Abstract: Multiposition valves are used for instance to interrupt a flow of pressure fluid that begins at a pressure source, such as a master cylinder, and leads to a consumer, such as a wheel brake. To that end, such multiposition valves have a valve seat, a valve seat closing body, an electromagnet which presses the valve closing body against the valve seat, and a valve opening spring, so that when the electromagnet is turned off, the valve closing body assumes an outset position spaced apart from the valve seat. To reduce noise production, especially when power is supplied in pulsed fashion to the electromagnet a further spring is provided that urges the armature in the direction of its outset position, so that when the valve opens, the armature can lead ahead of the valve closing body. The valve is advantageously usable in a hydraulic vehicle brake system where irritating noise production during operation is to be avoided.

Abstract: Before a wheel to be controlled satisfies conditions to shift to ABS control, when a specified or larger deceleration is caused by applying a brake, a wheel for which the difference in rotational speed from that of a wheel having the maximum rotational speed as the reference is equal to or larger than a predetermined value is subjected to the brake pressure increase restraint. At this time, the magnitude of the estimated lateral acceleration value is determined, and when the vehicle is in a sharp turn, pressure increase rates of the inside wheels are set to be particularly small values.

Abstract: In an anti-lock brake control system, an actuator is controlled based on at least a slip rate determined in a slip rate calculating device and an output from a low-pass filter for filtering a wheel acceleration determined in a wheel acceleration calculating device, thereby switching-over the braking-pressure reducing, maintaining and increasing modes from one to another. The braking pressure-reduction control provided by an operation control device is terminated in response to the wheel acceleration determined in the wheel acceleration calculating device becoming equal to or larger than a preset value. Thus, it is possible to prevent an excessive pressure reduction during an anti-lock brake control on a road surface having a high coefficient of friction.

Abstract: The brake system employs a ring braking member and a suspended brake caliper having a responsive linkage correcting the caliper and a knuckle support arrangement. The ring braking member is preferably die cast as a single component with a control hub and is of a lightweight, high temperature aluminum composite material. The brake system is designed to have a relatively thick ring brake member of this lightweight material to provide sufficient capacity to absorb the heat of braking and transfer of this heat to the surrounding air prior to the ring brake reaching a temperature where damage is likely to occur. The normal operating temperature is well below the theoretical maximum temperature or rated temperature of the composite material.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a hydraulic braking pressure control system which includes wheel brake cylinders, a pressure generator for supplying a hydraulic braking pressure to the wheel cylinders through two hydraulic pressure circuits, and a pressure control device disposed in the two circuits, between the pressure generator and the wheel cylinders, for controlling the hydraulic pressure in each of the wheel cylinders. The system further includes wheel speed sensors for detecting wheel speeds of the road wheels, respectively, and a braking force controller which controls the braking force by actuating the pressure control device in accordance with control modes provided in response to output signals of the wheel speed sensors.

Abstract: A vehicle having a horizontal transport platform or bed with steps mounted within the horizontal platform. The vehicle comprises a horizontal platform supported three to four feet above ground by wheels. The platform is reinforced by longitudinal I-beams. In accordance with the present invention, a rectangular opening is provided at the rear of the platform. The opening is positioned between adjacent longitudinal I-beams. The opening contains one or more steps that descend from the level of the horizontal platform to just above ground level. The steps are within the perimeter of the platform. To maximize transport area on the horizontal platform, a cover is provided for the platform opening. The cover is attached by a hinge along one side of the rectangular opening in the horizontal platform.

Abstract: A vibration damper can suppress squeals of a brake in a positive and reliable manner while consuming less electric power. The damper has a vibration detector for detecting vibrations of the brake, and a vibrator for applying vibrations to the brake pad based on a detection signal from the vibration detector. An actuator circuit for actuating the vibration detector and vibrator is connected to a car battery through a changeover switch and another switch. These switches are closed only if a brake switch is detecting that the brake is being applied and a vehicle stop detector is detecting that the vehicle is not moving. When the switches are closed, electricity is supplied to the actuator circuit, so that the vibration detector and vibrator are actuated by the actuator circuit. With this arrangement, the damper is kept deactivated when it is unnecessary or detrimental to apply vibrations to the brake. Since it is activated only when necessary, it consumes less electric power.

Abstract: A semi-active damper is controlled by a control circuit which includes a direct main feedback loop, as well as a secondary force feedback loop. The direct main feedback loop includes an inverse model of the damper to be controlled. In the inverse model, an equivalent speed y.sub.e is determined, for use in controlling the damper, based on the measured relative speed y of the ends of the damper. The equivalent speed y.sub.e is used for the purpose of compensating for the fact that a hydraulic fluid used in the damper is not an absolutely incompressible fluid.

Abstract: A bearing is provided to dampen oscillating/vibrating masses and which comprises a resilient support body (2), an adapter (3) to connect the bearing with the oscillating/vibrating mass and a housing (4) frictionally locking the bearing against a retaining means, the bearing being fitted with a spring system (6) to receive loads substantially applied in the vertical direction.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a vehicle motion control system for maintaining vehicle stability by controlling the braking force applied to at least one of the driven wheels and non-driven wheels of a vehicle. A vehicle motion control is performed by applying the braking force to at least one wheel, on the basis of a condition of the vehicle in motion and irrespective of depression of a brake pedal. The braking force is applied to at least one wheel so as to cause an increase in turning radius, when an excessive oversteer occurs during vehicle motion. Whereas, the braking force is applied to at least one wheel so as to cause a decrease in turning radius, when an excessive understeer occurs during vehicle motion. In the case where an excessive braking to at least one of the driven wheels is detected, when an engine brake is exerted on the vehicle, a correction control is performed to increase the braking force applied to at least one of the non-driven wheels.

