Abstract: A reusable strike indicator of size and weight that is useful in fly fishing, ice fishing and bait fishing, which can be attached without slippage at any location along a leader or fishing line. The strike indicator comprises two solid and watertight half spheres affixed to a bridge that is hinged in the middle allowing it to be closed and secured by a snap locking mechanism at both ends so that the two half spheres form a sphere. The fishing line is clamped between the two halves of the bridge adjacent to the hinge securing the strike indicator to a fishing line. The snap can be opened and closed repeatedly to move the strike indicator to selected positions along the fishing line or to another fishing line without removing the fly or lure.

Abstract: A vehicle drive unit assembly includes an axle extending between a pair of wheels, a braking system for slowing and stopping the vehicle, and a retarding system located on the axle for assisting the braking system. The axle has a housing and an axle shaft that receives input from an engine and driveshaft to drive the wheels. The braking system includes a brake member supported on each of the wheels and an actuator for selectively moving the brake members between an unactuated position and an actuated position. The braking system produces a braking force to slow or stop the rotation of the wheels when the brake is in the actuated position. The retarding system includes a plurality of magnets supported for rotation with the axle shaft and an inductor held fixed to the axle housing. The retarding system produces a retarding force as the magnets rotate with respect to the inductor to slow the rotation of the wheels when the actuator moves the brake members to the actuated position.

Abstract: A brake pad lining composition is provided that includes a friction modifier for adjusting a coefficient of friction of the brake pad lining and a strengthener for providing structural integrity. The composition also includes a fly ash filler for increasing the volume of the brake pad lining. A binder, such as phenolic resin, holds the friction modifier, the strengthener, and the filler together. By utilizing fly ash as a filler, the cost of the brake pad may be significantly reduced. Design of the brake pad lining may be simplified and the filler used more effectively by achieving a desired ratio of fly ash and binder, and then adding the friction modifier and strengthener to systematically adjust the brake lining properties.

Abstract: A cooling device for a brake component is provided. The brake component includes a structural element that has an interior cavity. A cooling material is disposed within the cavity. The material has a phase change temperature at a particular pressure and volume. The material absorbs the heat generated by the structural element by changing from a first state to a second state at the phase change temperature to maintain the brake component or structural element below the maximum operating temperature. The phase change temperature may be defined by a melting point of the material in which the first state is solid and the second state is liquid, or by an evaporation point of the material in which the first state is liquid and the second state is gas.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting wheel slippage uses a turn sensor to detect a vehicle turning radius in order to predict the difference in wheel speed between wheels on the outside of the turning radius and wheels on the inside of the turning radius. The turn sensor detects the turning radius of the vehicle and signals a controller. The controller utilizes the signal from the turn sensor to predict a difference in wheel speeds between the wheel to the inside of the turn and the wheel to the outside of the turn. One of the driven axles includes wheel speed sensors mounted at opposite ends of the axle. The controller receives signals from each of the wheel speed sensors to determine an actual differential wheel speed. The predicted speed differential is compared to the actual speed differential and any difference between the two indicates wheel is slippage.

Abstract: A cooling mechanism for a brake assembly is provided. The brake assembly includes a brake rotor with opposing outer surfaces. Brake pads having a lining are arranged adjacent to the opposing outer surfaces as is well known. An actuator, typically a hydraulic piston, forces the linings into engagement with the outer surface to slow the vehicle thereby generating a significant amount of heat at the rotor/brake pad interface. Inadequate cooling of the brakes occurs because of the tight packaging of the brake components and limited airflow. To better dissipate the heat the brake pad lining includes a cermet matrix, which has a high thermal conductivity. By utilizing a cermet in the brake pad lining, as opposed to conventional compositions, substantially more heat may be extracted at the rotor/brake pad interface thereby improving brake performance.

Abstract: A process for producing crack-free shaped ceramic bodies based on Si/C/N by hot pressing of crosslinked polysilazane powder and subsequent pyrolysis of the hot-pressed shaped body employs a pressing temperature higher than the temperature maximum of the TMA curve of the optimally crosslinked polymer.

Abstract: An improve wet disc brake incorporates a two part rotating disc. One of the two parts is selectively rotatable, and the other part is constantly rotating with the rotor. The rotor carries an air supply which creates an air bearing between the constantly rotating disc portion and the selectively rotating disc portion. During non-braking operation the air bearing maintains the selectively rotating portion out of contact with the rotating portion. Fluids other than air may be used. The selectively rotating portion thus remains stationary within the wet disc brake chamber, reducing frictional losses. When braking is desired, the flow of air to the air bearing is stopped. A bias force forces the selectively rotating portion into contact with the constantly rotating portion. Then, braking does occur by operation of the stator discs to move towards contact with the rotor discs.

Abstract: The method of this invention for assembling vehicle brake shoes includes the use of linear friction welding. Two generally planar web members having arcuate edges are precisely aligned. Each of the web members preferably includes a series of projections along an outer arcuate edge. A table member that has a curvature corresponding to the outward arcuate edge of the web members is placed in contact with the projections along the outer arcuate edge of the web members. The webs and the table are moved relative to each other, under load, to cause an increase in temperature within the metal material of the webs and the table. After the temperature is sufficiently increased, but before the material reaches its melting temperature, the relative motion is stopped and the web members are precisely aligned with the table member. Then the load is increased and the table is forced against the web members. The projections are then deformed, a flash results, and the web members are fixedly joined to the table member.

Abstract: An actuation system includes a magnetostrictive pump assembly to operate a fluid ram such as a brake cylinder connected to an actuator such as a brake. A first accumulator is connected to an input of the fluid ram to store a fluid which actuates the fluid ram. A second accumulator is similarly connected to an output of the fluid ram to receive the used fluid after actuation of the fluid ram. The magnetostrictive pump assembly is connected between the first accumulator and second accumulator, to transfer the fluid from the second accumulator to the first accumulator such that the fluid is maintained at a high pressure for activation of the fluid ram. As the magnetostrictive pump assembly reacts essentially instantaneously, any delay between actuation or deactivation is practically eliminated. Further, although the displacement of the pump is relatively small, it can be cycled at extremely high frequencies to provide substantial pumping capacity for immediate brake activation.