Electric Release Patents (Class 188/171)
  • Patent number: 7849978
    Abstract: A patient care equipment support system includes an arm supported in a hospital room for pivoting movement about a generally vertical axis, a patient care equipment column coupled to the arm for movement therewith, and a brake configured to impede the pivoting movement of the arm. The brake allowing the pivoting movement of the arm when the brake is deactivated in response to a user input. The column is configured to support patient care equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Alan Graham, Christian H. Reinke
  • Patent number: 7823983
    Abstract: A parking brake system is provided in which a parking brake state of a wheel brake is obtained by forward movement of a parking piston slidably fitted into a casing with the rear side of the parking piston facing a parking control fluid pressure chamber, a lock piston forming part of a lock mechanism for mechanically locking the forwardly moved state of the parking piston is slidably fitted into the casing to the rear of the parking piston and urged forwardly by a spring, an opening provide in a portion of the casing that the rear side of the lock piston faces is closed by a detachable lid member, a tool connection part enables a tool inserted through the opening to be detachably connected to the tool connection part. This enables an automatic parking brake state to be obtained by a simple structure without consuming power, and the parking brake state to be released by a manual operation for maintenance or inspection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Nissin Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromi Inagaki, Akifumi Watada, Takenori Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7770247
    Abstract: An arm is pivotally coupled to a support structure at one end and a patient care equipment support, such as a service head, is pivotally coupled to the arm at the other end. The arm has a first portion and a second portion coupled to the first portion for extension and retraction relative to the first portion. Brakes are provided to brake the extension and retraction of the portions of the arm, to brake the pivoting movement of the arm relative to the support structure, and to brake the pivoting movement of the patient care equipment support relative to the arm. Each of the brakes is releasable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
    Inventors: David P. Lubbers, Paul R. Weil, D. Scott Manlove, Brian J. Hoffman, Christian H. Reinke, Jonathan D. Turner, Stephen R. Hamberg
  • Patent number: 7757823
    Abstract: An electric parking brake including a housing, an actuator, a gear box assembly, a driven gear, a spindle, a screw nut, an equalizer through which the spindle is penetrated and the screw nut is rotatably inserted, brake cables connected to opposite sides of the equalizer, respectively, each brake cable having a first end formed with a coupling piece for the connection of the equalizer and a second end connected to an associated one of wheel brake devices, and an emergency release device including cam units and operating levers and adapted to slacken the brake cables in an emergency release situation, so as to release the parking brake. In the case of any emergency situation, such as electric discharge of a vehicle or failure of the parking brake, the parking brake is released by a simple cable pulling action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Mando Corporation
    Inventor: Jin Young Choi
  • Patent number: 7712584
    Abstract: An elevator without counterweight may Include an elevator car suspended by a hoisting rope, a traction sheave operatively connected to the elevator car by the hoisting rope, and a brake structure configured to engage with the traction sheave in a braking operation in an upward motion and a downward motion of the elevator car. The brake structure may include first and second brake elements. The first brake element may include a surface engageable with the traction sheave, and first contact and sliding surfaces. The second brake element may include second contact and sliding surfaces. The first sliding surface may slide along the second sliding surface relative to the second brake element when the elevator car moves with the upward motion. The second contact surface may contact the first contact surface to stop a sliding motion of the first brake element when the elevator car moves with the downward motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: KONE Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti, Johannes De Jong, Pekka Rantanen
  • Patent number: 7708123
    Abstract: A spring device includes an intermittent accumulator and kinetics release trigger that gradually winds up to accumulate kinetic energy (kinetics) as driven by manual or other random intermittent kinetics, and drives a kinetics release control to trigger the spring to release kinetics to drive a load once the kinetics supplied to the spring is accumulated to a preset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 7699145
