Mechanical advantage device Mechanical advantage device A simple machine that exhibits mechanical advantage is called a mechanical advantage device - e.g.: Consider lifting a weight with rope and pulleys. A rope looped through a pulley attached to a fixed spot, e.g. a barn roof rafter, and attached to the weight is called a "single pulley". It has a mechanical advantage (MA) = 1 (assuming frictionless bearings in the pulley), moving no mechanical advantage (or disadvantage) however advantageous the change in direction may be. A "single movable pulley" has an MA of 2 (assuming frictionless bearings in the pulley). Consider a pulley attached to
Electro-pneumatic brake system on British railway trains thereby activating the disc brake. The "presence" of the voltage holds the brakes "off", providing a Fail Safe system. The 3 step "Westcode" brake uses three wires and these operate in a binary sequence to control the brake step. 10 & 11 are the brake coding to provide the 3 steps, 12 wire is emergency brake, 15 wire is EP brake negative. Positions on the brake handle are: This system remains in use today. On the previous EP brake systems, if the train divided or a serious air leak occurred the drop in Brake Pipe pressure automatically caused the brakes