Abstract: The invention provides a single member insert positionable between a front axle and each front leaf spring as a spacer. The member allows attachment of one end of a shock absorber for bracing against the axle. The member also serves as a caster wedge for maintaining proper steering response.

Abstract: A brake assembly of the constant friction type has a rotary transmission shaft fitted with a constant friction brake device including a first set of friction plates carried on the shaft and a second set of friction plates interleaved with the friction plate and mounted on a friction element support. The friction brake device acts on the shaft to apply a braking torque thereto in at least one direction of rotary movement. The friction element support is rotatable relative to the shaft and to a housing of the assembly. A detent mechanism acts between the housing and the friction element support so as to retain the support against rotation below a predetermined braking torque. A signalling means such as a proximity sensor is arranged to be operated when the friction element support moves relative to the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for supporting a steering wheel of a vehicle includes a first steering column part (60) and a second steering column part (20) adjacent the first steering column part. The first steering column part (60) and the vehicle steering wheel (16) are supported for pivotal movement about an axis (46) between a plurality of different orientations relative to the second steering column part (20). A locking mechanism is interposed between the first steering column part (60) and the second steering column part (20) for locking the first steering column part in a selected one of the plurality of orientations. The locking mechanism comprises a fluid (90) having a shear strength which varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The apparatus further comprises magnets (114, 116) for varying the shear strength of the fluid (90) by varying the energy field to vary the resistance to movement of the first steering column part (60) relative to the second steering column part (20).

Abstract: An electrically controlled, decentralized control system in a vehicle having control modules, each of which is assigned a vehicle control element for actuation. The actuation is carried out as a function of a driver's input which is formed in each control module on the basis of sensor signals that represent the actuation of an actuating element by the driver. In this context, at least three sensors are provided for detecting the actuating signals, one actuating signal being supplied directly to each control module.

Abstract: A method of controlling travel behavior of a vehicle provides assistance to the driver of the vehicle before the occurrence of travel conditions which are difficult to control. A vehicle taking a curve tends not to follow the travel curve indicated by steering, often resulting in understeering as the travel speed increases. At very high speeds in a curve, such behavior can lead to conditions that are difficult for the driver to control. Rather than intervening when an unstable travel state is already present and control of the vehicle rendered difficult, as practiced in conventional systems and processes for the regulation of travel dynamics, the wheel brake of a rear wheel of the vehicle on the inside of the curve is already subjected to a weak braking force when a relatively minor tendency to understeer occurs, so that the understeering tendency is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A caliper for use in a disk brake system where a sufficient amount of grease exists at least in a space formed between a groove for setting a piston seal provided on the inside surface of the caliper body and a piston seal to be set therein, in a space formed between the outer surface of dust boots and said caliper body, and in a space formed by the dust boots, the caliper body, the piston and the piston seal; and a wheel cylinder for use in a drum brake system where a sufficient amount of grease exists at least in a space formed between a piston and a cup seal and in a space formed by the piston, a cylinder body and dust boots.

Abstract: A corrosion-free, weight-reduced, separation-free and rubber-adhesive vibroisolating device for absorbing vibration of radiator. The device includes: a rubber vibroisolating body inserted into and supported by a fixation jig formed on a vehicle body; a support portion integrally formed with the rubber vibroisolating body; and a plastic sheet body integrally injection-molded with the rubber vibroisolating body and provided with an inner protruder to be buried in the support portion and a support curvature for supporting an upper support bracket of the radiator.

Abstract: A liquid ornament having means for creating continuous liquid flow is provided. The liquid ornament includes a display chamber for containing liquids, such as water and oil, and a control chamber for accommodating the means for creating liquid flow. The means for creating liquid flow mainly include an elastically flexible material that forms a partition between the display chamber and the control chamber, a push member having a free end contacting with the flexible material, a magnet attached to the free end of the push member, and a coil mounted within a magnetic field of the magnet. When the coil is continuously supplied with an electric current, it alternately magnetically repulses or attracts the magnet and accordingly causes the free end of the push member to intermittently push or strike the flexible material, producing continuous liquid flow in the display chamber when the whole liquid ornament is in a still state.

