Abstract: Disclosed is an improved vehicle braking activation system (10), which provides faster response time by using a hand operated steering wheel mounted braking control system. A centralized end ball (90) underneath a pressure plate (12) within the steering wheel (52), depresses an underlying deformable sensing beam (46) when force is applied by the driver on the pressure plate (12). The signal output of a strain gauge sensor (98) on the sensing beam (46), could then provide the input or a braking controller to electronically control braking proportionally.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly (10) has a housing (12) mounted to a vehicle and two rotor discs mounted to a wheel of the vehicle. Three annular brake shoes (30,54,76) are operatively supported by the housing (12) and a support structure of the vehicle, respectively. Rotor discs and two of the annular brake shoes are adapted to move axially towards an axially restrained brake shoe for frictional engagement with one another during a brake action. The housing (12) includes an annular radial wall (14) and a plurality of axial link members (16) circumferentially spaced apart from one another. The link members (16) are secured to the support structure of the vehicle using mounting screws (102) received in mounting bores (100) thereof. Each mounting bore (100) extends radially through an elongated key (98) and is offset from the center of the key.

Abstract: A disc brake assembly for a vehicle wheel wherein the wheel includes a hub journaled to an axle on the vehicle and a housing mounted to the vehicle, an annular rotor disc (10) within the housing and means mounting the rotor disc to the wheel which comprises an annular hub portion. The rotor disc (10) includes an annular peripheral portion (22) relative to an axial axis with an outer peripheral surface (20) and at least a first radial planar friction surface (12) on the annular peripheral portion (22). The rotor disc (10) has a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart slots (26) extending axially through the peripheral portion (22) and inwardly towards the axial axis from the outer peripheral surface (20) thereof.

Abstract: The invention concerns a tensile testing sensor mounted on a mechanical member wherein forces to be measures develop comprising a bendable metal blade (1, 22) provided with measuring gauges (2, 23) implanted and positioned on the blade. Said blade (1, 22) is sensitive to mechanical tensile and compressive deformations sustained and transmitted via two bearing parts (4, 5, 20) coupled to the mechanical member wherein the forces develop. The sensor is equipped with a mechanically locking flange (31) placed during calibration between the bearing parts (4, 5, 20) and the sensor blade.

Abstract: An annular disc brake assembly having a housing mounted to a vehicle and a rotor disc mounted to a wheel of the vehicle. Annular brake pads extend parallel to the rotor disc within the housing and are mounted thereto with at least one brake pad being movable axially by means of an oil applied bladder mounted to the housing and moving the first brake pad axially against the disc brake. The rotor disc is solid and has cooling fins on either side, just below the friction surfaces for dissipating the heat from the solid disc.

Abstract: An annular disc brake assembly has a housing mounted to a vehicle and a rotor disk mounted to a wheel of the vehicle. A pair of annular brake shoes are in frictional engagement with the rotor disk during a brake action, and resiliently supported by the housing and a supportive structure of the vehicle, respectively. The housing includes an annular radial wall having an annular ridge on the inner surface to abut the brake shoe which is supported by the housing so that during the brake action uneven and various forces applied to the brake shoe will cause local portions of the brake shoe oscillating about the contact point. The oscillation will be damped by damping pads placed between the housing and the brake shoe. The housing has a plurality of axial link members extending from the annular radial wall. The axial link members include clip structure at each distal end for clipping onto the supportive structure of the vehicle.

Abstract: An annular disc brake assembly has a housing mounted to a vehicle and a rotor disk mounted to a wheel of the vehicle. A pair of annular brake shoes are in frictional engagement with the rotor disk during a brake action, and resiliently supported by the housing and a supportive structure of the vehicle, respectively. The housing includes an annular radial wall having an annular ridge on the inner surface to abut the brake shoe which is supported by the housing so that during the brake action uneven and various forces applied to the brake shoe will cause local portions of the brake shoe oscillating about the contact point. The oscillation will be damped by damping pads placed between the housing and the brake shoe. The housing has a plurality of axial link members extending from the annular radial wall. The axial link members include clip means at each distal end for clipping onto the supportive structure of the vehicle.

Abstract: A disk brake assembly has a housing mounted to a vehicle and a rotor disk mounted to a wheel of the vehicle. Upon expansion of an annular flexible bladder during a brake action, a first brake shoe moves towards the rotor disk and causes the rotor disk to move towards the second brake shoe resulting frictional engagement between the respective brake shoes and the rotor disk. The first brake shoe is deformable under uneven and variable forces resulting from imperfect machining and uneven wearing of the rotor disk. An annular brake pad is attached to first brake shoe using a layer of resilient and deformable material to improve the resilience of the first brake shoe.

