A tool for removing a brake shoe key having a main member and a pin. The main member has an elongated section with one end connected to a receiver. The receiver forms a trough for receiving a brake shoe key. The longitudinal axis of the trough is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated section of the main member, which has at least two holes that for receiving an end of a pry bar. The first side wall and the second side wall of the trough each has an opening that is configured to allow the elongated body of the pin to pass through both openings simultaneously. The first side wall is contiguous with the elongated section of the main member. The floor of the trough forms a front side of the tool, which has a slot for receiving a tip of a brake shoe key.

A portion of ankle movement can be harnessed into stored energy that can be released for various purposes, such as to assist in movement or to charge a battery. This harnessing can be achieved in various manners. In one example manner, an offset pulley component can transfer ankle movement to a generator in a shoe insole. In another example manner, a slider can cause a brace arch to match an ankle arch such that the movement is appropriately harnessed.

A footwear system can employ a brake and/or a clutch, such as a one-way clutch, to convert human motion into usable electricity. The brake and one-way clutch can be used together, such as on opposite ends of a spring. During a storage phase, the brake can be engaged and the one-way clutch disengaged so the spring stores an energy. After the storage phase, the brake can be removed to initiate the release phase since the brake is not stopping the spring, but the one-way clutch allows the stored energy to be released.

A wearable system, such as a footwear system, can employ a generator. The generator can be powered by human movement, such as movement of knee as a person walks or runs. When the knee resets, it can be desirable to have a relatively equal gear ratio to achieve near natural movement. Conversely, it can be desirable to have a high gear ratio when the knee pushes off to achieve high generator rotation to produce a high amount of power. This can be achieved with employment of a wearable planetary gear set configuration In practicing this wearable planetary gear set, torque can be provided from the source (e.g. human ankle joint) when power negative and not at other times during a movement cycle, meaning energy can be harvested from the walking motion without inducing additional burden to the device wearer.

A wearable system, such as a footwear system, can employ a generator. The generator can be an electro-mechanical generator with a portion that spins to create an electricity. The portion that spins can be spun in such a manner that it does not stop, but instead a next spin beings before a previous spin completes. This can repeat until the generator reaches a terminal velocity.

A method for operating a brake system for a motor vehicle, wherein the brake system has a braking pressure source and at least one wheel brake which can be pressurized with a braking pressure which is provided by means of the braking pressure source and acting on a brake piston. For performing a diagnosis of the brake system, the wheel brake is pressurized with a braking pressure which corresponds to a diagnosis braking pressure and which applies a certain force on the brake piston, and a counterforce directed oppositely to said force is applied to the brake piston.

An omni-wheel may include a shaft, a plurality of rollers, and a braking device. The plurality of rollers may be circumferentially arranged about the shaft and arranged radially outward from the shaft. The braking device may include a fluid-filled bladder and a plurality of braking pads. The fluid-filled bladder may be circumferentially arranged about the shaft. The plurality of braking pads may be arranged between the fluid-filled bladder and the plurality of rollers. The fluid-filled bladder may expand radially outward when pressurized, displacing the plurality of braking pads radially outward to contact the plurality of rollers, preventing rotation of the rollers.

An omni-wheel may include a shaft, a plurality of rollers, and a braking device. The plurality of rollers may be circumferentially arranged about the shaft and arranged radially outward from the shaft. The braking device may include a fluid-filled bladder and a plurality of braking pads. The fluid-filled bladder may be circumferentially arranged about the shaft. The plurality of braking pads may be arranged between the fluid-filled bladder and the plurality of rollers. The fluid-filled bladder may expand radially outward when pressurized, displacing the plurality of braking pads radially outward to contact the plurality of rollers, preventing rotation of the rollers.

A rotation speed reduction mechanism according to one embodiment comprises: a fluid passage which allows a pressurized fluid to pass therethrough and is provided such that the pressurized fluid flows toward a shaft; and an elastic member which elastically deforms and comes into contact with the shaft due to the pressurized fluid flowing out from the fluid passage, said elastic member having the base side thereof affixed to a housing, and having a section which extends in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the direction in which the shaft extends.

A rotation speed reduction mechanism according to one embodiment comprises: a fluid passage which allows a pressurized fluid to pass therethrough and is provided such that the pressurized fluid flows toward a shaft; and an elastic member which elastically deforms and comes into contact with the shaft due to the pressurized fluid flowing out from the fluid passage, said elastic member having the base side thereof affixed to a housing, and having a section which extends in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the direction in which the shaft extends.