Patent ID: 7740045

Claim:
A spring motor and drag brake combination, comprising: an output spool mounted for rotation in clockwise and counterclockwise directions; a motor spring wound upon itself and defining a first end and a second end, said first end secured to said output spool; and a brake, including a brake drum functionally connected to said output spool such that rotation of said output spool results in rotation of said brake drum; a coil spring assembly mounted onto said brake drum; and a stationary housing defining a stationary inner bore; wherein said coil spring assembly is mounted by mounting means which cause said coil spring assembly to resist rotation of said brake drum relative to said housing in both the clockwise and counterclockwise directions, with the torque required to overcome the resistance to rotation being greater in one of said directions than in the other, wherein said coil spring assembly includes a smaller diameter spring portion and a larger diameter spring portion; wherein said smaller diameter spring portion collapses onto said brake drum and said larger diameter spring portion contracts away from said inner bore when said brake drum rotates in one of said clockwise and counterclockwise directions relative to said housing; and wherein said smaller diameter spring portion expands away from said brake drum and said larger diameter spring portion expands against said inner bore when said brake drum rotates in the other of said clockwise and counterclockwise directions relative to said housing.