Abstract: The present invention is a parking brake for a rail vehicle having a brake cylinder and a piston in the brake cylinder responsive to forces to apply and release the brakes on the vehicle. The parking brake further includes at least one off-center connecting rod extending though an opening in the brake cylinder and connected to the piston through that opening. The parking brake also includes a force multiplier supported by the brake cylinder and connected to the at least one off-center connecting rod. Further included is an actuator connected to the force multiplier for driving the force multiplier to provide the force to move the at least one rod and the piston to move the brakes to an apply position.

Abstract: A tool for pre-stressing of two races to be welded to one another includes a hub having a cylindrical lateral hub wall and a tubular chuck having a cylindrical lateral chuck wall coaxially received and movable in the lateral hub wall. One of the lateral walls has a cylindrical face of revolution for radially supporting and centering the two races. A first axial abutment is immovable with respect to the chuck and against which a first free axial face is engageable, while a second axial abutment is immovable with respect to the hub and against which a second free axial face is engageable. A coaxial mechanism for axially moving the chuck towards the hub and hence for tightening the second axial abutment axially towards the first axial abutment is provided such that the two races therebetween are tightened against one another until a pre-determined pre-stress value is obtained.

Abstract: A multiple chamber piston includes a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber attached by a first channel and a third fluid chamber connected to a fourth fluid chamber by a second channel. Air chambers are provided between the first fluid chamber and the third fluid chamber as well as the second fluid chamber and the fourth fluid chamber. As a result, when vibration is to be attenuated, walls of the air chambers are able to bend and deform to increase compliance of the overall multiple chamber piston.

Abstract: A brake drum assembly includes an impeller and stator that help cool the brake drum. The impeller and stator combination are especially suited for low-speed vehicle operations. The impeller includes a plurality of impeller vanes formed about the circumference of the impeller that draw cooling air across the brake drum. The impeller is mounted to an external surface of the brake drum for rotation with the drum about an axis of rotation. The stator is held fixed with respect to the drum and includes a first portion that forms a circular band, which is positioned in an overlapping relationship to the impeller, and a second portion that is transverse to the first portion. The second portion extends radially inwardly toward the axis of rotation to form a vertical face. A plurality of stator vanes are formed within the vertical face that direct the airflow away from the brake drum toward an inboard direction that is generally parallel to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A hydraulic antivibration support including a first rigid connection device having a base and a vertical pin, a second rigid connection device having a rigid vertical tube, a first elastomer body connecting the base to the second connection device and able to support a permanent weight, a second elastomer body fitted inside the tube. The second elastomer body has two deformable walls, on both sides of a free passage traversed by the pin, defining two hydraulic chambers connected together by a throttled channel.

Abstract: An air spring has a pair of spaced end members with a flexible sleeve ending therebetween forming an intervening air chamber. A partition is mounted in a hollow interior of one of the end members and forms an auxiliary air reservoir in the end member. A control valve having a moveable plunger is mounted on the one end member and is connected to a source of pressurized air. The plunger extends between the main air chamber and auxiliary reservoir and is controlled by a solenoid for selectively providing air passages between the pressurized air and the main air chamber and between the main air chamber and auxiliary reservoir to change the volume of the main air chamber to change the spring rate of the air spring.

Abstract: A control device for the parking brake of a motor vehicle has a hydraulic cylinder with a piston chamber that can be pressurized by means of a valve arrangement, and has a hydraulic piston connected mechanically to engagement elements of the parking brake. The parking brake is forced into an engaged or disengaged position depending on the hydraulic pressure in the piston chamber. The piston chamber connects to a pressure sensor providing pressure signals that represent the state of the parking brake and that are evaluated by an electrical control unit. The control unit defines a first predetermined pressure threshold corresponding to the engaged state of the parking brake, and a second predetermined pressure threshold corresponding to the disengaged state of the parking brake.

Abstract: The curved brake pad is a flexible brake pad, curved in design, which does not come in constant contact with its rotating disk when not in use. The gap between the curved pad and the disk reduces the amount of friction and heat generated by the constant rotation. This reduced friction and reduced heat improves fuel efficiency and improves the braking performance of the system.

Abstract: A controlled equilibrium device comprising a housing; at least one spring, each at least one spring having a spring stiffness; and a load leveling device movable through the housing between a first maximum displacement position and a second maximum displacement position, the load leveling device comprising a deadband displacement zone defined between a first deadband displacement threshold and a second deadband displacement threshold, the displacement required to reach the first and second deadband displacement thresholds being less than the displacement distances required to reach the first and second maximum displacement positions, the at least one spring stiffness being substantially constant when the displacement of the load leveling device is within the deadband zone, the stiffness of the at least one spring being modified to a second stiffness when the load leveling device is equal to or beyond either the first deadband displacement threshold or the second deadband displacement threshold.

Abstract: The invention concerns a spring barrel module having two chambers. A spring is located in the first chamber and a damper in the second chamber. The unidirectional damper is implemented by a clutch means that connects the damper plate to the spring shaft when the tightened spring is released, whereby the rotation of the damper slows down. Correspondingly, the clutch loosens the connection between the damper plate and the spring shaft when the spring is tightened. In low temperatures (e.g. below 0° C. degrees) the damper fails to dampen the rotation. The unidirectional feature of the damper improves both usability and durability. Breakage of the mechanical components of the spring barrel is prevented by an overload clutch, which means that the spring barrel module will tolerate even relatively rough handling of the equipment.

