WELCOME

ELECTROMAGNETIC
BRAKING SYSTEM
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION

PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

TYPES

WORKING

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

REFERENCES
 INTRODUCTION
Electromagnetic brakes have been used as supplementary retardation equipment in addition to the

regular friction brakes on heavy vehicles. Electromagnetic brakes operate electrically, but

transmit torque mechanically. This is why they used to be referred to as electro-mechanical brakes.

Over the years, EM brakes became known as electromagnetic, referring to their Actuation method.

Since the brakes started becoming popular over sixty years ago, the variety of applications

and brake designs has increased dramatically, but the basic operation remains the same.

A non-contact brake design actuated when an electric current charges a coil that acts as an

electromagnet. Electromagnetic brakes are widely used in automated machinery and provide a

high cycling rate. On trams and trains, an electromagnetic brake is a track brake where the braking

element is pressed by magnetic force to the rail, i.e. the braking is by friction, not the magnetic

effect directly. This is different from an Eddy current brake where there is no mechanical contact

between the braking element on the moving vehicle and the rail.
An eddy current brake, like a conventional friction brake, is responsible for slowing an object, such

as a train or a roller coaster. Unlike friction brakes, which apply pressure on two separate objects,

eddy current brakes slow an object by creating eddy currents through electromagnetic induction

which create resistance, and in turn either heat or electricity.

Electromagnetic brakes are similar to electrical motors; non-ferromagnetic metal discs (rotors) are

connected to a rotating coil, and a magnetic field between the rotor and the coil creates a resistance

used to generate electricity or heat. When electromagnets are used, control of the braking action is

made possible by varying the strength of the magnetic field. A braking force is possible

when electric current is passed through the electromagnets. The movement of the metal through

the magnetic field of the electromagnets creates eddy currents in the discs. These eddy currents

generate an opposing magnetic field, which then resists the rotation of the discs, providing braking

force. The net result is to convert the motion of the rotors into heat in the rotors.
 PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
There are three parts to an electromagnetic brake: field, armature, and hub (which is the input on a brake). Usually the magnetic

field is bolted to the machine frame (or uses a torque arm that can handle the torque of the brake). So when the armature is

attracted to the field the stopping torque is transferred into the field housing and into the machine frame decelerating the load. This

can happen very fast (.1-3sec).

When the magnet is moved along the rail, it generates in non-stationary magnetic field in the head of the rail, which then generates

electrical tension (Faraday's induction law), and that causes eddy currents. These disturb the magnetic field in such a way that the

magnetic force F, mentioned above, is diverted to the opposite of the direction of the movement, thus creating a parallelogram of

forces consisting of the remaining vertical force FV and the horizontal force FH, which works against the movement of the magnet.

The braking energy of the vehicle is converted in eddy current losses which lead to a warming of the rail. The regular magnetic brake

which is in wide use in railways, exerts its braking force by friction with the rail, which also creates heat.

The eddy current brake does not have any mechanical contact with the rail, and thus no wear and tear of it, and creates no noise or

odor. The eddy current brake is, as should be clear from the above explanation, unusable at low speeds, but can be used at high

speeds both for emergency braking as well as regular and regulated braking.

Disengagement is very simple. Once the field starts to degrade flux falls rapidly and the armature separates. A spring(s) hold the

armature away from its corresponding contact surface at a predetermined air gap.
CONSTRUCTION
The construction of the electromagnetic

brake motor is shown below. The

electromagnetic brake is off. When voltage is
applied to the coil, the armature is retracted
to the spring. This creates an air gap between
the armature and brake lining. The motor
shaft is then released from braking to run
freely. When the voltage to the coil is shut off
(the power is turned off ), the armature is
pressed against the brake lining by the
spring force to stop the motor shaft.
FEATURES
It is suitable for holding the load. Because the electromagnetic brake is off, when the power is turned off, it will be

activated and hold the load securely.

The brake can be used as an excellent safety brake. Among the examples are emergency braking at the time of power

failure, load holding for a long period of time and the prevention of free-run of the machine.

The brake will be activated instantly. The overrun is only 2 to 4 revolutions when the motor is used alone.

A quick-reversal run can be frequently. Up to 6 cycles of start/stop can be performed through simple switching. (Secure 3

seconds or longer for a pause.)