    Abstract: An elevator brake assembly (16) includes a plate (26) having damper assemblies (28) including at least one spring (30) for controlling movement of the plate (26) relative to a magnetic field generator (20). A biasing member (36) forces the plate (26) into engagement with a disk (22) fixed to a rotating shaft (18). A force created by the magnetic field generator (20) overcomes force of the biasing member (32) to draw the plate (26) into contact with the magnetic field generator (20). The impact between the plate (26) and the magnetic field generator (20) is controlled by the damping assembly (28) to substantially reduce impact noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventor: Richard J. Ericson
  • Patent number: 7637358
    Abstract: A motor and brake assembly having a disengaging mechanism for use with RV's are disclosed. The assembly includes a motor and a disengaging mechanism that is mounted thereon. The disengaging mechanism includes a motor mount comprised of a cylindrical piece with a plurality of holes disposed on the periphery of an outer flange of the cylindrical piece. The cylindrical piece extends over the barrel of the motor and is secured to the barrel with a plurality of screws. Through manipulation of the cylindrical piece, the user can selectively engage or disengage the brake from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: AL-KO Kober Corporation
    Inventors: Larry Revelino, Bob Arnett
  • Patent number: 7604099
    Abstract: Provided is a braking device for an elevator in which energy required for braking and releasing is reduced. The braking device includes a movable plunger (5), braking mechanisms (1-4, 6, 7) which are connected to one end of the movable plunger and are switched between a braking state and a releasing state by an axial movement of the movable plunger, a first drive mechanism (10) using mechanical or magnetic force, for reversing the movable plunger in the middle of a movable range in an axial direction for the switching between the braking state and the releasing state to press and hold the movable plunger to the braking side or the releasing side, and a second drive mechanism (20) using an electromagnetic force, for driving the movable plunger to a reversion position in the middle of the movable range from the braking side or the releasing side against a pressing force of the first drive mechanism in order to switch between the braking state and the release state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kigawa, Takaharu Ueda, Kenichi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7594566
    Abstract: Blocking apparatus, as well as a gearbox drive unit containing such a blocking apparatus, as well as a method for production of a gearbox drive unit such as this for blocking any rotary movement of a shaft (14) with respect to a housing (16) of the gearbox drive unit (10), having a first blocking element (32) which can rotate and having a second blocking element (34) which can be moved with respect to the first blocking element (32) by means of at least one electromagnet (44) and at least one return element (42), with the blocking elements (32, 34) engaging with one another in an interlocking form in the axial direction in the blocked state, and with at least one acoustic damping element (28) being arranged axially between the interlock (85) and the electromagnet (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Rettmar, Peter Klobes
  • Patent number: 7591351
    Abstract: A self-centering brake for a lift provides for the same braking moment in the case of normal operation and in the case of failure of a brake half. The brake consists of a housing which is U-shaped in cross-section, wherein a limb of the U corresponds with a brake half. The brake halves are of identical construction. An active brake lining and a passive brake lining are provided for each brake half. The active brake lining is loaded by a spring force of a compression spring. In the case of failure of a brake half the passive brake lining takes over the function of the active brake lining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Daniel Fischer
  • Publication number: 20090218182
    Abstract: The invention rotates to a mounting of one or more electromagnetically bleeding spring-loaded brakes (a, b) on a machine wall or the like. The invention is characterized in that the brakes are, while distributed over the periphery on the face, act upon an axially moving brake rotor (5) with continuous friction linings (6) on both sides (i.e. left and right), whereby braking (left) surface of the friction lining (6) and on the opposite Side with the armature discs of the brakes on the second (right) friction lining (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: Chr. Mayr GmbH & Co., K.G.
