BRAKING FACILITY

Shannon News, 2 November 1928, Page 3

BRAKING FACILITY

ADJUSTMENT TO SUIT ROAD CONDITION.

AN AMERICAN INVENTION. Although the principle of applying four-wheel brakes by a servo motor operated by engine suction has not made anything like the progress in America which it has attained in Europe, there is a device Avith which a groat deal of experimental work has been conducted in the United States. This device has recently been redesigned and developed in a highly interesting manner with the, aim of enabling the driver (without stopping the car) to adjust his braking in accordance with the road conditions; he is provided with a regulating device on- the dash, marked off in three sectors, which, carry the words "dry," "wet/.' and "icy," respectively. By moving the regulator from one sector to another the degree of vacuum obtained in the braking cylinder can be controlled, the maximum being "used, for dry roads and, of course, the minimum for icy conditions. The degree of brake application is directly proportional to the pedal movement and foot pressure, up to a limit; When this limit is reached the front brakes are held on by maximum suction and merely 'increases suction on the rear brakes.