Abstract: The wheel braking device comprises a chassis mounted by a suspension on an axle common to a pair of wheels and a brake member operated by a brake pedal and adapted to brake the rotation of at least one wheel. The brake pedal is mounted for rotation with the axle. The suspension member is mounted near the wheel, about an eccentric fastened to the axle, and is provided with a brake member. The wheel is provided with a brake drum fastened to the wheel and adapted to cooperate by its periphery with the corresponding brake member when the axle is turned in a first direction through action on the brake pedal, thus bringing the brake member towards and into contact with the periphery of the brake drum. The same action is controlled simultaneously on the other wheel on the axle.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a brake band for bringing the saw chain of a chain saw to standstill. Chain saws include safety devices which bring the saw chain to standstill by applying a brake band to a brake drum. These safety devices effect numerous applications of the brake band to the brake drum so that the brake drum wears rapidly and has only a short service life. The brake band of the invention has a friction side which is provided with a layer made of an oxide ceramic which increases the service life for very short braking times even when oil penetrates the region between the brake band and the brake drum.

Abstract: In a telescoping shock damper, a seal which seals the plunger rod against the barrel comprises an inside lip ring of PTFE and an outside supporting ring of rubber. The lip ring and supporting ring are integrally joined together and are defined by faces running preferably radially which merge with one another.

Abstract: A self-energizing brake which includes opposed rocker arms attached to a frame by a bolt or the like. The rocker arms also include a housing extending transversely therefrom which is rotatable about the bolt. The housing encloses a tubular member having a plurality of helical ridges which mate with a plurality of bearings disposed about the inner surface of the housing. The housing is axially movable relative to the bolt. The housing is sealed about the bolt by O-rings and contains a lubricant such as grease. Friction pads extend from each rocker arm adjacent the rim of a tire to contact the rotating rim as the rocker arms are related. Such rotation results in movement of the housing in an axial direction as the rim drags the friction pads forward.

Abstract: In a gas spring the piston rod is guided through one end of a container. Adjacent to this one end two sealings are provided in axial direction one behind the other, namely an axially outer sealing and an axially inner sealing. A liquid chamber is defined between the axially outer sealing and the axially inner sealing. The axially inner sealing comprises a sealing ring of elastomeric material. This sealing ring comprises a radially outer root portion and a radially inner lip portion. The root portion engages an internal circumferential surface of the container tube. The lip portion engages an external circumferential surface of the piston rod. The axial dimension of the root portion is substantially larger than the axial dimension of the lip portion. The sealing ring may be deflected by pressure differences on both sides of the sealing ring such that a fluid exchange is possible between both axial sides of the sealing ring when the pressure difference exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A bottom rod safety guard in the form of a loop is suspended from a brake beam. The cable ends are looped through holes in the beam, and a latch plate extends beneath the beam to provide a releaseable connection.

Abstract: An hydraulically operated slip assembly useful to grip pipe being run into or pulled from a well. This assembly has upper and lower plates, each having a passage for pipe. Wedges, carrying unique slip systems are positioned around the passages between the plates and are slidably mounted for guided radial movement inwardly to grip pipe and outwardly to ungrip pipe as moved by an hydraulic cylinder pivotally mounted aside on the lower plate. The unique slip systems automatically increase grip on pipe on up or down movement of gripped pipe caused by up or down loads on the pipe. Forces resulting from increased pipe grip develop frictional forces within the slip assembly, which effectively prevent outward movement of the wedges after inadvertent or on purpose operation of the cylinder to ungrip the pipe. The pipe must be returned to near the neutral position where the slip systems are not automatically gripping pipe tighter before the cylinder can move the slip systems outwardly to ungrip pipe.

Abstract: A thermal compensating self-adjusting vehicle wheel drum brake apparatus and method is provided including a wheel cylinder, a plate for mounting the wheel cylinder, an adjuster strut with a star wheel for adjustably extending a pair of brake shoes. An adjuster pawl is provided for turning the adjuster star wheel. The adjuster pawl is inserted within an aperture of one of the shoes. A thermal elongating stop extendible at a predetermined temperature contacts and wedges the adjuster pawl to prevent pivotal motion thereof whenever the temperature of the brake is above a predetermined value.

Abstract: A damper comprising within a casing filled with viscous fluid a number of movable discs to be moved in response to the transmitted external force and a number of not interlocked fixed discs arranged in an alternative arrangement, wherein both movable and fixed discs are axially deflectable can maintain even clearances between the movable and the fixed discs due to the alignment effect of the discs without undergoing unreasonable stress that can damage the discs. The allowable limit of deflection of the fixed and movable discs can be made adjustable so as to modify the total drag of the damper. Sources of resilient restoring force may be provided to enhance the capability of adjustment. Moreover, the number or the size of the movable and/or the fixed discs can be made alterable to effectively modify the drag of the damper.

Abstract: A brake assembly, for a vehicle axle having a beam, including a spider mounted on the beam, a camshaft mounted on one end of the spider, a pair of anchor pins mounted on an opposite end of the spider, and a pair of brake shoes. Each of the brake shoes has at least one bearing surface disposed at one end thereof mounted on an outer portion of one of the anchor pins and a roller mounted on an opposite end thereof operatively engageable with the camshaft. A spring interconnects upper portions of the brake shoes and pivotally biases the upper ends of the brake shoes toward each other into retracted positions. A retainer adjacent the anchor pin ends of the brake shoes biasingly urges the bearing surfaces of the brake shoes into engagement with the anchor pins. The retainer is a U-shaped spring element having a hook section at each of its free ends encompassing the anchor pin ends of the brake shoes.

