MOVING BELT ERGOMETER WITH BRAKING ARRANGEMENT

• US 3,602,502 A
• Filed: 04/20/1970
• Issued: 08/31/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Franz Hampl
• Original Assignee: Franz Hampl
• Inventors: Hampl, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Pinkham, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dror, Richard
• Application Number:
  US05/030,050
• Time in Patent Office: 498 Days
• Field of Search: 272/69,73 198/184 73/379
• US Class Current: 482/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/22 Ergometry; Measuring muscular strength or the force of a muscular blow exercising apparatus A63B21/00 ; measuring of work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/025 electrically, e.g. D.C. motors with variable speed control
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque

Abstract

A moving belt ergometer for physically stressing a living being having a walking surface in the form of an endless belt which can be inclined with respect to the horizontal and which is driven by a speed-controlled variable-speed electromotor. A braking arrangement is provided for the endless belt which is actuated whenever the force transmitted between the endless belt and the drive motor is such that the motor is being driven by the belt. Preferably, the electromotor is a shunt-connected DC motor provided with a thyristor-controlled dynamic braking arrangement which is responsive to the counter-EMF of the electromotor indicating that the electromotor is being driven as a generator.

Claims

1. In a moving belt ergometer for physically stressing a living being, said ergometer including a walking surface in the form of an endless moving belt which can be adjusted in its inclination with respect to the horizontal, and drive means including a speed-controlled variable-speed electromotor for driving said moving belts, the improvement comprising:

a. brake means for applying a braking force to said moving belt; and

b. means responsive to the direction of the force being transmitted between said belt and said drive means for actuating said brake means whenever said drive means is being driven by said moving belt as a result of a user-developed force which tends to drive said belt at a speed faster than that imparted by said drive means.

2. A moving belt ergometer as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for actuating said brake means is responsive to the counter EMF generated by said electromotor.

3. A moving belt ergometer as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for actuating said brake means is responsive to the torque acting on said electromotor.

4. A moving belt ergometer as defined in claim 1 wherein said brake means comprises means for electrically braking said electromotor.

5. A moving belt ergometer as defined in claim 4 wherein said electromotor is a DC shunt motor and wherein said brake means comprises a first thyristor connected in series with a load resistor and in parallel with the armature of said motor, and a first triggering circuit connected to the control electrode of said thyristor for producing an output pulse in response to a signal from said means for actuating said brake means.

6. A moving belt ergometer as defined in claim 5 wherein said drive means includes a second thyristor connected in series with said electromotor armature and a source of operating power for controlling the supply of operating power to said electromotor, and a second triggering circuit for periodically supplying triggering pulses to the control electrode of said second thyristor;

and wherein circuit means for periodically extinguishing said brake means are provided including a third thyristor connected between the junction of said first thyristor and said load resistor, and said source of operating power, said third thyristor having its control electrode connected to the output of said second triggering circuit.

7. A moving belt ergometer as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for actuating said brake means comprises a transformer having its primary winding connected in series with and between said second thyristor and said armature of said DC motor, and its secondary winding connected to the input of a control circuit means, said control cIrcuit means producing an output signal for actuating said first triggering circuit whenever the counter EMF of said DC motor exceeds the value of the DC voltage pulses from said source of operating power passing through said second thyristor, resulting in no output voltage appearing across the secondary winding of said transformer.

8. The ergometer as defined in claim 7 wherein said DC motor is connected to said moving belt via a simple reduction gear mechanism.