    Inventors: Gunter Klingler, Harald Weiss, Johann Eberle, Christoph Dropmann
  • Publication number: 20090166136
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electromagnetically released spring pressure brake that is to be mounted on a machine wall or similar. Said brake comprises a uniform rectangular coil support (1) with two preferably oval, adjacent coils (7, 7.1), to which two separately movable rectangular armature disks are assigned. Said armature disks apply pressure to a joint rotor encompassing two friction linings that are mounted on each side when the coils (7, 7.1) are de-energized. The rotor is axially movable on an axially toothed hub. Two respective fastening screws (9) are used for guiding each of the armature disks parallel along the central longitudinal axis (13, 13.1) thereof, on the radially largest possible diameter of the rotor. A manual lever (10) featuring manual releasing bolts is provided for each armature disk.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Chr. Mayr GmbH & Co, KG
    Inventors: Johann Eberle, Gunther Klingler, Harald Weiss
  • Patent number: 7510058
    Abstract: An electromechanical braking system includes a brake rotor, a brake stator, an EMA (52) having a rotor shaft (36), a ram (42) operably connected to the EMA (52) having a first end movable between a first position urging the brake stator against the brake rotor and a second position, a clamp device (32) shiftable between a first clamping position in clamping engagement with the rotor shaft (36) and a second clamping position and a clamp controller (46) for shifting the clamping device (32) between the first and second clamping positions. Also a method of using the braking system as a parking brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Russ Ether
  • Publication number: 20080314701
    Abstract: An industrial truck with at least one driven wheel, which is adapted to being braked during traveling operation by means of a service brake and which is adapted to being immobilized by a parking brake, comprises a braking force generation and braking force transmission apparatus, which is adapted to generating a braking force and to transmitting it to at least one wheel, preferably a driven wheel, the service brake being actuatable mechanically and/or pneumatically and/or hydraulically, wherein the parking brake is actuatable electromagnetically, and the industrial truck comprises a first armature disk, which is associated with the parking brake, has ferromagnetic material and is movable between an active position, in which it activates the braking force generation and braking force transmission apparatus for generating and transmitting a braking force to the at least one wheel, and an inactive position, in which it does not activate the braking force generation and braking force transmission apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Rolf Bogelein, Christoph Zeidler
  • Publication number: 20080296097
    Abstract: Guide-rail brake (1) of an elevator and method for controlling the brake, which brake comprises a frame part fixed to the elevator car, and a prong part, which contains turning jaws (3,4) that correspond to the guide rail (2) via the braking surfaces when braking, a spring (10) loading the prong part to press the braking surfaces to the guide rail, a controllable mover, which is an electromagnet (15), which electromagnet (15) contains two pulling core pieces (17,18), the force effect of which electromagnet (15) on the prong part is opposed to the spring. In the guide-rail brake an air gap (ag) is structurally arranged between the center parts (19,20) of the pulling core pieces (17, 18) of the electromagnet of the guide-rail brake when the brake is fully energized, and a damping circuit is arranged in the coil (16) of the electromagnet (15) of the guide-rail brake to speed up operation of the guide-rail brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Timo SYRMAN, Tomi TORTTILA
  • Patent number: 7438162
    Abstract: The invention relates to a caliper brake for a brake disc, in particular for elevator drives. Said brake comprises a brake body that is mounted on a fixed bolt (7) in a floating manner (1) and a brake caliper (2) that impinges on the brake disc (3) from the outer periphery of the latter, in addition to a solenoid (14) that is integrated into the brake body (1) to electromagnetically pull a spring-loaded armature disc (4) against the brake body (1). Said armature disc (4) and the section of the brake caliper (2) lying axially opposite are equipped with friction linings (5, 6) for engaging with the two end faces of the brake disc (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Chr. Mayr GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Karl Eiband
  • Patent number: 7434669
    Abstract: A hydraulic vehicle brake equipped with a parking brake device, in particular for motor vehicles, including a brake housing in which a hydraulic service pressure chamber is delimited by a brake piston, wherein the parking brake device acts on the brake piston and, in the applied condition, can be locked by a locking device, and an energy accumulator cooperating with the brake piston is equipped with at least one integrated spring element. In order to realize a simple and low-cost parking brake function that complies with legal requirements, according to the invention, the parking brake device is operable by a pressure that is introduced into the service pressure chamber and enables charging the energy accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Continental Teves AG & Co. oHG
