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If you’re one of the two million farmers in the US or regularly work with heavy farming equipment like tractors for any reason, you’re lucky if you’ve never had to use your emergency brakes. Still, you likely know that they’re there for a reason and feel much more comfortable knowing that you have a failsafe in case of an emergency.
You’ve also likely wondered how emergency brakes work before, and it’s quite an interesting process. There’s an intricate cable system that works to stop the machine, but there’s more to it than that. Here, we’re going to discuss brakes and clutches that farming machinery uses for emergencies, so read on to learn more about the equipment you love.
What Are Emergency Brakes?
On pretty much any piece of equipment, be it industrial or farming-related, hydraulic brakes are installed as the main braking system for the machine. Generally, these brakes work well, but there are some situations in which they may suddenly fail. That’s where emergency brakes come in!
These caliper disc brakes are attached to the tractor or other equipment in a different location than the main brakes and are used as a failsafe should the hydraulic brakes stop working. Generally, they’re made from one cable that connects to two-wheel brakes that then connect to a mechanism that can pull them to a stop. Pull a manual switch, and the brakes will take action.
How Emergency Brakes Work in Construction Vehicles
In the most basic sense, the emergency brake bypasses the use of the hydraulic brake to lock the machine’s wheels in place and inhibit movement. The cable system discussed above is connected to the emergency brake lever, which allows for the driver of your tractor or other large equipment to pull a lever and trigger this cable to be pulled. Ultimately, this will put enough friction on the wheels to stop the machine.
In machines that have drum brakes rather than rotor ones, the cables will put pressure in another area as well. This area is another lever that holds the shoes on the wheel of your machinery. This system stops the wheels from continuing to move and stops the machine as quickly as possible.
Learn More About Emergency Brakes
While you hope never to need to deploy your emergency brakes, it’s essential to maintain them to the best of your ability. After all, you never know when you might need them as a failsafe so that both you and your equipment can keep going strong.
Now that you know how emergency brakes work on heavy farming equipment, it’s time to look into getting brake and clutch accessories to make your machinery run more smoothly. Click here to shop for accessories that will ensure that this happens at an affordable price.