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Brakes are an important component of heavy-duty caster wheels and have many benefits. As a back up to operator strength and to reduce strain, they can be used to slow and stop a cart. And they can help prevent carts or racks from moving unexpectedly, preventing both damage to the product and injury to employees.
For heavy-duty applications, there are several different caster brake types with their own set of benefits. A quick review will help you determine which would be the best for your application.
These types of brakes utilize a foot pedal on the side of the caster, so the operator doesn’t have to constantly bend over to apply the brake.
Single Side Brakes
When all the casters attached to a cart or rack are equipped with these brakes, they do an exceptional at keeping a load stationary. This brake can be applied to a variety of caster styles, as well.
Dual Side Brakes
This brake requires the user to tighten the brake shoe against the caster tread. While it does offer robust stopping power, it is not as ergonomic as the other options. For caster wheels with heavier tread, this type of brake is good for preventing motion, but it is not the best solution for certain types of shock-absorbing wheels or those made from softer, more flexible materials.
Caster Brakes designed for heavy-duty loads when you need excellent stopping power.
Poly Lock Brakes
These are foot-activated brakes and are designed for heavy-duty loads. They can be installed in two different ways – toe out and toe in – to best suit your unique application. The levers are easy to engage either way and provide excellent, reliable stopping power.
Pneumatic Poly Cam Brakes
Poly cam brakes are much like traditional poly lock brakes, but the brake shoe offers more (and more fluid) movement in order to compensate for thicker pneumatic tires. An advantage is like the standard poly lock brake, this one is also foot-operated and is relatively easy to engage and release. This works very well for heavy loads that require plenty of shock absorption but still rely on good brakes to keep loads stationary.
If you rely on pivoting heavy-duty casters to move loads, then you might understand the difficulty involved in properly lining up your casters for access to the foot-activated brake. Wrap-around brakes solve this problem by giving operators access to the brake from all angles, no matter how the caster is oriented. This can save time and keep employees safer, all while reducing frustration.
As you can see, there are plenty of different brake options from which to choose. If you are still unsure of the best option for your needs, contact the experts at Caster Concepts today. With a bit of information about your needs and your application, you can easily discover the best casters and the best brakes for your individual projects and facility
Workplace safety is important to you and at Caster Concepts, the safety of your workplace is valued above all else. Please visit https://www.casterconcepts.com/all-casters/caster-options/caster-brakes/ to learn more about the variety of brakes that go “Beyond Standard” for the application you need.
For further information or a quote, please contact us at customercentral@casterconcepts.com or call 888-781-3379.
