Applications for industrial disc brakes
Disc brakes are primarily used in motor vehicles, aircraft, bicycles and carriages as well as machinery and equipment. One can find industrial disc brakes in multi-rope friction mine hoists and conveyors. The disc brake inertia is small, fast with a higher sensitivity and adjustable braking torque. Disc brakes for industrial applications are applied through the helical compression spring or disk spring pack and released by hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, AC thrusters or solenoids. Because of certain design features or the need for high braking energy, industrial disc brake systems are preferred when the drum brakes cannot be used. Using industrial disc brakes has many advantages over a conventional drum brake system.
Advantages of the industrial disc brakes
- Has a higher temperature capacity for the brake disc and brake linings compared to drum brakes
- Has a sliding speed of up to 90 m/s at the friction radius
- Higher permitted surface compression of the brake linings and consequently higher braking torque Industries where the industrial disc brakes are used
- Cranes especially those with high-speed hoisting gears and as a safety brake at the rope drum
- For the system to transport of bulk materials
- Mining equipment -Steel plants and rolling mills
- Power plant equipment
- Elevators
Advantages of the disc brakes over the drum brakes
- Reduced maintenance including the ease of installation
- Maintenance of the drum brakes is more difficult and takes a longer time
- Drum brakes are particularly sensitive to corrosion which tend to increase its wear and tear
- Disc brakes are small and weighs less than drum brakes. In most instances, the disc brakes are usually half the weight and size of the drum brakes
- Due to its lower disc inertia, the braking torque can be less with the disc brake meaning that the braking time is shorter but with the same force
- A brake actuator can operate more than one brake caliper while the drum brake needs its own thruster
- -Drum brakes can only perform the on/off functions while the hydraulic disc brakes can be supplied with hydraulic control so as to have faster response, quicker release and soft braking
- The drum brake cannot be opened with a remote signal in case of power interruption however; the disc brake can be supplied with a hydraulic accumulator circuit through a battery back-up