POWER DETECTING DEVICE

• US 20110048141A1
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Personality Gym AB
• Original Assignee: Tomas Svenberg
• Inventors: Svenberg, Tomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,079,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.191
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/31 Relative speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/80 Special sensors, transducers or devices therefor

Abstract

A device for detecting power for exercise equipment has a wheel driven by a person exercising, a speedometer for determining the speed of rotation of the wheel and a brake jaw supported by a mounting device and applicable against the wheel. The mounting device is connected to the frame of the exercise equipment and has a moving part which supports the brake jaw and which, under the action of the braking force, is applicable against a resilient shoulder. The shoulder has a strain gauge for measuring elastic deformations in the shoulder and thereby also indirectly the size of the braking force.

Claims

1. A device for detecting developed power in exercise equipment, and comprising:

a rotary wheel drivable by a person taking exercise, a device for determining the speed of rotation of the wheel, a brake jaw applicable against the wheel, a mounting device with a first part which, in the direction of movement of the wheel, is fixedly secured in the exercise equipment, and a second part which, against spring action, is movable in the direction of movement of the wheel and to which the brake jaw is connected, wherein there is connected, to the first and second parts, a sensor for determining the movement of the second part in relation to the first part in the direction of movement of the wheel.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting device includes a linear guide which is disposed to transfer to the brake jaw an application force against the wheel.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein there is disposed, on the first part of the mounting device, a yieldable shoulder against which a pressure device disposed on the second part is applicable, under the action of the braking force, and the sensor is disposed to measure the elastic deformation in the shoulder.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mounting device is movable along a line which extends through the centre of the wheel and the abutment surface of the brake jaw against the wheel;

and the mounting device is urgeable against the wheel along the line.

5. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first part of the mounting device is connected to the exercise equipment by the intermediary of a resilient arm whose longitudinal direction is substantially parallel with a tangent to the wheel in the area of the abutment of the brake jaw thereagainst.

6. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mounting device includes a spring which is disposed to hold the pressure device against the shoulder.

7. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the brake jaw has a brake surface intended for abutment against the periphery of the wheel and which is convex to the wheel.

8. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sensor is a strain gauge disposed on the shoulder.

9. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the linear guide is a ball guide.

10. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the linear guide is a body of elastic material.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is disposed, on the first part of the mounting device, a yieldable shoulder against which a pressure device disposed on the second part is applicable, under the action of the braking force, and the sensor is disposed to measure the elastic deformation in the shoulder.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the mounting device is movable along a line which extends through the centre of the wheel and the abutment surface of the brake jaw against the wheel;

and the mounting device is urgeable against the wheel along the line.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first part of the mounting device is connected to the exercise equipment by the intermediary of a resilient arm whose longitudinal direction is substantially parallel with a tangent to the wheel in the area of the abutment of the brake jaw thereagainst.

14. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the mounting device includes a spring which is disposed to hold the pressure device against the shoulder.

15. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the brake jaw has a brake surface intended for abutment against the periphery of the wheel and which is convex to the wheel.

16. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sensor is a strain gauge disposed on the shoulder.

17. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the linear guide is a ball guide.

18. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the linear guide is a body of elastic material.