Abstract: An auxiliary braking system and method of controlling the braking a towed vehicle is provided that includes a remote control that is in selective communication with an auxiliary braking unit positioned in a towing vehicle. More specifically, it is often desirable for the operator of the towing vehicle to assess the performance of the auxiliary braking apparatus positioned in a towed vehicle. In addition, it is often advantageous for the operator to perform real time adjustments to the performance parameters of the auxiliary braking apparatus positioned in the towing vehicle without having to cease driving and physically access the auxiliary braking device.

Abstract: A reduction in size, weight and cost of a brake system of a motorcycle provided with a circulating-type ABS is achieved by a brake system provided with a circulating-type ABS and a by-wire-type brake system. In the brake system, solenoid valves, hydraulic pressure sensors, accumulators and pumps are integrated into a unit, and concurrently stroke simulators are attached to the unit as separate bodies.

Abstract: A bicycle rear derailleur includes a stationary member, a base member, a linkage mechanism, a movable member, a chain guide and an inner cable fixing portion. The stationary member non-movably attached to a bicycle frame and includes an outer cable receiving portion configured to receive an outer sheath of a control cable assembly. The base member is pivotally coupled to the stationary member about an axis spaced apart from a hub axis of a rear wheel. A movable member at one end of the linkage mechanism is movable relative to the base member in response to an inner cable that is attached to a portion of the linkage mechanism. The base member can move in response to tension applied by the inner cable without moving the chain guide which is coupled to the movable member.

Abstract: A method for applying a liquid composition to a rail surface is provided. This method involves supplying a liquid composition in one or more reservoirs on a rail car (revenue generating car), and applying the liquid composition from the one or more reservoirs to the rail surface. A liquid composition application system is also provided. The liquid composition application system includes a reservoir(s) for holding a liquid composition mounted on a rail car. A pipe is connected to the reservoir(s), and a pump, for moving the liquid composition from the reservoir(s) to a dispensing nozzle(s), is provided. A controller processes topological information, data from the liquid composition application system, or both. The application of the liquid composition may be monitored and controlled from a remote site separate from the rail car.

Abstract: A magneto-rheological fluid brake includes a housing, a non-magnetically permeable separating ring, a plurality of magnetically permeable blocks, a plurality of magnetically permeable bars, an axle, an upper magnetically permeable block, a lower magnetically permeable block, and a magneto-rheological fluid. The magneto-rheological fluid is surrounded by a plurality of coils and a plurality of pole coils for increasing the area of magnetic permeability of the magneto-rheological fluid subjected to an applied magnetic field. Accordingly, the magneto-rheological fluid brake demonstrates an enhanced braking force and is free from a complete failure of the braking force.

Abstract: A coil spring with irregular cross section according to the present invention is made by subjecting a coil wire having an irregular cross section to a fatigue-strength improving treatment including a shot peening treatment after coiling the coil wire into a spring configuration, and the coil spring with irregular cross section has a vertical cross sectional profile whose coil inner-peripheral-side section is expressed by following Equation (1) and Equation (2) in a polar coordinate system and orthogonal coordinate system: x=(LR??b)cosnxr ?+?b??(1) y=SR sinnyr ???(2) wherein ? is a deflection angle in said polar coordinate system; and 0°??<90°, 270°??<360°, 0.7?nxr?0.9, 0.8?nyr?1.0, and 0.1SR??b?0.3SR; in said Equation (1) and Equation (2). In accordance with the present invention, it is possible to provide a coil spring with irregular cross section that exhibits more uniform and higher fatigue strength along a cross-sectional peripheral direction of the coil wire.

Abstract: A lubrication system is provided that includes a pump operatively connected to one or more supply lines for delivery of a lubricant, the system including a first pressure sensor associated with the supply line at a first position, and a second pressure sensor associated with the supply line at a second position downstream of the first position and pump, a controller configured to receive pressure signals and control operation of the pump based upon the pressure differential between the pressures at the first position and second position. The pressure differential may be employed to determine when a pressure at a third position downstream of the second position has been achieved. At least one of the pressure sensors may be positioned adjacent to the pump, the controller further being operable to deactivate the pump in the event that a maximum pump pressure has been met.

Abstract: A support column with a vertical tube has a coaxially installed gas spring including a cylinder divided by a piston into first and second working chambers. A piston rod passes through the second working chamber in a sealed manner to the outside, where it is attached to a bottom support piece of the vertical tube. The cylinder projects out of the vertical tube and is guided with freedom to slide back and forth in a guide sleeve installed in the end of the vertical tube opposite the bottom support piece. A connection between the first and second working chambers can be blocked by a manually actuatable valve. A second valve between the chambers, which is closed when the gas spring is under load, can be switched to the open position after the load on the gas spring has been absent for a certain period of time.

Abstract: A brake system in an electric drive dump truck. The electric drive dump truck has a generator 11 driven by an engine 10 and traveling motors 13L, 13R driven with electric power generated by the generator 11. Hydraulic brakes 20L, 20R, 21L, 20R are operated by brake pedal 18. An oil pressure sensor 22 detects hydraulic fluid pressure produced in accordance with the amount of depression of the brake pedal 18 and a control unit 14 controls the traveling motors 13L, 13R so as to operate them as generator-type retarders when the hydraulic fluid pressure P detected by the oil pressure sensor 22 is not smaller than a predetermined value P1.

