HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

An exhaust brake is a means of slowing a
diesel engine The diesel engine, named after Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of the fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to mechanical compression; thus, the diesel engine is a so-cal ...
by closing off the exhaust path from the engine, causing the exhaust gases to be compressed in the exhaust manifold, and in the cylinder. Since the exhaust is being compressed, and there is no fuel being applied, the engine slows down the vehicle. The amount of negative torque generated is usually directly proportional to the back pressure of the engine. An exhaust brake is a device that essentially creates a major restriction in the exhaust system, and creates substantial exhaust back pressure to retard engine speed and offer some supplemental braking. In most cases, an exhaust brake is so effective that it can slow a heavily loaded vehicle on a downgrade without ever applying the vehicle's service brakes. Exhaust brakes are manufactured by many companies. The brakes vary in design, but essentially operate as described above. More advanced exhaust brakes have exhaust pressure modulation (EPM) that controls the back pressure which in turn improves the braking performance across a range of engine speeds.


Description

An exhaust brake is a valve which essentially creates a back-pressure in the exhaust system, which applies enough force onto the engine's pistons to slow the engine. In most cases, an exhaust brake is so effective that it can slow a heavily-loaded vehicle on a downgrade without ever applying the vehicle’s service brakes. Under these conditions, the exhaust flow from the cylinders is bottlenecked and rapidly builds pressure in the exhaust system upstream from the exhaust brake. Depending on engine speed, this pressure can easily reach up to 60 PSI maximum working pressure. Maximum working pressure is limited as part of the design of an exhaust brake. In this example, that same 60 PSI also remains in the cylinder for the entire exhaust stroke (exhaust valve open) and exerts 60 PSI on the piston top to resist its upward movement. This produces a negative torque, slowing the engine for a braking effect. Thus, simply restricting the exhaust flow can generate substantial braking. Some innovations increase the exhaust back-pressure by various means, leading to more torque at the flywheel, and therefore more braking power. Braking effectiveness is measured in units of power and is about 60 to 80% of the engine's maximum power output. More performance can be achieved by down shifting the vehicle (increasing the
lever A lever is a simple machine consisting of a beam or rigid rod pivoted at a fixed hinge, or '' fulcrum''. A lever is a rigid body capable of rotating on a point on itself. On the basis of the locations of fulcrum, load and effort, the lever is d ...
age, or
gear ratio A gear train is a mechanical system formed by mounting gears on a frame so the teeth of the gears engage. Gear teeth are designed to ensure the Pitch circle diameter (gears), pitch circles of engaging gears roll on each other without slipping, pr ...
of the engine over the wheels). See also
Jake brake A compression release engine brake, compression brake, or decompression brake, frequently called a Jacobs brake or Jake Brake, is an engine braking mechanism installed on some diesel engines. When activated, it opens exhaust valves to the cyli ...
.


Legal implications

Compression brakes, a form of engine brakes, produce greater noise than exhaust brakes. For this reason, some vehicle
original equipment manufacturer An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) is generally perceived as a company that produces non-aftermarket parts and equipment that may be marketed by another manufacturer. It is a common industry term recognized and used by many professional or ...
s prefer to use exhaust brakes despite their lower braking power. Combining compression braking with exhaust braking can increase effectiveness without being as loud as compression brakes. Numerous cities, municipalities, states, and provinces ban the use of unmuffled compression brakes.


Pedal-operated butterfly valve

The butterfly valve is made up of metal made in a circular shape, having three peripheral circular cuts on it. These circular cuts are made because it is not expected to block whole cross section of the exhaust pipe. If there were no holes, the engine would stop instead of slowing down. The butterfly valve is actuated through hydraulic linkages. This consists of a hydraulic pressure pump which is connected to the butterfly valve. This pump controls the operation of butterfly valve in following manner: When brakes are applied by the driver, the cylinder reduces its pressure so that the valve closes and restricts the path of exhaust gases. In this position the butterfly valve remains perpendicular to the flow of exhaust gases and thus creates back pressure on the engine. The butterfly valve has one to three holes in it so that there is not a complete blockage of the exhaust pipe. This assures the avoidance of damage due to high pressure. When the brakes are released by the driver, the cylinder generates pressure so that the butterfly valve is opened and allows the exhaust gases to flow into the exhaust pipe. In this position the butterfly valve remains parallel to the path of exhaust gases and thus releases the pressure on the engine and allows its speed to increase.


Two-stage pressure control

Increase in the back pressure with the help of a butterfly valve can also be achieved by operating in two stages i.e. two valves can be used. This also ensures the efficient working of the valve and increase longevity by avoiding valve failure. Such type of arrangement is found to be very useful in the case of heavy duty trucks. To create sufficient back pressure to reduce the engine speed, it requires a large force from the valve which is made possible by a two-valve arrangement.


ARIS actuator valve

Usually pneumatic or hydraulic actuators are used to operate the butterfly valve, but with the large force of exhaust gases this type of actuator turns out to be inefficient, hence the ARIS type of valve actuator which is widely used in the industry and provides effective valve-operating force.


Images

Image:Exhaust_brake_governor.jpg, Variable exhaust brake Image:Turbocharger_assembly.jpg, Exhaust brake & turbo assembly Image:Exhaust air brake cylinder.jpg, Exhaust brake shutter assembly


References

*Ma, J., Chen, Y., Yu, Q., Guo, R.: Distance control for automotive’s stopping with retarder. *China Journal of Highway and Transport 16(1), 108–112 (2003) (in Chinese) *Chengye Liu1 and Jianming Shen: Effect of Turbocharging on Exhaust Brake Performance in an Automobile (2003)


External links


auto.howstuffworks.com
{{Railway brakes Vehicle braking technologies de:Motorbremse#Motorstaubremse