5925results about "Braking element arrangements" patented technology

Described herein are devices, systems, and methods for managing the power consumption of an automotive vehicle, and thereby for optimizing the power consumption of the vehicle. The devices and systems for managing the power consumption of the vehicle typically include power management logic that can calculate an applied power for the vehicle engine based on information provided from the external environment of the vehicle, the operational status of the vehicle, one or more command inputs from a driver, and one or more operational parameters of the vehicle.

Method for monitoring a cargo container in which a transmitter is arranged on the container and periodically transmits messages to a remote site or location according to a schedule of messages. When a message is not received according to the schedule, which may be the result of tampering with the transmitter or another nefarious action involving the container, it may be considered that the container has been stolen. A rate of transmission of the messages may be modified based on a condition of the vehicle, such as the presence of a driver inside the vehicle, a distance between a driver inside the vehicle and the vehicle, the vehicle being at rest after motion of the vehicle stops, a location of the vehicle, biometric identification of a driver of the vehicle and deviation of the vehicle from an expected route, and / or based on current time and weather around the vehicle.

A hybrid vehicle includes a powertrain having a retarded diesel engine, an electric machine and energy storage system. The engine and motor are operatively coupled through one or more planetary gearsets and selective coupling paths in accordance with application and release of various torque transfer devices to a drivetrain via an output. Regenerative and retarded engine braking are coordinated to provide priority to energy return to an energy storage system in accordance with predetermined power flow limits. Power flow in excess of the limits are handled by increased engine retard braking contributions via engine speed increases.

A hybrid vehicle includes a powertrain having a retarded diesel engine, an electric machine and energy storage system. The engine and motor are operatively coupled through one or more planetary gearsets and selective coupling paths in accordance with application and release of various torque transfer devices to a drivetrain via an output. Regenerative and retarded engine braking are coordinated to provide priority to energy return to an energy storage system in accordance with predetermined power flow limits.

Novel composite disc brake rotor assemblies are provided, along with novel and efficient methods for manufacturing them. Preferably, the rotor assemblies comprise annular wear plates formed of particle reinforced aluminum-based metal matrix composite (MMC), ceramic matrix composite (CMC), or of ‘carbon graphite foam.’ The wear plates, made of a first material, are attached to annular surfaces of a central rotor, made of a second material, by fusing bonding layers between the wear plates and the rotor surfaces. The bonding layers are comprised of at least one of a metal alloy having a melting temperature lower than that of either the first or second materials, and a high-temperature adhesive. Preferably, the wear plates comprise projections that are positioned within adjacent receiving recesses in the center rotor. The bonding layers and projections enhance thermal and acoustical transference between the wear plates and the center rotor section. Carbon graphite foam provides for substantially enhanced heat transference. Use of the fusable binding layer, or adhesive provides for an efficient, low cost method of manufacturing for composite disc brake rotor assemblies.

A system for a hybrid vehicle driver by an operator, comprising of an energy storage device, a regenerative braking system coupled to the energy storage device, a dissipative braking system coupled to the vehicle, a brake lever, a haptic operator interface, and a control system for operating one or both of the regenerative and dissipative braking system in response to actuation of the brake lever, and providing feedback to the operator through the haptic interface differentiating a type of braking operation.

All all-terrain vehicle has a shiftable transmission that is coupled to a variable speed V-belt transmission. The variable speed V-belt transmission is joined to a crankshaft through a centrifugal clutching arrangement. The shiftable transmission enables an operator to go between low, high, neutral, reverse, and park. In the park position, the transmission is locked from substantial rotation such that the engaged wheels of the all-terrain vehicle are also locked from substantial rotation, whether or not the engine speed is sufficient to allow the centrifugal clutch to be engaged with the variable speed transmission.

The invention concerns a starter / generator for an internal combustion engine (1), especially that of a motor vehicle, with an electric rotary-field machine (4), which exercises the starter and generator function; and at least one invertor (17) for generating the voltages and / or currents of variable frequency, amplitude and / or phase required for the magnetic fields of the electric machine (4); wherein the electric machine (4) starts the internal combustion engine (1) by merging in from standstill.

