Faster braking on bicycles

1990/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingeniaritza

Those who have the bike can put hydraulic brakes. Although the materials have been adapted, their origin goes back to the aerospace industry.

The system designer has been the American engineer Bill Mathauser. The system consists of a cylinder with a piston and a rotating diaphragm. The material of this diaphragm is hard, flexible and waterproof to fluids. Mathauser has called this material “Bellowfragma”. The diaphragm rotates between the piston and the cylinder and achieves a good sealing between the piston and the cylinder.

The piston and brake shoe are connected by a hexagonal barrel. The brake replaces pivotable supports based on brake cables by a piston. When hydraulic crossbowls are used, the force should be much lower than with conventional brakes.