Abstract: A disk brake in which the brake is assembled with the thickness of the available wear portions of a first group of disks being different from the thickness of the available wear portions of a second group of disks. After a predetermined number of brake applications, the first group of disks is replaced by a third group of disks. At the time of replacement, the thickness of the available wear portions of the third group of disks is greater than the thickness of the available wear portions of the second group of disks so that after another predetermined number of brake applications the second group of disks may be replaced by another group of disks. By maintaining disks of different thicknesses of the available wear portions, the piston travel is reduced and the size and weight of the brake may be reduced while at the same time the heat sink mass of the worn disks is not reduced excessively and worn brake operating temperatures are lowered.

Abstract: A bicycle brake assembly including a brake shoe member having a molded metallic backbone member formed as a framework of elongate generally rectangular form with a structurally reinforced portion having an aperture therethrough for receiving a stud member therein. The reinforced portion is provided with a concave surface surrounding the aperture, with friction pad brake shoe material molded about the backbone to form a brake shoe member. A washer having a matingly configured convex surface coacts with the concave surface during assembly to the arm to provide for adjustment.

Abstract: A sliding caliper disc brake has a fixed carrier carrying directly and indirectly actuated pads. A caliper is slidably mounted on the carrier and carries brake actuators. The backing plates of the pads are provided with ribs for engagement in corresponding grooves in the carrier and arranged to provide additional support for the caliper, in use, in the vertical direction.

Abstract: Brake block fastening device for bicycle, made up of a body and a resilient element, which combined together form a cavity capable of receiving and retaining the brake block, the resilient element being kept close to the body by a shifting cam device, capable of selectively locking or unlocking the block.

Abstract: An improved brake mechanism for use with roller conveyors is provided. The brake mechanism comprises a brake plate, a brake shoe and a jack mechanism for biasing the brake plate and shoe into and out of braking orientation with conveyor rollers. The brake plate is generally flat and has two rigid extensions thereon. The brake shoe is a resilient, or elastic, loop of material which is stretched between the brake plate extensions and which is securely held thereon by resiliency of the brake shoe material. The brake shoe may be rapidly and easily mounted upon, or removed from, the brake plate without the use of special tools. Preferably, the brake shoe is manufactured from surgical tubing, which generally possesses sufficient resiliency for the application and which has a high enough coefficient of friction to be effective in braking conventional conveyor rollers.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a disc brake of the type with a caliper (1) mounted to slide on a fixed support (4) by a column (3). The caliper (1) incorporates a brake motor (9) acting directly on an inner pad and via the caliper (1) on an outer pad. The two pads are received so as to slide in an orifice (5) formed in the caliper (1). The pads are locked in the orifice by a key (20). According to the invention, the inner pad incorporates a semi-circular lug (25) mounted in a semi-circular receptacle (24) formed in the fixed support (4) so as to prevent the caliper (1) from tilting about the column (3) when the pads are in place and are locked by the key (20). The invention may be utilized with the brakes of motor vehicles.

Abstract: A friction band comprising an arcuate band or strap made of a filament-reinforced plastic material. The plastic material is preferably a thermosetting epoxy which provides a matrix in which are embedded or encapsulated a plurality of long-strand continuous filaments of glass or the like. The band is lined with a friction lining, and is reinforced by a fibrous bleeder cloth between the band and the friction lining. A special fixture applies tension to the band assembly to hold the filaments in tension during the curing of the plastic material forming the matrix of the band.

Abstract: The lining support plate (11) incoporates a widened lug part (16) which prolongs a neck part (15) round which is arranged the end loop (31) of the wire spring (30), of which the end of the strand portion (32) opposite the loop (32) has at least one transverse bent part (37) intended to be received in a central through-orifice (22) in the plate (11).

Abstract: A carrier body of a brake pad for disc brakes, which carrier body is arranged to support a friction coating of the brake pad and includes a plate-shaped molded member of a hard ceramic material presenting a rear face and a circumferential edge face, and a cover secured to the member and contacting the rear face of the member. The cover is made of a material which can be shaped under pressure and/or heat and which is formed to additionally encase the circumferential edge face of the plate-shaped molded member.

Abstract: In a vehicle disc brake, a friction pad having a radially outer portion supported by a slidably mounted caliper is stabilized by engaging a radially inner portion of the friction pad backing plate with an adjacent depending leg of the caliper.

Abstract: A pin type floating caliper low drag disc brake for a vehicle is disclosed in which the braking torque is transferred directly to a vehicle frame member for a non-steerable wheel and directly to a wheel spindle for a steerable wheel. An outboard brake pad assembly is mounted on the caliper which floats on a first pin located adjacent the leading edge of the caliper and an inboard brake pad assembly floats on a second pin located adjacent the trailing edge of the caliper. The braking torque is transferred through the pins to the vehicle.

