Abstract: A gas spring shock absorber (10) includes a damping fluid cylinder (14) telescopically housed within a gas cylinder (12). A shaft (16) connects a sealed, outer end (18) of the gas cylinder (12) with a vented piston (32) movably mounted within damping fluid cylinder (14). Shaft (16) passes through a sealed inner end (28) of damping fluid cylinder (14) so that a sliding seal (34) located between gas cylinder (12) and damping fluid cylinder (14) creates a sealed variable-volume gas cylinder (40) between the cylinders.

Abstract: A brake calliper for a disc brake comprises a yoke carrying a pair of opposite brake pads and an electric actuating mechanism connected to the yoke, the actuating mechanism engaging a displaceable support member for displacing the brake pads towards and from each other. The actuating mechanism is driveable over a first range of rotations as well as over a second range of rotations, one of which ranges being for displacing the pads towards and from each other for exerting a braking effect on an associated brake disc, and the other range of which being for wear compensation of the pads.

Abstract: A suspension unit for mounting an axle to the body of an automobile or a handle-bar to the fork of a bicycle or motorcycle. A pair of pistons (15, 29) operate in tandem in separate chambers (17, 31) having a compressible gas in spaces (21, 35) on one side of the piston and an uncompressible hydraulic fluid in spaces (19, 31) on the other side of the piston. One of the pistons (15) responds to external disturbances (caused by e.g. road bumps) to drive the other piston (29) against the compressible gas which responds resiliently to return the pistons to normal intermediate placements, thereby maintaining or recovering proper height of the automobile or′cycle parts. The hydraulic fluid spaces are communicated via constrictor passage to provide suitable dynamic dampening.

Abstract: A device, e.g. a pressure regulator, for realizing an opening and/or closing function in connection with the force-velocity curves of the device incorporates two parts which work away from and towards each other at different velocities and accelerations, e.g. slide and housing. The parts work with a stroke and determine, in dependence upon the present size of the stroke, the passage of a fluid by way of a restrictor function realized by the parts. At least the one part (the slide) is subjected to force on both its sides. The restrictor function is made up of at least two part-restrictors which can be simultaneously actuated by a respective stroke and thereupon vary, preferably successively, their restrictor sizes differently from each other in dependence upon the respective stroke size. In the restrictor function, a passage of fluid is herein obtained which produces a smooth curve shape in the introductory and concluding part of the respective opening or closing function.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved piston construction for use in a braking system. The piston construction employs an insulator at its inner end and a conical aperture at it outer end. Both of these promote increased heat isolation during braking operations. The piston of the present invention also employs an o-ring which is secured within a cylindrical recess. The o-ring ensures a fluid tight seal between the piston and the piston housing. Through the use of the o-ring, air is prevented from entering the brake lines.

Abstract: An interlock mechanism is provided which includes a controllable fluid within a hydraulic link. The controllable fluid, preferably comprising a magnetorheological fluid, is disposed within the interlock mechanism. The viscosity of the fluid can be changed to allow the interlock mechanism to be actuated. A fluid control means, such as a magnet assembly, is used to control the fluid.

Abstract: A brake control apparatus is provided with a simulator for applying a biasing force to a manually operated braking member of a vehicle in response to braking operation. A sensor detects conditions of the vehicle including a braking condition of the vehicle. A first biasing device applies a first biasing force to the manually operated braking member in response to braking operation, and a second biasing device applies a second biasing force, as well. Only one of the first and second biasing devices applies the biasing force to the manually operated braking member when a predetermined condition is detected by the sensor, while both of the first and second biasing devices apply the biasing forces in the normal braking operation.

