Brake and dynamometer (Lect-5)

Differential Band Brake

In a differential band brake, as shown in Fig. 19.14, the ends of the band are joined at A and B to a lever AOC pivoted on
a fixed pin or fulcrum O. It may be noted that for the band to tighten, the length OA must be greater than the length OB.

NOTE: Main difference b/w simple & differential band brake is design of lever. In simple band brake while taking the
moment about pivoted point only either T1 or T2 is taken. But in differential band brake pivoted point is different, so
during calculation of moment both T1 and T2 are taken. In this manner Differential band brake is more accurate than
simple band brake.

The braking torque on the drum may be obtained in the similar way as discussed in simple band brake. Now considering
the equilibrium of the lever AOC. It may be noted that when the drum rotates in the clockwise direction, as shown in Fig.
19.14 (a), the end of the band attached to A will be slack with tension T 2 and end of the band attached to B will be tight
with tension T1. On the other hand, when the drum rotates in the anticlockwise direction, as shown in Fig. 19.14 (b), the
end of the band attached to A will be tight with tension T1 and end of the band attached to B will be slack with tension
T2. Now taking moments about the fulcrum O, we have

Note: Lever is designed in such a manner

that distance OA and OB are always
perpendicular to tension T1 or T2
We have also discussed that when the force P is negative or zero, then brake is self locking. Thus for differential band
brake and for clockwise rotation of the drum, the condition for self locking is

Question: A differential band brake, as shown in Fig. 19.17, has an angle of contact of 225°. The band has a compressed
woven lining and bears against a cast iron drum of 350 mm diameter. The brake is to sustain a torque of 350 N-m and
the coefficient of friction between the band and the drum is 0.3. Find : 1. The necessary force (P) for the clockwise and
anticlockwise rotation of the drum; and 2. The value of ‘OA’ for the brake to be self locking, when the drum rotates
clockwise.

Solution:

Given: θ = 225° = 225 × π/180 = 3.93 rad ; d = 350 mm or r = 175 mm ; T = 350 N-m = 350 × 10 3 N-mm

1. Necessary force (P) for the clockwise and anticlockwise rotation of the drum

When the drum rotates in the clockwise direction, the end of the band attached to A will be slack with tension T 2 and the
end of the band attached to B will be tight with tension T 1, as shown in Fig. 19.18. First of all, let us find the values of
tensions T1 and T2.