Abstract: An adaptive energy absorption system for a vehicle seat is disclosed, utilizing an adaptive energy absorber or variable profile energy absorber (VPEA) for mitigating occupant injury due to extreme vehicle movement (e.g., during a vehicle shock event), and/or for mitigating vibration experienced by an occupant of the vehicle seat during normal vehicle operating conditions. The adaptive energy absorption system achieves the aforementioned objectives for a wide range of occupant weights and load levels. Various configurations of dual-goal energy absorption apparatuses that enable both shock mitigation and vibration isolation are disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment providing one or more improvements includes a brake cooling apparatus and method in which heat is conducted from a brake pad to a heat dissipating portion through a heat receiving portion and a heat dissipating portion dissipates the heat into a cooling medium.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the usage of brake members of an aircraft braking system. The system makes a separate record of each brake actuation in which there is relative movement of the brake member's facing friction surfaces which causes wear, determines the types of brake usage and operates a pricing/payment scheme to charge for brake usage.

Abstract: A guide-rail brake (1) of an elevator and a method for controlling the brake are provided. The brake comprises a frame part fixed to the elevator car, a prong part, which contains turning jaws (3,4) that correspond to the guide rail (2) via the braking surfaces when braking, a spring (10) loading the prong part to press the braking surfaces to the guide rail, and a controllable mover, which is an electromagnet (15), which contains two pulling core pieces (17,18). The force effect of the electromagnet (15) on the prong part is opposed to the spring. In the guide-rail brake an air gap (ag) is structurally arranged between the center parts (19,20) of the pulling core pieces (17, 18) of the electromagnet of the guide-rail brake when the brake is fully energized, and a damping circuit is arranged in the coil (16) of the electromagnet (15) of the guide-rail brake to speed up operation of the guide-rail brake.

Abstract: An adjustable coil spring system placed within a leg of a vehicle such as a mountain bicycle fork. The spring system comprises an adjustable first soft spring seated on top of a second firm spring having greater length than the first soft spring. A coupler assembly is positioned between two springs comprised of a threaded bolt threadedly received within a coupler. A spring adjustment mechanism may comprise a knob connected to the threaded bolt through a non-round shaped shaft, wherein the threaded bolt is disposed within the first soft spring. As the knob rotates, the coupler is moved up along the threaded bolt, decreasing the length of the first soft spring, thereby increasing firm spring characteristics of the spring system. As the knob rotates in an opposite direction, the coupler moves down, increasing the length of the first soft spring, thereby increasing soft spring characteristics of the spring system.

Abstract: This apparatus is applied to a vehicle brake apparatus provided with a hydraulic booster operated by utilizing an accumulator hydraulic pressure that is adjusted to a predetermined high pressure (not less than a lower limit value) by a drive control of a hydraulic pump. This apparatus executes an automatic pressurization control by controlling plural solenoid valves with the use of the accumulator hydraulic pressure. The increasing slope of the brake hydraulic pressure during the automatic pressurization control is determined on the basis of the vehicle motion state. The increasing slope is restricted to be not more than a predetermined restriction value, in the case where the accumulator hydraulic pressure at the time of starting the automatic pressurization control is less than “a reference hydraulic pressure that is greater than a minimum value of the accumulator hydraulic pressure necessary for assisting the brake operation by the hydraulic booster and smaller than the lower limit value”.

Abstract: A bush includes an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, a cylindrical elastic member interposed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, a flange formed on one edge of the outer cylinder, and an elastic brim extending from the cylindrical elastic member. The flange engages with one end face of the cylindrical member, and the elastic brim covers an end face of the flange. The flange includes a thick portion that protrudes toward the elastic brim side.

Abstract: A front wheel brake device for forklifts is used in applying brake to a front wheel attached to opposite lateral bottom sides of a mast assembly. The device includes a support bracket provided at the bottom sides of the mast assembly, a brake housing fixed to the support bracket and received within the front wheel, a wheel hub fixedly secured to the front wheel, an axle shaft rotatably provided within the brake housing and engaged with a shaft portion of the wheel hub for unitary rotation with the front wheel, brake discs axially movably fitted to the axle shaft for unitary rotation therewith, friction plates alternately arranged between the brake discs and fitted to the brake housing for movement in an axial direction of the axle shaft, and a piston provided within the brake housing for, when operated, pressing the friction plates against the brake discs.

Abstract: An extreme emergency braking system including at least two brake modules, a pedal feel emulator in communication with at least one of the brake modules by way of a first communication line, an electric park brake switch assembly in communication with the brake modules by at least a second communication line, and an electric circuit adapted to supply at least a first voltage to a first one of the brake modules and a second voltage to a second one of the brake modules, the supplied voltages being indicative of a state of the switch assembly, wherein the first communication line is independent of the second communication line.

Abstract: A braking device that calculates an electric braking force command according to the braking command and generates a mechanical braking command, and a control circuit that calculates an electric braking force based on the electric braking force command from the device and the braking command and controls the power converter, are provided. The control circuit includes a control calculating unit that calculates the electric braking force and controls the converter, a virtual braking force calculating unit that calculates a virtual braking force to complement the electric braking force when starting braking, based on the braking command and an output of a voltage sensor for detecting an input voltage to the converter, and an adder that adds a calculation output of the control calculating unit and a calculation output of the virtual braking force calculating unit. The braking command from the device is changed according to an output of the adder.

