Abstract: A device for taking up and paying out a line such as a fishing line comprising a spool support, a spool arranged thereon and adapted to have said line wound and unwound therefrom, a central shaft around which said spool may be turned, and a braking device for braking said spool at least in the pay off direction. In order to provide for high accuracy and ease of operation there is at least one braking element able to be coupled with the spool in the pay off direction and at least one magnet adapted to apply the braking element against a counter-abutment stationarily arranged in relation to the braking element.

Abstract: A braking device in an arrangement for linear movement comprising an elongated part and a part movable in relation thereto. Along substantially the entire stroke of the movable part of a piston there is at least one first braking surface movably arranged in relation to the central axis of the elongated cylinder, the braking surface being adapted for co-action with a second braking surface arranged in association with the piston.

Abstract: A gas spring substantially comprises a cylindrical housing, closed on one end, and a piston rod located concentrically in it and extending in a sealed manner from its other end, the piston rod being provided on its end located in the housing with a piston assembly resting on the inner wall of the housing and being guided in a damped manner. In order to attain a relatively broad hysteresis, which is desirable when the gas spring is used for retaining the upper parts of sun-tanning benches or automobile hatchbacks or the like, the piston assembly has a friction damping liner resting against the inner wall of the housing and made of an expanded plastic, which is open-celled and impregnated with lubricant on its friction face resting on the inner wall.

Abstract: A fluid shock absorber of either the pneumatic or liquid type having a frustoconical threaded bleed plug for varying the shock absorbing capacity of the shock absorber. A shock absorber construction utilizing air or liquid having a piston which is expandable whereby expansion to the associated cylinder wall exerts a frictional resistance proportional to the variation in back pressure resulting from the variable restricted flow past the frustoconical bleed plug. A liquid-type shock absorber having a self-contained chamber and a frustoconical bleed plug arrangement wherein liquid from the cylinder is forced into the chamber through the frustoconical bleed plug arrangement. In certain embodiments the bleed arrangement is located in the cylinder wall, and in another embodiment it is located in the piston head.

Abstract: The pipeline packer described herein typically includes a main body adapted for propulsion through the pipeline in an axial direction. A brake shoe support assembly is located on the main body and a plurality of circumferentially spaced brake shoes capable of gripping the interior wall of the pipeline are mounted to the support assembly. Fluid pressure activated means are associated with the brake shoe support assembly for urging the brake shoes radially outwardly into gripping engagement with the pipeline to secure the main body in a desired location in the pipeline against the pipeline pressure forces acting thereon. A pair of annular wedging means are also mounted to the main body for axial movement toward each other as the fluid pressure activated means acts on the brake shoe support assembly to urge the brake shoes into gripping engagement.

Abstract: A hydraulic retarder and brake unit mounted on a rotating vehicle drive shaft has a first rotatable member forming a brake drum and mounted on the drive shaft for rotation therewith. A non-rotatable member supports brake shoes movable into frictional engagement with a lining of the brake drum and are actuated by the lever for frictionally braking rotation of the drive shaft. A plurality of stator vanes are formed on the non-rotatable member. A second rotatable member is mounted on the drive shaft for free rotation independently of the rotation of the drive shaft, while a plurality of rotor vanes are freely rotatably mounted around the drive shaft and in facing opposition to the stator vanes for providing a hydraulic coupling. A clutch selectively rotatably couples the second rotatable member with the first rotatable member so that the rotor vanes are rotated with the drive shaft and the rotation of the drive shaft retarded.

Abstract: For the improvement in the hydraulic retarder comprising a fixed member (1) of vehicle, a shaft (2), a housing (4), a vane chamber (3), a plurality of stator vanes (5) and a plurality of rotor vanes (7), a drum-like member (10), a plurality of clutch pistons (14a), (14b), (14c), a cylindrical member (6) a pair of arcuate brake shoes (16) and a parking lever (21) are added to function respectively.

Abstract: Power cylinder comprising a housing having a throughbore capped by end plates defining therein a longitudinally extending chamber. A piston including a longitudinally extending body portion mounts for reciprocal movement in and in bearing relation to the portion of the wall surface which bounds the length of said chamber. The piston has a longitudinally extended through passage and brake means immediately of its outer peripheral surface. A valve device associated with the piston body includes a portion thereof in communication with the through passage. The housing has ports respectively communicating with respective end portions of the chamber for selective delivery thereto and discharge therefrom of fluid under pressure and the selective application of such fluid under pressure to one or both ends of the piston.

