What Are the Different Types of Braking Systems?

Brakes play an essential role in most machines and equipment used today. They are a crucial element to ensure the safety of those who use the machine or equipment and can help prevent injuries if your industrial equipment happens to break down. While you may know how important brakes are, do you know what the different types of braking systems are? If not, keep reading.

Here you can learn more about the most common types of industrial braking systems.

Types of Industrial Brakes

Industrial equipment and oversized machinery require a specific type of brake. Some of the most common types of industrial brakes offered by Kor-Pak and other companies are described here.

Fail-Safe Brakes

Fail-safe brakes are used to stop motion in case there is an issue with the variable or PLC frequency drive or in situations where there is a loss of power to the machine. They are most commonly seen in downhill and overland conveyor belt systems, drawbridges, steel mill rolling and coiling systems, elevators, crane hoists, and mining and oil winches.

Sibre Brakes

Designed and created specifically by Siegerland Bremsen, these come with both disc and drum designs and include various power sources and fail-safe features. This style of brake is commonly used with rotor stopping, wind turbines, emergency stop, and holding.

Spring Applied Brakes

Brakes that work to decelerate moving loads and to hold static loads if the release mechanism is deactivated for any reason are called spring-applied brakes. These are used in many different machines, such as trollies and overhead cranes. The spring-applied drum brake will use electromagnetic solenoids as the release mechanisms. They are more useful for winch holding, overhead crane holding, emergency stop, and to use in general industrial machines.

Hydraulic Release Brakes

This is a spring-applied drum brake that uses hydraulic power to create adjustable braking torque. They are considered most useful for emergency stops, stage productions, and winch holding.

Tips to Get the Most Life from Your Industrial Braking System Components

To get the most life out of your industrial brakes, you have to put in the effort. Be sure the machine sits level on the floor, especially those with side frames that have a parallel gibways. If the gibway is uneven, it can prevent the return of the ram to the stroke top and may affect the proper alignment of the tools.

Brakes that rely on hydraulics need to have the hydraulic oil cleaned regularly. The oil can become contaminated with condensed water, dust, grit, dust, and heat. Make sure to change the filter annually and check the oil every few months. Avoid overfilling the machine, too. If you put too much weight on it without even distribution, damages and strains can occur in the ram and bed. Consider air bending instead of bottom bending to help avoid these problems.

Types of Braking Systems: Now You Know

As you can see, there are several types of braking systems used for industrial equipment and machines. Be sure to keep the information here in mind to know the kind of brake system you are dealing with. If you are looking for more information about the performance and longevity of your industrial equipment, check out some of our other blogs.