Abstract: A drum brake spider assembly (100) for an expanding shoe drum brake (10) having a removable anchor pin (18) is provided. A spider member (14) is provided with an anchor pin receiving bore (39) in which the anchor pin is removably received. The anchor pin receiving bore is provided with a first counterbore (114) at the inboard end thereof and a second counterbore (118) at the outboard end thereof. The anchor pin is provided with two annular grooves (122 and 124) in which are received first and second snap rings (128 and 130). The diameter (116) of the first counterbore is smaller than the outer diameter of the first snap ring when the snap ring is radially expanded sufficiently to remove same from the first groove in the anchor pin.

Abstract: A one-piece integral resilient grommet of elastomeric material is disclosed for isolating the vibration and noise which is propagated from a fractional horsepower motor. The resilient grommet has a central sleeve portion of resilient deformable material having a cylindrical axial opening. A pair of vibration dampening members are integrally formed on the center sleeve portion and have axially spaced apart end walls that extend radially from the central sleeve portion to define an annular recess for mounting the housing of the fractional horsepower motor. The grommet is attached to a support wall structure by a fastener that extends through the cylindrical axial opening and is brought into threaded engagement with the wall. To dampen the vibration wave propagation in the axial direction and isolate the noise of the motor from the support wall, the pair of vibration dampening members are each formed with a set of radially directed ribs which are angularly offset from each other.

Abstract: A leaf spring is provided in which the major component is a leaf made up of continuous strands of fibers distributed in a matrix of polymerized plastic resin. The spring has a theoretical constant cross-sectional area and uniform width throughout its length and at the same time is thickest at its midportion and tapers to the opposite ends. The spring results in an arrangement having a cavity intermediate opposite ends and opposite sides which is capable of receiving locating pins or bolts of the type used with conventional metal leaf springs without the requirement for drilling of holes or otherwise weakening the structure. One embodiment of the invention incorporates a metallic leaf with the non-metallic components.

Abstract: The open bore of a disc brake caliper assembly is protected by a resilient boot and retainer assembly (92). The piston (38) which forces the friction elements (26, 32) against the friction faces (14, 16) of the rotor (12) is provided with a circumferentially extending groove (118) which receives the bead (96) circumscribing one end of the boot (94). The bead (98) circumscribing the other end of the boot (94) is clamped against a land (122) of the piston 38 by a boot retainer (110). The boot retainer (110) is provided with a radially projecting portion (112) which is held against a circumferentially extending face (108) on the wall of the caliper housing (22) by the oil seal (116). Accordingly, the boot (94) may be removed and a new one installed when the brake is serviced without disassembly of the caliper assembly by withdrawing the piston (38) until the groove (118) is brought into registry with the projection (106), thereby permitting removal of the old boot and installation of a new one.

Abstract: The brake comprises two shoes lined with friction elements stressed by a clamping mechanism located between two first ends of the shoes, a fixed anchoring block located between the other two ends of the shoes, and a spacer (44) mounted in the vicinity of the clamping mechanism and bearing by each of its ends on each of the shoes.

Abstract: A disc brake is actuated through a mechanical linkage comprising a power screw (54) which is rotatably mounted within the housing (22) and a piston or power nut (38) which is threadedly engaged with the power screw (54) and which also is engaged with the friction element (32). An annular thrust collar (70) is installed within the housing (22) and defines a thrust receiving surface (73) which faces a surface (62) on the power screw (54). Brake reaction forces are transmitted to the wall of the housing (22) without loading the bolts (86) in tension by way of the surfaces (62, 73) of the thrust collar (70), the surface (108) and the retaining ring (66). A take-up ring (84) made of a deformable material is carried in the groove (82) of the thrust collar (70) so that, when a brake is manufactured, the thrust collar (70) is first installed in the bore and the retaining ring (66) is then installed in the groove (64).

Abstract: A failsafe brake actuating assembly for crawler-type tractors which automatically engages a braking device in situations where there is a loss of engine power or the like with resulting incapacitation of the tractor's primary braking system. The brake actuating assembly includes a brake actuating cylinder connected to a brake actuating arm for rotating the arm in opposite directions. The assembly further includes an adjustment member having a first bearing support for rotatably mounting the brake actuating arm and a plurality of peripheral teeth members. The actuating arm includes a second bearing support, the axis of which is eccentric to the axis of the first bearing support. A torsion spring connecting link is mounted on the second bearing support with one end of the connecting link attached to the actuating arm and the other end of the connecting link engaging the teeth of the adjustment member.

Abstract: A caster to be mounted to a movable object, such as a hoop-shaped walking support for baby, a chair or the like and comprises a basic body turnably mounted at one end and provided at its opposite end with spaced apart axle supports for wheels, a stopper being mounted to the basic body and comprising a bearing portion received between the axle supports, a grounding surface adapted to contact the earth for stoppage of the caster the stopper including, an engaging part for setting the stopper above the lower margin of the wheels, a spring for urging the stopper downward, and a swing limiting projection for limiting the range of the swinging movement of the stopper.

Abstract: An adjuster assembly for a nonservo drum brake includes a pawl (44) cooperating with a star wheel (30) of an extendible strut (22). The pawl (44) includes more than one (56, 58) edge cooperating with the star wheel to control extension of the extendible strut (22).

Abstract: A selector valve for a vehicle braking system in which brakes mounted on opposite sides of the vehicle can be operated selectively either together or independently, comprises an operating lever (9) for displacing a valve spool (2) to control communication between inlet ports (3,4) and outlet ports (5,6), the lever being guided by a slot (8) which includes latching notches (20) in which the lever is engageable to preselect a particular steering mode of brake operation. The lever is automatically disengaged from the notches after each brake operation by a piston (15) which is actuated by the fluid pressure in a chamber (16) connected to an inlet port (4).

