Abstract: A method of changing between two operator stations in a cab of a locomotive for controlling the brakes of the locomotive and of a train of railway cars connected to the locomotive. The stations each have at least one brake handle and an associated selector switch, with each of the switches being electrically connected to a brake control computer. The method includes stopping the train if the train is in motion and placing the brake valve handles of the stations in a position to apply the brakes at full service. One of the operator stations is selected as an active station for braking the train while the other station is selected to be inactive. Signals are directed from the selector switches at the operator stations to the computer, the signals indicating which of the two stations is active and inactive. The computer is provided with the software that accepts a valid transition to the station selected by the operator as the active station.

Abstract: Automatic locking systems for wheelchairs have a locking hub for attachment to a main wheel of the wheelchair, and a lock pin which is reciprocally rectilinearly moveable between locked and unlocked conditions with the lock hub. A rotary actuator is operatively coupled to the lock pin and is rotatable between normal and active positions which responsively causes the lock pin to move rectilinearly between its unlocked and locked positions, respectively. A pivotal actuator lever is provided having one end positionable in close proximity to a seat of the wheelchair. The actuator lever is thus mounted for pivotal movements between raised and lowered conditions relative to the wheelchair seat. A flexible actuator cable connects a proximal end of the actuator lever and the rotary actuator.

Abstract: An improve structure for a caliper adapted for use in a vehicle disc brake assembly is preferably formed from aluminum and includes an inboard leg portion and an outboard leg portion interconnected by an intermediate bridge portion. The intermediate bridge portion defines a pair of opposed lateral sides. A recess is provided in each of the lateral sides of the intermediate bridge portion of the caliper. Each of the recesses defines a lower rib and an upper rib. The lower rib extends uninterrupted from the inboard leg portion to the outboard leg portion of the caliper. The upper rib extends uninterrupted and inwardly from the outboard leg portion to the inboard leg portion of the caliper and at an acute angle relative to the lower rib.

Abstract: A fluid-filled vibration damping device including a first and a second member, a rubber body which connects the first and second members to each other and which provides a wall of a fluid chamber, and a working member which is supported by the first member so as to extend in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction in which a vibrational load is applied to the damping device, thereby dividing the fluid chamber into two divided chambers which are located on opposite sides of the working member, respectively, and which are communicated with each other via a fluid-flow restricting passage defined by at least the working member, a length of the restricting passage in the second direction and/or a width of the passage in the first direction changing in a circumferential direction of the working member.

Abstract: A suspension system for a motor vehicle includes a shock absorber having a device for allowing a change in a damping-force characteristic, a first sensor for sensing a vertical behavior of the motor vehicle, a second sensor for sensing a roll angle of the motor vehicle during steering operation, a third sensor for sensing a roll rate of the motor vehicle during steering operation, and a control unit.

Abstract: A two-piece anti-lock brake sensor bracket has a first bracket member or mounting bracket which is welded to an axle housing adjacent a wheel hub. A second bracket member which is a sensor holder is snap-fit onto the first bracket member. An anti-lock brake sensor is mounted in the second bracket member. A snap-fit design for attaching the two bracket members also provides a quick-release, allowing the second bracket member to be detached from the first bracket member. The sensor holder has protrusions which engage with apertures in the mounting bracket. This two piece design can accommodate variations in tone wheel diameter and position with only minor modifications. Additionally, this design is “universal” in that the same type of two-piece bracket assembly works with reduced envelope brakes. Therefore, manufacturing and assembly costs are reduced.

Abstract: An assembly for dampening vibration of a hollow elongated upstanding pole which includes a cylindrical housing specifically adapted to be securely attached to the inside of the upper portion of the pole and containing a weighted member confined within the housing to move therewithin in response to vibration of the pole produced by the wind and having attachment screws extending through the side wall of the pole into threaded openings provided in an attachment rib formed on the wall of the housing.

Abstract: An improved bicycle dropout frame member for simultaneously mounting a plurality of accessories such as panniers, baskets, trailer hitch and trailer, luggage carrier, wheel fender, etc. to a bicycle frame is disclosed. The improved bicycle dropout may include a central body having slots for releasably receiving accessory support legs. The central body may also include a slot for receiving a towing hitch apparatus to enable a rider to tow a trailer behind the bicycle incorporating the improved bicycle dropout frame member of the present invention.

Abstract: A valve assembly for a fluid vehicle damper having a cylinder with a valve body is provided. The valve body has an outer surface adjacent to an interior wall of the cylinder and includes first and second opposing surfaces. The valve body defines first and second fluid chambers within the damper, which are adjacent to the first and second surfaces, respectively. Inner and outer annular seats extend from the first surface and define an annular channel therebetween. At least one fluid passageway is connects the annular channel and second surface for providing fluid communication therebetween. A high speed bypass valve assembly is attached to the valve body and is movable between an open position and a closed position adjacent to the annular seats. An orifice disc is interposed between the annular seats and the high speed bypass valve assembly for providing low speed bypass of fluid from the second chamber to the first chamber when the high speed bypass valve assembly is in the closed position.

Abstract: A system for simultaneously mounting a plurality of accessories such as panniers, baskets, trailer hitch and trailer, luggage carrier, wheel fender, etc. to a bicycle frame includes an upper mounting block rigidly attachable to the frame below the bicycle seat, and two lower stirrup members rigidly attachable to the frame adjacent the wheel axle on either side of the wheel. The upper mounting block has a socket for holding a tow bar and slots for mounting a luggage carrier, both of which have legs which are lockably inserted into receiving slots in the stirrup members. A key lock locks the mounting block to the bicycle frame and the accessories to the mounting block. Accessories may be locked to the carrier.

