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Tractor |
Trailer |
O.E.M.
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Parts |
What are air brakes?
Air brakes, otherwise known as pneumatic brakes, use compressed air to trigger mechanical braking action.
The air is put under pressure by a compressor operating from the tractor’s engine. Compressed air is stored on the tractor and on the trailer, and replenished as required.
While the system needs to be fitted to both tractor and trailer in order to mesh with the tractor’s electronic and hydraulic systems, the air braking action is only used to stop the trailer. The tractor’s own hydraulic brake system is sufficient to stop the tractor.
There are various failsafe mechanisms that ensure that the brakes are applied if the power supply to the compressor is broken – such as if the engine is switched off or the trailer becomes detached.
Air brakes are more powerful, more sensitive and more easily controlled than simple hydraulic brakes. They are also clean and cheap to operate.
Air brakes are always used on commercial trailers. However, agricultural trailers have tended to rely on simple hydraulic brakes until quite recently.
Due to increasing loads carried and greater tractor speeds, forthcoming legislation will increasingly require agricultural trailers to be fitted with air brakes. Similarly, any tractors used to pull these trailers will need to be fitted with an air brake system to operate the trailer’s air brakes.
Tractrair’s latest air brake systems use the new combined air and hydraulic pilot “in-shot” valve, enabling users to easily adjust the brake sensitivity according to circumstances.