Patent ID: 6349798
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: B60T,F16D

Abstract:
A brake assembly comprising a rotary member; a constant friction brake device acting on said rotary member to apply a braking torque of a predetermined value to said rotary member in at least one direction of rotary movement of the latter; at least one first friction element mounted for rotary movement with said rotary member; a fixed member; a friction element support mounted for rotation relative to said fixed member; at least one second friction element mounted on said friction element support so as to be frictionally engageable with said at least one first friction element in at least one direction of rotary movement of said rotary member; a detent mechanism acting between said fixed member and said friction element support, said detent mechanism being adapted to retain said friction element support against rotation below said predetermined braking torque; and a signalling member, said signalling member being arranged to signal when said detent mechanism has operated to permit relative rotation between said friction element support and said fixed member to prevent exceeding of the predetermined value of said braking torque.