Abstract: A shock absorbing adjusting structure includes a cylinder with a tube movably received in the cylinder. One end of the cylinder is connected to a part of a bicycle frame and one end of the tube is connected to another part of the bicycle frame. A sleeve is fixedly connected to the cylinder and connected to a piston assembly movably inserted in the sleeve. A tapered hole and a plurality of through holes are defined through the piston assembly. A seal member is urged by a spring in the piston assembly and seals the through holes. A pusher in the piston assembly is urged by a rod which extends from an inside of the cylinder and is movably received in the sleeve. The rod is moved by an actuating bar which is operated by a rider from outside of the cylinder so as to movably adjust a tapered tip of the rod relative to the tapered hole in the piston assembly.

Abstract: A suspension system for suspending a truck mounted brake assembly within a railway vehicle truck arrangement is provided. The suspension system comprises suspension members, each of the suspension members being pivotally connected at a first end with a predetermined portion of the railway vehicle truck arrangement and pivotally connected at a second end with a predetermined portion of the truck mounted brake assembly for suspending a pair of brake beams in the railway vehicle truck arrangement. At least one maintaining member is provided having at least a portion thereof connected with the truck mounted brake assembly for maintaining each of the brake beams in a predetermined plane during application and release of the railway vehicle brake assembly.

Abstract: There is the problem of adjusting a clearance in electromechanically or electromotively operated brakes because automatic resetting means, which are provided for hydraulic brakes, cannot be used in brakes of the above type. Initially, it is necessary to determine a neutral position of the motor which is defined by the friction elements just abutting the brake disc in this position. This situation is determined by a detection device which exhibits the following operation in one preferred embodiment. The motor is driven from an unknown position by a constant motor torque so that the friction linings are moved towards the brake disc. The motor will speed up because the resistances remain constant in the starting stroke. An abrupt deceleration of the motor will be caused when the friction linings are applied to the brake disc. The zero passage of the angular acceleration can be sensed and interpreted as an application of the friction linings on the brake disc.

Abstract: A force transmitting and converting mechanism for an electric braking device comprising a gear, a nut, a rotating body, a ramp mechanism, a screw member, and a brake element. The gear is rotated by the electric motor, and the nut disposed being opposed to the gear. The rotating body is disposed between the gear and the nut. The ramp mechanism is operated so that the gear and the nut can be separated from each other by a relative rotation of the gear with the nut. The screw member is screwed to the nut, and the brake element is capable of coming into contact with the screw member.

Abstract: A brake force control apparatus is provided that performs a brake assist control in which a brake force larger than that of a normal time is generated when an emergency braking is required in a vehicle, and prevents a change in a driving stability when an abnormality occurs in a vehicle characteristic changing control for maintaining the driving stability of the vehicle. When an abnormality is detected (steps 102, 106-114) in one of the vehicle characteristic changing controls, an increasing slope of a brake force of rear wheels is decreased (step 104) in the brake assist control. Alternatively, the brake assist control may be prohibited (step 140).

Abstract: The parking brake of a vehicle is operated by a power-generating generating actuating unit 4. For maintaining the function of the parking brake in the event of a failure of the power operating device 1, an emergency operating device 2 is provided which can be operated by muscle force. Both operating devices 1, 2 have mechanical transmissions 5, 12 which act upon a common threaded spindle 3 for tensioning and releasing the parking brake. By way of the mutual self-locking design of the mechanical transmission 5, 12 which depends on the type of operation, it is achieved that both operating modes (power or muscle force) can be carried out in any sequence and without any limitation of the adjusting path(s).

Abstract: A brake control system has a power source electronically connectable through a brake switch and a microswitch to a towed brake actuation mechanism that actuates a towed brake of the towed vehicle. The brake control system is designed for use in a towed vehicle that is removably connected to a towing vehicle with a tow hitch. It is critical that the brake control system include two switches to control the actuation of the towed brake: (1) the brake switch to ensure that the towed brake is not actuated until the user depresses a brake pedal to actuate the towing brake of the towing vehicle; and (2) the microswitch to ensure that the towed brake is not actuated unless the towed vehicle and the towing vehicle are being pressed together, such as when the towing vehicle is braking and the towed vehicle is coasting into the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A brake hydraulic control device for use in a vehicle, includes: a master cylinder with a first reservoir attached thereto; a second reservoir different from the first reservoir; a drive wheel control valve unit switching communication and cut-off between a drive wheel brake and the master cylinder as well as communication and cut-off between the drive wheel brake and the second reservoir; a driven wheel control valve unit switching communication and cut-off between a driven wheel brake and the master cylinder as well as communication and cut-off between the driven wheel brake and the second reservoir; and a pump having a discharge port connected between the drive wheel control valve unit and the drive wheel brake, and a suction port connected to the master cylinder through an open/close switch valve and to the said second reservoir.

Abstract: The bearing module (10) is used to support an actuating element which can be displaced counter to the force of at least one return spring (32) with a force hysteresis due to friction. With previous bearing modules, complex friction mechanisms which ensure the desired hysteresis are provided in addition to the return springs. To reduce the number of parts necessary for a bearing module, the proposal is that the force should be transmitted from the return spring (32) via a friction element (24) which slides on a friction surface (28) assigned to the return spring (32) during the displacement, either tensioning the spring (32) or being returned by it. The direct production of hysteresis in the return mechanism reduces the number of components and hence the costs of production for the bearing module (10).

