Abstract: An ultrasonic pump having a first housing connected to a second housing to create a cavity therebetween. The first housing has a central stem that extends into the cavity with a passage for connecting the cavity with an outlet port. The second housing has an inlet port for communicating hydraulic fluid to the cavity. A plurality of piezoelectric disc are located on the stem by a first diaphragm to defined a actuation chamber within the cavity. The first diaphragm engages the first housing and stem to isolate the piezoelectric disc from hydraulic fluid supplied to the cavity and place a predetermined axial force on the piezoelectric disc. A second diaphragm located in the first and second housing has first and second surfaces which are substantially equal distances from the passage and the inlet port. Thereafter, air is bleed from the cavity to assure that only hydraulic fluid is present in the cavity.

Abstract: The ultrasonic hydraulic booster pump (10, 150) comprises a backing plate housing (11) defining a cavity (14) closed at one end (13) by an end cap (18), the end cap (18) having an inlet port (20) and the backing plate housing (11) having an outlet port (16). A diaphragm (35). (30) having a plurality of openings (33) is mounted between the end cap (18) and a spacer member (35) located within the cavity. A plurality of annular shaped piezoelectric rings or discs (60) are located within a ring housing (40) disposed within the spacer member A plug member (50) with a through opening (52) extends through a central through opening (44) in the ring housing (40) and includes a valve seat (58) disposed closely adjacent a solid central portion (34) of the diaphragm (30) , and the end cap (18) includes a valve seat (22) disposed closely adjacent the opposite side of the diaphragm (30).

Abstract: The apply and release hydraulic parking valve (20, 120) comprises a housing (40, 140) having therein a bore (42) with first (52, 152) and second (54, 154) reservoir grooves communicating with one or more reservoir ports (46, 146A, 146B), a supply groove (63) communicating with a supply port (47, 147), and apply (44, 144) and release ports (48, 148) communicating with said bore (42, 142). A spool valve (60, 160) is located slidably within the bore (42), the spool valve (60, 160) activated by a lever (31, 131) received within an opening (67, 167) of the spool valve (60, 160). One end of the spool valve (60, 160) has a pair of washers (74, 76) disposed thereabout with a spring member (80, 180) located about the spool valve (60, 160) and between the washers (74, 76), and a stop sleeve (82, 182) located about the spool valve (160, 60). The spool valve (60, 160) includes a chamfered groove (61) engaging a check valve (50, 150) within the supply port (47, 147).

Abstract: The caliper support key (40) provides a low spring load/high damping support for a caliper (12) mounted on a support member (14). The caliper (12) includes at each circumferential side a recess (20) which may receive a protrusion (16, 18) from the support member (14). At one side of the caliper (12), the support key (40) is located between the protrusion (16) and recess (20). The support key (40) comprises a generally H-shaped key support member (40) receiving at one side thereof the protrusion (16) and the other side a stepped opening (49) defining portions of a first (50) and a second (52) cavity. A plunger (60) of the caliper support key (40) engages a surface (21) of the recess (20) in the caliper (12) and extends through the first cavity (50) and into the second cavity (52) with a small clearance (72) therebetween. A composite sealing ring ( 75) is disposed about the plunger (60) and engages the surface of the first cavity (50).

Abstract: The disc brake with variable width caliper and powered actuation comprises first and second bridge members (14, 15) connected to two movable members (20, 30) extending over the periphery of the rotor (51). An inboard end of each movable member includes threads having threadably mounted thereon a nut (28, 29). The nut has ratchet teeth on one axial end which engage ratchet teeth (10A, 11A) of an associated actuator sleeve (10, 11) disposed slidably about the movable member. Each sleeve includes gear teeth (10C, 11C) about its circumference. The second bridge member is mounted slidably upon the movable members. The teeth of the sleeves are engaged by a rack member (110). A piston (117) includes an arm (125) connecting the piston with a rack (130) of the rack member so that hydraulic pressure effect displacement of the piston and a lateral displacement of the rack.

