Provided is a spring lock mechanism including: a lock drum (11) provided on either one of a first member (20) and a second member (20); a coil spring (12) secured to the other member, abutting on the lock drum (11), and locking turning of the second member (30) in one direction relative to the first member (20) due to a frictional force; and a switching mechanism causing the second member (30) to turn relative to the first member (20) to switch a state in which the locking has been established and a state in which the locking has been released and held, in which the coil spring (12) abuts on an inner circumferential surface of the lock drum (11), the diameter of the coil spring (12) increases through compression of a spring wire material of the coil spring (12) in a longitudinal direction caused by the turning of the second member (20), the coil spring thus further presses the inner circumferential surface of the lock drum (11) and locks the turning due to the frictional force, and the switching mechanism accompanies an operation of extending or shortening a length of the coil spring (12) in the state in which the locking has been released relative to the length of the coil spring (12) in the state in which the locking has been established.

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 brake device for braking a wheel includes a brake drum, a brake pad carrier which is arranged or can be arranged in the brake drum and has at least one brake pad, and an actuator apparatus for the reversible transfer of the brake pad carrier between a braking state, in which the brake pad is operatively connected to the brake drum, and a freewheeling state, in which the operative connection between the brake pad and the brake drum is canceled, the brake pad carrier being elastically deformable for the transfer from the freewheeling state into the braking state.

An apparatus (B) controls rotation of an annular member (36) relative to top and bottom housings (12, 10). The bottom housing (10) includes a disk (110) extending radially and terminating in a cylindrical portion (112) having circumferentially spaced slits (212). A wedge (16) abuts with the cylindrical portion (112) and is moved radially between first and second positions by an axially moveable piston (14), with the wedge including an angle surface (340) which interfaces with an angled surface (520) of the piston (14) through a plurality of balls (18). The disk (110) and the cylindrical portion (112) are formed as a single component of material having sufficient material strength and yield to allow engagement and disengagement of the cylindrical portion (112) with the annular member (36). The wedge (16) is slideable between an axial surface (250) of the disk (110) and a guiding flange (450) of the top housing (12).

An apparatus (B) controls rotation of an annular member (36) relative to top and bottom housings (12, 10). The bottom housing (10) includes a disk (110) extending radially and terminating in a cylindrical portion (112) having circumferentially spaced slits (212). A wedge (16) abuts with the cylindrical portion (112) and is moved radially between first and second positions by an axially moveable piston (14), with the wedge including an angle surface (340) which interfaces with an angled surface (520) of the piston (14) through a plurality of balls (18). The disk (110) and the cylindrical portion (112) are formed as a single component of material having sufficient material strength and yield to allow engagement and disengagement of the cylindrical portion (112) with the annular member (36). The wedge (16) is slideable between an axial surface (250) of the disk (110) and a guiding flange (450) of the top housing (12).

A brake device for braking a wheel includes a brake drum, a brake pad carrier which is arranged or can be arranged in the brake drum and has at least one brake pad, and an actuator apparatus for the reversible transfer of the brake pad carrier between a braking state, in which the brake pad is operatively connected to the brake drum, and a freewheeling state, in which the operative connection between the brake pad and the brake drum is canceled, the brake pad carrier being elastically deformable for the transfer from the freewheeling state into the braking state.

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.

An apparatus (B) controls rotation of an annular member (36) relative to top and bottom housings (12, 10). The bottom housing (10) includes a disk (110) extending radially and terminating in a cylindrical portion (112) having circumferentially spaced slits (212). A wedge (16) abuts with the cylindrical portion (112) and is moved radially between first and second positions by an axially moveable piston (14), with the wedge including an angle surface (340) which interfaces with an angled surface (520) of the piston (14) through a plurality of balls (18). The disk (110) and the cylindrical portion (112) are formed as a single component of material having sufficient material strength and yield to allow engagement and disengagement of the cylindrical portion (112) with the annular member (36). The wedge (16) is slideable between an axial surface (250) of the disk (110) and a guiding flange (450) of the top housing (16).