Gear protection subassembly

A brake system comprising:

• a brake disc including:
• a central hub, configured to engage with an axial shaft;
• a plurality of protrusions, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions is coupled to the central hub and extends perpendicularly from the central hub
• a plurality of expansion components, wherein each of the plurality of expansion components is coupled to the central hub at two locations, wherein each of the plurality of expansion components surrounds an outer periphery of one of the plurality of protrusions, and
• wherein the plurality of expansion components define a segmented periphery configured as a braking surface, and
• wherein each of the plurality of protrusions is configured to include:
• a first portion having a first cross-sectional area and a first length, the first portion coupled to the central hub and extending perpendicularly from the central hub and
• a second portion having a second cross-sectional area and a second length, the second cross-sectional area being greater than the first cross-sectional area, the second portion coupled to the first portion and extending perpendicularly from the first portion;
• and
• a brake drum configured to have an inner diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the brake disc, the outer diameter of the brake disc defined by the segmented periphery, such that an inner surface of the brake drum is concentric around the segmented periphery of the brake disc.

A method of braking comprising:

• rotating a brake disc that is engaged concentrically on an axial shaft, wherein the brake disc includes:
• a central hub, configured to engage with the axial shaft,
• a plurality of protrusions, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions is coupled to the central hub and extends perpendicularly from the central hub,
• a plurality of expansion components, wherein each of the plurality of expansion components is coupled to the central hub at two locations, wherein each of the plurality of expansion components surrounds an outer periphery of one of the plurality of protrusions, and
• wherein the plurality of expansion components define a segmented periphery configured as a braking surface, and
• wherein each of the plurality of protrusions is configured to include:
• a first portion having a first cross-sectional area and a first length, the first portion coupled to the central hub and extending perpendicularly from the central hub, and
• a second portion having a second cross-sectional area and a second length, the second cross-sectional area being greater than the first cross-sectional area, the second portion coupled to the first portion and extending perpendicularly from the first portion;
• flexing at least one of the plurality of expansion components in a centrifugal direction;
• and
• causing contact between the at least one of the plurality of expansion components and an inner surface of a brake drum,
• such that the contact between the at least one of the plurality of expansion components and the inner surface of the brake drum generates friction sufficient to limit rotational speed of the axial shaft.