The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 25, 2003
Filed:
Feb. 08, 2001
Edward M. Pribonic, Seal Beach, CA (US);
Marc T. Thompson, Watertown, MA (US);
Magnetar Technologies, Inc., Seal Beach, CA (US);
Abstract
Eddy current braking apparatus includes an array of spaced apart permanent magnets and a plurality of flux steering magnets may be disposed in gaps between the spaced apart permanent magnets. The flux steering magnets are orientated in a manner to provide a steering flux polarity that is rotated about 90 with respect to a polarity magnet flux of the spaced apart permanent magnets in order to increase the flux density in the air gap which results in better performance of the brake. Alternatively, cubic magnets may be used with each magnet being arranged to provide a change in flux polarity between adjoining magnets. An electrically conductive member is provided for engaging the magnetic flux provided by the array of permanent magnets and the magnets and conductive member are mounted for enabling relative motion between the magnet and the conductive member to produce eddy currents in the conductive member and resulting in a braking force between the magnets and the conductive member.