Magnetically variable air resistance wheel for exercise devices
First Claim
1. A load applying system for an exercise device, including:
- a manually operable rotor including an integral fan wheel and a first load disc;
a non-rotatable second load disc mounted adjacent to said first load disc;
one of said load discs including a ferromagnetic layer and a nonmagnetic conductive layer; and
the other of said load discs including a plurality of magnets;
whereby the rotation of said rotor is effective to generate a fan load on said rotor and a corresponding air movement from said fan wheel for cooling of operator and equipment, and to induce an eddy current load on said rotor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A combination air load and magnetic load device applies load to a rotor of an exercise machine. The rotor includes a fan wheel and an eddy current disc. A non-rotating magnet plate faces the eddy current disc and is spaced from it by an air gap. The non-rotating magnet plate includes a circumferential array of permanent magnets, their polarity orientations alternated. The eddy current load is variable by manual or automated control of the air gap between the eddy current disc and the non-rotating magnet plate. The user can reduce the load by increasing the air gap, or increase the load by decreasing the air gap. The rotating fan wheel generates air movement for cooling of operator and equipment, and a corresponding fan load on the rotor. The rotating eddy current disc induces an eddy current load on the rotor.
77 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A load applying system for an exercise device, including:
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a manually operable rotor including an integral fan wheel and a first load disc; a non-rotatable second load disc mounted adjacent to said first load disc; one of said load discs including a ferromagnetic layer and a nonmagnetic conductive layer; and the other of said load discs including a plurality of magnets; whereby the rotation of said rotor is effective to generate a fan load on said rotor and a corresponding air movement from said fan wheel for cooling of operator and equipment, and to induce an eddy current load on said rotor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A load applying system for an exercise device, including:
- a manually operable rotor comprising a single rotor wheel which is a combination (i) fan wheel to generate air movement for cooling of operator and equipment, and (ii) eddy current disc to conduct an electrical eddy current; and
magnetic means to induce an electrical eddy current in said eddy current disc; whereby the rotation of said rotor is effective to generate a fan load on said rotor and a corresponding air movement from said fan wheel for cooling of operator and equipment, and to generate an eddy current load on said rotor. - View Dependent Claims (10)
- a manually operable rotor comprising a single rotor wheel which is a combination (i) fan wheel to generate air movement for cooling of operator and equipment, and (ii) eddy current disc to conduct an electrical eddy current; and
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11. A load applying system for an exercise device, including:
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a manually operable rotor including an integral fan wheel and a first load member; a non-rotatable second load member mounted adjacent to said first load member; one of said load members including a ferromagnetic layer and a nonmagnetic conductive layer; and the other of said load members including a plurality of magnets; whereby the rotation of said rotor is effective to generate a fan load on said rotor and a corresponding air movement from said fan wheel for cooling of operator and equipment, and to induce an eddy current load on said rotor. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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Specification