Electric motor with integrated brake

An electric motor comprising:

• a first element having at least one electromagnet,
• a second element, rotatable relative to the first element about an axis, the second element comprising at least one permanent magnet, wherein the electric motor is arranged to generate a torque by applying a rotating magnetic field to the second element, and
• a friction member coupled to the first element such that the friction member is non-rotatable relative to the first element about the axis, the friction member comprising a magnetically susceptible material and being biased by a first biasing force toward the second element,
• wherein the first element, the second element and the friction member are configured such that:
• when the electromagnet is not energized, the first biasing force causes the friction member to contact the second element to generate a braking torque, and
• when the electromagnet is energized, the friction member is biased by a second biasing force generated by the electromagnet such that the braking torque is reduced, and
• wherein the friction member is fixedly mounted relative to the first element at a first portion of the friction member and comprises elongate voids, extending in a direction away from the first portion.

An electric motor comprising:

• a first element having at least one electromagnet,
• a second element, rotatable relative to the first element about an axis, the second element comprising at least one permanent magnet, wherein the electric motor is arranged to generate a torque by applying a rotating magnetic field to the second element,
• a friction member coupled to the first element such that the friction member is non-rotatable relative to the first element about the axis, the friction member comprising a magnetically susceptible material and being biased by a first biasing force toward the second element, and
• a peel shim arranged between the friction member and the second element, the peel shim being arranged to separate a portion of the friction member from the second element,
• wherein the first element, the second element and the friction member are configured such that:
• when the electromagnet is not energized, the first biasing force causes the friction member to contact the second element to generate a braking torque, and
• when the electromagnet is energized, the friction member is biased by a second biasing force generated by the electromagnet such that the braking torque is reduced.

An electric motor comprising:

• a first element having at least one electromagnet,
• a second element, rotatable relative to the first element about an axis, the second element comprising at least one permanent magnet, wherein the electric motor is arranged to generate a torque by applying a rotating magnetic field to the second element, and
• a friction member coupled to the first element such that the friction member is non-rotatable relative to the first element about the axis, the friction member comprising a magnetically susceptible material and being biased by a first biasing force toward the second element,
• wherein the first element, the second element and the friction member are configured such that:
• when the electromagnet is not energized, the first biasing force causes the friction member to contact the second element to generate a braking torque, and
• when the electromagnet is energized, the friction member is biased by a second biasing force generated by the electromagnet such that the braking torque is reduced, and
• wherein the first element comprises a plurality of concentric windings, the windings arranged such that the current in a first winding is in an opposite direction to the current in at least one second winding radially adjacent to the first winding.