PROJECT BASED LAB ACTIVITY – 2

PNEUMATIC SYSTEM

Course: Robotics and Automation

Semester: 3
Division: 1

Prepared by:
Aaryan More (Roll No.: PA59)
Prabhansh Matharu (Roll No.: PA29)
 INDEX
Sr. No. Details
1. Introduction

2. Design and Function

3. Advantages

4. Disadvantages
 INTRODUCTION
 An air brake or pneumatic brake or, more formally,
a compressed-air-brake system, is a type of friction
brake for vehicles in which compressed air
pressing on a piston is used to apply the pressure
to the brake pad or brake shoe needed to stop the
vehicle.
 Air brakes are used in large heavy vehicles,
particularly those having multiple trailers which
must be linked into the brake system, such as
trucks, buses, trailers, and semi-trailers, in addition
to their use in railroad trains.
 There are only two types of braking systems. The
first one is known as the disc brake, and the
second one is the drum brake.
 These brakes are driven by humans or some other
power source. According to the power source,
these brakes can be classified into other types
such as hydraulic brakes, air brakes, vacuum
brakes, etc. When driving a heavy load vehicle, it is
impossible for humans to generate braking force.
 So, another power system is used to generate the
braking force that forces the braking pad and
produces a frictional force between the brake and
the tire that goes to stop the vehicle. The air brake
 system uses air to generate this force. This type of
braking is similar to hydraulic brakes, requiring
that these brakes use compressed air to apply
brakes instead of hydraulic pressure.
 A hydraulic braking system works well for cars and
other light vehicles but the greater braking effort
required to bring a large vehicle to a controlled
stop leads to air braking systems generally being
fitted to heavy and commercial vehicles.

DESIGN AND FUNCTION

A compressed-air-brake system is divided into a

supply system and a control system.

1. The supply system compresses, stores and supplies

high-pressure air to the control system as well as
to additional air operated auxiliary truck systems
(gearbox shift control, clutch pedal air assistance
servo, etc.). The air compressor draws filtered air
from the atmosphere and compresses it, storing
the compressed air in high-pressure reservoirs.
Most heavy vehicles have a gauge within the
driver's view, indicating the availability of air
 pressure for safe vehicle operation, often including
warning tones or lights. A mechanical "wig wag"
that automatically drops down into the driver's
field of vision when the pressure drops below a
certain point is also common.

2. The control system consists of service brakes,

parking brakes, a control pedal, and an air storage
tank. If the vehicle is towing a trailer, it often has a
separate trailer-brake system that receives
compressed air from the supply system.
The parking brakes use a disc or drum
arrangement which is designed to be held in the
'applied' position by spring pressure. Air pressure
must be produced to release these "spring brake"
parking brakes. Setting the parking/emergency
brake releases the pressurized air in the lines
between the compressed air storage tank and the
brakes, thus allowing the spring actuated parking
brake to engage. A sudden loss of air pressure
would result in full spring brake pressure
immediately. The service brakes are used while
driving for slowing or stopping the vehicle. When
the brake pedal is pushed to apply the service
brakes, air is routed under pressure from a supply
reservoir to the service brake chamber, causing
 the brake to be engaged. When the pedal is
released, a return spring in the brake chamber
disengages the brake, and the compressed air is
exhausted to the atmosphere. Most types of truck
air brakes are drum brakes, though there is an
increasing trend towards the use of disc brakes.

Highly simplified air-brake diagram:

Components:
1. Air compressor
2. Pressure Regulator
3. Air Dryer
4. Regeneration Reservoir
5. Four-way protection valve
6. Compressed-air reservoir
7. Park brake hand control valve
8. Park brake safety release valve
9. Brake foot valve
10. Front air-brake chambers
11. Brake-relay valve and load sensing valve
12. Rear-spring brake chambers

ADVANTAGES
Air brakes are used as an alternative to hydraulic
brakes which are used on lighter vehicles such as
automobiles. Hydraulic brakes use a liquid
(hydraulic fluid) to transfer pressure from the
brake pedal to the brake shoe to stop the vehicle.
Air brakes are used in heavy commercial vehicles
due to their reliability. They have several
advantages for large multi-trailer vehicles:

 The supply of air is unlimited, so the brake

system can never run out of its operating
 fluid, as hydraulic brakes can. Minor leaks do
not result in brake failures.
 Air line couplings are easier to attach and
detach than hydraulic lines; the risk of air
getting into hydraulic fluid is eliminated, as is
the need to bleed brakes when they are
serviced. Air-brake circuits on trailers can be
easily attached and removed.
 Air not only serves as a fluid for transmission
of force, but also stores potential energy as it
is compressed, so it can serve to control the
force applied; hydraulic fluid is nearly
incompressible. Air-brake systems include an
air tank that stores sufficient energy to stop
the vehicle if the compressor fails.
 Air brakes are effective even with
considerable leakage, so an air-brake system
can be designed with sufficient "fail-safe"
capacity to stop the vehicle safely even when
leaking.
 The compressed air inherent in the system
can be used for accessory applications that
hydraulics are not appropriate for, such as air
horns and seat adjusters, doors in case of
buses and trolleybuses.
 DISADVANTAGES

Although air brakes are considered the superior

braking system for heavy vehicles which would
overload hydraulic brakes, they also have the following
disadvantages when compared to hydraulic braking
systems:
 Air brakes generally cost more.
 Air-brake systems compress air, which results in
moisture that requires air dryers to remove, which
also increases the price for air-brake systems and
can contribute to higher maintenance and repair
costs.
 Noise pollution: Ranging at 95–115 dB for a typical
noise level range with levels closer to 115–120 dB
able to cause immediate damage to hearing. The
sound is created by the release of compressed air
that has been trapped inside the brake chamber.