Brake Shoes: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 22:02, 9 March 2025

Brake shoes are metal parts positioned next to the wheels on rail vehicles . They are the main means of stopping, relied on by a few braking systems , such as the train brakes , independent brakes and handbrakes . Braking with brake shoes is achieved using friction to convert rotational energy of the wheels into heat. Brake shoes are pushed against the turning wheel surface, heating up in the process and slowing the vehicle down.

With excessive use, for example when taking too heavy trains downhill at a high enough speed, the brake shoes may overheat. While in this state, they glow and make a metallic chime noise. Their braking ability is weakened and restored only once the shoes cool down again. Depending on the grade and other factors, if brake shoes overheat, a train may start gaining speed uncontrollably, resulting in a runaway disaster.

To avoid overheating the shoes, alternative methods of reducing speed may be used, such as dynamic brakes . By braking dynamically, vehicles offload some of the work from their brake shoes to their drivetrains . Another way of reducing the use of brake shoes is to use any available uphill grades as a way to slow down .

For situations where brake shoes overheating is likely to occur, having a caboose coupled to the train may help. The caboose is equipped with brake shoes that are so much more resilient to overheating, that its handbrake can be kept permanently applied to help slow down a train where doing so with other braking methods is inadequate.

Brake shoes can be applied to the wheels in two ways. Handbrakes do it by being cranked up with a human hand, whereas train and independent brakes do it in a more sophisticated way – using compressed air .

Installing an infrared thermometer gadget allows monitoring brake shoe temperature via a gauge.

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-Brake shoes are metal parts located next to the wheels on rolling stock. They are the main means of stopping, used by the {{pll|Train Brake|train brake}}, {{pll|Independent Brake|independent brake}} and {{pll|Handbrake|handbrake}} braking systems. The braking is achieved using friction to convert rotational energy of the wheels into heat. Brake shoes are pushed against the turning wheel surface, heating up in the process and slowing the vehicle down. With excessive use, for example when taking too heavy trains downhill at a high enough speed, the brake shoes may overheat. While in this state, they glow and make a metallic chime noise. Their braking ability is weakened and restored only once the shoes cool down again. Depending on the {{pll|Grade Signs|grade}} and other factors, if brake shoes overheat, a train may start gaining speed uncontrollably, resulting in a runaway disaster.
+Brake shoes are metal parts positioned next to the wheels on {{pll|Rail Vehicle Types|rail vehicles}}. They are the main means of stopping, relied on by a few {{pll|Braking Overview|braking systems}}, such as the {{pll|Train Brake|train brakes}}, {{pll|Independent Brake|independent brakes}} and {{pll|Handbrake|handbrakes}}. Braking with brake shoes is achieved using friction to convert rotational energy of the wheels into heat. Brake shoes are pushed against the turning wheel surface, heating up in the process and slowing the vehicle down.
+With excessive use, for example when taking too heavy trains {{pll|Grade Signs|downhill}} at a high enough speed, the brake shoes may overheat. While in this state, they glow and make a metallic chime noise. Their braking ability is weakened and restored only once the shoes cool down again. Depending on the grade and other factors, if brake shoes overheat, a train may start gaining speed uncontrollably, resulting in a runaway disaster.
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-To avoid overheating the shoes, {{pll|Driving Efficiency|alternative methods}} of reducing speed may be used, such as the {{pll|Dynamic Brake|dynamic brakes}}. By braking dynamically, vehicles offload some of the work from their brake shoes to their drivetrains. Another way of reducing the use of brake shoes is to use any available uphill grades as a way to slow down.
+To avoid overheating the shoes, alternative methods of reducing speed may be used, such as {{pll|Dynamic Brake|dynamic brakes}}. By braking dynamically, vehicles offload some of the work from their brake shoes to their {{pll|Powertrains Overview|drivetrains}}. Another way of reducing the use of brake shoes is to {{pll|Driving Efficiency|use any available uphill grades as a way to slow down}}.
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-Brake shoes can be applied to the wheels in two ways. Handbrakes do it by being cranked up with a human hand, whereas train and independent brakes do it in a more sophisticated way – using {{pll|Air Brake System Overview|pressurized air}}.
+Brake shoes can be applied to the wheels in two ways. Handbrakes do it by being cranked up with a human hand, whereas train and independent brakes do it in a more sophisticated way – using {{pll|Air Brake System Overview|compressed air}}.
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-Installing an {{pll|Infrared Thermometer|infrared thermometer}} gadget allows {{pll|Monitoring|monitoring}} brake shoe temperature via a gauge.
+Installing an {{pll|Infrared Thermometer|infrared thermometer}} gadget allows monitoring brake shoe temperature via a gauge.
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-{{See also|Air Brake System Overview|Train Brake|Independent Brake|Dynamic Brake|Caboose|Handbrake|Driving Efficiency|Infrared Thermometer}}
 [[Category:Braking|2]]