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Caster Brake and Lock Selector

Work out whether a brake holds a loaded cart on a slope, whether you need a wheel brake or a total lock that also stops the swivel, and how many braked casters a ramp demands.

A brake is a friction device, so whether it holds depends on the slope, the share of the load on the braked wheels, and the condition of the floor. Enter the cart weight, the slope, the caster count, how many are braked, and the floor condition, and the calculator returns the required holding force, the force the brakes can supply, and the verdict.

The result also distinguishes a wheel brake from a total lock: holding a load on a slope needs the wheel stopped, while keeping a cart from swinging as it is loaded usually needs the swivel locked as well.

Inputs

Cart and braking arrangement

Range: 20–40,000 lbf

Range: 3–12

Range: 0–12

At least two braked casters are normally needed to stop a cart rotating about a single braked wheel.

Range: 0–25 %

Rise over run times 100. A 4 percent ramp rises 4 in over 100 in. Level floor is 0.

Tread and purpose

Result

Holding force available (lbf)
360
Holding force needed (lbf)
48
Holding safety ratio
7.51
Brake type
Wheel brake on at least two casters, ideally at diagonally opposite corners, so a rotation about one locked wheel is prevented.
Verdict
Holds the cart on this slope with usable reserve, provided the tread stays clean and dry.

What to check

  • Enter the slope the cart actually stands on, not the ramp it is pushed up.
  • Check that the braked casters are not all on the downhill side of the load.
  • Confirm the brake's published holding force at the wheel from the manufacturer.

Related calculators

Friction-based holding only. A real brake can also hold by mechanically engaging the hub, which the calculator cannot know, and the manufacturer's rating outranks this figure. All braked casters are assumed to be on the floor sharing load equally and not all on one side, and the coefficients are for a dry, clean concrete floor. A slope above 25% is outside the range where a friction brake is an acceptable answer.