What are Air Brake Chambers?

Air brake chambers are the primary part of the air brake system in highway and long-haul 18-wheelers. While the front and rear brake chambers of a vehicle are slightly different, they function in conjunction with a set of oversize drum-brakes, taking the place of a normal breaking system's hydraulic assist function.

Front Brake Air Chamber

The front brake air chambers are solid steel housings connected to an air compressor. Each air brake chamber contains a pressure bleed valve and a push rod. The push rods have a spring return on the interior and a pressure plate the spans the width and depth of the chamber. When the brake pedal is depressed, air from the compressor is pumped into the chamber. This drives the push rod out with upwards of 1,000 pounds of force. Yoked to the end of the push rod is an S-cam. The S-cam is a long rod that sits in the interior of the drum brakes. When it turns, it forces out the surrounding brake shoes against the interior of the wheel drums, arresting the tires. Air pressure is used because traditional hydraulic chambers would not be able to create sufficient fluid pressure to stop the tires as quickly.

Rear Spring Brake Air Chamber

Rear spring brake air chambers perform the same function as front brake air chambers, but they also double as a parking brake, thus their design is a little more complex. These are a dual-chamber system. The push rod and air chamber as present as usual, but behind this chamber is a second one which contains a powerfully coiled braking spring on a solid plate, much like the plate the push rod ends in. It's kept in check by a latch which connects directly to the parking break lever in the driver's cab.

The brake functions normally when the pedal is depressed, but if the parking brake lever is deployed, the latch snaps away from the spring and it manually drives the push rod forward with several hundred pounds worth of force. In order to disengage the parking brake, the brake pedal must be depressed, filling the first chamber with air and forcing the spring back until the latch catches hold of it again.

Pneumatic Parts of an Air Brakes System

Pneumatic air brakes work on the principle of multiplicative force application, not unlike the common lever. Air brakes are a common feature on large heavy-duty vehicles like buses and 18-wheelers. Air brakes often require special additional licensing certification due to their complex nature, which requires drivers to be aware of the system so they can troubleshoot it if the need arises. By the 1950s, air brakes were commonplace on U.S. military land vehicles.

Air Compressor and Reservoir Tanks

The air compressor portion of a pneumatic brake system operates as a device fairly similar in internal appearance to a combustion engine. The air compressor uses compression cylinders and one-way, spring-backed valves to pressurize air, which is then pushed into one or more reservoir tanks.

Safety and Brake Valves

Safety pressure release valves are always attached to pneumatic air brake air storage reservoirs to prevent overfilling, which could cause the vessel to burst. Further down the line, past the reservoir tanks, are the brake valves themselves, which feed air to the brake chamber. These valves are also springbacked, one-way mechanisms to prevent gaseous backflow. The brake valves open when the driver presses the brake pedal, allowing air to flow into the brake chamber.

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Brake Chamber

The brake chamber is composed of the outer metal casing, which contains a rubber diaphragm, and the piston push rod. The casing and push rod work together to apply pressure to the brake pad. Pressurized air expands the rubber diaphragm and enters through the high-pressure brake valves. The brake pad grips the wheel braking surface, slowing the vehicle.

Pressure Tubing

Throughout the entire pneumatic air brake system are a series of pressurized air tubes constructed of heavy-duty reinforced rubber or metal, depending on regional safety requirements. Pressurized air tubing is generally connected with rubber or synthetic O-ring fittings to ensure an airtight seal. Truckers passing between national borders need to ensure that pressure tubing in the vehicle adheres to both their local and regional safety standards to avoid the possibility of having authorities pull them over and declare the vehicle unsafe.

How Does a Pneumatic Unloader Valve Work?

By David Dunning, eHow Contributor

How Does a Pneumatic Unloader Valve Work?

In an air compressor, an unloader valve works in conjunction with a pressure switch to maintain safe pressure levels. Compressed air trapped within the compressor is released to the atmosphere, so the startup of the compressor remains unaffected when the pressure switch calls for air.

