Abstract: A shock absorber is provided that includes a shock absorber body defining a cavity that is at least partially filled with hydraulic fluid. A piston is slidably arranged within the body and separates the cavity into rebound and compression fluid chambers. A rod is secured to the piston and includes first and second portions that are respectively adjacent to the rebound and compression chambers. A fluid passageway extends between the first and second portions to fluidly connect the rebound and compression chambers. In this manner, fluid is permitted to flow through the rod to provide damping characteristics in addition to those damping characteristics typically provided by the piston. A valve assembly, which may include a one-way check valve, is arranged within the passageway for controlling the flow of fluid between the rebound and compression chambers through the passageway. Preferably, the rod includes a longitudinal bore having an adjustable plunger arranged therein.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a brake caliper and a brake mechanism for a disc brake received in the caliper. The brake mechanism comprises a brake lever, a cross bar, one or more thrust plates and a cover. The caliper is of an open design having an opening in the wall furthest from the brake disc. A bearing bracket is mounted from the inside of the caliper in the opening.

Abstract: A rubber bearing, preferably a simple rubber bearing, is provided with an essentially cylindrical inner part (1), a tubular outer sleeve (2) coaxially surrounding the inner part (1), as well as a pressure body, which is an elastomer (3). The elastomer (3) is arranged between the inner part (1) and the outer sleeve (2) and is connected to same by vulcanization. Two free grooves (4, 4′) extend, beginning from the axial ends of the bearing, into the interior of the bearing in the axial direction over a complete circle around the bearing axis (5). The axial distance of the free grooves (4, 4′) from the bearing axis (5) and/or whose width continuously changes cyclically, wherein there is a phase shift between the two free grooves (4, 4′) in terms of their course, which is determined by the change in the radial distance from the bearing axis (5) and/or the width and which course preferably follows the same cycle.

Abstract: A braking unit is provided. In one embodiment, the braking unit comprises a base member, a guide member, a flexible rod, an actuator adapted to induce deformation of the rod, and a brake pad. One end of the flexible rod is fixedly attached to the base member while another end is slideably disposed within a passageway defined by the guide member. The brake pad is positioned adjacent the flexible rod such that deformation of the rod causes lateral movement of the brake pad. The braking unit can be incorporated into disc and drum-type braking assemblies and systems.

Abstract: An electric trailer brake controller includes a deceleration sensor for generating a brake control signal. The controller also includes a device to decrease the sensitivity of the deceleration sensor to spurious inputs. Additionally, the controller includes a brake current limiting circuit that progressively reduces the current supplied to the controlled trailer brake when the brake current exceeds a predetermined level.

Abstract: A disc brake including a pair of friction plates arranged coaxially in a parallel, spaced-apart relationship and a plurality of vanes extending between the pair of friction plates, each of said vanes having a proximal end, a distal end and a mid-portion extending between the proximal end and the distal end, the proximal ends of a plurality of the vanes having a first width, the mid-portion having a second width, the first width being substantially greater than the second width. The vanes can include a T-shaped portion adjacent the proximal end.

Abstract: A method for monitoring the thickness of at least one friction partner of a vehicle friction brake, especially the brake linings of a vehicle braking system; for each braking action, the actuating time, the applied braking pressure, the relative speed between the brake lining and the moving brake element, as well as the prevailing temperature in this region, being taken into account in a wear model in such a manner, that the wear determined by the wear model is subtracted from a starting thickness of the friction partners, in particular, the brake linings, and each wheel of the vehicle being monitored individually. A preferred polynomial formulation is specified for the wear model. In the brake lining, at least one wear stamp can also be provided, upon reaching which the current, existing brake lining thickness and/or the polynomial formulation may be appropriately corrected.

Abstract: A combination valve assembly provides dual functionality within a single valve housing. In one example, the valve operates as a combination inversion valve and quick release valve. In another example, the combination valve operates as an inversion valve and a relay valve. The valve is particularly useful for controlling the operation of a spring applied, air release brake actuator in a heavy vehicle braking arrangement. A valve designed according to this invention preferably also provides anti-compounding features.

Abstract: A vehicle brake systems (10) is provided which compensates for brake pedal feel variation to provide enhanced braking feel. The brake system (10) includes a brake pedal (18), a wheel sensor (20), and a database (16) for storing target accelerations and torque to pressure parameters. The brake systems (10) may employ a friction brakes (26) and regenerative brakes (29). The brake system further includes a controllers (12) for controlling the amount of braking, including the friction brake actuator (24). The controller (12) determines brake acceleration caused by braking torque and determines a target acceleration based on the driver commanded input. The controller (12) also determines a brake acceleration error as the difference between the target acceleration and the brake acceleration. The controller adjusts the torque-related parameter to reduce the brake acceleration error by adjusting the braking torque generated by the friction brake actuator to compensate for brake torque variation.

Abstract: An inner tube (2) connected to a vehicle body is inserted such that it is free to extend and contract in an outer tube (1) joined to a vehicle shaft. A partitioning member (3) divides an internal oil chamber at the end of the inner tube. A damping valve (4) and a bypass passage (3d) parallel to this damping valve (4) are disposed in this partitioning member (3). A control rod (5) opens and closes the bypass passage (3d). An actuator (20) in the inner tube (2) controls the control rod (5). By operating the control rod (5) via the actuator (20) to open/close the bypass passage (3d), the damping force generated is varied.

