Patent ID: 8851235

Claim:
An eddy-current braking mechanism comprising: a rotor, rotatable about a rotor axis; at least one electrically conductive member coupled to the rotor for rotation therewith; and at least one magnet configured to apply a magnetic field extending at least partially orthogonal to a plane of rotation of the at least one electrically conductive member; wherein the at least one electrically conductive member moves relative to the rotor axis when the rotor rotates around the rotor axis; wherein upon rotation of the rotor, the at least one electrically conductive member moves into and out of the magnetic field as a result of centrifugal force caused by rotation of the rotor; and wherein a biasing device is attached to the at least one electrically conductive member and to the rotor to provide a bias opposing the outward or inward radial movement of the at least one electrically conductive member.