Abstract: Electromechanical actuator mechanisms for storm brakes are provided. The actuator mechanisms generally comprise an electro-mechanical release system and a permanent magnet eddy current brake system with adjustable air gap for varying brake setting time, and for energy dissipation of the storm brake main spring force or weight.

Abstract: A linear guide with a guide carriage longitudinally movably arranged on a guide rail, which is preferably U-shaped and a braking device effectively arranged between the guide rail and the guide carriage. An actuator for actuating the braking device is provided and the actuator has an electro-active polymer effectively arranged in the longitudinal axis of the linear guide which engages around the guide rail for actuating the braking device.

Abstract: A linear motion brake (10) includes a channel shaped shoe guide (90) straddling a linear race (20) and having shoe bores (95) defined in leg plates (92) for receiving brake shoes (12). A piston (100) is reciprocally received in a piston cavity (86) of a plate-shaped housing (80) secured to the shoe guide (90). The piston (100) includes first and second protrusions (76, 134) extending from the piston head (102) in the reciprocation direction. Springs (114) are sandwiched between the shoe guide (90) and the piston (100). Ribs (116) of the piston (100) are slideably received in cutouts (96) formed in the connecting plate (94) of the shoe guide (92). Reciprocation of the protrusions (76, 134) cams the brake shoes (12) against the linear race (20).

Abstract: An elevator installation has braking equipment for braking and holding an elevator car which moves in vertical direction within guide tracks or rails. The braking equipment consists of at least two brake units each comprising a normal force regulation device that sets a normal force (FN) in correspondence with a normal force value determined by a brake control unit and/or a locking device that locks the brake unit in a set braking position and which preferably maintains the set braking position in the case of an interrupted energy supply. The braking equipment provides a gentle braking or holding of the elevator car, which corresponds with the operational state of the elevator installation, with a low energy requirement.

Abstract: A guide-rail brake (1) of an elevator and a method for controlling the brake are provided. The brake comprises a frame part fixed to the elevator car, 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, and a controllable mover, which is an electromagnet (15), which contains two pulling core pieces (17,18). The force effect of the 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.

Abstract: A brake (10) having application for a linear or rotational motion device includes a housing (120) in which a first piston (140), a wedge (142) and a second piston (144) cooperate to engage a friction facing (136) through a plurality of rollers (152, 154, 156, 158). The three part piston assembly (148) allows a braking action and prevents torsional forces that are non-axial to the axis of the first piston (140) and second piston (144). The pistons (140, 144) are biased by compression springs (176) and may be actuated by a fluid.

Abstract: A safety brake device has a setting device moving an abutment or a housing to limit movement of brake wedges engaging a guide rail which limits a braking force applied by the brake wedges. The setting device can continuously adjust the braking force limit in dependence on a magnitude of a mass to be braked.

Abstract: Rail brake (1) for an elevator, comprising a brake body attached to the elevator car, a clamp part comprising jaws (3,4) that engage a guide rail (2) via braking surfaces during braking. A spring (10) generates a load on the clamp part to press the braking surfaces against the guide rail, and a magnet whose force produces an effect reverse to that of the spring releases the braking surfaces from the guide rail. The clamp part is floatably suspended relative to the brake body. The motion of the clamp part relative to the brake body is controlled by the guide rail (2).

Abstract: An emergency braking system for hoist cages, mounted for vertical travel between opposed guide rails, utilizes opposed pairs of pivoted brake application arms associated with braking web surfaces provided on the insides of the opposed hoist guide rails where each pair of brake application arms are provided, at one of their ends, with opposed pairs of braking surfaces associated with the webs and at their other ends with opposed cam follower rollers which, in turn, are associated with symmetrically opposed cam surfaced members which are mechanically connected to a spring biased hydraulic cylinder combination mounted for limited free lateral movement on the cage and located between the opposed pairs of brake application arms with the piston rod of the cylinder connected to one cam member and the cylinder per se to the other cam member. The cam member cam surfaces being arranged to apply spring braking pressure to the respective webs when the cylinder is not under pressure.

