Adaptive centrifugal brake assemblies

1. An adaptive centrifugal brake assembly comprising:

a center hub;

first and second flyweights, wherein rotation of the center hub causes the first and second flyweights to rotate;

a flybar freely rotatable about a shaft, the first flyweight being pivotally connected to the flybar toward a first end of the flybar and the second flyweight being pivotally connected to the flybar toward a second end of the flybar;

a leaf spring disposed between the center hub and the first flyweight, the leaf spring non-linearly varying a force on the first flyweight as the center hub rotates;

a curved leaf-spring engaging surface that contacts the leaf spring, an amount of curved leaf-spring engaging surface that contacts the leaf spring during rotation of the center hub increasing with increased deflection of the leaf spring to vary a stiffness parameter of the leaf spring; and

a drum, the center hub, first and second flyweights, and leaf spring being disposed within the drum, the drum having an inner surface, wherein first and second friction members contact the inner surface of the drum upon rotation of the center hub, the drum being stationary relative to the center hub during contact of the first and second friction members with the inner surface of the drum, the first flyweight having the first friction member connected thereto and the second flyweight having the second friction member connected thereto.

2. The adaptive centrifugal brake assembly as set forth in claim 1 comprising a shaft connected to the center hub.

3. The adaptive centrifugal brake assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first flyweight comprises a curved first flyweight surface, the leaf spring contacting the curved first flyweight surface as the center hub rotates.

4. The adaptive centrifugal brake assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein the curved first flyweight surface defines a recess of the first flyweight, the leaf spring extending into the recess.

5. The adaptive centrifugal brake assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein the curved first flyweight surface defines a projection of the first flyweight.

6. The adaptive centrifugal brake assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein the leaf spring is a first leaf spring, the first leaf spring contacting the curved first flyweight surface, the centrifugal brake assembly comprising a second leaf spring, the second flyweight comprising a curved second flyweight surface, the second leaf spring contacting the curved second flyweight surface.

7. The adaptive centrifugal brake assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the leaf spring exerts a force on the first and second flyweights as the center hub rotates, the force including a radial component and a tangential component that change, based at least in part, on the speed of the rotation of the center hub, the angle of the force changing non-linearly based on the moment applied to the center hub, the magnitude of the radial component increasing while the magnitude of the tangential component remains constant as the leaf spring deflects.

8. The adaptive centrifugal brake assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the leaf spring is a cantilevered beam.

9. The adaptive centrifugal brake assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an end cap for mounting the brake assembly to a structure, the end cap maintaining the position of the drum in a stationary position as the center hub rotates.

10. The adaptive centrifugal brake assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein the end cap is connected to the drum.

11. The adaptive centrifugal brake as set forth in claim 1 wherein the center hub comprises the curved leaf-spring engaging surface.