Load applying means for an exercise device

Claim 1

An exercise device comprising a load applying means for applying load to a load shaft in said exercise device, which load shaft is adapted to rotate at a speed higher than a prescribed rotation speed, comprising: a frame for rotatably supporting said load shaft, including means for supporting a user. means operated by the user for rotating said load shaft. a rotating disc coupled to said load shaft so as to be rotated therewith, and an electromagnet disposed adjacent said rotating disc in a position where main surfaces of said rotating disc are inserted in said electromagnet, but are not in contact therewith, so that magnetic flux transversing the surfaces of said rotating disc is generated to apply brake torque to said rotating disc, whereby generated eddy current is utilized in a saturated region and stable brake torque is applied irrespective of the rotating speed of the load shaft, said electromagnet comprising a core and an exciting coil wound on said core and control means for controlling the current applied to said coil, wherein said control means comprises torque setting means and calculating means for calculating the necessary quantity of current to apply as control torque the torque set by said setting means whereby the quantity of current applied to said coil is regulated by said control means to change the brake torque applied to said disc.