Fluid flow brake with means for controlling the braking action thereof

Claim 1

A FLUID FLOW BRAKE HAVING A ROTATABLE SHAFT, WHICH COMPRISES: A HOUSING CONFINING A WORKING CHAMBER, PASSAGE MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID WORKING CHAMBER AND HAVING AN OUTLET OPENING FOR DISCHARGING FLUID FROM SAID WORKING CHAMBER, FIRST CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTROLLING SAID OUTLET OPENING, SPRING MEANS BIASING SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS IN A DIRECTION FOR CLOSING AND OPENING, SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS HAVING SURFACE MEANS EXPOSED TO THE FLUID PRESSURE IN SAID WORKING CHAMBER AND BEING OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO A CERTAIN MINIMUM FLUID PRESSURE IN SAID WORKING CHAMBER TO MOVE IN A DIRECTION AGAINST THE THRUST OF SAID SPRING MEANS, AND SECOND CONTROL MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT AND TO SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS AND OPERABLE IN RESPONSE TO A CERTAIN MINIMUM SPEED OF SAID SHAFT TO ADJUST SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF FLUID FROM SAID WORKING CHAMBER THROUGH SAID OUTLET OPENING IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THE BRAKING POWER OF SAID FLUID BRAKE AT A PREDETERMINED SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT VALUE OVER AT LEAST A CERTAIN RANGE OF ANGULAR SPEED OF SAID SHAFT, SAID SECOND CONTROL MEANS BEING INDEPENDENT OF THE INFLUENCE OF SAID SPRING MEANS AND OF SAID FLUID PRESSURE IN SAID WORKING CHAMBER.