Abstract: A shock absorption mount has is generally C-shaped and has a top section, a bottom section, and a supporting section. The top section contacts an equipment mounting surface, while the bottom section contacts a foundation. The supporting section includes-an inclining section, an intermediate middle section, and a declining section. Preferably, the inclining section is a linearly inclining section and the declining section is a linearly declining section. The intermediate middle section has a curvilinear shape that has an elliptical inner segment and a circular outer segment. Preferably, the shock absorption mount is constructed of an elastomeric material having a flexural modulus in the range of about 10 and 100 ksi, a breaking strain greater than about 400%, and a yield strain greater than about 10%.

Abstract: An reusable impact energy absorbing device utilized a liquid filled piston and cylinder assembly whereby upon application of an impact to the piston the piston will move along the length of the cylinder and discharge the liquid outwardly through a sequence of valves into an elastic balloon structure secured to the piston and cylinder assembly to capture the fluid. The valves may be two-way valves which will allow the return of the fluid from the elastic balloon to the cylinder due to the creation of a partial vacuum in the cylinder upon upward movement of the piston when the impact force is removed. Upon discharge of the fluid from the cylinder through each valve, the fluid is forced to travel through a restricted labyrinth to further dissipate the impact energy.

Abstract: A single fluid valve device operable for setting an overall viscous damping level, magnetic damping strength, and low speed damping profile. A stationary, controllable magnetorheological fluid valve device comprising a first annular body having gap setting features and controllable passageways formed within the fluid valve device, and a second body disposed adjacent to the first annular body, wherein the second body comprises a magnetic field generating means contained therein. A twin-tube damping device comprising an outer member containing an outer volume of magnetorheological fluid, an inner member containing an inner volume of magnetorheological fluid, a stationary, controllable fluid valve device disposed within the outer member, a piston rod mounted for movement with respect to the inner and outer members, a piston assembly attached to the piston rod and a pressurized volumetric compliance means.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly for a vehicle wherein first and second brake shoes are positioned on a backing plate and radially aligned with a drum by a resilient arrangement. The resilient arrangement is characterized by first and second spring each of which have a first helical coil located between a first engagement section and a second engagement section, a second helical coil that extends from a first end of the first engagement section to a second end and a third helical coil that extends from a first end of the second section to second end. The second ends of the first and second engagement sections are connected to the backing plate such that the first and second engagement sections contact the first and second shoes and the second and third helical coils urge the first and second shoes toward the backing plate while the first helical coils urges the first and second shoes toward an actuator and an adjuster to define a rest position for the first and second brake shoes.

Abstract: A method controls a vehicle brake system having a service brake and a retarder in a mutually coordinated manner. The retarder is activated during each braking operation and is controlled as a function of the driver's braking desire as well as of driving condition values, road condition values and operating conditions of the vehicle (integrated operation of the retarder).

Abstract: A drum brake assembly, adjuster strut (10) being adjustable and having axially extended and retracted conditions. The strut includes means (11, 35) for engaging braking members (3), a rotatable member (27) rotatable about the lengthwise axis of the strut, an axially movable member (34) movable upon forward rotation of member (27) to lengthen the strut in the retracted condition, and biasing means (24) for biasing the strut toward the axially extended condition upon radial expansion of the brake shoes during brake actuation. The rotatable member has a face (30) and a cam surface (31) formed thereon and defining teeth formed in a ring. The strut includes an arm (37) which is mounted to pivot and an end portion (40) biased into engagement with the surface (31). In use, the arm causes the rotatable (27) member to rotate in a forward direction during axial extension of the strut.

Abstract: Heat of an electrothermal part of a heater can be transmitted indirectly and efficiently to a pressure medium. A tubular case 6 having one end portion connected to a piston rod 2 airtightly and the other end portion slidably placed in contact with the outer circumference of a cylinder 1 is provided, a mounting hole 15 is formed within a holder 4 for closing an open end on the piston rod 2 connecting side of the case 6, and an electrothermal part 13a of a heater plug 13 is fitted into the mounting hole 15 directly or through a heat conductivity collar 16.

Abstract: A powertrain mount comprises an orifice plate and a track member. The orifice plate has an exit, a first surface sloping toward the exit, and an inner surface. The track member has an outer surface proximate the first surface of the orifice plate, and the outer surface of the track member has an entrance. A containment plate forms an orifice track with the first and inner surfaces of the orifice plate and with the outer surface of the track member.

Abstract: In order to improve precision and reliability of a hydraulic pressure control apparatus for a brake system of a vehicle, this invention provides a hydraulic pressure control apparatus for a brake system of a vehicle including a control unit for controlling operation of the hydraulic pressure control apparatus, a pressurized fluid generating unit for pressurizing brake fluid and supplying the pressurized fluid, and a hydraulic pressure distributing unit for mechanically selecting and transmitting at least one of hydraulic pressure of the pressurized fluid supplied from the pressurized fluid generating unit and hydraulic pressure supplied from a master cylinder of the brake system to a wheel brake cylinder of the brake system.

Abstract: A hydrokinetic appliance (10), in particular for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing (12) provided with an annular axial wall (13) and a front transverse wall (18), wherein the housing (12) is designed to be linked in rotation to an input shaft, which includes a turbine wheel (40) housed inside the housing (12) and integral with a hub (46), capable of being coupled in rotation with an output shaft, and wherein a locking clutch comprises a rear piston (30) axially mobile relative to the front transverse wall (18) of the housing (12). The rear piston (30) is coupled in rotation to the annular axial wall (13) of the housing (12) by an axially resilient device (64).