Smart Active Tyre Pressure Optimising System [TPOS]102 is a highly time sensitive design and technique that acts instantaneously in sensing and controlling the tire pressure particularly in imminent and inevitable critical driving situations to reduce emergency & high speed breaking distance, mitigate—loss of traction, hydroplaning, roll over, loss of stability, over & under steering, break failure, loss of control due to puncture by smartly sensing, perform context aware computing and directing the Tyre Pressure Control Units [TPCU]104 to instantaneously control the tyre pressure in right time with right pressure on right tyres thereby actively controlling the footprint and sidewall deformation rate to enhance traction & stability simultaneously sustaining drivability or steerability ultimately to avoid or reduce the impact of collusion and overcome or mitigate critical situations for protecting the vehicles, occupants, pedestrians and other objects around or on the way; also according to design, configurations and scenarios the system instantaneously optimises the tyre pressure on all tyres for further safe driving till next restoration else restores the pressure to optimum preset value utilising inbuilt reservoir or other external restoration systems immediately after the vehicle overcomes the critical situation to continue with safe and comfortable driving. In critical situations TPOS performs sensing, pre computing, current computing for controlling the tire pressure during critical situation, post computing to optimise tire pressure after overcoming accordingly. TPOS 102 utilise smart and adaptive closed loop processing algorithm with predetermined and tested lookup table to instantaneously check and compare the effects between predetermined and tested real world scenarios to the actual real world scenarios for actively sensing, computing and controlling the tire pressure accordingly to mitigate the critical situations. The controlling of tyre pressure is computed mainly based on parameters comprising of sensor system, vehicle safety and stability systems, nature of breaking & break force distribution, tires upper & lower cut-off pressure values, sensing reservoirs and tires internal & external pressure, temperature, moisture, humidity, wheel & tire specifications, vehicle & wheel speed, acceleration & deceleration, vehicle orientation & axial rotation, transverse motion & lateral acceleration, tires position or angle of attack, load & torque distribution, tire traction, steering position, cornering effects, change in Centre of gravity, over & under steering, hydroplaning, sensing road conditions, etc and to further enhance the efficiency, the system interoperates with vehicles existing safety and stability systems like ABS, EBD, ESC, TCS, Rollover mitigation systems, ECU, BA, Precrash systems, suspension & vertical dynamics, radar assisted auto breaking, cruise control system, aerodynamics & airbrakes etc. Other aspects of present invention are controlling the tire temperature according to environmental temperature, moisture and humidity thereby to enhance traction and vary tire pressure according to change in centre of gravity & load, driving modes—comfort, standard and sports modes.

A brake unit comprising at least one brake and at least one brake pad having at least one friction lining is described. The brake has a disk brake with a brake rotor made of a ceramic-metal composite (CMC) whose outer surface or surfaces at least partially form a friction surface for the at least one friction lining, and a disk brake cup that is mounted on the disk brake by way of one or more mounting elements. The friction surface of the disk brake has a hardness of approximately 1600 to 2500 HV, and the at least one friction lining has a coefficient of friction of approximately 0.3 to 0.5. The disk brake cup and / or the mounting elements form a corrosion-inhibiting attachment to the disk brake. The brake unit can be operated in corrosion-free fashion over a service life of at least approximately eight to 10 years or approximately 200,000 to 300,000 km.

An anti-theft vehicle system for a vehicle wheel having a rotational axis includes a linear actuator disposed within the vehicle wheel for operatively engaging and disengaging an interior surface of the vehicle wheel to resist and allow rotational movement of the vehicle wheel about the rotational axis. The anti-theft vehicle system further includes a receiver mounted within the vehicle wheel to receive a signal to activate the linear actuator.

A vehicle includes a chassis and a plurality of wheel assemblies articulated with the chassis, each of the plurality of wheel assemblies comprising a rotatable wheel spaced away from the chassis. A vehicle includes a chassis and an articulated suspension system mounted to the chassis. A method includes comprising articulating at least one of a plurality of wheel assemblies with a chassis, each of the wheel assemblies including a rotatable wheel spaced apart from the chassis. A vehicle includes a chassis and articulatable means for rolling the chassis along a path.

