Abstract: The invention is directed to a vibration damper such as a shock strut for articulated installation between a car body and a wheel guide part in a motor vehicle by a quick connection. For this purpose, the vibration damper on the shock strut, together with an elastic joint and a connection part, forms a constructional unit or assembly unit. The quick connection is formed between the connection part and the body or the wheel guide without a catch connection and in a rigid manner, so that relative movement is prevented between the connection part and the body or wheel guide part.

Abstract: A brake system for braking an output shaft rotated by a drive gear train driven by an electric motor capable of generating a maximum drive torque at the output shaft. The brake system includes a brake device capable of applying a maximum braking torque to a brake shaft, and a brake gear train having a brake gear fixed to the brake shaft and at least two rotatably mounted reduction gears for transmitting torque between the output shaft and the brake gear. The brake gear and the reduction gears provide a reduction gear ratio sufficient to reduce the maximum drive torque to a drive torque at the brake shaft substantially less than the maximum braking torque available from the brake device. The brake device may include a plurality of fixed discs and rotating discs enclosed in a housing and immersed in a cooling fluid.

Abstract: On an outside of a damper main body (1) of an inverted type of damper, a cylindrical case (12) which is coupled to a damper rod (2) is provided so as to be movable up and down. Between the damper main body (1) and the case (12), there is formed a pressure chamber (13) filled with a pressure medium of low boiling point which varies between a gaseous state and a liquid state. By use of a heater (16) which is disposed inside the pressure chamber (13) the pressure medium is heated and evaporated, whereby the vehicle height is increased by the vapor pressure of the pressure medium. In the above-described damper with a vehicle height adjusting function, the heater (16) is arranged to be easily mounted and dismounted to thereby improve the ease with which the maintenance is performed. The influence on the suspension stoke which is caused by the presence of the heater (16) is also minimized. The heater is formed into a bar heater (16).

Abstract: This disclosure sets out an improved coil spring responding in compression to a tensile load. The load is applied by load engaging equal and oppositely deployed hooks wherein both hooks have a load engaging throat at the lower end connected with a pair of parallel legs. One leg terminates in a hanger having the form of a J-shaped hook and the other leg terminates in a protruding eyelet sized to engage a tang at the end of the spring. The two hooks are maintained at approximate right angles with respect to each other to distribute the forces more evenly in the coil spring to avoid spring bowing.

Abstract: A system for determining the amount of material in a brake lining includes a frictional brake surface and a brake lining having a sensor for producing an output signal indicating the temperature of the sensor. A brake actuation system actuates the brake lining against the frictional brake surface and, thereafter, releases the brake lining from the frictional brake surface. A timer measures a time period beginning when the brake lining is released from the frictional brake surface and ending when the sensor output signal reaches a return point indicative of the brake lining having cooled. A controller compares the measured time period to electronically stored predetermined values to determine the thickness of the brake lining. The invention further includes a method for determining the amount of brake lining material based upon this structure.

Abstract: A vented disc brake rotor having an airflow director for funneling air into the braking plate vents thereby improving the cooling effectiveness of the rotor. The vented disc brake rotor includes first and second braking plates connected together in a mutually parallel, spaced apart relationship. Braking plate fins are disposed between the inwardly facing surfaces of the braking plates forming a plurality of braking plate vents between the braking plates. The rotor includes an airflow director having an annular flange extending generally radially inwards from the radially inner end of one of the braking plates. The flange includes an inner surface forming an angle with respect to the inner surface of the other braking plate such that the distance between these inner surfaces increases as the flange extends radially inwards. A plurality of director fins are disposed between the flange and the inner surface of one of the braking plates.

Abstract: Provided is a brake band apparatus which is simple in mechanism and improved in the life of a frictional material, and particularly a double-wrap brake band apparatus provided with outer bands having a frictional material secured to the inner peripheral surface thereof, an intermediate band interposed between the outer bands and having a frictional material secured to the inner peripheral surfaces thereof, a coupling portion for coupling one end portion of each of the outer bands and one end portion of the intermediate band in the circumferential direction thereof, an apply bracket integral with or discretely from the coupling portion, a first anchor bracket on the free ends of the outer bands in the circumferential direction thereof, a second anchor bracket on the free end of the intermediate band in the circumferential direction thereof, and an actuator for giving a load in two directions to the apply bracket.