Common power for both motor and brake can be used. Because the electromagnetic brake section contains a rectifier

circuit, it can use the same .AC power supply as the motor. The construction of the electromagnetic brake motor is shown

below. The electromagnetic brake is off.

-When voltage is applied to the coil, the armature is retracted to the spring. This creates an air gap between the armature

and brake lining. The motor shaft is then released from braking to run freely.

-When the voltage to the coil is shut off (the power is turned off), the armature is pressed against the brake lining by the

spring force to stop the motor shaft.

CHARACTERISTICS
It was found that electromagnetic brakes can develop a negative power which represents nearly twice the maximum power

output of a typical engine,and at least three times the braking power of an exhaust brake (Reverdin1974). These

performance of electromagnetic brakes make them much more competitive candidate for alternative retardation

equipments compared with other retarders. By using the electromagnetic brake as supplementary retardation

equipment, the friction brakes can be used less frequently, and Therefore practically never reach high temperatures. The

brake linings would last considerably longer before requiring maintenance, and the potentially “brake fade” problem

could be avoided.

The characterstics of the electromagnetic motor include responses regarding a start time, stop time, overrun, etc. And

these are all affected by the load inertia.

The characteristics of the electromagnetic motor depend on the following three elements.

1) Average acceleration torque of the motor

2) Average value of brake torque

3) Load torque and inertia

When these elements are identified, the start time and stop time will be determined. It is necessary to give sufficient

attention to the load inertia in particular because it varies depending on the equipment used together with the motor.
TYPES OF ELECTROMAGNETIC BRAKE
Electromagnetic Power Off Brake

1. Spring Type 
2. Permanent Magnet Type 
Electromagnetic Particle Brake

Electromagnetic Hysteresis Power Brake

Multiple Disk Brakes

WORKING
How It Works - Electro-mechanical disk brakes operate via electrical actuation, but

transmit torque mechanically. When electricity is applied to the coil of an electromagnet,

the magnetic flux attracts the armature to the face of the brake. As it does so, it squeezes

the inner and outer friction disks together. The hub is normally mounted on the shaft that

is rotating. The brake housing is mounted solidly to the machine frame. As the disks are

squeezed, torque is transmitted from the hub into the machine frame, stopping and

holding the shaft.

When electricity is removed from the brake, the armature is free to turn with the shaft.

Springs keep the friction disk and armature away from each other. There is no contact

between breaking surfaces and minimal drag.

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES
Electromagnetic brakes rely purely on magnetic action working through an air gap to develop torque.  They have an extremely

wide torque range.    Since torque is produced without physical contact of parts Electromagnetic devices are not subject to

wear.  This feature makes them distinctly superior to mechanical-friction brakes in life expectancy, servicing requirements and

consistency of performance.  Since their working members have no physical contact they do not depend on mechanical friction. 

Therefore, hysteresis units are absolutely and constantly smooth at any slip ratio.  Torque is reasonably independent of slip

speed and is also directly proportional to coil current, making response time extremely quick.  Electromagnetic brakes are also

the most repeatable braking devices known.  They will repeat their performance precisely, an indefinite number of times,

whenever operating factors are repeated.  This makes it ideal for many precision tension control and testing applications.  These

devices have a number of advantages over magnetic particle brakes, in particular eliminating the problem of confining the

magnetic particles inside the gap.  These advantages include long life, environmental stability, precise repeatability and

consistency of performance and extremely low power consumption.  They can tolerate extreme temperatures and have high

heat-dissipation capability.  They also have the widest speed range of all electronically torque-control devices.  Hysteresis units

will outlast any other type of electromechanical unit.  The transmitted torque remains constant and smooth as the hysteresis

element is forced to rotate within the air gap and will respond to increases and decreases in coil current with corresponding

increases and decreases in torque. 

REFERENCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_brake

Automotive chassis: brakes, suspension, and steering By Tim GilleS

http://www.magtorx.com/faq.htm#6._Why_we_using_Current_Regul

ated_Power_Supply_for_electromagnetic_brakes_and_clutches_
http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-

5440202339731121/unrestricted/CHAP2_DOC.pdf
http://industrial.panasonic.com/ww/i_e/25000/fa_pro_sgeard_shing1

_e/fa_pro_sgeard_shing1_e/ctlg_geared_e_14.pdf
THANK YOU