The Bendix Corporation

Alliedsignal Inc.

Allied Corporation

Robert Bosch Technology Corporation

David D Jordan

Alistair G Taig

Jack Martinic

Kevin B Parks

Peter R Johnson

Eugene G Wright

Howard J Childs

A master cylinder (12) for use in a brake system. The master cylinder (14) has a housing (22) with a bore (20) therein connected by a radial port (28) and an axial port with a reservoir (32) and to the brake system through first (34) and second (36) outlet ports. First (42) and second (44) pistons located in the bore (20) are separated by a first resilient means (46) to define a first chamber (50) while the second piston (44) is separated from the bottom (21) of the bore (20) by a second resilient means (48) to define a second chamber (52). The first and second resilient means (46,48) each include a first spring (90) which is caged between a first retainer (94) and a second retainer (96) by a linkage member (98) and a second spring (92). The linkage member (98) has a head (126) which engages the first retainer (94) and an end (128) which engages the second retainer (96) to hold the first spring (90) between the first (94) and second (96) retainers. The first chamber (50) is connected to the radial port (28) through an axial passage (76) in the second piston (44) while the second chamber (52) is directly connected to the axial port in the housing (22) to communicate fluid between the reservoir (32) and the bore (20). The first (42) and second (44) pistons respond to an input force by initially moving within the bore (20) to compress the first springs (90,90') of the first (46) and second (48) resilient means and allow the second springs (92,92') to move heads (126,126') of the linkage members (98,98') into respective engagement with the second piston (44) to seal axial passage (76) and the axial port of the housing (22) to terminate communication between the bore and the reservoir.

Center port compensation valving for a master cylinder

In a master cylinder (20), a cap (30) for guiding a primary piston (50) is located within an end opening (24) of a body (22) of the master cylinder (20). The end cap (30) retains a sleeve (40) and other components within a bore (12) of the master cylinder (20), and is attached to the body (22) of the master cylinder (20) by way of a biasing retention mechanism (45; 145, 150; 260). The mechanism (45; 145, 150; 260) may bias the end cap (30) axially inwardly of the bore (12), bias a gripping ring member (145) radially outwardly into engagement with the body (22) of the master cylinder (20), and retain a first end (32) of the end cap (30) within the bore (12) in accordance with the extent to which the first end (32) is inserted axially into the bore (12).

Master cylinder with non-threaded end cap retention

A connection for press fitting and securing together a reservoir (40) to a master cylinder housing (10) comprises a master cylinder housing extension (12) having an end (14) with an exterior abutment (16) and an enlarged interior diameter section (20) which provides a shoulder (22). An annular seal (30) is received within the enlarged interior diameter section (20) with a flat edge (34) of the seal (30) engaging the shoulder (22) and extending radially inwardly relative to the housing extension (12). A retainer member (50) is annular shaped and includes a horizontal portion (52) with a central opening (54), the horizontal portion (52) extending into a substantially orthogonally disposed side portion (56) that has a plurality of curved fingers (58). The retainer member (50) is snap fitted over end (14) of the housing extension (12) so that the fingers (58) resiliently engage the exterior abutment (16) and the horizontal portion ( 52) retains the seal (30) within the enlarged interior diameter section (20). A reservoir abutment (48) on a reservior extension (42) engages the flat edge of the seal (30) so that the retainer member (50) retains the seal (30) and reservoir extension (42) within the housing extension (12).

Master cylinder and reservoir connection

A universal joint comprises a housing receiving an input assembly and an output assembly. The assemblies include bearing shoes rotatable within the housing and a pair of wedge-like elements are engageable with the housing and the bearing shoes to accommodate wear and manufacturing tolerances for the universal joint.

Universal joint with clearance elimination elements

A universal joint 10 includes an input assembly (12), an output assembly (14) and a housing (16) which is rotatable with the input and output assemblies. A pilot assembly (70) is carried within the housing (16) on the input assembly (12) and output assembly (14) to control the angle formed between the input assembly (12) and the output assembly (14).

Universal joint

A hydraulic control apparatus includes rotatable input and output members (32, 36), relative rotation of which supplies presurized fluid from a fluid pressure source (16) to a working chamber of a hydraulic actuator (44). The members are arranged coaxially end-to-end and each member defines a transverse slot (74, 76) confronting a similar slot on the other member. A resilient member (80, 82) is received in the transverse slots and engages both input and output members to substantially prevent rotational slack therebetween.

Hydraulic control apparatus

A universal joint for connecting a pair of elongated members is disclosed. The joint provides for transmission of torque between the pair of members when the pair of members are oriented at various angles relative to each other. One of the members terminates in a cavity, or housing, which is substantially cylindrical. The other member extends into the cavity and a pair of sockets cooperate with the other member to secure the latter within the cavity. The pair of sockets include outer surfaces which substantially match with the cylindrical cavity surface to enable the pair of sockets to rotate in a plane relative to the one member. The pair of sockets include projections which are received in an opening on the other member to enable the other member to pivot relative to the pair of sockets and the one member in substantially perpendicular plane. At least one of the sockets is shiftable in a direction along the major axis of the member receiving the projections in order to reduce the maximum dimension of the pair of sockets and the member to permit the pair of sockets and the member to be accommodated within the housing. When accommodated within the housing, the socket is shiftable into its operative position wherein both sockets substantially engage the wall of the cavity. The shiftable socket includes a locking member opening designed to accommodate a locking member for locking the socket with respect to the other member when the socket is in its operative position with respect to the other member.

A steering linkage includes a housing which movably supports a sleeve member within a housing bore. The sleeve carries a socket which receives a stud and the stud extends through openings in the sleeve member and the housing. A flexible boot sealingly engages the stud and the housing to retain lubricant within the housing bore and keep out contaminants. As the stud is movable relative to the housing and sleeve member openings, the stud carries a resilient ring opposing the flexible boot to prevent the flexible boot from coming in contact with the sleeve and housing openings, thereby preventing the flexible boot from being pinched by the movable parts within the housing bore. The resilient ring is larger in diameter than the sleeve member opening and is disposed substantially within the housing opening.

Growing community of inventors

South Bend, IN, United States of America

David D Jordan