Abstract: A movable wall for separating an interior of a housing for a brake booster into a first chamber and a second chamber. The movable wall is characterized by a diaphragm, a backing plate and a hub member. The diaphragm has a peripheral bead secured to the housing and an axial bead located in a groove in a cylindrical body of the hub member. The groove has a front face that is separated from a rear face by an arcuate transition surface located between a bottom of the groove and the front face. The axial bead has a profile corresponding to the groove and an arcuate lip that extends from a rear surface. The lip is connected by a convolute to a radial section of the disc portion of the diaphragm while the backing plate has an axial opening surrounded by a radial surface that engages the front face of the groove. The axial bead engages the radial surface to urge the radial annular surface into engagement with the front face of the groove while sealing the front chamber from the rear chamber.

Abstract: A movable wall for separating an interior of a housing for a brake booster into a first chamber and a second chamber. The movable wall is characterized by a diaphragm, a backing plate and a hub member. The diaphragm has a peripheral bead secured to the housing and an axial bead located in a groove in a cylindrical body of the hub member. The groove has a front face that is separated from a rear face by an arcuate transition surface located between a bottom of the groove and the front face. The axial bead has a profile corresponding to the groove and an arcuate lip that extends from a rear surface. The lip is connected by a convolute to a radial section of the disc portion of the diaphragm while the backing plate has an axial opening surrounded by a radial surface that engages the front face of the groove. The axial bead engages the radial surface to urge the radial annular surface into engagement with the front face of the groove while sealing the front chamber from the rear chamber.

Abstract: A tandem brake booster has a housing defined by a front shell that is joined to a rear shell to create an interior cavity. The interior cavity is divided by first and second diaphragm assemblies that are separated by a partition member to respectively isolate a first chamber from a second chamber and a third chamber from a fourth chamber. The first and third chambers are connected to fluid having a substantially constantly first pressure while the second and fourth chambers are connected to selectively receive the fluid at the first pressure or fluid at a second pressure. The partition member is characterized by a disc with a cylindrical body extending from a ledge formed on a peripheral surface of the disc and a flange located on the cylindrical body between the ledge and an end face of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A tandem brake booster has a housing defined by a front shell that is joined to a rear shell to create an interior cavity. The interior cavity is divided by first and second diaphragm assemblies that are separated by a partition member to respectively isolate a first chamber from a second chamber and a third chamber from a fourth chamber. The first and third chambers are connected to fluid having a substantially constantly first pressure while the second and fourth chambers are connected to selectively receive the fluid at the first pressure or fluid at a second pressure. The partition member is characterized by a disc with a cylindrical body extending from a ledge formed on a peripheral surface of the disc and a flange located on the cylindrical body between the ledge and an end face of the cylindrical body.

Abstract: A brake booster (12) having a housing (18) with an interior separated into a front chamber (26) and a rear chamber (28) by a wall (30) retained on a peripheral surface (106) of a cylindrical body (34) of a hub (32). The cylindrical body (34) is characterized by having a radial flange (100) that extends from a first end (44), a ledge (102) located adjacent the radial flange (100), an annular shoulder (104) that extends from the peripheral surface (106) and a groove (108) located between the ledge (102) and shoulder (104). The groove (108) has a depth (d) adjacent the shoulder (104) that is approximately equal to the height (h) of the shoulder (104) above the peripheral surface (106) and a side wall (110) that transitions from the groove (108) into the ledge (102). The wall (30) is characterized by a metal disc (38) having an axial flange (202) that extends from a first end (204) into an annular slot (218) in a diaphragm (36) to define a lip (40).

Abstract: A brake booster (210) having a valve body (20) for retaining a plunger (238) of a control valve assembly (228). The plunger (238) is being connected by an input rod (230) to a brake pedal through which and operator supplies an input force to effect a brake application. To effect a brake application, the input rod (230) moves the plunger (238) to control communication of a source of pressure between a first chamber and a second chamber (16) and create a pressure differential across a wall (18) for developing an output force. The input rod (230) is characterized by a cylindrical tube (232) having a first end (234) and a second end (236) with an external annular rib (240) located between the first end (234) and the second end (236). A first internal annular groove (242) located between the annular rib (40) and the first end (234) and a second internal groove (244) is located adjacent the first end (236) to define a socket (252).

Abstract: A method and computer program for simultaneously displaying very large sets of quantitative data. The method and computer program permit the display of quantitative data without first standardizing the data. The method and computer program also permit an observer to display the data space under user controlled color mappings, to select color spectrums to emphasize or hide certain data or certain characteristics, and to move over and fly through the data space to identify and analyze areas of interest.

Abstract: A servomotor having a control valve independently by a manual input applied to an operator pedal assembly to effect a brake application or a traction control force derived from a signal developed by a controller to selectively apply brake force to synchronize rotational spin of the wheels of a vehicle. An input rod connected to the control valve has a housing attached thereto with a traction control chamber therein. A sleeve which surrounds the input rod has a first flange that engages a shoulder on the input rod and a second flange that is connected to a diaphragm retained in the traction control chamber. A return spring acts on the first flange to urge the second flange and diaphragm against a stop in the housing. In response to an input signal the controller allows vacuum to be communicated to the traction control chamber to create a traction control pressure differential.

Abstract: A retainer for locating a poppet member of a control valve in a bore while positioning a return spring connected to an input member within bore to direct substantially turbulent free air through slots in the retainer to a poppet member for distribution to a chamber when an input force moves a plunger of the control valve away from the poppet member.

Abstract: A diaphragm for a brake booster having an annular inner bead with first and second radial surfaces separated by an apex. The second radial surface has a plurality of indentations that extend from the apex. In response to a positive pressure differential created by vacuum in a first chamber and air in a second chamber, an output force is developed to effect a brake application corresponding to an input force. This positive pressure differential act on the annular bead to urge said first radial face into engagement with a wall to prevent communication between the first and second chambers during a brake application. In the absence of the presence of vacuum in the first chamber, the input force acts on the wall to develop an operational pressure in the first chamber to develop a negative pressure differential between the first and second chambers.

Abstract: A method of evaluating the operational characteristics of a brake booster by simulating a brake application of partially assembled brake booster components. An input force to control valve located in a hub of a shell to create an output force which is communicated through a reaction disc to an output member. An initial operational curve corresponding to an output force is compared with a reference curve to either accepted or reject the partially assembled brake booster components. If accepted, additional components are joined to the partially assembled booster to complete the assembly. If rejected, spacers based on the operational characteristics of the reaction disc and initial operational curve are located adajcent the reaction disc to modify the communication of a pressure differential developed force to the reaction disc for the now modified partially assembled brake booster components. An input force is again applied to the control valve to simulate a second brake application.

Abstract: This invention relates to a check valve having a first port connected to a chamber, a second port connected to a source of vacuum having a first fluid pressure and a third port connected to a second fluid pressure. A wall which separates the second port from the third has a plurality of openings therein which allows communication from the first port to the second port. A poppet moves away from the plurality of openings to allow air to flow from the first port to the second port in response to the first fluid pressure. When the fluid pressure in the chamber substantially equals the first fluid pressure, a pressure differential between the first and second pressures moves the poppet toward the plurality of openings to allow the second fluid pressure to further evacuate air from the chamber.