Abstract: In a friction damper a core part is telescopically movable in an outer part. A friction piston is secured to the core part. The friction piston is pot-shaped and includes a basic body and skirt segments. The skirt segments are integral with the basic body and are held by a spring system in frictional contact with the inner surface of the outer part.

Abstract: In a double-tube vibration damper the piston acts on an abutment spring when arriving at a predetermined position during its inward stroke. The abutment spring acts on a control member. The control member cooperates with a bottom passage to reduce the cross-sectional area of the bottom passage in response to the piston starting to act onto the abutment spring such as to reduce the cross-sectional area of the bottom passage. In this way a hydraulic abutment function is obtained on inward movement of the piston rod. The control member is biased by a return spring towards the abutment spring. The abutment spring acts with its end remote from the control member onto a friction ring, which friction ring is frictionally guided by the inner face of the cylinder. The biasing action of the return spring is larger than the force necessary for moving the friction ring along the inner face of the cylinder.

Abstract: In e.g. a projectile launcher, an arresting sleeve (12) absorbs energy by deformation, which is necessary to arrest a piston (15) from which a counter-mass or a projectile is ejected. The counter-mass (17) should be dispersed as rapidly as possible on exit, in order not to endanger those in the vicinity of the gunner. According to the invention the arresting sleeve (12) has annular peripheral grooves (13,14) on its outer face and also on its inner face of equilateral triangular cross-section, and the piston (15) has a cartridge (16) holding the counter-mass (17), which at its forward end has a greater wall thickness than at its rearward end.

Abstract: A friction damper, especially for washing machines with a spin cycle, consists of a housing (1) having a substantially circular cylindrical inner wall and a tappet (2) that can be pushed coaxially into the housing, extending at one end out of the housing and at the other end being provided with a friction piston. The friction piston is provided with friction elements pressed elastically against the inner wall of the housing (1), and securing elements (4, 8) are formed on the respective ends of the tappet (2) and housing (1). To attain a considerable reduction in the damping forces once there has been a passage through the critical rpm level, the housing (1) is made of plastic.

Abstract: A mechanical, vibration-preventing means to be used on mechanical and hydraulic presses, bar cutters, shearing machines and the like preferably cyclicly working machine tools with a pulse-like pressing process is adapted to absorb the stroke at punching and cutting in plates, bars, and the like articles of metal, plastics or another material by the resilient energy deriving from the deflection of the machine frame instead of being converted into vibrations and noise immediately after break through of the material being converted directly into rotational energy in a flywheel through a roller screw connection. This roller screw connection transforms the translatory movement of the machine tools into rotation.

Abstract: Apparatus for limiting the effect of axial hydraulic flow force exerted on the fuel assemblies by the hydraulic pressure of a coolant in a water-cooled nuclear reactor comprises slit cylindrical elastic sleeves positioned within recesses in cylindrical housings carried by the fuel assemblies, the sleeves receiving centering pins connected to upper and lower core plates of the reactor and exerting frictional force thereon so as to control the axial movements of the fuel assemblies during transient variations in hydraulic flow force.

Abstract: This invention relates to an air-spring suspension system installed intermediate the carriage frame supported on wheels and the cargo or passenger holding structure supported by the carriage frame in the construction of power driven vehicles. The most preferable embodiment of the air-spring suspension is the air-spring suspension beam comprising a pair of beams assembled in a parallel configuration wherein the flanges of the two beams provide an elongated confined space intermediate the two beams, that houses one or more elastic compressed air containers cushioning the relative movements between the two beams in the lateral direction relative to one another. The air-spring suspension beam may further include means for damping the oscillatory movements between the two beams, which means may include the friction between the flanges of the two beams or the shock absorbers including dashpots.

Abstract: A fluid-pressure-operated, double-acting working cylinder which dampens the final braking of the work piston, includes a cylinder housing with a movable work piston disposed therein, the work piston dividing the cylinder into two work chambers. A piston rod, on which the work piston is mounted, extends through the housing. At least one auxiliary braking member is disposed on at least one side of the work piston in an offset slidable relation to the work piston. A braking arrangement disposed on the auxiliary braking member is controlled by fluid pressure to brake the auxiliary braking member to a desired position within the cylinder. A dampening chamber, a dampening spring configuration is disposed between the auxiliary braking member work piston such that, following braking of the auxiliary braking member, continued movement of the work piston is effectively dampened.

Abstract: The assembly includes three damper shoes that are guided by and wedged transversely between two wedge rings, one having three curved flats and the other having three planar flats that respectively contact conforming contact surfaces of the damper shoes. The assembly is particularly useful in a frictionally damped suspension strut.

