Self-energizing brake

A self-energized brake for a motor, the self-energizing brake comprising:

• a bearing carrier arranged to be mechanically connected to a shaft of the motor, said bearing carrier including at least two bearings, each bearing having an axis of rotation perpendicular to an axis of rotation of said bearing carrier;
• a moving brake section located coaxially with said bearing carrier, said moving brake section including a trough having at least two trough portions to respectively contain said at least two bearings, said trough portions each including a bearing ramp and a bearing stop for its respective bearing, and said moving brake section further including a brake friction material located on a portion of a face thereof perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said bearing carrier;
• an output torque transmitting means mechanically connected to said moving brake section;
• a brake mating surface located on said motor and perpendicular to said axis of rotation of said bearing carrier, said brake mating surface initially mating with said brake friction material so as to be in contact therewith upon said shaft of the motor being at rest;
• an elastic means and an elastic means retainer and an elastic means retainer fixing means, said elastic means and said elastic means retainer being located coaxially with said bearing carrier, said elastic means retainer fixing means preventing movement of said elastic means retainer in one axial direction and said elastic means urging said moving brake section in an axial direction toward said brake mating surface;
• and
• wherein upon said shaft of said motor rotating, said bearing carrier and said at least two bearings rotate until said bearings come in contact with and move up their respective bearing ramps, so as to cause said moving brake section and said brake friction material to move axially away from said brake mating surface, resulting in said brake friction material being spaced apart from said brake mating surface;
• and
• wherein upon said shaft of said motor further rotating, said bearing carrier and said at least two bearings further rotating until said bearings come up against their respective bearing stops, resulting in a cessation of said axial movement of said moving brake section and said brake friction material;
• and
• wherein upon said shaft of said motor ceasing to rotate, said elastic means urging said moving brake section and said brake friction material to move axially toward said brake mating surface, causing said at least two bearings to move away from their respective bearing stops and to roll down their respective bearing ramps until said brake friction material is again in contact with said brake mating surface.