Brake device, e.g. with a wedge-shaped brake element, for braking a travelling body that can be moved in a guided manner along a guide rail in a movement direction

The invention relates to a brake device (1) for braking a travelling body (3) that can be moved in a guided manner along a guide rail (5) in a movement direction (47). The brake device (1) comprises a mounting (17), a brake element (19), a pretensioning element (21), a release element (23) and a pressure element (25). The brake element (19) comprises a brake surface (31) directed towards the guide rail (5) and is mounted and retained on the mounting (17) in such a way that the brake element (19) can be moved relative to the mounting (17) between a freewheel position and a braking position, wherein the brake surface (31) of the brake element (19) is laterally spaced apart from the guide rail (5) in the freewheel position and laterally pressed against the guide rail (5) in the braking position. In a deactivated configuration, the pretensioning element (21) is configured to not exert, on the brake element (19), any force moving the brake element (19) towards the braking position, and in an activated configuration, it is configured to exert, on the brake element (19), a force that moves the brake element (19) towards the braking position. In a retaining state, the release element (23) is configured to retain the pretensioning element (21) in the first configuration, and when activating the release element (23) into a released state, it is configured to change the pretensioning element (21) from the deactivated configuration into the activated configuration. In an unactuated state, the pressure element (25) is configured to not generate any force on the brake element (19) in a direction towards the guide rail (5), and in an actuated state, it is configured to generate a force on the brake element (19) in a direction towards the guide rail (5).