Abstract: The disc brake (100) with variable width caliper comprises first and second bridge members (14, 15) which are connected with a pair of movable members (20, 30) extending over the periphery of the rotor (51). Each of the movable members (20, 30) is mounted upon an anchor extension (37A, 38A). An inboard end of each movable member (20, 30) includes threads (26, 36) upon which is threadably mounted a nut (28, 29). The nut (28, 29) has rachet teeth (12, 13) on one axial end which engage rachet teeth (10A, 11A) of an associated actuator sleeve (10, 11) disposed slidably about the movable member (20, 30). The second bridge member (15) is mounted slidably upon the movable members (20, 30). The actuator sleeves (10, 11) may be rotated by an actuator mechanism (70) which, through the engaged rachet teeth (10A, 11A; 12, 13), causes the nuts (28, 29) to rotate and effect translational movement of the movable members (20, 30).

Abstract: The disc brake (10, 106, 108, 206) with powered integral parking mechanism comprises a twin piston disc brake (106, 108, 206) having a screw member (22, 24; 122, 124; 222, 224) and nut (28, 29; 228, 229) adjuster mechanism. The twin pistons (16, 18; 216, 218) receive service braking hydraulic pressure to effect a service braking application, and also may be displaced mechanically for a parking application by way of the rack (80, 180) and pinion (47, 48; 247, 248) parking mechanism that is operated by hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: The parking brake system (10) includes a spring operated actuator (30) which includes a screw (37) having thereabout a nut (38) affixed to a laterally movable cap (32) biased by springs (34, 35) within the actuator (30). The screw (37) is connected with a gear mechanism (40) that can rotate a flywheel (60) connected selectively with an electric motor (20). The screw (37) of the spring operated actuator (30) is connected with flexible drive mechanisms (50) that are connected with brakes (18, 19) of the vehicle. The spring operated actuator (30) is in a compressed mode when the brakes (18, 19) have not been applied for parking. When the vehicle operator activates the parking brake system (10), spring expansion causes the movable cap (32) and nut (38) to move laterally which causes the screw (37) and gear mechanism (40) to rotate so that the flywheel (60) is also rotated.

Abstract: The reversing mechanism (10, 200) for the motor drive comprises an electric motor (39) which drives a shaft (41) having mounted thereon a first gear (44) and a shifting mechanism in the form of a flywheel (100). The first gear (44) engages a second gear (37) which engages a third gear (38), the second (37) and third (38) gears being mounted upon a carrier mechanism (12) and each engageable with a driven gear (31). The carrier mechanism (12) is engaged by a cam mechanism (60). The shifting mechanism (100) engages an axial mechanism (70) which when displaced by the shifting mechanism (100) causes the cam mechanism (60) to rotate. Rotation of the cam mechanism (60) causes displacement of the carrier mechanism (12) so that one of said second (37) and third (38) gears disengages the driven gear (31) and the other of the second (37) and third (38) gears engages the driven gear (31) in order to effect a reverse direction of rotation of the driven gear (31) when the motor (39) recommences operation.

Abstract: The electrically actuated braking system (10) comprises a controller mechanism (14) that may be activated by a switch (12). The controller mechanism (14) sends a signal to an electric drive motor (20), and receives braking force signals from a sensor (16) connected to one of two braking members (18, 19) connected with the drive motor (20). The drive motor (20) is operated by the controller mechanism (14) in order to rotate a drive member (31) of a load-equalizing differential (30), the load-equalizing differential (30) being connected by a flexible drive connection mechanism (50) with the braking members (18, 19). The load-equalizing differential (30) comprises the drive member (31) having a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart openings (34) each of which receives therein a ball member (36, 36A). Disposed about the drive member (31) and balls (36, 36A) and facing each other are two plates (40, 42) each of which is connected with a segment of the flexible drive connection mechanism (50).

