The present disclosure relates to a brake mechanism, a joint actuator and a robot. The brake mechanism includes a friction member configured to be fixed to a rotor of the motor, a brake member abutting against one side of the friction member, a pushing member abutting against the other side of the friction member and configured to provide an adjustable pushing force to the brake member, a locking mechanism configured to prevent the brake member from rotating according to a brake command.

An electromechanical brake system having a suspension control function. The electromechanical brake system includes: an electromechanical brake connected to each wheel of a vehicle to brake the vehicle, a suspension configured to control suspension of the vehicle, a motor configured to provide driving force to the electromechanical brake or to the suspension, a first clutch configured to connect the electromechanical brake and the motor to each other, a second clutch configured to connect the suspension and the motor to each other, and a controller configured to output a control signal for controlling the motor to be connected to one of the first clutch and the second clutch based on a state signal of the vehicle.

An electromechanical brake system having a suspension control function. The electromechanical brake system includes: an electromechanical brake connected to each wheel of a vehicle to brake the vehicle, a suspension configured to control suspension of the vehicle, a motor configured to provide driving force to the electromechanical brake or to the suspension, a first clutch configured to connect the electromechanical brake and the motor to each other, a second clutch configured to connect the suspension and the motor to each other, and a controller configured to output a control signal for controlling the motor to be connected to one of the first clutch and the second clutch based on a state signal of the vehicle.

A variety of brake and/or clutch mechanisms, and improvements thereof, are provided having improved braking power, reduced size and weight, and other benefits. The braking mechanisms include a wrap spring clutch that is operable to mechanically couple a rotating member to a brake rotor that is in consistent contact with a brake pad. Actuation of the wrap spring clutch allows the wrap spring to engage with the rotating member, coupling the rotating member to the brake rotor thus braking the rotating member. The combination of the wrap spring clutch with the brake rotor and pad provides an overall braking mechanism that exhibits the decreased power cost, weight, size, and engagement time of the wrap spring clutch while having a braking power that can be moderated by specifying the area, engagement force, coefficient of friction, or other properties of the brake rotor and pad.

A variety of brake and/or clutch mechanisms, and improvements thereof, are provided having improved braking power, reduced size and weight, and other benefits. The braking mechanisms include a wrap spring clutch that is operable to mechanically couple a rotating member to a brake rotor that is in consistent contact with a brake pad. Actuation of the wrap spring clutch allows the wrap spring to engage with the rotating member, coupling the rotating member to the brake rotor thus braking the rotating member. The combination of the wrap spring clutch with the brake rotor and pad provides an overall braking mechanism that exhibits the decreased power cost, weight, size, and engagement time of the wrap spring clutch while having a braking power that can be moderated by specifying the area, engagement force, coefficient of friction, or other properties of the brake rotor and pad.

A power take-off includes bell housing disposed about an axis and configured for coupling to a housing of an engine or other driving device at a first axial end and to a housing of a driven device at a second axial end. The bell housing defines an air inlet port and an air outlet port between the first and second axial ends. A clutch is disposed within the bell housing and configured to transfer torque from an input member coupled to the engine to an output member coupled to the driven device. A fan is configured for rotation with the input member to draw air into the bell housing through the air inlet port, move air through the bell housing from the air inlet port to the air outlet port in a substantially radial direction across the clutch and exhaust air from the bell housing through the air outlet port.

A power take-off includes bell housing disposed about an axis and configured for coupling to a housing of an engine or other driving device at a first axial end and to a housing of a driven device at a second axial end. The bell housing defines an air inlet port and an air outlet port between the first and second axial ends. A clutch is disposed within the bell housing and configured to transfer torque from an input member coupled to the engine to an output member coupled to the driven device. A fan is configured for rotation with the input member to draw air into the bell housing through the air inlet port, move air through the bell housing from the air inlet port to the air outlet port in a substantially radial direction across the clutch and exhaust air from the bell housing through the air outlet port.

A magnetic brake for a motor uses the magnetic force on the surface of a flux concentrating rotor to pull a flexible brake spring or friction sheet into friction contact with the rotor. An electromagnetic stator pulls the flexible brake spring or friction sheet away from the rotor when it is energized. The brake spring may be a variable thickness around the circumference in a radial flux motor or radially in an axial flux motor and is thicker near where it is fixed to the housing. The brake spring may be split so it can clamp down on the rotor symmetrically. The OD of the brake spring may be closer to the surrounding stator near the fixed section of the brake spring so the air gap to the brake stator is smaller and the gap to the rotor and the ID of the brake spring is larger to allow the brake stator to pull on this area with greater force initially when it is energized to disengage the brake.

A magnetic brake for a motor uses the magnetic force on the surface of a flux concentrating rotor to pull a flexible brake spring or friction sheet into friction contact with the rotor. An electromagnetic stator pulls the flexible brake spring or friction sheet away from the rotor when it is energized. The brake spring may be a variable thickness around the circumference in a radial flux motor or radially in an axial flux motor and is thicker near where it is fixed to the housing. The brake spring may be split so it can clamp down on the rotor symmetrically. The OD of the brake spring may be closer to the surrounding stator near the fixed section of the brake spring so the air gap to the brake stator is smaller and the gap to the rotor and the ID of the brake spring is larger to allow the brake stator to pull on this area with greater force initially when it is energized to disengage the brake.

A clutch assembly for a motor vehicle drivetrain for coupling coupling elements for conjoint rotation includes a clutch unit, a brake unit and at least one permanent magnet between the clutch unit and the brake unit. The clutch unit is shiftable into a coupling state in which the coupling elements are coupled to one another by shifting the clutch unit from a first position in which the coupling elements are decoupled into a second position in which the coupling elements are coupled. First and second electrically energizable coils are electrically energizable to move the permanent magnet from the first position into the second position or vice versa. A holding plate is located adjacent to the at least one permanent magnet to suppress magnetic flux from the at least one permanent magnet to the brake unit. A motor vehicle drivetrain containing at least one clutch assembly is also provided.