Abstract: A liquid sealed cylinder vibration preventing apparatus including a main shaft metal fitting, an intermediate cylinder metal fitting outside the main shaft substantially coaxial and having windows facing each other in a diameter direction, a rubber elastic body between the main shaft and intermediate cylinder metal fittings to connect the main shaft and intermediate cylinder metal fittings and having a recess opened to each window, a first diaphragm on one of the windows and disposed in one of the recesses, an orifice forming member on the rubber elastic body, the orifice forming member forming a main liquid chamber, a sub liquid chamber, a first orifice passage and a second orifice passage, an outer cylindrical metal fitting outside the intermediate cylinder metal fitting substantially coaxial and having a communicate window communicated with atmosphere, and a second diaphragm held by the outer cylinder metal fitting and facing the second orifice passage.

Abstract: A dynamic damper for damping vibration of a rotary shaft is disclosed. The dynamic damper includes: (a) a mass member having a generally cylindrical shape and formed by rolling into the generally cylindrical shape, with circumferentially opposite end portions of the plate being circumferentially opposed to each other, and with the circumferentially opposite end portions being unconnected to each other; (b) an elastic support member to be mounted on the rotary shaft, for elastically supporting the mass member with respect to the rotary shaft such that the mass member is displaceable relative to the rotary shaft; and (c) balancing means for maintaining a rotary balance of the mass member about an axis of the mass member.

Abstract: A rotary and longitudinal shock absorbing apparatus with an mandrel therein is connected to a drill string assembly to absorb abnormal longitudinal shocks and abnormal torsional shocks by cooperating hydraulic and mechanical means, while allowing communication of drilling fluid through the body of the apparatus. The construction of the apparatus is such that torque shock absorbing action is independent of the longitudinal shock absorbing action and the apparatus provides balanced internal and external pressure to permit its operation at all levels of hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A spring articulation structure particularly for play, fitness training and sports instruments, said structure comprising a core element (1) supported in between two rubber rings (2) and provided with a shaft element (5) fitted in said core element; a shell compactly surrounding the core element and the rubber rings and attached to a bottom plate (9), the top part (3′) of said shell being in the middle provided with a aperture (8) with a downwardly narrowing conical surface (7) for the shaft element (5); and a cylindrical element (4) resting on top of the top part (3′) of the shell and surrounding the shaft element (5).

Abstract: A behavior control device of a vehicle including a longitudinal acceleration sensor has a judgment system for judging if the longitudinal acceleration sensor is operating normally by comparing an output of the acceleration sensor with a corresponding longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle detected based upon a wheel rotation speed detected by a sensor therefor, excepting at least when the acceleration sensor output is much different from a longitudinal acceleration calculated based upon a wheel drive torque, so that the reliability of the behavior control incorporating the acceleration sensor is ensured, while when the acceleration sensor is not operating normally, the behavior control is modified or suspended.

Abstract: An improve wet disc brake incorporates a two part rotating disc. One of the two parts is selectively rotatable, and the other part is constantly rotating with the rotor. The rotor carries an air supply which creates an air bearing between the constantly rotating disc portion and the selectively rotating disc portion. During non-braking operation the air bearing maintains the selectively rotating portion out of contact with the rotating portion. Fluids other than air may be used. The selectively rotating portion thus remains stationary within the wet disc brake chamber, reducing frictional losses. When braking is desired, the flow of air to the air bearing is stopped. A bias force forces the selectively rotating portion into contact with the constantly rotating portion. Then, braking does occur by operation of the stator discs to move towards contact with the rotor discs.

Abstract: In order to provide a brake booster negative pressure controller which reduces deterioration in the fuel consumption due to operation for closing a throttle to assure a brake booster negative pressure while assuring the braking capability required according to driving conditions and can safely assure a braking capability even when a failure occurs in a negative pressure sensing system, said brake booster negative pressure controller comprises a brake booster for assuring a master vac negative pressure by using a negative pressure of an engine, a throttle valve whose opening angle can be operated independently from the stroke of an accel pedal, and a brake operation sensing means, wherein the negative pressure controller has a speed sensing means and a means for closing the throttle valve by a predetermined amount when the vehicle speed sensed by the vehicle speed sensing means is equal to or higher than a predetermined value and application of the brake is sensed by the brake operating sensing means.