Abstract: An electromechanical brake for motor vehicles such as passenger vehicles, has a member that can be electromotively moved in two directions, longitudinally speaking, in order to press at least one brake lining against a friction element in an application stroke and in order to release the brake lining in a restoring stroke. In addition, a clutch is provided which can be actuated by the longitudinally movable member and which effectively disengages the longitudinally movable member from the electric drive motor when a permissible restoring stroke is exceeded. This prevents a mechanical failure or damage to the brake in the event of a malfunction of this kind.

Abstract: A block brake actuator including in a housing a service brake arrangement, having an electric motor and mechanism for transforming its rotary movement into an axial movement of a push rod, and a safety brake arrangement, including at least one powerful spring, which acts in a brake application direction, may be tensioned at a service brake application and may be locked to the housing in a tensioned state. The spring is arranged transverse of the push rod and acts thereon over a wedge and roller arrangement.

Abstract: A secondary source of braking for large hydraulically braked vehicles utilizing the available power source (38) provided by typically available anti-skid and traction control braking systems. The anti-skid braking system is used to control the secondary braiding function in a manner optimal to the operating condition of the vehicle. Unique distinctive operating modes are used when the vehicle is either moving (79, 81, 83), or stationary (57, 59, 73). The advantages of the stationary mode are fast time response and high output pressure controlled with a minimum of pump operation and fluid movement. The advantages of the dynamic mode are the ability to modulate brake pressure in response to the driver's command.

Abstract: An elastomeric spring (10) comprises a body (11) of elastomeric material which extends between a pair of opposed end regions (12, 13) whereby compression forces acting in a first direction (16) on said end regions are resisted by compression of the elastomeric body, the body (11) of elastomeric material being of a substantially symmetrical shape as considered in cross section about a major axis (16) of the spring extending in said first direction, and substantially hollow in the vicinity of at least one (13) of said end regions, said body (11) of elastomeric material being of progressively increasing external cross-sectional dimension over a first part (21) of the length of the body extending from a first (32) of said end regions and of progressively decreasing external cross-sectional dimension over a second part (22) of the length of the body extending to a second (13) of said end regions, a substantially inextensible reinforcement member (17) embedded in and bonded to said body (11) of elastomeric material

Abstract: A vehicle brake assembly of the kind comprises actuating means (6) for applying the brake linings (4, 5) to a brake rotor (1), adjusting means (13) adapted to be driven by the actuating means (6) for the purpose of maintaining the brake linings (4, 5) in close proximity to the brake rotor (1), and wear sensing means (60) responsive to actuation movement of the brake in a brake-applying direction. The wear sensing means (60) comprises a sensor (101) adapted to be operated by movement of an operating member (102) in a linear direction, a rotatable follower member (106) responsive to movement of the adjusting means (6), and a transmission mechanism (104) for translating rotary movement of the follower member (106) into linear movement of the operating member (102). The brake includes re-set means for resetting the relationship between a datum for the sensing means (60) and the brake during servicing of the brake.

Abstract: A drum brake backplate assembly including a wheel cylinder (30) having a tubular body (31) having an axially extending bore (32) within which two brake shoe operating pistons (33) are in sealed sliding contact to define a working chamber (48) therebetween. The pistons are displaceable away from each other along the bore on pressurisation of the working chamber and the body located on an associated brake-backplate (44) by quick-attach means (46).

Abstract: A dual-mode twin-chamber thrust bearing has a work chamber and an equalizing chamber. The chambers are separated by a partition. The partition has passageway in the center that is closable via an actuator, and also has a damping channel that hydraulically connects two chambers. The partition also has holes. A membrane is located in a recess in the partition. The partition covers the holes in the partition and can be tightly sealed. An axially movable pressure disk secures or releases the membrane as it is pushed by the actuator. The pressure disk is provided with holes in the area of the partition holes.

Abstract: An air braking system of a vehicle has a compressor, non-return valve, manifold, electrically actuable demand valve, an air consumer circuit. An auxiliary circuit connects the manifold to the consumer circuit via an electrically actuable valve and non-return valve. In the event of electrical failure air under pressure can be supplied to the consumer circuit via the auxiliary circuit. In another aspect a plurality of consumer circuits are provided. These circuits may be charged from the compressor via the manifold, or interconnected via the manifold independently of the compressor. This arrangement permits more flexible compressor operation and/or a greater reserve in the event of failure of the pressure source.

Abstract: Improved control for a hydraulic system pump motor useful in automotive braking applications, particularly in motor-based ABS, includes a routine for controlling a pump motor so that it is operated in a manner that is not disturbing to automotive vehicle occupants. In particular, the control routine of the present invention controls pump motor operation after an ABS braking event so that the motor is running only when the motor noise is masked by the pulsing of the ABS solenoids or after driver braking pressure is released from the master cylinder. In this way, the amount of objectionable noise transmitted to the automotive vehicle occupants is reduced, while important ABS pump functions, such as the draining of the accumulators following an ABS braking event, are facilitated.

Abstract: A hydraulic shock absorber having an improved shim arrangement for controlling the damping curve of the shock absorber. This shim element is configured so that it does not extend beyond the peripheral edges of the apertures which it controls and which diameter can be selected.

Abstract: A vehicle break assembly includes a sensor that detects the amount of movement of certain components within the brake assembly. In the preferred embodiment, a rotary sensor is coupled directly with the generally S-shaped cam member and provides signals that indicate the total amount of rotary movement of the cam member during breaking applications. These signals provide information indicative of the amount of slack or stroke during braking applications and provide indications of the conditions of brake linings associated with the brake shoes within the brake assembly. The sensor information preferably is communicated to a vehicle operator in a manner that indicates whether an inspection or maintenance of the braking system is advisable.