Abstract: A horse-shoe made of synthetic material, preferably polyurethane plastic (PUR), having a bottom ground face (2), an upper hoof face (3), and a number of nail holes (7) for passing of horse-shoe nails. The horse-shoe has a sectional profile comprising two or more up-right members running side by side in the arcuate length of the horse-shoe, the members connecting said ground and hoof faces. At least one of said members (10) in a vertical plane having a vertical dimension substantially greater than a horizontal dimension of the member such that a length (1) of the member is at least 1.5 times a width (w) thereof in said vertical plane, and stiffening walls (12) arranged in the hoof face (3) between the up-right members of the sectional profile.

Abstract: A spring-loaded brake cylinder has a slideable braking piston one side of which is acted upon by a first spring in the braking direction and a second side acted upon by air under pressure in the release direction against the force of the spring. There is a releaseable mechanical coupling between the braking piston and a piston rod upon which is mounted a quick-acting piston. The quick-acting piston is actuated by air. The position of the braking piston controls a supply of air to and a discharge of air from the quick-acting piston so as to achieve pressurization and depressurization of the quick-acting piston.

Abstract: A brake unit for automatically adjusting slack between the brake surfaces of a railway brake has a pre-stressed spring which is released during the initial stroke of the brake piston in a braking application so as to expedite contact of the brake surfaces. After slack has been overcome, further movement of the piston in the braking direction will cause the force-transmitting components to be coupled together so that braking force is transmitted directly to the brake surfaces by subsequent movement of the piston in the braking direction. The release of the pre-stressed spring during the overcoming of slack in the brake rigging will increase the speed of the brake application with respect to the speed of the braking piston.