    Inventors: Georg Halasy-Wimmer, Lothar Schiel, Rolf Weiler, Jürgen Balz, Peter Schack, Thomas Bauer, Stefan A. Drumm, Andreas Heise, Joachim Scholer, Stefan Johannes Schmitt, Andreas Pohlmann, Thomas Winkler, Volker Knop, Jörn Schriefer, Ralf Hartmann, Karsten Schille, Johannes Görlach, Peter Volz
  • Patent number: 7419033
    Abstract: An emergency brake device for an elevator includes a brake shoe portion provided inside a sheave 1 or deflector sheave of an elevator and having a brake shoe 5a at a lower end of the brake shoe portion, the brake shoe generating a braking force due to friction upon abutting an inner wall of an outer peripheral frame of the sheave or deflector sheave at a time of braking, the brake shoe portion having built therein spring mechanisms 51, 52 provided between the brake shoe and king pins 5f1, 5f2, which are offset in a rotation direction of the sheave or deflector sheave with respect to a centerline passing through a rotation shaft of the sheave or deflector sheave and are fixed on a bearing 1b side of the rotation shaft, the spring mechanisms each absorbing a force generated between the brake shoe and the king pin due to the braking force and being connected to the king pin at one end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishiki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ito
  • Publication number: 20080202872
    Abstract: An electromagnetic brake includes a housing, a pin, brake springs urged against the pin, a handle pivotably secured to the pin, a coil, a moveable armature plate, a moveable friction disc, a trigger switch on the housing and including a projecting contact and a pivotal trigger, steel balls in the half holes of the housing and the handle, and a rod fixedly projecting out of a slot of the handle. In a brake released position, the rod is at one end of the slot with the coil being energized. The handle is adapted to pivot to move the other end of the slot to engage with the rod, the handle contacts and pivots the trigger to enable the trigger switch so as to de-energize the coil, and the springs apply an expansion force to urge against the pin for causing the friction disc to apply brake to a shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventor: Hung Ping Huang
  • Publication number: 20080156597
    Abstract: The power-off electromagnetic brake (2) attracts an armature that is pressed by spring force to a rotating member by magnetic attraction force that is generated by energizing an exciting coil, and brake force that is acting on the rotating member is released. A voltage control circuit (12) continuously energizes the exciting coil for a fixed length of time and generates a considerable magnetic attraction force in order to attract the armature to a yoke when a brake power source (14) is switched on during brake release. After the armature has been attracted to the yoke, the voltage control circuit (12) intermittently energizes the exciting coil at a set cycle and a set on/off duty ratio to hold the armature in an attracted state to the yoke, thereby reducing power consumption and heat generation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Inventor: Kozo Sasaki
  • Patent number: 7354372
    Abstract: An electric actuator for an automatic transmission includes an adapter to transmit rotary motion between the adapter and the automatic transmission. An electric motor has an output shaft operably connected to the adapter by a gear set which includes a ring gear. The gear set reduces speed and increases torque supplied by the output shaft of the electric motor and applied to the adapter. A release mechanism is operably connected to the gear set and includes a lock member movable between a first position wherein the lock member is in engagement with the ring gear to lock the ring gear against rotary motion in both directions and a second position wherein the lock member is out of engagement with the ring gear to permit rotary motion of the ring gear in both directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yong Qiang Wang
  • Patent number: 7341129
    Abstract: This invention relates to a double-sided equipment for a braking system, comprising a first braking pad, a second braking pad, a braking component, a fixing spring component, a compression spring, and an electromagnet, wherein the braking component located between the first braking pad and the second braking pad is movable along the axle of the door operator but is unrotatable with respect to the door operator axle. As a result of the compression spring, the first braking pad and the braking component will be pushed together towards the second braking pad, thereby the braking component is clamped from its two sides by the two braking pads. When the first braking pad is retracted by the electromagnet, the fixing spring enables the braking component to separate from the second braking pad, causing the braking component to be fully separated from the first and second braking pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: Chung-Hsien Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20080000735
