Shaft Brake Manual Positive Lock and Automatic Reset
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrically-operated shaft brakes lack a reliable manual positive lock and automatic reset feature, especially when subjected to vibrations, and fail to securely lock the shaft when power is lost, risking machine damage.
Innovation Solution
An electrically-operated shaft brake with a manually-operable positive lock and rotary release, featuring a collar for axial and rotational movement, interlock portions, and a spring mechanism that automatically resets the brake by using a cam and follower system to reduce friction pad compression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electrically-operated brake is provided with friction pads and disks, then the brake can be selectively engaged and disengaged through electrical control, but the brake lacks reliable positive locking capability under vibration conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines an electrically-operated brake mechanism with a manual positive lock mechanism into a single integrated brake assembly. The electric brake provides selective engagement through electrical control, while the manual positive lock provides reliable mechanical locking. These two mechanisms work together in a unified structure, allowing the system to achieve both electrical controllability and reliable positive locking without requiring separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a collar as an intermediary component that mediates between the electric brake mechanism and the manual positive lock mechanism. The collar can be selectively positioned to either engage the electric brake or engage the manual positive lock, acting as a switching element that allows the system to transition between different braking modes. This intermediary component enables the integration of two different mechanisms without direct conflict.
2Reliability
If a manual positive lock is added to the electrically-operated brake, then the brake can reliably lock the shaft under vibration, but the device becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the brake assembly into distinct functional components: the electric brake mechanism, the manual positive lock mechanism, and the collar that coordinates them. Each component has a specific function and can be independently analyzed or maintained. The electric brake handles selective engagement, the manual lock handles positive locking, and the collar manages the transition between modes. This segmentation allows the complex functionality to be achieved through modular, well-defined components.
3Reliability
If the brake is designed to automatically reset, then the shaft can lock automatically to prevent failure, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automatic reset feature where the brake system can autonomously return to its operational state after engaging the positive lock. When the collar is rotated to disengage the positive lock, the electric brake mechanism automatically re-engages without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability allows the system to automatically prevent failure and resume operation, reducing the need for complex external control systems while maintaining high reliability.
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 solution provides a secure manual lock and automatic reset of the shaft brake, ensuring the shaft remains locked during power loss and preventing machine damage due to vibrations, while allowing rotation when power is restored.
Implementation Method 1
a spring (124) acting between the member and the shaft and urging the second interlock portion to move toward the first interlock portion
Implementation Method 2
An alternating series of friction pads and brake disks are operatively arranged between the armature and the housing, and are arranged to be compressed when the coil is de-energized
Implementation Method 3
a coil mounted thereon, and an armature that is selectively movable when the coil is energized
Data Source
AI summary
A device (20) has an electrically-operated brake (37) and a manually-operated auxiliary brake (27). The electrically-operated brake includes a coil (70), a core (68), an armature (69), and an alternating series of friction pads (74) and brake disks (75), that are arranged to be compressed between the housing and the armature. The shaft brake (27) includes a collar (22) mounted on the housing for combined axial and rotative movement relative thereto, a first interlock portion (106, 110) mounted on the shaft (24), an annular member (84) surrounding the shaft and having a second interlock portion (85) and a spring (124) urging the member to move toward the shaft. The collar (22) is adapted to be selectively moved relative to the housing between a first portion at which the first (106, 110) and second (85) interlock portions are physically engaged with one another, and a second position at which the first (106, 110) and second (85) interlock portions are physically separated from one another. The shaft (24) may include a first and second shaft portions (25, 26), and a cam mechanism (125, 126) that automatically releases the braking mechanism when the shaft portions (25, 26) are rotated relative to one another, and that automatically re-engages the braking mechanism when the two shaft portions (25, 26) are moved back to their initial null position.