Abstract: A damper seal for a gas turbine engine includes a damper body extending in a first direction between a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, extending in a second direction between first and second sidewalls, and extending in a third direction between a convex outer damper face and a concave inner damper face. The inner damper face establishes a damper pocket. The leading and trailing edge portions slope inwardly from opposite ends of the damper body to bound the damper pocket in the first direction. The first and second sidewalls extend from the leading edge portion to the trailing edge portion and slope inwardly from opposite sides of the damper body to bound the damper pocket in the second direction. The outer damper face is pre-formed according to a first predetermined geometry that substantially corresponds to a second predetermined geometry of a platform undersurface bounding a neck pocket of an airfoil. A method of damping for a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

Abstract: A damper seal for a gas turbine engine includes a damper body extending in a first direction between a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, extending in a second direction between first and second sidewalls, and extending in a third direction between a convex outer damper face and a concave inner damper face. The inner damper face establishes a damper pocket. The leading and trailing edge portions slope inwardly from opposite ends of the damper body to bound the damper pocket in the first direction. The first and second sidewalls extend from the leading edge portion to the trailing edge portion and slope inwardly from opposite sides of the damper body to bound the damper pocket in the second direction. The outer damper face is pre-formed according to a first predetermined geometry that substantially corresponds to a second predetermined geometry of a platform undersurface bounding a neck pocket of an airfoil. A method of damping for a gas turbine engine is also disclosed.

Abstract: A module is formed in which semiconductor components are soldered to an electrically conductive heat sink. The electrically conductive heat sink is formed so that it will serve as an electrical bus in an electronic device. The chips of the semiconductor component are metallurgically bonded to the surface of the heat sink. The heat sink uses a heat transfer fluid that flows through an interior of the heat sink, the interior containing an internal element. In the preferred embodiment, the internal element is a plurality of silver plated copper balls. The copper balls are brazed to each other and to the walls of the heat sinks in an assembly process. The heat sink housing will typically be made from copper, with one surface made from molybdenum so that the expansion and contraction of the heat sink housing molybdenum surface will be similar to that of the silicon substrate of the chips, thereby avoiding the problem of the chip substrate cracking and breaking due to thermal flexing.

Abstract: A module is formed in which semiconductor components are soldered to an electrically conductive heat sink. The electrically conductive heat sink is formed so that it will serve as an electrical bus in an electronic device. The chips of the semiconductor component are metallurgically bonded to the surface of the heat sink. The heat sink uses a heat transfer fluid that flows through an interior of the heat sink, the interior containing an internal element. In the preferred embodiment, the internal element is a plurality of silver plated copper balls. The copper balls are brazed to each other and to the walls of the heat sinks in an assembly process. The heat sink housing will typically be made from copper, with one surface made from molybdenum so that the expansion and contraction of the heat sink housing molybdenum surface will be similar to that of the silicon substrate of the chips, thereby avoiding the problem of the chip substrate cracking and breaking due to thermal flexing.

Abstract: A module is formed in which semiconductor components are soldered to an electrically conductive heat sink. The electrically conductive heat sink is formed so that it will serve as an electrical bus in an electronic device. The chips of the semiconductor component are metallurgically bonded to the surface of the heat sink. The heat sink uses a heat transfer fluid that flows through an interior of the heat sink, the interior containing an internal element. In the preferred embodiment, the internal element is a plurality of silver plated copper balls. The copper balls are brazed to each other and to the walls of the heat sinks in an assembly process. The heat sink housing will typically be made from copper, with one surface made from molybdenum so that the expansion and contraction of the heat sink housing molybdenum surface will be similar to that of the silicon substrate of the chips, thereby avoiding the problem of the chip substrate cracking and breaking due to thermal flexing.