Unloader Valves

Unloader valves can be operated manually, electronically or pneumatically (using air pressure). Pneumatic unloader valves can be configured to load or unload if air pressure is applied or removed.

Operation

When the compressor is charging the system the inlet valve is open and the outlet valve is closed. If the discharge pressure from the compressor exceeds its safe limit -- 10 bar or 145 pounds per square inch (psi) -- air pressure acting on a spring lifts a diaphragm or membrane against the downward pressure and opens the unloader valve.

Advantages

The principal advantage of pneumatic unloader valves is that they prevent air compressors from starting under load. Other advantages include that they can used to control the capacity of a compressor remotely or completely automate the process.

How Does a Pneumatic Solenoid Valve Work?

Defining a Solenoid Valve

The term solenoid usually refers to a coil used to create magnetic fields when wrapped around a magnetic object or core. In engineering terms, the solenoid describes transducer mechanisms used to convert energy into motion. Solenoid valves are controlled by the action of the solenoid and typically control the flow of water or air as a switch. If the solenoid is active (current is applied), it opens the valve. If the solenoid is inactive (current

does not exist), the valve stays closed. The action of the pneumatic solenoid is controlled by the use of pneumatics. The opening or closing of a valve is referred to as "changing state."

Pneumatic Actuated
Pneumatic actuation refers to a valve being tripped through the use of compressed air (gas). At a particular point in an industrial or manufacturing process, compressed air is released, causing a valve to open or close. The combination of solenoids and pneumatics is twofold. Solenoid valves are used in pneumatic processes and solenoid valves and pneumatic valves are used in combination. The combined valve is called a piloted valve. The larger solenoid valve is triggered by the smaller pneumatic valve. The pneumatic valve can act as an air cylinder contained in a main valve. A pneumatic solenoid valve is also referred to as a compressed air pilot valve.

Benefits of Piloted Valves

Pneumatic valves are usually run by air captured during a previous or ongoing process. Since they are being used to trigger larger valves and aren't requiring more cost, they are a cheaper economical way to power a solenoid valve. Compressed air can result in huge forces available to act on another valve and be recycled after its done its job. Its actual design or footprint is very small, so it doesn't add very much weight to the mechanism.

Types of Pneumatic Solenoid Valves

Valves can be designated as internally piloted or externally piloted. The valves can further be categorized by the number of connections or paths for flow they contain. Externally piloted valves use an external source of air pressure. Internally piloted use an internal source of air pressure. Two-way piloted valves can be used in dust collector systems. An internally driven pilot valve with four-way connections are generally found in pneumatic operations and are used to move double action cylinders. Pneumatic solenoid valves can be designed as stackable.

How to Troubleshoot an Air Brake System

Tractor trailer trucks use air brake systems. Without the proper operation of the air braking system, the truck will be dangerous to drive and difficult to stop. Proper troubleshooting of the air brake system is a must before you take your truck on the road.

Instructions
1. o

1
Start up the truck and watch the air gauge. There is a horn that will be active until the air pressure is over 100 psi. The air pressure should build to 120 psi and hold if the compressor is working properly.

2
Do a walk around of your truck and listen for leaking air lines and valves.

3 Identify damaged air lines and make repairs as needed. Once you identify valves that

are leaking air, check the service manual to identify which valve you are dealing with and what its function is.
4

Make repairs and replace air system valves as needed.

5

Drain the air tanks on both sides of the truck by starting the truck, allowing air pressure to build and opening the hand valve located at the bottom of both air tanks. Turn the valves counterclockwise to open and clockwise to close the valve. You will see a water and oil mixture drain out of the valve. Allow it to drain until no more sludge comes out and close the valve by turning it clockwise.
6

Push in the brake releasing valve and monitor the air pressure gauge for any drop in pressure. If the pressure drops that means one or more of the brake chambers is leaking air and needs to be replaced. Do a visual inspection to determine which one.