Deadman's Brake

Its only a brake that is applied if the driver's NOT operating something, usually a foot pedal or hand lever.

All you need is a brake that without driver action, is applied, usually after a predetermined delay - but with some action will not be automatically applied.

John.

DEAD driver not keeping pressing the Accelerator Pedal:

With a time delay, apply Emergency Braking automatically.

That is it.

"We will be applying the break to a file cart and are not sure how to get more information or how to even begin building/applying it."

A simple lever or bail at the handle(s) for moving the cart to release or unlock a device that prevents the wheels from turning or the cart from moving will do the job.

On diesel locomotives, the engineer has to pull a lever every 30 seconds or so, or the train automatically applies the brakes and shuts down the locomotive... No runaway trains or so the theory goes.

A small round steel plate with 3/8" holes drilled around it near the outer edge attached to one of the wheels that doesn't swivel, a little smaller than the wheel/tire. Space it away from the tire about a half inch. Then a small bracket with a bell crank on it with a 5/16" pin that has a spring pushing on it, forcing it into the plate. Hook a small rod up to the bell crank running up to a small lever on a pivot point. Holding down on the lever pulls the pin away from the plate. Roll the file cabinet anywhere you want. Release the lever and the cabinet will only roll until the spring loaded pin pops into a hole. There it sits until someone squeezes the lever again to move it. Just like Park in an automatic transmission, but just like an automatic transmission, do not try to put it in park while moving very fast! Should be simple to do.

Ken

So, when you think of a "dead-man's brake," you're thinking all or none at all.

Interesting that when you use a winch to pull something out of the ground (whatever), you connect the winch to a "dead-man" - anything that is so firmly stuck in the ground that the other end can't possibly pull it out. Often a buried log is used for this purpose.

Yeah, I would think with at file cabinet they wouldn't need something that they would release a lever to stop the cabinet, but maybe so eh? Lots of times posters don't include enough info to make a good reply to.

For a moving deadman brake setup it would get complicated, would have to pads grab the rotor instead of a pin dropping into a hole.

One time at a state fair here I got to check out a locomotive engine. Pretty cool. It had a petal on the floor that the driver held down with his foot, foot of, brakes applied.

That every 30 seconds junk would get old fast with me!

Yeah, I've used a dead man several times. One time when I was a young snot nosed kid (before 20) we buried a short log about 3' in diameter and 15' long as the dead man on the house side of the creek to anchor the cable coming across the creek that held our water supply hose that ran up the hill across the creek a few hundred feet. Had to ALWAYS leave the water running at the house in the winter so the line didn't freeze up. Never even had an indoor toilet back then. Too far out in the sticks.

Got a pretty good article on Wiki about deadman switch stuff

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_man's_switch

My wife's uncle was motorman on one of the trolley' "back in the day". They used a foot pedal that held a large chain poised between the back set of wheels I believe. If the motorman (driver) ever released the brake, the chain would fall to the track and become lodged beneath the back wheel braking the trolley.

They use those metal wires around the wrist of the ice speedway riders that connect to a fuse or something. When they fall of the wire pulls the fuse and the spikes in those wheels don't tear up the competition, so much.

Is this usefull to you in your application?

If you talk about file cart, I imagine some trolley you push forward every so often in an office or library. if that is so, whay not a normally closed brake system opposed to a dead man brake. Brake is always on and gets undone as soon as you push the handle forward or squeeze the lever. Like the ones in some airports.

There you are dietcokewithlemon, buzz down to the airport and look one over, sounds like what you are looking for.

Ken

HUh? pardon me but what the heck?

You awake over there case491? Huh? You said: Like the ones in some airports.

and I told the thread starter, YOU KNOW, the person who asked the ORIGINAL question, the person who call themselves dietcokewithlemon ... to go to the airport to see how they are made.

What is so complicated about that?

Don't you read every post in a thread to sort of get an idea of the different posters names? Or at least the original posters name so you don't have to say huh?

And in Google.com you are 1st in line with CR4 post.

Sorry but it is late where you are, completely missed the plank here. Thought about it the longwinded way and ended up my own arse (the english way of saying ass)

Go to bed now Ken, you need the sleep otherwise you will be hitting g pins with your hammer.

Hey, I don't care... I'm too tired to care...

Here it is 0500 and still not in bed... damn. I'm off here and headed back towards the bedroom... will I make it? Don't know, that is about 65 feet away... all these people that have computers in their bedroom...hummm, pretty weird.

See ya case.

"If you talk about file cart, I imagine some trolley you push forward every so often in an office or library. if that is so, whay not a normally closed brake system opposed to a dead man brake. Brake is always on and gets undone as soon as you push the handle forward or squeeze the lever. Like the ones in some airports."

Or some lawn mowers, if you dont squeeze the lever, the engine won't start.

Great response.

milo

Handbrake for a bicycle ..... sept reveres the action so you have to squeeze to release. You could fancy it up a bit and make the push handle of the cart the lever so when you lean forward to push you apply pressure slightly downward to release the brake, as you push it will remain disengaged. When you release the cart the spring applies the braking pad or pads to the wheels. It will slow and stop it in a short distance without a sudden jerk.

GO look at a power mower, push type.

See the lever next to the handle bar?

If you do not have it pulled up against the handle bar the mower will not start and if you release it the motor will shut off.

Now imagine that lever hooked up to a spring actuated brake.

Hold the lever against the handle bar and you can push the cart.

Let go and the brake applies and the cart stops.

Any more information than this and I will have to charge you a Design Consultant Fee.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead_man%27s_switch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dead-man%27s_vigilance_device

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wembley_Central_rail_crash

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Warning_System

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moorgate_control#Moorgate_control

I suggest we incorporate dead man's brakes in passenger aircraft. That way nobody get's hurt if the pilot has a heart attack. Ummm...picks nose.

Exactly! If the pilot dies, the plane pulls over to the nearest curb and the passengers disembark!

Easy place a lever under the handle of the cart. To move the cart one must lift the lever and hold it to release the brake. When someone stops and falls down dead the lever drops and applies the brake.

Most UK airports have luggage trolleys with a lever under the handle that you pull up to disengage the brake. For some reason, I always seem to regress to childhood when I get hold of one of these trolleys. I take my bodyweight on my arms, then whizz round the checkout area pulling skids.

DesEng

Is your avatar the new design for dalects?