Abstract: A stopper mechanism includes a second cylinder provided at an end portion in an inner cylinder, and a second piston configured to move along with movement of a piston rod to be capable of being fit-inserted through the second cylinder. The second piston includes a stopper coupled to the piston rod, a castle integrated with the stopper by plastic flow to form a ring groove on an outer periphery of the second piston between the castle and the stopper, and a piston ring fixed into a ring groove formed by the stopper and the castle so that the piston ring is displaceable in the ring groove in an axial direction and is retained in the ring groove, and has an annular shape with both ends in a circumferential direction which are formed by partially cutting the piston ring.

Abstract: A variable damping shock absorber has a sleeve and a piston rod, one end of the sleeve being an opening and the other end being closed, one end of the piston rod being inserted through the opening and slidable in an axial direction inside the sleeve. Two sets of friction plates are arranged in the axial direction between an inner wall of the sleeve and an outer wall of the piston rod. A friction plate is fixed in the axial direction with the inner wall of the sleeve, and a sliding friction force between each friction plate set and the outer wall of the piston rod gradually decreases from the closed end to the opening end of the sleeve. The structure can ensure that the damping force is variable under different load and rotational speed conditions.

Abstract: Braking systems and methods are provided for a drum winch system having a winch drum having an outer surface and a winch drum braking system. The winch drum braking system has a first brake having a first brake lining, located adjacent to the winch drum, and a first three-ring ratchet linkage system connected to the first brake lining. The first three-ring ratchet linkage system is rotatable and adapted to move the first brake lining to a first position or a second position with respect to the outer surface of the winch drum. In the first position, the first brake lining contacts the outer surface of the winch drum to apply break force thereon, and, in the second position, the first brake lining is separated from the winch drum.

Abstract: Improvements in a braking system for a zip line are presented. Braking occurs when a zip line rider makes contact with a braking carriage that slides along the zip line. The braking carriage pulls on a rope. The rope pulls on a length of chain in a chain reservoir to slide and lift the claim through the chain reservoir. The chain reservoir is an elongated tube that is mounted at an angle. As the zip liner moves further into the landing platform they lift a continuing greater amount of chain from the chain reservoir. The angle of the chain reservoir, coefficient of friction between the chain and the chain reservoir affects the pull-back. After the zip liner comes to a complete stop they remove the carriage from the zip line and gravity returns the brake mechanism. Minimum pull-back makes removal of the cable trolley easier.

Abstract: A method for checking a vibration damper of a motor vehicle in the installed state includes setting start values of the damping constant kA, the spring rate cA, and the body mass mA for a wheel of a motor vehicle; inducing a vertical vibration of the motor vehicle with the aid of a defined excitation sRreal; determining the theoretical body vibration excursion sAmodel; optically detecting the positions of the wheel and the body shell of the motor vehicle at a plurality of detection instants during the vibration; minimizing the error function formed from the deviations between the theoretical body vibration excursion sAmodel and the observed body vibration excursion sAreal at the detection instants, and determining the damping constant kA, the spring rate cA, and the body mass mA therefrom; and determining the damping measure ? of the vibration damper.

Abstract: A vehicle brake system comprising an actuator and a mechanical linkage, whereby a force produced by the weight of the vehicle is transmitted via the mechanical linkage to the actuator to provide a braking force.

Abstract: A seat brake apparatus having a small number of components. A pivot member connected to a seat is pivotally supported by a front plate of the battery compartment. A contact plate is connected to the front plate. A torsion spring supported by the front plate has a first end portion contacting the pivot member and a second end portion contacting the contact plate.

Abstract: A transportation and launching device for boats which can be handled by one person and which is carried with the boat during overland transportation, launching, and water operation of the boat. The device remains completely external to the boat during operation and storage and may be equipped for manual or automatic adjustment of the wheel axles to the longitudinal center of gravity of the boat to accommodate loading changes affecting the center of gravity. The device is typically used with the boat in an upright position but may be adjusted to move the boat in an inverted position as an aid in maintenance. The device is removable for compact storage and may be adjusted to fit on boats of various sizes.

Abstract: A hand trolley for ascending and descending stairs is disclosed as including an elongated frame with a pair of outer rails and a pair of inner rails being spaced from the outer rails, a pair of wheels mounted on the frame at one end of the outer rails with a handle mounted on the frame at the other end of the outer rails, load supporting feet carried by the frame adjacent the wheels to define a primary load support, a carriage slidably mounted on the inner rails and defining a secondary load support, and brake shoes are operative to lock the carriage in a fixed position.

Abstract: A trolley assembly for use in an automobile lift rack employs individual trolley wheel mounts wherein the wheel is supported by a plurality of elastomeric mounts arranged in vertically displaced, mutual relationship to prevent bending of the mounts when the trolley assembly is loaded.

Abstract: A wheeled baby walker is adapted to be rendered immobile by positioning a base panel at a location to be received beneath the feet of a baby supported by the walker, with the panel being supported on a floor or ground surface independently of the wheels of the walker, and with the panel engaging the walker in a manner preventing the walker from moving horizontally relative to the panel.

Abstract: A cycling exerciser comprises a frame within which is mounted a pedal-driven wheel. A lever carrying a pair of rollers is pivotally mounted on the frame and the rollers are biased into engagement with the wheel by means of a weight also carried by the lever. The position of the weight along the lever is adjustable so as to adjust the degree of bias and thereby regulate the resistance to rotation of the wheel provided by the rollers.

Abstract: A brake assembly for maintaining uniform tension in plastic sheet material being unwound from a supply roll supported on a rotatable shaft. The brake assembly includes a pair of rollers which rotatably support the shaft. One roller is vertically displaceable relative to the other for controlling the movement of a linkage connected to a brake shoe in contact with the shaft. The surface area of brake lining in contact with the shaft is reduced in a proportion relative to the depletion of material from the supply roll.