Disc Brake: Definition, Principle, Diagram, Construction, Working, Advantages, Applications [with Pdf]

What is a Disc brake system?

Disc Brake is one of the types of braking system. Today’s, widely vehicles uses Disc brake system.

The disc brake is a compact system & Less effort requires to stop the vehicle.

Disc Brake

Disc brake working principle:

Disc brake system works on Pascal’s Law.

Pascal's law:- A Pressure at any point in a static fluid is equal in all directions.

Disc Brake diagram:

Disc Brake diagram

Disc brake construction:

It is consists of the Master Cylinder, Disc, 2 Pistons ( Piston 1, Piston 2), Caliper, Friction Pad, Brake fluid, Fluid Reservoir, Cylinder 2

1) MASTER CYLINDER:- Master cylinder consists of piston 1. the brake pedal is connected to piston 1.

Therefore when the driver presses the brake pedal, the pressure is generated into the system brake fluid by piston 1.

2) FLUID RESERVOIR:- It is used to maintain the brake fluid level inside the system.

3) PIPELINE:- Pipeline is used to flow the brake fluid from the master cylinder to cylinder 2. One end of the pipeline is connected to the master cylinder & another end is connected to cylinder 2.

4) DISC:- It is a circular metal disc. The disc is attached to the wheel hub. hence when the wheel is rotating, the disc is rotated with the wheel. The number of holes is provided on the disc to dissipate the heat-generating during braking.

5) CYLINDER 2:- It is consists of piston 2. the friction pad is attached to piston 2. therefore when the driver presses the brake pedal, due to pressure generated by piston 1, piston 2 moves forward & presses the rotating disc.

6) CALIPER:- It is mechanism works in such a way that, when piston 2 presses the rotating disc, the caliper starts pressing the disc from the opposite direction. Caliper also has a friction pad to press the disc.

Disc brake working:

1) In running vehicle, when driver press the brake pedal, piston 1 presses the brake fluid. Therefore pressure is generated into the system brake fluid by piston 1.

2) Hence fluid flows from master cylinder to cylinder 2 through the pipeline.

3) Hence due to brake fluid pressure, piston 2 moves and presses the rotating disc from one side & caliper also presses the disc from another side.

4) Hence due to the friction between both friction pads and disc, the disc stops rotating. Hence resulted in vehicle got stopped.

5) When the driver releases the brake pedal, pressure on fluid is removed. Therefore piston and caliper come to their original position. Hence resulting in brake getting released.

Disc brake advantages:

  1. Less braking time & braking distance.
  2. Heat generated is easily dissipated.
  3. Compact system
  4. Less effort requires to stop vehicle.

Disc brake System applications:

The applications of the disc brake system are as follows:-

  1. Motorcycle
  2. Car

Read also:

  1. Hydraulic braking system
  2. Anti Lock Braking
  3. Pneumatic or Air braking system
  4. Electromagnetic braking system

Pratik is a Graduated Mechanical engineer. He enjoys sharing the engineering knowledge learned by him with people.

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