Centrifugal brakes &
brake systems
and brake systems – since 1982!
Welcome to Amsbeck
Amsbeck Maschinentechnik GmbH is a family-owned company and a globally recognized leader in producing customized drive solutions, including centrifugal brakes.
Alongside our renowned products, we are pleased to develop a customized solution for you in the area of centrifugal brakes and brake systems.
Our in-house development, production, and sales processes offer efficient pathways, quick decision-making, and maximum flexibility designed to meet your needs. You are our highest priority!
Discover our centrifugal brakes and don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
We provide a wide range
of applications for centrifugal brakes
Experts in the industry of centrifugal brakes
Safe options to choose Amsbeck
We offer many
kind of centrifugal brakes & brake systems
Safety first – trust our centrifugal brakes!
How does a centrifugal brake work
If you need a centrifugal brake or brake systems to protect your users and applications, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s an overview of how Amsbeck centrifugal brakes function and their advantages:
A centrifugal brake operates similarly to a centrifugal clutch. In a clutch, the housing is not fixed and begins to rotate once the engagement speed is reached, transmitting torque as the speed increases. In contrast, the centrifugal brake has a fixed housing that is secured against rotation.
Safe information to know: A centrifugal brake does not bring a system to a complete stop. Its primary function is to limit speed to a safe level.
The centrifugal brake will be designed according to your customized needs.
Functional principle of centrifugal brakes
Guided weight elements that are set in motion experience a radial force component, which causes them to accelerate outward. This outward force is counteracted by spring forces until the specified engagement speed is reached.
Once the engagement speed is reached, the friction linings make contact with the housing, initiating the buildup of torque on the housing. As speed increases, the forces grow quadratically, resulting in escalating torques. At this point, the brake is operating within its initial range. The effective range lies between the activation point and the torque balance between load torque and braking torque. This torque balance must occur within the slip range of the brake.
While the centrifugal brake is not engaged, with the spring force exceeding the centrifugal force, the system operates without contact and incurs no losses. To maintain optimal brake function, it is essential to keep grease, oil, and moisture away from the friction surfaces.
Heating of the centrifugal brake
Friction generates heat, meaning that a centrifugal brake converts all the friction work into thermal energy. This heat is produced directly at the friction contact point and primarily heats the materials involved in that contact. The amount of heat generated is influenced by the following factors:
- Braking torque
- Size of the clean area
- Braking time
Heat conduction spreads the generated heat throughout the entire brake system. Initially, the temperature rises sharply at the beginning of braking, then stabilizes as the process continues until it reaches a maximum level.
Engaging the centrifugal brake
The engagement speed of a centrifugal brake is fundamentally determined by the balance between load torque and braking torque. Since the braking power of a centrifugal brake increases quadratically with speed, a minimum operating speed is necessary for the system. The cut-in speed refers to the point at which the centrifugal forces acting on the weights overcome the restraining force of the springs. By using springs of varying strengths, which hold the centrifugal weights for different durations, the engagement speed can be adjusted. Due to these dynamics, a centrifugal brake cannot bring a system to a complete stop; instead, it is often used as a speed limiter.
Dimensioning centrifugal brakes
Centrifugal brakes are critical components related to safety, making careful design and consideration of operating conditions vital. For proper design of the centrifugal brake, the following parameters are important in addition to the specific application:
- Operating speed
- Engagement speed
- Frequency of braking operations
- Braking time
Structure of the centrifugal brake
Each centrifugal brake features a profiled hub that holds centrifugal weights, which are secured by tension springs and connected to brake linings (friction material) via a lining hanger. The internal components of the brake are pressed into the brake housing with bearings and secured in place with cover discs and circlips.
Fields of application at a glance:
Speed limitation when lowering people or weight from heights to the ground:
- Gate systems / fire protection curtains
- Free time applications such as ziplines
In which applications is the centrifugal brake used?
The primary application of centrifugal brakes is in speed limitation. They are commonly found in descenders, which allow for the safe lowering of individuals to the ground in emergency situations. Safety engineering encompasses a wide range of applications for centrifugal brakes.
In addition to descenders, centrifugal brakes are utilized in cranes, elevators, gate systems, and fire curtains. They also play a crucial role in securing individuals in recreational activities like cable cars, which you may be familiar with or have used.#
What advantages do Amsbeck centrifugal brakes offer?
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As a safety brake, the centrifugal brake offers an additional layer of protection for your users and applications, making it particularly well-suited for braking systems.
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It is frequently utilized as a backup to electronic braking systems.
- Operating purely mechanically, the centrifugal brake reliably and safely reduces speed until a permissible lowering speed is achieved, independent of any external power source.
- If you already have a brake housing, we can provide the centrifugal brake without it.
- The replacement of wear components, such as brake pads and tension springs, is straightforward and cost-effective.
- Our solutions can be tailored to meet your specific application and requirements, with examples available in the overview below.
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The direct line to our team
You can reach us
Monday through Thursday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm,
and on Fridays from 7:30 am to 3 pm.
If you are looking for a specific centrifugal brake concept, we recommend our product request form in which you can comfortably enter the necessary details. Send us the scanned document per E-Mail to info@centrifugal-brake.com.