Abstract: A safety apparatus includes a safety device and a centrifugal force speed governor for preventing overspeed conditions of an elevator car in both the downward direction and the upward direction. A bracket attached to the elevator car slidably retains a shaft at right angle to a guide rail attached to an elevator shaft wall. A U-shaped frame is attached to an end of the shaft and rotatably carries a running wheel. A compression spring extends over the shaft between the bracket and the frame to bias the running wheel against the web of the guide rail. On each side of the running wheel, a pair of release levers are rotatably supported to rotate during travel of the car in normal operation. In response to an overspeed condition, the release levers pivot into engagement with a pair of stationary ratchet wheels which are connected with a pair of actuating levers. The ratchet wheels are rotated by the running wheel which movement rotates the actuating levers.

Abstract: The floating structure has limited heave oscillations. A long member has a lower end coupled to the seabed. An extensible tensioner is coupled between a platform deck and the upper end of the long member. The tensioner suspends the upper end of said long member and applies a predetermined tension thereto. The tensioner includes anti-heave force-exerting means for exerting downward-acting forces on the floating structure.

Abstract: A trolley for moving along a mono-rail track comprising two superimposed tubes, the trolley being provided with means for carrying a target, and being further provided with pairs of drive wheels which are inwardly inclined to rest on upper parts of the lower tube forming the track, the pairs of drive wheels having a "V" configuration. Additional pairs of substantially horizontal wheels engage opposite sides of the lower tube below the drive wheels. The drive wheels are driven by individual hydraulic motors, connected in series, and the hydraulic circuit for controlling the motors can be operated to achieve a braking effect on the wheels. Jockey wheels engage the top tube of the track. An additional spring pressure applied, hydraulic pressure released brake acts on the upper tube.

Abstract: Brake equipment for an underground mining machine, which in use traverses to and fro adjacent to a stationary rail extending along a longwall face and which includes a hydraulic haulage drive motor for hauling the machine along the longwall face, is activated to engage the stationary rail if other than a normal haulage condition of the drive motor is sensed, a control for the drive motor being moved into a neutral, machine non-traversing mode when the brake is applied.

Abstract: An automatic rail clamp is provided with an indicator for visibly showing the extent of wear of the replaceable clamping jaw inserts together with a fulcrum shaft having opposed eccentrics about which the jaws rock. As wear of the inserts develops, rotation of the fulcrum shaft is effected in measured increments which, in turn, progressively shifts the eccentrics relative to the axis of rotation of the fulcrum shaft to thereby move the centers about which the jaws pivot. This operates to maintain the arc through which the jaws rock within a constant range, thus allowing the rail clamp mechanism to operate at smaller, more efficient toggle angles by keeping the toggle angle safe. A differential hand screw is provided for moving the jaws in the event of failure of the automatic mechanism for opening and closing the jaws to ease the manual effort required to turn the hand screw, particularly to release the jaws when the clamp is set by spring pressure into clamping engagement with the rail.

Abstract: A measuring and/or tracing device is of the kind having a vertical column, a transverse sliding unit secured to the column and movable in a vertical direction, a cross arm held by said unit and movable horizontally, a holder on the end of the said cross arm for a measuring and/or tracing tool, and a counterweight being disposed inside the column so that it can move freely and being attached to the transverse sliding unit by a cable passing over a guide roller at the upper end of the column.

Abstract: Brake equipment for a vehicle or mining machine which in use traverses along a path adjacent to a stationary rail comprises a rail engaging component including a wedge assembly resilient means for urging the rail engaging component into a `brake applied` mode contacting the rail and ram means for urging the rail engaging component into a `brake released` mode out of contact with the rail. The brake equipment includes further ram means for urging the wedge assembly out of a rail engaging position when the brake is released.

