THE HISTORY OF BRAKING SYSTEMS

Moderní brzdové systémy a brzdový asistent jsou velmi působivé.
Vždy je však možné něco zlepšit.

Vývoj brzdových systémů pro automobily

Braking systems have changed significantly since the beginning of the existence of vehicles. The development of braking technology has followed the needs of increasing speed, safety and passenger comfort. This article provides an overview of the major milestones in the development of braking systems, from the first mechanical brakes to modern electronic systems.

First mechanical brakes (19th century)

In the beginning, braking systems were simple and purely mechanical. When the driver of a carriage or the first automobile needed to stop, he used a friction mechanism where a wooden or metal block pushed against the wheels of the vehicle. While this system was simple, the braking efficiency was limited. At higher speeds or under heavier loads, the braking efficiency decreased, leading to safety problems. However, mechanical brakes served as a first step towards the later development of more efficient braking technologies.

Bubnové brzdy (konec 19. století - 20. století)

With the growing need for more efficient brakes, drum brakes, invented by French designer Louis Renault, began to be used in 1902. This system used brake shoes inside a metal drum, where friction and subsequent deceleration of the vehicle occurred. Drum brakes offered better performance than the original mechanical systems and were also less sensitive to dirt and moisture. However, they were prone to overheating, which led to a decrease in braking performance under heavy use. Drum brakes became standard and were used for several decades.

Kotoučové brzdy (od poloviny 20. století)

From the 1950s onwards, disc brakes, originally used on racing cars, came to the fore and were later implemented on regular passenger cars. This brake system uses a disc (disk) firmly attached to the wheel, which is pressed against the brake pads during braking. This creates friction that slows the vehicle. Disc brakes are known for their ability to dissipate heat better, minimizing the risk of overheating. This makes them more reliable than drum brakes, even in the rain. Since then, disc brakes have become standard on the front wheels of vehicles and are now common on the rear wheels, especially on more powerful cars.

Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) (1960s-1980s)

Protiblokovací brzdový systém (ABS) byl původně vyvinut pro letadla, ale od 70. a 80. let 20. století se začal používat i v automobilech. ABS zabraňuje zablokování kol při prudkém brzdění, což zvyšuje bezpečnost a umožňuje lepší ovládání vozidla. Systém ABS funguje pomocí elektronických snímačů a řídicí jednotky, která sleduje otáčení kol a upravuje brzdný tlak tak, aby zabránila zablokování kol. Tento systém výrazně zvyšuje bezpečnost jízdy, zejména v nouzových situacích.

Electronic and electric brakes (modern times)

S nástupem elektrických a hybridních vozidel se začaly objevovat nové technologie, jako je rekuperační brzdění. Při rekuperačním brzdění se kinetická energie přeměňuje na elektrickou a vrací se zpět do akumulátoru, čímž se šetří konvenční brzdové komponenty a zvyšuje se účinnost vozidla. Moderní automobily dnes také využívají elektronické řízení brzd, které umožňuje přesné nastavení brzdného tlaku a lepší spolupráci s dalšími systémy, jako je ABS a ESP (elektronický stabilizační program).

The future of braking systems

The future of braking systems is towards fully electronic brakes without hydraulics, so-called "brakes-by-wire". These systems will allow better control, easier maintenance and less mechanical wear. Research is also focusing on reducing particulate emissions from braking. The development of materials with lower particulate production and the possibility of introducing filters on brakes may contribute significantly to reducing air pollution in the future, BUT...