Abstract: A controllable fluid damper 14 for a fluid-containing tank 10 in a space vehicle comprising a hollow sphere 14. The wall of the sphere 14 is a honeycomb structure of six-sided cells 24 arranged with respect to the sphere 14 so that the open ends of the cells 24 lie along the radii of the sphere 14. The flat sides of the cells 24 contain small holes 26 which present some resistance to the flow of fluid therethrough. The outer surface of the sphere 14 lies adjacent the inner surface of the tank wall 12. A number of spaced brake pads are located in the tank wall 12 so that the surfaces of the pads are co-planar with the inner surface of the tank wall 12. One of the brake pads, 16, is radially movable in the inward direction; the remainder, 18, are fixed in position. The sphere 10 can rotate with the fluid when a maneuver of the vehicle is started and, then, rotation of the damper 14 can be arrested by moving the movable brake pad 16 into pressure contact with the outer surface of the damper 14.

Abstract: A linear motion damper is disclosed which comprises a hollow sleeve member, a rod reciprocating within the sleeve member, and a piston adapted to engage a fluid filled cylinder to provide resistance to linear motion by the exertion of lateral fluid pressure between the rod and the sleeve. The damper of the present invention exhibits greater efficiency and durability in operation, and is adaptable for a wide variety of applications.

Abstract: A rotary damper with a directional property is disclosed which is capable of being simplified in structure, manufactured with a low cost, and stably and precisely operated. The rotary damper is constructed in such a manner that a clutch spring is interposed between a revolving shaft and a rotor to selectively carry out the integral rotation of the rotor with the shaft or the stop of the rotor independent from the shaft.

Abstract: A breechblock buffer serves for catching the recoiling breechblock following the firing of a cartridge. This breechblock buffer comprises a buffer piston and a compressible liquid. With the heretofore known breechblock buffers there is provided a container housing a compressed gas. The invention contemplates eliminating the need for such container. Instead of a gas container there is provided a packet or set of plate springs serving as an elastic structure. Furthermore, the breechblock buffer possesses a recoil buffer device. For guiding and sealing the buffer piston, a guide ring is arranged between two sealing rings.

Abstract: A strut for a front fork of a two-wheeled vehicle including an inner tube, an outer tube and a cushion spring resisting the telescoping of one tube toward the other. A damping mechanism is illustrated also using damping fluid. Bearings are provided between the inner and outer tubes which include a collar slidably mounted to one of the tubes. A circular bearing is positioned adjacent the collar to retain the collar relative to the other tubes. The collar may move with the tube on which it is mounted through a preselected distance at which time it is constrained by the other tube. A spring biases the collar away from the stop provided on the other tubes such that some relative motion between the tubes can occur prior to the sliding of the collar along the tube upon which it is mounted.

Abstract: A check valve is comprised of a body having inlet and outlet passages and a cylindrical chamber within the body, the axis of which forms an angle with the axis of the inlet and outlet passages. An orifice plate in the cylindrical chamber divides the chamber into a dashpot chamber and a valve chamber which is in communication with the inlet and outlet passages. A valve seat in the valve chamber separates the inlet and outlet passages. A valve closure element is mounted for reciprocation in the valve chamber between a valve open position and a valve closed position where an element is seated upon the seat. A piston is mounted for reciprocation in the dashpot chamber. A piston rod extends through an opening in the orifice plate and connects the closure element and the piston. Means are provided to apply the pressure in the outlet passage to the piston to urge the piston and closure element toward valve closed position.

Abstract: A hydroviscous torque transmitting apparatus of the disc type is disclosed wherein films of fluid are maintained between adjacent discs of a clutch for purposes of torque transmission. Fluid is drawn from a reservoir and supplied to the discs at a positive pressure by a plurality of passageways in a rotating body portion of the clutch. The passageways are constructed and arranged to effectively use the centrifugal pumping potential of the clutch and no separate pump is required for purposes of providing sufficient fluid to the discs to maintain oil shear of hydroviscous operation. Relief flow channels communicating with the passageways are arranged to cause the fluid to open the disc pack when the closing pressure is interrupted and to direct the fluid away from the disc pack. In addition, a fluid reservoir coupling is disclosed for delivery of fluid to the passageways at ambient pressure following the independent pumping of the fluid for some other purpose such as flow through a heat exchanger.

