Abstract: A parking brake system for vehicles, in particular heavy-duty vehicles, is provided. The parking brake system has a parking brake actuator having an actuation pushrod slidably housed within an actuator cylinder and adapted to act on a release mechanism of a vehicle brake for unlocking the vehicle brake, and a hydraulic pump operated by an electric motor, adapted to deliver a flow of fluid into the actuator cylinder for moving the actuation pushrod.

Abstract: A valve unit for an ABS system having a single hydraulic chamber configured to receive a brake fluid, with a delivery port for supplying the brake fluid to a brake caliper, and a passage to for letting the brake fluid from a master cylinder into the single hydraulic chamber is provided. A single piston, longitudinally movable within the single hydraulic chamber, has first transverse surfaces facing the delivery port and defining as a whole a first transverse area, second transverse surfaces facing away from the delivery port and defining as a whole a second transverse area greater than the first transverse area. A longitudinal cavity extends in the single piston establishing fluid communication between the first and second transverse surfaces, whereby displacement of the single piston towards the delivery port occludes the passage and increments the volume available for the brake fluid in the single hydraulic chamber.

Abstract: A method for detecting the speed of a bicycle, where the bicycle is equipped with an ABS system on the front wheel, in which, if the rear wheel deceleration is less than a preset threshold value, then the speed of the bicycle is identified with the rear wheel speed. If the front brake circuit pressure is below a preset low pressure threshold, then the speed of the bicycle is identified with the front wheel speed. Otherwise the speed of the bicycle is an estimated speed based on the last known speed and likely deceleration.

Abstract: An anti-lock braking unit is provided which has a single actuating solenoid acting on a piston of an associated valve unit. The actuating solenoid moves the piston within a primary hydraulic chamber in fluid communication with a brake calliper. A movement of the piston closes a bypass passage formed within the valve unit, that connects a master cylinder to the brake calliper. By closing the bypass passage, the build-up of pressure acting on the calliper is stopped. Simultaneously, the movement of the piston opens an outflow passage within the valve unit, allowing a brake fluid to vent from the primary hydraulic chamber into an expansion chamber. The expansion chamber provides an increased volume for brake fluid contained between the valve unit and the brake calliper, thereby decreasing pressure of the brake fluid acting on the calliper.

Abstract: A vehicle having a clutch which connects an engine with a driveline which includes a multi-ratio gearbox, the clutch having an actuator which can be operated by a vehicle driver to engage and disengage the clutch, the actuator also having a control system arranged to move the clutch between fully engaged and fully released positions through a range of positions allowing variable levels of clutch slip in order to automatically reduce torsional vibrations in the driveline.

Abstract: A vehicle having a clutch which connects an engine with a driveline which includes a multi-ratio gearbox, the clutch having an actuator which can be operated by a vehicle driver to engage and disengage the clutch, the actuator also having a control system arranged to move the clutch between fully engaged and fully released positions through a range of positions allowing variable levels of clutch slip in order to automatically reduce torsional vibrations in the driveline.

Abstract: A clutch hydraulic actuator system having a vibration damper provided in the system between a master cylinder and a slave cylinder of the system. The damper includes an elastomeric diaphragm and a spring steel diaphragm. One face of the elastomeric diaphragm is in fluid communication with hydraulic fluid in the system so that the elastomeric diaphragm may deflect in response to low frequency vibrations transmitted through hydraulic fluid in the system to effect damping of the low frequency vibrations. The spring steel diaphragm is positioned in the system generally parallel to and proximate the other face of the elastomeric diaphragm so as to form a backup for the elastomeric diaphragm so that the elastomeric diaphragm may deform against the spring steel diaphragm in response to high frequency vibrations transmitted through the hydraulic fluid to cause deflection of the spring steel diaphragm to effect damping of the high frequency vibrations.