Abstract: A friction safety brake which is released by virtue of an electromagnet is disclosed. Extending from a machine wall is a shaft that is rotatable relative to the machine wall. The shaft is to be braked by the friction safety brake. The brake includes: a first assembly comprising a coil carrier, a coupling element, a flange plate, at least one first brake disk and an intermediate disk; and a second assembly comprising an armature disk, at least a second brake disk and the intermediate disk. The flange plate is coupled in an axial direction with the coil carrier by virtue of coupling elements and is independently movable relative to the armature disk in the axial direction such that two braking circuits are available. The first braking circuit includes the armature disk, the coil carrier and the flange plate (21) coupled to each other in the direction of rotation.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electromagnetically releasable friction safety brake with two brake discs (2, 11) which are arranged on a common central drive shaft to be axially displaceable but non-rotatable with respect to the shaft. Axially disposed between the two brake discs (2, 11) in a spool carrier (5) is a magnetic coil (6) and springs (7) that urge the brake discs (2, 11) into the braking position.

Abstract: An automatic air gap readjusting assembly in a clutch or brake unit is operated by electromagnetic and spring forces. A drive shaft 3 frictionally mounts, by a plurality of O-rings, an adjustment member. The adjustment member is readjusted by a contact or armature plate such that the air gap between the armature plate and the electromagnetic mechanism attracting the armature plate will remain constant, i.e. the stroke of the armature plate will remain constant. Torque is transmitted from the drive shaft to the armature plate via a radial flange having a plurality of axially movable torque transmitting bolt assemblies, which are clamped to an annular spring member secured to the armature plate. This arrangement allows for continuous readjustment for wear of the air gap between the armature plate and the electromagnetic mechanism; furthermore, the readjustment always takes place under uniform force conditions despite increasing wear.

Abstract: A rudder assembly for a ship having an upright keel plane and a drive for generating a screw race passing backwardly along the plane comprises a pair of like rudders lying in the race and pivotal about respective upright axes spaced symmetrically to opposite sides of the keel plane. Each rudder has a central plane lying parallel to the keel plane during normal straight forward travel of the ship and has a non-concave inner face turned toward the keel plane and an outer face formed by a convex front portion generally in front of the respective axis and a concave rear portion generally behind the respective axis. The rear portions diverge from the respective central planes by angles between 2.degree. and 10.degree., and the inner face has a rear portion similarly forming an angle of between 2.degree. and 8.degree. with the respective central plane. These rudders may be controlled individually in order to stop and even reverse the ship with a continuously backwardly moving screw race.