Apparatus and method for extracting vibration data from a moving drive chain
First Claim
1. An apparatus for measuring the tension of a moving drive chain having spaced apart link pins, comprising:
- at least two sensors proximate to the chain and spaced from each other along the length of the chain, each sensor having a signal output for providing a sensor signal;
a processor in communication with the signal outputs of the at least two sensors;
wherein the sensor signals of the at least two sensors are analyzed by the processor to calculate a chain tension; and
wherein the processor analyzes the sensor signals by identifying portions of the sensor signals which are out of phase with one another.
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Abstract
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for extracting vibration data from a moving drive chain. In the preferred embodiment, the chain is that of a bicycle, or similar pedaled machine such as an indoor stationery bicycle, with two or more sensors placed on the chainstay of the bicycle to measure the vibrational frequency of the chain. Such vibration data can be used to determine the tension of the chain, and may also further compute the power transmitted by the chain, in conjunction with the measurement of chain speed. The invention provides a method and apparatus for conditioning and filtering the signals from the vibration sensors, as well as an arrangement for positioning the sensors on the bicycle.
7 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring the tension of a moving drive chain having spaced apart link pins, comprising:
- at least two sensors proximate to the chain and spaced from each other along the length of the chain, each sensor having a signal output for providing a sensor signal;
a processor in communication with the signal outputs of the at least two sensors;
wherein the sensor signals of the at least two sensors are analyzed by the processor to calculate a chain tension; and
wherein the processor analyzes the sensor signals by identifying portions of the sensor signals which are out of phase with one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- at least two sensors proximate to the chain and spaced from each other along the length of the chain, each sensor having a signal output for providing a sensor signal;
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9. A method for measuring the tension of a moving drive chain having a link spacing, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least two sensors proximate the chain, each sensor producing a sensor signal depending on a position of the chain;
analyzing the sensor signals to identify portions of the sensor signals which are out of phase with one another;
combining the sensor signals to produce a resultant signal;
removing the identified frequencies from the resultant signal; and
calculating a chain tension of the chain based on the resultant signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- providing at least two sensors proximate the chain, each sensor producing a sensor signal depending on a position of the chain;
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17. A bicycle, comprising:
- a frame;
a chainring rotatably connected to the frame;
a pedal in fixed relation to the chainring and able to cause the chainring to rotate with respect to the frame;
a wheel rotatably connected to the frame;
at least one sprocket in ratcheting relation to the wheel and able to cause the wheel to rotate in a first direction;
a chain in engaging communication with the chainring and the at least one sprocket such that rotation of the chainring causes rotation of the at least one sprocket;
at least two sensors affixed to the frame and proximate to the chain, each sensor having a signal output for providing a sensor signal;
a processor in communication with the signal outputs of the at least two sensors;
wherein the sensor signals of the at least two sensors are analyzed by the processor to calculate a chain tension, and wherein the processor analyzes the sensor signals by identifying portions of the sensor signals which are out of phase with one another.
- a frame;
Specification