Abstract: A pneumatic isolator supports a payload and dampens the vertical and/or horizontal motion of the payload. The isolator has an air chamber and a damping chamber. A viscous medium is disposed in the damping chamber. A gimbal piston head is flexibly secured to the isolator and a piston well extends downwardly from the piston head and is immersed in the viscous medium. A support rod supports the payload, passes through and is supported by the piston well. The outer surface of the piston well is spaced apart from the opposed surface of the damping chamber and defines a gap therebetween. When horizontal and/or vertical motion acts on the isolator, the piston well moves displacing the viscous medium in the gap resulting in a damping force which is generally proportional and opposite to the velocity of the piston well moving against the viscous medium.

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a means of transporting items such as those commonly taken to the beach or on a picnic over sandy or otherwise yielding terrain. The device is comprised of a wheeled, collapsible frame including a bottom frame suitable for supporting larger objects such as an ice chest. The disclosed invention also includes an upper frame which supports a pliable receptacle that is of sufficient size to hold a multitude of miscellaneous items such as blankets, beach toys, clothes, food, etc. The invention includes a retractable chair hanger to support a plurality of folding chairs in a hanging fashion thereby providing a stable environment for transporting the chairs with little risk of loosing the chairs when traveling over rough terrain. The frame is such that it allows foldability to such an extent that it collapses to a size that can be easily stored and transported.

Abstract: A braking apparatus engages the brakes of a towed vehicle and is actuated by the engaging the brake of the towing vehicle. A pivotally mounted foot pedal engaging member attaches to the floor of the towed vehicle and depresses the brake pedal of the towed vehicle when actuated. A pneumatic cylinder forces the engaging member to depress the brake pedal when air is supplied to the cylinder. Air is supplied from air brakes in the towing vehicle or from another pressurized air source. Air to the pneumatic cylinder matches the force of the towing vehicle if equipped with air brakes, or is controlled by a flow regulator and pressure regulator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vehicle motion control system for maintaining stability of an automotive vehicle when the vehicle is in motion, by controlling a hydraulic braking pressure control apparatus to control a hydraulic braking pressure in each of wheel brake cylinders operatively mounted on each wheel of the vehicle to control a braking force applied thereto. A steering control unit and an anti-skid control unit are provided for actuating the apparatus to control the braking force applied to at least one of the wheels, respectively.

Abstract: A multi-disc brake comprises a piston housing (12) attached to a torque tube (16), a plurality of stator discs (18) engaging the torque tube (16) and a plurality of rotor discs (20) positioned about the torque tube (16) for engagement with a wheel. The torque tube (16) includes a flange (17) having a plurality of over-sized openings (31) with each opening (31) receiving therein a bushing (33, 55). A fastener (40) comprising a nut (44) and bolt (40) extends through each over-sized opening (31) and bushing (33, 55), and compresses a bearing plate (38, 48) against the bushing (33, 55) which is captured between the bearing plate (38, 48) and piston housing (12). The slightly over-sized openings (31) in the torque tube flange (17) allow tangential and radial slippage at the area where the torque tube flange (17) contacts the bearing plate (38, 48) during braking, so as to dampen vibrations which occur during braking. The bearing plate (48) may be segmented into arcuate segments (48a, 48b, 48c).

Abstract: A ventilated brake assembly for a vehicle wheel has a housing adapted to be contained in the wheel. At least an annular rotor disc is mounted within the housing for rotation with the wheel, and the disc has a plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extending from the periphery of the disc towards the center to communicate with central openings at the inner margin of the annular disc such that air can pass from the central openings at the inner margin of the annular disc to exhaust at the outer periphery thereof in order to dissipate heat generated at the disc. Openings are provided in the brake assembly to allow air flow from the exterior of the brake assembly through the openings. A cover forms a plenum covering the openings in the brake assembly and a scoop has an open end directed in the direction of air flow and the scoop converges to the plenum.

