Brake method and device

Claim 1

A self-releasing friction braking device for braking a moving element having a rubbing surface and adapted to move in a first direction, said device comprising at least one fixed support element having a plane support face which is slightly oblique relative to said rubbing surface, at least one brake pad means having a plane friction face parallel to said rubbing surface and an opposed plane bearing face which is slightly oblique relative to said friction face and parallel to said support face of said fixed support element, a shifting rod connected to said brake pad means and oriented slightly obliquely with respect to said rubbing surface so as to be inserted for braking between said plane support face of said fixed support element and said rubbing surface in a second direction opposed to said first direction, a set of parallel rolling elements, a cage in guiding relation to said parallel rolling elements, and resiliently yieldable return means combined with said cage, said set of rolling elements being interposed between and engaging said plane support face and said bearing face of said pad means, and said rolling elements being rollable along said plane support face in opposition to said resiliently yieldable return means.