EQUALISED BRAKES

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 79, 3 April 1926, Page 19

EQUALISED BRAKES

An entirely new principle embodying an important advance* in braking systems for all types of road vehicles is used this year on both Budge-Whit-worth motor-cycles and pedal cycles. In both instances the front and rear wheel brakes are coupled, and are therefore controlled by one pressure. In the motor-cycle the coupled brakes are applied by the foot pedal,- since the foot being available always the hands may be occupied with controls,, or away from the machine altogether. With this always available' brake pedal the additional braking means by the right hand is a simple lever, and operates on the front wheel only. This second independent brake is a legal requirement-—in Great Britain at least—and in addition it, is a very effective brake. The new feature common to both types of machines is a device which distributes the breaking effort applied by the rider so that the proportion delivered to the front and rear wheel brake shoes can be varied at.the rider's pleasure.' The proportion in which the distribution is exerted by the rider-has been arrived at after a scientific investigation of the factors involved. On very slippery roads it is found that the possible braking effects of the two wheel* are nearly equal, and if one brake were applied more strongly than the other there would be a tendency .. for. that more strongly braked wheel to skid. Where the roads are slippery it is necessary to make the most of the braking hold available, and since as much braking hold is available for the front as for the rear wheel under these conditions, they must be applied equally. It is for this reason j that most motor-car braking systems apply the brakes to all four wheels equally.