US 10,240,647 B2 · Adjustable friction brake

Abstract

An adjustable friction brake assembly may adjust a variable amount of frictional force required to translate or rotate a shaft, rather than merely locking or unlocking the shaft. The brake assembly includes a housing for internally receiving the shaft, the external portion of the housing including external threading leading into circumferentially spaced fingers extending axially and oriented radially inward to engage the shaft. The brake assembly includes a rotatable adjuster having an internally threaded throughbore for engaging the housing and directing the fingers radially inward to engage the shaft, thereby increasing the required frictional force. For example, by rotating the adjuster clockwise, the required force can be increased; similarly, by rotating the adjuster counterclockwise, the required force can be decreased.

Claims6

Dependent claims

An adjustable friction brake assembly for applying a friction force to a translatable and/or rotatable shaft received through the adjustable friction brake assembly, comprising:

a housing having a through-bore for receiving the shaft, one end of the housing terminating in a plurality of axially extending fingers arranged around the shaft in a spaced apart relationship;
and
an adjuster threadably engaging the housing, wherein the adjuster is turned in a first direction to urge the plurality of axially extending fingers radially inward to increase frictional force on the shaft, and turned in a second direction opposite the first direction to decrease the frictional force of the plurality of axially extending fingers on the shaft.

An adjustable friction brake assembly for adjusting a variable frictional force required to translate or rotate a translatable/rotatable shaft, comprising:

a housing comprising:
a first internal throughbore capable of receiving the translatable/rotatable shaft;
a first external portion including external threading, the first external portion leading into a second external portion including a plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers extending axially and terminating in a flange, the flange oriented radially inward toward the translatable/rotatable shaft, the plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers configured to engage the translatable/rotatable shaft;
and
a rotatable adjuster including a second internal throughbore, the second internal throughbore internally threaded and capable of receiving the translatable/rotatable shaft, the rotatable adjuster configured for:
threadably and rotatably engaging the housing in a first direction to increase the frictional force by directing the plurality of circumferentially spaced fingers radially inward;
and
threadably and rotatably engaging the housing in a second direction opposite the first direction to decrease the frictional force.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Adjustable friction brake

Life of this patent

Adjustable friction brake

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6