Abstract: The torsion/compression strut spring (60) is disposed about a forked end (54) of a parking brake strut (50) in a drum brake (10). The forked end (54) is received loosely about the web (12A) of an associated drum brake shoe (12) and a parking brake lever (40). The web includes a generally U-shaped recess portion (12B) which is sized to seat fixedly one oval-shaped end portion (64) of the spring. The spring (60) has oppositely disposed oval-shaped end portions (62, 64) which, in a disassembled and at-rest position, have longitudinal centerlines located 90.degree. apart relative to one another. When the spring (60) is assembled on the parking brake strut (50), the one end portion (64) seats fixedly within the recess portion (12B) and the other end (62) engages the strut (50) so that the spring (60) exerts a torsional force upon the strut (50) and causes legs (53, 56) of both forked ends (52, 54 ) of the strut (50) to engage respective sides of the parking brake lever (40) and drum brake shoe web (12A).

Abstract: A semi-active hydraulic damper includes a solenoid valve assembly for controlling fluid flow through a bypass channel. A blow-off valve assembly is provided in series with the solenoid valve assembly to provide low-level damping when the bypass channel is open.

Abstract: The friction lining for disk brakes comprises a carrier plate (10) and a block (16) of a compressed friction material secured to the latter, wherein the carrier plate, on the side bearing the block of friction material, is provided with a sinter-fused mounting bed (12) for the block of friction material of individual shaped members (13) forming frictional and positive connections with the block of friction material, in which, prior to the block of friction material is pressed onto the carrier plate (10) with the mounting bed sinter-fused thereupon, a galvanically, thermally or in some other suitable way produced metallic coating (50) is applied to the carrier plate as a corrosion protection.

Abstract: A suspension system for brake calipers wherein two brake rods pass through two plates so that the brake rods are aligned parallel to each other. The barke rods are longer than the distance between the two plates so that the ends of the brake rods extend away from the two plates far enough to hold brake calipers in place about the brake discs. Each brake rod further includes compression springs mounted thereon and located between the plates so that when the appropriate spring are compressed, the corresponding ends of the brake rods can be withdrawn from their position holding the caliper. This allows easy and convenient access to the calipers for removal.

Abstract: A shock absorber of the invention comprises a strut, a inner cylinder fixed to the strut and extending inside the strut, and a sliding cylinder mounted to slide inside the strut and associated with the inner cylinder to communicate with the inside thereof via throttling orifices and short-circuit orifices, a pump and control arrangement being provided to pump hydraulic liquid from the sliding cylinder into the inner cylinder so as to produce a retraction of the sliding cylinder into the strut when both the throttling and short-circuit orifices are closed. The throttle orifices produce a communication between the sliding cylinder and the inner cylinder which produces a normal damping operation of the strut while the short-circuit orifices provide a rapid release of the sliding cylinder from a retracted position and a control member selectively closes one or both of the orifices.

Abstract: The present specification discloses a wheel comprising a central hub and an outer rim interconnected by a web. A pair of annular braking discs are mounted one on each side of the web, each annular braking disc being secured to the web by at least two attachment elements. Each annular braking disc comprises at least two curved segments, each curved segment having two end edge regions, each end edge region of each segment overlapping an end edge region of an adjacent segment so that a continuous annular braking disc with a smooth braking surface is provided. The overlapping end edge regions have sections which extend generally axially of the braking disc in opposite directions, the sections interengaging with each other, with a spring being located between the overlapping end regions to thus bias the overlapping end regions circumferentially with respect to the annular braking disc, to thus securely interengage the segments.

Abstract: The rope grab safety device of the present invention releasably attaches a workman's safety belt lanyard to a vertically extending safety rope. The device includes a primary frame assembly constructed of an elongated U-shaped bracket having a pair of spaced apart parallel side plates which is adapted to fit around the rope. A secondary frame assembly also comprised of a pair of side plates is adapted to fit within the U-shaped bracket after the rope is inserted. The secondary frame assembly carries a brake lever and brake shoe which is adapted to engage the rope in the event of a fall. An elongated bent pin connected between the primary and secondary frame assemblies allows for limited pivotal and axial movement between them to thereby allow the rope to be inserted into the U-shaped bracket. A separate locking pin passes through aligned openings in the primary and secondary frame members to secure them together.

Abstract: An insulating bushing through which an engine is supported on a vehicle body. The insulating bushing is comprised of a support elastomeric member tightly interposed between inner and outer cylinders. One of the inner and outer cylinders is connected to one of the engine and the vehicle body while the other is connected to the other of the engine and the vehicle body. The support elastomeric member is formed with main and auxiliary fluid chambers which are separate from each other in the peripheral direction. The main and auxiliary fluid chambers are in communication with each other through an orifice passage formed along the inner periphery of the outer cylinder. Additionally, a flange plate is fixedly disposed within main fluid chamber to divide the fluid chamber into two chambers located side by side in the diametrical direction.

Abstract: The brake piston adjuster mechanism includes an expandable or deformable tube (80) which is attached to the piston (60) and engaged by a deforming member comprising a pin (190) having a threaded end (194) receiving thereon a nut (193) and tube expander (192). The nut (193) biases the tube expander (192) against a chamfered pin shoulder (191). The tube expander (192) has at least one inner diameter chamfer (198) which engages the chamfered pin shoulder (191) in order to impose preload forces upon the chamfered pin shoulder (191) and reduce stresses at a smaller diameter portion (195) of the pin. The (193) nut may be a castellated nut (193) which receives a locking wire or pin (200) extending through an opening (199) in the threaded end (194) of the pin (190).

