Electronic flywheel and clutch for exercise apparatus
First Claim
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1. A stationary exercise bicycle comprising:
- a frame;
a seat and a pair of pedal-operated crank arms connected to said frame to enable a user to provide an input pedal torque at an input pedal speed; and
an electronic flywheel connected to said frame which performs equivalently to a large conventional flywheel, wherein said electronic flywheel comprises;
data input means to enable said user to input preset load torque;
speed reference command generator means to provide a time varying speed reference command signal as a function of difference between said input pedal torque and said preset load torque, wherein said speed reference command generator means comprising computer means for computing said time varying speed reference command signal according to the following equation;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">S=∫
(T.sub.p -T.sub.1)/J where;
S is defined as said time varying speed reference command signal;
Tp is defined as said input pedal torque;
T1 is defined as said preset load torque; and
J is defined as a selected valued which corresponds to inertia; and
speed servo control means for controlling said input pedal speed to equal said time varying speed reference command signal, the speed servo control means comprising a load torque means.
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Abstract
An exercise apparatus which provides a variable load torque that substantially equals and opposes any possible input torque. A set of pedals is used to provide an input torque which is transmitted to the load. A speed reference command generator compares the input torque to a load torque setting and generates an electronic speed reference command signal. This signal is communicated to a speed servo to force the input speed to equal the speed reference command signal.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A stationary exercise bicycle comprising:
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a frame; a seat and a pair of pedal-operated crank arms connected to said frame to enable a user to provide an input pedal torque at an input pedal speed; and an electronic flywheel connected to said frame which performs equivalently to a large conventional flywheel, wherein said electronic flywheel comprises; data input means to enable said user to input preset load torque; speed reference command generator means to provide a time varying speed reference command signal as a function of difference between said input pedal torque and said preset load torque, wherein said speed reference command generator means comprising computer means for computing said time varying speed reference command signal according to the following equation;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">S=∫
(T.sub.p -T.sub.1)/Jwhere; S is defined as said time varying speed reference command signal; Tp is defined as said input pedal torque; T1 is defined as said preset load torque; and J is defined as a selected valued which corresponds to inertia; and speed servo control means for controlling said input pedal speed to equal said time varying speed reference command signal, the speed servo control means comprising a load torque means.
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2. A stationary exercise bicycle comprising:
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a frame; an adjustable seat located on said frame to enable a user to sit on said adjustable seat; power transmission means and a pair of pedal-operated crank arms connected to said frame to enable said user to provide an input pedal torque at an input pedal speed to drive a common input shaft of said power transmission means; torque measuring means to measure said input pedal torque; data input means to enable said user to input preset load torque; speed reference command generator means connected to said frame to provide a time varying speed reference command signal as a function of difference between said input pedal torque and said preset load torque; and speed servo control means connected to said frame for controlling said input pedal speed to equal said time varying speed reference command signal, the speed servo control means comprising a load torque means, speed detecting means to measure said input pedal speed, a summing amplifier to receive and compare summing difference between said input pedal speed and said time varying speed reference command signal, an amplifier to amplify said summing difference and to provide an amplified difference, filter means to filter said amplified difference and to provide a filtered amplified difference, and a power transistor connected across armature of said load torque means and controlled by said filtered amplified difference to provide a variable resistance across said armature to control current flowing through said load torque means and to force said input pedal speed to equal said time varying speed reference command signal. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A stationary exercising apparatus comprising:
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a stationary bicycle comprising a seat connecting to a frame, and a gearbox, wherein said gearbox is connected to pedals for producing an input torque by a user at an input pedal speed; and an electronic flywheel which performs equivalently to a large conventional flywheel, wherein said electronic flywheel comprises; data input means to enable said user to input preset load torque; speed reference command generator means connected to said frame to provide a time varying speed reference command signal as a function of difference between said input torque and said preset load torque, wherein said speed reference command generator means comprising computer means for computing said time varying speed reference command signal according to the following equation;
space="preserve" listing-type="equation">S=∫
(T.sub.p -T.sub.1)/Jwhere; S is defined as said time varying speed reference command signal; Tp is defined as said input pedal torque; T1 is defined as said preset load torque; and J is defined as a selected valued which corresponds to inertia; and speed servo control means connected to said frame for monitoring said input pedal speed, for receiving said time varying speed reference command signal from said speed reference command generator means and for equating said input pedal speed with said time varying speed reference command signal, the speed servo control means comprising a load torque means, speed detecting means to measure said input pedal speed, a summing amplifier to receive and compare a summing difference between said input pedal speed and said time varying speed reference command signal, an amplifier to amplify said summing difference and to provide an amplified difference, filter means to filter said amplified difference and to provide a filtered amplified difference, and a power transistor connected across armature of said load torque means and controlled by said filtered amplified difference to provide a variable resistance across said armature to control current flowing through said load torque means and to force said input pedal speed to equal said time varying speed reference command signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification