Abstract: A system and method for an electromechanically actuable parking brake for motor vehicles, which is embodied as a drum brake of the “duo-servo” type. The parking brake has a brake actuating device which can be actuated by an electromechanical actuator, is designed as an expander element and acts on two brake shoes, the expander element being supported via a spring energy storage device, may be designed as a diaphragm spring assembly, and being spreadable by a predetermined length of travel, when the parking brake is actuated, to apply an application force. In order to provide a sufficiently large hot parking travel, the length of travel travelled by the expander element to apply the application force when the parking brake is actuated can be moved as a function of at least one motor vehicle state parameter.

Abstract: A method for controlling a self-energizing disc brake having an electric actuator in which an activation force applied to the actuator is amplified using a self-energizing device arranged between the actuator and brake lining is described. The method has a brake application unit for applying at least one brake lining to one side of a brake disc by carrying out an application movement of the brake lining relative to the brake disc, the application movement having at least a first movement component in a direction parallel to a rotational axis of the brake disc and a second movement component in a direction tangential to the rotational axis of the brake disc. The method includes also controlling at least one electromotive drive for activating the brake application unit. Rotation of the shaft of the electromotive drive is converted to a non-linear displacement of the brake pad in the tangential direction.

Abstract: A method for charging an aircraft braking system for use includes monitoring actuations of an aircraft braking system to identify where generating usage and non-wear generating usage of the aircraft braking system, and charging the aircraft braking system for use based on the identified usage of the aircraft braking system. An apparatus for monitoring usage of aircraft brakes and charging the aircraft brakes for usage includes at least one sensor for sensing a brake output parameter when the aircraft brakes are actuated and providing signals indicative of values of the sensed brake output parameter. The apparatus further includes a processing system for processing the signals and determining whether an actuation of the aircraft brakes is a wear generating usage or a non-wear generating usage and operating a pricing scheme based on actuation of the aircraft brakes and the associated usage.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the usage of brake members of an aircraft braking system. The system makes a separate record of each brake actuation in which there is relative movement of the brake member's facing friction surfaces which causes wear, determines the types of brake usage and operates a pricing/payment scheme to charge for brake usage.

Abstract: A brake control apparatus comprises: a braking force applying mechanism that brakes a wheel by pressing a friction member upon supply of a working fluid; and a control portion that computes a target value set for controlling the pressure of the working fluid by utilizing a detected temperature of the friction member so as to restrain fluctuations of the effect of the brake caused by temperature changes of the friction member. The control portion restricts the utilization of the detected temperature in the computation of the target value in case a decline of the detection accuracy of the friction member temperature is predicted to restrain the influence of the decline of the estimation accuracy of the friction member temperature on the braking force control.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the usage of brake members of an aircraft braking system. The system makes a separate record of each brake actuation in which there is relative movement of the brake member's facing friction surfaces which causes wear, determines the types of brake usage and operates a pricing/payment scheme to charge for brake usage.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the applications of carbon-carbon brakes of an aircraft to determine brake condition and operate a brake maintenance program or charge a brake system user. The system and method includes monitoring each actuation of the brakes and making a separate record of each actuation of the brakes in which there is relative movement of the facing friction surfaces that cause wear, and from that separate record determining brake usage. The monitoring may include measuring changes and processing the signals to distinguish between those which fall below and those which are above a threshold value. The method and system may comprise sensing a plurality of braking parameters having values dependent upon the wear in the system and different faults of the system, and identifying and recording wear and faults based on combinations of values of the parameters.

Abstract: An adjuster arrangement for maintaining first and second brake shoes of a brake between a minimum and a maximum clearance with respect to a drum. The adjuster arrangement has a pawl located on a pivot pin on the first brake shoe and an arm that engages a star wheel of an expandable strut. A first leg of a thermo clip is held against the first brake shoe by the pivot pin and receives thermal energy generated during a brake application. During a brake application, the pawl pivots on the pin and imparts a rotary torque to the star wheel to expand the strut to create a maximum clearance while at the same time a predetermined temperature generated during a brake application acts on the thermo clip to moves the pawl out of engagement with the star wheel to prevent rotating the star wheel and thereby sustain a minimum clearance.

Abstract: An automatic shoe clearance adjustment apparatus having a ratchet wheel 124b and a driving member 127 comprising a pawl section 127f making a ratchet engagement with the ratchet wheel 124b and an arcuate leaf spring section 127e developing a resilient force for adjusting the automatic shoe clearance adjustment apparatus. The leaf spring section 127e is made of bi-metal. When the temperature of the leaf spring section 127e exceeds the predetermined degree, the arcuate leaf spring section 127e thermo-deflects so as to weaken the resilient force, thereby the automatic shoe clearance adjusting operation is suspended.

Abstract: An adjuster for a strut located between first and second friction members for a drum brake. The strut has a shaft that is free to rotate in a first end member and threaded into the second end member. A lever pivots during a brake application and engages a ratchet wheel on the shaft to rotates the shaft and expand the strut to maintain a minimum running clearance with respect to a rotatable member. A bi-metal coil strip that is fixed to the strut has a free end that is aligned with the lever arm. The strip responds to a predetermined temperature by moving the lever arm away from the ratchet wheel such movement of the lever does not rotate the ratchet wheel and expand the strut. Thus, on termination of a brake application a current running clearance is sustained without being affected by the predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A drum brake device prevents shoe clearance over-adjustment by using a thermo-sensitive member with a lower leg opening force and provides a smaller thermo-sensitive member with a lower cost. A portion between both ends of the brake lever (50) in a direction of crossing the shoe return inhibitor (61) engages with one end of the shoe return inhibitor (61) automatically restricting the return position of the pair of brake shoes (20) and (30); the proximate portion (50a) of the brake lever (50) is pivotally supported on the brake shoe (20); and the free end (50b) of the brake lever (50) is supported at an end nipple (54) of a brake cable (52) via the thermo-sensitive member (73).

Abstract: System and method for monitoring the applications of the brakes, e.g. of an aircraft to determine brake condition and operate a brake maintenance programme or charge a brake system user. It is desirable to have accurate information for determining the condition and predicting the life of carbon-carbon brake discs. This is important for safety as well as commercial reasons. The number of landings of an aircraft is often used as a determinant for such as lifetime warranties for brake discs and recommended maintenance periods. However, at least for carbon disc brakes, this may not be entirely accurate. For example such brake discs also wear during taxiing. The system and method herein includes monitoring each actuation of the brakes and making a separate record of each actuation of the brakes in which there is relative movement of the facing friction surfaces that cause wear, and from that separate record determining brake usage.

Abstract: A brake adjuster for adjusting the working clearance of the shoes of an automotive drum brake, the adjuster including three co-axial elements a first rod element (25) having a head portion for engagement with a first brake shoe and a threaded stem portion, an intermediate element (28) in threaded engagement with the first rod element and a second rod element (27) having a head portion for engagement with a second brake shoe and a stem portion slideably connected with the intermediate element (28) and free to rotate relative thereto. A reaction member (30) is mounted on the intermediate element (28) and a ring gear (35) is provided on the intermediate element which is axially located between the second rod element and the reaction member. A leaf spring (31) acts between the second rod element (27) and the reaction member (30) for pushing the second rod element away from the intermediate element (28).

Abstract: A drum brake device prevents shoe clearance over-adjustment by means of a thermo-sensitive member with a lower leg opening force and provides a smaller thermo-sensitive member with a lower cost. A portion between both ends of the brake lever (50) in a direction of crossing the shoe return inhibitor (61) engages with one end of the shoe return inhibitor (61) automatically restricting the return position of the pair of brake shoes (20) and (30); the proximate portion (50a) of the brake lever (50) is pivotally supported on the brake shoe (20); and the free end (50b) side of the brake lever (50) is supported at the brake shoe (20) via the thermo-sensitive member (70).

Abstract: A disc brake having a ball-in-ramp actuator retained in a caliper for supplying a piston with a static clamping force to move first and second friction members into frictional engagement with a rotor to effect a parking brake application. The clamping force is transmitted from the ball-in-ramp actuator into the piston through an adjustment screw mechanism. The disc brake being susceptible to a thermal expansion and a thermal contraction and as a result the effect of the clamping force applied to bring the first and second friction members into engagement with the rotor may change during a time period that the parking brake application is initiated until it is terminated.

