Air Vs. Hydraulic Brakes
The air brake versus hydraulic brake debate has been going on for quite some time now, but with new innovations in hydraulic braking systems, are air brakes a thing of the past?
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Air Brakes
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Air brakes have been the standard in commercial trucking since trucks were invented. They were originally used to stop railroad trains. Air brakes are useful because the lines can be disconnected and reconnected and only air is lost, while multiple units can be controlled with a single brake pedal.
Dangers
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When air expands, as it does while crossing the pressure-regulating valve in a brake system, it cools. When air gets to a cold enough temperature, it condenses, and if it gets cold enough it freezes. This can cause air brakes to fail.
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Hydraulic Brakes
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Hydraulic brakes have been available in automobiles since 1922, though up until recently were inadequate to use in heavy commercial vehicles. Hydraulic brakes are less expensive than air brakes and cheaper to install.
Safety
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With innovations like anti-lock brake systems, traction control, and electronic stability control, hydraulic brakes have become as safe---if not safer---than air brakes in commercial vehicles. Compression problems with air brakes can cause delays in braking performance, while hydraulic brakes are virtually incompressible. Vehicles with hydraulic brakes have shorter stopping distances than air brakes, which arguably makes them a safer product.
Coupling
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Leak-free couplers now enable hydraulic brake systems to be uncoupled without risking fluid leakage. Air brakes can also be coupled with hydraulic brakes, allowing tractors the benefits of hydraulics while maintaining a trailer's air brake system.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Cyron Ray Macey
