Method and apparatus for measuring power output of one powering a chain driven vehicle
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for measuring the power transmitted by an elongate flexible member, comprising:
- a system having a first engagement means separated from a second engagement means, the elongate flexible member coupling the first engagement means with the second engagement means so that when the first engagement means is rotated by a power source the elongate flexible member moves in the direction of the rotation of the first engagement means, which in turn causes the moving elongate flexible member to rotate the second engagement means;
a tension sensor spaced away from the elongate flexible member in order to measure the vibration of the elongate flexible member;
a speed sensor that measures the speed of the elongate flexible member; and
a computer that receives the tension measurement and the speed measurement and determines the power transmitted by the elongate flexible member.
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Abstract
The invention broadly provides a method and apparatus for measuring the power output of one powering a chain driven vehicle. In a preferred embodiment described, the vehicle is a bicycle. The method of the invention comprises measuring the speed and tension of the drive chain and calculating the power output therefrom. The apparatus of the invention includes a chain speed sensor, a chain tension sensor, and electronic processing means to calculate and display the power output based upon the chain measurements.
46 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring the power transmitted by an elongate flexible member, comprising:
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a system having a first engagement means separated from a second engagement means, the elongate flexible member coupling the first engagement means with the second engagement means so that when the first engagement means is rotated by a power source the elongate flexible member moves in the direction of the rotation of the first engagement means, which in turn causes the moving elongate flexible member to rotate the second engagement means;
a tension sensor spaced away from the elongate flexible member in order to measure the vibration of the elongate flexible member;
a speed sensor that measures the speed of the elongate flexible member; and
a computer that receives the tension measurement and the speed measurement and determines the power transmitted by the elongate flexible member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for measuring the power transmitted by an elongate flexible member in a system having a first engagement means separated from a second engagement means, the elongate flexible member coupling the first engagement means with the second engagement means so that when the first engagement means is rotated by a power source the elongate flexible member moves in the direction of the rotation of the first engagement means, which in turn causes the moving elongate flexible member to rotate the second engagement means;
- the method comprising the steps of;
measuring the vibration of the elongate flexible member with a tension sensor spaced away from the elongate flexible member;
determining the speed of the elongate flexible member by a speed sensor; and
receiving the tension measurement and the speed measurement in a computer, generating a signal representing the power transmitted by the elongate flexible member. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- the method comprising the steps of;
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19. A method for determining the tension in a chain on a vehicle such as a bicycle driven by the chain comprising the steps of:
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a) identifying a vibrating section of the drive chain;
b) providing a vibration sensor on the bicycle in proximity and spaced away from the elongate flexible member to the vibrating section of the drive chain;
c) measuring the frequency of vibration of the vibrating section of the drive chain by means of the sensor during operation of the bicycle; and
d) utilizing the frequency of vibration to determine the tension in the drive chain. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for determining the vibrational frequency of a chain on a vehicle such as a bicycle driven by the chain comprising:
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a) providing a chain vibration signal by means of a vibration sensor in proximity to and spaced away from the drive chain;
b) performing a Fast Fourier Transform on the chain vibration signal; and
c) heuristically selecting the chain vibration frequency. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. Apparatus for measuring the tension in a chain on a vehicle such as a bicycle driven by the chain comprising:
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a) a vibration sensor mounted on the bicycle in proximity to and spaced away from a vibrating section of the chain for measuring the frequency of vibration of the vibrating section of the chain during operation of the vehicle;
b) signal processing means on the vehicle operatively connected to the vibration sensor for selecting a measured frequency of vibration; and
c) computer means on the vehicle operatively connected to the signal processing means for computing the tension in the chain. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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27. A method for measuring the power output of a person operating a vehicle such as a bicycle driven by means including a chain comprising the steps of:
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a) measuring the vibration of the chain by means of a sensor on the vehicle that is spaced away from the chain;
b) measuring the speed of the chain by means of a sensor on the vehicle;
c) computing the power transmitted by the chain by means of a computer on the vehicle using the chain speed and vibration. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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31. Apparatus for measuring the power output of a person operating a vehicle such as a bicycle driven by means including a chain comprising:
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a) a tension sensor mounted on the vehicle in proximity to and spaced away from a vibrating section of the chain for measuring the vibration of the chain;
b) a speed sensor mounted on the vehicle in proximity to the chain for measuring the speed of the chain; and
c) a computer on the vehicle and operatively connected to the tension sensor and to the speed sensor for computing the power transmitted by the chain using the measured vibration and speed of the chain. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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Specification