Abstract: A pneumatic shock absorber has a piston rod extending out of its cylinder whose pressure space adjacent to the piston is connected via an inlet check valve. An outlet valve to let off compressed air during damping motion of the piston has a valve piston running in a valve chamber which it divides into two chamber parts. The first chamber part connects a duct leading to the pressure space with an outlet valve. This connection may be interrupted by the end face of the valve piston acted on at least in part by the pressure in the pressure space of the absorber and cooperating with a valve seat. The second chamber part is connected with the pressure space or with the pressure source. There is a spring urging the valve piston towards the valve seat. As a result there are not losses in pressure in the two abutment positions and the damping effect is very even and continuous.

Abstract: A rubber sleeve spring includes an internal part 1 an external part 2 which encloses the latter radially spaced-apart and a spring body 3 made of an elastomeric material which is disposed in the gap formed by this space and adhesively connected to the internal part 1 and the external part 2 and the spring body encloses at least three connecting arms 4, 5, 6 between the internal part 1 and the external part 2. At least one of the connecting arms 4, 5, 6 is completely separated by a separation 7 in at least one partial area of its longitudinal extension between the internal part 1 and the external part 2 and the separation 7 basically extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the internal and external parts 1, 2 and at least one insert 8 is provided which is inserted in the separation 7 while generating an elastic preload in the components of the respective connecting arm 4, 5, 6 adjacent to both sides of the separation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for pressure regulation in hydraulic systems, in particular in anti-skid systems of vehicle brake systems. According to the invention, a throttle switchover valve that includes a bypass valve and a throttle assembly is disposed in the brake circuit between a damper chamber and the master cylinder. The throttle switchover valve either creates an unhindered passage for the brake fluid or throttles it, depending on the intensity of the brake pressure. This suppresses pulsations transmitted to the foot pedal, yet nevertheless, rapid braking and fast release of the brake of a motor vehicle are assured.

Abstract: A spring member is formed of at least two layers metallurgically bonded together uniformly and having significantly different rates of irradiation growth, so that the differential growth of the layers results in increased stress in a predetermined direction. The layers may be of different metals or of similar metals which have been treated to give them different growth rates, such as zircaloy with different tin and oxygen content. Examples of other properties which may be used to obtain differential growth rates for the two layers when they are of material with substantially the same constituents are alpha-beta phase transformation temperature, the annealing temperature, the work history, partial recrystallization, and precipitation hardening.

Abstract: An anti-lock braking system (ABS) actuator isolation valve and method of utilization thereof is provided to ensure that a braking system master cylinder, which is normally connected with wheel brake cylinder and isolated from the same when the braking system is an ABS mode, is never fluidly exposed with a displacement cylinder, which can alternatively be connected with the wheel brake cylinder when the braking system is in the ABS mode.

Abstract: A braking pressure regulating device, in particular an anti-lock control device for hydraulic brake systems of automotive vehicles, comprising a master cylinder and a pressure modulator for the variation of the hydraulic pressure in the wheel cylinders during the braking pressure control mode. The device is equipped with a motor-driven pump (8) for generating a hydraulic pressure and with an electronic control unit (5) for controlling the valves of the pressure modulator (2). During the braking pressure control mode, the working chambers (10, 15) of the master cylinder (16) are exposed to pump pressure. Caused by the pump pressure in the working chamber (10), the push rod piston (11) and thus the brake pedal (1) disadvantageously are returned into their basic position in prior-art devices. The present arrangement provides that the switching positions of the regulating valve incorporated in the push rod piston are shifted into the cylinder during the braking pressure control mode.

Abstract: An electro-rheological shock absorber. The invention comprises a generally cylindrical inner casing holding an electro-rheological fluid; a reciprocating arm means attached at one end of the cylindrical casing; a dampening plunger member coupled to said arm and extending into said electro-rheological fluid, said dampening plunger being perforated to permit the flow of electro-rheological fluid therethrough; and electrode means coupled to said perforated member for generating an electric field within said perforated member such that said electro-rheological fluid within said perforated member solidifies, whereby said plunger applies a compressive fluid force against said fluid so as to provide a dampening force. In an alternative embodiment, the unique electrode configuration of the present invention are utilized in a shock absorber having a by-pass conduit.

Abstract: Torque proportioning between the front and rear wheels of a vehicle is achieved by controlling the speed of each rear wheel, via modulation of the hydraulic brake pressure of the rear wheel during braking, to be the same as the speed of the front wheel on the same side of the vehicle.

Abstract: A zig-zag spring in the form of a strip of fibre-reinforced plastics material with limbs connected by reflex portions, is held at its end portion by a member such that a short length (11a, 18a) of the end reflex portion (11, 18) substantially does not move angularly as the spring is compressed. Preferably an end limb (21a, 29a) extending lengthwise of the spring as a whole is so held. A suspension strut assembly, comprising two springs thus held, is disclosed.

Abstract: A centrifugal brake for limiting the rotational speed of a rotatable body with respect to a reference body, which brake includes a brake element movable by centrifugal force into engagement with an abutment member fixed to the reference body when the rotational speed of the rotatable body exceeds a predetermined value with respect to the reference body; characterized in that the brake element is disposed at a corner of a parallelogram mechanism made of a plurality of pivotably-coupled links such that the brake element is displaced into contact with the abutment member of the reference body when the rotational speed of the rotatble body exceeds the predetermined value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dual-circuit hydraulic brake system, which has a hydrostatic circuit and a servo circuit. The brake system also has an electronic anti-locking system, which is fed by the servo circuit. To cut off the master cylinder in case of a controlled braking and thereby to guarantee a closed circuit, an annular receptacle in the servo cylinders used for circuit separation is connected to a volume receptacle in case of a braking controlled by the anti-lock system. At the sametime, the master cylinder is cut off by means of a central valve.

