GB979810A - Improvements in and relating to tandem type master cylinders - Google Patents

Abstract

979,810. Brake master cylinders. AUTOMOTIVE PRODUCTS CO. Ltd. Oct. 30. 1963 [Nov. 1, 1962], No. 41434/62. Heading F2F. A tandem brake master cylinder of the kind which is adapted to operate other than horizontally, e.g. vertically, has a reservoir divided such as to provide separate chambers disposed at least in part one above the other, whereby each of the cylinder spaces is supplied independently so that if one loses its fluid the other can still operate. In one embodiment, Figs. 1 and 2, the reservoir comprises upper and lower tubular portions 5, 3, arranged one within the other and sealed by co-operating shoulders 6, 7 and sealing ring 8, to form lower and upper chambers 9, 10 respectively feeding cylinder spaces of a tandem master cylinder 2 via aligned parts 12, 14 and 11, 13 in the reservoir portions and cylinder. The reservoir portions are shaped to fit around the cylinder (Fig. 2) and have projecting portions 15 containing the parts 11, 12 entering recesses in the cylinder 2 and sealed by seals 18. A spring clip or clips 16 engaged on shoulders 17 of the reservoir clamp the latter to the cylinder 2. In a second embodiment, Figs. 3 and 5, the cylinder 24 has recesses 21, 22 divided by a partition 25 feeding the cylinder spaces 29, 31 via ports 30, 32, and a reservoir 20 cast in metal or plastic has a partition 35 and flanges 37 mating with corresponding flanges on the cylinder, so that when secured by bolts 38 the partition 35 mates with the partition 25 to provide upper and lower chambers 21, 22. A level indicating device 39, which may include a float-operated switch, is also provided. In a further embodiment, Fig. 6, a separate casing 42 forms the upper chamber and is welded at 47 to a plate 48 which is bolted, together with a casing 43 to the cylinder 50, so as to form the lower chamber. Ports 53, 54 provide communication between the chambers and the respective cylinder spaces, and an opening 55 in the casing 42 provides communication between the two chambers. The casing 42 may be separately bolted to the master cylinder (Fig. 9, not shown), the plate 48 then being omitted.