Abstract: An integral transverse spring-axle combines the functions of both an axle and a suspension by locating the wheels laterally and longitudinally, in the manner of an axle, and allowing vertical displacements of the wheels, in the manner of a suspension. This is achieved with a leaf spring with a center portion, a pair of center leaves and at least one pair of side leaves both extending oppositely from the center portion. The outboard ends of the leaves attach to the wheel hub carriers/knuckles. The inboard center portion of the spring attaches to the chassis/body frame. The two opposite outboard ends of the spring-axle leaves can move independently of each other. The spring-axle can be of the steered or nonsteered type, and of the driven or non-driven type.

Abstract: A lock system is made in a combination of a rotatable latch and a release lever for restricting the turn of the latch in a disengaging direction. The lock system further includes a release lever disengagement maintaining mechanism which engages with the release lever to maintain it in its disengaging condition wherein the latch is disengaged from the release lever. The release lever disengagement maintaining mechanism is designed to release the release lever from its disengaging condition when the latch turns through a specified rotation angle. Lock mechanisms are provided for a lift open type window which can be housed by moving a movable window frame upward from a window closing upright position, being guided by a pair of guide rails. The lock mechanisms are respectively attached to both ends of a top part of the window frame, so as to be exterior to the window frame and interior to and under the guide rails.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for operating an actuating member is provided with an electric motor, a resetting spring and a centrifugal brake, wherein the actuating member can be operated in a first direction of movement by the electric motor activated by means of a control or regulating device, and in a second direction of movement by means of the resetting spring. In accordance with the invention, a brake body of the centrifugal brake is arranged on the rotor of the electric motor. The centrifugal brake arranged directly on the rotor can be configured such that a braking effect is generated only when the actuating member is operated by the resetting spring. When operated by the electric motor being switched on, on the other hand, the centrifugal brake has no braking effect. By means of the centrifugal brake, the speeds that can be reached are limited to the extent that no spurious vibrations and noises occur.

Abstract: A Hydraulic pressure control apparatus, includes a hydraulic pressure source device operable according to a control amount, to generate an output pressure thereof on the basis of a fluid pressure corresponding to an operating force of a manually operable operating member, and on the basis of a control pressure controlled by a pressure control actuator according to a control amount. The control apparatus further includes an actuator control device including a final-control-value determining portion operable to determine a final value of the control amount, which is used to control the pressure control actuator. A final control value is determined on the basis of at least two provisional control values.

Abstract: A brake and anti-tipping system for a conventional wheelchair is disclosed. The system engages the ground to prevent rearward movement of a wheelchair and is disengaged when the wheelchair is occupied. The braking and anti-tipping system comprises a pivotable member which is pivotably supported between portions of a wheelchair frame assembly, a pair of arms each of which is fastened to the pivotable member, an abutment member which is supported on upper ends of arms, and a biasing member which is secured between the wheelchair frame assembly and wheelchair brake system.

Abstract: A rubber bearing with graduated damping characteristic has essentially a preferably cylindrical or approximately cylindrical inner part, a tubular outer sleeve arranged coaxially around the inner part as well as a pressure body with chambers for a damping agent. The pressure body is arranged in a fixed manner between the inner part and the outer sleeve. A rubber bearing which has a simple design and effectively damps forces introduced in different ranges of the characteristic due to its graduated damping characteristic is provided. The pressure body of the bearing is divided in the radial direction into a plurality of damping areas whose damping characteristics can be adjusted independently from one another by an intermediate sleeve arranged coaxially to the inner part and the outer sleeve.

Abstract: A damping system for a rail car truck utilizes friction wedges supported on side springs to damp relative movement between the rail car truck bolster and the side frames supporting it. Each friction wedge has a generally triangular shape with an angle &thgr; defined between a vertical friction surface which bears against a side frame and a sloping friction surface which moves relative to the bolster. The angle &thgr; and the force P of each side spring are defined by Fw W .

