A method for emergency engagement of a holding brake of a vehicle having an electropneumatic brake system. The electropneumatic brake system includes a service brake system with a service brake and a holding brake system with the holding brake. The holding brake system has spring brake cylinders. The service brake system includes a service brake control unit. The electropneumatic braking system includes at least one brake circuit for the service brake and the holding brake. The service and holding brakes may be in separate brake circuits. The spring brake cylinders can be vented when a supply pressure in at least one brake circuit for the service brake decreases. The method includes reducing, via the service brake control unit, the supply pressure in at least one brake circuit for the service brake under a program control in defined conditions.

An actuating device may include an energy recovery unit for a mechanical brake system. The actuating device may have an actuating drive for a brake application movement of a brake part for a service brake function. The actuating device has a force cartridge with a prestressed spring and with a ramp bearing as the energy recovery unit The ramp bearing may be fastened to the actuating drive on one side and to the spring on the other side. The force cartridge is fitted on a line of force action of the actuating drive and interacts with the actuating drive such that a force component for assisting the actuating drive is provided in a manner dependent on an adjustment position of the actuating drive.

An actuating device may include an energy recovery unit for a mechanical brake system. The actuating device may have an actuating drive for a brake application movement of a brake part for a service brake function. The actuating device has a force cartridge with a prestressed spring and with a ramp bearing as the energy recovery unit The ramp bearing may be fastened to the actuating drive on one side and to the spring on the other side. The force cartridge is fitted on a line of force action of the actuating drive and interacts with the actuating drive such that a force component for assisting the actuating drive is provided in a manner dependent on an adjustment position of the actuating drive.

In an electric parking brake device in which a parking brake state is released by loosening a brake cable: a nut is screwed onto a screw shaft in such a way as to be capable of moving in an axial direction; a movement restricting portion which is caused to abut the screw shaft or a linked member that moves in the axial direction together with the screw shaft, thereby restricting an axial direction movement end of the screw shaft to the side loosening the brake cable, is disposed in a fixed position inside an actuator case; and a resilient member which is compressed in response to axial direction movement of the nut after movement restriction has been effected by the movement restricting portion when the screw shaft moves in the axial direction toward the side loosening the brake cable is interposed between the nut and an insertion member.

A power-off emergency braking system, or parking brake system is presented in which, at each power-up, energy is stored in the structure of the brake so as to ensure the power-off application of the brake and the holding of same in the event of an interruption to the power supply of the device.

A power-off emergency braking system, or parking brake system is presented in which, at each power-up, energy is stored in the structure of the brake so as to ensure the power-off application of the brake and the holding of same in the event of an interruption to the power supply of the device.

A method for controlling an electromagnetic brake (1) having a coil carrier (2), a solenoid (5), an armature disc (7), and at least one further force-exerting element. The internal and external poles (3, 4) of the coil carrier each have a front surface with a varying gradient that fits, in a complementary fashion, the front surfaces of the respective internal and external poles (8, 9) of the armature disc. The brake has an air gap (11) which varies in size and forms a stroke region (21). When excitation occurs, the solenoid generates a magnetic force, and the force-exerting element generates an opposing force, wherein the ratio of the solenoid's magnetic force and the opposing force varies at least once between greater than and smaller than one during the movement of the armature disc in the stroke region owing to the variation of the excitation of the solenoid.

A method for controlling an electromagnetic brake (1) having a coil carrier (2), a solenoid (5), an armature disc (7), and at least one further force-exerting element. The internal and external poles (3, 4) of the coil carrier each have a front surface with a varying gradient that fits, in a complementary fashion, the front surfaces of the respective internal and external poles (8, 9) of the armature disc. The brake has an air gap (11) which varies in size and forms a stroke region (21). When excitation occurs, the solenoid generates a magnetic force, and the force-exerting element generates an opposing force, wherein the ratio of the solenoid's magnetic force and the opposing force varies at least once between greater than and smaller than one during the movement of the armature disc in the stroke region owing to the variation of the excitation of the solenoid.

A towable crash-attenuating vehicle is shown having a frame; at least two axles coupled to the frame, each of the axles having wheels attached thereto; a T-shaped ballast coupled to the frame, and oriented such that the weight of the ballast is biased toward the front end of the frame; deflection shields coupled to the right and left sides of the frame, wherein the deflection shields cover the frame and a majority of the wheels on each side of the vehicle; a tow connection coupled to the front of the frame, pivotable from a deployed state to an undeployed state; an impact attenuator coupled to the rear of the frame; wherein the vehicle is provided with a brake system, and wherein said brake system may be locked and unlocked and wherein the vehicle is provided with an on-board mechanism for locking and unlocking the brake system.

A towable crash-attenuating vehicle is shown having a frame; at least two axles coupled to the frame, each of the axles having wheels attached thereto; a T-shaped ballast coupled to the frame, and oriented such that the weight of the ballast is biased toward the front end of the frame; deflection shields coupled to the right and left sides of the frame, wherein the deflection shields cover the frame and a majority of the wheels on each side of the vehicle; a tow connection coupled to the front of the frame, pivotable from a deployed state to an undeployed state; an impact attenuator coupled to the rear of the frame; wherein the vehicle is provided with a brake system, and wherein said brake system may be locked and unlocked and wherein the vehicle is provided with an on-board mechanism for locking and unlocking the brake system.