This chapter discusses the fundamental configurations and components of hydraulic and air-over-hydraulic braking systems. It describes the basic components, including master cylinders, wheel cylinders, disc brakes, drum brakes, and valves. Hydraulic systems use vacuum or hydroboost to provide brake assist while air-over-hydraulic systems use compressed air to power hydraulic components. The chapter also covers emergency brakes and considerations for split braking systems.
This chapter discusses the fundamental configurations and components of hydraulic and air-over-hydraulic braking systems. It describes the basic components, including master cylinders, wheel cylinders, disc brakes, drum brakes, and valves. Hydraulic systems use vacuum or hydroboost to provide brake assist while air-over-hydraulic systems use compressed air to power hydraulic components. The chapter also covers emergency brakes and considerations for split braking systems.
This chapter discusses the fundamental configurations and components of hydraulic and air-over-hydraulic braking systems. It describes the basic components, including master cylinders, wheel cylinders, disc brakes, drum brakes, and valves. Hydraulic systems use vacuum or hydroboost to provide brake assist while air-over-hydraulic systems use compressed air to power hydraulic components. The chapter also covers emergency brakes and considerations for split braking systems.
This chapter discusses the fundamental configurations and components of hydraulic and air-over-hydraulic braking systems. It describes the basic components, including master cylinders, wheel cylinders, disc brakes, drum brakes, and valves. Hydraulic systems use vacuum or hydroboost to provide brake assist while air-over-hydraulic systems use compressed air to power hydraulic components. The chapter also covers emergency brakes and considerations for split braking systems.
Fundamentals of Hydraulic and Air-Over-Hydraulic Braking Systems Introduction
• Vehicle’s braking system must meet the
following requirements: – To adequately and safely reduce a vehicle’s speed, when required to do so – To maintain vehicle speed on downhill gradients – To be able to hold vehicle stationary, even when on gradient and driver is away from the vehicle Fundamental Configurations for Hydraulic Braking Systems • Hydraulic brake systems: same basic components augmented by one of two power assist or boost methods. – Vacuum booster: medium-duty commercial vehicles; lower cost factor for vehicle range; engine of choice is diesel engine. – Hydroboost: Class 4 to Class 6 commercial vehicles; uses pressurized hydraulic fluid to provide brake power assist. Fundamental Configurations for Hydraulic Braking Systems • Air-Over-Hydraulic Braking Systems – Use air compressor to provide power assistance over hydraulic components to braking system – Hydraulically controlled system: compressor, air dryer reservoir tanks, lines – Air treadle (foot) valve: sends air pressure directly or indirectly to air boosters that actuate hydraulic master cylinders to apply the brakes Fundamental Configurations for Hydraulic Braking Systems • Hydraulic Braking Systems – Brake pedal or lever – Pushrod (actuating rod) – Master cylinder assembly containing piston assembly (one or two pistons, series of seals, O-rings, fluid reservoir) – Reinforced hydraulic lines – Disc brake assemblies – Filled with glycol-ether-based brake fluid Fundamental Configurations for Hydraulic Braking Systems Fundamental Configurations for Hydraulic Braking Systems • Hydraulic Braking Systems – When brake pedal pressed, pushrod exerts force on piston(s) in master cylinder, causing fluid from brake fluid reservoir to flow into pressure chamber through compensating port. – Results in increase in pressure of entire system – Forces fluid through hydraulic lines toward disc brake calipers and drum brake wheel cylinders, where fluid force acts upon pistons Fundamental Configurations for Hydraulic Braking Systems • Hydraulic Braking Systems – Brake caliper pistons apply force to brake pads and brake shoes to push them against spinning rotor or drum. – Friction between pads/shoes and rotating surfaces generates braking torque to slow vehicle. – Release of brake pedal/lever allows spring(s) to return master piston(s) back into position. – Designed as closed system Foundation Components of Hydraulic Braking Systems • Drum Brakes – Drum arrangements used on rear wheels, with disc brakes on front in disc/drum configuration. – Drum brake has two brake shoes with attached lining made of friction material. – Main advantage: shoe mountings designed to assist their own operation (self-energizing) Foundation Components of Hydraulic Braking Systems • Drum Brakes – Main disadvantage: friction area almost entirely covered by lining; heat conducted through drum to reach outside air