Abstract: The electrically operated drum brake (10) comprises an electric motor assembly (80, 180) disposed between opposing ends (62, 72) of two brake shoes (12, 14), the electric motor assembly (80, 180) replacing both the hydraulic wheel cylinder and the parking brake strut and lever. The electric motor assembly (80, 180) comprises a housing (82, 182) having an interior opening (84, 184) in which is disposed an electric motor (86, 186). The electric motor (86) drive a planetary gear assembly (91) which operates a screw mechanism (102) that engages an end (72) of an adjacent brake shoe (14), the housing (82) engaging the other brake shoe (12). An alternative embodiment includes an electric motor (186) which drives a bearing drive member (198), the bearing drive member (198) having a bearing track (200) which receives a plurality of bearing balls (205). The bearing balls (205) engage a fixed bearing track (187) on the housing ( 182) and also a curved surface (202) on a rotatable bearing member (201).

Abstract: The electrically operated disc brakes (10, 210) may include a high efficiency screw and nut mechanism (60) and/or a one-way clutch mechanism (230). The high efficiency screw and nut mechanism (60) includes a screw (86) with a screw thread (89) that has a predetermined pitch, and at least one nut (77, 97) disposed about the screw (86) and having an interior opening (78, 98) with a nut thread (79, 99) therein. The pitch of the nut thread (79, 99) is equal to the pitch of the screw thread (89), and the pitch diameter of the nut thread (79, 99) is greater than the pitch diameter of the screw thread (89). The screw (86) is driven by the electric motor (40) of the disc brake (10, 210). The one-way clutch mechanism (230) includes a sun gear drive member (252) which has oppositely disposed radial drive slots (257) through which extends a drive pin (243) that extends transversely through the drive shaft (241) of the electric motor (240).

Abstract: The electrically actuated cable mechanism (10) comprises a housing (12) disposed about the cable (15) and having a movable conduit (20) extending from one end and a stationary conduit (30) extending from the other end, each conduit (20, 30) being disposed about the cable (15). Located between the conduits (20, 30) and engaging the movable conduit (20) is a hollow screw (25) which is disposed about the cable (15). The hollow screw (25) has a non-circular end (27) received in a complementary shaped opening (18) of the housing (12) in order to prevent rotation of the hollow screw (25). An electric motor (40) drives rotatably a nut (35) which engages threads of the screw (25) so that rotation of the nut (35) by the motor (40) causes axial displacement of the hollow screw (25) and a corresponding displacement of the movable conduit (20) relative to the stationary conduit (30) and housing (12), which by reaction, causes the cable (15) to be displaced.

Abstract: The electrically operated drum brake (10) comprises an electric motor assembly (80, 180) disposed between opposing ends (62, 72) of two brake shoes (12, 14), the electric motor assembly (80, 180) replacing both the hydraulic wheel cylinder and the parking brake strut and lever. The electric motor assembly (80, 100) comprises a housing (82, 182) having an interior opening (84, 184) in which is disposed an electric motor (86, 186). The electric motor (86) drives a planetary gear assembly (91) which operates a screw mechanism (102) that engages an end (72) of an adjacent brake shoe (14), the housing (82) engaging the other brake shoe (12). An alternative embodiment includes an electric motor (186) which drives a bearing drive member (198), the bearing drive member (198) having a bearing track (200) which receives a plurality of bearing balls (205). The bearing balls (205) engage a fixed bearing track (187) on the housing ( 182) and also a curved surface (202) on a rotatable bearing member (201).

Abstract: The electrically actuated disc brake (10) comprises a caliper (12) having a bore (16) receiving therein an actuating mechanism (90), and an electric motor (40) attached to the caliper housing (12). The actuating mechanism (90) comprises a planetary gear mechanism (50) which includes a sun gear (52), planetary gears (54), and a pair of ring gears (70, 80). An actuator sleeve (68) is disposed about the ring gears (70, 80) and contains a helical groove (69) disposed opposite a complementary-shaped helical groove (89) in a rotatable ring gear (80). The helical grooves (69, 89) receive therebetween a bearing mechanism (85) biased by a spring (87) toward a fixed stop (86) located within the helical grooves (69, 89).