Abstract: An apparatus connectable to a brake master cylinder for regulating pressure in a hydraulic brake system. The apparatus includes an outer casing housing a cylinder portion and a piston slidable therewithin. A pressure chamber forms between the cylinder wall and the piston. The piston includes a seal within an outer groove to prevent fluid leakage. The cylinder portion includes an inlet hole for hydraulic fluid flow into the cylinder and an air discharge valve. A fixing member having an extension with a concave portion is threadably attached to the lower end of the case, and a rod portion of the piston slidably fits into the concave portion. A spring providing a constant pre-pressure is located between a shoulder of the piston and a pressure controlling member abutting the fixing member, such that the end of the rod remains a fixed distance from the bottom of the concave portion.

Abstract: A brake system for vehicles, in particular for motor vehicles, has electrically controlled hydraulic final control elements, integrated in a hydraulic block; a pressure sensor with a plurality of pressure measuring elements for measuring the hydraulic pressure controlled by the individual final control elements; and a control circuit for controlling the final control elements. For the sake of simple and secure mounting of the hydraulic block, pressure sensor and control circuit, the control circuit and pressure sensor are accommodated in a common housing of an add-on electronic control unit (ECU), from whose underside the pressure measuring elements protrude with smaller-diameter plug-in tubes. When the add-on ECU and hydraulic block are installed, and that the housing is mounted on the hydraulic block and solidly joined to it by insertion of the plug-in tubes into the fluid conduits, present in the hydraulic block, in a fluid-tight manner.

Abstract: A solenoid valve device which reduces noise and still conducts opening and closing operation. The solenoid valve device, installed in a brake fluid channel between a master cylinder and a wheel cylinder, includes a master cylinder port connected to a channel located at the master cylinder side, a wheel cylinder port connected to a channel located at the wheel cylinder side, a hydraulic chamber connected to a high resistance duct and the master cylinder port, a switching valve activated due to a hydraulic pressure difference between the hydraulic chamber and the wheel cylinder port to form an orifice; and a solenoid valve, installed in a channel connecting a switching valve and the wheel cylinder port, which opens or closes the channel by application of an electromagnetic force.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a shock absorber which can reduce damage to the member to collide therewith. The invention provides a shock absorber comprising a cushion structure of three-dimensional spring construction, which has a large void provided by a random curl or loop formed by hot extruding a thermoplastic resin to form a continuous strip and curling or looping the strip in a molten state to bring adjoining strip sections into interlocking contact with each other. In the invention, the cushion structure may be obtained by stacking a plurality of cushion structure members, each having high cushion performance and buckling resistance and a certain thickness, one upon another parallel in a thickness direction or rolling up one side of a cushion member with a given thickness. Then, the cushion structure is embedded in a foamed and hardened filler containing a hydratable, hydraulic binder while a part of the cushion structure is exposed on an shock-receiving surface.

Abstract: A brake adjuster comprises a variable length strut (16) having two end portions (30, 31) and an intermediate portion (32) therebetween which is in screw threaded engagement with one of the end portions (31). A pawl (39) is attached to the other end portion (30) and engages an array of ratchet teeth (38) the intermediate portion (32). As the end portions of the strut (30, 31) move apart during a brake application the pawl (39) rides up a flank of a ratchet tooth (38a) and if the movement apart exceeds a predetermined amount engages behind the tooth (38a). When the end portions (30, 31) move towards each other in the next brake disengagement, the intermediate portion (32) is rotated relative to said one of the end portions (31) to increase the effective length of the strut (16). The pawl (39) may be bi-metallic and arranged to disengage the ratchet teeth (38) if the temperature of the adjuster rises above a predetermined level.

