair of magnetically permeable members. The arm can be rotated and freely oriented toward the running surface magnetically to hold the wheel to the running surface. The vehicle is capable of moving through pipes without being blocked by obstacles such as a vertical wall extending from a horizontal surface. A sensor is mounted on the vehicle and a sensor processing module receives distance and time data and processes the data to determine whether the pipe is clear or obstructed.

Abstract: A device (10) allows forward (clockwise) rotation of a shaft (12) but prevents reverse rotation unless disengaged. A loop (20) is attached at one end to a slide show (16), passes round a drum (14) on the shaft (12), around a first pin (24) and a second pin (26), to an arm (28). The arm (28) can move clockwise to slacken the loop (20) to disengage the device (10) and allow rotation of the shaft (12) in either sense. A mechanism for controlling the arm (12) and for self-tightening the loop (20) is described.

Abstract: In a vibration-damping device, viscoelastic material which dissipates vibration energy is bonded to a supporting member so as to form a removable unitary assembly which can be coupled to the vibration emitter, the viscoelastic material being clamped between the supporting member and a stressing element.

Abstract: A vibration eliminating apparatus for eliminating vibration suspends a floor board from an installation floor. A supporting electromagnet is provided on the installation floor in order to suspend a magnetic member fixed to the floor board by a magnetic force. The magnetic member is provided with a thin magnetic pole through a non-magnetic member, and a control electromagnet having a yoke located in proximity to the thin magnetic pole is provided to control a horizontal position of the floor board. A vibration detector is provided to detect vibration of the floor board, and a vibration monitor is used to decide whether or not vibration detected by the vibration detector is within an allowable range of a machine mounted on the floor board and output an operation enable signal only when vibration is within the allowable range.

Abstract: A pneumatic, rotary, rack and pinion actuator with counter-pressure actuated damping device. The actuator comprises first and second rack and piston assemblies reciprocable inside corresponding pneumatic cylinders, which engage on the opposite sides of a pinion and output shaft. Each rack and piston assembly is provided with an axially extending duct opening at opposite ends into a drive chamber and a counter-pressure control chamber, respectively; counter-pressure control and damping means are provided in the piston-assemblies and cylinders, comprising a throttling valve opening into the control chamber and a check valve in said ducts; a thrust pin member protrudes in the control chamber and into the duct end to open the check valve and feed in a controlled manner pressurised air from the drive chamber into the control chamber, before each rack and piston assembly reaches the end of its stroke.

Abstract: A device for reducing the level of brake squeal noise having a damper ring disposed between a brake drum and a vehicle wheel rim where one or more friction springs extend from a retention band to form the damper ring with its axial position relative to the wheel set by a stop flange attached to the retention band and where the friction springs contact the squealer band of the brake drum with a separation force thereby creating friction damping on the squealer band to lower vibration and resultant noise levels produced by the brake drum.

Abstract: A drum brake spring clip dampener for reducing the level of brake squeal noise where the spring clip dampener includes a leaf spring disposed into a gap formed between a wheel rim and an annular brake drum squealer band and where the leaf spring is held in position by two inner tabs and an outer tab where the spring clip dampener thereby introduces a separation force and vibration dampening.

Abstract: In the case of a horizontally and vertically acting viscous vibration damper for damping vibrations of large masses exhibiting large amplitudes, at least one tube is disposed within the damper casing filled with viscous damping medium. Although this tube is able to move freely in the horizontal direction, i.e. parallel to the damper casing base, it is prevented from moving in the axial direction. The damping characteristics are thereby maintained, even in the event of vertical vibration movements.

Abstract: An air spring has a pair of axially spaced end members and an intervening elastomeric flexible sleeve extending therebetween which forms a fluid pressure chamber. A pair of recesses are formed on an inner surface of an annular clamp ring which cooperate with a pair of corresponding annular projections formed on an outer surface of each of the end members to positionally locate the ring on the end member and to form a pair of pinch areas sealingly clamping the sleeve therebetween. Expansion grooves are formed between the projections and on opposite sides thereof to receive portions of the sleeve therein to form three elastomeric bead-like members, and to change the direction of reinforcing cords within the sleeve. The clamp ring seats upon a shoulder of each of the end members to reduce movement of the clamp ring during operation of the air spring.

Abstract: An oscillation damper is provided with a by-pass that includes a by-pass valve. The by-pass valve is switchable between an open position and a closed position. When the by-pass valve is moved between the open and closed positions, the rate of change of the cross-sectional area of the by-pass valve during the time when the by-pass valve is adjacent the closed position is considerably less than the average rate of change of the cross-sectional area during the entire time that it takes for the by-pass valve to switch between the open and closed positions.

