Abstract: A wheel bearing device having an outer ring with an attachment flange and two rows of raceway surfaces in the inner periphery, a hub ring having a wheel-attaching flange and one raceway surface in the outer periphery, an inner ring fitted on a stepped portion of the hub ring and having the other raceway surface in the outer periphery, and two rows of rolling elements. The end of the hub ring is crimped for integration, wherein the pre-crimping end on the hub ring is a hollow cylindrical portion with wall-thickness gradually increases toward the front end. Crimping imparts preload to the rolling elements and is effected by measuring the before-crimping axial dimension and controlling the lower dead point of a crimping punch according to the axial dimension so that the worked head height of the crimp portion is made constant.

Abstract: In combination with a hand brake system for a railway vehicle including first and second spaced-apart brake beams. First and second transfer levers are pivotally connected at a point intermediate the ends thereof to a respective one of the first and second brake beams. First and second force-transmitting members are interconnected between corresponding arms of the first and second transfer levers. Such first force-transmitting member including a brake actuator device operable in response to the supply of fluid pressure thereto for increasing the length of the first force-transmitting member, to accordingly increase the spaced-apart distance between the first and second brake beams. A transfer link is connected to the first transfer lever so as to be arcuately movable therewith in a plane parallel to the plane of rotation of the first transfer lever. The improvement comprises a thrust block disposed on the first brake beam. The thrust block having a pin member disposed therein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydraulic bearing, especially for supporting motor vehicle assemblies, that includes a supporting connection, a buttress connection which lies axially opposite the supporting connection and a bearing spring element which is located between these two and which includes (i) an elastomer radial spring, (ii) an expanding spring which is configured as a separate molded elastomer part in the form of a bell-type rolling membrane and which forms part of a hydraulic damping system between the supporting connection and the buttress connection, and (iii) an axially upright steel helical spring. The hydraulic damping system includes a working chamber, a throttle channel and a compensation chamber. A bearing housing radially surrounds the bearing spring element and the hydraulic damping system and is supported by the buttress connection.

Abstract: A pneumatic pressure control device for an empty/load changeover valve on a railway car, which enables an empty/load changeover valve to have a lower profile. The pneumatic pressure control device comprises a mounting member having a first surface, a second surface, and further having an actuating push rod. A sensor arm of a predetermined size and shape has a first end and a second end. A first disposed adjacent at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the mounting member pivotally supports the sensor arm in a predetermined position on the mounting member. A second is engageable with the sensor arm and the actuating push rod on the mounting member for moving the push rod in response to a movement of the sensor arm. A load sensing has at least a portion thereof disposed on the second end of the sensor arm for determining a rate of brake cylinder pressure required relative to an actual weight of a railway car. The sensor arm and the load sensing have a predetermined travel limit.

Abstract: A dynamically adjustable motion stabilizer, including a motion stabilizer in combination with a centering adjustment mechanism for yieldingly urging a relatively movable load member toward a normal or centered position relative to another load member, includes a telescoping body that shortens (retracts) as the load members move toward one another and lengthens (extends) as the load members move apart. The centering adjustment mechanism includes a spring assembly, a locking mechanism structured to lock the spring assembly, a releasing mechanism structured to unlock the locking mechanism, and a control mechanism structured to control the releasing mechanism.

Abstract: A gas spring for moving a load relative to a body includes a cylinder member having an axis, an inner surface forming a chamber, a rod end and a closed end, a piston rod seal/guide received in the rod end of the cylinder member, and a piston rod received in the seal/guide for movement into and out of the cylinder member. A floating piston is received in the cylinder member for movement along the axis and in sealed engagement with the inner wall to define in the chamber a gas section between the floating piston and the rod end and a closed end section between the floating piston and the closed end. A mass of gas under a pressure above atmospheric pressure is contained in the gas section. A powered drive is provided for moving the floating piston axially of the cylinder member to vary the volume of the gas section of the chamber. A sensing device senses a characteristic of the gas spring that is indicative of the force applied to the rod by the gas in the gas section and produces a signal indicative thereof.