Abstract: An improved radial braking system uses the power of the cyclist's back pedaling to bring the braking member into contact with the rim of the wheel. The system allows for the direct contact of the braking member with the middle portion of the outer surface of the rim rather than to the side of the rim, as is common with the caliper type brakes. A rim having a laterally disposed lip for mounting of the spoke allows for an unobstructed middle portion for contact with the braking member.

Abstract: A brake shoe having a support and a friction lining fixed to one face of the support. The support has, in its marginal region adjacent each side of the support abutting a lateral thrust shoulder, a protuberance projecting beyond the other face of the support. The protuberance is provided on only a portion of the extent of the marginal region and is devoid of friction lining, whereas the remainder of the extent of the marginal region is devoid of protuberance and is at least partly covered with friction lining.

Abstract: A brake pad 58 (see FIG. 6) has a lining with particulate graphite material embedded therein. A leading portion 62 of the brake lining has a higher concentration of the graphite particles embeded therein than a remaining portion 64 of the lining 60. A brake rotor is lubricated simultaneously as it contacts the leading edge 65 of the brake lining to maximize the effectiveness of the lubricant at the leading edge 65 of the brake lining.

Abstract: A braking pad device for a bicycle which includes two separate braking pads of different compositions. One braking pad is particularly suitable for use in dry weather, while the second braking pad is particularly suitable for use in wet weather. The braking pads are to be movable to be located in position for use.

Abstract: A strip of shoe rim steel has holes punched, and lining is molded to it in segments with a flat or curved top, the strip then being bent at locations between the lining segments and remaining flat so as not to destroy the bond. The assembly is trimmed to length, the web attached and the lining pads ground to final dimensions. The number and length of lining pad segments can be varied. The lining can be used down to the rim ends at each pad while the pad center still contains lining where the molding holes are located.

Abstract: A bicycle brake assembly having a heat sink member with generally disk-shaped fins, the member having a planar surface for abuttingly engaging a coplanar surface of a brake shoe member, the brake shoe member having a friction material molded on a thermally conductive support disc configured for thermal engagement with the heat sink member. The heat sink member has an aperture extending therethrough for receiving the stud of the brake shoe member with the parts being separable so that the heat sink member need not be discarded on wearing out of the friction material of the brake shoe member. The aperture of the heat sink member is preferably threaded to maintain a thermally conductive path between the coplanar surface of the brake shoe member and the heat sink surface. The heat sink member provided with a concave recess about the stud, with a first washer member having a matingly configured surface while pivotally engaging the recess.

Abstract: An improved drum brake is of the type which includes a pair of actuators with a pair of arcuate brake shoes extending therebetween. Each brake shoe is capable of limited movement along a path between the actuation end of one of the actuators and the anchor end of the other of the actuators. The wheel and drum of the drum brake rotate in a normal direction from the actuation end of one actuator to the anchor end of the other actuator so that a leading end of each brake shoe is adjacent the actuator end and a trailing end of each brake is adjacent the anchor end. The improvement includes providing a lining on each of the brake shoes which has a useable layer thereof which is thicker at the trailing end of the brake shoe than at the leading end of the brake shoe. The brake shoe is relatively located on the path toward the actuation end prior to wear of the useable layer and tends to be relocated along the path away from the actuation end during wear of the useable layer throughout use of the drum brake.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel brake, particularly for a railway vehicle, has an elongate friction pad for engagement with a braking surface. In order to provide for adjustment of the pad without excessive length of the brake, the friction pad is hollow and an elongate adjuster member is located within the friction pad. Relative rotation of the pad and adjuster member, which occurs when there is excessive wear of the friction material, causes axial movement of the friction material to compensate for the wear.

Abstract: A semi-metallic lining is attached to one side of a disc brake shoe. A ceramic heat barrier is attached to the other side of the shoe. A rubber compound is attached to the heat barrier on the side opposite the shoe and a second shoe is attached to the rubber compound. An additional rubber compound is on the opposite side of the second shoe. The caliper piston rests on the additional rubber compound. The rubber compounds have high energy absorbing, vibration damping characteristics. They are heat resistant, ozone resistant, brake fluid resistant, oil resistant, must have low displacement and must be firm. Shoe mounting pins fit loosely through holes in the first shoe and heat barrier and tightly through holes in the second shoe. The loose fit through the first shoe eliminates a possible noise path from the lining through the first shoe and the pins into the caliper. The pins retain the entire shoe and lining assembly within the caliper.

