Eddy current deceleration device

Abstract

An eddy current deceleration device comprises: a rotor mounted on a rotary shaft; a first magnet ring arranged facing this rotor and including permanent magnets that are arranged at prescribed intervals in the circumferential direction and such that the poles thereof facing each other in the circumferential direction are of a same polarity, and magnetic members interposed between these permanent magnets; and a second magnet ring arranged between this first magnet ring and the rotor and including permanent magnets and magnetic members which are similar to those of the first magnet ring; at least one of the first and second magnet rings being freely rotatable. The permanent magnets of the first and second magnet rings can be magnetized separately between the first and second magnet rings. This means that the permanent magnets of length half of the length of the permanent magnet pairs are magnetized, so even though the intervals between adjacent permanent magnets in the circumferential direction are made smaller, ample magnetization can still be achieved. Also, the braking force exhibited by the permanent magnets is that of the length of the sets of pairs of permanent magnets. Consequently, the braking force can be increased.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.