What is Brake?

Types of Braking System [Notes & PDF]

themechanicalengineering.com/braking-system/

In this lesson, you are going to learn all the different types of brake or braking systems in
detail.

Note: At the end, you will be able to download PDF also.

So let’s start,

As Newton’s first law of motion stated, an object stays at rest or motion until and unless an
external force is applied to it, thus this idea gave the rise to the Braking system in the
automobile industry.

In the automobile industry, the vehicle and efficient Braking system are as important as a
power source, the higher power, the engine produces the higher should be break force.

This thought gave a project to researchers for the evolution and flexibility of choosing an
effective braking system.

What is Braking System and Friction? How does it apply to

Automobiles?
A Braking System is designed to control and halt the moving automobile vehicle, to pull off
this, various components within the Brake system should convert the moving object from
kinetic energy into heat energy, this conversation of force is carried by friction, which reduces
the speed and also helps in de-accelerate the vehicle.

This Frictional force is generated by the Frictional contact of bodies between the shoe and
moving drum or disc of an automobile braking system.

Friction opposes the body that is in contact with each other by relative motion, so when you
use energy to counter the friction it produces heat, and components such as pads, liners,
drums, and discs get heated during the process and act to slow down the moving body.

1/15
The Frictional force depends upon the surface nature materials, to achieve the braking effect
of a moving body it depends on the speed of relative motion.

Hence to experience higher friction the bodies should be pressed comparatively more
together, and also the faster the relative body moves in relation to each other lesser friction
would be experienced between them.

Design and Basics: Manufacture placed two brake shoes in such a way that they collide
against the inner surface of the Brake drum that resembles to form internal expanding
brakes.

The drums surround the mechanism of brakes and form a layer to protect it from dust and
moisture. The Backing plates grip the brake attached and complete the braking system
attachment.

It acts as a catalyst for speeding up the brake shoe and its operating mechanism.

What are different types of Brake or Braking System?

Most of the Brakes use friction on both sides of the wheel, the collective wheel pressing
converts kinetic energy into heat energy.

For eg: (A regeneration braking system helps in the transformation of the energy into
electrical energy, which also can be stored and used later. Eddy current brakes used
magnetic fields to process kinetic energy into electrical current and The brake disc, which is
then converted into heat).

It’s always good to know which of these braking systems fits your modern car’s needs for
easy troubleshooting and servicing.

So let’s have a look at the different types of Braking systems:

Mechanical Brake System

Hydraulic Brake System
Pneumatic Brake System
Electromagnetic Brake System
Servo Brake System
Electrical brake system
Disc Brake System
Drum Brake System
Emergency Brake
Anti-lock Braking system
Service Brakes or Foot oriented Brakes and
Hand Brake System

2/15
Now we will study one by one in detail. So let’s start,

1. Mechanical Brake System:

This mechanical braking system is the hand brake or the emergency brake, it generates
friction between two surfaces as they rub against each other.

In this braking system, a particular force is applied to the pedal and it’s carried to the final
drum by mechanical components such as a fulcrum, springs, and that are used as linkages
to transmit force from one point to another, for slowing down the vehicle.

The slowing down of the speed or capacity of a brake depends on the surface friction as well
the actuation force applied to it.

Advantages of Mechanical Braking System:

Mechanical brakes are simpler and easy to be maintained.

It is less expensive than a hydraulic brake system.
It provides great uses for emergency and parking brakes.

2. Hydraulic Braking System:

A magnetic flux is passed in a direction perpendicular to the rotating direction of the
particular wheel, a rapid current flowing in a direction opposite to the rotation of the wheel
creating an opposing force to the wheel rotation thus, gradually slowing down the wheel
speed.

3/15
It transmits the brake system to the wheels of the brake through the pressure of fluids,
converting the pressure into useful work of wheel brakes.

The Brake pedal relays the driver foot effort to the master cylinder piston, which compresses
the brake fluid.

