Bilaterally actuated sculling trainer

• US 7,828,706 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rafael R. Medina
• Original Assignee: Rafael R. Medina
• Inventors: Medina, Rafael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow; Steve R
• Assistant Examiner(s): LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN
• Application Number:
  US12/115,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20080305934A1
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 482/72, 482/148
• US Class Current: 482/148
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0082 with pivoting handlebars
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/005 using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances

Abstract

An apparatus for simulating sculling or rowing on water includes a support frame with foot rests, a sliding seat, bilateral oars that are rotationally coupled to a set of actuators, integrated input velocity and torque sensors, computer and computer display. Each actuator incorporates a mechanical transmission, a rotational inertial mass, a variable linear and a variable non-linear damping element. The damping elements can be controlled manually or automatically by computer programs under user control.

Claims

1. A method for simulating movement along water comprising:

receiving angular velocity and torque data from at least one simulated oar in a rotation about a rotational axis;

determining a damping load for a drive assembly, in communication with the at least one simulated oar, from the received angular velocity and torque data, the damping load including non-linear and linear damping components; and

relating through a transmission the received torque data to the received angular velocity data by the following equation;

T_i=(J_i+N²·

J_o)·

w_iaa+((b_i+N²·

(b_o+b₁))·

w_i+b_nl·

N³·

w_i²

wherein T_i=input drive torque, J_i=input rotational inertia, J_o=output rotational inertia, N=transmission multiplying factor or gear factor, W_i=input angular velocity, W_iaa=input angular acceleration, b_i=input drag coefficient, b_o=output drag coefficient, b_l=output linear damping coefficient, and b_nl=output non-linear damping coefficient.

2. The method of claim 1, additionally comprising:

subjecting the drive assembly to the determined damping load.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is in the form of electrical signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-linear damping component includes a square law function.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the linear damping component includes a linear function.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the linear damping component is provided by a variable linear damper.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the variable linear damper includes a magnetic damper.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-linear damping component is provided by a variable non-linear damper.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the variable non-linear damper is selected from the group consisting of air, fluid and viscous dampers.