Abstract: A rotary damper for stabilizing a temperature characteristic while allowing a leakage of operating oil from a clearance between a basic portion of a rotor and a bearing end on the casing side for supporting said rotor with relative rotational motion between the casing and the rotor. Two sets of operating oil chambers (17a, 17b) and (18a, 18b) which alternately expand and contract with rotational displacement of (9) are connected by an interconnecting flowpassage (54) provided on the housing (2). A damping force generating mechanism (44) includes two sets of damping elements (43a, 43b) arranged midway on the interconnecting flowpassage (54). A flow resistance of operating oil passing through the interconnecting flowpassage (54) is imparted by the damping force generating mechanism (44) and the damping force regulating mechanisms (72, 73) to generate a predetermined damping force corresponding to the operating direction of the rotary damper.

Abstract: Fuel injection rate shaping is integrated into the pressure intensification stage of a hydraulically actuated fuel injector having a pressure intensifier. In a first embodiment, the pressure intensification plunger is formed of two parts creating a damping chamber therebetween from which fluid is forced out through orifices in a lower one of the plunger parts during an initial phase of displacement of the upper part. Thus, injection will be performed initially at a lower pressure and rate, which increases once the plunger parts make contact. In a second embodiment, a throttled flow is set via a restrictor housing that telescopingly receives the upper plunger part, so that a lower injection rate occurs while fluid is bled off through a restricted flow path between the restrictor housing and the upper plunger part, and a higher injection rate is produced once a port in the upper plunger clears the restrictor housing.

Abstract: A vehicle brake includes a compact module having an inlet port connected to the return-to-sump line of a hydraulic operating system on the vehicle. The module includes a path to a filter mounted on the module for filtering the operating system fluid and a poppet valve for bypassing a clogged filter. Passages in the module direct most of the return line fluid through a poppet valve which develops a source of back pressure substantially lower that system operating pressure in a cavity in the module and returns the fluid to an outlet connected to sump. A portion of the fluid in the cavity is communicated via a charge port in the module to a hydrostatic system to replenish leakage and shuttle flow in the hydrostatic system and to prevent cavitation. The source of back pressure in the module is selectively connected to spring-applied, pressure-released brakes through a four-way solenoid valve housed by the module.

Abstract: According to the present invention, the gradient of duty pressure increase can be adjusted to a best possible value even when an M/C pressure has varied. For example, duty ratio is set to a first set value when a difference between the M/C pressure and a wheel locking pressure is equal to or larger than a predetermined value and to a second set value for a longer pressure increase duration when the difference is smaller than the predetermined value. Then, a brake fluid pressure control valve is operated so that the duty pressure can be increased according to the duty ratio.

Abstract: A twin-tube shock damper has a hollow piston rod (5) which extends towards the top of the working cylinder (1), a baseplate (8) which closes off the working cylinder and a disc (7) which is arranged inside the working cylinder between the piston (4) and the baseplate and has one or more passages (16) and a non-return valve (17) which allows upward flow through the passages, a central tube (10), a connection (11) between the hollow piston rod and the space above the piston, a damping valve (21) which operates in one direction of flow and servo-control means having an excitation chamber (18) and an excitable coil (30). A control valve in the form of a hollow piston (25) movable in a control valve cylinder (22) provided with orifices (24) and a hollow shaft (27) guided in a valve shaft guide (26) provided with orifices (28) are located in the excitation chamber. Both the control valve cylinder and the control valve are pushed by spring means (23, 29) in the direction of the damping valve body (17).

Abstract: An hydraulic mounting comprises inner and outer rigid members radially spaced apart by an elastomeric member that forms a structural interconnection between the rigid members, a second elastomeric member axially spaced from the first elastomeric member and extending between the rigid members to define a fluid chamber, a rigid separator located within the chamber to divide it into high and low pressure zones, a fluid flow channel for passage of hydraulic fluid between the high and low pressure zones, a flexible member which interconnects between the separator and one of the inner and outer rigid members, and the separator being secured rigidly to the other of the inner and outer rigid members.

Abstract: A control unit includes several magnet and air piloted valves, a transducer, a transmitter, a pressure switch and a pipe network. Controlled by a central controller, the apply and release valves allow a first trainline to charge the pipe network or vent to atmosphere whereas the emergency release valve can vent a second trainline to atmosphere. The transfer valve connects the first trainline to a command port of the control unit unless its pilot port receives an emergency braking request in which case it connects the pipe network to the command port. The transducer converts pressure in the first trainline to an electrical signal. The transmitter conveys this signal to a control bus. The pressure switch closes if the second trainline charges to a preset pressure. Upon closure of the pressure switch and a command from the controller, the charging valve allows the pipe network to charge the second trainline to a threshold level.

