Abstract: A brake actuator with a pushrod configured to actuate a brake of a vehicle. The pushrod is movable between a retracted position and an extended position to actuate the brake. A brake actuator component is operatively coupled to the pushrod. A sensor is configured to emit a signal directed toward the brake actuator component and to receive the signal after the signal bounces off the brake actuator component and is reflected back to the sensor. A disc brake with a disc brake component and a sensor configured to emit a signal directed toward the disc brake component. The sensor is configured to receive the signal after the signal bounces off the disc brake component and is reflected back to the sensor. The sensor may be an acoustic sensor.

Abstract: A brake actuator assembly including a pressure plate presenting an opening, a push rod that is coupled to the pressure plate, a diaphragm that is coupled to the pressure plate, and a retainer that engages the push rod. The push rod has an outer surface and at least one protrusion extending outward from the outer surface. The retainer engages the protrusion such that at least a portion of the diaphragm is positioned between the pressure plate and the retainer.

Abstract: A valve having an inlet, exhaust, control port, and diaphragm. The diaphragm moves between an open position, in which the inlet and exhaust are in fluid communication, and a closed position, in which the diaphragm blocks fluid from flowing between the inlet and the exhaust. The diaphragm moves from the closed position to the open position when an inlet force due to pressure at the inlet is greater than the sum of the biasing force and a control port force due to pressure at the control port. The valve is operable to automatically drain contaminants from a vehicle air reservoir when the vehicle's emergency brakes are set. To reduce noise, the diaphragm of the valve is preferably in tension when in the closed position, and/or the diaphragm opens a limited distance when in the open position so that a back pressure is generated at the inlet.

Abstract: A brake actuator with a pushrod configured to actuate a brake of a vehicle. The pushrod is movable between a retracted position and an extended position to actuate the brake. A brake actuator component is operatively coupled to the pushrod. A sensor is configured to emit a signal directed toward the brake actuator component and to receive the signal after the signal bounces off the brake actuator component and is reflected back to the sensor. A disc brake with a disc brake component and a sensor configured to emit a signal directed toward the disc brake component. The sensor is configured to receive the signal after the signal bounces off the disc brake component and is reflected back to the sensor. The sensor may be an acoustic sensor.

Abstract: A brake actuator assembly including a pressure plate presenting an opening, a push rod that is coupled to the pressure plate, a diaphragm that is coupled to the pressure plate, and a retainer that engages the push rod. The push rod has an outer surface and at least one protrusion extending outward from the outer surface. The retainer engages the protrusion such that at least a portion of the diaphragm is positioned between the pressure plate and the retainer.

Abstract: A brake actuator assembly including a pressure plate presenting an opening, a push rod that is coupled to the pressure plate, a diaphragm that is coupled to the pressure plate, and a retainer that engages the push rod. The push rod has an outer surface and at least one protrusion extending outward from the outer surface. The retainer engages the protrusion such that at least a portion of the diaphragm is positioned between the pressure plate and the retainer.

Abstract: A valve having an inlet, exhaust, control port, and diaphragm. The diaphragm moves between an open position, in which the inlet and exhaust are in fluid communication, and a closed position, in which the diaphragm blocks fluid from flowing between the inlet and the exhaust. The diaphragm moves from the closed position to the open position when an inlet force due to pressure at the inlet is greater than the sum of the biasing force and a control port force due to pressure at the control port. The valve is operable to automatically drain contaminants from a vehicle air reservoir when the vehicle's emergency brakes are set. To reduce noise, the diaphragm of the valve is preferably in tension when in the closed position, and/or the diaphragm opens a limited distance when in the open position so that a back pressure is generated at the inlet.

Abstract: A valve having an inlet, exhaust, control port, and diaphragm. The diaphragm moves between an open position, in which the inlet and exhaust are in fluid communication, and a closed position, in which the diaphragm blocks fluid from flowing between the inlet and the exhaust. The diaphragm moves from the closed position to the open position when an inlet force due to pressure at the inlet is greater than the sum of the biasing force and a control port force due to pressure at the control port. The valve is operable to automatically drain contaminants from a vehicle air reservoir when the vehicle's emergency brakes are set. To reduce noise, the diaphragm of the valve is preferably in tension when in the closed position, and/or the diaphragm opens a limited distance when in the open position so that a back pressure is generated at the inlet.

Abstract: A brake actuator assembly including a pressure plate presenting an opening, a push rod that is coupled to the pressure plate, a diaphragm that is coupled to the pressure plate, and a retainer that engages the push rod. The push rod has an outer surface and at least one protrusion extending outward from the outer surface. The retainer engages the protrusion such that at least a portion of the diaphragm is positioned between the pressure plate and the retainer.

Abstract: A tractor protection valve having a parking brake supply port, a parking brake delivery port, an exhaust port, and a quick release valve positioned between the parking brake supply port and the parking brake delivery port. The quick release valve is movable between a supply position allowing fluid to flow from the parking brake supply port to the parking brake delivery port and an exhaust position allowing fluid to flow from the parking brake delivery port to the exhaust port. The quick release valve may include a diaphragm that is movable between the supply and exhaust positions. The quick release valve may include a valve body that is positioned in a housing of the tractor protection valve.

