| CPC F16D 59/00 (2013.01) [A62B 1/06 (2013.01); A62B 1/08 (2013.01); A62B 35/0093 (2013.01); F16D 43/14 (2013.01); F16D 63/002 (2013.01); F16D 63/006 (2013.01); H02K 49/04 (2013.01); H02K 49/106 (2013.01); F16D 2023/123 (2013.01); F16D 2043/145 (2013.01); F16D 2125/36 (2013.01); F16D 2127/002 (2013.01); F16D 2129/065 (2013.01); Y02B 10/30 (2013.01); Y02E 10/72 (2013.01)] | 9 Claims |

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1. An eddy current brake configuration comprising:
a cylinder; and
a tube, the tube configured to move rotationally relative to the cylinder and axially as a stroke into the cylinder, the tube and cylinder comprising at least one magnet and at least one conductor that interact when the tube enters the cylinder at different rates of relative rotational movement to impose an eddy current braking force against relative movement between the tube and cylinder;
wherein the eddy current brake configuration is further configured to have a bi-stable attractive force arrangement wherein tube stroke movement comprises:
a first magnetic attraction force between the tube and an external element acts to delay relative motion of the tube relative to the cylinder; and
when the first magnetic attraction force is overcome, the tube is free to travel axially into the cylinder; and
a second magnetic attraction force between the tube and a cylinder end acts to latch the tube in the cylinder.
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