Abstract: A floating-disk type brake system that includes floating disk assemblies placed respectively in spaces between a rotating member, such as a wheel of a transportation machine or a rotating shaft of a machine tool, and a stationary member to reduce differences in the rotating speed of adjacent sliding surfaces of the floating disk assemblies in frictional sliding engagement. The floating-disk type brake system includes a first floating disk assembly and a first disk assembly that are arranged between the ring gear and the planet carrier of a planetary gear built in a transmission or the like, and the first floating disk assembly and the first disk assembly are pressed together into frictional engagement to brake a rotating shaft.

Abstract: A wheel braking controller of a vehicle includes a brake lever operated by a rider, a master cylinder generating a hydraulic pressure according to an operation force of the brake lever, and a brake caliper braking a front wheel based on operation of the brake lever, a channel switching unit provided between the master cylinder and the brake caliper and switching channels of a brake fluid. A hydraulic pressure generator generates a hydraulic pressure based on operation of the brake lever and the driving state of the vehicle and controlling braking of the front wheel using the brake caliper by the hydraulic pressure. A braking controller including the channel switching unit and the hydraulic pressure generator is integrally provided on one body. The wheel braking controller so configured reduces the number of parts, and provides for easy mounting of the controller on the vehicle body.

Abstract: A torque plate for a vehicle brake is comprised of a sheet metal body. The sheet metal body includes a center opening that defines a lateral axis and a plurality of mounting holes. The center opening receives an axle housing and the mounting holes are used to secure the vehicle brake to the torque plate. Each mounting hole is defined by a center axis that is non-parallel to the lateral axis.

Abstract: A brake system for an automotive vehicle includes a controller for operating friction and powertrain braking subsystems so that hydraulic pressure to the friction brakes is minimized during powertrain braking, while at the same time emulating the driver-interface operating characteristics of a pure friction-braking system during all operating conditions.

Abstract: A braking system having a master cylinder to which wheel brake circuits (I, II) can be connected, a first piston coupled to a brake pedal, a second piston by means of which the master cylinder is actuated, a third piston actuated by the first piston and connected in a force transmitting fashion to the second piston, a simulation device which gives the driver of the vehicle a pedal sensation, an intermediate space between the second piston and third piston, a pressure generating device which controls the pressure in the intermediate space, a pressure medium reservoir vessel which is under atmospheric pressure and which can be connected hydraulically to the intermediate space, and means for electrically controlling the pressure in the intermediate space.

Abstract: It is intended to provide a vibration control apparatus that can be installed in a small pace and can be produced at low cost, as well as a wind turbine generator equipped with the vibration control apparatus and a vibration control method. The vibration control apparatus 7 includes a first vibration system 10 of inverted-pendulum type, second vibration systems 20 of inverted-pendulum type which are provided on both sides of the first vibration system 10, a restraining unit 30 which restrains a first weight 11 of the first vibration system 10 and a second weight 21 of the second vibration system 20 and a damper which damps vibration of the first weight 11 and the second weight 21. The vibration control apparatus 7 is installed on an upper floor 8a of a plurality of floors 8.

Abstract: A hydraulically damped mounting device has first and second anchor parts connected by a first deformable wall, and a working chamber for hydraulic fluid partially bounded by the first deformable wall. The working chamber is connected to a composition chamber for the hydraulic fluid by a first passageway, the composition chamber being partially bounded by a second deformable wall. There is also an auxiliary chamber partially bounded by a third deformable wall connected to the working chamber by a second passageway. The mounting device then has a vacuum chamber connectable to a vacuum source for varying the pressure in the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A shock absorber housing for a shock absorber of a vehicle comprises a tube, which has a tubular wall, and an attaching element joined onto the tubular wall, the attaching element determining a critical force introduction area of an introduction of a force into the tubular wall, the tube in a longitudinal direction being built up from a first tube section having a first tubular wall and at least a second tube section having a second tubular wall, the first tube section and the second tube section being joined together by their ends facing one another. The first tube section and the second tube section are joined together with a tubular wall overlap of the first and second tubular wall, which overlap extends in a longitudinal direction, the tubular wall overlap being situated in the critical force introduction area of the attaching element.

Abstract: There is provide a brake control technology according to which a target hydraulic pressure is reliably achieved when a hydraulic pressure is decreased during hydraulic control and brake drag does not occur even when the target hydraulic pressure is zero. In a brake apparatus, a dead-band region is set for the target hydraulic pressure that is used in the hydraulic control. When braking control is switched from the hydraulic control to regenerative control in cooperative braking control, residual pressure reduction control is executed. In the residual pressure reduction control, the target hydraulic pressure is set to a value that is lower than zero to which the hydraulic pressure should be brought.

Abstract: Systems and methods to prevent dragging of a fluid pressure type disk brake system are described herein. Brake fluid pressure generated by a master cylinder during a braking operation is transmitted to a wheel cylinder via a VSA system. The VSA system includes a low pressure accumulator and an out-valve disposed between the wheel cylinder and the low pressure accumulator. Temporarily opening the out-valve during a braking operation allows part of the brake fluid that would otherwise be supplied to the wheel cylinder to be supplied to the low pressure accumulator. After the braking operation by the driver is completed, brake fluid supplied to the wheel cylinder is returned to the master cylinder. Thus, a piston of the wheel cylinder is withdrawn by an extra amount corresponding to the amount of brake fluid supplied to the low pressure accumulator, thus reliably prevents disk pad dragging in the disk brake system.

Abstract: An oil pan is provided with an oil pan separator that partitions a first chamber that communicates with a moving part inside a cylinder block and a second chamber outside the first chamber. A communicating hole is provided to a bottom panel of the oil pan separator. The communicating hole is shielded from a strainer.