CONTROL SYSTEM OF A CYCLING SIMULATION DEVICE

• US 20180001142A1
• Filed: 06/28/2017
• Published: 01/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Technogym SpA
• Original Assignee: Technogym SpA
• Inventors: VIARANI, Luigi, CRISTOFORI, Claudio, LORUSSO, Marco
• Granted Patent: US 10,272,295 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0051 using eddy currents induced in moved elements, e.g. by permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0057 using electromagnetic clutches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0058 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4034 for operation by feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/04 for lower limbs training appliances for special sports A63B69/00; for the purpose of producing mechanical power F03G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user

Abstract

Control system of a cycling simulation device, said device comprising a support frame, with which a user carries out training by acting on the pedals of said bicycle, a flywheel rotating around a main shaft, connected to said coupling members, and a braking device, acting on said flywheel, comprising: a control logic unit, capable of connecting in transmission and reception with a remote device, by which a user can set one or more training parameters, and a torque sensor for detecting and sending to said control logic unit a signal related to the torque acting on said main shaft during the rotation of said flywheel, and said control logic unit being configured so as to adjust the braking force exerted by said braking device on said flywheel as a function of training parameters and of signal related to the torque acting on said main shaft detected by torque sensor.

Claims

1. Improved control system of a cycling simulation device, said cycling simulation device being of the type comprising a support frame, on which coupling members are installed for coupling to the bicycle chain, with which a user carries out a training by acting on the respective pedals of said bicycle, a flywheel rotating around a main shaft, connected to said coupling members, and a braking device, acting on said flywheel, comprising:

a control logic unit, capable of connecting in transmission and reception with a remote device, by which a user can set one or more training parameters, and

a torque sensor for detecting and sending to said control logic unit a signal related to the torque acting on said main shaft during the rotation of said flywheel, and

said control logic unit being configured so as to adjust the braking force exerted by said braking device on said flywheel as a function of said training parameters set by said user and of said signal related to the torque acting on said main shaft detected by said torque sensor.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein it comprises an optical sensor, coupled with said support frame, to detect values of the distance between at least one of the two pedals of said bicycle from the sensor itself and to send a corresponding signal to said control logic unit, for it to adjust the braking force exerted by said braking device on said flywheel as a function also of said signal.

3. System according to claim 2, wherein said control logic unit carries out a correlation between said signal received from said torque sensor and said signal received from said optical sensor, so as to associate a value of the torque acting on said main shaft to the position of said at least one bicycle pedal.

4. System according to claim 2, wherein said support frame comprises a central elongated arm provided with two opposite ends, to which the ends of a first, a second and a third arm are pivotally coupled, said central arm being centrally positioned between said first and second arm,

an optical sensor being positioned on said third arm, on the portion that faces towards said second arm for detecting the passage of the left pedal, corresponding to the left foot of the user, of said bicycle, with respect to the optical sensor itself;

and/or

an optical sensor being positioned on the portion that faces towards said second arm for detecting the passage of the right pedal, corresponding to the right foot of the user, of said bicycle, with respect to the optical sensor itself.

5. System according to claim 1, wherein said remote device shows a preset graphical representation of the correlation carried out by said logic control unit of said signal received from said torque sensor and said signal received from said optical sensor.

6. Cycling simulation device of the type comprising a support frame, on which coupling members are installed for coupling to the bicycle chain, with which a user carries out a training by acting on the respective pedals of said bicycle, a flywheel rotating around a main shaft, connected to said coupling members, a braking device acting on said flywheel and a control logic unit, characterized in that said cycling simulation device comprises

a torque sensor for detecting and sending to said control logic unit a signal as a function of the torque acting on said main shaft during the rotation of said flywheel,

wherein said control logic unit is configured so as to receive a plurality of training parameters selected by said user from a remote device, and to adjust the braking force exerted by said braking device on said flywheel, as a function of said parameters set by said user and of said signal related to the torque acting on said main shaft detected by said torque sensor.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein it comprises an optical sensor coupled with said support frame, to detect the values of the distance between at least one of the two pedals of said bicycle from the sensor itself and to send a signal proportional to said distance values to said control logic unit, for it to adjust the braking force exerted by said braking device on said flywheel as a function also of said signal.

