Brake apparatus to retard relative movement between two members

A brake apparatus for retarding relative movement between a movable member and a second member, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a housing positioned around the perimeter of at least a portion of one of such members;
• (b) a collar fixedly secured to said housing generally around said perimeter of at least a portion of one of such members;
• (c) a bushing disposed between an inside surface of said collar and an outer surface of said portion of one of such members;
• (d) at least two clamping elements fixedly secured to said collar, said clamping elements each having a respective first surface positioned generally coaxial with and a predetermined distance from at least one of such members, each of said clamping elements being flexible and radially movable to frictionally engage one of such members with said respective first surface to thereby apply a braking force, said clamping elements each having a respective second surface generally radially opposite said respective first surface;
• (e) at least two ball means within said housing, one of said ball means arranged in abutting engagement and longitudinal rolling relationship with a respective said second surface of one of said clamping elements and a second of said ball means arranged in abutting engagement and longitudinal rolling relationship with a respective second surface of a second of said clamping elements for urging said clamping elements into frictional engagement with said one of such members when said ball means longitudinally rolls along each of said a respective second surface in a first longitudinal direction;
• (f) an actuating means disposed within said housing and in coaxial alignment with at least a portion of said clamping elements for imparting rotational movement to said ball means, said actuating means having a third surface spaced from said each of said a respective second surface and arranged in abutting engagement and longitudinal rolling relationship with said ball means in said first longitudinal direction;
• (g) an urging means positioned between and coaxial with each of such members and in abutting engagement with said ball means for urging said ball means in said first longitudinal direction;
• and
• (h) at least one of said second and said third surfaces having a preselected incline with respect to the longitudinal axis of said at least one of such members such that the radial distance between said second and said third surfaces decreases in said first longitudinal direction.