Abstract: An automatic stroke adjustment device for a brake actuator having clutch rings (240, 340, 440, 540, 546, 640) making an irreversible screw engagement relatively rotatable for the amount of exceeding the backlash by releasing the clutch engagement to rotate when exceeding the backlash of reversible screw engagement and maintaining the clutch engagement when in releasing the brake actuator while the brake actuator is in an active state to improve the processability, reduce the weight, and prevent overadjustment of the shoe clearance during the thermal expansion of the brake drum.

Abstract: A shoe clearance over-adjustment prevention apparatus employable to various types of automatic shoe clearance adjustment devices and drum brakes and designable to have a common thermo-sensitive member suitable for mass production. The thermo-sensitive member 60 is sandwiched between the strut 20 and the brake lever 30 to cause a functional engagement, and if the brake temperature reaches a predetermined value or range, the strut 20 is pushed toward the brake shoe 12 so as to disable the automatic shoe clearance adjustment operation.

Abstract: In a clearance compensator, a rod (12) is fixed to one of the shoes of the brake and is slidable in an intermediate element (13) threadably engaged in another rod (11) secured to the other shoe. A heat-sensitive bi-metallic strip (18) projects from a leaf spring (14) operable to urge the rod (12) away from the intermediate element (13). The bi-metallic strip (18) is orientated substantially tangentially of a ratchet wheel (17) fixed to the intermediate element (13); at its free end, the bi-metallic strip (18) has a stop element (18a) for engaging the ratchet wheel (17). At temperatures above a predetermined value, the strip (18) assumes a heat-induced deflected condition in which the stop element (18a) is disengaged from the wheel (17).

Abstract: A brake adjuster comprises a variable length strut (16) having two end portions (30, 31) and an intermediate portion (32) therebetween which is in screw threaded engagement with one of the end portions (31). A pawl (39) is attached to the other end portion (30) and engages an array of ratchet teeth (38) the intermediate portion (32). As the end portions of the strut (30, 31) move apart during a brake application the pawl (39) rides up a flank of a ratchet tooth (38a) and if the movement apart exceeds a predetermined amount engages behind the tooth (38a). When the end portions (30, 31) move towards each other in the next brake disengagement, the intermediate portion (32) is rotated relative to said one of the end portions (31) to increase the effective length of the strut (16). The pawl (39) may be bi-metallic and arranged to disengage the ratchet teeth (38) if the temperature of the adjuster rises above a predetermined level.

Abstract: A disc brake oil-adjusting device for bikes includes a handle, a main cylinder and an auxiliary cylinder having one end communication with the main cylinder and the other end protruding out of the handle. An adjusting device screws with the interior of the auxiliary cylinder and has an adjusting rod and turning button combined with a tail end of the adjusting rod. A protective cover and a grip are pivotally connected with the handle, and the protective cover has an opening for receiving the turning button so as to be located near the grip and turned to move the adjusting rod move so as to control the auxiliary cylinder in its capacity to absorb excessive brake oil, lowering the temperature of the disc to keep safety in running a bike.

Abstract: A adjustment lever (80) has dual-functions characterized in that when an actuating force to a brake shoe (20) to move outward reaches predetermined magnitude, a device (80g) prevents over-adjustment of shoe-to-drum clearances disables a device (70) to restrict return positions of brake shoes inhibiting the brake shoes movement in the direction to separate each other and when a brake temperature rises certain degree, a device (80d) to prevent over-adjustment of brake shoe-to-drum clearances disables the device (70) to restrict return position inhibiting the brake shoe movement as well.

Abstract: An automatic shoe clearance adjustment device for a drum brake device which improves the ease of assembly of the bimetal member and prevents misassembly of the device. The adjuster 11 has a screw mechanism which automatically extends in response to the excessive opening of the brake shoes 2, 3. The bimetal member 15, which suspends the extension of the adjuster 11 according to the brake temperature increase, is provided between the parts constituting the adjuster 11. The bimetal member 15 is assembled together with and affixed to a non-rotating segment constituting the adjuster 11.