Brake system for long braking distances
When a four-wheeled transport carrier for mining operations was to be equipped with a new braking system, the requirements were stringent. The solution needed to handle long downhill gradients, manage extreme heat generation, and at the same time ensure full functionality even in the event of system failure.
High Loads Over Long Distances
The transport carrier is used to move robotic machines with total weights of many tons. In a mining environment, this involves recurring and prolonged braking, sometimes over distances of up to 10 kilometers.
The braking system must therefore deliver consistent and controlled deceleration on all four wheels over extended periods – without performance degradation due to heat buildup.
Heat-Resistant Disc Brakes for Continuous Operation
The developed solution consists of newly engineered, heat-resistant disc brakes that function as service brakes on all four wheels.
The brakes are equipped with heat-shielded brake pads and design features that improve heat dissipation and resistance to high temperatures. The design is adapted to operate reliably in a demanding and contamination-prone mining environment.
Integrated Emergency and Parking Function
In addition to the service brakes, the system includes emergency and parking brakes on all wheels. These are activated via spring brake cylinders that automatically apply the brake if the release pressure is lost, for example due to valve failure or an accident.
This provides a passive and fail-safe safety function that does not depend on active control.
Verified Solution in Series Production
The complete system solution is now implemented and delivered continuously to the customer’s production facility in Finland.
