Patent ID: 6915883

Claim:
An electric braking apparatus, comprising: an electric motor that is controlled in such a manner that it is activated to effectuate a parking brake and deactivated when the parking brake becomes in effect, whereas it is reversely activated to release the parking brake; a mechanism that converts rotation of the motor into linear braking action of friction members to effectuate and release the parking brake and transfers brake reaction force back from the friction members while the parking brake is in effect; a first engagement element that comprises teeth arranged on the first engagement element, the first engagement element being operably connected to the motor to move in a brake applying direction and a brake releasing direction, wherein the first engagement element is urged, while the parking brake is in effect, in the brake releasing direction by the brake reaction force transferred back from the friction members; and a second engagement element that comprises a claw being urged by an engaging force to engage with the teeth of the first engagement element, wherein the engaging force is large enough to keep the claw engaged with one of the teeth and hold the first engagement element in place against the brake reaction force urging the first engagement element in the brake releasing direction, thereby holding the parking brake in effect while the motor is deactivated, whereas the engaging force is small enough to allow the claw to escape from the teeth when the first engagement element is driven by the motor in tile brake releasing direction to release the parking brake.