to cool. – Brake fade: gradual loss of brake stopping power during prolonged or strenuous use. – Very high temperatures occur at brake drum; causes deterioration in frictional value of lining or pad material. Foundation Components of Hydraulic Braking Systems • Brake Shoe Configurations and Actuation Mechanisms – Single-leading-shoe drum brake (SLS): leading/trailing shoe drum brake arrangement; basic drum brake design – Found on rear wheels of vehicles – Term “leading/trailing”: one shoe “leading,” that is, moving with direction of drum’s rotation and exhibiting self-applying, or self- servo, effect. Foundation Components of Hydraulic Braking Systems • Brake Shoe Configurations and Actuation Mechanisms – Other shoe is “trailing”: moving against direction of rotation, and being thrown off drum’s friction surface and not retarding drum effectively. – Self-servo effect arises in two-leading-shoe arrangement because leading shoes are dragged into brake drum’s friction surface and achieve maximum braking force. Foundation Components of Hydraulic Braking Systems Foundation Components of Hydraulic Braking Systems • Types of Adjusters Used with Drum Brakes – Important to maintain specified drum-to-lining clearance at all times. – Star adjusting screw: threaded bolt and two nuts; each end of adjusting in contact with a brake shoe, clearance decreases as screws are turned. – Wedge-type adjuster: conical wedge screwed in or out from back of backing plate between tappets that adjust brake lining to brake drum clearance. Foundation Components of Hydraulic Braking Systems • Disc Brakes – Slows rotation of wheel by friction caused by pushing brake pads against brake disc with set of calipers. – Made of cast iron or composites – Disc connected to wheel and/or axle. Foundation Components of Hydraulic Braking Systems • Disc Brakes – To stop wheel, friction material (brake pads mounted on device called brake caliper) forced mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically, or electromagnetically against both sides of disc. – Friction causes disc and attached wheel to slow or stop. – Compared with drum brakes, disc brakes offer better stopping performance because disc more readily cooled. Foundation Components of Hydraulic Braking Systems • Disc Brakes – Less prone to brake fade and recover more quickly from immersion. – Has no self-servo effect. – Disc brake performance improves as components heat up; drum brake performance deteriorates. – Disc brakes can be retrofitted. Emergency/Hand Brakes
• Mechanical Hand Brake
– Primary function: hold vehicle in stationary position when parked. – Secondary function: act as emergency stopping brake if primary brake malfunctions. – Drive shaft brakes not designed to act as emergency brake. Emergency/Hand Brakes
• Electrically Activated Hand Brake
– Found in light-duty commercial vehicles. – Cable-pulling type: electric motor pulls emergency brake cable rather than mechanical handle in cabin. – More complex unit uses two computer- controlled motors attached to rear brake calipers to activate it. Emergency/Hand Brakes Emergency/Hand Brakes
• Spring Brake Park Brake
– Air-over-hydraulic systems use vehicle’s air system to hold brake off when vehicle moving. – When actuation valve moved to apply brakes, air pressure is exhausted from spring brake chamber. – Power spring in unit mechanically moves brake components to apply brake. Hydraulic Components of Hydraulic Brake Systems • Master Cylinder – Primary function is that of a pump. – When activated by foot brake pedal, it forces hydraulic brake fluid through brake lines under pressure to activate wheel cylinders. – Develops pressure necessary to force wheels to expand and apply brakes – Maintains equal pressure on brake shoes/ disc pads Hydraulic Components of Hydraulic Brake Systems • Master Cylinder – Keeps braking system full of fluid to reduce risk of possible air induction into system as well as keep other contaminants from entering system. – Compensates for wear in brake linings/pads as well as maintain a slight residual pressure in braking system – Converts non-hydraulic pressure from driver’s application of brake pedal into hydraulic pressure. Hydraulic Components of Hydraulic Brake Systems • Master Cylinder – Primary piston moved directly by pushrod or power booster; generates hydraulic pressure to move secondary piston. – Single bore – Separated into two chambers by primary and secondary piston. – Could contain residual pressure valve for drum-type brakes (not fitted to disc brakes). Hydraulic Components of Hydraulic Brake Systems Hydraulic Components of Hydraulic Brake Systems • Master Cylinder – Reservoir above each master cylinder supplies master cylinder with enough brake fluid to avoid air from entering. – Medium-duty vehicles with hydraulic brakes will have one master cylinder for the