Pivoting Brake Shoe Mechanism for Reliable Locking Under Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brake devices for wheelchairs and motor vehicles face challenges in providing reliable locking, simple unlocking under load, and braking while in motion, while maintaining a compact, lightweight, and inexpensive design.
Innovation Solution
A brake device with a brake unit, contact device, and activation element, utilizing a pivotable brake shoe and transmission element to engage and disengage using movement force, allowing for efficient braking and unlocking with minimal energy input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If rigid inner brake elements are used to engage outer brake elements, then the brake structure is simple, but reliable locking during emergency braking is not assured
Solution Approach 1:
The brake shoe is made pivotable about a pivot bearing, transforming the rigid brake structure into a dynamic one. This allows the brake shoe to automatically adjust its position and apply braking force effectively during emergency braking, while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Reliability
If spring preloaded friction brakes are used for safety braking, then reliable stopping is achieved, but the brake requires large and heavy electromagnets to provide required pressing forces
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable brake shoe utilizes the kinetic energy of the moving contact element to automatically apply braking force. The system serves itself by converting the motion of the contact element into braking action, eliminating the need for heavy electromagnets and spring preloading mechanisms.
3Reliability
If tooth couplings and tooth brakes are used for switching or breaking at standstill, then efficient locking is achieved, but reliable locking is not provided at higher speeds due to tooth crest contact
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable brake shoe adapts to different speed conditions by dynamically adjusting its engagement angle. At higher speeds, the pivot mechanism allows the brake shoe to engage in a manner that avoids tooth crest contact, extending the operational speed range while maintaining locking efficiency.
4Reliability
If friction brakes are used to bring wheel chair to standstill, then braking function is achieved, but the brake must be releasable with small force for manual propulsion after failure
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable brake shoe automatically releases when the contact element stops moving, as the pivot mechanism returns to its neutral position. This dynamic behavior allows the brake to be engaged during braking and automatically released for manual propulsion without requiring additional force.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The brake device effectively initiates braking and unlocking processes with minimal energy expenditure, ensuring reliable locking and unlocking, while maintaining a compact and cost-effective configuration.
Implementation Method 1
the brake shoe is pivotably supported in a pivot bearing at an end of the at least one brake member
Implementation Method 2
the brake shoe contacts the contact device... a torque at the contact device and a force that acts in a direction of rotation of the contact device cause a brake shoe torque at the brake shoe
Data Source
AI summary
A brake device including a brake unit; a contact device engageable by the brake unit and movable relative to the brake unit, wherein the brake unit includes at least one activation device and at least one brake member that includes a transmission member and a brake shoe that is pivotably supported in a pivot bearing at an end of the at least one brake member, wherein the at least one activation device engages the transmission member to move the at least one brake member towards the contact device until the brake shoe contacts the contact device in an activation position of the at least one brake member and the brake shoe, wherein the pivot bearing is arranged at the at least one brake member so that the pivot bearing is movable towards the contact device together with the transmission member.