The fluid pressure is the same as it’s transmitted to the front disc-caliper pistons and the rear
disc caliper pistons. As per the process, a different mechanical parking brake must be
included with at least two wheels.

This also allows the driver to be in control of the vehicle in the cause of a failure with the
Hydraulic Brake system.

Advantages of Hydraulic brake system

The Hydraulics offers the following advantages over the mechanical layout:

It provides equal braking effort on all wheels.

Relative brake effort is less to deliver the same output.
It is full compensated thus each brake receive a full share of pedal effort
It is more efficient than mechanical.
Suitable for all types of vehicles having independent suspension.

3. Pneumatic Braking System:

4/15
It maintains a higher level of pressure inside it, and the pressure in line starts dropping the
moment when the driver applies the brake causing a result in slowing down the vehicle
trucks buses and trains use this type of braking system.

It operates on compressed air helps in charging up the entire braking system to maintain
optimum pressure.

The charged-up lines make sure for the brakes to be dis-engaged, the very moment the
driver applies the force onto the pedal the air pressure drops.

Due to this sudden drop of pressure, the control reservoir, and gets disconnected causing
the auxiliary cylinder to be connected to the brake cylinder.

Compressed air from the auxiliary cylinder gets to the brake cylinder causing it to be more
engaged. This is how the pneumatic brake works.

Advantages of a pneumatic brake system:

Pneumatic brake equipment is much more reliable than hydraulic brakes

If there is a leakage in the pneumatic brake system, there is less wastage as compared
to leakage in the hydraulic brake system.
It is very powerful with a single pedal that can work the entire pneumatic brake
equipment which makes everything easy to control and there are fewer chances of
mistakes.

5/15
 Their systems are clean as the compressed air used in the operation can be directly
dumped into the atmosphere.

Why the pneumatic system is not utilized in cars or light-duty vehicles?

Even though the air system got a lot of benefits over the hydraulic braking system, as well as
its efficiency but it requires much more space to fit in the air braking system which has got
several components in it.

Where another hydraulic system is lightweight and does not require much more space than
an air braking system.

Also, the hydraulic system is much cheaper than the air braking system which does its job
efficiently and effectively for the vehicle or cars.

4. Electromagnetic Break System:

The electromagnetic system can be used in both modern and hybrid vehicles. The principles
of electromagnetism are to achieve frictionless braking.

It increases the lifespan and reliability of the brakes also it’s backed by quick magnetic
brakes so without the use of friction or any lubrication this technology is preferred in hybrids
as they are moderate in size compared to the normal braking. It is mostly used in trams and
rails.

A magnetic flux is passed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the rotating

particular wheel, a rapid current flowing in a direction opposite to the rotation of the wheel
creating an opposing force to the wheel rotation which hence reduces and slows down the
speed.

6/15
Advantages of an electromagnetic field:
Brake is faster and cheaper.
There is no replaceable cost for brake shoes periodically.
This breaking helps in increasing the capacity of the system.
In this braking, a small amount of heat is generated wherein in mechanical braking an
enormous amount of heat is generated.
A part of the energy is delivered to the supply consequently the running cost is
reduced.

5. Servo Braking System:

It is also known as vacuum-assisted braking. In this process, the pressure applied to the
pedal by the driver is increased.

It uses the vacuum that is produced inside the petrol engines by the air intake system also it
uses the power assistance to reduce the manpower effort.

Servo braking system boosters used with the hydraulic brake system increase the braking
force applied on the surface, pushing the brake pedal to release the vacuum on the side of
the booster the difference in the air pressure makes the diaphragm in slowing down.

7/15
Lets Have a look At the Advantages of Servo Braking:

It is Simpler in design.
It provides greater level of safety because a loss in volume result in the breaking of the
vehicle.
More reliable in rail wagons.
It’s simpler to control as it permits the automatic process of the brake down the entire
length of the train by applying a decent force.
It is more effective as its ability to get partial release it’s something that the pneumatic
brake could not do without adding an additional equipment.

