Abstract: A fan rotor is mounted on a shaft carried on bearings attached to a base plate and there is provided an assembly for preventing reverse rotation of the fan which could damage the motor. A stop plate is mounted on the base adjacent the shaft with an edge adjacent the shaft. A pair of wing members are carried on the shaft on two collar pieces so that each wing member is pivotal between ends of the collar pieces about an axis parallel to the tangent to the shaft at the wing member. The wing members are V-shaped and pivot so that one leg moves under gravity either in the vertical or horizontal orientations of the shaft from a retracted position, in which it is free from the stop plate to an extended position in which it engages the abutment surface of the stop member to prevent reverse rotation. The wing members are shaped and weighted such that rotation of the shaft beyond a predetermined angular velocity causes centrifugal force to move the wing members to the retracted position.

Abstract: A hydraulic antivibration device is provided that is capable of suppressing generation of strange sounds while ensuring a low dynamic spring characteristic upon inputting of relatively small amplitude vibration and a high damping characteristic upon inputting of relatively large amplitude vibration. To that end, upon inputting of relatively large amplitude vibration, displacement-regulating ribs of one of sandwiching members serve to regulate displacement of an elastic partition membrane pinched by the sandwiching members thus obtaining a high damping characteristic. The displacement-regulating ribs consist of three pieces extending radially and rectilinearly, so that the area of openings of the sandwiching members is made wide enough to ensure more a low dynamic spring characteristic. Displacement-regulating protrusions of the elastic partition membrane are disposed to correspond to the displacement-regulating ribs thereby ensuring to suppress the generation of strange sounds.

Abstract: An apparatus engageable with a railway vehicle truck-mounted braking system for compensating for truck bolster movement which includes at least one force transmitting wedge member movable in a reciprocating motion by a pneumatic actuator. The at least one force transmitting wedge member engage rollers rotateably attached to a return push rod member disposed within the truck-mounted braking system for extending the return push rod member to reduce brake shoe clearance prior to brake shoe application. A method for compensating for truck bolster movement also includes fully pressurizing a wedge actuator prior to pressurizing the main brake apparatus actuator. Depressurization of the system returns the force transmitting wedges and return push rod to their original positions upon completion of brake application, subsequently increasing brake shoe clearance for allowable truck bolster movement.

Abstract: In a vibration damping apparatus for supporting an engine on a vehicular body, an elastic member damps a vibration developed from the engine, a stopper is brought in contact with the elastic member to limit a transmission of a fluctuation developed on the engine therethrough, and a vehicular body support member integrated with the elastic member to fix the elastic member on the vehicular body, the elastic member including a stopper fixing portion placed at a first position opposite to a second position faced toward the engine to fix the stopper at the first position and the stopper including a bending portion, one side thereof with respect to the bending portion being fixed onto the engine and the other side thereof with respect thereto being fixed onto the stopper fixing portion of the elastic member so as to grasp the elastic member between both sides of the stopper.

Abstract: A spring assembly includes a spring seat clamped to a leaf spring at a center portion. The spring seat includes a cutout for distributing clamping stresses in a substantially uniform manner across the leaf spring. The cutout provides a relief for a central portion of the leaf spring to uniformly distribute clamping pressures across the leaf spring. Uniformly distributing stresses across the width of the spring increases leaf spring fatigue life.

Abstract: A mixture of carbon-containing fibers, such as mesophase or isotropic pitch fibers, a suitable matrix material, such as a milled pitch is compressed while resistively heating the mixture to form a carbonized composite material. Preferably, the carbonized material has a density of at least about 1.30 g/cm3. Preferably, the composite material is formed in less than ten minutes. This is a significantly shorter time than for conventional processes, which typically take several days and achieve a lower density material. A treating component may be impregnated into the composite. Consequently, carbon/carbon composite materials having final densities of about 1.6–1.8 g/cm3 or higher are readily achieved with one or two infiltration cycles using a pitch or other carbonaceous material to fill voids in the composite and rebaking.

Abstract: A rotary damper is provided which can include a valve (6) which automatically varies a flow rate of a viscous fluid passing through fluid passages (5a, 5b) in correspondence with variation in load. The valve (6) comprises a leaf spring. The flow rate-adjusting portion (6g) constituting the valve (6) is provided so as not to close the fluid passages (5a, 5b) when no load is applied and bends so that its one surface side projects when no load is applied and becomes deformed in a direction in which the fluid passage (5b) is closed when receiving pressure of the viscous fluid on its one surface side. The flow rate of the viscous fluid passing through the fluid passage (5b) is adjusted depending on a degree of deformation of the flow rate-adjusting portion (6g) corresponding to magnitude of pressure of the viscous fluid applied to one surface side of the flow rate-adjusting portion (6g).

Abstract: Shock absorber components, such as a radial bypass damper, an anti-cavitation valve (ACV) and an incremental flow metering valve IFMV. The damper is of a continuous, unitary construction with a main hole and auxiliary holes interconnected by passageways. The ACV has openings that angle obliquely relative to entry surfaces of valving shims and extend at an incline continuously through the valving shims. The metering valve linearly regulates flow, substantially independent of piston displacement.

Abstract: A disc brake includes a piston seal made of rubber that is shaped to fit into a seal groove on the inner surface of a cylinder of a caliper for a brake piston. To prevent braking effectiveness from being impaired, even if the temperature of a caliper rises in a disc brake for a vehicle, the piston seal and/or the seal groove is shaped to control and contain the effects of thermal expansion due to the heat of the disc brake. The clearance between the piston seal and the seal groove is removed and clearance is provided between parts of the periphery of the piston seal and the seal groove.

