Abstract: A generator and process for operating a generator in which, upon a bearing failure, a braking force is applied to the rotor shaft responsive to the bearing failure. Preferably, the rotor shaft at the anti-drive end is hollow and the brake is provided in the hollow of the rotor shaft. The rotor can include a plate member extending radially inwardly from the rotor shaft inside of the hollow at the anti-drive end towards the longitudinal axis, with the brake applying the braking force to the plate member. In a preferred aspect, the brake includes a cylindrical support operably connected to the housing and extending into the hollow in the anti-drive end of the rotor shaft, a carrier plate connected to the support and extending radially from the support towards the rotor shaft, a screw thread provided on the support, and a threaded plate mounted on the screw thread, the threaded plate extending radially from the support towards the rotor shaft and being spaced from the carrier plate.

Abstract: An in-line skate includes a boot and frame secured to the underside thereof. The frame supports a plurality of rolling wheels in an in-line arrangement. A brake assembly operative upon the rearmost wheel in the in-line skate arrangement includes a wheel having a tire coupled to a rim which in turn is coupled to a bearing. The bearing includes an inner race which receives a channel spacer having a channel formed therein. A first hub securable to the frame is slidably supported within the spacer and a spring is captivated between the hub and the inner race of the bearing to bias the hub upwardly with respect to the remainder of the wheel. A second hub is coupled to the slidable first hub and an attachment is provided to secure the first and second hubs to the frame. As a result, the first and second hubs are secured to the skate frame while the spring and channel spacer allow the wheel to move with respect to the skate frame in response to changes in applied weight.

Abstract: A human-powered ride-on vehicle for a rider includes an integrated body/frame element having a seat for the rider formed thereon; a pair of spaced-apart front wheels mounted to the body/frame element, wherein at least one of the front wheels is driven by the rider; a rear wheel mounted on the body/frame; and a steering mechanism to steer said the wheel, wherein the steering mechanism includes a control stick mounted for shifting movement; and a linkage between the control stick and the rear wheel is operable to shift the rear wheel in a predetermined direction corresponding to the control stick when the control stick is shifted.

Abstract: A toy bicycle that is a scale model including frame, seat, handlebar, front and rear wheel and drive assemblies comparable to a full-sized bicycle. There is also included front and rear braking mechanisms that can be readily and easily finger operated. The bicycle includes pedal and foot pegs that are oversized relative to the other components to facilitate finger operation of the bicycle. The handlebar is provided with projections to enable one playing with it to perform stunts.

Abstract: A brake mechanism for slowing elevator car doors in an elevator system during an emergency power outage or electrical control malfunction includes a brake shoe activated by a solenoid. During normal operation of the elevator car doors, the solenoid is in activated mode and maintains the brake shoe spaced away from the door pulley. During a power outage or electrical controls malfunction, the solenoid is deactivated and, in cooperation with a compression spring, forces the shoe brake to engage the door pulley to slow down the movement of elevator car doors.

Abstract: A braking mechanism for a winch. The braking mechanism includes a sleeve disposed on a motor shaft. The sleeve has slots at intervals which match and align with the slots in the shaft. The sleeve and the shaft are synchronized by a knob that engages the slots. A sprocket coupler attached to the sleeve has channels along its outer surface. Projections are urged out from the channels to mesh with notches in a gear or sprocket that is disposed on the sprocket coupler. The gear has teeth along the outer circumference, a contact surface and a plurality of spaced apart notches along the inner circumference. The notches are designed to have a gradual compressing and an engaging side such that a force is transmitted against the engaging side to turn the gear when the cable is being unwound. A solenoid having a latch coupled thereto is used to arrest the rotation of the gear. Brake pads engage the contact surface to provide a frictional check on gear movement.

Abstract: A braking apparatus performs its braking action by pressing a brake bush radially inwardly against a rod. The brake bush is pressed via a plurality of coned disk springs, each of which has a plurality of outer and inner radial recesses extending from its outer and inner peripheral edges, respectively. The outer and inner recesses are arranged in an alternating fashion along the circumference of the spring. As a brake piston moves in the axial direction of the rod, the inner peripheral edge of each of the springs is compressed or deformed radially inwardly. The brake piston is moved by compressed air supplied from outside. By increasing the radial length of each of the inner radial recesses of the coned disk springs in such a manner that the radial outward end of the recess is located far beyond the radial inward end of each adjacent outer radial recess, it is permitted to provide at least three or more coned disk springs around the brake bush.

