Eddy Current Engine Brake

[cfellows]

I wanted to engineer a small load for my plumbing parts engine but didn't want to use friction nor did I want to go to the trouble of hooking up a generator of some kind. I saw an eddy current brake applied to a flame sucker engine on youtube so thought I would try it on my engine. I used 4 really strong magnets in a steel frame. The picture says it all.

The drag created by this arrangement lets me open up the throttle more on vapor carb and it makes it run (and sound) better.

I'll have a short video added pretty soon.

Chuck

 

[cfellows]

Here's the video

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_No_FrDhSY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_No_FrDhSY[/ame]

Chuck

 

[Brian Rupnow]

Very clever chuck, I've not seen that done before. Are the magnets truly creating eddy curents, or is it just a strong magnetic drag?---or are they the same thing?

 

[cfellows]

Very clever chuck, I've not seen that done before. Are the magnets truly creating eddy curents, or is it just a strong magnetic drag?---or are they the same thing?

They are the same thing...

Chuck

 

[cl350rr]

Cool Idea Chuck and I like the engine.

Randel

 

[steamer]

That was mentioned here in a thread on constructing small dynamometers a while back. Glad someone tried it.

Dave

 

[kcmillin]

Great Idea Chuck, I tried this with my V-twin Flame eater.

I should point out the the flywheel does not have to be ferrous. (Iron/Steel)

It WILL work with aluminum and Brass flywheels too.

Kel

 

[mklotz]

I should point out the the flywheel does not have to be ferrous. (Iron/Steel)
It WILL work with aluminum and Brass flywheels too.

Since the effect depends on the conductivity of the material, it will work better with aluminum/brass than with steel.

 

[Rustkolector]

Chuck,
That's a very clever idea. I assume the braking eddy currents are creating heat in the flywheel. How warm does the flywheel get? Has the braking effort improved the running of the engine? It is much less complex than driving a generator load.

Jeff

 

[cfellows]

Chuck,
That's a very clever idea. I assume the braking eddy currents are creating heat in the flywheel. How warm does the flywheel get? Has the braking effort improved the running of the engine? It is much less complex than driving a generator load.

Jeff

Yes, the eddy currents are supposed to generate heat. However, I haven't been able to detect any noticeable warmth in the flywheel after running 5 minutes or so. The engine does run better because I am able to open up the throttle in the vapor fuel tank a bit. The vapor tank works better when the air flow is not so restricted.

Chuck