A braking system for a steel wheeled vehicle is provided. The braking system includes an actuator assembly and a brake member operably engaged with the actuator assembly. The brake member contacts a flat surface of a wheel of the steel wheeled vehicle. A method for applying brakes to a steel wheeled vehicle is also provided. The method includes applying brake pressure, via a brake member, to a flat surface of a wheel of the steel wheeled vehicle.

The invention concerns a brake assembly for a vehicle wheel, the brake assembly comprising: a braked member that is coupable or coupled to the vehicle wheel for a joint rotation therewith about a rotational axis, the braked member having friction linings that are arranged at an axial distance from one another; and a braking unit that comprises an actuator and at least two displaceable members, the displaceable members being positioned in between the friction linings, wherein the actuator is configured move the displaceable members axially apart from one another, thereby bringing each displaceable member into contact with one of the friction linings of the braked member.

A friction brake device has a brake rotor that rotates around an axis of rotation, brake pads that can rotate around an axis of autorotation parallel to the axis of rotation, support members that support the brake pads respectively, and pressing devices that press the brake pads against the brake rotor respectively. In the friction brake device, when the brake pads are pressed against the brake rotor, the brake pads revolve around the axis of rotation relatively to the brake rotor while being frictionally engaged with lateral faces of the brake rotor respectively. The support members press the brake pads in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation, and frictionally engage outer peripheries of the brake pads with a cylindrical face of the brake rotor respectively. The brake pads auto-rotate around the axis of autorotation upon beginning to be pressed, but come to rest when the pressing force increases.