New Air Brake Technology for the 90's

For over 30 years, spring brake chambers have been the norm for air brake systems, now the new technology of air- applied, mechanically-held air chambers offers the industry a smaller lighter, more efficient, safer and maintainable actuator. The air applied, mechanically-held air brake system is a system that marries air valves and chambers to achieve a performance level that has a positive effect on many of the important components of the air system and the components of the foundation brakes.

The intent of this paper is to outline the functioning of an air-applied, mechanically-held air brake system and to enlighten the reader to the variety of ways this technology benefits the operation and safety of an air brake equipped vehicle. It is assumed that common spring brake technology is readily understood therefore the dynamics and properties of that type of air brake system will not be detailed except where functional comparisons are made to the air-applied, mechanically-held system.