Abstract: A disc for use as a rotor (10) or stator (18) in a multiple-disc brake. The disc (10) has an annular peripheral band (15) provided with a series of circumferentially spaced through slots (12) which open through a periphery of the disc. Each slot is defined by edges (13, 13a) which extend away from the periphery across the annular peripheral band (15) and are inclined in opposite directions (.alpha.) to a given radius (14) of the disc extending therebetween so that the slot tapers in a radial sense.A multiple disc brake is also provided which has a housing (46, 47) containing oil or other coolant which encloses a disc stack in the form of interleaved sets of rotor (10) and stator (18) discs.

Abstract: The invention consists of a slack-adjuster for a brake which comprises a pair of interengaged screw threaded members which are urged towards an extended relative position by an axial bias applied to one member. The screw thread has a high helix angle to permit adjustment to take place on release of the brake and reverse rotation is prevented by frictional engagement of the leading member with a brake applying plunger part and by the use of a saw-tooth screw thread.

Abstract: A load-taking device for use in the disc pack of a multi-disc brake assembly. The load-taking device is located at one end of the pack, interposed between the pack and a cylinder for applying thrust to the pack or for resisting thrust applied to the pack. It has an annular support and a plurality of hollow bell-shaped load-taking members extending from one side of the support in circumferentially spaced relation which are rounded at the ends which contact the adjacent disc of the pack.

Abstract: An annular friction element for a multi-disc brake comprises pads of friction material alternating around the element with radial arms by which the pads are clamped relative to a ring joining the arms, the arms being of greater extent than the ring radially of the element.

Abstract: A disc brake comprising a number of interleaved rotor and stator elements and a brake actuator which is arranged to urge the rotor and stator elements into engagement in order to apply the brake. The engagement surfaces of the rotors and stators are provided with areas of carbon and non-carbon based friction material which are arranged so that the disc brake consists of a number of iron friction pairs and a number of carbon friction pairs, the iron friction pairs being located nearer to an open end of the brake structure so that the friction pairs most likely to be wet are those which perform best when wet.