Abstract: A truck mounted air cylinder and slack adjuster incorporates an elongated brake operating member adapted to apply a brake applying thrust to the brake beams. An air cylinder is mounted to the truck and a threaded rod is attached to the brake operating member and extends into the air cylinder. A drive member is positioned within the air cylinder and is in sealing relationship with the cylinder walls. The drive member is movable within the cylinder in response to a brake application air pressure applied thereto. A clutch connecting the threaded rod to the drive member for concurrent axial movement with the clutch provides for rotation of the rod relative to the drive member. A slack adjuster is associated with the cylinder and the rod. The slack adjuster cooperates with the clutch to extend the rod relative to the elongated brake operating member in response to a slack condition sensed by the slack adjuster during a brake application.

Abstract: A pneumatic spring counterbalance extensible link including a closed end cylinder with an end connector, a piston and rod assembly within the cylinder and maintained therein by the crimped over end portion of the cylinder retaining a rod bushing and rod to cylinder seal assembly. The cylinder is pressurized preferably prior to assembly of the bushing and seal assembly into the cylinder. The piston assembly includes an effective check valve and orifice by-pass structure for metered gas flow past the piston in one direction and free flow past the piston in the other direction of piston movement. A small predetermined amount of oil is contained in the cylinder and provides lubrication for the seals and piston and provides a damping effect at the end of the extension stroke. A standpipe sleeve is secured on the piston extending toward the seal assembly around the piston rod and controls disposition of the oil to assure damping at the end of the extension stroke.

Abstract: A floating-caliper spot-type disc brake whose caliper member is retained and guided on parallel pins clamped in the brake carrier member. A sealing boot is provided which protects the pins against moisture and dirt. One end of the sealing boot is armored by a crown spring having finger-shaped spring arms which firmly urge the one end against a part of the pin. A bellows portion succeeding the one end extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the pin and permits swivelling of the brake caliper relative to the brake carrier around one of both pins for a change of the pad without excess twisting of the sealing boot. The other end of the sealing boot is armored by a metal ring and engages with a groove which is provided at the open rim of the opening for the pin.

Abstract: The device comprises two rigid elements 1a, 1b, 2 and an elastomer mass 10 interposed therebetween so as to be deformed when the elements move relative to each other in a longitudinal direction. The device includes a closed space with a restriction element 16 defining two chambers 23, 24 whose volumes vary inversely upon movement of the chamber walls, the two chambers being interconnected by one or more passages, the empty space being filled with a viscous fluid material so as to produce a damping effect in the passages. Application to helicopter blade frequency adapters.

Abstract: A damping force regulation device for a telescopic shock absorber causes all the hydraulic fluid to flow through a damping force adjuster (variable orifice) which is arranged in series with damping valves, both in expansion and contraction strokes of a piston. The diameter of the orifice is variable to control the damping force over a substantial range and thereby set up a damping characteristic optimum for each specific running condition. During the expansion stroke, a check valve of a base valve is opened to eliminate short suction which would otherwise result in cavitation or noise.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a disc brake of the type with a caliper (1) mounted to slide on a fixed support (5, 30) by means of two pins (3, 4). The caliper incorporates a brake motor (9) which is capable of stressing an inner pad (8) directly and an outer pad (7) via the sliding caliper (1) to engage frictionally with a brake disc (2). According to the invention, the caliper (1) is located without appreciable play between a front stop (26) and a rear stop (27) placed respectively opposite a front end (24) and a rear end (25) of the caliper. Depending on the direction of rotation of the disc (2), one or the other of these stops (26, 27) fixed to the fixed support (5, 30) receives all or some of the forces generated by the pads (7, 8) and transmitted to the caliper (1) with which the pads (7, 8) interact.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a disc brake of the type with a caliper (14) mounted so as to slide on a fixed support (2) by means of a pin (15). The caliper (14) incorporates a brake actuator acting directly on a friction pad (12) and, through the sliding caliper (14), upon the other pad (13). The pads (12, 13) are guided at least partially by transverse housings (7, 8) in the fixed support (2). According to the invention, the single pin (15) is positioned opposite the rear end portion of the inner friction pad (12), viewed in the direction of foward motion, in such a way that the orthogonal projection of the pin (15) onto the brake disc (6) is at least partially on the path of the latter, and viewed in the direction of motion slightly downstream of the corresponding guide housing (8) formed in the fixed support (2). Applicable to the braking systems of motor vehicles.

