Automobile

How Automobile Hand Brake works – Study materials

During normal operating conditions,
for stopping the vehicle foot brake
is commonly used. However, during
emergency or dangerous situations when the foot operated brake loses its ability to operate correctly, then hand brake is used to stop the vehicle. Moreover when the vehicle is climbing down on lower roads and when the vehicle is under unbalanced condition of the load, the hand brake is used to avoid movement of vehicle automatically. As the hand brake
is use to stop the vehicle and bring it to its balanced condition it is also called as parking brake.

Hand brake is totally separated from
the foot brake system. Mostly mechanical type brake is used in the hand brake system. The hand brake is connected with the rear wheels which receive the final drive. The hand operated brake lever is placed on
the right side of the driver’s seat.

Working principle

Hand brake works based on the
ratchet and pawl mechanism. When the ratchet release lever is pressed at the top of the hand brake, the pawl is moved up and releases the ratchet. However while pulling the lever in upward direction, cable is also pulled towards the upward direction.
The cable actuates the mechanical brake which is connected to it and stops the rear wheel by applying force. Moreover ratchet release lever releases and moves the pawl towards downward direction with a help of spring and again connects the ratchet. By this way hand brake is operated to stop the vehicle.

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