Abstract: An antirattle spring for a disc brake is represented as being entirely disposed outside of a clearance between one of a plurality of edges of pad assemblies and a stationary member anchoring against the one edge. Consequently, the antirattle spring is freed from any restraint as would otherwise be imposed upon a designer of a more complicated and smaller sized configuration of the spring, and is therefore more likely to retain its resiliency than are prior art antirattle springs. The antirattle spring has one end thereof bolted to the stationary member and the other end thereof engaging one of the plurality of edges with a required elastic energy stored within the middle portion of the spring.

Abstract: A drum brake assembly includes a pair of brake shoes which are movable from a non-braking position to a braking position in engagement with a rotatable member. A hydraulic actuator is engageable with the pair of brake shoes to move the latter to the braking position and a strut extends between the pair of brake shoes to substantially define the non-braking position. The strut comprises a unitary sleeve with a bore for receiving projections extending from the pair of brake shoes. The bore is stepped with a threaded portion and a tapered diameter portion. The threaded portion engages one of the projections on one of the brake shoes such that rotation of the unitary sleeve by a pawl causes the unitary sleeve and other brake shoe to move away from the one brake shoe. The unitary sleeve is radially expanded at an intermediate location to define a ratchet wheel in engagement with the pawl.

Abstract: A brake shoe for a spot-type disc brake includes a carrier plate composed of several plates lying on top of one another, a backing plate and a friction pad secured to one surface of the backing plate. One surface of the carrier plate adjacent the friction pad includes flanges at the ends thereof to embrace the backing plates and the other surface of the carrier plate remote from the friction pad includes flanges to engage a supporting member of a brake housing to transmit the circumferential force at the friction pad during braking to the supporting member.

Abstract: A moisture removal assembly designed to be mounted on a brake shoe and pad structure of the rim engaging or caliper type brake assembly comprising a base designed to be removably attached to the brake shoe and a wiper blade structure depending from the base in spaced apart relation from the leading edge of the brake shoe and pad and further being disposed in sliding, wiping engagement with the surface of the rim engaged by the brake pad so as to remove moisture therefrom prior to braking engagement between the wheel rim and brake pad.

Abstract: A disc brake pad assembly includes a hard porcelain carrier body and a friction element affixed to the carrier body and having a work face for cooperation with a brake disc. The friction element is provided with a plurality of blind recesses which are open solely towards the work face. The assembly further includes a protective covering attached to the carrier body and extending over a rear face of the carrier body oriented away from the friction element. The protective covering extends over at least a portion of two oppositely located narrow sides which form part of the carrier body and which are spaced in a circumferential direction of the brake disc when the assembly is in operative relationship with the brake disc.

Abstract: A brake shoe assembly is disclosed for use in an automotive disc brake of the floating caliper type. The brake shoe assembly comprises a backing plate and a friction material pad secured thereto. The backing plate is configured to receive riveted, bonded or molded friction material thereto. The friction pad leading and trailing edges may be chamfered to vary the pad surface area in the event of uneven wear and thereby modify the pad surface loading to correct for same.

Abstract: A pin type floating caliper disc brake for an automotive vehicle is disclosed in which the brake shoe assemblies transfer the braking torque directly to the anchor plate support. The caliper containing the hydraulic actuation piston is slidably supported upon pins extended inboard of the anchor plate support and carries no braking torque. The caliper assembly in combination with the anchor plate support are configured to permit brake shoe assemblies of varying areas and thickness and to accommodate solid or vented rotor designs without modification to the caliper or anchor plate support. The rotor may readily be removed without removal of the anchor plate support.

Abstract: A device for temporarily holding fast a free circular element with respect to a fixed circular element having circular segments with tangential ramps and a rigid ring with rollers axially rotatable thereon for local thrust against the ramps to cause locking of the free circular element with respect to the fixed circular element. Clevises bearing axial grooved rollers riding on the rigid ring, with the clevises connected to the segments by springs, providing an elastic restoring force to release the free circular element with respect to the fixed circular element.

Abstract: A disc brake pad assembly includes a wire mesh screen 6 between the friction pad backing plate 3 and a shim 5 to reduce squeal when the brake piston 10 applies pressure to the backing plate to urge the friction pad 2 against the disc 1. The squeal suppression may be enhanced by applying a lubricant to the wire mesh screen.

Abstract: A brake block for a rim brake assembly of a bicycle which has a wheel rim. The brake block comprises an elongated body member of frictional material and has a face with cavities therein. The body has a longitudinal hole extending from end to end therein. Narrow holes or porous inserts connect the longitudinal hole with the face surface and the cavities.

Abstract: There is described a brake shoe for a ring type brake which means it has a cylindrical brake ring secured to a member to be braked. The brake shoe comprises a part-cylindrical, preferably sheet metal support plate having on one face a brake lining and on the opposite face an elongate rib extending generally between opposed edges of the support plate and having a substantially flat bearing surface. Preferably the rib is stamped in the sheet metal support plate and receives a complementary portion of the brake lining material therein. The rib may be disposed cordally of the support plate or parallel to the generatrices thereof. Two such ribs may be provided on a support plate parallel to each other though spaced at different distances from median plane thereof. The contact areas of the substantially flat bearing surface with the piston of the hydraulic unit associated therewith are preferably dissymmetrical about one or both of the median planes of the brake shoe.