Abstract: An improve structure for a caliper adapted for use in a vehicle disc brake assembly is preferably formed from aluminum and includes an inboard leg portion and an outboard leg portion interconnected by an intermediate bridge portion. The intermediate bridge portion defines a pair of opposed lateral sides. A recess is provided in each of the lateral sides of the intermediate bridge portion of the caliper. Each of the recesses defines a lower rib and an upper rib. The lower rib extends uninterrupted from the inboard leg portion to the outboard leg portion of the caliper. The upper rib extends uninterrupted and inwardly from the outboard leg portion to the inboard leg portion of the caliper and at an acute angle relative to the lower rib.

Abstract: An improved structure for a slide pin bushing and boot seal assembly for use in a vehicle disc brake caliper assembly adapted to selectively frictionally engage a rotor connected to a vehicle wheel includes an anchor plate adapted to be secured to a stationary component of the vehicle, and a caliper secured to the anchor plate for sliding movement relative thereto. A pair of brake shoes are carried by the disc brake caliper assembly, and an actuation means is provided for selectively moving the brake shoes axially toward and away from one another so as to selectively frictionally engage the rotor. The slide pin bushing and boot seal assembly is carried by the disc brake caliper assembly and includes a slide pin bushing formed from a relatively hard resilient elastomeric material and a boot seal formed from a relatively soft flexible elastomeric material and joined to one end of the slide pin bushing to define an integral one-piece unit.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved self-energizing anti-creep parking and emergency brake mechanism for use with a disc brake assembly. The disc brake assembly includes a first pair of brake shoes disposed on opposite sides of a brake rotor. A service brake mechanism is carried by a caliper and is adapted to be actuated to selectively move the first pair of brake shoes from a non-braking position, wherein the first pair of brake shoes are disengaged from the brake rotor, to a service braking position, wherein the first pair of brake shoes frictionally engage the brake rotor. The disc brake assembly further includes a second pair of brake shoes disposed on opposite sides of the brake rotor.

Abstract: An improved drum brake assembly wherein the operating condition of the brake shoes and the automatic brake adjusting mechanism can be determined without removing any component from the associated vehicle includes a backing plate, a brake drum, and first and second brake shoes supported on the backing plate and movable into frictional engagement with the brake drum. Each of the first and second brake shoes includes a web portion, a table portion secured to the web portion, and a friction pad secured to the table portion. The drum brake assembly further includes a service brake mechanism for selectively moving the to brake shoes into frictional engagement with the brake drum, a parking and emergency brake mechanism for selectively moving the brake shoes into frictional engagement with the brake drum, and an automatic brake adjusting mechanism carried by the brake assembly and operatively connected to said first and second brake shoes.

Abstract: A dual mode drum brake assembly includes a backing plate, a brake drum, and first and second brake shoes supported on the backing plate and movable into frictional engagement with the brake drum. The drum brake assembly further includes a service brake mechanism for selectively moving the brake shoes into frictional engagement with the brake drum, and a rotation preventing abutment secured relative to the backing plate and disposed between and engageable with the brake shoes. A pivot lever is pivotally supported relative to the first brake shoe and is operatively coupled to exert an outward force on the first brake shoe when the parking and emergency brake is actuated. A first strut is disposed adjacent the hydraulic actuator and includes one end coupled to the second brake shoe and opposite end coupled to one end of the pivot lever.

Abstract: A surge arrester for protecting power distribution equipment from overvoltages has a varistor as the active surge-arresting element. In the event of a persistent overvoltage, an amorphous conductor electrically in series with the varistor heats up to or above a critical temperature at which its tensile strength substantially decreases. The amorphous metal conductor breaks, triggering a series of events including the closing of a switch creating a permanent short to ground, operating the network overcurrent protection to de-energize the arrester and associated protected equipment, and protecting the electrical network equipment from insulation damage and/or failure because of a sustained or permanent power frequency overvoltage condition.

Abstract: A method of making varistor chips is disclosed. A workpiece of varistor material is sliced into slices of varistor material. The slices are in turn diced to make the varistor chips. The chips are etched in an etchant such as dilute citric acid to remove from their surfaces varistor material damaged during the slicing and/or dicing operations. Otherwise, the damaged varistor material adversely affects the leakage current characteristics of the varistor chips.

