Abstract: The invention relates to the torsion springs for micromechanical applications. They can be used if elements are to be pivoted about an axis in an oscillating fashion. According to the object which is set, the torsion springs are to have an improved linear spring characteristic. The torsion springs according to the invention have a square, rectangular or trapezoidal cross section. A slot which is oriented orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the torsion spring and another slot which is formed in the torsion spring along its longitudinal axis and which opens into the first slot are formed at a clamping end point.

Abstract: A brake pad assembly provided for a disc brake apparatus. The brake pad assembly comprises a backing plate having a flat inner face and a flat outer face oriented opposite to the inner face, a friction member fixed to the inner face of the backing plate, and an anti-squeal shim attached to the outer face of the backing plate. The anti-squeal shim includes a flat support plate attached to the outer face of the backing plate and a straight flat flange plate. The support plate of the anti-squeal shim has a peripheral edge including opposite outer and inner edges and opposite side edges. The flange plate is in the form of a flexible cantilever formed integrally with the support plate of the anti-squeal shim and extends away from one of the outer, inner and opposite side edges of the support plate of the anti-squeal shim.

Abstract: An intermediate cylinder 18 is interposed between an inner cylinder 12 and an outer cylinder 14. The inner cylinder has a first bulging portion 20 of a spherical zone shape. The intermediate cylinder has a second bulging portion 22 of a spherical zone shape enclosing the first bulging portion. The inner circumference of the second bulging portion has a first spherical recess 23 corresponding to the first bulging portion. The inner circumference portion of the outer cylinder 14 enclosing the second bulging portion has a second spherical recess 25 corresponding to the second bulging portion. A rubbery elastic member 16 has an inner elastic portion 26 connecting the inner cylinder 12 and the intermediate cylinder 18 and an outer elastic portion 28 connecting the intermediate cylinder 18 and the outer cylinder 14. The axial size D1 of the inner elastic portion is larger than the axial size D2 of the outer elastic portion.

Abstract: A tunable vibration isolator with active tuning elements having a housing, fluid chamber, and at least one tuning port. A piston is resiliently disposed within the housing. A vibration isolation fluid is disposed within the fluid chambers and the tuning ports. The tunable vibration isolator may employ either a solid tuning mass approach or a liquid tuning mass approach. The active vibration elements are preferably solid-state actuators.

Abstract: A spring counterbalance mechanism balances a load with a spring. A cable has a protrusion fixed to the cable midway between two ends of the cable. The two free ends of the cable are fixedly coupled to one of the load or the spring, and a cable attachment is coupled to the remaining member. The cable passes through the cable attachment such that the protrusion is captive in the cable attachment and is movable between two stops in the cable attachment. The cable forms two segments each of which couples the spring to the load. The two segments of the cable pass over a pulley. A sensor coupled to the pulley senses rotation of the pulley allowing cable breakage to be detected by the anomalous rotation of the pulley.

Abstract: The present invention includes a hydraulic brake device 4, 5 that generates a braking force corresponding to an operation of a brake pedal 1 performed while the vehicle is traveling, a brake lock means 6 for applying a hydraulic lock on the hydraulic brake device 4, 5 and releasing the hydraulic lock, a brake pedal operation detection means 22 for detecting an operation of the brake pedal 1, and a control means 10 for controlling the brake lock means 6 so as to apply the hydraulic lock on the hydraulic brake device 4, 5 upon detecting via the brake pedal operation detection means 22 a predetermined depressing operation of the brake pedal 1.

Abstract: An operating system for a parking brake, in particular of a motor vehicle, includes an operating element which is manually brought from a release position to a brake position for engaging the parking brake and which can be removed from the brake position without disengaging the parking brake. The operating system includes a follower element which is connected to the operating element such that the follower element follows any movement of the operating element. Further, the operating system includes a releasable locking mechanism with a locking element to lock the follower element in the brake position and a separating element which allows to separate the connection between the operating element and the follower element independently from the releasable locking mechanism.

Abstract: A load bearing assembly includes a molded plastic retainer that supports a load bearing surface over an opening defined by a frame. The molded plastic retainer includes a first portion attached to the frame, a second portion attached to the load bearing surface, and at least one elastic connector integrally molded with the retainer. The elastic connector is oriented such that it includes a crystalline structure having a greater degree of alignment in one direction than in other directions.

Abstract: An improved self-adjusting automatic slack adjuster for reducing slack in the brake of a vehicle is provided, in which an easily accessible external operating feature actuates a ball detent clutch to permit the automatic slack adjuster's adjustment mechanism to be readily disengaged, so as to allow smooth release and retraction of the brake linings of a vehicle brake without damage to the adjustment mechanism's components. When the torque applied to the external feature exceeds a predetermined torque, the balls of the ball detent clutch move out of their retaining detents, thereby disengaging the slack adjuster's worm shaft from the adjustment mechanism and permitting brake shoe retraction without resistance from the adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: A fluid filled vibration damping device having an orifice passage formed in a partition member to connect a pressure receiving chamber and an equilibrium chamber, wherein a first end section of the orifice passage extends in along a plane of the partition member, and a communication hole is formed to bend at a right angle from the first end of the orifice passage and open towards the pressure receiving chamber to form a dead water region by orthogonal wall faces of a terminal end face and a bottom face of the orifice passage in a connecting corner section of the orifice passage with the communication hole. A shunt hole of smaller cross-sectional area than the orifice passage and the communication hole is formed in a bottom wall so that the pressure receiving chamber and the equilibrium chamber communicate through the shunt hole in the dead water region.

