An electromagnetic machine for generating force is provided. The electromagnetic machine includes a magnet having opposing sides extending along a longitudinal axis. The electromagnetic machine includes a pair of ferromagnetic bodies respectively extending along the opposing sides of the magnet, and along the longitudinal axis, each of the ferromagnetic bodies comprising: a back-iron portion; and a pole portion extending from the back-iron portion. The magnet and the ferromagnetic bodies include reciprocal retention devices at the opposing sides along the longitudinal axis. The electromagnetic machine includes electrical windings around respective pole portions of the ferromagnetic bodies, the electrical windings around the respective pole portions being independently controllable. The electromagnetic machine includes at least one cold plate configured to thermally isolate the magnet from the electrical windings.

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.

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.

An eddy-current braking mechanism including a rotor, rotatable about a rotor axis; at least one electrically conductive member coupled to the rotor for rotation therewith; at least one magnet configured to apply a magnetic field extending at least partially orthogonal to the plane of rotation of the conductive member, and characterised in that upon rotation of the rotor, the conductive member is configured to move at least partially radially from the rotor axis into the applied magnetic field.

An overmolded steel flux ring member for an eddy-current fan drive assembly. The flux ring member includes a base member having a hub member, an annular outer ring member, and a plurality of connecting arm members. An overmolding material, such as aluminum, is overmolded on the annular outer ring member preferably in separate sections. Ventilation openings in said base member allow air to flow past a magnet ring for cooling.

The invention relates to an autonomous retarder system for a vehicle including a retarder (10) having a central rotor (11) and two stators (12), one on each side of the rotor (11). The rotor (11) is rigidly coupled to an axle (1). A generator (20, 30, 50) is also included, coupled to the retarder (10), for supplying same with electrical energy. In addition, the generator (20, 30, 50) comprises a stator (22) and a rotor (21, 31, 51) coupled to the retarder.