Abstract: A disc brake assembly for a vehicle comprises a first inboard and a second outboard rotatable disc which are both relatively fixed and spaced axially. Superimposed friction pads for engagement with opposite faces of the discs are guided in a common drag-taking member which takes the drag on the pads when the brake is applied. A mechanical expander mechanism is housed between and acts directly upon the oppositely directed inner friction pads for engagement with the adjacent faces of the discs to apply the said oppositely directed pads to the discs, and a clamp assembly extending over the peripheral edge of both discs comprises coupled beams. The clamp assembly incorporates an actuator acting between one of the beams and one of the remaining friction pads to apply that friction pad to the inboard face of the inboard disc, and the other beam acting on the other remaining pad to apply thereto a reaction force in turn to apply that pad to the outboard face of the outboard disc.

Abstract: In a disc brake of the kind in which the clamping member straddling the disc consists of pressure plates located on opposite sides of the disc and interconnected at their outermost ends by draw-bars, each draw-bar is provided at one end with a threaded portion and the threaded portions are passed through spaced clearance bores in the pressure plate to which those ends of the draw-bars are to be connected. The pressure plate is clamped between pairs of axially spaced nuts screwed onto the threaded portions.

Abstract: In an hydraulically operated disc brake a stop is incorporated for determining the retracted position of the piston, the stop being movable towards the disc to compensate for wear of the friction pads and also acting as an anti knock-back device. The stop comprises a plate having an aperture through which a pin projects, the pin being fixed to the cylinder or to a second piston in the cylinder. An abutment member provides an abutment for the plate, and a first spring acts between the abutment member and the plate so as to urge the plate into a locked tilting position inclined with respect to the pin. A second spring acts on the abutment member to urge it in a direction away from the pad assembly.

Abstract: An automatic slack adjuster for a vehicle brake is disposed between a piston and another component, such as a counter piston, of a hydraulic actuator. The adjuster mechanism is housed in an encapsulating container which is positively attached to the piston. A strut, on which an auxiliary mechanical actuator fitted to said other component acts, is in screw-threaded connection with a nut of the adjuster mechanism. The adjuster mechanism is of the incremental type and is adapted to turn the nut responsively to excess axial travel between the container and the strut upon hydraulic brake application, the strut being sealed to said other actuator component. Grossly excessive travel between the piston and the other actuator component beyond the maximum possible travel between the strut and the container is permitted by displacement of the strut relative to said other component.

Abstract: An automatic slack adjuster for a vehicle brake is disposed between a piston and another component, such as a counter piston, of a hydraulic actuator. The adjuster mechanism is housed in an encapsulating container which is positively attached to the piston. A strut, on which an auxiliary mechanical actuator fitted to said other component acts, is in screw-threaded connection with a nut of the adjuster mechanism. The adjuster mechanism is of the incremental type and is adapted to turn the nut responsively to excess axial travel between the container and the strut upon hydraulic brake application, the strut being sealed to said other actuator component. Grossly excessive travel between the piston and the other actuator component beyond the maximum possible travel between the strut and the container is permitted by displacement of the strut relative to said other component.

Abstract: In a brake of the single sided-reaction type friction members for engagement with opposite faces of a rotatable braking member are carried by a caliper or yoke and by an arm which are independently mounted for angular movement about separate pivots both lying adjacent to the face of the disc with which the friction member carried by the arm is engagable, and the friction members are applied to the braking member by an hydraulic piston working in a cylinder bore in the arm and acting directly on the caliper or yoke.