Abstract: A brake actuating apparatus includes a caliper body with a cylinder. An electric motor is fixed to the caliper body. A pressing piston is installed in the cylinder. A rotational shaft is installed at the center of the housing to be rotated by the motor. A head is attached to the rotational shaft and defines a fluid-receiving space in cooperation with the housing. The rotation of head varies the volume of space, thereby moving the pressing piston.

Abstract: There is disclosed a disc brake system incorporating a split caliper having a first caliper half integrally formed with a mounting plate for mounting the caliper on a vehicle. A second caliper half is fixedly and removably attached to the first caliper half in spaced apart relation to provide room for a rotor to be disposed between the caliper halves. The joiner plates permit adjustment of the distance between the caliper halves to accommodate rotors of different thickness. The split design provides a slimmer caliper profile permitting the use of larger diameter rotors in the same space. A splined rotor carrier permits mounting of the rotor on to a wheel hub housing having a corresponding spline. The disc brake system of the present invention is particularly useful in retrofitting existing vehicles, especially light armored vehicles (LAV's).

Abstract: An electronic control unit for a brake control apparatus has a pressure-command-signal memorizing portion, which outputs a pressure command signal to a brake force control unit, when a braking operation is not carried out by a vehicle driver, in order to gradually increase brake fluid pressure. The memorizing portion memorizes the pressure command signal as a gap-zero pressure signal sent to the brake force control unit when vehicle deceleration exceeds a predetermined value. A pre-charge control portion outputs the gap-zero pressure signal to carry out a pre-charge control, when the braking operation is not carried out, so that a gap between a friction element and a non-friction element is reduced to a desired amount before an actual braking operation by the vehicle driver.

Abstract: A suspension system for supporting fore- and aft extending frame members of a vehicle chassis on a hollow axle, the system on one side of the vehicle being duplicated on the opposite side. Included in the suspension on each side are: (1) a frame bracket for pivotally supporting the fore or leading end of an asymmetric leaf spring; (2) a spring end support mounted on the frame side member for supporting the aft or trailing end of the leaf spring, and (3) a suitable assembly for attaching the leaf spring at a location intermediate its opposite ends to the axle so that the spring is divided into two cantilever limbs extending in opposite directions from the center line of the axle. The spring is formed so that one of the cantilever limbs has a stiffness substantially greater than the stiffness of the other limb. In all forms, at least one leaf of the asymmetric spring extends the full length of the spring.

Abstract: A vehicle brake device includes an input shaft coupled to a brake pedal, a pedal operation detector, a pedal simulator coupled to the input shaft in a control housing, a master cylinder, a control piston, a control chamber, and a hydraulic pressure supply, wherein the pedal simulator includes a pedal simulator piston, a pressing member, a simulator piston provided in the pedal simulator piston, and a push rod which is accommodated in the pressing member while being spaced apart from a bottom wall of a guide groove by passing through the pedal simulator piston and the simulator piston from the control piston to the input shaft, and wherein a diameter of the master cylinder is greater than a diameter of the simulator piston, and a diameter of the control piston is greater than a diameter of the master cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a friction material composition comprising a fibrous material except for asbestos, an inorganic friction regulating agent, an organic friction regulating agent and a binder, wherein active alumina is contained as the inorganic friction regulating agent, and a fluorine series polymer is contained as the organic friction regulating agent, and to provide a friction material using the friction material composition.

Abstract: A brake cylinder for pneumatic vehicle brakes, especially for commercial vehicles, includes in addition to a pneumatic locking mechanism, a manual release mechanism for manually releasing the spring brake section, and a device designed to visually recognize the manual release condition of the spring brake section outside of the housing.

Abstract: A counterbalance for use in a motor vehicle that is connected to a tailgate to at least partially control the movement of the tailgate. The counterbalance is made of a spring that counters the load applied to the tailgate, a flexible material strap that provides a stop for the counterbalance, a protective housing that covers the spring, and a flexible material strap. The counterbalance has a fully extended length that is greater than twice the length of the counterbalance when non-extended.

Abstract: A vibration isolating apparatus is provided in which a vehicle collision is detected as soon as a predetermined load or greater is applied to a torque rod, a rod portion of the vibration isolating apparatus for supporting an engine is broken, and the engine can be fallen down (moved) in a predetermined direction, whereby a passenger can be assured of safety at the time of the vehicle collision. A vibration isolating apparatus includes a pair of rings, a rod portion connecting the pair of rings, the pair of rings and the rod portion being integrally formed from a resin or metal material, and inner cylinders which are inserted into the pair of rings, respectively, through rubber elastic bodies, wherein the rod portion is formed in an asymmetrical shape with respect to the pair of rings to provide rigidity difference, and the rod portion at the side having low rigidity is broken when a predetermined load or greater is applied thereto.

Abstract: A method of braking a vehicle which includes ground engaging wheels, and a braking system with ABS capability and including an operator actuated brake control, the ABS becoming operative in response to the operator actuating the brake control, and upon the braking system sensing the slippage or impending slippage of at least one of the ground wheels relative to the ground, to vary the braking force applied to the at least one of the wheels between, in alternative periods, an applied state in which the braking force is applied, and a released state in which the braking force is released, and characterised in that the method includes applying torque to assist acceleration of the wheel at least during periods in which the braking force is released by the ABS.