brakes. – Actuating rod from brake pedal linked directly to primary piston (pushrod). Hydraulic Components of Hydraulic Brake Systems • Split Braking Systems – Divided system safer in event of partial failure. – Longitudinal split: brake system has one piston in master cylinder operating front braking circuit and other piston to operate rear braking circuit. – Diagonal split: brake system has each master cylinder piston controlling and operating braking system diagonally. Hydraulic Components of Hydraulic Brake Systems • Wheel Cylinders – Component in drum brake system – Located in each wheel at top, above shoes – Responsibility: exert force onto shoes so they can contact drum and stop vehicle with friction. – Single piston/single action – Dual action/double cylinder with piston at each end Hydraulic Components of Hydraulic Brake Systems Hydraulic Components of Hydraulic Brake Systems • Hydraulic Brake Valves – Proportioning valves: reduce brake pressure to rear wheels when their load is reduced during moderate to severe braking. – Metering valves: hold off application of front brakes on vehicles with disc brakes on front wheels and drum brakes on rear wheels. – Pressure differential valve: monitors pressure difference between two separate hydraulic brake circuits. Hydraulic Components of Hydraulic Brake Systems • Hydraulic Brake Valves – Combination valve: can combine pressure differential valve, metering valve, and proportioning valve(s) in one unit. – Not serviceable; if they become faulty, they must be replaced. Hydraulic Brake Power- Assist Systems • Vacuum Brake Booster or Servo – Vacuum power-assist system: uses vacuum booster to provide assistance to driver by increasing braking force created by brake pedal effort. – Vacuum boosters or servos use differential in pressure principle to increase braking force applied to brake master cylinder. Hydraulic Brake Power- Assist Systems Hydraulic Brake Power- Assist Systems • Vacuum Brake Booster or Servo – Booster between brake and master cylinder – Stage 1: driver’s foot off pedal; vacuum valve open to both sides of diaphragm; equalizes pressure so there is no power assist, and system is released. – Stage 2: driver pushes foot on pedal. Atmospheric pressure enters rear side of diaphragm and starts to push towards master cylinder creating power assist. Hydraulic Brake Power- Assist Systems • Vacuum Brake Booster or Servo – Stage 3: driver holds pedal at a certain point. Allows vacuum valve to move to position that maintains pressure differential between two sides; assist pressure holds at steady level. – Boosters designed with reserve capacity to allow two to three full brake applications before entire vacuum is lost. Hydraulic Brake Power- Assist Systems • Hydroboost Systems – Use pressurized hydraulic fluid to provide brake power assist. – Booster unit bolted to flywheel; master cylinder bolted to booster. – Hydraulic pressure used for power assist supplied by vehicle’s power steering pump. – Equipped with electrical back-up motor Hydraulic Brake Power- Assist Systems • Hydroboost Systems – First mode: engine running and no brake application, hydraulic pressure delivered to inlet of booster and travels through unit unrestricted. – Second mode (braking mode): driver pushes brake pedal. – Third mode: driver holds brake pedal depressed at any point. – Fourth mode: electrical backup motor. Hydraulic Brake Power- Assist Systems Air-Over-Hydraulic Braking Systems • Air Booster Units – Convert control line air pressure from foot brake valve into hydraulic pressure to operate wheel cylinders or calipers and apply brakes. – Indirect-acting type and direct-acting type. Air-Over-Hydraulic Braking Systems • Indirect Air Booster Operation – Pneumatic [air] section and hydraulic section [master cylinder] separated by seals. – Relay valve part of the assembly. • Direct Air Booster/Stroke Detector Operation – Foot brake valve supplies control line pressure directly to pneumatic piston. – Atmospheric pressure on non-pressure side of pneumatic piston exhausts through breathe. Air-Over-Hydraulic Braking Systems • Piston Stroke Detector – If brakes too far out of adjustment or fault occurs in hydraulic circuit, pneumatic piston will have to stroke excessively to operate wheel cylinders. – All types of boosters have a piston stroke detector to warn of this condition. Park Brake and Emergency Circuits • All vehicles required to have park brake system that can act as emergency brake should there be failure of service brakes. – Tandem arrangements: either one or the other part of tandem system designated as emergency brake, depending on which service system fails. – Hydraulic braking systems: park or emergency brake mechanically operated hand brake – Air-over-hydraulic systems: spring brakes often used as parking brakes. Park Brake and Emergency Circuits • Spring