Centrifugal brake for overspeed protection
AssigneePika Energy LLC
InventorsBenjamin Francis Polito, Keith Thomas Richtman, Joshua Daniel Kaufman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A centrifugally triggered brake mechanism is used to halt a rotating assembly. The brake mechanism includes a braking surface, a brake shoe, and a rotating centrifugal trigger. Upon attaining a selected rotational speed the trigger releases the brake pad to engage the drum. The mechanism may be useful for instance in providing backup overspeed protection for wind turbines.
Claims8
A brake mechanism for halting a rotating assembly, the brake mechanism comprising;
- a first braking surface;
- a second braking surface;
- and
- a trigger that releases the second braking surface to engage the first braking surface when the rotating assembly attains a desired rotational speed, wherein the second braking surface comprises at least one shoe assembly, wherein the shoe assembly is pivotably coupled to the rotating assembly about a shoe assembly pivot point, and where the trigger permits passage of the brake shoe assembly from a first, cocked position to a second, engaged position responsive to centrifugal force resulting from the rotational speed such that at least a portion of the second braking surface of the shoe assembly rotates beyond the shoe assembly pivot point into engagement with the first braking surface wherein the shoe comprises a pair of compliant flexures disposed about the shoe assembly pivot point such that the brake mechanism is configured to yield plastically upon engagement with the first braking surface.
The brake mechanism of 1 wherein initial contact of the shoe assembly against the first braking surface impels the shoe assembly further into the engaged position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.