A cab extender assembly (200) for selectively manipulating an aerodynamic drag of a vehicle (100) is provided. The cab extender assembly includes a dynamic cab extender (206a) and a control system (208) coupled to the dynamic cab extender. The control system is adapted to selectively position the dynamic cab extender between a stowed position, a deployed position in which the dynamic cab extender is substantially aligned with a side of the vehicle, and a braking position in which the dynamic cab extender is at least partially disposed into an airstream passing along the side of the vehicle to increase a drag coefficient of the vehicle. The cab extender assembly may also include a fixed cab extender (204a) substantially aligned with the dynamic cab extender when the dynamic cab extender is in the deployed position. A method of operating a cab extender assembly is also disclosed.

An electromechanical system and system are provided where a controller generates an electrical drive signal for an actuator using power from a power source. A capacitor stores electrical energy and avails the stored energy to the controller when a voltage potential of the store electrical energy is higher than the supply voltage of the power source. The stored electrical energy may originate from the power source and / or regenerative energy produced by the actuator.

A braking regeneration and propulsion system for a passive trailer including wheels with axles includes a gear box to be operatively coupled to the axle; a motor / generator operatively coupled to the gear box; an energy storage system for storing captured energy and supplying energy; and a control computer to assist deceleration of the passive trailer by causing the axle to drive the motor / generator via the gear box and supply energy to the energy storage system during deceleration, and, assist acceleration of the passive trailer by causing the motor / generator to draw energy from the energy storage system and drive the wheels via the gear box and axle during acceleration.

Method for monitoring a cargo container in which a transmitter is arranged on the container and periodically transmits messages to a remote site or location according to a schedule of messages. When a message is not received according to the schedule, which may be the result of tampering with the transmitter or another nefarious action involving the container, it may be considered that the container has been stolen. A rate of transmission of the messages may be modified based on a condition of the vehicle, such as the presence of a driver inside the vehicle, a distance between a driver inside the vehicle and the vehicle, the vehicle being at rest after motion of the vehicle stops, a location of the vehicle, biometric identification of a driver of the vehicle and deviation of the vehicle from an expected route, and / or based on current time and weather around the vehicle.

A method of using one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations to assist a train consist up an uphill climb, the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations each having one or more diesel electric locomotives and one or more separate energy storage cars, including adding the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations to the train consist prior to an uphill climb; using the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations to assist the train consist up the uphill climb; and removing the one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations from the train consist after the uphill climb. The one or more electric locomotive and energy storage car combinations are added to a train consist traveling downhill to assist with the downhill slowing through dynamic braking regeneration that is used to recharge the energy storage of the one or more separate energy storage cars.

A wheeled walker with wheels that are at least seven inches in diameter while having a seat with its top surface less than 20 inches high and accommodating a full size basket by using an inverted “u” shaped lower cross member with spacers that cushion the basket. Spacers carried on a rear upper cross member cushion the seat. The basket includes a pair of opposing vertical wires of substantially greater thickness than adjacent vertical metal wires and which extend upwardly into hooks that support the basket on a front upper cross member. A tubular seat back bears a tubular cushion having a radius of curvature such that the rearmost depth is about 3 to 8 inches, preferably 4 to 7 inches, most preferably 6½ inches, and the arc angle is about 110 to 120 degrees, preferably about 112 to 116 degrees, most preferably about 114 degrees. The tubular seat back is carried on tubular members received in respective opposing tubular receptors, each having an aperture receiving a latch locking the seat back to front legs of the wheeled walker that is spring loaded to jut from the aperture and which is connected by a lever to a release button jutting from another aperture.

A brake apparatus for a vehicle controls braking force acting on front wheels by hydraulic braking force (front-wheel-side vacuum-booster hydraulic pressure fraction+linear-valve differential pressure fraction), which is frictional braking force, and regenerative braking force, and controls braking force acting on rear wheels by hydraulic braking force (rear-wheel-side vacuum-booster hydraulic pressure fraction) only, to thereby perform regeneration-coordinative brake control. During performance of ABS control, the apparatus sets the limit regenerative braking force to a force under which locking of the front wheels does not occur in a case in which the force acts on the front wheels, which are wheels undergoing regenerative braking, and adjusts the regenerative braking force such that the regenerative braking force does not exceed the limit regenerative braking force.

