Exercise apparatus based on a variable mode hydraulic cylinder and method for same

• US 7,762,934 B1
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FOI Group LLC
• Original Assignee: FOI Group LLC
• Inventors: Munson, David Murray Jr., Flatt, David Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Mathew; Fenn C
• Application Number:
  US11/119,788
• Time in Patent Office: 1,912 Days
• Field of Search: 482111-113, 482135-138
• US Class Current: 482/112
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00072 by changing the length of a lever
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/154 using special pulley-assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4045 Reciprocating movement along, in or on a guide weights moving along or in guiding means A63B21/06; for cardio-training A63B22/201
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/34 Tackling, blocking or grappling dummies, e.g. boxing or wrestling or American- football dummies

Abstract

The invention is a hydraulic cylinder for use in exercise machines to deliver a controllable fast acting force. The invention uses a hydraulic cylinder with features that allow high acceleration rates, rapid changes of force level and direction, and positive force limitation. In the preferred embodiment, the hydraulic cylinder is composed of a rodless, hydraulic cylinder coupled to a cable and pulley system. A water source delivers water to generate a force against an inner bi-directionally moving piston to generate a regulated movement and force.

The ends of the rodless hydraulic cylinder are sealed by both a water control spool valve and a controllable poppet style pressure relief valve. The water control spool valves adjustably permits water to enter and exit the hydraulic cylinder to regulate the direction and speed of movement of the piston. The pressure relief valve controls the desired maximum pressure and corresponding forces exerted on cylinder. Thus, both the internal speed and force of movement of the piston can be controlled. The invention can deliver high acceleration/speed, high force resistance; high acceleration/speed, low force resistance; low acceleration/speed, high force resistance; or low acceleration/speed, low force resistance exercise forces and movements depending on the water flow, internal pressure, and resulting generated forces.

Claims

1. A method for generating an active force in an exercise machine to create a particular muscular response comprising the steps of:

providing a bypassing fluid flow from a first hydraulic cylinder to generate an active quick response exercise force, said first hydraulic cylinder having a piston with a first end sealed using a first control valve controlled by a first valve controller and a second end sealed using a second control valve controlled by a second valve controller, said first and second valve controller coupled to operate cooperatively so said piston moves bi-directionally along the length of said hydraulic cylinder coupled to a cable;

regulating the fluid flow through the hydraulic cylinder to control the exercise force by using said first and said second control valves to regulate the fluid flow through the hydraulic cylinder, said first and second control values adjustably permitting the fluid flow through the first control valve and the second control valve using said first valve controller and said second valve controller to generate a regulated force and movement of the exercise apparatus by bi-directionally moving said piston coupled to said cable; and

controlling the exercise force to deliver variable modalities of force output for a constant force, constant speed, varying force, or varying speed.

2. The method for generating an active force in an exercise machine to create a particular muscular response of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

providing a second hydraulic cylinder concentrically mated to a third cylinder, a first end of said second hydraulic cylinder sealed opposite from said third cylinder and capable of sliding along a length of the third cylinder, said hydraulic cylinder moving in response to a fluid flow into the second hydraulic cylinder; and

adjustably permitting the fluid flow through the second hydraulic cylinder using a third valve controller on a third control valve to control the fluid flow from the second hydraulic cylinder and generate an additional regulated force and movement.

3. The method for generating an active force in an exercise machine to create a particular muscular response of claim 2 wherein the fluid flows through the third cylinder from a fluid source.

4. The method for generating an active force in an exercise machine to create a particular muscular response of claim 2 wherein the source of the fluid flow source into the second hydraulic cylinder is controlled.

5. The method for generating an active force in an exercise machine to create a particular muscular response of claim 1

wherein the fluid flows through the first cylinder from a fluid source.

6. The method for generating an active force in an exercise machine to create a particular muscular response of claim 1 wherein the source of the fluid flow into the first hydraulic cylinder is controlled.

7. The method for generating an active force in an exercise machine to create a particular muscular response of claim 1 wherein valve actuators and relief valves comprise the first valve controller and the second valve controller.

8. The method for generating an active force in an exercise machine to create a particular muscular response of claim 1 wherein the control valve comprises at least one of:

a spool valve;

a poppet valve;

pressure compensated poppet valve;

or

a rotary Y valve.

