Means for braking a rotatable element

Claim 1

IN A COUNTER FOR COUNTING IMPULSES AND THE LIKE RECEIVED FROM AN EXTERNAL SYSTEM, A ROTATABLE SHAFT, ELECTROMAGNETIC STATOR MEANS PROVIDED WITH LATERAL SIDE PORTIONS CONSTITUTING A FRAME, BEARING MEANS PROVIDED WITH A LUBRICATING FILM CARRIED BY SAID LATERAL SIDE PORTIONS SUPPORTING SAID ROTATABLE SHAFT, SAID STATOR MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH STATOR POLE FACES, A ROTOR ELEMENT HAVING ROTOR POLE FACES MOUNTED ON SAID ROTATABLE SHAFT BETWEEN SAID LATERAL SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID FRAME AT A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM SAID STATOR POLE FACES, MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ENERGIZING SIAD ELECTROMAGNETIC STATOR MEANS TO MAGNETICALLY DRIVE SAID ROTOR ELEMENT IN SUCH A MANNER THAT AT LEAST ONE ROTOR POLE FACE IS ROTATABLY ADVANCED TOWARD AT LEAST ONE STATOR POLE FACE INTO A REGION OF SUBSTANTIALLY MAXIMUM MAGNETIC FLUX INTENSITY OF PREDETERMINED MAGNITUDE, TO THEREBY APPLY AN ASYMMETRICAL MAGNETIC FORCE ON SAID ROTATABLE SHAFT TO EXERT A RADIALLY DIRECTED FORCE COMPONENT ON SAID BEARING MEANS TO BREAK DOWN SAID LUBRICATING FILM SO THAT SUBSTANTIAL SURFACE TO SURFACE CONTACT OF SAID ROTATABLE SHAFT AND SAID BEARING MEANS RESULTS TO DEFINE A CONDITION OF AT LEAST SEMI-DRY FRICTION TO EFFECTIVELY BRAKE SAID ROTOR ELEMENT.