Scientists of the Automobile Institute of the Wuhan University of Science and Technology and Yuanfeng Auto Parts Co. developed a patented air-pressure disk-type braking device that will help tackle the noises arising from the braking of buses.

The devise has been installed at the autos produced by Dongfeng, Jinlong and Jianghuai and proves that the noise at the braking is zero. Under normal conditions, such brakes will not ask for replacement within 80,000 km of mileage, greatly cut the labor intensity of the driver and the costs in operations.

At present, most of China's buses use the drum-type brakes which produce noises when deformed. According to monitoring, noises by such brakes may reach 90 decibel to 110 decibel and generally remain at 70 decibel, constituting serious noise pollution. Buses in developed nations had been installed with such air-pressure disk-type brakes in the mid-1990s.

The State Environmental Protection Administration is working out standards for the limits of auto braking noise values and will make it as an important part of the annual auto check next year.

(www.cenews.com.cn November 11, 2002)