Patent ID: 8397893

Claim:
An electromagnetic inertia brake for retarding speed of a power input shaft for a multiple ratio transmission in a powertrain for an engine-powered vehicle during a transmission ratio shift, the inertia brake comprising: at least one electromagnetic brake coil positioned on a housing for the transmission, the brake coil being spaced radially from the power input shaft; an electromagnetic brake armature surrounding the power input shaft, the armature being fixed to the housing by a connector so as to prevent rotational movement of the armature while permitting axial movement of the armature; and a reaction plate connected drivably to the power input shaft, the reaction plate being disposed between the electromagnetic brake armature and the housing; whereby the armature applies a clutch friction engaging force on the reaction plate as the brake coil is electrically energized thereby developing a rotary braking torque on the power input shaft during a transmission ratio shift interval, a plurality of brake disks carried by the reaction plate and the housing, wherein at least one brake disk is externally splined to the reaction plate, and at least one other brake disk is internally splined to the housing, wherein the reaction plate has friction surfaces on each side thereof, one side frictionally engaging the armature and the other side frictionally engaging a friction surface on the housing, whereby the rotary braking torque on the power input shaft is established on each side of the reaction plate and the brake disks.