6. Electrical braking system:

It is mainly used in electric vehicles in which braking is produced using electric motors, and
it’s the main power source in electric vehicles. It basically categorized into three types.

6.1 Plugging or Counter current Braking:

It is the simpler form of braking runs when gets connected to motor windings for the reverse
direction of rotation at a particular time when the armature still rotates in the forward direction
under control of the action of an external torque or due to inertia.

Plugging reconnects the power source with the motor, so it moves to drive in the opposite
direction. It is generally obvious for the system to come at rest as it’s mostly required and
then to accelerate in the reverse direction.

8/15
It is important to introduce a special device and to cut off the supply exactly at the time when
the motor stops.

This method produces a greater braking torque. It’s beneficial to get a quick reversal or to
get a more rapid stop in an event of the control.

It is mostly used in rolling mills, elevators, machine tools, etc. This method can be used in
both direct current and alternating current and also in induction and synchronous motors.

6.2 Dynamic Braking system:

In this particular method, the motor power is cut from the supply and it operates as a
generator carried by the kinetic energy of the rotating parts of the motor and its driven
machines.

Thus, the kinetic energy gets converted into the electrical energy of the rotation.

Which is then dissipated and connected at the breaking instant. Using this method, the exact
amount of energy required for the power supply to break the motor has been removed as
compared to the plugging method.

And this is one of the advantages of dynamic Braking: It applies to direct current motors,
synchronous motors, and induction motors.

6.3 Regenerative Braking:

In this method, the mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy. Some parts of
energy are returned to the supply and the rest of the energy is lost as heat in the windings
and bearings

of the electrical machines. It did not involve any switching method unless a change of speed
is required at which it becomes more efficient.

Most of the widely electrical machines pass smoothly from motoring to operations
generating, when getting overdriven by the load.

Necessities For Regenerative Brake System:

Lesser Supply voltage.
The motor to be a little more excited.
The motor to be running at a higher speed than no-load speed.

In all of this process, the retarding torque is produced and the armature current is reversed,
decreasing the speed of the motor until the armature back emf becomes the same as a
voltage source.

9/15
Regenerative braking does not stop the motor. It is only efficient for handing braking hauling
loads, they also vehicle increased the motor due to the work of lowering load or in the motor
of an electric locomotive moving downgrade.

Advantages of Electric Braking:

It’s more efficient than the mechanical braking system which needs costly and frequent
replacement but no such replacement is required in electric braking hence it’s cheaper
and works efficiently.
By using of electric braking, speed capacity of the system increases way higher with
haulage of heavy loads.
It helps in saving energy, as a small amount of energy returns to supply offering a
considerable saving in the operating cost.
Metal dust is produced in mechanical braking, but no such dust is produced in electric
placement of the mechanical brakes may result in harsh effects in the discomfort to
occupants. On the other side electric braking is way more safer, smoother and without
shock.

7. Disc Brake System:

Brake Fluid is compressed by a piston inside the master cylinder located at the base of the
vehicle hood beside the engine, thus creating a huge amount of hydraulic pressure, also
producing a large amount of force just by pressing the pedal down.

The pressure gets passed via the brake fluid and then to brake horses that connect a linkage
with the brake assembled at each wheel.

The conversion of wheel pressure takes place with the hydraulic force to be converted to the
mechanical force causing the brake friction to push against the disc, and the drum helps to
decrease the speed and stop it completely.

Credit to Learn Engineering

10/15
7.1 The floating caliper:

It is the most common type used with one or two pistons, when the brakes are applied, the
inner brake pad gets rest against the disc while at the exact time the caliper body shifts
closer to the router.

This process forces the outer brake pad against the router.

7.2 The fixed caliper:

Its piston is mounted on each side of the router. The caliper does not bulge out, it is rigidly
fastened to the spindle. When applying brakes, the caliper piston shifts, pressing the brake
pads against the disc.