Abstract: A slack adjuster is for a disc brake of the type which includes a disc mounted for rotation about an axle and a caliper brake having a housing mounted on the axle in alignment with a friction surface of the disc. A braking piston is mounted in the housing for axial movement toward and away from the friction surface of the disc. Brake actuation produces rotating movement of a powershaft mounted in the housing which will in turn produce a corresponding axial movement of the braking piston through a non-rotating powershaft nut. An adjusting sleeve is between the piston and the powershaft nut and is threadably coupled to the piston and capable of rotation relative thereto to adjust the axial position of the piston. The adjusting sleeve is capable of rotating in a direction which will cause the piston to be adjusted toward the disc and is prevented from rotating in the opposite direction by a one-way clutch shaft between the adjusting sleeve and the housing.

Abstract: A lowering device for lowering a person or other load comprises a line for lowering the load and a support structure through which the line runs during lowering. In some modes of operation a free end of the line is secured to a fixed point, and the support structure is secured to the person and travels with the person down the line. In other modes the support structure is secured to a fixed point, and the load is secured to a free end of the line and is lowered downwardly away from the support structure. Pivotably mounted on the support structure is a transverse guide member carrying a fixed guide element at each end thereof and a rotatable guide element at the center thereof. The line passes around the guide elements and under the effect of load tension the transverse member pivots to bring the guide elements on the member into a pinching effect with guide elements which are fixed on the support structure.

Abstract: A power screw type disc brake having an internal automatic slack adjustor of the single acting, clearance sensing type is provided. The actuating/clearance sensing mechanism (10) of the disc brake includes a power screw (18) selectively rotatable by means of a lever (12) which power screw is threadably engaged with a power nut (42) axially moveable but rotationally fixed relative to a housing (22). The power nut is resiliently urged by a spring (70) into constant engagement with a push rod member (50) which carries a pressure member (16) threadably attached thereto. The push rod member is axially and rotationally moveable relative to the housing and the pressure member (16) is axially moveable but rotationally fixed relative to the housing whereby rotation of the push rod member will result in axial movement of the pressure member for slack or running clearance adjustment purposes.

Abstract: A braking device with two braking members for frictional engagement with a surface and a brake release linkage, a part of which is pivotable about two positions. A feature is provided to cause pivotal movement of the part in a first sense upon application of an initial brake release load upon the linkage part to reduce and then release the braking load applied by the first braking member. The application of an additional brake release load effects pivotal movement of the linkage part in a second sense to reduce and then release the braking load by the second braking member.

Abstract: A pressure actuated disc brake has a mechanical arrangement for actuating the disc brake for parking. It has a coil spring clutch mechanism, or a sprag clutch mechanism, acting on a sleeve nut, which is threaded on a piston shaft. A drive arrangement causes the clutch mechanism to grip the sleeve nut and rotate the nut to move the shaft and piston to mechanically actuate the brake.

Abstract: A damping force generating mechanism in a hydraulic damper includes a housing containing therein oil and an oil chamber partitioning member such as a piston. The mechanism includes a communicating passage provided in the oil chamber partitioning member and defining an annular valve seat on one end thereof and an annular valve plate provided on one end of the communicating passage and being deflectable toward and away from the valve seat for permitting the oil to flow in the communicating passage in one direction. The plate valve consists of a plurality of mutually overlapping annular plates, and at least one of the annular plates is deflected in the direction separating from the valve seat by a projection member which also is one of the annular plates.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper includes a cylinder, a piston working in the cylinder and partitioning the interior thereof into two liquid chambers, two valve discs provided respectively on opposite end surfaces of the piston, two sets of passages opening respectively in opposite end surfaces of the piston to cooperate with respective valve discs, and an orifice communicating permanently the two liquid chambers. A restricting member is provided to change the effective area of the orifice in response to the direction of the liquid flow passing through the orifice.

Abstract: A snap-on slide bearing for recessed type guide lugs of unit brake beams for mounting the unit brake beams in their railroad car truck side frame unit brake beam guide brackets, preferably in place of the conventional spring steel wear plate now generally in use, comprising a one piece body formed from an ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or other suitable plastic material of dry self lubricating characteristics that is rectilinear in outline and of channel shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration defining a web portion and spaced apart side walls shaped and proportioned for substantially complemental but slidable seating in the side frame guide bracket in which the guide lug is to be mounted, with the inner surfacing of one of the walls of the bearing body being formed to define integral lugs that snap fit into the brake beam guide lug top surface recess for securing the bearing to the guide lug, and when the brake beam is mounted in its operating position in the side frame guide brackets adapt

Abstract: A control system for a combination hydrodynamic and friction retarder brake wherein in an output speed range above a first reference speed retarder braking is entirely hydrodynamic, in an output speed range between the first reference speed and a lower second reference speed retarder braking is partially hydrodynamic and partially friction with friction braking increasing as output speed decreases to a maximum at the second reference speed, and in an output speed range below the second reference speed both friction and hydrodynamic retarder braking decrease as output speed decreases to provide a smooth transition to the vehicle's service brakes. In addition, a partial apply valve is provided to limit retarder braking in all speed ranges to levels proportional to a manually applied retarder brake demand signal.

Abstract: Resilient rings are fitted between the caliper and the mounting bolts to provide free caliper movement and permanent corrosion protection. One resilient ring has internal lands contracting the mounting bolt and positioned within the caliper. The lands act as a rubber spring with memory which retracts the caliper, reducing brake drag. Reduced rubber contact area with the mounting bolt reduces adhesion of the rubber to the bolt. The resilient ring may alternatively have external lands which grip or slip on the caliper housing instead of the mounting bolt. A seal may be provided as an extension of the one resilient ring to protect the mounting bolt surface.