Abstract: The invention relates to a closed level control system for a vehicle. The closed level control system includes a pump which transfers a pressurized medium between a pressurized medium supply vessel (4) and pressurized medium chambers (2a to 2d). The input (8) of the pump (6) is connected to the supply vessel (4) and the output (10) of the pump (6) is connected to the pressurized medium chambers (2a to 2d) when the pressurized medium is to be pumped from the supply vessel (4) into the pressurized medium chambers (2a to 2d). If, in contrast, pressurized air is to be pumped from a pressurized medium chamber (2a to 2d) into the supply vessel (4), then the input (8) of the pump (6) is connected to the pressurized medium chamber and the output (10) of the pump (6) is connected to the supply vessel (4). The above-mentioned connections preferably take place via controllable directional valves (14, 18). The level control system makes it possible that the pump (6) has to always run only in one direction.

Abstract: A shape memory alloy step drive mechanism includes at least one shape memory alloy element (1) with a fixed end, the other end being connected to one end of a lever (2). The lever (2) is provided with a pawl (4) which is located to move on the teeth of a ratchet wheel (5) mounted on a main shaft (6) along with the lever (2). A stopper pin (7) is provided which also guides the pawl (4) on the ratchet wheel (5). A bias spring (9) is provided on a mandril on the main shaft (6) for returning the lever (2) to its original position. A detent wheel (8) with at least one detent lever (10) is mounted on the main shaft (6) to provide the detent torque required to hold the main shaft (6) in position when the lever (2) returns to its original position. A pair of support brackets (11) are provided for supporting and holding the various components together in an assembly.

Abstract: An air spring strut (4) is arranged between a vehicle axle (8) and a vehicle body (6) of a motor vehicle. The air spring strut (4) includes a shock absorber (10) and an air spring (16). The shock absorber (10) includes a cylinder (12) and a piston displaceable into the cylinder (12). The foot point (14) of the cylinder (12) can be articulately connected to a wheel-guiding component (8) and the upper end of the piston can be pivotally connected to the vehicle body (6) of a motor vehicle. The air spring (16) includes a resilient member (18) which is clamped between a cover (20) and a roll-off piston (22) while forming a rolling lobe. The cover (20) can be attached to the vehicle body (6) of a motor vehicle and the roll-off piston (22) is supported on the cylinder (12) of the shock absorber (10). The resilient member (18) of the air spring (16) is enclosed by a bell (28).

Abstract: A composite endless power transmission belt has a resilient plastic outer tubular member with a cylindrical bore, and an inner coil spring member extending wholly and slidably within the cylindrical bore and endlessly through the bore. Assembly is by inserting the spring into the tubular member and screwing a reduced diameter end of the spring into the larger diameter spring end to form an endless belt. The lengths of both members are selected such that when uninstalled, the outer member is in compression and the inner member is in tension, yet when installed, the outer member is partially or completely decompressed and the inner member is in optimal operating tension.

Abstract: A bicycle cable disc brake is provided a disc brake pad adjustment mechanism to adjust the spacing between the friction pads. Basically, the cable disc brake has a first caliper housing portion containing a cable actuated mechanism, and a second caliper housing portion containing the disc brake pad adjustment mechanism. The disc brake pad adjustment mechanism has a caliper housing portion, an adjusting axle, an adjusting plate and an adjustment biasing member. The adjusting axle movably is coupled to the caliper housing portion to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the adjusting axle. The adjusting plate is coupled to the adjusting axle to move axially along the longitudinal axis of the adjusting axle upon rotation of the adjusting axle relative to the caliper housing portion. The adjustment biasing member is operatively disposed between the caliper housing portion and the adjusting axle and arranged to axially urge the adjusting axle against the caliper housing portion.

Abstract: This invention is to provide a brake system and a brake device for use of automobiles, in which a braking energy stored in an auxiliary pressure source can be exploited effectively for a braking purpose, even if an electrical system fails. In particular, the vehicle brake system includes a proportional pressure control valve 80 for generating braking liquid pressure by adjusting the braking energy stored in the auxiliary pressure source 30. Also the vehicle brake system comprises a passage 75 transmitting the liquid pressure generated by a stroke of a brake pedal 1, a switching valve 76 opening the passage in the powered condition and closing the same in the off-powered condition, and an auxiliary control portion 81 activating the proportional pressure control valve 80. Even in the off-powered condition, the high pressure accumulated in the auxiliary pressure source 30 can be used to adjust the required braking liquid pressure at the proportional pressure control valve 80.