Abstract: A laundry machine braking mechanism including a pair of spaced plates adapted to be moved axially relative to one another to frictionally compress one or more brake pads positioned therebetween. A conical spring is positioned under the bottom plate, and in normal operation, the outer periphery of the conical spring urges the bottom plate upwardly so as to exert a braking force. The conical spring acts on an integrally formed retainer that has an annular rim contacting the underside of the conical spring, and a plurality of posts that extend up and connect to the top plate thereby fixing the spacing therebetween. The braking mechanism is released by exerting an upward force on the inner periphery of the conical spring thereby deflecting the outer periphery downwardly. An annular flange integrally formed as part of the top plate extends downwardly and acts as an annular fulcrum for the deflection.

Abstract: A variable strength spring includes a tubular body, at whose inner surface is coaxially provided a concave contact seat, a ring made of elastomeric material rigidly engaged in the tubular body and a connection tang rigidly engaged in the elastic ring. The elastic ring has a radial groove that defines, on the longitudinal length of the ring, a first portion rigidly engaged inside the tubular body opposite the contact seat, and a second portion slidably engaged in the tubular body. On the outer circumferential end of the second portion is situated a rigid rabbet edge positioned opposite to a stopping seat inside the tubular body.

Abstract: An apparatus for damping movement courses of two bodies, in particular in a vehicle wheel/vehicle suspension system, having a piston sliding in a cylinder and dividing it into two work chambers, the two work chambers arranged to communicate with one another via respective oppositely acting check valves and via a variably asymmetrical damper valve adjustable in such a manner that upon a valve member movement the opening cross section for one flow direction decreases to the extent that it increases for the other flow direction, such that whenever in comparison with an active damper system energy would have to be supplied from outside, the damper force is substantially reduced to the value of zero.

Abstract: A restraining device for an aircraft with wheels having tires thereon, comprised of a base plate upon which is mounted a restraint members to prevent movement of the tire when it is positioned on the base plate. The restraint members are hinged on one side of the base plate to allow for opening and closing. This movement is an arc laterally across the base plate. The restraint members in the closed position are secured to the base plate by latches mounted on the base plate located laterally across from the hinges.

Abstract: An air spring damper used in a vehicle suspension system with upper, intermediate and lower chambers and incorporating a reservoir tube which has an anti-friction rod guide and bearing assembly therein which lubricates the hollow rod of a piston as it strokes in their reservoir tube in jounce and rebound. An elastomeric air sleeve is featured which is connected to a top mount fastened to the vehicle body. An elastomeric isolator of this mount pivotally connects the piston rod to the body while sealing the upper end of the air sleeve. The air sleeve is supported full time by an outer elastomeric sleeve for improved air sleeve operation. A jounce bumper mounted internal of the reservoir tube is compressible to resist and cushion jounce strokes of the piston. This damper provides optimized vehicle body isolation and damping of both body and wheel axle at their natural frequencies.

Abstract: A projection for use as a restraining tooth in a compression-type belt restraint assembly which includes a base secured against movement and having a size and dimension appropriate for insertion of the projection in the interstices provided between the warp and weft of a woven fabric belt. The projection also includes a load-bearing surface, preferably an omnidirection load-bearing surface, projecting from the base at an angle from the perpendicular to the base so that a substantial component of the restraint force imparted by the surface on a fabric belt fiber under compression restraint is in the horizontal direction. Also the projection includes a nonabrasive top which terminates the omnidirectional surface so fibers comprising a fabric belt are not abraided or cut.

Abstract: A vibration damper comprising a housing containing two bell-shaped membranes of resiliently deformable material facing one another, and defining a single liquid filled chamber. The damper is interposed between two devices to be isolated, one of such devices being affixed to the housing and the other being affixed to a rod, which passes between both membranes, with a circular washer shaped element located between the tops of the bells of the membranes. Upon movement of the rod and deformation of the membranes the liquid is subjected to friction due to shearing of the fluid against the housing due to the movement of the washer through the liquid in a non-throttling arrangement.

Abstract: Automatic brake adjusting mechanism which includes a ratchet member having helical teeth about a cylindrical outer surface, a pawl, structure biasing the pawl into engagement with the helical teeth of the ratchet member and an elongate release pin associated with the pawl whereby the release pin may be moved against the biasing of the structure to disengage the pawl from the ratchet member thereby permitting the brake shoes to be backed away from a brake drum without disassembling component parts of the mechanism.

Abstract: The present specification discloses a disc brake for use on a commercial vehicle. The disc brake has a brake actuation mechanism which is movable axially by brake operator mounted in a part of the disc brake. The brake operator has an axis of actuation which extends in the same general direction as the axis along which the brake actuator moves to apply the brake. This construction leads to a compact overall design wherein the brake operator is part of the brake itself.

Abstract: The torsion spring cartridge assembly disclosed herein is adaptable for use in practically any environment where oscillating motion is encountered. The assembly provides axle support for a rotating member as well as spring suspension for the axle. Dampeners can be provided to damp motion in one direction of oscillation or rotation. Serviceability is simplified since the entire assembly is removable for repair or replacement. The spring rate can be quickly and easily adjusted to accommodate environmental changes such as load, road conditions and weather. The torsion bars are protected from overstressing and possible distortion by a torsion limiter.