Advantages of Disc brake System

It produces more force-stopping power.
More efficient to apply for a shorter stopping distance.
Provides a self-cleaning facility.
This is more durable and lighter.

8. Drum Braking System:

11/15
It is the brake type in which a drum which is mainly used for the brake shoes along with its
real mechanism is attached to the hub of the wheel in such a way the inner parts remain
constant and the outer part of the drum rotates with the wheel.

When brakes are applied, the mechanical linkages cause the brake shoes to expand a little
due to which the outward friction surface of the brake shoes gets in frictional contact with the
rotating drum part which helps in stopping or de-accelerating the wheels.

Advantages Of Drum Brake System

It generates less heat since most of the stopping force is generated by the front brakes
of the vehicle.
It produces or emits less particulate matter than disc brakes.
Its frictional contact area is at the circumference hence it provides more braking force
than an equal diameter disc brake.
It got a low level of maintenance to improve corrosion resistance compared to the disc.
It is less expensive and reliable.

9. Emergency Brake System:

They are also known as parking brakes, it acts as secondary and independent braking
System for all the service brakes.

12/15
There are several kinds of emergency brake (a level between the driver placed, a third pedal,
a handle beside the steering column, etc.)

They are all sourced by cables that apply the pressure mechanically to the wheels, generally
maintain the vehicle stationary when parked, and are used in emergency situations if the
stationary brakes are not at work.

10. Anti-lock Braking system:

Most of the modern vehicles are introduced to anti-lock Braking systems. They are installed
for good as the reasons for several advantages mostly having to do with the driver and
passenger safety.

For beginners, anti-lock brakes allow drivers to maintain control of their vehicles with all
types of road conditions.

It provides rushing stopping at the exact point where the driver wants, without using these
brake roads with slippery conditions can turn out a bit risky.

One of its great advantages is that its system parts work together, for instance, ABS controls
wheel activity with the sensor placed on both wheels. The sensor is controlled by the brake
force ensuring the wheel’s speed to run in tandem.

Credit to
Learn
Engineer
ing

11. Service Brakes or Foot oriented Braking System:

13/15
It is an automobile primary braking system operated by one’s foot and mechanically
separated from partner brake for emergency braking. Its braking system can be compared to
both drum brakes and disc brakes.

Its functions are mainly hydraulic, thus using hydraulic pressure to activate the braking
system. It basically uses a bias with most of the braking force to be applied onto the front
brakes. It means a vehicle to be under control under heavy braking events.

Vehicles with high rear brake bias, cause vehicles to lose control and slide out under heavy
braking conditions. Too much front brake bias also causes the same event to happen.

12. Hand Brake System:

A hand Brake system is also known as a parking brake or emergency brake. It helps to keep
the vehicle motionless while parking, it is used to perform in emergency situations when the
main hydraulic brakes fail.

This consists of cable connected with two wheels brakes after then connected to a pulling
mechanism.

In most vehicles, the parking brake is found to be operated only on rear wheels, which
reduces the traction while braking.

This mechanism consists of a hand-operated and a steering column or foot-operated pedal

located with some other more pedals. In the event of failure, the parking brake engages to
prevent the wheels from locking up and reduces speed.

14/15
Internal Resources:

Drum Brake vs Disc Brake

Battery Ignition System
Magneto Ignition System
Electronic Ignition System
Different Types of Lubrication System
Different Types of Clutch

Reference:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake
https://icet.ac.in/Uploads/Downloads/3_MODULE%205.pdf
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/brake-system

So here we finally studied all the different types of braking systems in detail. I hope you have
understood this topic. If yes then please share it with your friends and family. Do let me know
what further topic I can help you with. Till then Thank you so much for visiting. Bye

Copyright © 2019-23 The Mechanical Engineering | Free Blog for Engineers

15/15