Braking - Operation

Operation (see Pl.20)

The front and rear braking circuits are independant.

Each circuit has:

-a pressure reserve: an accumulator,

-a control: distribution valve.

The high pressure is regulated and fed to the brake cylinders by the distribution valves.

A force on the pedal is transmitted to the valves which establishes a connection:

Accumulators -> brake cylinders

When the force on the pedal ceases, the fluid returns to the reservoir (fig. 1).

Pressure is received by the pistons of the brake cylinders (fig. 2).

The pressure acting on the pistons of the brake cylinders acts at the same time on the distribution valves, to balance the effort applied to the brake pedal: there must be increased effort for increased braking.

Front Brakes - Disc brakes - Fluid under pressure is applied to the interior of the mobile brake pad; the pistons apply pressure against the carrier, it is this pad which makes first contact with the disc. The brake caliper then centres on the rigidly fixed disc.

Rear Brakes - Drum brakes - Fluid under pressure operates the pistons which push apart the brake shoes; These apply the linings against the drum.

Distribution of braking (fig.3)

In a cylinder connected hydraulically to the rear suspension, a piston slides connected to a carriage resting against the distribution plate.

The point at which the brake lever contacts this plate is determined by the pressure stored in the spheres of the rear suspension. This contact point determines the distribution of the effort on each distributor and consequently the brake pressure in each circuit.

Foot-note: The disc brakes possess an automatic system of correction of play, this correction is carried out after operation of the hand brake.