Band brake

A band brake is a primary or secondary brake, consisting of a band of friction material that tightens concentrically around a cylindrical piece of equipment or train wheel to either prevent it from rotating (a static or "holding" brake), or to slow it (a dynamic brake).

[1] Band brakes were commonly used to control the winding drum on railway inclines that lowered loaded wagons while raising empty ones over a steep slope.

One end of the band is anchored in place, while the other is attached to a lever.

Pressing on the lever brings the band into contact with the surface of the wheel and the friction causes the wheel's rotation to slow.

[5] Band brakes can be simple, compact, rugged, and can generate high force with a light input force.

These problems are inherent with the design and thus limit where band brakes are a good solution.

is the coefficient of friction between band and drum, and

, the brake is very effective and requires low input force to achieve high brake force, but is also very sensitive to changes in