    Abstract: A braking device for a power winch includes a reduction box installed inside with a sectional shaft, an elastic member, a fixing base, a braking lining, a first engraved block, a second engraved block and a clutch base. The fixing base is fixed in the accommodating hollow of the reduction box. The braking lining is an independent component composed of at least two blocks integrated to form a ring-shaped braking lining assembled in the accommodating hollow and positioned abutting the inner edge of the accommodating hollow, the fixing base and the first engraved block, having a small gap formed between them. Only when the motor stops operating and the power winch performs braking, will the braking lining produce friction with the inner edge of the accommodating hollow, the fixing base and the first engraved block, able to prolong service life and facilitate replacing of the braking lining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventor: Shih Jyi Huang
  • Patent number: 7303167
    Abstract: A flight-lock actuator that can be powered by two sources of stored energy when aircraft power has been switched off. A mechanical energy storage device and an electrical energy storage device provide a fully redundant energy storage system that stores sufficient energy to complete the actuator's extension stroke when aircraft power is removed. The actuator has a motor control system that limits the stroke velocity for both the extension and retraction strokes, including a damper feature capable of effectively braking the actuator during the back-driven extension stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Smith Aerospace
    Inventor: Valentin G. Barba
  • Patent number: 7241244
    Abstract: An electric actuator for an automatic transmission includes an adapter to transmit rotary motion between the adapter and the transmission. An electric motor has an output shaft operably connected the adapter by a gear set which includes a ring gear. A release mechanism includes a solenoid which selectively moves a lock member. In a first position, the lock member engages the ring gear to lock the ring gear so that the adapter is rotated by rotary motion of the output shaft and the adapter rotates to a predetermined zone about a desired gear position. In a second position, the lock member is out of engagement with the ring gear to permit rotation of the ring gear so that the adapter is rotated by internal forces of the transmission and the adapter automatically self-aligns to the exact desired gear position when the adapter is within the predetermined zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Dura Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yong Qiang Wang
  • Patent number: 7216744
    Abstract: A disc brake which is particularly designed for arcuate travel of less than 360 degrees has pie shaped segments, i.e. segments which are not complete circles which are interleaved. Some segments are rotatable about an axis and others are stationary and have friction brake material carried on them at a position remote from the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Sepac, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Mower
  • Patent number: 7137595
    Abstract: A flight lock actuator that can be powered by two sources of stored energy when aircraft power has been switched off. A mechanical energy storage means and an electrical energy storage means provide a fully redundant energy storage system that stores sufficient energy to complete the actuator's extension stroke when aircraft power is removed. The actuator has a motor control system that limits the stroke velocity for both the extension and retraction strokes, including a damper feature capable of effectively braking the actuator during the back-driven extension stroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Smiths Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventor: Valentin G. Barba
  • Patent number: 7137489
    Abstract: An actuator, preferably a linear actuator for furniture, comprises a brake spring (20) in the form of a helical spring having a plurality of windings wound around a cylindrical element (10) of plastics rotatable at least during braking, said spring being tightened around the cylindrical element for braking. The frictional heat generated hereby can cause the plastics to be deformed, which adversely affects the braking power. This is solved by providing the cylindrical element (10) consisting of plastics with an insert (12) of metal for carrying off the frictional heat preferably into other metal parts of the actuator that may serve as cooling faces. To carry off heat additionally, it is proposed to arrange a second heat-conducting element (18) in intimate contact with the outer side of the spring (20), said element being likewise connected with other metal parts of the actuator that may serve as cooling faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Assignee: Linak A/S
    Inventors: Jeppe Christian Bastholm, Karsten Westermann
  • Patent number: 7104367
    Abstract: An adjustable brake is provided that applies a braking force directly to an elevator sheave over which a cable suspends an elevator car and a counterweight. The brake includes a pair of calipers that apply a braking force to either longitudinal end of the sheave. The brake is spring set and may be released using, for example, electromagnetic, hydraulic or pneumatic forces. The calipers are mounted to and movable along a rail to enable adjustment of the location of the calipers. Further, the calipers are coupled together using one or more pins and are movable along the pins to enable adjustment of spacing between the calipers. The brake is particularly adapted for use with existing elevators because the brake does not require modification to the existing elevator sheave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Warner Electric Europe S.A.S.
