Overhead lifts having a release assembly for disengaging an electromagnetic brake and methods for disengaging an electromagnetic brake of an overhead lift

An overhead lift comprising:

• a lift strap;
• a drum coupled to the lift strap, the drum being rotatable in a first rotational direction wherein the lift strap is paid-out from the overhead lift and in a second rotational direction wherein the lift strap is taken-up into the overhead lift;
• a motor comprising a rotatable shaft coupled to the drum such that rotation of the rotatable shaft rotates the drum in the first rotational direction or the second rotational direction;
• an electromagnetic brake coupled to the rotatable shaft, the electromagnetic brake comprising an engaged state wherein the electromagnetic brake prohibits rotation of the rotatable shaft and a disengaged state wherein the electromagnetic brake permits rotation of the rotatable shaft;
• and
• a release assembly engaged with the electromagnetic brake, wherein actuation of the release assembly switches the electromagnetic brake from the engaged state to the disengaged state, the release assembly comprising:
• a release lever engaged with the electromagnetic brake and moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the release lever switches the electromagnetic brake to the disengaged state when in the second position;
• a cam coupled to the release lever, wherein the cam is rotatable from a first radial position to a second radial position, wherein rotation to the second radial position causes the release lever to move to the second position;
• and
• a release strap coupled to the cam, wherein tensioning of the release strap moves the cam from the first radial position to the second radial position, which moves the release lever from the first position to the second position thereby switching the electromagnetic brake from the engaged state to the disengaged state.

An overhead lift comprising:

• a lift strap;
• a drum coupled to the lift strap and rotatable in a first rotational direction wherein the lift strap is paid-out from the overhead lift and in a second rotational direction wherein the lift strap is taken-up into the overhead lift;
• a first motor coupled to the drum;
• a second motor coupled to the drum;
• a first electromagnetic brake selectively engaged with the first motor;
• a second electromagnetic brake selectively engaged with the second motor, wherein each of the first electromagnetic brake and the second electromagnetic brake comprise an engaged state prohibiting rotation of the drum and a disengaged state permitting rotation of the drum;
• and
• a release assembly engaged with the first electromagnetic brake and the second electromagnetic brake, wherein actuation of the release assembly switches the first electromagnetic brake and the second electromagnetic brake from the engaged state to the disengaged state, the release assembly comprising:
• a first release lever engaged with the first electromagnetic brake;
• a second release lever engaged with the second electromagnetic brake, wherein each of the first release lever and the second release lever are moveable from a first position to a second position which switches the first electromagnetic brake and the second electromagnetic brake, respectively, from the engaged state to the disengaged state;
• and
• a release strap coupled to the first release lever and the second release lever, wherein tensioning of the release strap moves the first release lever and the second release lever from the first position to the second position thereby switching the first electromagnetic brake and the second electromagnetic brake from the engaged state to the disengaged state.