Abstract: A process for load dependent braking regulations (ALB) utilizing components, signal paths and transmitters of an existing anti-lock braking system (ABS) to perform an automatically load-dependent braking function which takes effect well below the locking limit. The brake pressure and consequently the brake distribution are controlled by processing only wheel-speed differences as actual values of an electronic brake-pressure controller instead of absolute wheel slips. To compensate for changing load situations and roadway properties, the precontrollable brake-force distribution and the brake-pressure level control triggerable at the pedal are corrected in a self-learning and adaptive manner. The device for carrying out the ALB process consists essentially of a computer and software program using input from the ABS systems. The process according to the invention makes axle-load sensors superfluous.

Abstract: A manually operable switch can induce the shock absorbers of a vehicle suspension system to be set to produce one of plurality of different damping characteristics and further induce one of a plurality of different predetermined voltages to be applied to the electrodes in the orifice passage of one or more electrorheopatic fluid filled vibration damping mounts which support a vehicle power unit on a vehicle chassis.

Abstract: An anti-skid-controlled hydraulic brake system is described where the pressure medium, bled off from the wheel brakes for the purpose of pressure control, is replaced from a storage reservoir. The pressure medium will be delivered by a pump to the wheel brakes, and also into the master brake cylinder. As a result, during brake slip control, the volume requirements of the wheel brakes partially are met from the master brake cylinder. Directly involved is a pedal pulsation. So as to attenuate the pulsation, a throttling unit is inserted into the line between the pump and the master brake cylinder. A simple embodiment includes an orifice inserted between the pump and master brake cylinder.

Abstract: A brake system comprises an impeller selectively connected to a propeller shaft of a vehicle for consuming energy of the engine and applying a brake force to the propeller shaft, an impeller housing for rotatably housing the impeller and defining an air passage for introducing/discharging external air to/from the impeller, a throttle valve disposed in the air passage upstream of the impeller for adjusting the air flow rate in the air passage, and a negative pressure actuator for moving the throttle valve in accordance with the air flow rate in the air passage. The throttle valve is moved by the negative pressure actuator in accordance with the air flow rate in the air passage. In other words, the brake system adjusts the brake force mechanically by itself in a manner such that an excessive brake force is never applied to the propeller shaft. The brake system does not require a cooling device and only requires a simple arrangement for controlling the brake force.

Abstract: A stroke-limiting stop for a fluid locking device wherein movement between a piston and cylinder is influenced by fluid in the device, the stop comprising a housing having internal shape and dimension enabling one end of the cylinder to move longitudinally within at least one formation on the inner surface of the housing, and a stop element within the housing and having a portion adapted to engage the formation establishing a fixed position on the stop element along the housing longitudinal axis, the stop element being supported within the housing for movement between positions wherein the portion of the element either engages the formation or is out of engagement therewith with so that the stop element in the first position acts as an abutment to contact the cylinder upon movement into the housing thereby limiting the extent of relative movement between the piston and cylinder.

Abstract: In a slip-controlled automotive vehicle brake system, to reduce the number of the valves used, while simplifying the system construction, the wheel brake cylinders are connected to relief chambers (123, 133, 124, 134) of compensating cylinders (120, 130), the connection between the master-brake-cylinder pressure chambers (80, 90) and the relief chambers (123, 124, 133, 134) being closable during slip control.

Abstract: A pair of brake shoes (36) arranged opposite one another are intended for engaging the side faces of a rim (F) and are each fastened to the end region of an arm (30, 31) of a brake caliper (29). The arms (30, 31) are jointly pivotable, counter to the effect of a restoring spring (47), in a plane at a right angle to the direction of frictional force, and moreover the brake shoes are displaceable to a restricted extent in a direction at a right angle to the pivoting plane. The arms (30, 31) interact with a sloping face (23, 24), in order, during the displacement of the brake shoes (36), to be pressed against the corresponding side face of the rim (F) in an assisted manner.

Abstract: An anti-lock brake control system for an automobile is provided with a master cylinder, a main fluid passage communicating between the master cylinder and at least one wheel brake, a recirculating passage branched off from the main fluid passage for recirculating a fluid medium back to the main fluid passage, a pump disposed in the recirculating passage for recirculating the fluid medium, a pressure regulator for reducing or increasing the brake pressure of the wheel brake and an anti-lock modulator for changing the area of the main fluid passage. The modulator is provided with a housing having a fluid chamber, a first port communicating with the master cylinder and a second port communicating with the pump, and with a movable element vertically movably accommodated in the fluid chamber. The movable element is normally located at a lower position in the fluid chamber by the gravity and moved upwards by the flow of the fluid medium discharged from the pump.

Abstract: A tractor-(28) trailer (30) vehicle (24) brake system control for distributing the brake effort to obtain inter-tractor-trailer proportional braking (H.sub.1 /V.sub.1 =H.sub.2 /V.sub.2) by use of sensors (170, 172) mounted to the trailer only is provided. The control system senses (80) acceleration (a) and the ratio of vertical to horizontal forces (H.sub.F /V.sub.F) at the fifth wheel (34) by sensors (170, 172) mounted to the tractor (28) only and modulates the brakes to cause the ratio H.sub.F /V.sub.F to equal acceleration.