Abstract: A pneumatic controller for actuating a retarder of the motion of a vehicle. Inlet and exhaust valves are actuated by a pair of diaphragms responsive to the pressure of the air applied to the brakes of a vehicle and the pressure of the air actuating the retarder. The valves are preferably on a common stem and operatively associated with the diaphragms by an actuator rod responsive to the resultant of forces produced by both of the diaphragms.

Abstract: A control system for a combination hydrodynamic and friction retarder brake wherein in an output speed range above a first reference speed retarder braking is entirely hydrodynamic, in an output speed range between the first reference speed and a lower second reference speed retarder braking is partially hydrodynamic and partially friction with friction braking increasing as output speed decreases to a maximum at the second reference speed, and in an output speed range below the second reference speed both friction and hydrodynamic retarder braking decrease as output speed decreases to provide a smooth transition to the vehicle's service brakes. In addition, a partial apply valve is provided to limit retarder braking in all speed ranges to levels proportional to a manually applied retarder brake demand signal.

Abstract: A hydraulic brake system for ground driven wheels of a trailer includes a rotatable shaft driven by the wheels which in turn drives an axial piston hydraulic pump with a closed loop circuit with pressure control device for controlling the pressure within the circuit for controlling the load on the pump and, hence, the braking of the wheels. The system includes pressurized air control of a metering valve within the hydraulic circuit for controlling the pressure therein and includes air override of the hydraulic pressure for enabling the normally disabled pump.

Abstract: A rotary damping device has a shaft provided at one end with a rotor and the shaft also has a damping portion extending radially. The shaft is rotatably housed and accommodation spaces in the device are filled with oil. Located near to the opening of the shaft bearing is a radially extended sucker-shaped flange having a surface sloped axially forward. When the flange is contained within the accommodation space the rim portion of the flange presses against the front wall of the space to prevent damping oil leaking from the housing.

Abstract: A brake unit having a hydrodynamic retarder providing brake torque proportional to speed and inlet pressure, and a friction brake providing brake torque proportional to net brake pressure, the brake apply pressure minus retarder inlet pressure. The controls have a brake demand valve providing a brake demand pressure. A retarder valve is biased by brake demand pressure from brake-off position to brake-on position for switching the retarder circuit to fill the retarder and to connect low and high speed regulator valves to regulate retarder inlet pressure respectively to increase in the low speed range and to decrease in the high speed range with increasing speed, and to limit retarder inlet pressure proportionally to brake demand. The controls, in the low speed range, provide friction brake apply pressure proportional to brake demand, so the friction brake net apply pressure and torque decrease to zero and retarder torque increases as speed increases.

Abstract: A ratarder for a power transmission shaft comprises a liquid immersed coupling between the shaft and a drag member, the drag member being normally entrained to rotate with the shaft by viscous drag in the coupling. A dry brake mechanism, having a frictional drag greater than that of the coupling, is provided to restrain the drag member for relative movement to take place in the coupling. In the embodiments shown, the coupling comprises a friction disc pack alternately connected to the shaft and the drag member, the brake mechanism firstly restraining the drag member and subsequently shifting it axially to engage the friction disc pack.The coupling is suitable for use in heavy motor vehicle transmission systems.

Abstract: A braking system utilizing a hydrodynamic brake has a control circuit that adjust the torque exerted by the hydrodynamic brake to adjust the deceleration of the axle on which the hydrodynamic brake is mounted toward a desired value of deceleration, which desired value may be zero.

Abstract: A braking system for controlling the speed of a moving member is disclosed. The braking system includes both a dynamic and a mechanical brake whose operation is controlled by a central control circuit. The dynamic brake has a maximum dynamic braking moment which it can apply to the moving member which is defined by a limiting characteristic curve. The central control circuit generates an adjustment signal as a function of the difference of the actual value of the total braking moment applied to the moving member by the dynamic and mechanical brakes and the desired value of the total braking moment.

Abstract: A pneumatic system for launching aircraft wherein an elongated frame having pressurized interior chamber is volumetrically related and communicatively connected to a longitudinally-slotted cylinder supported within the frame so that expansion of air into the cylinder produces a desired thrust pressure therein that is equalized by the residual pressure external of the cylinder within the chamber. A piston member slidably contained within the cylinder is adapted to receive the compressed air and is connected to a shuttle for accelerating the aircraft to be launched. The shuttle is releasably restrained at the rearward end of the cylinder and is adapted to travel longitudinally through the slot which is dynamically sealed by a flexible strip as the shuttle passes through the slot to preserve thrust pressure within the cylinder.

