Self-energizing brake

• US 20040004406A1
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moog Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Litton Systems Incorporated (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Inventors: Zambelli, Robert Gene
• Granted Patent: US 6,784,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/77
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/16 for releasing a normally applied brake
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/36 Helical cams, Ball-rotating ramps
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2127/005 force- or torque-responsive
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/102 with friction brakes

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.

Claims

1. A self-energizing brake for a motor, the self-energizing brake comprising:

a bearing carrier arranged to be mechanically connected to a shaft of the motor;

a moving brake section located coaxially with said bearing carrier, said moving brake section including a brake friction material located on a portion of a face thereof perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said bearing carrier;

an output torque transmitting means mechanically connected to said moving brake section;

a brake mating surface located on said motor and perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said bearing carrier, said brake mating surface initially mating with said brake friction material so as to be in contact therewith upon said shaft of the motor being at rest;

an elastic means urging said moving brake section in an axial direction toward said brake mating surface;

wherein upon said shaft of said motor rotating, said bearing carrier causes said moving brake section and said brake friction material to move axially away from said brake mating surface, resulting in said brake friction material being spaced apart from said brake mating surface; and

wherein upon said shaft of said motor further rotating, said bearing carrier causes a cessation of said axial movement of said moving brake section and said brake friction material; and

wherein upon said shaft of said motor ceasing to rotate, said elastic means urging said moving brake section and said brake friction material to move axially toward said brake mating surface until said brake friction material is in contact therewith.

2. The brake of claim 1, wherein said output torque transmitting means comprises one of a gear, a pulley, or a sprocket.

3. The brake of claim 1, wherein said elastic means comprises a spring.

4. The brake of claim 1, wherein said brake mating surface comprises a face of the motor.

5. The brake of claim 1, wherein said brake mating surface comprises a plate located adjacent the motor.

16. The brake of claim 1, wherein said bearing carrier is mechanically connected to said shaft of the motor by one of set screws, a splined shaft, or a key and matching keyway.

6. A self-energized brake for a motor, the self-energizing brake comprising:

a bearing carrier arranged to be mechanically connected to a shaft of the motor, said bearing carrier including at least two bearings, each bearing having an axis of rotation perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said bearing carrier;

a moving brake section located coaxially with said bearing carrier, said moving brake section including a trough having at least two trough portions to respectively contain said at least two bearings, said trough portions each including a bearing ramp and a bearing stop for its respective bearing, and said moving brake section further including a brake friction material located on a portion of a face thereof perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said bearing carrier;

an output torque transmitting means mechanically connected to said moving brake section;

a brake mating surface located on said motor and perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said bearing carrier, said brake mating surface initially mating with said brake friction material so as to be in contact therewith upon said shaft of the motor being at rest;

an elastic means and an elastic means retainer and an elastic means retainer fixing means, said elastic means and said elastic means retainer being located coaxially with said bearing carrier, said elastic means retainer fixing means preventing movement of said elastic means retainer in one axial direction and said elastic means urging said moving brake section in an axial direction toward said brake mating surface; and

wherein upon said shaft of said motor rotating, said bearing carrier and said at least two bearings rotate until said bearings come in contact with and move up their respective bearing ramps, so as to cause said moving brake section and said brake friction material to move axially away from said brake mating surface, resulting in said brake friction material being spaced apart from said brake mating surface; and

wherein upon said shaft of said motor further rotating, said bearing carrier and said at least two bearings further rotating until said bearings come up against their respective bearing stops, resulting in a cessation of said axial movement of said moving brake section and said brake friction material; and

wherein upon said shaft of said motor ceasing to rotate, said elastic means urging said moving brake section and said brake friction material to move axially toward said brake mating surface, causing said at least two bearings to move away from their respective bearing stops and to roll down their respective bearing ramps until said brake friction material is again in contact with said brake mating surface.

7. The brake of claim 6, wherein said output torque transmitting means comprises one of a gear, a pulley, or a sprocket.

8. The brake of claim 6, wherein said elastic means comprises a spring.

9. The brake of claim 6, wherein said brake mating surface comprises a face of the motor.

10. The brake of claim 6, wherein said brake mating surface comprises a plate located adjacent the motor.

11. The brake of claim 6, wherein each of said at least two bearings comprises one of a ball bearing, a roller bearing, and a bushing.

12. The brake of claim 6, wherein each of said trough portions has a major axis extending radially in a direction which is perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said bearing carrier.

13. The brake of claim 12, wherein a width of each of said trough portions increases in a direction away from said axis of rotation of said bearing carrier.

14. The brake of claim 8, wherein said elastic means retainer comprises a washer shaped spring retainer.

15. The brake of claim 14, wherein said elastic means retainer fixing means comprises one of a retaining ring or a pin.

17. The brake of claim 6, wherein said bearing carrier is mechanically connected to said