Abstract: A tractor protection valve having a parking brake supply port, a parking brake delivery port, an exhaust port, and a quick release valve positioned between the parking brake supply port and the parking brake delivery port. The quick release valve is movable between a supply position allowing fluid to flow from the parking brake supply port to the parking brake delivery port and an exhaust position allowing fluid to flow from the parking brake delivery port to the exhaust port. The quick release valve may include a diaphragm that is movable between the supply and exhaust positions. The quick release valve may include a valve body that is positioned in a housing of the tractor protection valve.

Abstract: A valve having an inlet, exhaust, control port, and diaphragm. The diaphragm moves between an open position, in which the inlet and exhaust are in fluid communication, and a closed position, in which the diaphragm blocks fluid from flowing between the inlet and the exhaust. The diaphragm moves from the closed position to the open position when an inlet force due to pressure at the inlet is greater than the sum of the biasing force and a control port force due to pressure at the control port. The valve is operable to automatically drain contaminants from a vehicle air reservoir when the vehicle's emergency brakes are set. To reduce noise, the diaphragm of the valve is preferably in tension when in the closed position, and/or the diaphragm opens a limited distance when in the open position so that a back pressure is generated at the inlet.

Abstract: A height control valve assembly having a housing with an air supply port, first and second ports, and an exhaust port. A valve positioned in the housing has a first surface in fluid communication with the air supply port and a second surface. The valve moves between first and second positions, in which the second surface sealingly engages a portion of the housing surrounding the first and second ports, respectively, to prevent fluid from flowing between the air supply port and the first and second ports, respectively. The valve is moveable from either of the first and second positions to a fill position, in which the air supply port is in fluid communication with one of the first and second ports, and an exhaust position, in which one of the first and second ports is in fluid communication with the exhaust port.

Abstract: A height control valve assembly having a housing with an air supply port, first and second ports, and an exhaust port. A valve positioned in the housing has a first surface in fluid communication with the air supply port and a second surface. The valve moves between first and second positions, in which the second surface sealingly engages a portion of the housing surrounding the first and second ports, respectively, to prevent fluid from flowing between the air supply port and the first and second ports, respectively. The valve is moveable from either of the first and second positions to a fill position, in which the air supply port is in fluid communication with one of the first and second ports, and an exhaust position, in which one of the first and second ports is in fluid communication with the exhaust port.

Abstract: A brake system assembly for a motor vehicle is provided comprising an air compressor operably engaged to the motor vehicle engine; a compressed air control device; at least one supply circuit for retaining compressed air in fluid communication with the compressed air control device; a service brake operably engaged by the application of compressed air; a parking brake operably disengaged by the application of compressed air; a dash control assembly having a parking brake control; a plurality of functional conduits for fluid communication; and a plurality of valves for manipulating compressed air including a foot brake valve for selectively engaging the brake system.

Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed generally comprising first and second valve plates mounted between the housing for a pump mechanism and a cover, the first plate having flexing flaps corresponding to apertures in the second plate, and the second plate having flexing flaps corresponding to apertures in the first plate. The flexing flaps and apertures create inlet and outlet valves for fluid being received into and discharged from the pump mechanism. In some embodiments, the valves facilitate the flow of air received and discharged through inlet and outlet ports in a compressor head. In some embodiments, the valves facilitate the flow of air received from an inlet port in a compressor housing.

Abstract: A compressor is disclosed generally comprising a cylinder head mounted to a cylinder block having a cooling chamber and a piston channel via a bolt. A piston is disposed in the piston channel and has a contact portion that contacts the channel wall, which is integrally formed with the cylinder block, as it slides within the channel. The bolt and the cooling chamber each extend from at least as high as the highest contact point between the contact portion of the piston and the channel wall to at least as low as the lowest contact point between the contact portion of the piston and the channel wall. In certain embodiments, the cooling chamber is located between the bolt and the piston channel. In some embodiments, a crankcase is integrally formed with the cylinder block.

Abstract: A compressor is disclosed generally comprising a cylinder block at least partially enclosing a compression chamber, a swash plate housing mounted adjacent the cylinder block, the swash plate housing at least partially enclosing a swash plate chamber, an inlet port in the swash plate housing, and a passageway connecting the swash plate chamber and compression chamber. In certain embodiments, the passageway comprises a fluid channel in the cylinder block. In some embodiments, at least one bearing is disposed in the swash plate chamber such that air entering through the inlet port flows over the bearing before flowing to the compression chamber.

Abstract: A pressure reducing valve includes a housing having a passage therein, a valve body disposed within the passage, and a piston slideably disposed within the passage. The valve body includes a wall arranged transverse to the passage and dividing the passage into an input side and an output side, the wall having a plurality of openings passing therethrough, a portion of the wall between the openings and facing the output side defining a sealing surface. The piston includes a channel passing longitudinally therethrough with a sealing ledge surrounding the channel on a first end, a flange surrounding the channel on a second end, and an annular shoulder surrounding the sealing ledge. Fluid pressure at the input side acts on the shoulder and biases the piston toward the output side and fluid pressure at the output side acts on the flange and biases the piston toward the input side.

Abstract: A swash plate containment assembly for a compressor is disclosed generally comprising a housing, a drive shaft, a swash plate mounted on the drive shaft, and a gimbal arm connected to the housing and swash plate via rotatable joints. In certain embodiments, the joints are located approximately ninety degrees from each other. In some embodiments, the joints comprise a roller bearing and journal coupled thereto.