    Inventors: Gilles Ferrand, Bruno Pitto
  • Patent number: 7073640
    Abstract: A brake structure of a traction machine includes a brake drum which is made rotatable about a shaft disposed on a rotary axis of the traction machine, and an electromagnetic brake unit built in an inner space of the brake drum. The electromagnetic brake unit includes a plurality of movable iron cores, a plurality of brake shoes located on the outside of the individual movable iron cores and joined thereto by connecting members, the brake shoes having curved outer surfaces facing a curved inner surface of the brake drum, and a one-piece formed stationary iron core block. The one-piece formed stationary iron core block has a plurality of stationary iron core portions joined to the individual movable iron cores via compression springs for forcing the individual brake shoes against the curved inner surface of the brake drum via the movable iron cores and the connecting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ota, Akira Hashimoto, Kazuhiro Shono, Naoki Kajita, Hisanori Uozumi, Naoki Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 7073641
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a braking system for an electric motor, the braking system comprising: a chassis; and at least one brake supported by the chassis, the brake comprising: at least one brake disk connected via a fluted connection to a shaft driven by the motor; an armature that is movable in translation along an axis of rotation of the shaft; a plurality of armature-guiding spacers, at least one of the spacers being engaged at one end in a corresponding housing in the chassis, so as to enable the chassis to take up torque that is exerted on the brake during braking; a plurality of springs for urging the armature against the disk; and an electromagnet which, when powered, attracts the armature and moves it away from the disk against the action of the springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Moteurs Leroy-Somer
    Inventor: Pascal Carriot
  • Patent number: 7063190
    Abstract: A braking system having a brake disc and a brake plate. The brake disc and brake plate each include three plateaus that include ramps on each end. The plateaus of the brake disc are configured to substantially mate with the plateaus of the brake plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: MPC Products Corporation
    Inventors: Dale A. Sylvan, Craig H. Scott, Anton A. Petrou
  • Patent number: 7007779
    Abstract: An electromagnetic brake assembly has a brake shoe) movable between a first position at which it is located in a braking engagement with a movable surface and a second position at which it is located out of braking engagement with the movable surface. An electromagnet is energizable to bias the shoe to one or other of the first and the second positions and a power supply is provided having a direct current source for supplying a direct current flow to energize the electromagnet. The power supply further has an alternating current source that provides an alternating current flow through the electromagnet with a successively decreasing amplitude characteristic, after interruption of the direct current flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Conny Johansson, Lars Nygren, Bruno Slettenmark
  • Patent number: 6974000
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a frame; a member movable relative to said frame; a damping device interconnected between the frame and the movable member; a controller for activating the damper to generate a damping condition at a predetermined member operating condition; and system for activating the damping device at a predetermined operating condition of the moving member during a loss of power to the apparatus. The damping device may comprise a field controllable damper that includes a volume of field controllable fluid, which may in turn comprise magnetorheological fluid for example. The rheology of the field controllable fluid is effected during the application of the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Lord Corporation
    Inventors: J. David Carlson, Michael J. Chrzan, Lynn C. Yanyo, Thomas Peuker
  • Patent number: 6971489
    Abstract: A motor and brake assembly having a disengaging mechanism for use with RV's are disclosed. The assembly includes a motor and a disengaging mechanism that is mounted thereon. The disengaging mechanism includes a motor mount comprised of a cylindrical piece with a plurality of holes disposed on the periphery of an outer flange of the cylindrical piece. The cylindrical piece extends over the barrel of the motor and is secured to the barrel with a plurality of screws. Through manipulation of the cylindrical piece, the user can selectively engage or disengage the brake from the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: RBW Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond Willis Blodgett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6918470
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electromechanical brake comprising a stack of disks and at least one electromechanical actuator having a pusher for applying pressure to the stack of disks in controlled manner, the brake being equipped with a parking device for maintaining pressure on the disks at least while the brake is not fed with electrical current. In the invention, the parking device comprises a resilient member and a selector which is mounted to move between a first position in which the resilient member is mechanically decoupled from the pusher and is maintained in an elastically deformed state to form a potential energy reserve, and a second position in which the resilient member is mechanically coupled to the pusher so that the pusher exerts pressure on the stack of disks under drive from the resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Messier - Bugatti