Abstract: A base valve assembly fore regulating the flow of fluid through a twin tube fluid vehicle damper is provided. The base valve assembly has opposing compression and rebound surfaces. Inner and outer annular seats extend from the compression surface and define an annular channel therebetween. At least one fluid passageway connects the annular channel and the rebound surface for providing fluid communication therebetween. A connector secures a blow-off valve to the cylinder end. The blow-off valve has a hollow cylindrical portion with a flange extending transversely from an end thereof. The flange is adjacent the annular seats when the blow-off valve is in a closed position. The blow-off valve is movable from the closed position to an open position away from the compression surface. A helical spring is interposed between the connector and the blow-off valve for biasing the blow-off valve to the closed position.

Abstract: The processing for controlling brake systems, which can control the release time of the brake force in consideration of the gradient degree and the load and vehicle weight when the vehicle starts after a stop, so as to prevent the vehicle from rolling backward on the slope, comprising the steps of determining if conditions of a vehicle are suitable for entering a slope start control mode; determining if air pressure in air tanks are maintained over a predetermined pressure after entering the slope start control mode, when it has been determined that the conditions of the vehicle were suitable for the slope start control mode; maintaining brake force by controlling of solenoid valves without brake pedal operation, when it has been determined that the air pressure in the air tanks were maintained over the predetermined pressure; determining if conditions of doors and transmission gear position, clutch stroke, and acceleration pedal operation are suitable for the vehicle's start, while maintaining the brake

Abstract: An extension handle for a manual valve connected at its first end to the stem of the valve by a pin which extends through the extension handle, the standard handle and the valve stem. A handle bracket may be mounted to the manual valve.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an unpaved road detection system wherein a slip rate is calculated on the basis of wheel speeds detected by wheel speed sensors and a vehicle speed detected by a vehicle speed detection device. A linear acceleration sensor is provided for detecting an acceleration of the vehicle in a longitudinal direction thereof to produce a signal linearly proportional to the detected acceleration. A variation of the signal produced by the linear acceleration sensor corresponding to the variation of the slip rate is calculated. The variation of the signal is compared with a reference value. If the variation exceeds the reference value, it is determined that the vehicle is traveling on an unpaved road.

Abstract: The invention presents a vehicle seat with an adjusting mechanism, for example with a height adjustment of the seat area or with a length adjustment of a longitudinal guiding (20, 22), whereas the adjusting mechanism is provided with an electromotor (36), a step-down gear (34) and an adjusting device having a first adjusting element as well as a second adjusting element which may be adjusted relative to the first adjusting element. The adjusting mechanism is additionally provided with a constantly engaged brake (38) that is leading to a braking moment in both senses of rotation of the electromotor (36), the braking moment being calculated so as to be considerably smaller than the active driving moment of the electromotor (36) but so as to be bigger than the passive torques occurring during normal operation of the vehicle due to all kinds of acceleration and loads.

Abstract: A generator and process for operating a generator in which, upon a bearing failure, a braking force is applied to the rotor shaft responsive to the bearing failure. Preferably, the rotor shaft at the anti-drive end is hollow and the brake is provided in the hollow of the rotor shaft. The rotor can include a plate member extending radially inwardly from the rotor shaft inside of the hollow at the anti-drive end towards the longitudinal axis, with the brake applying the braking force to the plate member. In a preferred aspect, the brake includes a cylindrical support operably connected to the housing and extending into the hollow in the anti-drive end of the rotor shaft, a carrier plate connected to the support and extending radially from the support towards the rotor shaft, a screw thread provided on the support, and a threaded plate mounted on the screw thread, the threaded plate extending radially from the support towards the rotor shaft and being spaced from the carrier plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shock absorber loaded therearound with a compression coil spring so improved that a side force generated by the compression coil spring can be effectively alleviated by making both or any one of an upper sheet 13 mounted to an absorber rod 3 and a lower sheet 16 mounted on an absorber tube 2 so as to be loaded therebetween with the compression coil spring 17 free to rock relatively to each other in a predetermined direction or in any direction.

