Abstract: A caliper brake includes a pair of brake arms, each having a brake shoe wherein the brake arms are operated in swinging motion by a control wire which thereby exerts braking action. A receiving member for the wire, or an outer sheath guiding the wire, is supported to a support member through a shaft member in relation of being movable in the same direction as the movement of the operated control wire. An operating member is supported rotatably to the shaft member, and a cam face having a plurality of recesses is formed at one of the operating member and the support member while an engaging portion engageable with at least one of the recesses is provided at the other.

Abstract: A strut (40), whose effective length depends on the relative positions of two strut portions (42,44) adjustable with respect to each other is connected in parallel with a brake actuating mechanism (18). One strut portion (44) has at least one part adjustable transversely of the longitudinal direction of the strut (40) and upon actuation of the brake tends to increase the length of the strut (40). This strut portion (44) has an operable connection with an intermediate member (24) which is supported on one of two structural members (128, 136) transmitting the actuating force independently of the strut (40) for rotation around the axis (B) of the brake actuating device (18) and is rotatable against the frictional resistance thereof only as long as this does not surpass a given value. In this way, the strut (40) is prevented from unnecessary or over-adjustment upon particularly forceful actuation of the brake.

Abstract: In the operator's station of a vehicle, it has been common practice to mount the steering wheel and the control levers needed to manipulate the vehicle on an adjustable control console. The control console may then be moved fore and aft to accommodate the individual operators that may operate the vehicle to enhance their comfort. Mechanical latching mechanisms have been used that provide only a selected number of positions to which the control console may be placed, and are often rather cumbersome. Hydraulic cylinders have also been incorporated into an adjustable control console design to provide an unlimited number of positions that the control console may assume. These designs, however, are quite complex, involving a plurality of hydraulic cylinders and extensive valving componentry. The present invention overcomes these problems by providing an actuating mechanism that is positioned about one of the pivot shafts that is utilized in the pivotal mounting of the control console to the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A decoupling device for engine mounts having upper and lower liquid chambers containing hydraulic fluid for damping vibrations, includes a diaphragm liquid-tightly fastened to an upper region of the upper liquid chamber defining a diaphragm chamber divided-off from the upper liquid chamber, the diaphragm including a circular rubber body and a vibration-cancelling mass in the form of a central, circular, metallic disc adhering to the circular rubber body, the circular rubber body having upper and lower surfaces, each of the surfaces having two concentric, conical, circular slots formed therein being inclined toward each other as seen in direction from the horizontal central plane of the circular rubber body toward the surfaces thereof, and the slots being extended to the vicinity of the horizontal central plane of the circular rubber body.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock isolator damping valve exhibiting variable damping depending on degree of valve extension is described which comprises a hydraulic cylinder defining closed fluid reservoirs at each end, a piston within the cylinder and interconnecting the structural members between which relative movement is damped, the piston having first and second axially spaced portions sized for slidably engaging the inner surface of the cylinder and including an intermediate third axial portion of reduced outer diametric size, the first and second portions each including a predetermined number of axial holes sized for displacement of fluid through the piston in response to movement of the piston through the fluid, and an annular member of outer diameter smaller than the first and second portions slidable on the third portion between confronting surfaces of the first and second portions, the annular member including a pair of confronting peripheral flanges, each including axial holes smaller in size and corresponding in

Abstract: A furniture seat base which employs a series of front and/or back torsioned sinuous spring bands. Predetermined patterns of torsioned bands produce an interaction which generate spring dynamics designed to produce a seat unit which may be sat upon from the front, back, sides, or corners with excellent comfort characteristics. The bands are selectively supported adjacent the rails to obviate objectionable "lean-out.

