Adaptive centrifugal brake assemblies

An adaptive centrifugal brake assembly comprising:

• a center hub;
• first and second flyweights, wherein rotation of the center hub causes the first and second flyweights to rotate;
• a flybar freely rotatable about a shaft, the first flyweight being pivotally connected to the flybar toward a first end of the flybar and the second flyweight being pivotally connected to the flybar toward a second end of the flybar;
• a leaf spring disposed between the center hub and the first flyweight, the leaf spring non-linearly varying a force on the first flyweight as the center hub rotates;
• a curved leaf-spring engaging surface that contacts the leaf spring, an amount of curved leaf-spring engaging surface that contacts the leaf spring during rotation of the center hub increasing with increased deflection of the leaf spring to vary a stiffness parameter of the leaf spring;
• and
• a drum, the center hub, first and second flyweights, and leaf spring being disposed within the drum, the drum having an inner surface, wherein first and second friction members contact the inner surface of the drum upon rotation of the center hub, the drum being stationary relative to the center hub during contact of the first and second friction members with the inner surface of the drum, the first flyweight having the first friction member connected thereto and the second flyweight having the second friction member connected thereto.