Abstract: In order to provide a damping element (4) in compact form for transportation as an individual part of a dismantled stand (1) and to be able to push a support (11) into a tube (2) to fix it there, it is proposed that the support (11) is relatively, in particular vertically and telescopically, displaceable with respect to tube (2), in that damping element (4) is connected at a first end (19) on support (11) to a component (20) for holding the appliance, in that damping element (4) is held by tube (2), in that a second, opposite end (21) of damping element (4) protrudes out of tube (2) when damping element (4) is relaxed, in that the second end (21) of damping element (4) can be shifted onto tube (2) or into it when damping element (4) is compressed, and in that second end (21) can be fastened in this compressed state by a fixing element (22) to fix support (11) in its position shifted towards tube (2).

Abstract: A vehicle braking system is responsive to vehicle conditions to alter the response of the braking system for a given driver input. In one mode, the vehicle conditions are conditions that are indicated by sensor in real time. In another mode, the vehicle conditions are historical conditions, such as trends, patterns, etc. The braking system provides braking responses that are appropriate for vehicle conditions and enables personalization of the braking system to accommodate individual driver characteristics.

Abstract: A friction member for a frictional engagement device is provided in which weight is reduced, impact resistance is enhanced and sliding resistance is improved; and also provided is a method for producing the same. As a friction member (10) for a frictional engagement device, a friction member made of a carbon fiber/carbonaceous composite material is provided which is obtained by implementing a heat treatment on a precursor, the precursor comprising a matrix composed of a carbon binder and an additive and carbon fiber dispersed in the matrix, wherein a porosity of the friction member is 20-60%.

Abstract: A device for supplying pressure to an actuation unit of a vehicle brake system, in particular to a vehicle brake system of the ‘brake-by-wire’ type, comprising a pneumatic motor-and-pump assembly with a pump and a motor driving the pump, wherein the motor-and-pump assembly is controlled by an electronic control unit depending on a pressure level or pressure difference in a pneumatic brake booster of the actuation unit, with the pressure level in a chamber or a difference in pressure between two chambers of the brake booster being detected by means of a sensor. In order to maintain the availability of the service brake function as high as possible and to obtain a maximum possible redundancy, the control unit, used to control the motor-and-pump assembly comprises a logic module and a power module, which are arranged separately of each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a braking mechanism comprising a brake cable set, a spring, a connector, a pair of brake shoes, a brake band, a base, and a brake drum. The brake cable set makes the connector move downwards upon braking, such that the connector coupled to the pair of brake shoes rotates to contact the brake band and thus cause friction, whereby achieving the object of braking.

Abstract: A mechanical brake actuator realizing the miniaturization of the entire device and the reduction of the parts costs is provided. When the brake lever rotates in the cable releasing direction, the connecting pin can be connected with the free end of the brake lever from one facing plate side while the other facing plate restricts the movement of the connecting pin, and the clip (30) is set on one facing plate (23b) so as to restrict the movement of the connecting pin after connecting the brake cable and the brake lever via the connecting pin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vibration generator comprising a working piston and to a construction apparatus having a vibration generator, wherein the vibration generator is operated by a pressure fluid and comprises a control device having a control piston, which is supported in a displaceable manner inside the working piston.

Abstract: A suspension system for a motorcycle, comprising a motorcycle main frame, a swing arm pivotally mounted to the motorcycle main frame about a pivot axis, and an air-bag suspension system. The air-bag suspension system includes at least one air-bag constructed of an elastomeric material. The air-bag is housed within a housing assembly and is secured at one end to a piston located within the housing assembly and at its other end to an upper plate or end cap of the housing assembly. The housing assembly is attached to a shock absorber, and the shock absorber is attached at its forward end to the cross member plate of the motorcycle main frame and is pivotally attached at its rearward end to the lower transverse cross member of the swing arm.

Abstract: A shock absorber has a piston formed with a rebound channel and a valve mechanism for generating a damping force by controlling opening and closing and an opening degree of the rebound channel. The valve mechanism comprises a first valve disk having a hole and a slit communicating with the rebound channel respectively provided in inner and outer sides of the first valve disk, the first valve disk generating a first damping force by directing fluid through the slit; an auxiliary disk having a hole communicating with the hole of the first valve disk, the auxiliary disk being disposed to be in contact with a lower side of the first valve disk; and a second valve disk disposed to be in contact with a lower side of the auxiliary disk, the second valve disk being subjected to bending deformation by the fluid flowing through the holes of the first valve disk and the auxiliary disk to generate a second damping force.

Abstract: A fluid-filled type engine mount having a pressure receiving chamber and an equilibrium chamber connected together through a first orifice passage, and an intermediate chamber connected to the equilibrium chamber through a second orifice passage. The intermediate chamber is partially defined by a movable film, and the pressure-receiving chamber and the intermediate chamber are situated to either side of the movable film. The movable film is a tabular rubber elastic body, and is imparted with non-linear spring properties in response to elastic deformation in a width direction thereof so that its deformation during input of idling vibration occurs in a low spring properties zone, whereas its deformation during input of vibration of greater amplitude than the idling vibration in a higher frequency range than a resonance frequency of the first orifice passage reaches a high spring properties zone.