(57) An energy absorber for use in ergometric and/or exercise apparatus. The absorber
includes a centrifugal-type fan (9) which is mounted within a housing (8) so as to
be rotatable relative to the housing (8) and thereby displace air, or other fluid,
contained in the housing (8). The energy absorbance function is directly related to
the capacity of the fan - (9) to displace air and that is optimised by providing baffle
means (24,29) within the housing (8) which influences air displaced by the fan (9)
to return to the fan inlet (13) for recirculation through the fan (9). The baffle
means (24,29) may take the form of stator blades (24) or ducting (29) within the housing
(8). According to another aspect, the housing (108) is rotatably mounted on a support
(133) so as to tend to turn in response to torque applied by air displaced by the
relatively rotating fan (109). An arm - (137) extends between the housing (108) and
the support (133) to prevent such turning movement of the housing (108) and the turning
force is reacted into a load cell (139) which is connected to that arm (137) and which
responds to the reacted force in a manner representative of the magnitude of that
force.
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