Abstract: A dual function brake fluid control apparatus is presented for performing antiskid operation as well as another control operation involving control of the fluid pressure when the apparatus is not performing an antiskid operation. The apparatus is provided with a pressure relief valve having a valve body and a piston. The relief valve is forced closed by a biasing spring acting on a valve body, and when in the open state relieves the discharge pressure of a pump to the intake side of the pump. The piston closes the relief valve when the fluid pressure from the master cylinder exceeds a specific value. This configuration allows setting the discharge fluid pressure of the pump to apply fluid pressure to the wheel cylinders for non-antiskid control operations higher than that for the antiskid control operation.

Abstract: A braking device with brake adjusting devices disclosed for maintaining the proper spacing between the brake pad and the rim of the bicycle wheel or the brake disc attached to the bicycle wheel. Each of the brake adjusting devices preferably includes a spacing element and a support member which is coupled to the brake device. Of course, the support member can be coupled directly to the friction pad via a resilient biasing portion or coupled to various parts of the braking device. The spacing element is preferably biased against the rim or brake disc so as to apply a constant force thereto for obtaining the proper pad spacing when the braking device is in its release position. If a support member is used, the support member can have an attachment portion which is coupled to the brake shoe or friction pad support, a retaining member supporting the spacing element and a biasing portion located between the attachment portion and the retaining portion. Preferably, the spacing element is a roller or ball.

Abstract: Braking device, particularly for skates including a shoe composed of a quarter articulated to a shell which is in turn associated with a frame, wheels being pivoted thereto. The device is constituted by an elastic support having two essentially L-shaped arms that can be pivoted to the shell or to the frame. The elastic support is slidingly associated with the quarter at one end and a brake is associated with the arms.

Abstract: An active vibration absorber including a frame connected to a structure to be controlled and at least two reaction mass elements operatively connected to the frame. Each of the reaction mass elements is independently movable with respect to said frame. The absorber includes a force generating member for controlling relative movement between the reaction mass elements for damping vibration of the structure. The inventive dual reactive mass absorber requires less control force to produce the same vibration attenuation as conventional single reactive mass absorbers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a viscous coupling particularly suitable as a brake for a firebreak door. Outer plates are non-rotatably associated with a housing by means of teeth. Between each two outer plates there is arranged one of two inner plates, which are non-rotatably connected to a hub rotatably arranged in the housing by teeth. The other inner plate is connectable in the direction of rotation to the first inner plate and to each other by two sets of lugs such that there is a free rotational path. When the lugs of two successive inner plates contact one another in the direction of rotation, a driving action occurs. Consequently, torque increases in a stepwise fashion. Therefore, it is possible for firebreak doors to affect the braking of movement into a closed position because braking is delayed and changes in steps.

Abstract: A pressure control apparatus includes a first brake pressure control valve for controlling communication between a first wheel brake for applying a braking force to an driving wheel of a vehicle and a pressure generating chamber of a master cylinder and for controlling communication between the first wheel brake and a low back pressure reservoir, and a second brake pressure control valve for controlling communication between a second wheel brake for applying a braking force to a non-driving wheel of the vehicle and the pressure generating chamber and for controlling communication between the second wheel brake and the low back pressure reservoir. A pump draws brake fluid from the reservoir into the first wheel brake and into the second wheel brake through the second control valve.

Abstract: A damper with continuously variable rates in both extension and compression operation is provided. The damper includes a single tube carrying a piston having at least one pressure chamber and separating the tube into extension and compression chambers. A bi-directional control valve is carried by the piston. The control valve includes a first annular disc carrying a seal and separating the pressure chamber from the extension chamber. A second annular disc carrying a seal separates the pressure chamber from the compression chamber. The discs are variably deflectable under fluid force to provide an opening through the piston. A pair of armatures control the fluid pressure in the pressure chamber to change the deflective characteristics of the discs by varying a backpressure in the pressure chamber. A coil is positioned near the first and second armatures and is operable to draw both the first and the second armatures to close the passages.