An Overview Of Industrial Disc And Drum Brakes

By Author: Chris Holmes
Total Articles: 4
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Industrial disc and drum brakes are available in hydraulic, electrohydraulic, electromagnetic and pneumatically released versions. Top rung suppliers can be relied on for compact, reliable and economical brakes. Industrial plants may require tried and tested brakes for parking, stopping or control applications.

Industrial brakes have undergone phenomenal change in the last couple of decades. Introduction of components like sintered metal and lightweight steel has contributed to improved efficiency.

Drum brakes use a wide cylinder that is open at the back. When brake is applied, curved shoes located inside the drum are pushed outwards, pressing against the inside of the drum and it. State-of-the-art drum brake system features externally adjustable torque and a synchronization linkage that maintains equal lining clearance. Drum brakes work perfectly for the applications that do not produce extreme heat or high shaft speed in normal operation. For instance, if an application deploys a variable frequency vector drive to control shaft speed down to almost zero RPM before applying the brake, the drum brake would work ...
... perfectly well.

Disc brakes use a flat metal rotor that spins with the wheel. On application of the brakes, a caliper squeezes the brake pads against the disc, slowing the wheel. Disc brakes can be used as a parking, stopping or control brake. A parking brake prevents the unintended start of a stationary shaft; a stopping brake brings a rotating shaft to a standstill, while a control brake maintains a certain tension in the material.

Both the disc and drum brakes are available in hydraulic, electrohydraulic, electromagnetic and pneumatically released versions. Top-of-the-line suppliers offer compact, reliable and economical brakes for industrial applications. The breaks are tried and tested for operational safety. These would also meet the highest requirements for reliability for various braking applications along with emergency braking.

Industrial brakes are available with mounting frame standard. Standard ICP power unit of brake release can be customized to clients’ specifications. Superior quality brakes will display features like high torque output, extended friction life and quiet operation. Enclosed design of the brakes eliminates brake contamination. The design can be sized to suit the application.

Most caliper disc brakes today are either controlled pneumatically or hydraulically. A typical caliper disc brake would use a series of springs to exert force to a common steel disc. Electric brakes rely on the voltage applied, while the pneumatic and hydraulic brakes require supply lines and compressed air or hydraulic fluid.

Reliable emergency stop brakes are needed for container cranes, belt conveyor and bucket wheel excavator. Superior quality brakes intended for the application would have robust design with all bearings and pivot points fitted with close tolerance bushes, pins made of rust- resistant stainless steel, braking torque independent of disc rotating direction and optimized lever geometry resulting in maximum ratio and generous lining clearance.

A stopping and holding brake for wind power generators and turbines can apply braking force by variation of operating pressure. It has lining wear that is automatically compensated by increased piston stroke. It is suitable for various disc diameters and thicknesses. The design consists of two independent halves with opposite hydraulic cylinders. Horizontal and vertical brake discs under any angular displacement can be used in these brakes. Mechanism of the brake allows the operating pressure to be easily adapted to the operating conditions in the plant.

Author of this article is associated with ICP (Industrial Clutch Parts) that deals in a broad range of products including caliper disc brakes, drum brakes, fluid couplings, friction materials and other such products.