Abstract: A pneumatic support system and controller combination including pressurizable expandable chambers (1); a source of pressure and an exhaust characterized by: a unitary manifold assembly (14) including a circuit board (25); a manifold (27) and one or more microvalves (24) having a silicon based valve actuator responsive to a signal for controlling flow from said manifold with respect to one or more expandable chambers.

Abstract: The invention relates to an air-spring assembly (1″), comprising at least the following components: air-spring bellows (2″) consisting of an elastomeric material which encompass an expandable air-spring inner chamber (3″); an air-spring cover, to which one end of the air-spring bellows is fixed; an air-spring piston (5″), to which the opposite end of the air-spring bellows is fixed using a connecting element; in addition to a buffer. The inventive air-spring assembly (1″) is characterized in that the connecting element for the air-spring bellows on the air-spring piston and the buffer are configured as one piece in the form of a combination system (13), which both secures and acts as a buffer. The invention also relates to advantageous embodiments of the assembly.

Abstract: A panel driving device turns an openable panel inside out by rotating the openable panel by 180° about a rotation center shaft and moving the rotation center shaft upward or downward during a specific period while the openable panel is rotated. The panel driving device is provided with a rotating mechanism for supporting the openable panel on a rotatable end of a rotary arm and rotating the openable panel, and a torque converting mechanism for converting part of a driving force of the rotating mechanism into a rotating force for rotating the rotary arm only during the specific period to rotate the rotary arm upward or downward. The openable panel can be turned inside out by a simple construction.

Abstract: A device for increasing shock absorption by hydraulic means in the terminal section (19 & 27) of hydraulic shock absorbers with a shock-absorption piston (3) that divides the shock absorber into two compartments. The width of a channel that conveys hydraulic fluid through the piston is reduced by partly blocking the access of fluid thereto. The access comprises several individual accesses that do not mutually communicate. To ensure precise and constant increased shock absorption in the vicinity of the buffers, one or more individual accesses are completely blocked.

Abstract: This invention relates to a brake shoe mounting system for a vehicle brake assembly. The vehicle brake assembly brake shoe mounting system includes a brake mounting member and a pair of brake shoes slidably supported relative to the brake mounting member. The brake member is adapted to be secured to a fixed, non-rotatable component of the vehicle and includes an abutment having a pair of opposed slots formed therein. Each brake shoe includes a first end, an opposite second end, a web portion, a rim portion secured to an outer surface of the web portion, a friction pad secured to an outer surface of the rim portion, and only two shoe slides provided on at least one side of the rim portion. One of the two shoe slides is provided near the first end of the brake shoe and the other of the two shoe slides is provided generally intermediate the first and second ends of the brake shoe. In accordance with this invention, the second end of the brake shoe defines a shoe abutment end.

Abstract: A V-belt-type automatic transmission for a vehicle is provided with a drive pulley and a driven pulley, wherein a plurality of centrifugal weights are arranged between a movable pulley piece of the drive pulley and a cam plate. The centrifugal weights are moved in a radial direction by centrifugal force. A wrapping radius of a V-belt wound around the drive pulley and the driven pulley is changed depending on a maximum gear ratio in a low-speed rotation range and a minimum gear ratio in a high-speed rotation range that are set. The movement in a radial direction of the centrifugal weight beyond a predetermined radial distance prevented by a stopper surface at the rotational speed in a middle-speed rotation range, and at least one middle gear ratio is thereby set. This arrangement provides a V-belt automatic transmission providing noise reduction, reduction of machinery wear and facilitates smooth power transmission.

Abstract: A wheel hub for vehicles has a built-in brake assembly for stopping and parking the vehicle. A parking piston and a spring assembly of the parking brake are arranged within the ring gear support member, and impact on the brake piston of the multi-plate friction type wet brake, and the ring gear support member. The parking brake has a device for manually de-activating the parking brake from outside the hub. The device includes a screw that overrides spring pressure to move the parking piston away from the brake piston to manually release the parking brake.