Apparatus for applying brakes and releasing transmission clutches of vehicles

Claim 1

A MASTER CYLINDER APPARATUS FOR USE IN OPERATING THE HYDRAULIC BRAKES AND THE HYDRAULICALLY OPERABLE CLUTCH OPERATING MEANS OF THE TRANSMISSION OF A VEHICLE, SAID APPARATUS INCLUDING: A MASTER CYLINDER BODY HAVING A HYDRAULIC FLUID SUPPLY CONNECTION, A CLUTCH CONNECTION FOR CONNECTION TO THE CLUTCH OPERATING MEANS, A FLUID CYLINDER COMPRISING A LARGE BORE AND A SMALL BORE ALIGNED WITH EACH OTHER, AND A BRAKE LINE CONNECTION THROUGH WHICH THE FLUID PRESSURE IN THE SMALL BORE CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO THE BRAKES; PISTON MEANS IN THE FLUID CYLINDER WHEREBY FLUID PRESSURE APPLIED TO ONE END OF THE LARGE BORE PRODUCES AN INCREASED PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE OPPOSITE END OF THE SMALL BORE; A PASSAGEWAY IN THE BODY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID ONE END OF THE LARGE BORE AND WITH SAID CLUTCH CONNECTION; SLIDE VALVE MEANS IN SAID BODY AND INCLUDING A MANUALLY OPERABLE SPOOL, SAID VALVE MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID SUPPLY CONNECTION AND WITH SAID PASSAGEWAY TO SUPPLY FLUID TO SAID PASSAGEWAY IN RESPONSE TO THE MANUAL ACTUATION OF THE SPOOL; SAID CLUTCH CONNECTION, WHEN PRESSURE HAS BEEN APPLIED THROUGH IT TO THE CLUTCH OPERATING MEANS, BEING FREE FOR RETURN FLOW TO CAUSE REENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS IN THE FULLY RELEASED POSITION AND MECHANICAL MEANS OPERATED IN CONJUNCTION WIT THE VALVING MEANS FOR ACTUATING THE PISTON MEANS MECHANICALLY INDEPENDENTLY OF THE FLUID ACTUATION THEREOF.