Electromagnetic spring-actuated brake system

An electromagnetic brake system for controlling motion of a movable component, the brake system comprising:

• a support;
• a magnet body mounted to the support and having at least one electrically controlled magnet mounted thereon, the magnet adapted to generate a magnetic force when activated;
• a back plate mounted adjacent to the magnet body and adapted to be positioned on one side of a movable component;
• an armature plate located adjacent to the magnet body and adapted to be positioned between the magnet body and the movable component on the opposite side of the movable component from the back plate, the armature plate having a first side located adjacent to the magnet, and a second side adapted to be located adjacent to a portion of the moving component, the armature plate being movable relative to the magnet body;
• a brake shoe located on the second side of the armature plate;
• and
• at least one spring on the magnet body between the magnet body and the armature plate for biasing the armature plate away from the magnet body, the at least one spring having a spring force that is less than the magnetic force capable of being generated by the magnet on the armature plate such that activation of the magnet moves the armature plate toward the magnet body overcoming the spring force.

An apparatus comprising:

• a first component;
• a second component located adjacent to the first component, the first and second components capable of moving with respect to one another;
• an electromagnetic brake system for preventing movement of the components with respect to one another comprising:
• an electromagnetic device mounted on the first component adjacent to a first side of the second component and adapted to generate a magnetic force when activated;
• a back plate mounted adjacent to a second side of the second component;
• an armature plate located between the first side of the second component and the electromagnetic device and being translatable between the electromagnetic device and the second component;
• a first brake shoe located on a side of the armature plate facing the second component;
• a second brake shoe located on a side of the back plate facing the second component;
• at least one spring on the first component for biasing the armature plate into contact with the second component, the spring having a spring force that is less than the magnetic force generated by the electromagnetic device such that activation of the electromagnetic device overcomes the spring force and moves the armature plate away from the second component.