Wichita Clutch recently introduced the 118VM Topdrive Plate Brake for oil and gas applications. The 118VM brake is a hydraulic pressure applied, single plate unit developed for high-energy dynamic stopping and parking in vertical-shaft mounted applications. It also has the capacity to handle repeated dynamic stops in succession. The 25.2” (640 mm) diameter brake is designed to install on the upper end of a drilling rig’s topdrive motor.

The 118VM is one of the first dynamic plate brakes available to the topdrive market that is certified for ATEX Zone 1 CAT II, Gas B, T3. The robust design is fully-enclosed when fitted with an available cover, a sealed piston holding plate protects against the ingress of dirt and moisture. A speed encoder can also be mounted in the same cover location.

The brake features an operating pressure of 140 bar (2030 PSI) which generates 12.0 kNm (8850 lb.ft.) of dynamic torque. With an ambient operating range between -45 ̊C to +55 ̊C (-49 ̊F to 131 ̊F), the 118VM is built to perform in challenging drilling environments.

Wichita Clutch
www.wichitaclutch.com