Specific Actuator Element Structure Patents (Class 188/24.22)
  • Patent number: 6279688
    Abstract: A control cable quick release device for use with cable-actuated brake arms that permits disengagement of the control cable from the brake arm without braking the seal between the quick release device and the deformable bellows thereby preventing premature corrosion of the control cable and permitting quick and easy removal of the bicycle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: SRAN Corporation
    Inventors: Charles M. Goldman, Timothy J. Smith
  • Patent number: 6264008
    Abstract: A parallel-push brake assembly for bicycles that provides substantially translational motion of the brake pad using a mechanism that is relatively free of tolerance build-up or slop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Sram Corporation
    Inventors: Brian T. Jordan, Michael P. Johnson, Ryan A. Calilung, John D. Cheever, Sanjeev K. Mankotia, Kevin F. Wesling
  • Patent number: 6220399
    Abstract: A piston (1) slidably mounted in a case (14), with an actuator cable (22) routed around a first cable guide (15) on the brake case, thence beside the piston to a second cable guide (6) on the end of the piston, which redirects it 180 degrees to return beside the piston to a cable end holder (12) on the case. The actuator cable runs parallel to the piston on both sides, transferring twice its tension to the piston. A cam (60) is provided for full control of the brake gain relative to the tension of the main cable from the hand lever. This adapts the brake to a given hand lever, and provides both fast braking response and high power via a variable gain curve on each stroke. Floating pads are provided for automatic toe. All brake position adjustments relative to the rim are easy and are independent of each other. Quick means are provided for changing the tire and pads, and these operations do not reset the brake position adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Inventors: Cal M. Phillips, John V. Stewart
  • Patent number: 6216825
    Abstract: A brake mechanism, which includes a mounting base fixedly fastened to the wheeled apparatus to be controlled, an actuating bar coupled between the mounting base and a brake cable at the wheeled apparatus, and a brake lever pivoted to the mounting base for operation by hand to move the actuating bar, wherein the brake lever is operated by hand and shifted between a first position where the brake cable is pulled up to stop the wheeled apparatus and the brake cable will be released when releasing the brake lever from the hand, a second position where the brake mechanism stands idle, and a third position where the brake cable is maintained pulled up and will not be released from the braking position when releasing the brake lever from the hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventor: Chih-Cheng Hung
  • Patent number: 6202802
    Abstract: A bicycle disc brake caliper is provided with a cooling system that transfers heat away from the actuating fluid. Basically, the bicycle disc brake caliper has a housing and a piston unit, with a coolant member of the cooling system attached to the housing. The housing has a frame mounting member sized to be coupled to a portion of a bicycle frame. The piston unit is movably coupled to the housing between a release position, in which the piston unit is spaced from a brake disc mounted to a wheel of a bicycle, and a braking position, in which the piston unit engages the brake disc of the bicycle wheel. The coolant member has a coolant area for receiving coolant to create a coolant heat sink that transfers heat from the housing. The housing has an actuating passage in fluid communication with the piston unit to move the piston unit via an actuating fluid. In one embodiment, the cooling system includes a pump and a reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Yasushi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6199669
    Abstract: A brake caliper installed in the disk brake of a bicycle and worked with the brake disk of the disk brake, the brake caliper including a base having two receiving chambers and two cam shafts in the receiving chamber, two brake linings respectively mounted in the receiving chambers at two opposite sides of the brake disk and coupled to the cam shafts, and two spring members respectively fastened to the brake linings and secured to a respective locating rod at the cam shafts, wherein the brake linings each have a first positioning hole and a second positioning hole respectively disposed at two opposite ends of a groove thereof for the positioning of the spring members, a finger rod and a locating rod raised from the periphery and aligned with the groove in a line, and a cam shaft mounting hole for the positioning of the locating rod of the corresponding cam shaft; the spring members each have a substantially U-shaped head and a forked tail respectively inserted through the first positioning hole and second posi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: Bill Huang