Abstract: A wheel has a central hub and an outer rim interconnected by a web, with a pair of annular braking discs being mounted one on each side of the web and each composed of at least two curved segments, each secured to the web by a number of wide clearance bolts, at least two close clearance bolts and at least two further bolts. The wide clearance bolts are each a clearance fit both in an aperture in a segment and in a bore in the web; the close clearance bolts are a close fit both in an aperture in a segment and a bore in the web; and the further bolts are a close fit in an aperture in a segment and a wide clearance fit in a bore in the web.

Abstract: A top mount assembly includes a resilient isolator designed to be seated on an upper end of an actuator. A guiding sleeve is seated on the isolator and includes an upstanding annular wall forming a cavity in an upper surface of the guiding sleeve. At least one Belleville spring is mounted in the cavity to permit deflection of the assembly during the operational range of the actuator. A thrust plate is mounted on the Belleville spring and attached to the body.

Abstract: An edge support system for a mattress foundation. The edge support system includes a pair of torsion elements, each including a central torsion segment, with the torsion segments being secured to one another, and with the torsion elements being formed as mirror images of one another, with legs being attached to the top and bottom border members of the mattress foundation. A secondary expansion spring is connected between the attached torsion segments and an intermediate rod located midway between the border members of the foundation. The gauge of the wire forming the torsion elements and the strength of the expansion spring determine the amount of support by the edge support system. A plurality of the system can be spaced about the periphery of the foundation to provide greater firmness in areas needing enhanced stiffness.

Abstract: A bearing which includes an inner part and an outer part arranged in spaced apart relation. In between the inner part and the outer part is a rubber, or resilient, part which can be loaded axially for tension and/or compression and which permits cardanic loads with very little restoring torque. The rubber part, together with the inner part and the outer part, form a cavity which is filled with fluid which transfers corresponding load capacities in the main load direction.

Abstract: A rotary actuator comprises a housing made of a synthetic resin. A rotor carrying a plurality of permanent magnet of alternate polarity with respect to the adjacent magnet, and stator having a plurality of electromagnet which is selectively energized, are aligned in axial alignment to each other. Magnetic conductor plates are provided in alignment with the rotor and the stator. The magnetic conductor plates are supported on the inner periphery of the resin housing in opposition to the rotor and the stator for forming part of a magnetic circuit.

Abstract: A high pressure hydropneumatic shock absorber (10) includes a cylinder (12) with a piston (16) slidably positioned within the cylinder (12). The piston (16) and cylinder (12) are configured as a telescopic suspension unit. The piston (16) defines a first variable volume chamber (28) within the cylinder (12) and is filled with a working liquid. A reservoir (44) includes an interior movable barrier wall (62) defining first (60) and second (64) separated variable volume reservoir chambers. The first reservoir chamber (60) is filled with working liquid and the second reservoir chamber (64) is filled with a working gas. A flow-controlling damper valve (58) communicates the first cylinder chamber (28) with the first reservoir chamber (60).

Abstract: A hydraulically-operated piston device installed between the frame of a structure and a vibration-resisting element provided separately from the frame varies the rigidity of the frame by changing the condition of connection between the frame and the vibration-resisting element. A valve controls the operation of the piston device and can be adjusted to change the coefficient of damping of the piston device. To obtain maximum rigidity of the frame, the piston is hydraulically locked in place. For maximum flexiblity of the frame, the piston can be hydraulically released from a locked position to move freely. Hydraulic resistance to movement of the piston can be graduated by metering the flow of oil into and out of the piston device. The coefficient of damping is a function of the metered flow of hydraulic fluid in the piston device.

Abstract: A mounting device such as an engine mount for automobiles, which receives various types of vibrations over a wide frequency range, is required to exhibit a low dynamic spring constant with respect to the input vibrations in a middle- to high-frequency range, while assuring high damping characteristics with respect to the input vibrations in a low frequency range.

Abstract: An auxiliary railroad track lifting assembly for assisting conventional lifting grippers of a railroad track construction machine, especially a tamper, in lifting a switchgear unit includes a lifting device carried by an arm articulated, at its end remote from the lifting device, on a carriage movable along a rail fastened to the flank of the machine. The assembly permits displacement of the construction machine between at least two successive tamping position in the longitudinal direction of the track with the auxiliary assembly remaining stationary.

Abstract: A longitudinally adjustable gas spring has a valve having a valve pin arranged to be moved within a valve body. On both sides of the inner chamber of the valve body annular seals are arranged and bear against the cylindrical sections of different diameters. To bridge at least one annular seal grooves are formed in an associated cylindrical section. When the corresponding annular seal is bridged by a displacement of the valve pin, the respective annular seal remains in its position bearing against the cylindrical external surface of the corresponding cylindrical section, so that the wear of the seals implying the gas spring to become unserviceable is eliminated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool for compressing a helical spring of the type typically used in a MacPherson strut suspension system. The tool comprises a pair of spaced apart shoes each having a helical groove formed therein for engaging a portion of the coil of the spring. Each shoe also includes a latchable locking device extendible over the respective helical groove for maintaining the coil of the spring within the groove during the compression operation. The two shoes are maintained in a spaced apart relationship with the associated grooves in facing relationship to one another by a threaded shank member. The threaded shank member includes a separate tool engaging configuration on each end thereof and is employed to effect movement of the spaced apart shoes toward and away from one another during the operation of the tool.