An omni-wheel may include a shaft, a plurality of rollers, and a braking device. The plurality of rollers may be circumferentially arranged about the shaft and arranged radially outward from the shaft. The braking device may include an at least one flexible clutch member, an at least one brake pad, and an actuator. The at least one flexible clutch member may have an outer diameter arranged about the shaft. The at least one brake pad may be arranged on the outer diameter of the at least one flexible clutch member. The actuator may be arranged to axially displace the at least one flexible clutch member. The at least one flexible clutch member may expand radially outward when axially displaced by the actuator, which may displace the at least one brake pad arranged on the outer diameter of the at least one flexible clutch member radially outward to contact at least one of the plurality of rollers, preventing rotation of the roller.

A brake assembly has a wheel body, a first stopping device, and a second stopping device. The wheel body has a central axle and two engaging portions formed respectively on two ends of the central axle. The first stopping device is connected with the engaging portions of the wheel body and has a resilient member and a magnetic unit. The resilient member is C-shaped and has a lateral rod and an inclined rod connected integrally with an end of the lateral rod. The magnetic unit is mounted on the lateral rod of the resilient member and has a sleeve having a bottom opening and a magnetic element mounted in the sleeve and selectively abutting the wheel body. The second stopping device is connected securely with the lateral rod of the resilient member and is engaged selectively with the engaging portions of the wheel body.

A brake assembly has a wheel body, a first stopping device, and a second stopping device. The wheel body has a central axle and two engaging portions formed respectively on two ends of the central axle. The first stopping device is connected with the engaging portions of the wheel body and has a resilient member and a magnetic unit. The resilient member is C-shaped and has a lateral rod and an inclined rod connected integrally with an end of the lateral rod. The magnetic unit is mounted on the lateral rod of the resilient member and has a sleeve having a bottom opening and a magnetic element mounted in the sleeve and selectively abutting the wheel body. The second stopping device is connected securely with the lateral rod of the resilient member and is engaged selectively with the engaging portions of the wheel body.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a spring for a spring brake, including a shaping and cutting step f) including the following sub-steps: —f1) shaping a raw wire into a coil with a plurality of raw turns, the raw wire having: raw portions that extend from the end of the raw wire over at least one raw turn, and an intermediate portion between the raw portions, —f2) separating the first raw portion and the second raw portion of the raw wire by cutting, after implementing sub-step f1), and —f3) shaping a first tab (5), at a first end of the intermediate portion, after sub-step f1), and —f4) shaping a second tab (7), at a second end of the intermediate portion opposite the first end, after sub-step f1).

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a spring for a spring brake, including a shaping and cutting step f) including the following sub-steps: —f1) shaping a raw wire into a coil with a plurality of raw turns, the raw wire having: raw portions that extend from the end of the raw wire over at least one raw turn, and an intermediate portion between the raw portions, —f2) separating the first raw portion and the second raw portion of the raw wire by cutting, after implementing sub-step f1), and —f3) shaping a first tab (5), at a first end of the intermediate portion, after sub-step f1), and —f4) shaping a second tab (7), at a second end of the intermediate portion opposite the first end, after sub-step f1).

An omni-track system for mounting onto a wheel may include a plurality of track segments. Each of the plurality of track segments may include a male connector, a female connector, a roller mount, and at least one roller. The female connector may be arranged opposite the male connector. The roller mount may be fixedly secured to the track segment. The at least one roller may be rotatably secured to the roller mount. The plurality of track segments may be linked together to fully encompass an outer circumference of the wheel.

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 four-state joint brake module is provided to selectably stop or allow motion in both directions resulting in a mechanism that has four possible states: 1) allowing rotation only in a clockwise direction, 2) allowing rotation only in a counter-clockwise direction, 3) allowing free rotation in both directions, and 4) stopping motion in both directions. In robotic and other motion control applications the use of this four-state joint brake module in a multi-segmented linkage allows for position holding without continuous application of power and fail safe behavior. It further allows for the ability to toggle this useful state behavior independently in either direction and is relevant for robotic applications.

A four-state joint brake module is provided to selectably stop or allow motion in both directions resulting in a mechanism that has four possible states: 1) allowing rotation only in a clockwise direction, 2) allowing rotation only in a counter-clockwise direction, 3) allowing free rotation in both directions, and 4) stopping motion in both directions. In robotic and other motion control applications the use of this four-state joint brake module in a multi-segmented linkage allows for position holding without continuous application of power and fail safe behavior. It further allows for the ability to toggle this useful state behavior independently in either direction and is relevant for robotic applications.