Governor device

A governor for limiting the speed of a rotating member relative to another member, has one member in the form of a conducting disc, and the other incorporates a plurality of magnets disposed circumferentially in an appropriate polarity pattern so that relative rotation results in the generation of a braking torque. In a modification the members are movable axially to vary the braking torque developed. The gap is preferably reduced automatically to increase the braking torque when the relative speeds attain a predetermined high value. (author)