VACUUM BRAKING

SYSTEM

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
VACUUM BRAKING SYSTEM(VBS)
WORKING OF VBS
ISSUES IN VBS
INVENTIONS
APPLICATION OF ELECTONICS IN VBS
CONCLUSION

BRAKE

A brake is a mechanical device that inhibits

motion by absorbing energy from a moving
system.It is used for slowing or stopping a
moving vehicle, wheel, axle, or to prevent its
motion, most often accomplished by means of
friction.

GOOD BRAKE SYSTEM

Brakes are often described according to

several characteristics including:
1. Fade
2. Smoothness
3. Power
4. Drag
5. Durability
6. Weight
7. Noise

VACUUM BRAKE SYSTEM

The vacuum brake system is controlled through a brake pipe

connecting a brake valve in the driver's cab with braking equipment
on every vehicle.

The operation of the brake equipment on each vehicle depends on the

condition of a vacuum created in the pipe by an ejector or exhauster.

The ejector, using steam on a steam locomotive, or an exhauster,

using electric power on other types of train, removes atmospheric
pressure from the brake pipe to create the vacuum.
With a full vacuum, the brake is released. With no vacuum, at normal
atmospheric pressure in the brake pipe, the brake is fully applied.

BLOCK DIAGRAM OF VBS

PARTS

Exhauster:
It is usually controlled from the driver's brake valve, being
switched in at full speed to get a brake release or at slow speed to
maintain the vacuum.
Brake Block:
This is the friction material which is pressed against the surface
of the wheel tread by the upward movement of the brake cylinder
piston.
Vacuum Reservoir:
In order to ensure there is always a source of vacuum available
to operate the brake, a vacuum reservoir is provided on, or
connected to the upper side of the piston.

PARTS

Brake Pipe:
The vacuum-carrying pipe running the length
of the train, which transmits the variations in
pressure required to control the brake.
Ball Valve:
The ball valve is needed to ensure that the
vacuum in the vacuum reservoir is maintained at
the required level.

BRAKE RELEASED

WORKING OF VBS

WHEN BRAKE IS RELEASED

The piston is at the bottom of the brake cylinder.

A vacuum has been created in the brake pipe, the vacuum

reservoir and underneath the piston in the brake cylinder.
The removal of atmospheric pressure from the system has
caused the ball valve to open the connection between the
vacuum reservoir and the brake pipe.
The fall of the piston to the bottom of the brake cylinder
causes the brake blocks to be released from the wheels.

BRAKE IS APPLIED

WORKING OF VBS

BRAKE IS APPLIED
During the brake application, the vacuum in the brake pipe is
reduced by admitting air from the atmosphere.

As the air enters the ball valve, it forces the ball (in red in the
diagram above) upwards to close the connection to the vacuum
reservoir

At the same time, the air entering the underside of the brake
cylinder creates an imbalance in the pressure compared with the
pressure above the piston.
This forces the piston upwards to apply the brakes.

ISSUES IN VBS

Brake cylinder piston takes longer time to release

after each application of brakes because of single
train pipe.

Vacuum brakes are not suitable for high speed

trains.

The practical limit on the degree of vacuum

attainable means that a very large brake piston and
cylinder are required to generate the force necessary
on the brake blocks.

INVENTION

Field of the Invention

One aspect of the present invention relates
to a vacuum brake booster and a method of
operation of a vacuum brake booster of a
vehicle brake system.
Vacuum brake boosters are employed in
order to boost the brake force exerted by
the driver at the brake pedal.

VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER

The vacuum brake booster includes:

a housing subdivided into at least one

vacuum chamber and at least one working
chamber.

A sensor unit
ECU(Electronic control unit)

WORKING OF VACUUM BRAKE

BOOSTER

ELECTRONICS IN VBS

A locomotive brake control system comprising:

an air brake pipe, a vacuum brake pipe, a pressurized air source, a
vacuum source, and a brake cylinder for applying and releasing brakes
on the locomotive.
a vacuum relay valve responsive to brake apply and release signals on
the air brake pipe to provide vacuum brake apply and release signals on
the vacuum brake pipe.
a vacuum brake pipe transducer sensing pressure in the vacuum brake
pipe.
a locomotive brake controller responsive to the brake apply and release
signals on the air brake pipe to control the brake cylinder to apply and
release the locomotive brakes in an air mode, and responsive to the
brake apply and release signals from the vacuum brake pipe transducer
to control the brake cylinder to apply and release the locomotive brakes
in a vacuum mode.

CONCLUSION

The design and fabrication of a braking system is

a difficult and great task. The application of brakes
using vacuum in automobiles was a difficult in the
initial stages of the work. But it has been
successfully proved that such brake application is
possible with fail-safe condition. By implementing
this idea on a heavy vehicle, it is better to replace
the manually operated direction control valve with
solenoid operated direction control valve to reduce
driver effort and also it will also work like a brake
pedal switch.