Foot-Operated

In the context of industrial equipment, Foot-Operated describes a brake system that is actuated by direct physical force from an operator via a foot pedal. This method is not typically used for the primary safety or holding brakes on large-scale machinery like overhead cranes, but rather for service braking, parking, or auxiliary functions on mobile or smaller equipment where an operator is present.

The mechanism generally involves:

1. Mechanical Linkage: A foot pedal is connected through a series of rods and cables directly to a mechanical brake, such as a drum or band brake. Pressing the pedal creates tension in the linkage, forcing the friction surfaces to engage.
2. Hydraulic System: More commonly, the foot pedal acts on a hydraulic master cylinder. The operator’s force pressurizes hydraulic fluid, which is then transmitted through hoses to a slave cylinder at the brake caliper or wheel cylinder, clamping the brake pads or shoes.

Foot-operated brakes are fundamentally active braking systems—they require an operator’s action to apply the brake. This is the opposite of a fail-safe brake, which applies automatically upon loss of power. For this reason, their industrial applications are limited to functions where controlled deceleration or parking is required, such as the service brakes on forklifts, mobile cranes, and various personnel or material transport vehicles used in a plant or on a construction site.