Abstract: There is disclosed a piston-cylinder assembly for use as a die spring wherein one end of the cylinder is connected to the source of nitrogen at high pressure to bias the piston outwardly through the opposite open end of the cylinder. The open end of the cylinder is provided with a high pressure seal and the opposite end of the piston is likewise provided with a high pressure seal. An annular chamber of relatively small cross sectional area is provided between the piston and the cylinder. A valve stem on the piston controls a passageway communicating with the annular chamber. Axial pressure is applied to the seal on the cylinder to produce firm sealing engagement with the piston by pressurizing the annular chamber or by arranging a compression spring between the seal and a shoulder on the cylinder.

Abstract: An oscillation damping device having a differentiated action in the two directions of sliding of a rigid stem with respect to a rigid case, comprising a plurality of rigid rolling elements, interposed between a rolling race of viscoelastic material and one or more skidding metallic races, shaped in such a way that upon moving the stem in one direction, the rolling elements are encased within said metallic races, spaced out from the viscoelastic race and exert a limited braking effect, while upon moving the stem in the opposite direction, the rolling elements are advanced into interference with the viscoelastic race and thereby exert a strong braking effect.

Abstract: A speed governing mechanism is provided utilizing plano-centric gearing and centrifugal braking. An outer cylindrical member serves as a cable drum and is rotated by playing out of the cable. A central shaft is fixedly mounted for supporting the assembly. Plano-centric gearing within the outer cylindrical member turns an inner rotary member on the fixed shaft at an increased speed, while a centrifugal brake assembly is fixed on the inner member and has brake shoes that fly outwardly under centrifugal force to bear against an inner cylindrical reaction surface on the outer cylinder, and thereby to limit the speed of rotation of the outer cylinder. Guides are provided coacting with the brake shoes to cause them to move rearwardly relative to the direction of rotation, and thereby to provide a wedging action with the reaction surface.

Abstract: A brake for a vehicle adapted to be used for an off-road 3-wheel motor cycle or 4-wheel vehicle. This brake has a wheel, an axle rotated integrally with the wheel, a cylindrical hub rotatably engaged with the axle, a chamber formed in the hub and a multi-disc brake provided in the chamber. Thus, the brake is hardly affected by the influence of sand, mud and water scattered when the vehicle is running, and the tires and wheels can be readily cleaned when the vehicle is cleaned.

Abstract: The invention relates to a brake jaw arrangement for a disc brake. The brake jaw essentially consists of two brake levers which carry on one end thereof a brake lining holder and on their other end are connected to cooperate with an operating mechanism. The operating mechanism causes the ends of the brake levers equipped with the brake lining holders to be moved toward each other or away from each other.

Abstract: A sliding caliper disc brake includes a caliper slidably mounted on a fixed torque-taking member to urge one friction pad onto one side of a rotatable disc and having a fluid actuated piston which urges the other friction pad onto the other side of the rotatable disc. The caliper is connected to the torque member by a pin so as to permit sliding of the caliper in an axial direction of the rotatable disc and also pivoting of the caliper with respect to the torque member. The pivoting of the caliper in the inward direction is restrained by an extension which is formed on the caliper and is in contact with the torque member while the pivoting of the caliper in the outward direction is restrained by a link plate which is oscillatingly disposed on one friction pad and is in contact with the caliper.

Abstract: A simple, operationally reliable and not-overly-sensitive level control in a generally known form of self-pumping hydropneumatic spring leg or strut is of such a construction that a delayed adjust-down control action can be achieved when a control opening is opened upon reaching a certain level. For that purpose, a sleeve is fitted as or as part of a throttle arrangement between the control opening of a hollow pump rod and a suction valve arranged at the end of the pump rod, the sleeve allowing oil to flow with a delay from the high pressure chamber which controls the level, by way of the control opening of the pump rod to the pump rod bore, the bore communicating with a low pressure chamber from which oil is normally pumped to the high pressure chamber. By removing the throttling responsibility from the control opening, size restrictions on the control opening are removed, thus facilitating sizing the control opening so as to preclude clogging.

