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Apparatus and method for measuring subject work rate on an exercise device

  • US 5,242,339 A
  • Filed: 10/15/1991
  • Issued: 09/07/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. Method of quantifying the subject work rate in a weightless environment in terms of an equivalent grade factor, the internal work rate, and external work rate, applied to a treadmill over a period of time by a user thereof, which comprises the steps ofmeasuring at a plurality of locations along the treadmill total instantaneous vertical forces applied by the user when in a mode of motion,averaging said total instantaneous vertical forces over time to develop an average vertical force which is equal to an equivalent body weight,measuring along the treadmill relative to the user instantaneous horizontal forces applied by the user when in motion,averaging said instantaneous horizontal forces over time to produce an average horizontal force,measuring velocity of the treadmill,deriving from said equivalent body weight, said velocity of the treadmill, and said mode a measure of internal work rate,multiplying said average horizontal force by said velocity of the treadmill to produce a measure of the external work rate,deriving the equivalent grade factor of the treadmill from said average vertical force and said average horizontal force, andapplying to the user an adjustable vertical force to produce a predetermined downwardly directed vertical force on the treadmill.

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