Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC

Alliedsignal Inc.

Alliedsignal Truck Brake Systems Company

Allied Corporation

Deere & Company

Duane R Johnson

Robert J Herbst

Craig S Haehn

Mark H Sciulli

Jeffrey J Krause

Mark A Matko

Santo A Padula

Timothy J Beckwith

James G Pugh

Gregory R Ashley

Robert J Custer

Roy E Bartholomew

Rebecca Carter

Paul O Szentkiralyi

Gary R Hendershot

Scott R Weslow

Rebecca J Carter

Gary L Vander Molen

James E Fent

Jeffrey D Szalkowski

Andrea L Morrison

Scott A Larson

Tim Beckwith

John Bias

Park E Larson

A dual-motion collar device is described, which elicits an additional motion from an operator when initiating a parking brake release in a vehicle. The collar device comprises top and bottom collars with a compressed and torsionally stressed spring there between, such that the collar device maintains a park brake plunger knob in a locked state. An operator twists the top collar to align interlocking features on the top and bottom collars, and then pushes downward to unlock the collar device. The operator then pushes downward on a park brake plunger knob around which the collar device is installed to actuate a parking brake valve assembly and release the parking brake.

Two step park brake release

Various embodiments of an adjustable simulator apparatus for testing vehicle components are disclosed herein. The apparatus can be used to test linearly translatable components, such as transmission or brake components, without connecting them to every cooperating component as they would be in a vehicle. In one embodiment, an adjustable simulator apparatus includes a housing having a bore along a generally longitudinal axis and a first retainer and a second retainer disposed in the housing and spaced apart from one another. At least one of the first and the second retainer is adjustable in its position and a compressible member is disposed between the retainers. The apparatus further includes a piston translatable within the bore and a mechanical stop disposed at least partially within the bore of the housing and extends through the second end of the compressible member.

Adjustable simulator apparatus and method for testing vehicle components

A braking assembly includes a depressible brake pedal. The brake pedal remains in a neutral position when not depressed. A link arm is mechanically linked with the brake pedal. The link arm moves as a function of a position of the brake pedal. A bell crank is mechanically linked with the link arm. The bell crank moves as a function of a position of the link arm. A stop member moves with the bell crank. The stop member abuts against the link arm to prevent the brake pedal from over-travelling beyond a predetermined distance past the neutral position after the depressed brake pedal is released.

Brake pedal stop

A night vision system that allows a video camera to continue to be operational after a power control signal, such as a headlamp switch, to the camera has been temporarily interrupted. The system is designed to avoid a camera calibration or equalization process every time the power control signal from the camera or a display unit is disrupted.

Method and apparatus of maintaining a video signal through brief interruptions of a related control signal

A fluid sensor assembly is provided for sensing a fluid property in-line. The assembly includes a body with a port for connecting the body to a fluid line and internal passage connecting the first port to a second port. The assembly also includes a sensor interface portion attached to the body and a fluid sensor that interfaces with the sensor interface portion. The fluid sensor includes a sensing element that communicates with the internal passage via the second port. The sensor and the body are fixably attached by an attaching portion to form a single, integrated part.

Fluid sensor assembly

A mechanism is provided for actuating a switch that transmits motion from a first component, which moves along a first path, to a system that is attached to the mechanism. The mechanism includes a second component that moves transverse to the first path and a third component having a switch actuating portion, wherein movement of the first component causes the third component to actuate the switch using motion that is generally along the first path.

Switch actuation method and mechanism

A mounting assembly for a night vision display unit uses friction hinges to effectively position the display unit at a desired position relative to the vehicle operator. In a dashboard mounting arrangement, the friction hinge dampens movement of the display unit. In the visor mounted arrangement, the friction hinge assembly and catch assembly ensure convenient, effective storage and deployment of the visor or display unit without one component adversely impacting on the operation and use of the other component.

