Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC

Alliedsignal Inc.

Allied Corporation

University of Delaware

John G Nosse

Charles E Eberling

John V Ripley

Ron R Stahl

James E Szudy

Richard W Carmichael

Terrill G Kocsis

Clyde R Wolfli

An apparatus and method for preventing parking brake-caused disabling of a vehicle is provided. In at least one of the vehicle's parking brake release actuators' supply lines there is provided a flow arrangement which allows parking brake release fluid to flow to and from the release actuator when its supply line is undamaged, and restricts flow from the release pressure source when the line between the flow arrangement and the actuator is damaged. The flow arrangement may be a pilot-operated, non-graduated control valve, a combination of a pressure protection valve and a check valve arranged in parallel, a velocity-sensing check valve, or any other device or combination of devices which provide the damaged line shutoff or metering functionality. Such an arrangement prevents automatic application of the parking brake by releasing pressure from all of the vehicle's parking brake actuators, thereby precluding automatic vehicle immobilization following damage at one wheel end.

Apparatus and method for preventing parking brake-caused vehicle disabling

A system and process for controlling vehicle loading on a multi-axle vehicle and improving maneuverability is disclosed. The system includes a reservoir of pressurized air and associated leveling valve that uses a relay valve to improve refill times when the vehicle returns from a dump mode operation to normal operation. The process reduces pressure in one or more of the axles when maneuvering the vehicle at predetermined slow speeds and maintaining that first predetermined pressure while the other axle(s) is at a greater pressure than the first axle. By preventing complete exhaustion of pressure from the suspension system, restoring air pressure is attained more quickly. Also, use of a relay valve enables higher flow rates to improve the refill time of the pneumatic suspension system after the dump operation.

Axle air dump for multiple axle vehicles

An apparatus for attracting mosquitoes to an electronic insect killing machine (i.e., bug zapper) is provided. The apparatus includes a converter device that fits over a fluorescent or ultraviolet light bulb of the bug zapper. The converter device controls radiant light and heat emitted by the light bulb to produce a desired level of heat to create a warm mass, or host simulator that simulates a blood host meal for biting insects. Mosquitoes and other biting insects, which have infrared vision, are attracted to the host simulator. When used with a scented lure that lures the mosquitoes and biting insects near the insect killer, the host simulator lures the mosquitoes and other insects to the killing device of the insect killer. The mosquitoes and biting insects are destroyed once lured to the killing device. The converter device also blocks most of the visible light emitted by the light bulb, and therefore does not lure beneficial insects, which are attracted to visible light, into the insect killer.

Apparatus for attracting mosquitoes and not attracting beneficial insects to electronic bug killers

A brake actuating lever is connected to a fluid actuator through a thrust rod extending from the fluid actuator and a yoke pivotally mounted on the lever. An adaptor is movable along the thrust rod and is received within the yoke when the rod and yoke are to be connected. A split retaining ring engages mating grooves in the adaptor and in the yoke to provide a releasable connection between the yoke and the thrust rod.

Quick connect and disconnect yoke assembly

A proportioning relay valve (10) includes a housing (12) receiving a relay piston (28) which controls communication between supply (14), exhaust (18) and delivery or outlet (16) ports. Control pressure is communicated to the relay piston (28) through a proportioning piston (58). The proportioning piston (58) is controlled by the pressure level at the actuating pressure port (22) to proportion communication to the relay piston (28) when the pressure level at actuating pressure port (22) is low and to permit unproportioned communication to the relay piston (28) when the pressure at actuating pressure port (22) is high. A bypass passage (80) and relief valve (86) also control the proportioning piston (58) so that unproportioned communication to relay piston (28) is permitted regardless of the pressure level at the actuating pressure port (22) when pressure at the control port (20) exceeds a predetermined value.

Growing community of inventors

Grafton, OH, United States of America

John G Nosse