Abstract: A tunable vibration isolator with active tuning elements having a housing which defines fluid chambers. A piston is disposed within the housing. A vibration isolation fluid is disposed within the fluid chambers. A passage having a predetermined diameter extends through the piston to permit the vibration isolation fluid to flow from one fluid chamber to the other. The tunable vibration isolator may employ either a solid tuning mass approach or a liquid tuning mass approach. In either case, active tuning elements, or actuators, are disposed in the fluid chambers to selectively tune the vibration isolator.

Abstract: The invention consists of a brake device for snowboards (5) comprising a fitting part (1, 2), which is attached to the board, and a braking part (3). The braking part (3) is attached to the fitting part (1, 2) and can be maneuvered from a non-braking position, in which all parts of the braking part (3) are situated on top of the board (5) and within the boundary edges of the board (5), to a braking position, in which the braking part (3) is situated essentially outside one of the boundary edges of the board (5) and extends below the board (5).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of maintaining the effect of the engine brake of a vehicle during hill descent by way of an active, electronically controlled intervention of the brakes on at least one wheel. The present invention is characterized by a determination of the status of the wheels split into ‘stable wheels’ and ‘unstable wheels’ and the deceleration of all stable wheels (11 to 14) in the event of at least one unstable wheel, on which the condition Vunstable<Ki×Vref occurs, wherein Vunstable=speed of the unstable wheel Vref=medium wheel speed of the stable wheels Ki=correction factor (FIG. 2).

Abstract: A disc brake assembly has a support member secured to a vehicle to position a caliper over a rotor. The caliper has a housing with a bore therein for retaining a piston and a first friction member attached thereto in alignment with a first braking surface on the rotor and a bridge that straddles the rotor to position a second friction member in alignment with a second braking surface on the rotor. The bore receives pressurized fluid from a source that acts on the piston to develop an actuation force for moving the first friction member into engagement with the first braking surface and acts on the housing to cause the caliper to move the second friction member into engagement with the second braking surface to effect a brake application. The first and second friction members have a first initial thickness and the rotor has a second initial thickness that are reduced with each brake application.

Abstract: A screw actuator comprises a nut and a screw each comprising helical grooves, said nut and screw engaging each other by rollers or balls which are in contact with said grooves, a lubricant being provided for the grooves and rollers or balls. Integrated in the actuator is a module, which is connected to at least the helical grooves of the nut and/or screw for replenishing the lubricant for the grooves and rollers or balls of the actuator.

Abstract: The invention provides a vehicle damper assembly and method of assembling the same. The vehicle damper assembly includes a damper including a reservoir tube and a stabilizer bracket operably attached to the reservoir tube. The vehicle damper assembly further includes a lower spring seat press-fit to the reservoir tube and stabilizer bracket. The vehicle damper assembly method includes providing a reservoir tube, attaching a stabilizer bracket to the reservoir tube, and press-fitting a lower spring seat to the reservoir tube and the stabilizer bracket.

Abstract: A brake auxiliary device is proposed, including a resilient mechanism having an upper support member mounted on a bottom surface of a vehicle, and a lower support member properly spaced apart from the upper support member at a position above a wheel shaft of the vehicle; a transmission mechanism positioned between the upper and lower support members of the resilient mechanism, and rotatably abutting against the lower support member; and a drive mechanism coupled to the transmission mechanism, for outputting power to operationally drive the transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism is adapted to operate to induce displacement of the lower support member with respect to the upper support member, and to generate up and down movement for the vehicle, so as to raise vertical upright pressure applied from wheels of the vehicle to the ground, and thereby increase friction between the wheels and the ground in favor of braking implementation.