Abstract: The braking apparatus of this invention functions in cooperation with a rabbit lure car provided with longitudinally arranged brake shoes adapted to be clamped between elongated clamp members as the lure car passes the clamp members. Actuation of the clamp members is by a fluid cylinder, preferably pneumatic, lever-connected to an actuating rod that operates through a plurality of bell cranks to open and close the elongated clamps. The clamp opening is positioned in pre-set spacing when the operator transfers a control switch preparatory to the lure car's entering the vicinity of the clamp members. When the lure car passes a preestablished position following initial braking resulting from the pre-set clamp spacing, full clamp pressure is automatically applied, stopping the lure car.An associated fluid cylinder automatically opens a lure gate when the lure operator transfers the control switch to pre-set the clamp spacing.

Abstract: Brake equipment for a mining machine which in use traverses to and fro adjacent to a stationary rail extending along a longwall face and which includes a haulage drive motor for hauling the mining machine along the longwall face, the brake equipment being activated to fixedly engage the stationary rail if other than a normal haulage condition of the drive motor is sensed.

Abstract: A brake unit for a skip or carriage adapted to ride on one or more cables. The brake unit has brake jaws spanning the cable, said unit being connected to the skip so as to move along the cable therewith. The connection to the skip is such that when the latter is moved in one direction, the jaws slide along the cables, but when the skip moves in the opposite direction, the jaws grip the cable in a braking action. The brake unit has adjusting means which is operable to adjust the gripping action of the jaw anywhere from a complete grip preventing movement of the skip to release of the cable so that the skip can move freely therealong.

Abstract: A measuring and/or tracing device is of the kind having a vertical column, a transverse sliding unit secured to the column and movable in a vertical direction, a cross arm held by said unit and movable horizontally, a holder on the end of the said cross arm for a measuring and/or tracing tool, and a counterweight to balance the transverse sliding unit, said counterweight being disposed inside the column so that it can move freely and being attached to the transverse sliding unit by a cable passing over a guide roller at the upper end of the column.

Abstract: An emergency brake mechanism is provided, particularly for small railway cars such as those used for monorail systems, for braking a car released by failure of the motor and main braking system. The brake mechanism includes a brake shoe with tapered surfaces extending in opposite directions longitudinally of the path of movement of the car for wedging a brake pad between the shoe and the rail surface. The brake pad is pushed into engagement by a movable tappet, which in turn is released to move toward the rail surface by a centrifugal governor monitoring the speed of the car. The brake housing mounts the brake shoe on one side of the rail with a counter-brake surface on the opposite side.

Abstract: A brake of a mining machine arranged for braking contact with an anchored rail arranged along the path of the machine includes a wedge assembly having a brake member which upon contacting the rail is urged by relative movement of the wedge components in the wedge assembly to increase the braking force of the brake equipment on the rail.

Abstract: A brake apparatus with variable braking force for cable cars having a brake mount or housing connectable with a cable car by a connection shaft and including at least one pressure released catch brake. The catch brake has brake jaws which can be applied with a predetermined brake pressure to a guide track of the cable car, and a brake release for releasing the brake jaws in counter action to the brake pressure. Also provided is a first brake release pressure generator connected with the brake release, an actuable brake applying device connected with the brake release; at least one brake force measuring device coupling the brake mount with the connection shaft for ascending travel of the cable car and at least one other brake force measuring device coupling the brake mount with the connection shaft for descending travel.

Abstract: A self-locking log skidding carriage for skidding logs uphill along a skyline to a powered skidding machine. The carriage includes two freely rotatable sheaves, a first for engaging a taut skyline, and a second for rotatable engagement with a dragline commonly utilized for skidding and hauling logs from one point to another. A locking wheel is positioned between the two sheaves and is actuated by members positioned on the skyline and dragline. The first actuator member on the skyline operates the locking wheel of the carriage in response to gravitational movement of the carriage down the skyline. As the carriage engages the first actuating member, the locking wheel is moved to lock the carriage to the first actuating member and to release the dragline from a previously locked position. The dragline is then free to be pulled outward from the carriage in substantially any direction to be secured to a log or group of logs. The skidding machine may then be operated to retract the dragline over the second sheave.