Abstract: In a spreading disc brake, actuating movement of an actuator assembly in a stationary housing can be effected hydraulically by a piston working in a cylinder and acting on a pull-rod through a rocking thrust coupling, and the pull-rod is adapted for connection to a hand-lever in order to apply the brake manually or mechanically. The thrust coupling is provided at an intermediate point in the length of a lever, a first pivotal connection is provided between the pull-rod and an intermediate point in the length of the lever, a second pivotal connection is provided between one end of the lever and the housing, and a third pivotal connection is provided between the opposite end of the lever and a transmission member for connection to the hand-lever.

Abstract: In a dual hydraulic braking system in which brakes on opposite sides of a vehicle can be applied simultaneously for retarding or independently for steering the vehicle, a dual control valve assembly ensures that the brakes on one side cannot be applied before the brakes on the opposite side. When the brakes on one side are to be applied independently, a stem carrying inlet and exhaust valve heads moves with a pedal-operated piston so that the exhaust valve head engages with a valve spool to close an exhaust passage. The spool moves with the piston and head until it is arrested by a stop face, whereafter a seating on the piston moves away from the inlet valve head to allow pressurized fluid to be supplied to the outlet for the brakes. When the brakes are to be applied simultaneously, a volume of fluid trapped in a transfer connection between the exhaust valve heads arrests movement of the spools to ensure that the inlet valves open simultaneously.

Abstract: An hydraulic braking system for vehicles comprises a single pedal-operated master cylinder, a selector valve assembly and a double-acting valve incorporated into a common housing, and an actuator for a brake on either side of the vehicle. A lever acts to close a diverter valve to cut-off the supply of fluid to the actuator on one side when the brake on the other side is to be applied, so that one brake is applied independently of the brake on the other side. Each actuator comprises a differential piston which works in a stepped bore to apply the brake, and when one of the valves closes, the lever simultaneously acts on the double-acting valve to increase the effective area of the actuator for the applied brake. A greater output torque is therefore obtained from the brake on one side when the brake on that side is applied independently than when the brakes on both sides are applied simultaneously.

Abstract: In a master cylinder assembly of the kind in which transfer chambers in pedal-operated master cylinders are connected by a transfer passage, each master cylinder has a transfer valve which is normally open and which is movable into a closed position to isolate the transfer chamber of that master cylinder from a reservoir in response to an increase in pressure in the transfer chamber when the other master cylinder is operated on its own.

Abstract: In a spot-type disc brake the pads are insertable in a substantially peripheral direction through openings in an end of the brake. In service the openings are blocked by a closure member which has to block the two openings two limbs each extending through the openings to engage the pads. The member is pivotal about an axis parallel to the rotational axis of the brake's disc and disposed outside the disc's periphery. The brake's caliper is made in two halves bolted together and has blind journals receiving trunnions integral with the member. The drag force tends to act along the limbs so that the drag force is taken substantially entirely by the trunnions.