Abstract: An adjuster mechanism in a drum brake wherein a rotation of a star wheel on a shaft of an extendable strut is limited to a single increment define the pitch of a plurality of teeth on the star wheel. The limitation is achieved by a lever that is carried by a web of a brake shoe has a first blade that in perpendicular alignment with a first tooth of the plurality of teeth while a second blade is offset from a second tooth and located in a plane that is substantially parallel with the pitch. When the lever is pivoted on the web through a predetermined angle, the first blade slides into engagement with a third tooth while the second blade moves through the offset and into engagement with the second tooth to connect the lever with the star wheel. Any further pivoting of the lever by movement of the web toward the drum results in the lever and star wheel moving together.

Abstract: A brake control device for a vehicle includes a master cylinder, a wheel cylinder, a brake pedal behavior simulator, a normally-open type electromagnetic valve, a normally-closed type electromagnetic valve, and a brake pressure control device. The brake pressure control device includes a pump, a reservoir, and two electromagnetic valves to increase and decrease wheel cylinder hydraulic pressure. When the brake pressure control device is normally operated, a hydraulic pressure in the wheel cylinder is controlled by the brake pressure control device. On the other hand, when the brake pressure control device malfunctions or is abnormally operating, the wheel cylinder hydraulic pressure is controlled by hydraulic pressure generated from the master cylinder. At least the normally-closed type electromagnetic valve is opened when the brake pedal is in the non-operational state.

Abstract: An energy absorbing module 10 including a plurality of cells 12, 112 with each cell 12, 112 including a first step wall 22 and 122 horizontally interconnecting first 16, 116 and second 18, 118 walls and having a greater thickness than the second wall 18, 118 for assuring collapse of the second wall 18, 118 before collapse the first wall 16, 116 in response to a force applied to the second wall 18, 118. Likewise, a second step wall 24 and 124 horizontally interconnects the second wall 18, 118 and a third wall 20, 120 and has a greater thickness than the first step wall 22 and 122 for assuring collapse of the third wall 20, 120 before collapse of the second wall 18, 118 in response to a force applied to the third wall 20, 120.

Abstract: A pocketed coil spring unit and associated method of assembly combines top and bottom sheets with bonding of the sidewalls of adjacent rows of pocketed coil springs. With this combination, a posturized spring unit is produced in a commercially efficient manufacturing process. The top and bottom sheets extend perpendicularly to the rows of pocketed coil springs and the adjacent rows of pocketed coil springs are bonded on the sidewalls of the fabric pockets in the absence of the top and bottom sheets. As such, the spring unit can be customized for posturization to provide a firmer supporting foundation at the locations of the top and bottom sheets and a more individualized flexible construction in the regions of the inter-row sidewall bonding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a block-protected braking system for a vehicle, comprising an electronic controller (22, 24) arranged in a housing (12), a valve block (14) to accommodate solenoid valves for controlling the hydraulic fluid in the braking system, and a pump motor (16) for a pump which delivers hydraulic fluid, with the solenoids (20) of the valves being accommodated in an intermediate body (18) which is arranged between the valve block (14) and the housing (12) of the electronic controller, said intermediate body (18) comprising electric connecting means (34, 38) for connecting the electronic controller with the solenoids (20), and said valve block (14) and said housing (12) of the electronic controller being connected with each other by means of the intermediate body (18).

Abstract: An auxiliary vehicle hydraulic pressure source device includes a hydraulic pressure pump pressurizing and discharging fluid, an accumulator accumulating fluid pressurized and discharged by the hydraulic pressure pump, a hydraulic pressure detector continuously detecting the accumulator hydraulic pressure, and a controller controlling operation of the hydraulic pressure pump based on a comparison of the detection result of the hydraulic pressure detector with a predetermined target pressure.

Abstract: A force generating apparatus provides a force to a moving element upon receipt of an electrical force signal. The force generating apparatus includes a force applying element coupled to the moving element for applying the force to the moving element and an actuator coupled to the force applying element for actuation thereof in response to receiving the electrical force signal. The force generating apparatus further includes a controller for receiving a desired force actuation signal, determining a parameter of the desired force actuation signal, selecting a set of gains based on the parameter, applying the set of gains to a linear control function, determining the electrical force signal as a function of the linear control function, and sending the electrical force signal to the actuator.