Abstract: In a sliding type disk brake assembly having a caliper movable on a pair of shoulders of a support member, a fluid actuator on one side of the caliper to press an inner brake shoe against one face of a rotary disk, and a reaction portion on the opposite side of the caliper to press an outer brake shoe against the other face of the disk, the reaction portion being provided substantially at its central portion with a pair of rectangular shaped recesses and the backing plate of the outer brake shoe having a pair of abutment flanges engaged within the recesses, the length dimension of the backing plate being smaller than the spacing between the two shoulders of the support member.

Abstract: In a brake friction-lining support which comprises a stack of wholly metallic sheets which are contiguous to each other over their entire facing surfaces and are assembled together by localized assembly structure, at least some of the localized assembly structure is provided on the edges of the support.

Abstract: A friction lining of a braking member in which the lining is fixed to a noise-prevention support and is adapted to be applied against a friction track by the effect of force which is applied to the support over a contact area by a force applying member, this support comprising a laminated structure formed by a stack of a number of wholly metallic sheets contiguous with each other over their entire surface and assembled to each other by localized assembly structure such as welding, crimping or riveting.

Abstract: A brake for bicycles and the like, comprising a finned shoe having a pad of friction material thermally bonded thereto. The fins provide improved heat dissipation from the brake shoe, and the bonding provides improved heat transfer to the shoe. The pad is free on at least three sides so that heat is transferred away from the braking interface efficiently.

Abstract: One or both ends of a skateboard has its effective lower surface of the platform brought nearer to the ground than the remainder of the platform by the addition of a block or blocks which comes into contact with the ground when the rider elects to ride the skateboard on only one of the two sets of wheels. The existence and shaping of this block assists the rider to maneuver and control the board and avoids the wear of an irreplaceable part of the board. The block is moulded plate of suitable material attached to the underside of the board the major opposing sides of the plate being elliptical. For control purposes the shape over a 120.degree. central sector of the major side is significant but for wear factor reasons it is extended to 160.degree.. No part of the radius should be less than 15 mm, or more than 110 mm. and the contact periphery should have a rounded shoulder to provide a satisfactory area of initial contact.

Abstract: An improved shoe for rim brakes having conventional cleats comprising embedded secondary cleats; the cleats are level with the shoe's face. Each secondary cleat absorbs liquids by capillary action. Each cleat generates high friction when slid together with a hard rim, when both are wet.

Abstract: Noise from track retarders is significantly reduced by a brake shoe which dampens vibrations as continuous braking action of a wheel occurs. The brake shoe is adapted to have selectively variable brake surface configurations which contribute to reduced vibration. A special metal alloy, typically a flake-graphite bearing iron with vibration suppression characteristics lubricates the braking surface and lessens wheel oscillations during braking. The lubrication also contributes to uniform surface temperatures along the braking surface which lessens the tendency for the braking to fade. The brake shoe is basically a self-lubricated surface of variable contact area configuration.

Abstract: There is disclosed a brake block for a bicycle which comprises a block of friction material, an elongate rigid brake shoe element fixed to the block, the ends of the brake shoe element being surrounded by the friction material, and means for securing the block in a braking mechanism. Also disclosed are methods of making brake blocks for bicycles. One method comprises locating an elongate rigid brake shoe element in a mould, the shoe element having fixed thereto a stud for securing the block in a brake mechanism, moulding a block of friction material around the shoe element so that the end portions of the shoe element are surrounded by the friction material and removing the brake block so formed from the mould.

Abstract: A single-cylinder, suspended caliper type disc brake includes a caliper assembly comprising an acting member disposed on one side of a disc and a reacting member on the opposite side thereof. A slot or an aperture is provided in the head portion of the caliper which straddles the periphery of the disc. The slot extends horizontally and parallel to a tangent of the disc, being located radially outwardly of the tangent. A fixed arm or bracket extends horizontally in the rotational direction of the disc and is inserted into the slot or aperture and supports the caliper assembly for guided movement in the axial direction of the disc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a noise-reducing support for the friction lining of a braking member in which said lining is fixed to said support and is adapted to be clamped against a friction track by the effect of a force applied to said support, this friction track being incorporated for example in a disc or a ring or alternatively in a wheel-drum, especially of an automobile vehicle. According to the invention said support comprises a stack of a plurality of thin metallic sheets or strips, contiguous to each other over their whole surface and all assembled together by glueing, welding in zones, riveting insetting in a rim or flange, etc.