Abstract: A golf car having a hydraulic fluid brake system. The hydraulic fluid brake system is implemented as a disk brake system which is responsive to hydraulic fluid pressure generated from a master cylinder. A brake pedal and associated linkage provides input to a master cylinder to generate a hydraulic fluid pressure to control a brake caliper assembly. The brake pedal has a range of travel, where a first portion of the range defines a service mode of operation and a second portion of the range defines a parking mode of operation. In the parking mode of operation, the brake pedal and linkage engages a detent to maintain application of the brake to provide a parking mode of operation. An accumulator in the brake system provides an input force to maintain hydraulic fluid pressure sufficient to retain a parking mode of operation.

Abstract: A fluid pressure generating system for a vehicle has a reservoir that stores brake fluid, a fluid pump that pressurizes the brake fluid, an accumulator that accumulates brake fluid pressurized by the fluid pump, and a pressure switch that detects a pressure value in the accumulator. A warning device is adapted to be operated in response to the pressure switch, and a mechanism is provided for detecting a stop of the vehicle. A warning suspending device controls the warning device by using a signal from the pressure switch and a signal from the device for detecting a stop of said vehicle.

Abstract: An elastomeric bearing. The bearing which may be used to support a railway car body includes first and second members and an elastomeric member interposed in a cavity defined between the first and second members. The second member has a recess formed therein which communicates with the cavity. The elastomeric member includes a working section positioned in the cavity and a non-working section integral with the working section and disposed in the recess. The non-working section serves as a sprue location site during the molding process to avoid locating surface defects associated with the sprue in the working section.

Abstract: A vibration dampening assembly and a suspension system for use, for example, between a cab and a flame of a truck, has a link with a first end pivotably interconnected with a second plate at a first support pivot, a lever with a first end pivotably interconnected with the second end of the link at a link pivot, a shock absorber, the first end of which is pivotably interconnected with the lever second end at a shock pivot and the second end of which is pivotably interconnected to a first or the second plate at a second pivot support spaced from the first support pivot wherein the lever is pivotably interconnected with the first plate at a main pivot connection located intermediate the first and second ends thereof. In one embodiment, the shock absorber central axis and the lever longitudinal axis are parallel when the supporting body and the suspended body are in a static condition.

Abstract: A braking mechanism for use with a lift is provided that interacts with a fixed cable that runs the length of the path of travel of the lift. The interaction of the cable and braking mechanism transfers the rotational power created by the travel of the braking mechanism over the cable to a centrifugal clutch. When an over speed situation is encountered by the lift, the centrifugal clutch expands and causes the rotational force to be transferred to the cam sprocket which forces an offset portion of the trip lobe upward until it engages and releases a cam lock. This releases the load on the spring which rotates the cable cam which in turn closes the distance between its lower surface and the floor of the cam housing. The result of this is that the fixed cable is pinched between the cable cam and the cam housing which effectively stops the relative motion between the braking mechanism which in turn stops the motion of the lift.

Abstract: A structure wherein a dust cover (60) is mounted in a lower portion of an under bracket (14) for mounting an inner tube (13) of a front fork (11) to a vehicle body side; an annular stopper (61) is fixed on an outer peripheral surface of the inner tube, and a flange (64) of the dust cover is locked through an annular cover seat (62) by the stopper; the dust cover is structured such that the flange thereof is held and fixed between the under bracket inserted to the inner tube and the stopper under a compressing deformation in an axial direction of the cover seat, and the inner peripheral surface of the dust cover is elastically brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cover seat so as to be supported to the inner tube in a concentric state.

Abstract: A device for regenerating a brake, particularly for skates having a supporting frame for two or more wheels and a support for a pad which has an initially intact surface which interacts with the ground during braking. A sensor for detecting the degree of wear of the surface of the pad is associated with the support and is connected to a sprocket suitable to modify the initial position of the pad. Advantageously, this modification can be achieved by restoring an intact condition for the surface that interacts with the ground. The device allows to achieve optimum braking without requiring any intervention on the part of the user for pad replacement.

Abstract: A method of preventing a vacuum from developing in a low-pressure area of a vehicle anti-lock brake system comprises providing periodically opening normally closed electromagnet valves when brakes are not applied, the valves connecting wheel brakes to a tandem master cylinder by low pressure lines passing through the low-pressure area. As a result, pressures in a tandem master cylinder of the system and the low-pressure area level off and thus a vacuum trapped in the low-pressure area is eliminated.

Abstract: The invention provides an abrasion detecting probe for a brake pad which does not require insert-moulding and in which production costs are low. A probe 20 is housed in base components 35 and 36, which are snap-fitted together. In this manner, the terminal 22 can be attached within the base member 21 in a precise predetermined position by the simple operation of joining the base components 35 and 36 together. Therefore, as opposed to a conventional probe, insert-moulding is not required and the probe can be manufactured simply and cheaply. A sleeve 50 may provide an audible brake wear warning.

Abstract: A valve regulates fluid displacement in a damper assembly, for example, displacement of hydraulic fluid in a sealed shock absorber. The valve is placed between a portion of fluid at one pressure and regulates the passage of fluid through an aperture or passage to a portion of fluid at a lower pressure by a blocking member which moves to obstruct the aperture in accordance with a desired level of damping. The blocking member is, or is driven by, an electroactive device, such as a bimorph actuator formed of ferroelectric material. In one embodiment, the blocking member is a bimorph which covers the aperture, and is flexibly displaced by passage of pressurized fluid through the aperture. A controller provides an electrical actuation signal to move the bimorph toward or away from the aperture, augmenting or decreasing its closing bias to affect both the threshold flow initiation pressure and the rate of flow once the passage opens.