Patent ID: 8714925

Claim:
A braking assembly for an airfoil, the airfoil configured to rotate about a hub, comprising: a first plate and an opposing second plate, the plates having outside surfaces, opposing inside surfaces, and each having a forward portion with a leading edge and an aft portion with a trailing edge; and a linkage assembly between the first and second plates, the linkage assembly hingedly interconnecting the forward portions of the inside surfaces of the first and second plates to a first end of an elongate driving member configured to move fore and aft; wherein the inside surface of the forward portion of each plate is hingedly connected to a frame, allowing the aft portions of the plates to pivot away from or retract toward each other; wherein forward movement of the driving member toward the leading edges of the plates causes the aft portions of the plates to retract toward each other, and aft movement of the driving member away from the leading edges of the plates causes the aft potions of the plates to pivot away from each other; and wherein said frame is attachable to a section of the airfoil such that the outside surfaces of the plates when retracted conform approximately to the contour of a section of the airfoil to which the braking assembly can be attached.