    Inventor: Denis Guaraldo
  • Patent number: 6889801
    Abstract: A transmission brake is arranged in connection with an electric motor for an electric brake. The transmission brake shall allow rotation of the motor shaft in a brake applying direction, but when motor current is no longer supplied, the shaft shall be locked. Rotation of the shaft in the brake release direction pre-supposes reverse rotation of the motor. A clutch is arranged between the shaft and a non-rotational housing. For accomplishing an engagement of the clutch at a rotation of the shaft but not the motor in the brake release direction there is a ramp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Haldex Brake Products AB
    Inventors: Lars Severinsson, Hakan P. O. Larsson
  • Patent number: 6840354
    Abstract: The invention relates to a brake actuator, especially for a rail vehicle brake, comprising a service brake unit with a brake force generator for applying and/or releasing the brake, an accumulator brake unit with an energy accumulator device for accumulating and delivering energy for applying the brake as an operative emergency brake and/or as a parking brake, and a force conversion device for converting the energy that is provided by the brake force generator and/or the energy accumulator device into a brake application movement. The invention provides that the brake actuator has an additional energy accumulator device for accumulating and delivering energy for applying and/or releasing the brake. The additional energy accumulator device and the brake force generator can be designed in such a way that the force required of the brake force generator during a braking operation in order to generate a defined brake application force level that is greater than zero but less than the maximum brake force is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: Knorr-Bremse Systeme für Schienenfahrzeuge GmbH
    Inventors: Richard Grundwürmer, Josef Staltmeir, Manfred Vohla
  • Patent number: 6817453
    Abstract: A remote brake release for elevator drive machine brakes includes a release lever attached to a shaft coupled by a clutch to a bellcrank. The clutch is normally engaged and can be a spring clutch or a friction type disc clutch. Movement of the lever to rotate the shaft moves the bellcrank which is coupled to a brake release mechanism. A solenoid is actuated to disengage the clutch preventing release of the brake. The solenoid can be connected to a control circuit responsive to a speed of rotation of the drive machine motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Robert J. Koeppe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6802402
    Abstract: A braking device that can be released electromagnetically exhibits at least one brake shoe (20), which is pressed against a braking area by the force of a brake spring (14) in order to brake a linear or rotary motion. A magnet system exhibits a coil (1) and an armature (4), while current fed to the coil (1) causes the armature (4) to move against the force exerted by the brake spring (14), with the result that the brake shoes (10) is able to rise from the braking area (13) and thus release the brake. To achieve a high braking force with a magnet system of small structural dimensions the brake force of the brake spring (14) is transmitted from the armature (4) to the brake shoes (10) by at least one pressure element (5) with diagonal wedge areas (7, 8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Kendrion Binder Magnete GmbH
    Inventors: Edmund Bausch, Joachim Hubrich
  • Patent number: 6796548
    Abstract: A braking device includes a brake wheel, a pair of rotation shafts, a pair of brake arms which is rotatably supported through the rotation shafts, a pair of brake pads arranged at one end of the brake arms and contacting and separating from the brake wheel, and a brake part connected to another end of the brake arms for providing and releasing a braking force of the brake pads. When the centers of the rotation shafts are fulcrums, the centers of contact of the brake pads with the brake wheel are points of action, and the connections between the brake arms and the brake part are power points, the fulcrums, the points of action, and the power points are located in a semicircular area of the brake wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha
    Inventors: Koji Nagata, Yukimasa Hisamitsu
  • Patent number: 6784578
    Abstract: A self-energizing brake for a motor has a moving brake section, including a brake friction material located on a portion of a face thereof perpendicular to its axis of rotation which is automatically urged toward a brake mating surface upon the motor coming to a stop, thereby automatically energizing the brake, and which is automatically urged away from the brake mating surface upon the motor beginning its rotation, thereby automatically de-energizing the brake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Moog Components Group Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Gene Zambelli
  • Patent number: 6742634
    Abstract: To accurately detect a trouble of a magnetic brake (2) by eliminating any effect of a temperature of a location at which an elevator is installed, a temperature sensor (3) is arranged to measure a temperature of the magnetic brake (2). When an armature (2c) has been attracted responsive to a brake release command, the temperature of the magnetic brake is measured as a first temperature, and before the armature returns responsive to a brake actuation command, the temperature of the magnetic brake is measured as a second temperature. The first and second temperatures are compared with each other. When a result of the comparison between the first and second temperatures is determined to be greater than a predetermined value, the magnetic brake (2) is determined to have been locked and hence, to have developed a trouble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Building Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Watanabe, Hiroshi Kiyosugi, Mikio Nakai, Yuki Ishida, Toshiaki Matsuo, Takashi Sekiya
