The invention relates to improvements in or relating to braking systems, in particular to an apparatus for reducing the stopping time of a
moving body in a gardening
machine, for example, the rotary blade of a rotary lawnmower. The present invention also relates to a gardening
machine having such an apparatus, more specifically to a lawncare
machine such as lawnmowers. An apparatus for reducing the stopping time of a moveable body in a gardening machine is described, the apparatus comprises a
brake acting permanently upon a component of the drive mechanism of the moveable body. In particular, an apparatus is described comprising an
electric motor driving a driven shaft by means of an indirect drive
assembly. The apparatus comprises a
brake system in which a
brake element is in substantially permanent contact with a component of the indirect drive
assembly. In a preferred embodiment the brake
system comprises an annular brake disc and the brake element comprises a
brake pad biased into contact with the brake disc. The present invention also provides a lawncare apparatus comprising the apparatus described above, in particular, a lawnmower preferably of the rotary type.