Abstract: A brake actuator having a switch device mounted to an actuator housing with a C-shaped molded body and a C-shaped spring member partially surrounding an actuator rod and adapted to contact a large diameter section of the actuator rod when brake wear causes the actuator rod to travel to a service limit position. In normal operation the spring member is separated from a small diameter section of the actuator rod. The switch device is mounted at an open end of the molded body and spring member and comprises first and second electrical contacts which extend and electrically contact each other as long as the brake actuator rod has not traveled to the service limit. When the push rod ahs traveled to its service limit, a large diameter portion of the push rod forces the contacts apart thus opening the electric circuit.

Abstract: An electrical coupling assembly for a damper, the coupling assembly including a base and a rod received through the base. The rod has a threaded connector end and a conductor extending through the rod from the connector end. The coupling assembly further includes a conductive nut threaded onto the connector end of the rod and a plug housing including a ground lead and a power lead, the power lead being electrically coupled to the conductor. The coupling assembly has a conductive member engaging the plug housing and the nut, the conductive member being electrically coupled to the ground lead. The coupling assembly is particularly suited for use in a strut having an outer tube coaxial with the inner tube and connected to the rod and the wheel suspension assembly of the vehicle so as to absorb the side loads applied to the strut.

Abstract: A control valve for controlling fluid flow in a hydraulic control unit of a vehicular brake system includes a flux tube having an end cap, a thick tube section, and a thin tube section defining an interior volume. An armature is slidably received in the interior volume of the flux tube. A coil is provided about the flux tube. A collar covers a portion of the thin tube section and is spaced from the thick tube section so that an air gap is provided between the coil and the portion of the thin tube section not covered by the collar.

Abstract: An electro-hydraulic braking system of the type capable of operating in a braking-by-wire mode wherein hydraulic pressure is applied to braking devices at the vehicle wheels in proportion to the driver's braking demand as sensed electronically at a brake pedal, in a push-through mode wherein hydraulic pressure is applied to the braking devices at the vehicle wheels by way of a master cylinder coupled mechanically to the brake pedal and in an ABS mode in which the braking pressures at the individual wheels are controlled in dependence, inter alia, on the detected rotational behavior of the vehicle wheels, and which includes a hydraulic travel simulator which is connected hydraulically to the master cylinder by way of an electrically controlled isolation valve for providing improved feel for the driver through the brake pedal in the push-through operating mode.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper including an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, a space between the inner and outer cylinders, first and second end walls in the inner cylinder, a piston rod extending only through the first end wall and supported therein by a ball bearing assembly, a first portion of the piston on one side of the first end wall and within the inner cylinder, a second portion of the piston on the opposite side of the first end wall and external to the inner cylinder, a piston head on the first portion of the piston rod within the inner cylinder, a first chamber in the inner cylinder between the piston head and the first end wall, a second chamber in the inner cylinder between the piston head and the second end wall, an accumulator in communication with the second chamber, a fluid-containing seal between the first end wall and the second portion of the piston rod, and a closed fluid circuit between the accumulator and the fluid-containing seal through the space between the inner and outer cylinders.

Abstract: It is one object of this invention to eliminate a driver's impression of delay in braking effectiveness at an initial stage of a braking operation and the phenomenon of over-braking with an internal drum brake device. For this purpose rigid anchor members (61b, 61b) and deformable anchor members (64, 64) respectively providing supporting points for the brake shoes are located at diametrically different positions from a brake center. The brake shoes (20, 30) are supported by the deformable anchor members (64, 64) until a braking force reaches a predetermined value but are supported by the rigid anchor members (61b, 61b) when braking forces exceeds the predetermined value.

Abstract: An accordion spring that replaces traditional coil springs in suspension systems. The accordion springs are made of a fiberglass composite and can be designed to have a linear or progressive spring rate upon compression. To achieve a linear spring rate, the shape of the accordion spring is symmetrical with both the top and bottom surfaces of each of the plurality of central regions of the spring are flat, wherein contact between the upper and lower surfaces of adjacent central regions will not occur until the accordion spring has bottomed out. A series of complementary bent regions are introduced to the spoked regions of the accordion spring that varies the spring rate of the spring as the spring is compressed. The accordion spring can be manufactured using a three-dimensional weaving process and offer improvements in weight reduction, mass reduction, packaging space reduction compared to traditional steel coil springs.