Abstract: A brake apparatus is provided to retard the relative movement between two members. The apparatus comprises a housing positioned around the perimeter of a portion of one of the members. A collar is fixedly secured to the housing generally around the perimeter of a portion of one of the members. Clamping elements are fixedly secured to the collar and have a first surface positioned generally coaxial with at least one of the members. The clamping elements move radially to frictionally engage one of the members to apply a braking force. Each of the clamping elements have a ball in abutting rolling relationship with a second surface generally radially opposite the first surface. The balls urge each of their respective clamping elements into such frictional engagement upon axial movement of an actuating device having a third surface in rolling engagement with the ball. One of the second and the third surfaces has a preselected incline with respect to a longitudinal axis of one of the members.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated slip assembly, connectible to a well head or well pipe handling machine and useful to intermittently grip pipe being run into or pulled from the well. The slip assembly has upper and lower plates with passages for pipe. Wedges, carrying unique slip systems, are positioned around the passages and slidably mounted for radial movement between guide plates extending from the upper and lower plates. The wedges are moved radially inward to grip pipe and radially outward to release pipe by a hydraulic cylinder, pivotally mounted aside the lower plate. When actuated to extend, the hydraulic cylinder rotates an inner bearing race and attached camming segments, which move the wedges inwardly to grip pipe. When the cylinder is actuated to contract, the bearing race and camming segments are rotated to pull the wedges outward radially, releasing pipe. The bearing outer race is housed in ring segments between and connecting the slip assembly upper and lower plates.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly has a floating caliper interposed between two arms of a torque member. The caliper is mounted between the arms by two pin assemblies. Each pin assembly includes a radially compressible cylindrical sleeve substantially filled with elastomeric material and installed within an aperture formed by opposing slots within each of the torque member arms and caliper. The pin assembly has a first resilient rate when contracting from an unflexed position to a radially contracted second position which allows it to be fitted through the aperture. The pin assembly has a higher resilient rate when contracting from the second position to a further contracted third position.

Abstract: A constant cross-sectional area filament wound composite material leaf spring of optional energy storage efficiency given the constraints of filament winding and maximum spring width comprises a portion which widens toward the end of the spring, the rate of increase of width of the spring being such that the longitudinal side surfaces of the spring along such portions follow a lateral, outwardly convex curve of radius R.sub.I, wherein R.sub.I at each point is substantially equal to the camber, i.e., the longitudinal radius of curvature R.sub.C at that point.

Abstract: A disc brake includes a caliper cooperating with a pair of friction elements to oppose rotation of a rotor during braking. A torque member supports the caliper and defines a tie bar reinforcing a pair of arms for the torque member. A connecting member extends between a caliper inner and outer leg and cooperates with the tie bar to oppose static caliper droop and dynamic caliper lift.

Abstract: A shock absorber assembly for an automotive vehicle suspension prevents transmission of vibrations such as road shocks. The shock absorber assembly has a resiliently shock absorbing spring seat retaining a suspension coil spring. The spring seat is adapted to absorb relatively low-amplitude, high-frequency vibrations and thus prevent the shock absorbing assembly from surging. The spring seat has resilient characteristics in which the minimum damping force occurs at a position normally maintained by the vehicle and in which the spring seat becomes rigid in response to relatively high-amplitude vibrations.

Abstract: A stop system for a pivotal irrigation apparatus or system. The stop system includes a ladder-like platform which is laid down flat on the ground in the projected path of travel of one set of driven tower wheels, so that the wheels are driven upon the platform. Each wheel of one tower becomes aligned in supported relationship within a set of spaced rollers. The rollers support the rotating wheels of the tower and prevent relative movement of the tower respective to the ground. Consequently, the tower is rendered immobile respective to the other towers of the traveling irrigation system. This action causes the traveling irrigation system to be shut down, whereupon all of the tower wheels are rendered inoperative. When it is desired to move the traveling irrigation system, the spaced rollers are locked against rotation and the tower wheels energized. This causes the wheels to rotate and drive the tower off of the platform in either desired direction of travel.