Electromechanical actuator mechanisms for storm brakes are provided. The actuator mechanisms generally comprise an electro-mechanical release system and a permanent magnet eddy current brake system with adjustable air gap for varying brake setting time, and for energy dissipation of the storm brake main spring force or weight.

A knockdown, portable lift is relatively compact and lightweight for transport and use where there is no existing means for lifting a load between a lower surface and an upper surface or where the existing means cannot be used. Components of the lift are stored in a base portion of the lift and are assembled on site for forming a lift frame extending between the upper and lower surfaces. A platform and drive assembly are supported on the lift frame and are driven together up and down tracks on each side of the lift frame using a rotary drive, such as a hand crank or electric motor, to power the drive assembly. The drive assembly is operable by a person on or off the platform from either the upper or lower surface or traversing stairs over which the platform is moving. The drive assembly incorporates a unique overspeed braking system and a unique clutch arrangement.

A knockdown, portable lift is relatively compact and lightweight for transport and use where there is no existing means for lifting a load between a lower surface and an upper surface or where the existing means cannot be used. Components of the lift are stored in a base portion of the lift and are assembled on site for forming a lift frame extending between the upper and lower surfaces. A platform and drive assembly are supported on the lift frame and are driven together up and down tracks on each side of the lift frame using a rotary drive, such as a hand crank or electric motor, to power the drive assembly. The drive assembly is operable by a person on or off the platform from either the upper or lower surface or traversing stairs over which the platform is moving. The drive assembly incorporates a unique overspeed braking system and a unique clutch arrangement.

A rotational friction brake actuated and regulated by the rate of change of the angular speed is disclosed. The rotational friction brake includes a first body and a second body rotationally attached to the first body. The second body is arranged to rotate around a rotational center axis of the second body. An actuator arrangement is configured to move a second friction surface into frictional engagement with a first friction surface. The actuator arrangement includes an actuator arm pivotably attached to the second body in a pivot point that is eccentrically offset to the rotational center axis. The actuator arrangement has a radius of gyration (RG) longer than a distance from the pivot point to the rotational center axis. The actuator arrangement has an internal flexibility which allows its shape to depend on centrifugal forces. A fishing reel comprising such a rotational friction brake is also disclosed.

A rotational friction brake actuated and regulated by the rate of change of the angular speed is disclosed. The rotational friction brake includes a first body and a second body rotationally attached to the first body. The second body is arranged to rotate around a rotational center axis of the second body. An actuator arrangement is configured to move a second friction surface into frictional engagement with a first friction surface. The actuator arrangement includes an actuator arm pivotably attached to the second body in a pivot point that is eccentrically offset to the rotational center axis. The actuator arrangement has a radius of gyration (RG) longer than a distance from the pivot point to the rotational center axis. The actuator arrangement has an internal flexibility which allows its shape to depend on centrifugal forces. A fishing reel comprising such a rotational friction brake is also disclosed.

A distance (D.sub.1) between a rotation center (O) of an input member (3) and a contact portion (P.sub.in) between an input side engaging portion (9) and an input side engaged portion (17) in a second direction is set to be shorter than a distance (D.sub.2) between a rotation center (O) of an output member (4) and a contact portion (P.sub.out) between an output side engaging portion (12) and an output side engaged portion (14) in the second direction in a state in which a pair of pressing surfaces (13) is pressed against a pressed surface (6) in accordance with a rotation of the output member (4) in a predetermined direction and the input side engaging portion (9) engages with the input side engaged portion (17) in accordance with a rotation of the input member (3) in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. In a locked or semi-locked state, a contact portion (C.sub.1) between the output side engaging portion (12) and the output side engaged portion (14) is located on the side closer to the rotation center (O) of the output member (4) in a first direction in relation to a virtual line (L) connecting the rotation center (O) of the output member (4) and a contact portion (C.sub.2) between one pressing surface (13) of the pair of pressing surfaces (13) and the pressed surface (6).

A reverse input blocking clutch has: a pressed member having a pressed surface; an input member having an input-side engaging portion; an output member having an output-side engaging portion; and an engaging element having an engaging element main body and a link member to move in the first direction away from or toward the pressed surface. The engaging element main body has a pair of main body plates arranged to overlap in the axial direction, and a pivot support shaft arranged on the side in the first direction closer to the pressed surface than the input-side engaging portion with the both side portions supported by the pair of main body plates. One pressing surface facing the pressed surface is provided on one main body plate, and the other pressing surface is provided on the other main body plate.

An excitation operation brake includes a braking shaft, an armature that rotates integrally with the braking shaft, and a field core including a disc portion facing the armature. The disc portion includes an outer magnetic shielding portion and an inner magnetic shielding portion, which make a magnetic flux flowing through the disc portion bypass to the armature a plurality of times. The outer magnetic shielding portion includes a low-magnetic resistance path having a magnetic resistance smaller than the magnetic resistance of a magnetic path that bypasses to the armature.

An excitation operation brake includes a braking shaft, an armature that rotates integrally with the braking shaft, and a field core including a disc portion facing the armature. The disc portion includes an outer magnetic shielding portion and an inner magnetic shielding portion, which make a magnetic flux flowing through the disc portion bypass to the armature a plurality of times. The outer magnetic shielding portion includes a low-magnetic resistance path having a magnetic resistance smaller than the magnetic resistance of a magnetic path that bypasses to the armature.

A brake plate of a fall arrest system is provided for protecting users during a fall. The brake plate comprises a body having a central opening. The central opening defines an inner circumference of the body. The brake plate comprises a plurality of ratchet gear teeth disposed along the inner circumference of the body. Further, the brake plate comprises at least two slots on the body, wherein the at least two slots are disposed diametrically opposite to each other. Each of the at least two slots is curved and extends along a portion of an outer circumference of the body.