8. Device according to claim 7, wherein said control logic unit carries out a correlation between said signal received from said torque sensor and said signal received from said optical sensor, to associate a value of the torque acting on said main shaft to said at least one bicycle pedal.

9. Device according to claim 6, wherein said support frame is of the type comprising a central elongated arm provided with two opposite ends, to which the ends of a first and a second and a third arm are pivotally coupled, said central arm being centrally positioned between said first and second arm, said optical sensor being positioned on said third arm in the portion that faces towards said second arm for detecting the passage of the left pedal of said bicycle.

10. Device according to claim 6, wherein said support frame is of the type comprising a central elongated arm provided with two opposite ends, to which the ends of a first and a second and a third arm are pivotally coupled, said central arm being centrally positioned between said first and second arm, said optical sensor being positioned on said third arm on the portion that faces towards said second arm for detecting the passage of the right pedal of said bicycle.

11. Device according to claim 6, wherein said braking device comprises

at least one permanent magnet,

a magnet holder bracket housing said at least one permanent magnet, said magnet holder bracket being capable of assuming an inactive position, in which said at least one permanent magnet does not overlap over said flywheel, and an active position, in which said at least one permanent magnet is at least partially overlapped over said flywheel, and

a motor, connected to, and controlled by said control logic unit, said motor being arranged for causing said magnet holder bracket to pass from said inactive position to an active position and vice-versa.

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein

said magnet holder bracket is pivoted about a pivot, and

said braking device comprises

a worm screw, arranged to be rotated by said motor, and

a nut screw, engaged with said worm screw, said nut screw being integral with, or fixed to said magnet holder bracket,

so that when the control logic unit actuates said motor, said motor causes the rotation of said worm screw according to a first rotation direction, so as the nut screw to rotate and the magnet holder bracket to rotate about said pivot, so as to increasing the overlapping surface of said at least one permanent magnet, and

when said motor rotates said worm screw in a second direction, opposite to said first rotation direction, said nut screw rotates said magnet holder bracket from said active position to said inactive position.

13. Device according to claim 11, wherein said braking device comprises

a first pair of permanent magnets and

a second pair of permanent magnets,

said first and said second pair of permanent magnets being housed within said magnet holder bracket, so that each permanent magnet of said first pair of permanent magnets is faced to one respective permanent magnet of said second pair of permanent magnets,

said flywheel passing between said first and said second pair of permanent magnets.

14. Device according to claim 6, wherein said braking device is of electromagnetic type comprising a coil and a clutch, actuated by said coil made of winding turns, where the adjustment of the braking action is achieved by adjusting the current flowing through said winding turns.

15. Method to control a device according to claim 6, comprising the following steps of:

a. providing a remote device, equipped with a memory unit, configured for setting one or more parameters relating to a plurality of trainings, stored in said memory unit, selectable by a user;

b. operatively connecting said remote device to said control logic unit;

c. selecting one predefined training program stored said the memory unit of said remote device, corresponding to a real predetermined path, which is identified with a plurality of fixed or manually adjustable parameters by the user, or based on parameters set by said user;

d. sending said parameters relating to said selected predefined training program to said control logic unit; and

e. adjusting the braking force exerted by said braking device on said flywheel as a function of said parameters relating to said selected predefined training program and of the signal related to the torque acting on said main shaft detected by said torque sensor.

16. Method according to claim 15, wherein said step e. comprises the following sub-steps:

adjusting the braking force exerted by said braking device on said flywheel as a function also of said signal proportional to said values of the distance of at least of the two pedals from the sensor itself.