Measuring apparatus for pedal-crank assembly
First Claim
1. Apparatus for measuring selected output parameters of a user of a power-using device comprising:
- a power-using device having a frame and a pedal-crank assembly with relative rotation between said pedal-crank assembly and said frame being provided by the user,torque measuring means mounted on said pedal-crank assembly providing first plurality of electric signals proportional to torque generated by said user in rotating said assembly,angular position sensing means providing second plurality of electric signals indicating selected angular positions of said assembly as said assembly is rotated by the user, said angular positions being equiangular,timing means providing third plurality of electric signals proportional to real time,transfer means for transferring said first electric signals between said rotating assembly and a programmed microprocessor means on said frame,said programmed microprocessor means on said power-using device and responsive to said first, second and third signals for;
determining a value of torque at each of said equiangular positions as said assembly is rotated by said user and in response to said first and second electric signals,determining a value of a time interval between two selected angular positions of said assembly as said assembly is rotated by the user in response to said second and third electric signals,performing an approximate integration of said values of torque over said two selected angular positions to provide a value of work done by the user in rotating said assembly through said two selected angular positions,dividing said value of work by said value of the time interval to provide a value of power provided by said user during said time interval, andreadout means on said power-using device responsive to outputs from said programmed microprocessor means to display said torque, work and power values.
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Abstract
Apparatus measures output parameters including torque, work, power, rpm and time for selected rotations of the user of a power-using device having a pedal-crank assembly. Torque vs. angular position values are input from rotating strain gauges and angular position sensors to a programmed microprocessor which stores and processes this data. An approximate-integration algorithm produces a value for work produced over a selected rotation. This work value is further divided by the time interval to produce a value for the instantaneous power being produced. With appropriate sensors, many forms of data for both right and left crank arms can be displayed and/or stored separately.
269 Citations
30 Claims
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1. Apparatus for measuring selected output parameters of a user of a power-using device comprising:
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a power-using device having a frame and a pedal-crank assembly with relative rotation between said pedal-crank assembly and said frame being provided by the user, torque measuring means mounted on said pedal-crank assembly providing first plurality of electric signals proportional to torque generated by said user in rotating said assembly, angular position sensing means providing second plurality of electric signals indicating selected angular positions of said assembly as said assembly is rotated by the user, said angular positions being equiangular, timing means providing third plurality of electric signals proportional to real time, transfer means for transferring said first electric signals between said rotating assembly and a programmed microprocessor means on said frame, said programmed microprocessor means on said power-using device and responsive to said first, second and third signals for; determining a value of torque at each of said equiangular positions as said assembly is rotated by said user and in response to said first and second electric signals, determining a value of a time interval between two selected angular positions of said assembly as said assembly is rotated by the user in response to said second and third electric signals, performing an approximate integration of said values of torque over said two selected angular positions to provide a value of work done by the user in rotating said assembly through said two selected angular positions, dividing said value of work by said value of the time interval to provide a value of power provided by said user during said time interval, and readout means on said power-using device responsive to outputs from said programmed microprocessor means to display said torque, work and power values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. Apparatus for measuring and displaying torque, work and power values of a user of a power-using device comprising:
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a power-using device having a non-rotating frame member and a pedal-crank assembly with relative rotation between said pedal-crank assembly and said member being provided by the user, a torque measuring device mounted on said pedal-crank assembly providing first plurality of electric signals proportional to torque generated by said user in rotating said assembly, an angular position sensing device providing second plurality of electric signals indicating selected angular positions of said assembly as said assembly is rotated by the user, said angular positions being equiangular, timing means providing third plurality of electric signals proportional to real time, transfer means for transferring said first electric signals between said rotating assembly and a programmed microprocessor means on said member, said programmed microprocessor on said power-using device and responsive to said first, second and third signals for; determining a value of torque at each of said equiangular positions as said assembly is rotated by said users and in response to said first and second electric signals, determining a value of a time interval between two selected angular positions of said assembly as said crank wheel is rotated by the user in response to said second and third electric signals, performing an approximate integration of said values of torque over said two selected angular positions to provide a value of work done by the user in rotating said assembly through said two selected angular positions, dividing said value of work by said value of the time interval to provide a value of power provided by said user during said time interval, temperature sensor means responsive to the temperature at said assembly providing electric signals proportional to temperature, heart beat sensor means providing electric signals for determining heart rate data of the user including work per heart beat values, wheel rotation sensor means providing electric signals for determining distance in conjunction with torque, work, power, time and heart beat values, and a visual display on said power-using device responsive to outputs from said programmed microprocessor means to display said RPM, torque, work, power, time, distance and heart beat values.
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Specification