Abstract: A retraction mechanism for a disc brake assembly which applies a generally constant restoring force urging the brake shoes apart from one another regardless of the amount of wear of the friction pads. The disc brake assembly includes an anchor plate upon which a caliper is slidably mounted. The caliper is formed having an inboard leg and an outboard leg. A cylindrical recess is formed in the inboard leg of the caliper, within which a piston is slidably supported. A pair of brake shoes are disposed adjacent to the inboard and outboard legs of the caliper, and a rotor connected to a rotatable wheel extends therebetween. A mechanism is provided for selectively moving the brake shoes into frictional engagement with the rotor to retard or stop rotation thereof. The retraction mechanism includes a pair of retractor clips which are mounted on the anchor plate for spreading the brake shoes apart from one another when the disc brake assembly is subsequently released.

Abstract: An improved operating mechanism for a drum brake assembly including a mounting flange for securing the brake assembly to a vehicle component, a hollow abutment block secured to the mounting flange, and a backing plate secured to the mounting flange. A pair of arcuate drum brake shoes are supported relative to the backing plate. The hollow abutment block located on the mounting flange between a pair of adjacent ends of the brake shoes. According to one feature of the present invention, the operating mechanism is at least partially disposed in the chamber for engaging and actuating the brake shoes, and is coupled to an actuation cable having an end portion supported in a generally perpendicular relationship relative to the backing plate.

Abstract: A dual mode drum brake assembly having an improved duo-servo parking and emergency brake lever mechanism includes a pivot lever pivotally supported relative to a first brake shoe and operatively coupled to exert an outward force on the first brake shoe when the parking brake is actuated. According to one feature of the invention, a hold down assembly extends through an aperture formed in a web of the first brake shoe, and through an aperture formed in the pivot lever to secure the first brake shoe to a backing plate and to pivotally connect the pivot lever to the web. According to another feature of the invention, an adjuster lever of a first strut member is pivotally supported on the first brake shoe, and the pivot lever is pivotally supported on the first brake shoe generally intermediate the first strut member and a second strut member.

Abstract: For a vehicle having a relatively large axle tube, a mechanically operated drum brake is provided having a hollow abutment post between adjacent ends of a pair of opposed arcuate brake shoes and having an improved actuating mechanism for the brake shoes mounted partially within the abutment post.

Abstract: A disc brake piston is formed from a stamping operation and is preferably constructed from stainless steel. The piston includes a hollow cylindrical body having a closed end and an open end. In one preferred embodiment, the open end is provided with a radially outwardly extending flange which defines an annular abutment surface for engaging a backing plate of a disc brake shoe. An integral boot groove is formed in the cylindrical body adjacent the open end thereof, and produces a raised portion on an inner surface of the body portion directly opposite the groove. This results in the piston having a substantially uniform wall thickness throughout the entire length of the cylindrical body. Also, the piston can include a dome-shaped recess formed in the closed end thereof, which can be provided with radial strengthening ribs.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly wherein the hydraulic service brake acts as a leading/trailing brake and the parking or emergency brake acts as a duo-servo brake. A lever member is pivotally mounted on one of a pair of brake shoes and operated by a brake actuating lever pivotally mounted on a composite link disposed adjacent a rotation-preventing stop and operatively connected to the other of the brake shoes. The lever member acts on another composite link disposed adjacent a hydraulic actuator of the service brake and operatively connected to the other of the brake shoes.

Abstract: In a hydraulic drum brake and parking brake assembly, when a hydraulic actuator is operated to engage an opposed pair of brake shoes with a brake drum after a predetermined amount of wear had occurred on the friction pads of the brake shoes, a torsion spring adjusts a cam in the parking brake portion of the mechanism to compensate for the wear. The parking brake will thus operate properly despite the wear.