Scissor lift descent control systems and methods

1. A lift device comprising:

a base having a plurality of wheels;

a retractable lift mechanism having a first end coupled to the base and being moveable between an extended position and a retracted position;

a work platform configured to support a load, the work platform being coupled to and supported by a second end of the retractable lift mechanism;

a linear actuator configured to selectively move the retractable lift mechanism between the extended position and the retracted position, the linear actuator having an electric motor;

an electromagnetic brake coupled to the linear actuator and movable between an engaged position, in which the retractable lift mechanism is prevented from moving between the extended position and the retracted position, and a disengaged position, in which the retractable lift mechanism is allowed to move between the extended position and the retracted position, wherein the electromagnetic brake includes a pressure plate, a friction disk, an armature, a magnetic body, and a wire coil, the friction disk is rotationally coupled to a rotor of the electric motor of the linear actuator and is disposed between the armature and the pressure plate, and the armature is disposed between the magnetic body and the friction disk;

wherein, in the event of a power failure, the electromagnetic brake is biased toward the engaged position, wherein, in the engaged position, the armature is biased away from the magnetic body and into contact with the friction disk by at least one engagement spring, thereby preventing rotation of the friction disk, and, in the disengaged position, a current is applied to the wire coil to produce an electromagnetic force on the armature that overcomes a spring force of the at least one engagement spring, thereby compressing the at least one engagement spring, pulling the armature out of contact with the friction disk, and allowing the rotation of the friction disk; and

a manual release device configured to manually move the electromagnetic brake from the engaged position to the disengaged position, wherein the manual release device includes a manual pull handle configured to pull a release tab fixed to the armature through a Bowden cable, thereby moving the electromagnetic brake from the engaged position into the disengaged position.

2. The lift device of claim 1 , further comprising a descent control mechanism configured to reduce a speed at which the retractable lift mechanism is moved from the extended position to the retracted position.

3. The lift device of claim 2 , wherein the descent control mechanism is a centrifugal brake rotationally coupled to the rotor of the electric motor.

4. The lift device of claim 1 , wherein the electric motor of the linear actuator of is a permanent magnet motor having terminals that are biased toward a shunted position, such that, in the event of the power failure, when the electromagnetic brake is moved into the disengaged position by the manual release device and the work platform is being lowered, the permanent magnet motor acts as a generator, electromagnetically reducing a rotational speed of the rotor of the electric motor and, thereby, reducing a speed at which the retractable lift mechanism is moved from the extended position to the retracted position.

5. A lift device comprising:

a base having a plurality of wheels;

a retractable lift mechanism having a first end coupled to the base and being moveable between an extended position and a retracted position;

a work platform configured to support a load, the work platform being coupled to and supported by a second end of the retractable lift mechanism;

a linear actuator configured to selectively move the retractable lift mechanism between the extended position and the retracted position, the linear actuator having an electric motor;

an electromagnetic brake coupled to the linear actuator and movable between an engaged position, in which the retractable lift mechanism is prevented from moving between the extended position and the retracted position, and a disengaged position, in which the retractable lift mechanism is allowed to move between the extended position and the retracted position, wherein, in the event of a power failure, the electromagnetic brake is biased toward the engaged position;

a manual release device configured to manually move the electromagnetic brake from the engaged position to the disengaged position, wherein the electric motor of the linear actuator of is a permanent magnet motor having terminals that are biased toward a shunted position, such that, in the event of the power failure, when the electromagnetic brake is moved into the disengaged position by the manual release device and the work platform is being lowered, the permanent magnet motor acts as a generator, electromagnetically reducing a rotational speed of a rotor of the electric motor and, thereby, reducing the speed at which the retractable lift mechanism is moved from the extended position to the retracted position; and

a descent control mechanism configured to reduce a speed at which the retractable lift mechanism is moved from the extended position to the retracted position.

6. The lift device of claim 5 , wherein the descent control mechanism is a centrifugal brake rotationally coupled to a rotor of the electric motor of the linear actuator.

7. The lift device of claim 6 , wherein the centrifugal brake is configured to reduce a rotational speed of the rotor once the rotor exceeds a predetermined rotational speed.

8. The lift device of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined rotational speed is between 1850 rpm and 2250 rpm.

9. A lift device comprising:

a base having a plurality of wheels;

a retractable lift mechanism having a first end coupled to the base and being moveable between an extended position and a retracted position;

a work platform configured to support a load, the work platform being coupled to and supported by a second end of the retractable lift mechanism;

a linear actuator configured to selectively move the retractable lift mechanism between the extended position and the retracted position, the linear actuator having an electric motor; and

an electromagnetic brake coupled to the linear actuator and movable between an engaged position, in which the retractable lift mechanism is prevented from moving between the extended position and the retracted position, and a disengaged position, in which the retractable lift mechanism is allowed to move between the extended position and the retracted position, the electromagnetic brake being biased toward the engaged position in the event of a power failure;

a manual release device configured to manually move the electromagnetic brake from the engaged position to the disengaged position, wherein the electric motor of the linear actuator of is a permanent magnet motor having terminals that are biased toward a shunted position, such that, in the event of the power failure, when the electromagnetic brake is moved into the disengaged position by the manual release device and the work platform is being lowered, the permanent magnet motor acts as a generator, electromagnetically reducing a rotational speed of a rotor of the electric motor and, thereby, reducing the speed at which the retractable lift mechanism is moved from the extended position to the retracted position.

10. The lift device of claim 9 , wherein the electromagnetic brake includes a pressure plate, a friction disk, an armature, a magnetic body, and a wire coil, the friction disk is rotationally coupled to a rotor of the electric motor of the linear actuator and is disposed between the armature and the pressure plate, and the armature is disposed between the magnetic body and the friction disk.

11. The lift device of claim 10 , wherein, in the engaged position, the armature is biased away from the magnetic body and into contact with the friction disk by at least one engagement spring, thereby preventing rotation of the friction disk, and, in the disengaged position, a current is applied to the wire coil to produce an electromagnetic force on the armature that overcomes a spring force of the at least one engagement spring, thereby compressing the at least one engagement spring, pulling the armature out of contact with the friction disk, and allowing the rotation of the friction disk.

12. The lift device of claim 11 , further comprising a descent control mechanism in the form of a centrifugal brake rotationally coupled to the rotor of the electric motor of the linear actuator.