Abstract: A disc brake system comprises a hub and a disc. The hub is mounted for rotation about a central rotational axis and the disc is mounted on the hub to rotate therewith. The disc is slidable on the hub in a direction which is parallel to said central rotational axis. The system also comprises a plurality of leaf springs which are mounted between the hub and the disc, the leaf springs acting to apply radially-directed forces to the disc. The leaf springs are arranged so that they extend tangentially of the hub when the disc is not mounted on the hub but are deformed by the presence of the disc.

Abstract: Electrically operated braking system with a motor-driven disc brake including an electric motor for braking an automotive vehicle wheel, and a motor control device controlling the electric motor, the disc brake further including a disc rotor having a friction surface, a friction pad movable for contact with the friction surface to restrict rotation of the disc rotor, a pad support mechanism for supporting the friction pad movably in a direction intersecting the friction surface, a pad pressing mechanism including the electric motor and a pressing member, the electric motor producing a drive force for moving the pressing member to force the friction pad against the disc rotor, and a self-servo mechanism for providing a self-servo effect of boosting a friction force generated between the friction surface and the friction pad, on the basis of the friction force.

Abstract: A pressure-adjusting reservoir which can reduce an unstable movement of a ball valve therein to release a pulse of brake fluid. The pressure-adjusting reservoir has a pressure-adjusting valve constructed so that a tip portion of a pin pushes up a ball valve to open a valve hole when brake fluid reserved in a reservoir chamber is less than a predetermined amount, and the tip portion of the pin is released from the ball valve to close the valve hole when the reservoir chamber is filled with the predetermined amount of brake fluid. The tip portion of the pin has a slant surface slanting with respect to a sliding direction of the pin. In this case, the ball valve contacts with at least two portions including the slant surface and one of a part of a valve seat and inner wall of a housing, and is supported at plural portions. Therefore, the unstable movement of the ball valve can be reduced.

Abstract: The apparatus has a first conveyor 10 and a second conveyor 16 mounted immediately downstream thereof. Arranged above the first conveyor 10 is a position changing device 50, whose displacement elements 68 are intended to strike the trailing edge 22′ of fed objects 22 and to feed them to the second conveyor at the correct phase angle. Arranged at the end of the first conveyor 10 is a restraining device 34, whose restraining element 46 projects into the movement path of the leading edges 22′ of the objects 22 and in each case is briefly withdrawn from this restraining position into a release position outside the movement path of the leading edges 22′ when a displacement element 68 is moving an object 22 past it into the delivery nip 30. The restraining device 34 prevents too many objects arriving being fed to the second conveyor 16 out of synchronism.

Abstract: A brake squeal attenuator for use with aircraft wheel brake assemblies. The attenuator includes a housing having a piston member and a weight disposed therein. The piston member and weight are biased by a spring disposed within the housing. The housing includes a neck portion which is in fluid communication with the hydraulic actuators of the brake assembly with which the attenuator is being used. The piston thus is biased on one side thereof by the biasing member and on an opposite side thereof by the hydraulic fluid pressure acting thereon. During braking, when torsional oscillations occur in the brake assembly which would otherwise cause objectionable brake squeal to occur, the entire housing of the attenuator, which is fixed to the housing of the wheel brake assembly, moves in accordance with the torsional oscillations which occur. The weight associated with the piston member causes movement of the piston member to lag behind movement of the attenuator housing as the attenuator begins oscillating.

Abstract: A bicycle brake system including a locating frame which is fastned with a bicycle front fork for locating a first guide support and a second guide support. The guide supports are respectively provided with a brake shoe. The first guide support and the second guide support are provided with an action arm having a rack which is engaged with the gear. When the second guide support is actuated to swivel by a brake cable fastened therewith, the rack of the action arm of the second guide support actuates the gear to turn. The gear in motion actuates the first guide support to swivel via the rack of the action arm of the first guide support. The brake shoes of the two guide supports are thus actuated synchronously to bring about a braking effect with precision.