Electromagnetic brake with controllable torque

MANY LARGE materials handling machines and processing machines require smooth, accurate stopping. In the past, accurate stopping has usually been accomplished by the use of hydraulic brakes. Recently, an electromagnetic brake has been developed to perform the same functions and to overcome some disadvantages of hydraulic brakes, such as the need for hydraulic lines and slow release of parking torque by a foot-operated hydraulic pump. The electromagnetic brake can be readily controlled from small pilot devices and can be fed through collector bars so that the operator need not be on the same structure as the drive and brake. Thus, the new brake offers increased flexibility in application.