Mounting assembly for night vision display unit

An electrical connector is disclosed, having a removable printed circuit board. The printed circuit board is capable of electrical connection with pins extending through a connector body and a spacer and is capable of electrical connection with lead wires. The printed circuit board has keying elements to ensure proper alignment with the pins. A lens piece cooperates with the printed circuit board to enable visibility of at least one light emitting diode on the printed circuit board. The lens piece, printed circuit board, and spacer are held in place by a collar engaged with the connector body.

Remote diagnostic unit enclosure assembly

A single piece metal clamp is provided for. The clamp includes an upper portion having a cylindrical section and a cross member section integrally connected through spaced apart left and right legs. The clamp also includes a lower portion having a base with a plurality of through holes. The upper portion and lower portion are integrally connected by a pair of spaced apart left and right legs, each leg having a corresponding right angle formed therein.

Solenoid clamp

An improved relay valve (10) having a supply port (16), a delivery port (18), an exhaust port (20), a control port (17), a relay piston (14) controlling communication between the supply port (16), the delivery port (18), and the exhaust port (20) in response to a pneumatic signal applied to the control port (17) and including a passage (40) extending through the piston (14) to the exhaust port (20) for draining to atmosphere moisture and other contaminants which build up on the top of the piston (14). A diaphragm element (30) having a cylindrical protrusion portion (36) is disposed in the piston (14) above the passage (40) to act as a check valve and seal the passage (40) when a pneumatic signal is applied to control port (17). The diaphragm element includes a top resilient portion (32) which serves as a spring to open the drain passage when no signal is applied to control port (17). Two flat areas (34) are provided on the top resilient portion (32) which prevents the diaphragm element (30) from prematurely sealing the drain hole (40). The cylindrical protrusion (36) keeps the diaphragm element (30) properly aligned in the tapered bore (44) leading to drain hole (40). A retaining ring (42) keeps diaphragm element (30) within the bore (44).

Automatic valve drain

A pilot operated relay valve (10) for an air pressure braking system includes a relay piston (16) which is responsive to the pressure at a control port (20) to open the valve (10) so that it's inlet port (38) is in free communication with it's outlet port (24). The relay piston (16) includes a balance orifice (26) which permits the outlet port (24) to communicate with the control port (20) to equalized or balance the pressure differential therebetween. A shut off valve arrangement (80,82) or a check value (90 or 92) is provided to shutoff or control flow through the balance orifice during rapid release modulation of the pressure signal for braking applied to the control port (20).

Pilot relay valve including means to control flow through a balance

A compressed air system includes an air dryer which dries compressed air before the compressed air is communicated to a reservoir. The air dryer includes a desiccant which is purged by using air stored in the reservoir. A pressure reference purge control valve is installed between the air dryer and the reservoir and includes a housing which defines a pressure reference volume. A pressure which is a function of the highest pressure level communicated to the reservoir is trapped in the reference volume. The valve permits purging only until a pressure is reached which is a predetermined pressure drop below the reference pressure level, whereupon purging is terminated.

Pressure differential control valve for compressed air system

A signal generator for generating an electrical signal which varies in accordance with movement of an actuating member includes a plunger slidable mounted within a housing which carries a pair of permanent magnets for generating a magnetic field to be applied to a hall effect generator. As the plunger is moved relative to the hall effect generator, the magnets are also moved relative to the hall effect generator, thereby varying the magnetic field applied thereto. Accordingly, a variable output signal is generated as a function of the position of the input member.

Signal generator

A relay valve for a fluid pressure braking system includes a relay piston and a load piston which is responsive to the pressure at the inlet port of the relay valve to exert a biasing force on the relay piston loading the latter against the inlet/exhaust valve. The biasing force is opposed by fluid pressure at the inlet port acting across the effective area of the inlet/exhaust valve. The biasing force is greater than the spring force holding the inlet/exhaust valve closed, so that the valve responds immediately to pressure signals transmitted through the control port of the relay valve.

Growing community of inventors

Wellington, OH, United States of America

Duane R Johnson