Abstract: The electrically operated disc brakes (10, 210) may include a high efficiency screw and nut mechanism (60) and/or a one-way clutch mechanism (230). The high efficiency screw and nut mechanism (60) includes a screw (86) with a screw thread (89) that has a predetermined pitch, and at least one nut (77, 97) disposed about the screw (86) and having an interior opening (78, 98) with a nut thread (79, 99) therein. The pitch of the nut thread (79, 99) is equal to the pitch of the screw thread (89), and the pitch diameter of the nut thread (79, 99) is greater than the pitch diameter of the screw thread (89). The screw (86) is driven by the electric motor (40) of the disc brake (10, 210). The one-way clutch mechanism (230) includes a sun gear drive member (252) which has oppositely disposed radial drive slots (257) through which extends a drive pin (243) that extends transversely through the drive shaft (241) of the electric motor (240).

Abstract: The electrically operated disc brake (10, 110, 310, 410) may be operated by either hydraulic pressure and an electric motor or operated solely by means of an electric motor. The electric motor (40, 340, 440) drives a sun gear (52, 352, 452) of a planetary gear assembly (50, 150, 350, 450). The planetary gear assembly (50, 150, 350, 450) includes a fixed ring gear (70, 370, 470) and a rotatable ring gear (80, 180, 380, 480), the rotatable ring gear (80, 180, 380, 480) having fewer teeth than the fixed ring gear (70, 370, 470) so that rotation of the planetary gears (54, 56, 58) effects a slower rate of rotation of the rotatable ring gear (80, 180, 380, 480). The rotatable ring gear (80, 180, 380, 480) engages a screw (88, 188, 388, 488) which is connected with the piston (30, 130, 330, 430). The piston (30, 330, 430) may be displaced by hydraulic fluid for a service application and the electric motor (40, 340, 440) utilized for a parking application.

Abstract: The electrically operated disc brake (10, 110, 310, 410) may be operated by either hydraulic pressure and an electric motor or operated solely by means of an electric motor. The electric motor (40, 340, 440) drives a sun gear (52, 352, 452) of a planetary gear assembly (50, 150, 350, 450). The planetary gear assembly (50, 150, 350, 450). includes a fixed ring gear (70, 370, 470) and a rotatable ring gear (80, 180, 380, 480), the rotatable ring gear (80, 180, 380, 480) having fewer teeth than the fixed ring gear (70, 370, 470) so that rotation of the planetary gears (54, 56, 58) effects a slower rate of rotation of the rotatable ring gear (80, 180, 380, 480). The rotatable ring gear (80, 180, 380, 480) engages a screw (88, 188, 388, 488) which is connected with the piston (30, 130, 330, 430). The piston (30, 330, 430) may be displaced by hydraulic fluid for a service application and the electric motor (40, 340, 440) utilized for a parking application.

Abstract: The electric power assistance actuating mechanism comprises an input member (12) connected to a sun gear (14) of a planetary gear mechanism (20), with a sleeve member (55) slidably disposed about the input member (12) and keyed for rotation therewith. A carrier member (25) of the planetary gear mechanism (20) includes a flexible plunger (70) which extends radially inwardly to engage a helical slot (61) of predetermined length in the sleeve member (55), the sleeve member (55) disposed between two springs (57) which effect a central or neutral position of the sleeve member (55) on the input member (12) when the flexible plunger (70) is not disposed in the helical slot (61). The sleeve member (55) has a connecting link (59) with a position sensor (60) which operates responsively to axial displacement of the sleeve member (55). An electric motor (40) has a worm gear (33) connected to the outer periphery of a ring gear (19) of the planetary gear mechanism (20).

Abstract: A rack and pinion assembly (10) includes a self-adjusting rack support yoke (23) which eliminates the need for yoke (23) adjustment during initial assembly, and provides automatic adjustment of the support yoke (23) during the life of the assembly (10). A rack and pinion housing (12) receives the pinion (13) which engages the rack (20) supported for movement within the housing (12), the rack (20) engaged by the yoke support (23) biased into engagement by a main spring (40). The support yoke (23) has a recess (25) receiving therein a plug member (60), plug member (60) coupled to the support yoke (23) and having a predetermined separation (33) therebetween maintained by a spring (71). A removable member (50) having a central opening (54) is located within the housing (12) and provides sloped surfaces (52) around the central opening (54) into which extends an end (28) of the plug member (60).