Abstract: It is designed that an oil pressure signal can be output by operating an operation lever in a twisting direction; a structure can be made simple and its assembly and adjustment are easy; an operation force can be reduced; and a layout is not restricted. It is also designed that when the operation lever is left free after it is twisted, it returns smoothly to the original neutral position. When the operation lever is twisted about the lever axis, the shaft supported by bearings is twisted. The twist of the shaft is converted into the movement in a direction to move the pistons by first and second levers, and the pistons are moved. When the pistons are moved, the oil pressure signal is output from the discharge ports. A disk plate is separated into a first disk plate to which the root of the operation lever is attached and a second disk plate which is tiltably supported by a tilting fulcrum.

Abstract: A hydraulic balanced braking system, comprising two oil pressure cylinders, two hydraulic brakes, and an oil-pressure balance unit. The two oil pressure cylinders are mounted close to braking handles. The oil-pressure balance unit is inserted between the two oil pressure cylinders and the two hydraulic brakes and further comprises two parallelly oriented oil cylinders, two primary pistons, two secondary pistons, and a connecting plate. Two inlets at upper sides of the two oil cylinders are connected with the two oil pressure cylinders, respectively, transmitting oil pressure from the two oil pressure cylinders to the two primary pistons. The two secondary pistons are mounted below and driven downward by the two primary pistons, respectively, thus generating oil pressure and via two outlets driving a braking movement of the two hydraulic brakes.

Abstract: A method for fixing at least one bearing in place in a bearing retainer involves positioning the bearing in the depression, providing an elastic element which acts in the axial direction on the bearing either before or after the bearing is positioned in the depression so that the elastic element is supported on the bearing in a first axial direction, and deforming a partial area of the bearing retainer so that the deformed partial area of the bearing retainer supports the elastic element in a second axial direction which extends opposite the first axial direction. A bearing arrangement produced according to the present invention includes a bearing retainer having at least one depression in which is positioned a bearing, with a portion of the bearing retainer overlapping a portion of the bearing to form an interlocking connection between the bearing retainer and the bearing in an axial direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing a wheeled device such as a shopping cart is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a body having a pair of spaced stops with an intermediate trough. In use, the wheels of the cart are rolled along an upwardly extending face of one of the stops, over the stop and into the trough between the stops. In one embodiment, advertising is located on the surfaces of one or more of the stops. In one embodiment the apparatus includes an LCD display located on one of the faces and a control system for presenting advertising and other information using the display.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved hydraulic brake system for controlled and comfortable braking operations which includes a hydraulic pump for build-up of a hydraulic pressure that effects braking and a valve assembly by way of which the hydraulic pressure can be reduced, the hydraulic system being in particular characterized in that the valve assembly is an analog valve, and in that the analog valve and the hydraulic pump are adapted to be actuated by a control device in such a manner that the brake pressure for comfort braking can be increased or decreased in an essentially continuously variable manner.

Abstract: A shock absorber assembly includes a damping adjustment mechanism that can easily be incorporated into a twin cylinder design. The shock absorber includes an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder mounted within the outer cylinder. The inner cylinder is spaced apart from the outer cylinder to define a gap. A piston is mounted within a fluid filled chamber formed within the inner cylinder to dampen vibrations. Holes are drilled into the wall of the inner cylinder to provide fluid ports that can communicate with the gap to form a bi-directional fluid path as the piston moves back and forth within the chamber to dampen vibrations. To provide variable damping, the outer cylinder includes an eccentric inner diameter to outer diameter profile that allows damping adjustment between high and low damping forces. The damping force is adjusted by rotating the outer cylinder relative to the inner cylinder to vary the size of the gap with respect to the ports.

Abstract: A method of producing a dust cover assembly comprising the steps of: preparing a fixing member having a mounting bore to be fitted on a shock absorber's piston rod, and an engaging portion formed in its outer circumferential surface as an axially undercut portion; preparing a tubular parison having a large diameter portion at its one axial end portion; positioning the large diameter portion to be disposed radially outwardly of the outer circumferential surface of the fixing member; closing a blow mold to form a mold cavity around the parison and to hold the large diameter portion of the parison in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the fixing member; and blow molding the parison by introducing a compressed gas into the blow mold through the mounting bore, thereby molding the dust cover. A dust cover assembly and a shock absorber equipped with the dust cover assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: Shock absorber, having a cylinder in which a piston rod is arranged as a displacer and which has a piston which subdivides a working space filled with damping medium into two working chambers. Arranged concentrically with this cylinder is an outer tube which, together with the cylinder, forms an annular space sealed off from the atmosphere by seals. The outer tube, together with the piston rod, executes a synchronous movement relative to the cylinder as a function of the reciprocating movement. At least one of the seals of the annular space is arranged in a fixed location with respect to the cylinder, and at least another one of the seals is arranged in a fixed location with respect to the outer tube, so that the annular space has a volume which varies as a function of the reciprocating position of the shock absorber. The annular space is connected via at least one flow connection to at least one of the working chambers.

Abstract: A hydraulically damping elastomeric bearing is suitable for mountings in a motor vehicle. The elastomeric bearing includes an elastic bearing part which is arranged between a sleeve-shaped outer part and an inner part coaxial thereto and which connects these elastically to one another. At least two chambers, which are filled with a liquid damping medium, communicate with one another via at least one throttle duct. Four chambers are provided, which are arranged in one plane, the four chambers each being arranged in one of four quadrants which are formed by two intersecting axes arranged in the plane, and at least two throttle ducts being provided.

Abstract: A brake cable connecting apparatus is structured to prevent the inadvertent disengagement of a cable end from the brake lever while transporting a drum brake. The bridge portion (11e) of the strut (11) extends above the free end (12e) of the brake lever (12) leaving a clearance (23), being smaller than the cable end (16a), therebetween. When the brake lever (12) rotates to the predetermined degree, the clearance (23) becomes larger than the cable end (16a) so that the cable end (16a) is able to pass through the clearance (23) between the bridge portion (11e) and the free end (12e).