The invention concerns a starter / generator for an internal combustion engine (1), especially that of a motor vehicle, with an electric rotary-field machine (4), which exercises the starter and generator function; and at least one invertor (17) for generating the voltages and / or currents of variable frequency, amplitude and / or phase required for the magnetic fields of the electric machine (4); wherein the electric machine (4) starts the internal combustion engine (1) by merging in from standstill.

A hybrid vehicle is provided with a first transmission passage for transmitting driving force of an engine to driving wheels and a second transmission passage for transmitting driving force of a driving motor to the driving wheels, and driven by selectively using or in combination of the first transmission passage and the second transmission passage. The hybrid vehicle includes: a first input gear for inputting the driving force of the engine; a second input gear for inputting the driving force of the driving motor; and an idle gear meshed with the first input gear and the second input gear, and transmitting at least one of the driving force of the engine and the driving force of the driving motor toward the driving wheels. The driving force to be input from at least one of the first input gear and the second input gear is transmitted to the driving wheels via the idle gear and the final differential gears.

An axial fixing device for axially fixing an annular brake disk on a wheel hub of a motor vehicle, the annular brake disk having the same axis of rotation as the hub and including radial ventilation ducts regularly distributed about its periphery. According to the invention, the hub has axial guide pieces in relief, or "lugs", for co-operating with fluting in an inner peripheral edge of the disk to center the disk, to lock it angularly, and to guide it axially relative to the hub, each lug of the hub having a radial through channel for co-operating with a corresponding ventilation duct of the disk, and the disk is held axially in the hub with play by axial holding means disposed between the disk and the hub.

An improved electronic braking system for walkers that incorporates one or more electrically-operated brakes controlled by an electronic controller is disclosed. The controller is responsive to touch-sensitive switches for easy operation, and is adjustable and responsive to operator patterns of use to provide individualized control of the brake operation. The controller may also be responsive to environmental conditions such as the slope of the ground over which the walker is moving, to its rate of motion, or to the distance between the walker frame and the user, and may be adjusted to accommodate for the weight of the user or to set limits to the speed at which it can move.

The present invention relates to a cordless braking system for a mobility-aiding device, such as a wheeled walker (a rollator) or a transport chair. The cordless braking system includes a brake actuating linkage, disposed inside the leg and handlebar members of the mobility-aiding device, which extends during height adjustment of the handlebars. The brake-actuating linkage and the leg / handlebar of the mobility-aiding device are designed to enable a locking pin or bolt to extend all the way therethrough to ensure that all of the height-adjustable members are secured together during use.

A control valve assembly (43) for use in a system in which a pump-motor unit (35) can either receive drive torque from a drive-line (17) or transmit torque thereto. The system includes a high pressure accumulator (41) and the control valve assembly is disposed between the pump-motor unit and the accumulator, and includes a mode valve (45) normally biased closed by pressure in a control cavity (89), the fluid pressure in which is controlled by a pilot valve assembly (49) in response to an electrical signal (133). A step-orifice valve (47) associated with the mode valve poppet member (79) provides a relatively larger orifice (115) into the control cavity (89) when pressure therein is high, and a relatively smaller orifice (119) into the control cavity when pressure therein is low, i.e., when the pilot valve assembly (49) is open. Thus, a large volume of flow can occur from the accumulator to the unit (35) in a motoring mode, with a relatively low pressure drop, while the poppet member is able to have softer, relatively longer opening time, but a relatively faster closing time.

The present invention broadly comprises a brake disc having superior cooling characteristics and a method for manufacturing brake discs with superior cooling characteristics. The brake disc has at least one slot arranged at an angle greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees with respect to a radius of said disc passing through said slot. The angle can be selected to enhance cooling under specified conditions. Slots in the disc can open to an inner or outer perimeter of the disc or may be fully enclosed within the disc. The shape and width of the slots and the spacing between the slots can be selected to enhance cooling properties of the disc.

The method includes detecting a brake pedal operation. Thereafter, calculating a non-driven wheel braking force applied to a non-driven wheel of the electric vehicle according to the brake pedal operation. Subsequently, calculating a target braking force for a driven wheel corresponding to the non-driven wheel braking force. Then, calculating an available regenerative braking force for the driven wheel. The method then compares the target braking force and the available regenerative braking force for the driven wheel. The method also controls regenerative braking and hydraulic braking of the driven wheel on the basis of the comparison of the target braking force and the available regenerative braking force for the driven wheel.