Abstract: A vibration isolator includes: a housing which is filled with a fluid; an intermediate plate inserted in the housing for partitioning the interior of the housing into two liquid chambers, the intermediate plate having therein a cylinder and at least two passageways for allowing the two liquid chambers to communicate with each other, the cylinder being formed at a position midway in one of the passageways, and one of the liquid chambers being provided with an elastic wall to render the capacity of that liquid chamber variable; a piston capable of opening and closing one of the passageways as the piston moves in the cylinder; and a pressure changeover valve disposed outside the housing and capable of moving the piston by means of a change in pressure by applying a gas pressure to the piston.

Abstract: A structure for supporting a trackway of a magnetic suspension railroad includes at least one support, at least one equipment element having an operational surface extending in a track direction, and an arrangement for securing the equipment element on the support in a predetermined position. The securing arrangement includes a connecting body fixedly attached to the support and boss structure projecting from the connecting body toward the equipment element and defining a first stop surface extending in a direction corresponding to a direction in which the operational surface extends, and cooperating with a second stop surface provided on the equipment element, when the equipment element is secured to the connecting body.

Abstract: A brake system for roller casters includes a pair of wheels rotatably mounted to respective sides of a main unit by means of a shaft, a brake assembly mounted within the main unit. The brake assembly includes a brake lever which will extend into a gear tooth of each wheel and jams the free movement of the wheel.

Abstract: A blocking structure arranged for engaging spaced adjacent wheel members of a tandem wheel organization is provided, such that a ratcheting block member is arranged for movement along a gear rack, with the ratcheting block having a support saddle mounted thereon, the support saddle including spaced spanning plates to engage the adjacent wheels preventing their rotation.

Abstract: To prevent local abrasion of a lining of a brake pad when one of a plurality of pistons for pressing the lining against a disk plate is rendered operative, a lining 16b mounted on a back plate 16a of a brake pad 16 is separated into two, and a recessed portion 26 or a gap is formed between the two linings 16b in a corresponding relationship to the position of a central one 21 of three pistons 20, 21 and 22. When the central piston 21 is rendered operative, the operating force of the piston 21 is dispersed to the left and right by the recessed portion 26 or the gap to act upon a disk plate 18, and consequently, local abrasion of the lining 16b is prevented.

Abstract: An anti-skid brake system for a wheeled vehicle including speed sensors for detecting each speed of road wheels of the vehicle and for producing an electric signal indicative of the detected speed of the road wheels, an electronic control apparatus arranged to be applied with the electric signal from the speed sensors for producing a control signal in accordance with conditions of a travel road of the vehicle in braking operation, and an electrically operated actuator arranged to be activated under control of the control apparatus for controlling a hydraulic braking pressure applied to each brake cylinder of the road wheels in response to the control signal, wherein an acceleration speed of the road wheels is calculated in response to the electric signal from the speed sensors, a stepped portion on the travel road is detected by determination of the fact that the detected speed of the road wheels becomes higher than a predetermined reference speed within a predetermined time immediately after activation of th

Abstract: A brake apply control system for a vehicle. The control system has a selectively operable mechanical brake apply portion and a selectively operable hydraulic brake apply portion. The mechanical brake apply portion includes an operator linkage for connecting the operator with a mechanical brake apply mechanism and a hydraulic piston and valve combination for providing a hydraulic feedback force to the operator. The hydraulic brake apply portion includes a source of hydraulic pressure, a brake apply valve for supplying a selective brake signal of variable intensity in response to operator input, a conduit system which connects the source of hydraulic pressure to the hydraulic piston and valve combination and which communicates the brake signal to the hydraulic piston and valve combination.

Abstract: Truck mounted brake apparatus includes a bracket assembly which clamps onto the bolster of a railway car truck and which includes a multiplying lever, which is connected to both a pull rod assembly and a hand brake. A truck live lever connected at one end to the pull rod assembly and at the opposite end to a standard brake beam is also connected intermediate its ends to one end of an automatic slack adjuster which passes through the bolster. A truck dead lever is connected at one end to the bracket assembly, at the opposite end to another standard brake beam, and is connected intermediate its ends to the opposite end of the slack adjuster. One end of the multiplying lever is connected to a hand brake. A fluid actuable piston and cylinder assembly is attached to the bolster and connected to the truck live lever, where movement of the piston and movement of the hand brake actuates the brakes.

Abstract: The hydraulic retarder control system comprises pressure reducing valves which can switch the pressure of the air to be supplied from a pressure air source 4 to an air/liquid conversion device 25 at least to a low pressure, an intermediate pressure and a high pressure, or a proportional electromagnetic valve 110 which can reduce and adjust the pressure of the air in a stageless manner, and running speed detect devices 100, 111 which detect the fact that the running speed of a vehicle is equal to or slower than a given running speed. When there is given a detect signal by the running speed detect devices 100, 111, then the pressure reducing valves 32, 95 or the proportional electromagnetic valve 110 are or is switched over to a pressure higher than a set pressure for running speeds exceeding the given running speed, so that the high pressure air from the pressure air source 4 can be supplied to the air/liquid conversion device 25.