Abstract: A torque plate construction (50) comprises two stamped parts (58, 60) which are fastened together at central planar portions (62, 63) thereof and to a wheel axle housing (20) of a vehicle. Each torque plate part (58, 60) includes housing portions (77) spaced axially from the central planar portion (62, 63) of the respective plate part, the portions (77) providing a wheel cylinder housing (78). A piston cylinder (90) is disposed within the wheel cylinder housing (78), with a pair of bolts (100) and nuts (87) connecting together the portions (77) and securing the cylinder (90) within the housing (78). Each torque plate part (58, 60) has a pair of circumferentially spaced-apart notched portions (37) providing seats for a pin (40) extending from an associated brake shoe web (34), one web having an extension (39) extending between the torque plate parts to engage the piston (92).

Abstract: A manually releasable, spring-applied, air-released parking brake device has a hollow guide rod and a non-rotatable spindle connectable to the brake rigging extending through a portion of a cylindrical housing. On one end of the guide rod is secured a portion of a clutch arrangement, and on the opposite end is secured a spline member having a plurality of externally disposed spline grooves. A latching member having an extending surface engages the spline grooves of the spline member, thus preventing rotational movement of the spline member, guide rod, and clutch portion. A release lever, connected to the latching member, allows for engaging and disengaging the latching member and spline member. When the latching member has been disengaged from the spline member, as corresponds to a manual release of the parking brake device, a retractable blocking member is urged against the end surface of the spline member.

Abstract: A stretchable tube-like sleeve surrounds and frictionally grips an inner rod or tube. A coil spring surrounds the sleeve in position to resist movement of one end of the sleeve against the spring force. Moving the rod axially relative to the spring in a direction against the spring force on the sleeve decreases the inner diameter of the sleeve to produce a drag on the inner member. Movement of the opposite end of the sleeve is limited by a stop. This causes the sleeve to expand and allows the rod to slip with a constant drag which is determined by the strength of the spring. With the spring force in position to be applied to only one end of the sleeve, movement of the inner member in the opposite direction provides only a minimal drag as determined by the initial frictional interference between the sleeve and the inner member. Positioning the spring to resist movement of either end of the sleeve, provides a constant drag on the inner member with either direction of movement of the rod relative to the sleeve.

Abstract: A shock absorber capable of effectively preventing a gas from leaking from a gas chamber, maintaining an oil seal in a firmly-held state, and preventing the reciprocating movements of a rod from adversely affecting the function of the oil seal, comprising an oil cylinder and a gas tube, which are joined together in a concentrically-arranged state to form a gas chamber therebetween; a rod, which is moved reciprocatingly in the oil cylinder; a bearing having an axially extending cylindrical support portion and fixed to an end portion of the oil cylinder to form an oil chamber in cooperation with the oil cylinder and rod support in such a manner that the rod can be slidingly moved; and an oil seal, which has a main lip sealingly slidable with respect to a circumferential surface of the rod, and a frustoconical check valve lip resiliently contacting an outer surface of the cylindrical support portion and adapted to allow an oil to flow from the oil chamber to the gas chamber and prevent the oil from flowing in th

Abstract: A disc brake includes a caliper assembly with a reaction leg and an actuation leg on opposite sides of a rotor. The caliper assembly includes a pair of end bridges and an integrally formed center bridge to connect the legs together and substantially prevent deflection between the legs.

Abstract: In a power transmission device, guide elements, which are to be secured to a mounting portion of a driver, are axially fitted through and circumferentially arranged on a brake element concentrically disposed around a hollow tubular shaft which is adapted to be fitted on an output rotary shaft of the driver for rotation therewith. The brake element is urged by springs engaging the respective guide elements, toward an operating element which axially moves the brake element. An input element concentrically secured on the hollow tubular shaft and a friction plate concentrically and rotatably disposed thereabout have first and second openings, respectively, which are axially alignable with the guide elements, whereby the guide elements and the springs can be mounted into and removed from the power transmission device, through the aligned first and second openings.