Brake Chamber/Wheel Cylinder – In brake-type wheel cylinder, design enables it to actuate brakes when activated by spring brake chamber providing a parking brake. Park Brake and Emergency Circuits • Park Brake Off and Applied – When park brake and service brake at rest, spring brake chamber charged with air pressure from hand brake valve. – When park brake applied, air pressure exhausted from spring brake chamber. – When park brake is released while service brake is applied, air pressure from park brake valve holds park brake off. Park Brake and Emergency Circuits Hydraulic Brake Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) • Configurations of Hydraulic ABS – Single-channel ABS – Two-channel ABS – Three-channel ABS – Four-channel ABS – Four-channel ABS most commonly found today. Hydraulic Brake Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) • ABS Module – ABS electronic control module is brain behind ABS system. – Contains powerful computer that controls all functions of ABS system – ABS system can be designed to provide stability control for vehicle. Maintenance of Hydraulic Brake Systems • Hydraulic brake systems components: brake master cylinder, wheel cylinders, brake shoes, drums/discs. – System inspected in two ways: foot-pressure applied and conduct a system test. – Whenever hydraulic brake circuits are opened to replace components, air can enter the system. – Air must be removed because, unlike hydraulic fluid, air is compressible. – If it remains in system, brake operation will be poor or non-existent. Summary
• Medium- to heavy-duty vehicle hydraulic
braking systems need power assist to operate satisfactorily. • The power assist can be supplied by vacuum, hydraulic pressure, or air pressure. • Hydraulic braking with vacuum assist typical for lighter-duty vehicles. • Hydroboost systems and air-over-hydraulic systems used on medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Summary
• In all hydraulic braking systems, pushrod exerts
force on piston(s) in master cylinder, causing increase in fluid pressure that results in force being applied to brake pads and shoes. • Vacuum-assisted braking systems use atmospheric pressure to intensify braking effort. • Hydroboost systems use hydraulic pressure supplied by power steering pump or a dedicated pump to intensify braking effort. Summary • Air-over-hydraulic brake systems use conventional hydraulic brake system. • Drum brakes most common; some vehicles may have disc brakes on the front axle. • Air-over-hydraulic systems use compressed air to intensify braking effort. • Braking systems complex; components depend on whether system uses drum or disc brakes. • Drum brakes use brake shoes in various configurations and adjusters; disc brakes use pads. Summary
• Today, drum brakes generally found only on vehicle’s
rear wheels. • Drum brake has two brake shoes, with a friction material called a lining attached. • These shoes expand against brake drum’s inside surface and slow wheel down. • Even though drum brakes self-energizing, they commonly overheat and cause brake fade. • Disc brakes slow rotation of wheels by friction caused by pushing brake pads against a brake disc with a set of calipers. Summary
• Disc brakes offer better stopping performance
than drum brakes and provide much higher braking force per lb (kg) of brake weight. • Disc brake performance improves as components heat up. • Drum brake performance deteriorates as components heat up. • In addition to foot brakes, vehicles use hand brakes mechanical or electrically activated. Summary
• Common components in hydraulic braking and air-over-
hydraulic brake systems: master cylinder, wheel cylinder, and brake booster. • Hydraulic brake systems use variety of valves to control system operation. • These include proportioning valves, metering valves, pressure differential valves, and/or combination valves. • Air-over-hydraulic systems include systems for air supply, foot brake valve, air booster units, and fail safe systems. Summary
• Air boosters can be indirect or direct.
• Indirect are found on heavier trucks; direct found on lighter trucks. • Boosters positions: released, applied, balanced • As a fail safe, air-over-hydraulic braking systems required by regulation to use tandem system design so that one system can compensate if the other fails. • All vehicles are required to have park brake system that can act as emergency brake should there be a failure of the service brakes. Summary
• Spring brake actuators critical components of
park and service brake operation. • Most hydraulic brake systems equipped with four-channel ABS; each of four wheel brakes controlled individually. • Vehicles with ABS system can use ABS system to operate electronic stability system to enhance vehicle safety. • ABS components can be used to provide traction control on lighter vehicles.