  • Publication number: 20040099492
    Abstract: In a brake system for a linear actuator comprising: a pair of guide rail members (4), a table (3) including at least a pair of sliders (2a to 2d) which slide along the guide rail members, a linear motor (6 and 7) for actuating the table along the guide rail members, and a brake unit incorporated in one of the sliders, the one slider is provided with a moveable slide block (16) that is supported by the slider (2a) so as to be moveable toward and away from the guide rail surface and a power actuator (8a and 8b, 21 and 30) for selectively moving the slide block toward the guide rail surface. The sliders thus serve the dual purposes of guiding the motion of the table along the guide rail and braking the motion of the table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Onuki, Susumu Tomioka, Shigeyuki Hattori, Kazuo Hokkirigawa
  • Publication number: 20040055838
    Abstract: A spring brake actuator is mounted with its shaft connected to the rotational operative shaft of a service brake actuator. The spring brake actuator has a clock spring, which is mechanically charged at a rotation of the actuator shaft in a brake release direction. It also has an electric coil for keeping when electrically energized—the clock spring in its charged condition. Further, it has means for transferring the rotative energy of the clock spring to the actuator shaft in a brake applying direction, when the coil is energized, but allowing free rotation of the shaft in either direction, when the coil is energized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2003
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventor: Lars Severinsson
  • Patent number: 6675939
    Abstract: The brake includes a housing for mounting and a disc assembly. The disc assembly engages a drive shaft for rotation therewith. A flange on the disc assembly receives a first ring and a second ring, each ring is slideably engaged to the flange for axial motion. Release plates adjacent to the second ring are free to move in an axial direction. A field cup has springs to bias the release plates against the second ring and o-rings to facilitate quiet operation of the elevator car brake. When no current flows through the coil, the release plates are biased against the second ring. Thus, the second ring engages the friction surface of the housing to park and hold the drive shaft. When current flows through the coil, the first and second release plates are drawn to the field cup, overcome the bias force of the springs and compress the o-rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Inertia Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Maurice, Timothy J. Dahlstrom, Stephen E. Nyquist, Jon L. Masthay
  • Patent number: 6675940
    Abstract: The brake assembly includes a motor shaft connected to a friction disk assembly. Springs housed in a field cup assembly, frictionally link a clapper plate assembly and friction disk assembly against a mounting plate to activate the brake. To disengage the brake, the field cup assembly magnetically attracts the clapper plate thereto and the friction disk assembly is free to rotate. For manual release, rotation of a lever arm against a reaction plate compresses a wave spring to generate an opposing force which overcomes the springs, thereby forcing the clapper plate assembly away from the friction disk assembly to allow rotation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Inertia Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin L. Maurice
  • Patent number: 6668982
    Abstract: The device, inserted between a motor (9) and a load (11), allows the load (11) to be immobilized when power is not applied to the motor (9) and allows mechanical torque to be transmitted when power is applied to the motor (9). Such a device is produced by virtue of a juxtaposition of brake disks rotatably connected alternately to the drive shaft (8) and to a casing (10) containing the motor (9) by sliding connections, the end disks (1, 3) of the juxtaposition being rotatably connected on the drive shaft (8) and by virtue of means (4, 5) collaborating to separate these disks and transmit the mechanical torque. The architecture of the device allows the string of dimensions associated with the functional clearance between the means (4, 5) to be reduced and allows the force exerted by the spring (6) on the disk (1) to be reacted by the bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Somfy
    Inventors: Eric LaGarde, David Chatellard, Frédéric Volle
  • Patent number: 6662909
    Abstract: An electrically operated parking brake apparatus that includes a ball screw mechanism driven by an electric motor so as to move a nut member along a screw-threaded shaft. Two Bowden cables, for example, are connected to left and right ends of an equalizer supported on the nut member via an upper support shaft and a lower support shaft for transmitting brake operation force to wheel brakes. Since an axis of the upper and lower support shafts provided at positions facing each other across the screw-threaded shaft for swingably supporting the equalizer on the nut member passes through the center of the screw-threaded shaft, and a line connecting portion where the pair of Bowden cables are connected to the equalizer passes through the center of the screw-threaded shaft, the application of an unbalanced load to the screw-threaded shaft is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Taniguchi