Abstract: A retarder and friction brake system having vehicle service brakes and a shaft brake unit having a hydrodynamic retarder and friction brake. Manual brake controls provide for initial brake apply of the brake unit and then apply of the service brakes or independent apply of the service brakes. The brake unit has a dual chamber, hydrodynamic retarder with opposed bladed stators and a central rotor member having opposed bladed rotors mounted between the stator members for limited axial movement and rotation with a drum fixed to the shaft, and a friction brake having plates located concentrically within the retarder chambers on opposite sides of the rotor and splined to the drum and stators and a brake apply motor.

Abstract: A brake to decelerate the driving movement of an actuating rod along an axis. The actuating rod is driven relative to a frame by an actuating mechanism. The actuating rod has an external tapered surface whose lateral dimension decreases in the direction in which it is driven. The brake includes a case attachable to the frame which contains within it a peripheral cylindrical brake band and a wedge member. The wedge member has an outer wall, and a tapered inside wall with substantially the same taper angle as the actuating rod. The wedge member and the brake member are disposed inside a passage in the case, with the brake band disposed between the case wall and the wedge member. There is a spacing between the wall of the passage and the outer wall of the brake band. The tapered inside wall is axially aligned with at least a portion of the inside wall of the brake band.

Abstract: A liquid-cooled heavy duty brake assembly including a number of rotor discs for cooperation with stator discs for braking an external rotating body connected to the rotor discs which is to be selectively braked. The rotors and stators are normally biased apart, but are movable toward each other along the direction of the axis of rotation of the rotor discs in order to effect braking. The casing for the assembly is closed and includes heat exchanging portions around the periphery thereof, including fins extending inwardly toward the axis of rotation of the rotor discs, and the casing is filled to less than capacity with cooling liquid.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pressure-regulating valve which serves to control friction brakes dependent on the braking effect of a hydrodynamic brake. In order to achieve a full pressure decrease in the friction brakes, these are connected to an unpressurized reservoir while the hydrodynamic brake is operating at full effect.

Abstract: A panhead for mounting, panning and tilting instruments such as cameras, the panhead having an adjustable drag system accomplished by providing a pressurized compartment for each of the shafts for panning and tilting, each of the shafts being provided with a flange having pre-loaded roller bearings operating against both surfaces of the flange. The compartment is filled with extremely viscous fluid under pressure, operating against the force of a spring loaded piston within the tilting shaft, the pressure, and consequently the drag, being reducible from the pre-set pressure by an adjustment screw urging the piston against the force of its spring. The tilting shaft assembly is provided at the opposite end thereof with a crank coacting with a spring assembly to provide a counter-balancing moment to offset the moment due to the shift in the center of gravity of the instrument during tilting thereof, the spring force being adjustable to compensate for varying weights of different instruments.

Abstract: A control system for a hydrokinetic brake has a pressurized working fluid reservoir connected to the hydrokinetic brake by fluid feed and return lines. A regulating valve sets the pressure in the reservoir at a value related to a required braking torque. The inlet pressure of the hydrokinetic brake is maintained at a fixed value lower than the reservoir pressure, for example by an atmosphere vent, during normal braking operation so that the outlet pressure of the brake and hence the braking torque has a direct relationship with the reservoir pressure, irrespective of the rotational speed of the brake.

Abstract: In a vehicle retarder system having a retarder with discs working in oil which is continuously circulated by a pump, a tapping is taken from the oil circuit upstream of a variable but never wholly closed valve to supply oil to an actuator of the retarder. When retardation is required, the valve is partly closed to increase the pressure in the tapping and so to actuate the retarder, while the flow of cooling oil through the retarder continues.

Abstract: A slow descender includes a rope pulley and a braking apparatus which restricts the rotation speed of the rope pulley. The braking apparatus includes a mechanical braking device containing a centrifugal brake which has centrifugal weights, a V-shaped lining part cooperating with the weights, and a speed multiplying gearing device connecting the rope pulley and the centrifugal friction brake. The slow descender further includes an oil hydraulic braking device of the vane pump type or of the inscribed gear pump type.

Abstract: The brake, including a brake housing, is characterized by a housing having an inwardly extending flange forming a pressure chamber with an annular piston slidably positioned in the brake housing, and the annular piston and a secondary piston are operatively associated with opposed sides of the inwardly extending flange to form pressure chambers therewith for individual actions in the brake. Spring means operatively engage the secondary piston for moving the same into operative pressure braking position for fail safe braking operation. Air pressure is supplied to the two pressure chambers or cylinders for controlling brake release and braking action.