Abstract: An annular disk brake assembly having a housing mounted to a vehicle and a rotor disk mounted to a wheel of the vehicle. Annular brake pads extend parallel to the rotor disk within the housing and are mounted thereto with at least one brake pad being movable axially by an oil applied bladder mounted to the housing to move the first brake pad axially against the rotor disk. The rotor disk is adapted to slide axially to engage the second brake pad when pressure is applied to the rotor disk by the first brake pad and the bladder.

Abstract: A ventilated disc brake assembly including an annular housing mounted to the vehicle, The disc has a first radial planar friction surface and a first brake shoe is provided adjacent the first friction surface movable. The first brake shoe is a radial annular plate having at least a planar surface to engage the first planar friction surface. A movable spring abutment is mounted for axial movement within the housing between the intermediate wall and a housing wall such that the intermediate wall is between the movable spring abutment and the first brake shoe. Rigid pusher link members extend between the spring abutment and the first brake shoe. Springs are arranged in an annular array and extend between the housing wall and the spring abutment such that the springs urge against the spring abutment to press the first brake shoe against the first friction surface of the disc.

Abstract: A ventilated brake assembly for a vehicle wheel has a housing adapted to be contained in the wheel. At least an annular rotor disc is mounted within the housing for rotation with the wheel, and the disc has a plurality of circumferentially spaced channels extending from the periphery of the disc towards the center to communicate with central openings at the inner margin of the annular disc such that air can pass from the central openings at the inner margin of the annular disc to exhaust at the outer periphery thereof in order to dissipate heat generated at the disc. Openings are provided in the brake assembly to allow air flow from the exterior of the brake assembly through the openings. A cover forms a plenum covering the openings in the brake assembly and a scoop has an open end directed in the direction of air flow and the scoop converges to the plenum.

Abstract: An improved truck disc brake using a spring loaded safety brake and a pneumatic bladder for releasing the safety brake as well as a service brake enhancing bladder and a pair of rotor brake discs. The brake discs are ventilated and include ventilation channels extending radially thereof and vent air is deflected into the brake assembly by means of a scoop on the exterior of the brake assembly passing through openings in the brake assembly and the rotor brake discs act as an impeller moving the ventilation air outwardly thereof to dissipate the heat. A wear gauge is provided to determine the wear of the brake linings and discs and a quick release valve is mounted in the brake assembly adjacent the pneumatic bladder related to the service brake, to quickly release the air when required. Temperature sensors are provided within the brake assembly to read the temperature of the brake assembly.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for welding, cutting, surface machining or heat treating workpieces by a laser beam which includes providing an optical element in the path of the laser beam to modify the pattern of the laser beam such that different geometric patterns can be projected on the focal plane, and this beam pattern spans at least the width of the heat treatment, cutting, surface machining or welding zone on the workpieces.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for welding a plurality of parallel continuous seams on workpieces which comprise the steps of defining a welding station including a laser beam or electron beam welding source and a focal plane spaced from the welding source and wherein the focal plane is perpendicular and intersects a plane containing the radiation welding source. The welding source spans a welding zone defined at the intersection of the focal plane and the plane contains the welding source. The seams are maintained to be welded spaced apart and parallel and moving at least one of the welding stations and the several workpieces, in unison, relative to one another such that the seams to be welded pass through the welding zone whereby welded seams are formed continuously on the workpieces.

Abstract: An improved truck disc brake using a spring loaded safety brake and a pneumatic bladder for releasing the safety brake as well as a service brake enhancing bladder and at least a pair of rotor brake discs. The brake discs are ventilated and include ventilation channels extending radially thereof and vent air is deflected into the brake assembly by means of a scoop on the exterior of the housing passing through openings in the housing and the rotor brake discs act as an impeller moving the ventilation air rearwardly thereof to dissipate the heat. A wear gauge is provided to determine the wear of the brake linings and a quick release valve is mounted in the brake assembly adjacent the pneumatic bladder related to the service brake, to quickly release the air when required. Temperature sensors are provided within the brake assembly to read the temperature of the brake assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disc brake assembly for vehicles such as trucks, tractor-trailers, and the like. A disc, coupled to a vehicle wheel (or wheel-pair), is rotatably mounted in a housing fixed with respect to the vehicle. The disc has two planar braking faces, is permitted a limited degree of axial translation, and associates with an axially movable annular brake shoe array on each face thereof. The braking operation of each shoe array is pneumatically controlled through the means of an annular expansible or flexible bladder, with the disc-shoe initial clearance being hydraulically set by means of the same bladder. The disc is equipped with a plurality of spaced substantially radial channels, shaped and positioned so as to draw ambient cooling air through the central region of the disc, and to enhance the dissipation of heat. The brake shoe arrays are simultaneously controlled from the same side of the fixed housing.