Abstract: Brake shoe for a traction sheave elevator, comprising a brake body (1), a brake shoe (2) attached to the brake body, a retractor (4) in the brake body for keeping the brake shoe clear of a brake wheel (5), and a mechanical pressure element (6) for pressing the brake shoe against the brake wheel. Moreover, the holding brake comprises an intermediate frame (7) disposed between the brake body (1) and the brake shoe (2), the pressure element being arranged to apply a pressure on the intermediate frame. The holding brake further comprises adjusting elements (8) between the intermediate frame and the brake shoe to allow adjustment of the position of the brake shoe in relation to the intermediate frame when the air gap (3) between the brake shoe and the brake wheel is being adjusted.

Abstract: An open-topped disc brake comprises a disk and friction pads provided on opposite sides of the disk and having back plates. A caliper having a window and fluid pressure cylinders are provided together with pad pins extending across the window for supporting the friction pads. Pistons slidably received in the fluid pressure cylinders urge the friction pads against the disk. First and second shims are disposed between the friction pads. The first shims are provided near the friction pads with first claws provided on the first shims which resiliently embrace the back plates of the pads by straddling outer and inner edges of the back plates. Second shims are provided near the pistons with third claws provided on the second shims to detachably and resiliently engage the pistons. Second claws are provided on one of the first shims and the second shims for resiliently gripping the other of the first shims and the second shims so that the first and second shims are moved together.

Abstract: A rotor disk (20) is arranged between two stator disks (30, 40; 130, 140), the disks being made in thermostructural composite material at least for the wear parts. A first supporting structure (50, 150) has a bell shape with a bottom part (52) whereon rests the first stator disk (30, 130) and part of the skirt (70, 170) linked to the bottom part (52) and encloses the disks (20, 30, 40), the bell-shaped structure having cooling means (170, 174) for evacuating the heat generated by the mutual friction of the disks. A second supporting structure (80, 180) has a part in the shape of an annular support plate whereon rests the second stator disk (40, 140); and the bell-shaped structure bottom part (52) and the support plate (80, 180) are provided with cotters (60) or radial ribs (84) co-operating with the corresponding radial housings (36) formed in the outer surfaces (33, 44) of the stator disks (30, 40; 130, 140) to block the latter in rotation relative to the supporting structures (50, 150; 80, 180).

Abstract: An improved structure of a brake-tuning device for a bicycle, and in particular, relates to a tuning device for the brake of a bicycle by having an adjusting bolt to regulate the distance between the brake arm and the wheel frame so that the braking operation is effective. The brake-tuning device comprises a brake arm, a holding seat urging the lateral edge of the brake arm, an adjusting bolt being mounted onto the holding seat, an adjusting rim mounted on the holding seat, a cable having one end mounted to the brake arm and the other end mounted to the holding seat, and an annular insert mounted on the fork of the bicycle and being used to secure the brake-tuning device thereto.

Abstract: If the height of a train car is reduced by the regrinding of the tread of each wheel and then reincreased to the original level by simply increasing the height of air springs, the compression stroke of the air springs changes. An arrangement is proposed to maintain a constant compression stroke after height adjustment. A stopper has movement restricting portions arranged circumferentially at predetermined intervals for restricting the downward movement of the outer cylinder. The stopper is rotatably mounted on the inner member. The outer cylinder has surfaces to be supported, and second surfaces to be supported provided circumferentially alternating with the first surfaces at a level lower than the first surfaces such that when the stopper is turned, the restricting protrusions move from the position where they support the first surfaces to the position where they support the second surfaces. The stopper has a lever so that it can be turned by operating the lever from outside.

Abstract: The present invention is a novel shock-absorbing mount (20) to protect shock sensitive equipment mounted thereon. It has a configuration of a C shape but contains various angles therein to increase the utility and agility of the shock absorbing mount (20). These angles are specifically derived to allow the shock-absorbing mount (20) to fully absorb extreme shock energy without transferring it to the equipment.