Abstract: A parking brake actuating and release mechanism actuated through a series of strokes of the brake pedal lever to tension the parking brake cable throughout the desired range, the parking brake cable being connected with an eccentric cable take-up member so that the effective leverage applied to the cable causes the mechanical advantage to increase through at least the predominant range of actuation of the mechanism. A release mechanism provides quick release of the parking brake so that it returns to the released position.

Abstract: A buried expansion joint for use in the construction of bridges incorporates a pad of flexible plastics material, such as neoprene, located over an expansion gap between structural members and a flashing of neoprene or other plastics material extending over the pad and stuck to the structural members by adhesive bedding. The pad may have channels or voids extending along its transverse dimension adjacent its edges which in conjunction with aligned grooves in its upper and lower surface provide a corrugated web section allowing compression longitudinally of the structural members without any substantial increase in vertical compressibility.