A clutch assembly, a torque converter clutch assembly, and a brake assembly for a vehicle are disclosed. The clutch assembly and the brake assembly may have at least one reaction plate comprising an internal cavity containing a phase change material. The torque converter clutch assembly may have a front cover plate comprising an internal cavity containing a phase change material. The phase change material may be capable of absorbing at least some friction-induced heat generated at a friction interface of the reaction plate or front cover plate when the clutch assembly, the torque converter assembly, or the torque converter assembly is shifted to a closed position, such as when the clutch is activated or when the brakes are applied.

Method wherein at least one piezoceramic sensor (15) and an electric circuit (18) to collect an electric signal emitted by the piezoceramic sensor (15) when subjected to a mechanical stress and possibly processing it are made as a unit electrically insulated (118) equipped with at least a branching (119) ending with respective electric contacts (20,21) having connected the at least one piezoelectric sensor (15), where the electric circuit (18) and the at least one sensor (15) are mechanically fixed integral with a first surface (13) of a supporting metal element (11) of a brake pad (1) and branching (119) is formed so as to position the at least one piezoelectric sensor (15) at a predetermined point of the first surface (13).

Brake mechanisms (33) that apply braking to rotations of left and right rotational shafts (25) each include a projecting part (40) that faces a partition wall (15A) of a brake case (15) and projects radially inward from an inner diameter side of a piston (37), an engaging member (41) that is arranged in the inner diameter side of the piston (37) in a state of being movably engaged with the projecting part (40) by a predetermined dimension in the left-right direction, and a pin member (42) that is provided between the partition wall (15A) of the brake case (15) and the engaging member (41). A frictional resistance between the pin member (42) and the partition wall (15A) is set to a value smaller than a pressing force of the piston (37) at the braking. The projecting part (40) is provided with an engaging member insertion groove (40A) that the pin member (42) penetrates in the left-right direction, and the engaging member (41) is movably engaged with the projecting part (40) in the left-right direction.

Various residual braking torque indication devices, systems, and methods are described. The devices, systems, and methods can include a sensorized brake pad. An output signal of the sensorized brake pad can be processed to provide an indication of a residual braking torque. The residual braking torque indicator can be calibrated to reference data to provide an actual measurement of the residual braking torque.

A brake roller assembly may comprise: a shaft; a first roller bearing coupled to the shaft and disposed at a first axial end of the shaft a second roller bearing coupled to the shaft and disposed at a second axial end of the shaft; a roller cylinder disposed radially outward of the first roller bearing and the second roller bearing; and a braking arrangement, including a plurality of electrodes, and a plurality of rotor disks coupled to the roller cylinder, each rotor disk in the plurality of rotor disks disposed between an anode in the plurality of electrodes and a cathode in the plurality of electrodes.

A brake roller assembly may comprise: a shaft; a first roller bearing coupled to the shaft and disposed at a first axial end of the shaft a second roller bearing coupled to the shaft and disposed at a second axial end of the shaft; a roller cylinder disposed radially outward of the first roller bearing and the second roller bearing; and a braking arrangement, including a plurality of electrodes, and a plurality of rotor disks coupled to the roller cylinder, each rotor disk in the plurality of rotor disks disposed between an anode in the plurality of electrodes and a cathode in the plurality of electrodes.

A motor includes a rotor module and a stator module. The rotor module includes electro-active polymer modules which change their physical size depending on electrical activation or deactivation. The stator module includes a base and a plurality of magnets mounted on two fixing plates of the base. The rotor module comprises a rotor and a coil. Precise displacement by the motor is obtained by electrically activating or deactivating the electro-active polymer modules.

An apparatus includes a flywheel, a first pivotable caliper, a first magnet supported by the first caliper opposite the flywheel, a second pivotable caliper and a second magnet supported by the second caliper opposite the flywheel. In one implementation, the apparatus further includes a first cam follower coupled to the first caliper, a second cam follower coupled to the second caliper and at least one cam member including a first cam surface against which the first cam follower moves and a second cam surface against which the second cam follower moves, wherein movement of the at least one cam member pivots the first caliper and the second caliper to move the first magnet and the second magnet relative to the flywheel. In another implementation, the apparatus further includes a strain gauge carried by the first caliper to output signals indicating braking torque.