Abstract: A brake lining carrier has a base plate one side of which can be detachably mounted on a brake lining support member and on the other side thereof is a layer of resilient material upon which are positioned a plurality of brake lining elements disposed to define a friction braking surface. A frame is provided on the edge portion of the base plate to enclose the brake lining elements. Each brake lining element is mounted upon a carrier plate which has projecting flange portions on two longitudinal sides of the brake lining element. The flange portions on the outer longitudinal sides are received within a groove formed in the frame and the flange portions on the inner longitudinal side extend into an open central portion of the friction lining block in which there is a clamp exerting a force against the inner flange portions in a direction perpendicular to the friction surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for a suspension system in a vehicle provides both spring and damping characteristics in a single unit. Within a closed container that has a variable volume (similar to commonly available shock absorbers), a gas-liquid interfacial system acts under input deflection from the axle of a vehicle to provide both spring and damping characteristics. To increase the damping response time of the system, the interfacial area in contact between the gas and the liquid is increased over the ordinary cross-sectional area of the container. The gas is soluble in the liquid and preferably increases in solubility with an increase in temperature so that, as the temperature increases and the gas expands, the static condition of the container is substantially maintained by the increase in absorption of the gas into the liquid. Preferably, pentane thickened with 3% aluminum octoate and 4% oleic acid is the liquid. It is stored in an open-cell urethane foam having an average pore cell size of approximately 0.

Abstract: A friction brake assembly for stopping the transmission of motion between drive and driven shafts comprising a brake drum, a coiled braking spring having several turns adapted to frictionally contact the inner peripheral surface of the brake drum to exert a braking force, an operating member rigidly mounted on the drive shaft within the brake drum, a hanger member rigidly mounted on the driven shaft within the brake drum, and a pair of guide members for controlling the braking spring according to the rotation of the drive shaft to allow the braking spring to be released from the condition in which it exerts the braking force.

Abstract: A bellows-type energy absorbing device comprising at least two elongated bellows sections each having an adjacent tubular support section assembly wherein one bellows and tubular support section is sized to fit within the other. The sections are reversed and arranged so that the bellows and tube sections are arranged coaxially aligned with each other. The tubular support section of one bellows provides an alignment support for the adjacent bellows with the other support section providing the alignment support for the other adjacent bellows section. The bellows and tube assemblies are joined together at their ends by welding to form a sealed tubular unit. The support sections are arranged to telescope and retain the overall axial alignment of the device during collapse of the convolutes of the bellows section during the application of impact energy at either end of the device.

Abstract: An energy storage device (10) is disclosed consisting of a stretched elongated elastomeric member (16), disposed within a tubular housing (14), which elastomeric member (16) is adapted to be torsionally stressed to store energy. The elastomeric member (16) is configured in the relaxed state with a uniform diameter body section, transition end sections, and is attached to rigid end piece assemblies (22, 24) of a lesser diameter. The profile and deflection characteristic of the transition sections (76, 78) are such that upon stretching of the member, a substantially uniform diameter assembly results to minimize the required volume of the surrounding housing (14). During manufacture, woven wire mesh sleeves (26, 28) are forced against a forming surface and bonded to the associated transition section (76, 78) to provide the correct profile and helix angle. Each sleeve (26, 28) contracts with the contraction of the associated transition section to maintain the bond therebetween.

Abstract: An automatic braking-gap adjuster system for hydraulic brakes having an adjusting nut and bolt combination wherein the nut engages threadedly the bolt, the combination being disposed in the hydraulic chamber defined by a piston slidably inserted through an associated cylinder and a portion of the cylinder facing the piston, and the adjusting bolt abutting at its clutch section against a clutch face of the portion of the cylinder. A spring retainer having its legs fixed to the piston so as to be engageable with the adjusting nut such that the nut is restrained from turning, and a spring arranged in a contracted state between a spring seat of the spring retainer and the adjusting nut for biasing the adjusting nut toward the piston are provided. The spring retainer is mounted in place by inserting its legs through notches formed in the adjusting nut and holding them in openings formed in the piston.

Abstract: A brake wear adjuster is mounted within the bore of an actuator piston having a snap ring at the entrance of the bore. The adjuster includes a spring holder having a uniquely configured washer that is seated in a groove in the outer surface of the holder. A spring is carried about the holder between the washer and a flange at the opposite end of the holder. A pin having a mounted swage and a deformable swage tube are carried within the bore of the spring holder, the swage tube being movable with the holder while the pin and swage are stationary. Upon hydraulic fluid pressure being applied to the piston, the snap ring engages the washer and it in turn compresses the spring as it moves through the distance established in the groove. An occurrence of disk wear in the brakes causes the piston and holder to move further drawing the swage tube over the swage. Upon release of the pressure, the spring moves the washer and snap ring and thus also the piston to a retracted position to disengage the brake disks.