Method of using and apparatus for use with exercise machines to achieve programmable variable resistance
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use with an exercise machine, said apparatus comprising:
- a support frame;
a reversible, variable speed, constant torque motor means fixedly mounted on said frame for providing a user of said exercise machine with independently variable force and speed so that said user can perform a plurality of exercise protocols including all combinations of isotonic and isokinetic exercises with either a constant or variable force controlled parameter, an active or passive resistance in a uni- or bi-lateral direction;
magnetic particle clutch means mounted on said force creation means for engaging or disengaging a drive shaft connected to and driven by said motor means;
gear drive reduction means fixedly mounted on said frame and mechanically coupled to said magnetic particle clutch means by said drive shaft for varying said output speed;
clutch driver means for controlling operation of said magnetic particle clutch means;
motor driver means for controlling operation of said motor means;
a plurality of sensing means at various locations within said apparatus for sensing information and generating signals;
signal conditioning means for receiving and conditioning signals from said plurality of sensing means;
controller means for receiving and processing said conditioned signals from said signal conditioning means in order to control said clutch driver means and said motor driver means; and
connecting means for connecting handle means of said exercise machine to said drive shaft of said motor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An exercise machine which can independently vary the force and the speed at the user end is developed. The exercise machine includes a constant torque, variable speed reversible motor, a temperature controlled magnetic particle clutch, a gear reducer, a controller, and a suitable lever mechanism. The motor, clutch and gear reducer are chosen in a combination in order to achieve a predetermined output so that any combination of isotonic, isokinetic, isometric, isotonic/isokinetic, constant, variable, active, passive, uni-directional or bi-directional exercise routines can be performed with the exercise machine. With suitable lever modifications, the resistance providing unit can be successfully modified to emulate a shoulder press, bench press, leg exercise machine, arm exercise machine, etc. The output parameters, user force and user speed, are controlled in real time to maintain accuracy. This is made possible by the use of a PC-based controller interfaced to off-the-shelf motor and clutch control boards. A user interface written in C programming language helps facilitate maintenance of user exercise records for future reference, maintains the large array of protocols and encourages direct user participation for protocol selection. The PC-based controller can also be replaced with a microcontroller-based controller to minimize the cost. The machine features three different levels of safety ensuring total user safety and minimizing any chances of mishaps.
75 Citations
40 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use with an exercise machine, said apparatus comprising:
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a support frame; a reversible, variable speed, constant torque motor means fixedly mounted on said frame for providing a user of said exercise machine with independently variable force and speed so that said user can perform a plurality of exercise protocols including all combinations of isotonic and isokinetic exercises with either a constant or variable force controlled parameter, an active or passive resistance in a uni- or bi-lateral direction; magnetic particle clutch means mounted on said force creation means for engaging or disengaging a drive shaft connected to and driven by said motor means; gear drive reduction means fixedly mounted on said frame and mechanically coupled to said magnetic particle clutch means by said drive shaft for varying said output speed; clutch driver means for controlling operation of said magnetic particle clutch means; motor driver means for controlling operation of said motor means; a plurality of sensing means at various locations within said apparatus for sensing information and generating signals; signal conditioning means for receiving and conditioning signals from said plurality of sensing means; controller means for receiving and processing said conditioned signals from said signal conditioning means in order to control said clutch driver means and said motor driver means; and connecting means for connecting handle means of said exercise machine to said drive shaft of said motor. - 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, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of operating an apparatus for use with an exercise machine wherein said apparatus includes a reversible, variable speed, constant torque motor means fixedly mounted on a frame for providing a user of said exercise machine with independently variable force and speed so that said user of said exercise machine can perform a plurality of exercise protocols including all combinations of isotonic and isokinetic exercises with either a constant or variable force controlled parameter and an active or passive resistance in an uni- or bi- lateral direction, a magnetic particle clutch means mounted on said force creation means and gear drive reduction means fixedly mounted on said frame and mechanically coupled to said magnetic particle clutch by a drive shaft for varying said output speed, comprising the method steps of:
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generating a plurality of signals from a plurality of sensing means within said apparatus; conditioning said signals for processing; processing said signals for operatively controlling a clutch driver means and a motor drive means for driving said clutch means and said motor means, respectively; and actuating a connecting means between a handle means of said exercise machine and said drive shaft of said motor means wherein said actuating of said connecting means is controlled by said clutch driver means and said motor driver means. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification