Hydraulic cement

Hydraulic Brake

A hydraulic brake is a type of brake system that uses brake fluid, typically containing ethylene glycol, to transfer pressure from the controlling mechanism to the braking mechanism.

History

The hydraulic brake was invented by Malcolm Loughead (later spelled Lockheed) in 1918. The first car with hydraulic brakes was the Duesenberg Model A in 1922.

Principle

The principle behind the hydraulic brake is Pascal's law, which states that pressure applied at any point in a confined incompressible fluid is transmitted equally in all directions throughout the fluid such that the pressure ratio remains the same.

Components

The main components of a hydraulic brake system include the master cylinder, brake caliper, brake pad, and brake rotor.

Master Cylinder

The master cylinder is a control device that converts non-hydraulic pressure (commonly from a driver's foot) into hydraulic pressure. This device controls slave cylinders located at the other end of the hydraulic system.

Brake Caliper

The brake caliper is a part of the brake system in which the brake pads are housed and the piston is contained. When the brake pedal is pressed, hydraulic pressure forces the piston in the caliper to push the brake pads against the rotor.

Brake Pad

The brake pad is a component of disc brakes used in automotive and other applications. Brake pads are steel backing plates with friction material bound to the surface that faces the disc brake rotor.

Brake Rotor

The brake rotor, also known as the brake disc, is what the brake pads clamp onto, creating the friction that slows down the car. It is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or carbon ceramic matrix composites.

See Also

• Disc brake
• Drum brake
• Brake fluid
• Brake bleeding