Mechanical Technology 1

Tutorial Questions 8
1. Explain the operation of brakes in cars, lorries and trucks
2. Explain the principle of operation in cars of: (a) Disc brake (b) Drum brake
3. A single block brake as shown in figure 1 has the drum diameter 250 mm. The angle of contact is 900
and the coefficient of friction between the drum and the lining is 0.35. If the operating force of 650N is
applied at the end of the lever, determine the maximum torque that may be transmitted by the block
brake. [Ans: 65.6 N-m]

Figure 1

4. The layout and dimension of a double shoe brake is shown in figure 2. The diameter of the brake drum
is 300 mm and the contact angle for each shoe is 900. If the coefficient of friction for the bake lining
and the drum is 0.4, find the spring force necessary to transmit a torque of 30 N-m. Also determine the
width of the brake shoes, if the bearing pressure on the line material is not to exceed 0.28 M/mm2.
[Ans: 98.4 N; 5 mm]

Fig 2

5. A simple band brake is operated by a lever of length 500 mm. The brake drum has a diameter of 500
mm and the brake band embraces 5/8 of the circumference. On end of the band is attached to the fulcrum
of the lever while the other end is attached to a pin on the lever 100 mm from the fulcrum. If the effort
applied to the end of the lever is 2 kN and the coefficient of friction is 0.25, find the maximum braking
torque on the drum. [Ans: 4.2 kN-m]
6. A differential band brake acting on the 3/4 th of the circumference of a drum of 450 mm diameter, is to
provide a braking torque of 225 N-m. One end of the band is attached to a pin 100 mm from the fulcrum
of the lever and the other end to another pin 25 mm from the fulcrum on the other side of it where the
operating force is also acting. If the operating force is applied at 500 mm from the fulcrum and the
coefficient of friction is 0.25, find the two values of the operating force corresponding to two direction
of rotation of the drum. [Ans: 16.6 N for clockwise; 266.6 N for anticlockwise]
7. A differential band brake is shown in figure 3. The diameter of the drum is 800 mm. The coefficient of
friction between the band and the drum is 0.3 and the angle of embrace is 2400. When a force of 600 N
is applied at the free end of the lever, find for clockwise and anticlockwise rotation of the drum: 1. The
maximum and minimum forces in the band; and 2. The torque which can be applied by the brake.
[Ans: 176kN, 50kN, 50.4 kN-m; 6.46kN, 1.835kN, 1.85 kN-m]
 Figure 3

8. A differential band brake is shown in figure 4. The diameter of the drum is 1m and rotates at 1200 r.p.m
in the anticlockwise direction. The angle of contact is 3200. The various lengths are OA = 30 mm; AB
= 150 mm and OC = 700 mm. Find the pull required at the end C of a lever to absorb 40 kW. Also find
the length of AB for self-locking. The coefficient of friction may be taken as 0.2.
[Ans: 25.7 N; 91.8 mm]

Figure 4

9. A band brake acts on the 75% of circumference of a drum of 450 mm diameter which is keyed to the
shaft. The band brake provides a braking torque of 300 N-m. One end of the band is attached to a
fulcrum pin of the lever and the other end to a pin 75 mm from the fulcrum as shown in figure 5. If the
operating force applied at 450 mm from the fulcrum and the coefficient of friction is 0.25, find the
operating force when the drum rotates in the anticlockwise direction. All dimensions are in mm.

Figure 5

10. In the band and block brake shown in Figure 6, the band is lined with 12 blocks each of which
subtends an angle of 15° at the centre of the rotating drum. The thickness of the blocks is 75
mm and the diameter of the drum is 850 mm. If, when the brake is inaction, the greatest and
least tensions in the brake strap are T1 and T2, show that
12
T1  1   tan 7.5 
  , where μ is the coefficient of friction for the blocks. With the lever
T2  1   tan 7.5 
arrangement as shown in Figure. 6, find the least force required at C for the blocks to absorb
225 kW at 240 rpm. The coefficient of friction between the band and blocks is 0.4.
 Figure 6

11. A motor car has a wheel base of 2.64 m, the height of its C. G. above the ground is 0.61 m and it is
1.12 m in front of the rear axle. If the car is travelling at 40 km/hr on a level track, determine the
minimum distance in which the car may be stopped, when: (a) the rear wheels are braked, (b) the front
wheels are braked, and (c) All wheels are braked.
The coefficient of friction between tyre and road may be taken as 0.6. Prove any formula if assumed.
12. A motorcar weights 13341.5 N and has a wheelbase of 2.65 m. The C.G. is 1.27 m behind the front axle
and 0.76 m above the ground lever. Maximum braking on all four wheels on level ground will bring the
vehicle uniformly to rest from a speed of 64 km/hr in a distance of 25.9 m. Calculate the value of an
adhesion between the tyre and the road. Under the same road condition, the vehicle descends a hill of
gradient 1 in 20 and is braked on the front wheels only. Determine the load distribution between the
front and rear wheels and the distance required to bring the car to rest.
13. A lorry is moving on a level road at a speed of 36 km/h. It centre of gravity lies at a distance of 0.6 m
from the ground. The wheel base is 2.4 metres and the distance of C. G. from the rear wheels is 0.9 m.
Find the distance travelled by the car before coming to rest when brake are applied (a) to the rear wheels.
(b) to the front wheels and (c) to all the four wheels.
The coefficient of friction between the tyres and the road surface is 0.45.
[Ans. 21.55 m; 26.82 m; 11.36 m]
14. A motor cycle has wheel base 1.44 m apart. The centre of gravity of the cycle and rider is 0.76 m above
ground level and 0.61 m in front of the rear axle. The coefficient of friction between the tyres and the
road is 0.75. If the rear wheel is braked, find the greatest deceleration that can be obtained. (a) if the
cycle is moving in a straight path. (b) if it is going round a curve of 45.7 m radius at 48 km/hr. Assume
a level road and neglect air resistance. Neglect rotational inertia and obliquity when turning.

15. A simple band brake shown in figure 7, operates on a drum of radius R, 300 mm that is running at a
speed of 200 rpm. The brake has one end fixed and is fastened to a fixed pin and the end to the brake
arm a, 125 mm from the fixed pin. The straight brake arm b, is 750 mm long and placed perpendicular
to the diameter that bisects the angle of contact. The coefficient of friction is 0.25. If the necessary pull
on the end of the brake arm to stop wheel in the anticlockwise direction is 291N, if 35 kW is being
 absorb, calculate the angle of wrap ϴ. What width of steel band of 2.5 mm thick is required for this
brake if the maximum tensile stress is not to exceed 50 N/mm2?

Figure 7

16. A single block brake shown in figure 8, has a drum diameter of 720 mm. If the brake sustains 225 Nm
torque at 500 rpm. Find (a) the force (P) to apply the brake for clockwise rotation of the drum (b) the
force (P) to apply the brake for counter clockwise rotation of the drum. The coefficient of friction is
0.3.

Figure 8

17. A simple band brake shown in figure 9 is applied to a shaft carrying a flywheel of mass 250 kg and of
radius of gyration 300 mm. The shaft speed is 200 rpm. The drum diameter is 200 mm and the
coefficient of friction is 0.25. The dimensions a and l are 100 mm and 280 mm respectively and the
angle β = 135o. Determine (i) the brake torque when a force of 120 N is applied at the lever end. (ii) the
number of turns of the flywheel before it comes to rest.

Figure 9