Abstract: An accumulator for an anti-lock brake system includes a valve body portion defining an accumulator chamber, an accumulator piston slidably disposed within the accumulator chamber, a spring, and a cover. The accumulator chamber has a fluid inlet for connection to a source of pressurized fluid at a first end of the chamber. The chamber has a second end open to atmosphere. The accumulator piston separates the first end of the chamber from the second end of the chamber. The spring is disposed in the accumulator chamber between the piston and the second end of the chamber and biases the piston toward a first position. The cover closes the second end of the chamber and atmosphere and has micro-porous structure. The micro-porous structure is configured to block water molecules and to pass constituent molecules of air, thereby enabling air to be communicated across while preventing the intrusion of water into the chamber through the second end.

Abstract: An anti-swish mechanism for a damper is disclosed to reduce the swish noise heard during movement of a piston assembly within the damper. The damper includes a pressure cylinder which forms a working chamber having a first portion and a second portion operable to store damping fluid. A piston rod is partially disposed within a pressure cylinder and a piston body is secured within the piston rod. Extending from the piston body are first and second annular axially extending lands which are concentric with the piston body. A set of axially extending, circumferentially spaced flow ports are formed in the piston body between the first and second annular axially extending lands. Adjacent to the flow ports is an anti-swish mechanism which reduces "swish" noise as the piston body moves within the pressure cylinder.

Abstract: In a vehicle braking system, integral control and isolation valves are used to individually control the brake line pressure to each wheel brake and to provide pedal isolation for each brake channel. The system is operable on a single fluid or a separated fluid system with an integrated power source. Full proportional anti-lock braking and traction control is provided to each selected wheel independently. The system is applicable as a two, three or four channel base brake system.

Abstract: Briefly, according to this invention there is provided a viscous fluid mount for interconnection between a vibrating body and a base. The viscous fluid mount includes a chamber, a high viscosity damping fluid contained within the chamber and a flow resistance device. Input energy from the vibrating body is dissipated by shear friction of the damping fluid moving parallel to the shear surface area of the flow resistance device.

Abstract: In a first region of the driver's braking command, regenerative braking produces almost all of the braking torque, whereas the friction brake produces essentially no braking torque. In this region of the braking command, the pressure medium flowing into the wheel brake cylinder as a result of the driver's actuation of the brake pedal, is conducted by appropriate control back to a storage chamber. The first region is limited by a threshold brake pedal travel which corresponds to the maximum braking torque available from the motor. When pedal travel exceeds this threshold, the friction brake and the motor both effect braking.

Abstract: A disk brake assembly having a friction disk mounted on the hub of a motorcycle wheel, the friction disk having an inner hub and an outer ring interengaged by a plurality of equally spaced offset arms connecting the outer ring to the inner hub. The angle of each arm being such that the heat generated in the outer ring causes the outer end of the arms to expand in relation to the expansion of the outer ring and to contract on cooling to return the outer ring to its original position.

Abstract: A bushing style mount with low stiffness in two directions oriented with one of the low stiffness directions vertically to provide better isolation. Two elastomeric layers are bonded to two non-parallel surfaces of an inner member, on the one hand, and to a pair of plates on the other. Each of the plates has a contoured, non-planar configuration which increases the axial stiffness of the mount so that the truck cab's lateral motion is minimized. The inner member's non-parallel surfaces are also non-planar, preferably matching the non-planar configuration of the plates, such that the bonded elastomer is deflected into a vee configuration, for example. The inner member with the two elastomeric layers bonded thereto with the two plates bonded, in turn, to the outer faces of the elastomer, form a subassembly that is installed into a generally cylindrical housing. The housing and the outside faces of the plates have a mating contour which provides an alignment feature.

Abstract: A braking force control system in a vehicle includes rotational speed sensors for detecting rotational speeds of front wheels and rear wheels, respectively, and braking force regulating devices capable of individually regulating braking forces for the front and rear wheels. In the braking force control system, the following two controls (1) and (2) are carried out: a front/rear braking force distribution control (1) for controlling the distribution of braking forces to front and rear wheel sides, such that a difference between front and rear wheel speeds is equalized to a target value; and an antilock brake control (2) for determining wheel locking tendencies individually in the front wheel side and the rear wheel side and controlling the braking force for the wheel determined to be in the locking tendency.

Abstract: A caliper brake set engages a disk on the machine shaft or drive sheave to hold the elevator car in place at a landing. The brake set is biased by one or a pair of springs to a "brake-on" condition, and a solenoid assembly is provided to hold the brake set in a "brake off" condition when power is supplied to the solenoid. Camming levers are used in conjunction with the solenoid to provide a mechanical advantage which allows use of smaller solenoids. The brake shoes are spring biased for improved operation on the disk.

Abstract: A braking system including a brakepipe control valve which controls pressure on a brakepipe in response to braking pressure signal from an electropneumatic converter. An electropneumatic cutoff valve connects the control valve to the brake pipe. A controller controls the converter and cutoff valve. A parking brake system and retarder control system are also included and are controlled by the controller.