Abstract: A brake for rail cars comprises a floating caliper disc brake attached to a cylindrical housing element of a drive housing. The drive housing may be the motor housing, the transmission housing or a common housing for the drive motor and the transmission. The cylindrical housing element has an opening in its peripheral wall in which the floating caliper is mounted. The actuator is mounted in an entry in the peripheral wall of the drive housing. This mounting arrangement allows easier accessiblity to the brake during servicing operations and provides for ventilation of the brake disc.

Abstract: A hydraulic system is provided for powering a steering unit, a trailer brake and an auxiliary power unit from a single pump. A control circuit ensures that the hydraulic trailer brake and/or the power steering unit on the vehicle will operate on a preferential basis over the auxiliary power unit. The hydraulic control circuit has two priority valves connected in series. The upstream priority valve has a priority position in which it makes the pump fluid available to a supply line for the common priority flow for the steering and braking apparatus and a non-priority position for powering the auxiliary power unit. The common priority flow is passed through the second or downstream priority valve for priority powering of the power steering circuit.