Truck Air Brake Design
Posted on 31. May, 2010 by Attorney in Uncategorized
A Compressed Air Brake System is an air brake that is used for trucks with a drum brake or standard disk as part of its design. In this system, compressed air is used instead of hydraulic fluid. Most air brakes, used in truck design, are drum units – though there is an increasing trend in the use of disk brakes. This system draws filtered air from the surrounding atmosphere, compresses it and utilizes reservoirs to hold the air at approximately 120 psi (pounds per square inch). When the pressurized air is needed for braking, it’s routed to operating cylinders, located on the brakes, which initializes the braking hardware, thus slowing the vehicle. In essence, air brakes use compressed air to maximize the braking force.
Large trucks will also have an emergency backup system whereby the compressed air will hold back a mechanical device (usually a spring) that can also engage the brakes. This will immediately trigger the brakes should air pressure become lost, bringing the truck to a stop.
A truck air brake system is divided into a control and a supply system. The supply system will compress, then store and supply the air to the control system. Other systems are supplied, as well, for their functionality (clutch pedal air assistance, gearbox shift control, servo, etc.).
A crankshaft pulley (via a belt) or engine timing gears will be used to drive the air compressor. The compressor is cooled and lubricated by the engine cooling and lubricating systems. In this manner, air is first routed through the cooling coil, then into an air dryer which serves to remove oil and moisture impurities. The system may also include a safety valve, a pressure regulator and a smaller “purge” reservoir. The supply system can be equipped with an oil separator and an anti-freeze device as an alternative to the air dryer. A reservoir (aka “wet tank”) stores the compressed air and then distributes it through a 4-way protection valve into the air reservoirs of the front and rear brake circuit, an auxiliary air supply distribution point and a parking brake reservoir. Also included, in this system, are pressure limiting, check, drain and safety valves.
Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.
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