A magnetic brake assembly for use with a wheel rim is described. The brake assembly includes a rotor secured to rotate with the rim and a stator secured to be rotationally stationary relative to the rotor. One of the rotor and stator has an electrically conductive body and the other of the rotor and stator has a magnetic array including a plurality of magnets configured to generate a magnetic flux. An actuator is connected to at least one of the electrically conductive body and magnetic array to selectively effect a brake mode and a non-brake mode. In the brake mode, the magnetic array induces eddy currents in the electrically conductive body to generate a magnetic braking force when the rim rotates above a threshold speed and in the non-brake mode, the induced eddy currents cause a negligible or no magnetic braking force as the rim rotates above the threshold speed.

Described herein is a device comprising members in a kinematic relationship. The kinematic relationship is at least partially governed by at least one magnetic flux interaction that, in effect, may provide a tunable resistance to movement, changing the rate of relative movement between the members. In one embodiment, the device comprises a first member in a kinematic relationship with at least one further member to form a system. The system moves within a limited range of motion and the system interacts when an external energizing force is imposed on the system causing the members to respond due to their kinematic and dynamic characteristics and thereby creating relative motion between the members. The trigger member is coupled to the at least the first member and moves in response to a pre-determined system movement. When the trigger member moves, the trigger member imposes a braking action on the system or a member or members thereof. The speed and/or intensity of the braking action imposed by the trigger member on the system or a member or members thereof is controlled by the trigger member rate of movement. This rate of movement is in turn governed by a magnetic flux interaction between the trigger member and the at least one first member causing formation of a magnetically induced eddy current force between the parts.

The disclosed heat generating apparatus includes: a rotary shaft, a heat generator, a plurality of permanent magnets, a magnet holder, and a heat recovery system. The rotary shaft is rotatably supported by a non-rotative body. The heat generator is fixed to the body. The magnets are arrayed to face the heat generator with a gap such that magnetic pole arrangements of adjacent ones of the magnets are opposite to each other. The magnet holder holds the magnets and is fixed to the rotary shaft. The heat recovery system collects heat generated in the heat generator. A non-magnetic partition wall is provided in the gap between the heat generator and the magnets.

The disclosed heat generating apparatus includes: a rotary shaft, a heat generator, a plurality of permanent magnets, a magnet holder, and a heat recovery system. The rotary shaft is rotatably supported by a non-rotative body. The heat generator is fixed to the rotary shaft. The magnets are arrayed to face the heat generator with a gap such that magnetic pole arrangements of adjacent ones of the magnets are opposite to each other. The magnet holder holds the magnets and is fixed to the body. The heat recovery system collects heat generated in the heat generator.

A personal escape device includes a main housing, a shaft, a magnet housing, and a plurality of magnets. The shaft is rotatably coupled with the main housing and is rotatable about a rotational axis. The magnet housing is positioned in the main housing and is coupled with the shaft such that the magnet housing rotates together with the shaft. The plurality of magnets is coupled with the magnet housing such that the plurality of magnets rotates together with the magnet housing. The stator assembly is coupled with the main housing and surrounds the magnet housing. The stator assembly and the magnet housing are radially spaced from each other to define an air gap therebetween.

Described herein is a system, method of use and Self Retracting Lifeline (SRL) apparatus using a system that governs a dynamic response between members causing a halt in relative motion between the members. Magnetic interactions, eddy current drag forces and centrifugal and/or inertial forces may provide various mechanisms of governing movement.

Described herein is a system, method of use and Self Retracting Lifeline (SRL) apparatus using a system that governs a dynamic response between members causing a halt in relative motion between the members. Magnetic interactions, eddy current drag forces and centrifugal and/or inertial forces may provide various mechanisms of governing movement.

A fixed magnetic gap permanent magnet speed governor, including a cylindrical conductor rotor and a permanent magnet rotor disposed therein, the permanent magnet rotor includes at least one permanent magnet, two length sides of the permanent magnet are an N pole and an S pole respectively, two magnetic pole end surfaces and two length sides of the permanent magnet are arranged with fixed magnetizers and movable magnetizers respectively, the fixed magnetizers and the movable magnetizers form a closed magnetic loop. Adopting the fixed magnet gap structure improves an engagement area of speed governor and reduces assembling difficulty, saves a rare-earth material, increases a torque transmission capability. The adoption of a magnetic circuit adjustment structure reduces the power consumption of an adjustment execution mechanism, maximally reduces the size of the adjustment execution mechanism, reduces the overall size of the speed governor, reducing material consumption, saving installation space, and facilitating on-site installation.

A large-size axial eddy current damper manufactured by use of screw drive comprises a drive assembly and an eddy current damping generator; the drive assembly comprises a screw drive pair, and a stator and a rotor respectively made of magnetic conductive materials; the screw drive pair comprises a screw rod and a nut sleeved on the screw rod; the screw rod sequentially penetrates through central holes of upper and lower flanges of the stator; the nut is within the stator; the rotor comprises an outer rotor and an inner rotor having the bottom provided with a lower connecting flange; one or more eddy current damping generators are arranged between the stator and the outer rotor. Problems of having difficulty in manufacturing axial dampers with a large damping coefficient and simulating anti-vibration dampers with a speed index of less than 1, by use of eddy current damping, can be solved simultaneously.

This invention includes an annular hysteresis brake (34) having one end fixed to a stationary frame (11), a support shaft (6) extending through a hollow portion of the hysteresis brake (34), and a spindle part (4) rotatably supported by the support shaft (6). The hysteresis brake (34) includes a yoke (36), a cylindrical hysteresis member (46) inserted into an annular space (41) of the yoke (36), and a hub (37) for rotatably supporting the hysteresis member (46). The spindle part (4) is supported by the support shaft (6) such that the spindle part (4) is restricted from moving toward the hysteresis brake (34) by a sleeve (15). The spindle part (4) and hub (37) are coupled with each other so as to rotate together via pins (21). This invention can simplify the structure while preventing damage to the hysteresis brake, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of a thread-supplying spindle unit.