Mechanical brake

An apparatus for applying a braking force to a brake disc using a brake pad, comprising:

• a lever configured to rotate about a first fulcrum;
• a pressing member attached to said lever and for urging a brake pad against a brake disc;
• a resilient member attached to or associated with said lever and configured to urge the pressing member towards a brake disc;
• a rotatable input member configured to rotate a first member, wherein, in use, rotation of said first member causes movement of an actuating member along an first axis (A′), and said axial movement of said actuating member causes said lever to rotate about said first fulcrum for applying a braking force to said brake disc;
• and
• a return drive comprising:
• a first movable member configured to move a limited and predetermined distance along a second axis (B) between a first stop and a second stop;
• and
• a second movable member interference fit into said first movable member and operatively connected to said lever such that rotation of said lever about said first fulcrum causes said second movable member to move along said second axis (B);
• wherein:
• upon rotation of said lever in a first rotational direction, said first movable member and said second movable member move together until said first movable member reaches said first stop, at which point any further rotation of said lever in said first rotational direction will cause said second movable member to overcome said interference fit and slide through said first movable member;
• and
• upon rotation of said lever in a second, opposite rotational direction, said first movable member and said second movable member move together until said first movable member reaches said second stop.

A method of applying a braking force to a brake disc using a brake pad, the method comprising rotating a lever about a first fulcrum, wherein said lever is attached to a pressing member for urging said brake pad against said brake disc, wherein either:

• a link member is attached to said pressing member and is configured to rotate about a second fulcrum in such a manner that said brake pad remains substantially parallel to said brake disc while said lever rotates about said first fulcrum;
• or
• a resilient member is attached to or associated with said lever and is configured to urge the pressing member towards a brake disc upon rotation of said lever;
• and the method further comprises:
• rotating a first plate using a rotatable input member, wherein rotation of said first plate causes axial movement of an actuating member, and axial movement of said actuating member causes said rotation of said lever for applying a braking force to said brake disc;
• and
• controlling a return stroke of the brake pad using a return drive, the return drive comprising:
• a first movable member configured to move a limited and predetermined distance along a second axis (B) between a first stop and a second stop;
• and
• a second movable member interference fit into said first movable member and operatively connected to said lever such that rotation of said lever about said first fulcrum causes said second movable member to move along said second axis (B);
• wherein:
• upon rotation of said lever in a first rotational direction, said first movable member and said second movable member move together until said first movable member reaches said first stop, at which point any further rotation of said lever in said first rotational direction will cause said second movable member to overcome said interference fit and slide through said first movable member;
• and
• upon rotation of said lever in a second, opposite rotational direction, said first movable member and said second movable member move together until said first movable member reaches said second stop.