Braking system for a draw works used for drilling operations

A braking system for a draw works used in connection with a drilling rig, the braking system comprising:

• a brake assembly including a rotatable brake shaft, the brake shaft including a shaft flange;
• a brake lever mechanically coupled to the brake shaft, the brake lever configured to be rotated so as to rotate the brake shaft;
• a brake cylinder including a piston and a piston rod extending outwardly from the piston;
• an actuator coupled between the piston rod and the brake shaft, the actuator including an actuator lip extending outwardly therefrom, the actuator being coupled around the brake shaft such that the brake shaft is rotatable relative to the actuator when the actuator lip is not engaged against the shaft flange,
• wherein, when the actuator lip is engaged against the shaft flange, movement of the piston rod results in rotation of the brake shaft;
• a first valve provided in fluid communication with a first chamber of the brake cylinder so as to control a supply of working fluid to the first chamber, wherein, by adjusting a position of the first valve when the actuator lip is engaged against the shaft flange, the movement of the piston rod is regulated so as to control a braking force applied between the brake assembly and a drum of the draw works;
• and
• a second valve provided in fluid communication with a second chamber of the brake cylinder so as to control a supply of the working fluid to the second chamber.