9. An exercise apparatus for generating an active force and creating a variable mode muscle response comprising:

a first cylinder having a fluid that can be adjustably controlled to flow in said first cylinder in a regulated manner to provide an exercise force and movement generated by controlling the fluid flow, said first cylinder having a piston with a first end sealed using a first control valve controlled by a first valve controller and a second end sealed using a second control valve controlled by a second valve controller, said first and second valve controller coupled to operate cooperatively so said piston moves bi-directionally along the length of said first cylinder coupled to a cable thereby adjustable permitting the fluid flow through the first control valve and the second control valve to generate a regulated force and movement of the exercise apparatus;

a second cylinder concentrically mated to a third cylinder, a fluid flow in the second cylinder is adjustable permitted to flow using a third valve controller on a third control valve to control the fluid flow and generate an additional regulated force and movement;

a first end of said second cylinder sealed opposite from said third cylinder and said second cylinder capable of sliding along a length of the third cylinder;

a fluid flow out of the second cylinder adjusted using a control valve to regulate the exercise force.

10. The exercise apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a high speed, high force exercise force generated by varying the fluid flow.

11. The exercise apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a high speed, low force exercise force generated by varying the fluid flow.

12. The exercise apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a low speed, high force exercise force generated by varying the fluid flow.

13. The exercise apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a low speed, low force exercise force generated by varying the fluid flow.

14. The exercise apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a high speed, high force exercise force generated by varying the fluid flow.

15. An exercise apparatus to generate an active force and create variable muscle response comprising:

a first cylinder having a fluid inside the first cylinder that can be adjustably controlled to exit the first cylinder to generate an active exercise force through the use of the control valve that regulates sliding movement of said cylinder, said first cylinder having a first end and a second end concentrically fitting on a second cylinder having a third end and a fourth end;

a non-fluid tight seal formed at the second end of the first cylinder that allows the first cylinder to freely slide back and forth along the second cylinder proximate to the third end;

a control valve capable of sealing the first end of the first cylinder and adjustable for permitting fluid to flow out of the first cylinder,

one or more other cylinders concentrically arranged with respect to said first cylinder and allowing fluid to exit from the first cylinder through the control valve, the fluid is adjustably permitted to flow through said first cylinder using a control valve controller on said control valve to control the fluid flow from the first hydraulic cylinder and generate a regulated force and movement;

a third cylinder having a fluid that can be adjustable controlled to flow in said third cylinder in a regulated manner to provide an exercise force and movement generated by controlling the fluid flow, said third hydraulic cylinder having a piston with a first end sealed using a first control valve controlled by a first valve controller and a second end sealed using a second control valve controlled by a second valve controller, said first and second valve controller coupled to operate cooperatively so said piston moves bi-directionally along the length of said third hydraulic cylinder coupled to a cable, said first and second control values adjustably permitting the fluid flow through the first control valve and the second control valve using said first valve controller and said second valve controller to generate a regulated force and movement of the exercise apparatus by bi-directionally moving said piston coupled to said cable.

16. An exercise apparatus for generating an active force and creating a variable mode muscle response comprising:

a first cylinder having a fluid inside the first cylinder that can be adjustably controlled to exit the first cylinder to generate an active exercise force through the use of the control valve that regulates sliding movement of said cylinder, said first cylinder having a first end and a second end concentrically fitting on a second cylinder having a third end and a fourth end;

a second cylinder having a fluid that flows past a first spool valve and a second spool valve to produce an exercise force and cooperatively control bi-directional movement of a piston in said cylinder, said internal piston with a first end sealed using a first spool valve controlled by a first valve controller and a second end sealed using a second spool valve controlled by a second valve controller, said piston moving bi-directionally along the length of said hydraulic cylinder to generate a controlled movement of said exercise apparatus;

said first valve controller and said second valve controller adjustably control the flow of fluid through the first and second spool valves to generate a regulated force and movement of the exercise apparatus.

17. The exercise apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a high speed, high force exercise force generated by varying the fluid flow.

18. The exercise apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a high speed, low force exercise force generated by varying the fluid flow.

19. The exercise apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a low speed, high force exercise force generated by varying the fluid flow.

20. The exercise apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a low speed, low force exercise force generated by varying the fluid flow.

21. The exercise apparatus of claim 16 further comprising:

a high speed, high force exercise force generated by varying the fluid flow.