A wheel and brake disc apparatus of a vehicle includes a roadway wheel and a brake disc mounted rotatably to the vehicle, the roadway wheel and the brake disc arranged about an axis of rotation. The roadway wheel extends radially in relation to the axis of rotation to a wheel rim configured to hold a tire adapted to operate on a roadway surface. The brake disc is inboard of the roadway wheel and extends radially in relation to the axis of rotation to a brake disc rim. A brake caliper assembly mounted at a fixed location over the brake disc rim is configured to squeeze brake pads against the brake disc. The brake disc rim includes a tread configured to operate on a rail without interference from the brake caliper assembly.

A pad for disc brakes for railway vehicles comprising a base plate (2), a plurality of friction elements fixed to the base plate and a plurality of spacers, each of which is mounted between the base plate and a respective friction element. In each one of the spacers at least one fixing hole is obtained, which is engaged by a respective rivet suited to lock the friction element to the base plate. Each one of the spacers consists of a plurality of metal plaques, each having a fixing hole obtained in it. The metal plaques are stacked on top of one another so that the respective fixing holes coincide.

A pad for disc brakes for railway vehicles comprising a base plate (2), a plurality of friction elements fixed to the base plate and a plurality of spacers, each of which is mounted between the base plate and a respective friction element. In each one of the spacers at least one fixing hole is obtained, which is engaged by a respective rivet suited to lock the friction element to the base plate. Each one of the spacers consists of a plurality of metal plaques, each having a fixing hole obtained in it. The metal plaques are stacked on top of one another so that the respective fixing holes coincide.

A brake disc for a railway vehicle includes: a disc plate portion that has a sliding portion of a front face; a plurality of radial fins that are provided on the rear face of a disc plate portion, and that have a shape that extends in the radial direction of the disc plate portion; and a circumferential rib that is provided between each pair of adjacent radial fins, and that has a shape that extends in the circumferential direction of the disc plate portion. A flow path for air is formed between the pair of radial fins, and the flow path for air is narrowed by the circumferential rib. On the circumferential rib, a gradual slope for suppressing fluctuations in an airflow that passes between the pair of radial fins is provided from a base part to a top part.

A brake disc for a railway vehicle includes: a disc plate portion that has a sliding portion of a front face; a plurality of radial fins that are provided on the rear face of a disc plate portion, and that have a shape that extends in the radial direction of the disc plate portion; and a circumferential rib that is provided between each pair of adjacent radial fins, and that has a shape that extends in the circumferential direction of the disc plate portion. A flow path for air is formed between the pair of radial fins, and the flow path for air is narrowed by the circumferential rib. On the circumferential rib, a gradual slope for suppressing fluctuations in an airflow that passes between the pair of radial fins is provided from a base part to a top part.

A brake disk unit includes a rotating member, a brake disk, and a control member. The brake disk includes a disk main body, fins, and convex portions and/or concave portions. The control member includes a support portion and a projecting portion. At least a part of the projecting portion is arranged between fins that are adjacent in the circumferential direction of the brake disk. A gap is formed between the projecting portion and the brake disk. On the surface of the brake disk, the convex portions and/or the concave portions are provided further on the outer side in the radial direction of the brake disk than a minimum opening portion of the gap.

A brake disk unit includes a rotating member, a brake disk, and a control member. The brake disk includes a disk main body, fins, and convex portions and/or concave portions. The control member includes a support portion and a projecting portion. At least a part of the projecting portion is arranged between fins that are adjacent in the circumferential direction of the brake disk. A gap is formed between the projecting portion and the brake disk. On the surface of the brake disk, the convex portions and/or the concave portions are provided further on the outer side in the radial direction of the brake disk than a minimum opening portion of the gap.

A disc/brake friction torque for railway vehicles consisting of at least one pad comprising at least one friction element and a disc. The friction element is made of a sintered material comprising copper, iron, graphite, 0.02 to 1.5% by weight of molybdenum, 1 to 3% by weight of chrome and a porosity ranging from 20 to 35%; and the disc is made of cast iron comprising 0.05 to 2% by weight of chrome, 0.05 to 2% by weight of molybdenum, 0.1 to 2% by weight of nickel.

A disc/brake friction torque for railway vehicles consisting of at least one pad comprising at least one friction element and a disc. The friction element is made of a sintered material comprising copper, iron, graphite, 0.02 to 1.5% by weight of molybdenum, 1 to 3% by weight of chrome and a porosity ranging from 20 to 35%; and the disc is made of cast iron comprising 0.05 to 2% by weight of chrome, 0.05 to 2% by weight of molybdenum, 0.1 to 2% by weight of nickel.

A friction-braking apparatus for a transportation system, having at least one caliper, at least one piston structured and arranged to move the at least one caliper; and at least one brake pad arranged on the at least one caliper. The at least one caliper is structured and arranged to selectively move the at least one brake pad into engagement with at least one rail of the transportation system.