Simple Hydraulic Braking System

Introduction:

What is a brake? It is a device through which artificial frictional resistance is applied to the moving part
of a machine, to retard or stop the motion of a machine.
While performing this function, the brake absorbs either the kinetic energy of the moving member or
potential energy given up by objects lowered by hoists, elevators etc.
Most brakes commonly use friction between two surfaces compressing to convert the kinetic energy of
the moving object into heat, although alternative ways of energy conversion can be used. For example,
regenerative braking converts much of the energy into electrical energy that could be stored for later use.

Types of Brakes:

There are many different types of brakes that are commonly used today. They include:
● Electromagnetic Brakes
Electromagnetic brakes use an electric motor that is included in the automobile which helps the
vehicle come to a stop. These types of brakes are in most hybrid vehicles and use an electric
motor to charge the batteries and regenerative brakes.
● Frictional Brakes
Frictional brakes are a type of service brake found in many automobiles. They are typically
found in two forms; pads and shoes. As the name implies, these brakes use friction to stop the
automobile from moving. They typically include a rotating device with a stationary pad and a
rotating weather surface.
● Pumping Brakes
Pumping brakes are used when a pump is included in part of the vehicle. These types of brakes
use an internal combustion piston motor to shut off the fuel supply, in turn causing internal
pumping losses to the engine, which causes braking.
● Servo Brakes
Servo brakes are found on most cars and are intended to augment the amount of pressure the
driver applies to the brake pedal. These brakes use a vacuum in the inlet manifold to generate
extra pressure needed to create braking.
Hydraulic brakes:

A hydraulic brake is an arrangement of braking mechanisms using brake fluid, typically

containing glycol ethers or diethylene glycol in industrial use, to transfer pressure from the
controlling mechanism to the braking mechanism. The arrangement generally consists of one or
more control pedals, which, when pushed, cause the brake fluid from its reservoir to be
transferred through a pipe or tube into the brake pedal’s reservoir, where it uses the same force to
apply friction to the moving part.

The braking can be undone by simply retracting the control pedal, which, due to lack of pressure,
causes the fluid to be drawn from the brake pedal back into the control pedal’s reservoir.
Simple Hydraulic Braking system:

For this project, I assembled a simple working model of a Hydraulic braking system

Aim:
To successfully stop a spinning disc by applying friction on either side using a hydraulic press.

Materials used:
cardboard disk, 2 small syringes, 2 large syringes, 2 tubes, oil, small motor, battery and wires,
misc. Wooden pieces.

Assembly:
The disc is attached to a small motor and is placed at a height. The motor is then connected to a battery.
On either side of the disc, 2 small syringes are mounted. 2 tubes are then used to connect the small
syringes to the larger syringes filled with oil. The 2 larger syringes are kept some distance from the disc.

Working:
The larger syringes placed away from the disk are filled with oil and connected to the smaller ones. When
pressure is applied to them, the oil is pushed into the tube, into the smaller syringes. This in turn causes
the syringe plates to extend outward and press onto the disc on both sides, causing friction and bringing it
to a stop. The brake is relaxed by retracting the larger syringe so that the decrease in pressure draws the
brake fluid from the smaller syringes back into the large ones. The large syringes have a greater surface
area than the small ones, so the work done is less, making the system easier to operate.
Conclusion:

In doing this project, I researched braking systems, their various types, and their applications in industrial
machinery as well as automobiles. I created a simple working model of a hydraulic disk brake as a
demonstration. I even studied its concept and working, and its advantages over other types of brakes.
Hydraulic brakes wear out less than mechanical ones due to the absence of joints, the frictional loss is at a
minimum as the brake fluid acts as a lubricant, they are very cost-friendly, and they produce virtually no
thermal stress when compared to conventional alternatives. They are becoming a more and more popular
choice when it comes to braking systems.

Bibliography:

● www.academia.edu
● www.learnmech.com
● www.engineeringchoice.com
● www.youtube.com
● www.electricalfundablog.com