Brakes offer powerful braking performance in lightweight package

The latest innovation from Warner Electric is designed to operate with actuators that spend most of their time stationary. The actuator is designed to move a load into the desired position, and then hold it there while the product or machine performs its role. Typical applications for this type of motion include the position adjustment systems used in seats or medical equipment.

In systems like these, it is essential that the actuator can maintain its fixed position, regardless of changes in the applied load or interruptions to the power supply. That calls for a mechanical brake, and since these applications often have extremely stringent weight, space and cost constraints, that brake needs to be a highly specialised design.

Where minimum size and weight is a priority, equipment manufacturers need a brake that precisely matches the requirements of their application, and which can be easily integrated into their overall design.

To facilitate this, XS brakes are available in six sizes, with overall diameters of 22, 29 and 33mm. Each diameter includes a variant optimised for the shortest overall length and minimum weight, together with a slightly longer version optimised for greater torque.

The most powerful unit in the series delivers a holding torque of 0.5Nm in a package weighing only 100g. The three brake diameters are designed to accommodate maximum shaft diameters of 3.5, 4.5 and 6mm respectively.

To maximise mounting flexibility, XS brakes are supplied with a custom designed mounting plate tailored to the needs of the end-user’s application. The actuating coil is designed to operate via a 24V DC power supply as standard, with other voltage options available to suit end application requirements. Operation of the brakes requires as little as 3W of power for the smallest units and only 7W for the largest.

Thanks to Warner’s investment in highly flexible, lean manufacturing operations, custom brakes can be manufactured with short lead times in volumes that suit customer requirements.

One of the first customer applications for the new XS series brakes was in the actuators used on a range of first and business-class seats for a major global aerospace OEM.

In addition to extremely stringent space and weight requirements, the customer also wanted exceptionally quiet operation. Its seat specification called for a brake whose characteristics were perfectly aligned with the XSB29 brake series.

Working closely with the customer during its seat development and test programme, Warner Electric’s engineering team was able to provide an XS brake that met or exceeded all the application requirements. Moreover, the design was more cost effective than competing permanent magnet brake designs.