So you don’t know the first thing about industrial braking systems. Well, you’re in luck.
Industrial brakes may not be the sexiest pieces of technology around, but they’re easily some of the most important. So, for your edification, let’s examine everything you need to know about industrial braking systems, but were too afraid to ask.
Brake It Down: The Basics
In essence, a brake is a frictional device whose sole purpose is to absorb the kinetic energy of a moving body, thereby bringing it to a halt. There’s not much else to it.
The typical brake uses a configuration in which two surfaces press together create friction. For industrial applications, this can lead to a great deal of wear and tear on the brake lining.
Semi-metallic and sintered brake pads are often used in industrial brake linings, in order to withstand the greater speeds and friction.
This is just a brief look at industrial braking mechanisms; feel free to research further. There’s plenty of more information out there on the many kinds of industrial brakes—kor-pak.com, for instance, maintains a pretty extensive assortment of industrial brake info.
Types of Industrial Braking Systems
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the five basic types of these brakes:
1. Fail-safe Brakes
The fail-safe brake is a system that is specially designed to kick in should there ever occur a power loss, for whatever reason. The most familiar example of such a fail-safe system would be an elevator brake—designed to avoid those catastrophic falls we’ve all seen in countless movies.
2. Spring-Applied Brakes
Like a fail-safe brake, the spring-applied brake acts to decelerate and park a load in the event of a power failure, or however else the release mechanism might be disengaged.
3. Electromagnetic Brakes
Electromagnetic brakes are somewhat different from typical mechanical brakes. They use electromagnetic force to generate friction, which produces the required stopping action. EM brakes can be found in general industry, locomotives, industrial robotics, and even in aerospace applications.
4. Hydraulic Brakes
Hydraulic brakes use brake fluids to generate the needed braking force. These types of brakes are commonly used in industrial applications, from winches and cranes, to mining equipment and everyday vehicles.
5. Pneumatic Brakes
The common old air brake, also known as the pneumatic brake, is pretty simple. It uses compressed air to drive a piston and apply force to a brake pad, producing the requisite friction.
Pump the Brakes
Industrial braking systems are the unsung heroes of industry. Ideally, you’ll never think about them or even be aware of their existence. They just do their jobs, preventing potential disasters in the event of unforeseen power loss or other catastrophes.
The technology behind industrial brakes might seem pretty well settled and future-proof. But with the advent of advanced new materials and the Internet-of-Things, keep an eye out for more sophisticated braking systems in the not-too-distant future.
If you’re looking for even more articles on technology and its applications, be sure to check out some of the many other blog posts on our site!