Abstract: A retarder having the following features: a rotor (1) and a stator (2) that, together, form a working space (3); a hollow shaft (4) for connecting, in a rotationally fixed manner, an input shaft (5), which is near a transmission, to an output shaft (6), which is near a cardan shaft, and; the hollow shaft support s the rotor by means of a screw thread (4.1.1).

Abstract: A cam mechanism 7 provided as a shoe drive mechanism includes a cam supporting plate 21 being loosely and rotatably fitted on an anchor pin 10 for receiving a shoe operating force, a first cam plate 23 rotatably connected to the cam supporting plate 21 at an outer cam supporting position which is a position shifted away from the anchor pin 10 radially outwardly of the drum, a second cam plate 25 rotatably connected to the cam supporting plate 21 at an inner cam supporting position which is away from the anchor pin 10 toward an operating force generator 6, so that a pair of brake shoes 3, 4 are opened outwardly by the separate cam plates 23, 25, respectively.

Abstract: A condition of hydraulic fluid conducted from an accumulator to an operation device via a pressure control unit, is evaluated by determining a pressure (Pa) of the fluid in a flow path interconnecting the accumulator and the control unit, and determining a stabilization time (T) when an absolute value of a pressure gradient per unit time of the pressure falls below a predetermined value. A pressure drop (?Pa) of the pressure is determined during a period between a time (T0) when the pressure begins to decrease, or at a time before the time (T0) and the stabilization time (T). The pressure drop is compared with a predetermined pressure drop that is obtainable under normal conditions. An increase in (?Pa) can signify the entry of air into the hydraulic fluid, or a leakage of the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: A block brake device of a bogie of a rail vehicle containing two wheel sets with two wheels respectively as well as two brake beams each assigned to a wheel axle and extending parallel to the latter, which brake beams carry brake blocks and are mutually connected by way of pressing rods which can be actuated by at least one pressure-medium operated cylinder piston drive for the braking engagement of the brake blocks with assigned braking areas of the wheels. At least a portion of a brake beam forms the cylinder of the cylinder piston drive.

Abstract: A shock absorber includes a hydraulic stop. The hydraulic stop includes two housings connected together by a spring. At the end of the stroke of the shock absorber, the piston causes the two housings to approach each other thereby causing fluid disposed between the housings to flow through a bleed passage. The size or total area of the bleed passage will determine the amount of hydraulic damping provided by the hydraulic stop.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid power accumulator in which the fluid undergoes a state change as the system is pressurized to store energy. A state change can be a phase change, a chemical reaction, or a combination of these. Generally the state change results from the interaction of a compressible fluid contained in the accumulator with another substance, which can be a fluid or a solid. Preferably, the state change includes the physical adsorption of a fluid by a solid adsorbant. The invention can improve the energy storage density of a fluid power accumulator, allow a given energy storage density to be achieved at a lower maximum pressure, facilitate heat transfer and storage within an accumulator, and/or improve accumulator efficiency by storing energy in a form other than thermal energy, such as in the form of chemical energy.

Abstract: A manually operated implement such as a chain saw, a parting-off grinder or similar device has an internal combustion engine to drive a tool and a handle arrangement to operate the implement. The handle arrangement is connected to the internal combustion engine via a vibration damping system, the vibration damping system comprising at least one anti-vibration element. In order to achieve good vibration damping and sufficient operational rigidity in all operating ranges, in at least one direction of vibration in a predetermined frequency range the anti-vibration element has a first characteristic curve in a first state and a second characteristic curve in a second state and the anti-vibration element can be switched between the first state and the second state.

Abstract: An algorithm residing in, for example the ECM of a motor vehicle, which predicts brake booster vacuum for vehicles using vacuum for brake pedal assist. The predicted brake booster vacuum is compared to a calibrated brake booster vacuum threshold to determine if adequate brake booster vacuum is available to meet vehicle braking requirements, whereupon engine operation can be modified, as necessary, to improve intake manifold vacuum such that brake booster vacuum requirements for vehicle braking are better satisfied.

Abstract: A hydraulic control and operating system is provided for a railroad car retarder to control the movement of railroad cars in railroad classification yard. The system utilizes a double-acting hydraulic cylinder to operate the retarder mechanism and includes a hydraulic control circuit that provides protection against pressure spikes and high pressure excursions, high and low temperature excursions, low oil levels and oil filter fouling. The above system not only shuts itself down to prevent damage, but provides a warning to maintenance staff that service should be performed long before a need for system shut-down is required. The system includes a central operating panel in the rail yard control center, remote control panel located at the position of the retarder and the system can be connected for operation from a completely remote location.

Abstract: Reversibly expandable energy absorbing assemblies that utilize an actively controlled and engineering material to reversibly change a shear stress or a flexural modulus property. The actively controlled and engineering materials include magnetorheological fluids, electrorheological fluids, magnetorheological elastomers, and electrorheological elastomers. Methods of operating the energy absorbing assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: When a driver operates an activation switch, an electric parking brake apparatus performs a parking brake activation control in order to operate an electric motor until the tension of a base wire reaches a predetermined target tension to thereby bring parking brakes into an activated state. After that, the apparatus again performs the parking brake activation control when a re-activation time, which is set in accordance with the difference between an estimated temperature of a service brake and an ambient temperature, has elapsed; when the position of a shift lever has been changed; when the height of the vehicle has changed by an amount greater than a predetermined amount; or when the driver releases a brake pedal which has been continuously operated after completion of the parking brake activation control.