Abstract: A foot operated locking brake mechanism for preventing the rotation of a caster wheel supported on an axle within a wheel fork. A pair of support members secured to the legs of the wheel fork extend radially outward of the caster wheel. The legs of a U-shaped operating member are pivotally supported on the support members radially inward of the outer circumference of the caster wheel. A brake pad support arm is pivotally mounted on the support members radially outward of the outer circumference of the caster wheel. A cam follower which is supported between the legs of the U-shaped member engages a cam surface provided on the brake pad support arm when the U-shaped member is pivoted to move the cam follower closer to the caster wheel. When the cam follower is engaged with the cam surface, a brake pad carried by the brake support arm is locked in engagement with the caster wheel tread.

Abstract: A safety mechanism for preventing a cable drum to rotate with overspeed has parallel ratchet wheels which encircle a brake drum. At a periphery of the ratchet wheels are stopping slots wherein a latching pawl is inserted when an overspeed is detected. The slots of the adjacent ratchet wheels are staggered. Thus the braking effect of each ratchet wheel starts at a different point of time.

Abstract: A clamping mechanism is provided to prevent movement of the rotatable stock carrier of a multiple spindle bar machine after it has rotated into position for the machining operation. The clamping mechanism comprises a controllable locking pin to engage indexing pin slots on the stock carrier, a passive pressure brake located opposite the locking pin, and a hydraulically actuated pressure brake in the same quadrant as the locking pin. The hydraulically actuated brake clamps the carrier against the passive brake, and in combination with the locking pin holds the carrier against movements caused by the forces of the machining tools. The hydraulic brake is released by a programmable controller to allow intended rotation of the carrier to a new position.

Abstract: A printing press idle roller braking system is provided with a friction member mounted to the printing press frame for making frictional circumferential contact with an outer circumferential periphery of a cylindrical idle roller to reduce and control the speed of rotation of the cylindrical idle roller to prevent accumulation of ink and lint on the outer circumferential periphery and create tension in the web sheet.

Abstract: A multi-color printing apparatus for automatically screen printing workpieces in diverse colors. The apparatus has a plurality of printing units spaced about a central support. A number of radially extending support arms cantilevered from the central support carry the workpiece at their free end for movement between printing units. After being indexed to its approximate final position at a particular station, a brake is engaged to prevent rotation of the support arm and a lock engages the support arm bring the arm into a registered position for the duration of the printing operation, after which the brake and locking bar are disengaged, allowing the support arm to rotate to another printing unit.

Abstract: A propeller brake for an engine having a propeller shaft includes a housing (10) and a brake shaft (18) rotatably mounted in the housing (10). The brake shaft (18) is coupled to the propeller shaft to rotate therewith. Also included is a brake (64,74) and a lock device (38). The brake (64,74) is mounted in the housing (10) and has a spaced plurality of frictional plates (64) for frictionally resisting rotation of the brake shaft (18). This brake (64,74) is reciprocatable between an operative and an inoperative position. The lock device (38) is mounted in the housing (10) and can reciprocate between an unlocked and locked position. This lock device (38) can, in its locked position, inhibit rotation of the brake shaft (18). The forgoing equipment can stop a propeller shaft by first frictionally coupling the brake (64,74) to the propeller shaft, allowing the coupled portion of the brake (64,74) to rotate therewith. The brake (64,74) may then be actuated to transmit a resisting torque to stop the propeller shaft.

Abstract: An energy absorbing mechanical end stop for a high speed gear train that is used to drive a variable vacuum capacitor utilizes a friction plate that is mounted to a gear member of the high speed gear train as an energy absorbing mechanism. A wedge member is activated when the tuning of the variable vacuum capacitor approaches a limit and falls between the friction plate and the gear member to which the friction plate is attached. The friction between the friction plate and the wedge member brings the gear member to a stop without damaging the high speed gear train or the variable vacuum capacitor that is driven by the high speed gear train.

Abstract: A bicycle speed change lever device comprises a lever body pivotally mounted on a support shaft and having a handle portion and a base portion which is formed with internal hollow spaces, within which are disposed a step positioning mechanism including a resiliently urged engaging piece and a plurality of engaging recesses arranged so as to cooperate for retaining the lever body in a selected speed gear position, and a one-way clutch mechanism including means for permitting the lever body to pivotally move in one direction with reduced frictional resistance.

Abstract: A positive acting magnetic clutch and brake assembly characterized by including a movable, magnetic member provided with two sets of detents arranged respectively on its opposing outer surfaces. The member is alternately shiftable into either a brake position, in engagement with a braking post mounted to engage one of the sets of detents, or to a drive position in which a reciprocally mounted mechanical dog is engaged with the other set of detents in a non-slip driving coupling between the magnetic member and a clutch assembly. A reciprocal mounting arrangement for the dog enables the magnetic member to be moved into driving contact with the clutch assembly before the dog becomes positively engaged with any of the detents on the magnetic member.