Patent ID: 7984796

Claim:
A motion retarding system comprising: a linear array of permanent magnets for providing a magnetic flux; a diamagnetic member for engaging the magnetic flux and producing eddy currents in said diamagnetic member resulting in a braking force between said linear array of permanent magnets and said diamagnetic member; a mechanism for causing reciprocating movement of said diamagnetic member within said magnetic flux; coupling apparatus, disposed in an operative relationship with said mechanism, for engaging a vehicle moving with respect to said mechanism, in order to reciprocate said diamagnetic member within said magnetic field and retard the motion of the vehicle past said mechanism, said coupling apparatus comprises a continuous belt and a plurality of spaced apart dogs interconnected by said continuous belt and said mechanism comprises a pair of spaced apart pulleys for supporting said continuous belt, said continuous belt and dogs passing around each pulley with one dog being connected to said diamagnetic member for causing the reciprocation thereof as the dogs pass, with said continuous belt, around the pulleys.