초록 ▼

A force development system for the application of controlled variable speeds and torque forces in exercise machines utilized to strengthen and develop body muscles of an exercising person. The system includes a constant speed high torque electric drive motor mechanically coupled to a dynamic clutch

A force development system for the application of controlled variable speeds and torque forces in exercise machines utilized to strengthen and develop body muscles of an exercising person. The system includes a constant speed high torque electric drive motor mechanically coupled to a dynamic clutch device in which the controlled coupling of the rotary force input assembly of the clutch to the rotary force output assembly of the clutch is accomplished via electromagnetic coil activation of metallic powder particles forming coupling particle chains between the input and output assemblies of the clutch. Alternatively, the dynamic clutch of the system may be a fluid clutch containing electrorheological fluid. The force development system of the invention also includes a speed reduction device between the dynamic clutch and the exercise machine to which the system is applied. An electronic sensor, interconnected to a microprocessor, senses the speed, motion and torque force of the system\s output shaft. A control unit (interconnected to the drive motor, the electromagnetic coil of the dynamic clutch and the microprocessor) is directed by the microprocessor (in relation to the speed and torque force information sensed by the electronic sensor) and in turn controls the coupling torque of the dynamic clutch whereby controlled variable speeds and resistive forces are applied to the resistive force mechanism of the exercise machine.

대표청구항 ▼

A force development system for the application of controlled variable speeds and torque forces in exercise machines utilized to strengthen and develop body muscles of an exercising person, comprising: a) a constant speed high torque force creation device including a primary rotary force output shaft

A force development system for the application of controlled variable speeds and torque forces in exercise machines utilized to strengthen and develop body muscles of an exercising person, comprising: a) a constant speed high torque force creation device including a primary rotary force output shaft; b) a dynamic clutch device including a rotary force input assembly interconnected to the primary rotary force output shaft of said torque force creation device for driving said clutch device, a rotary force output assembly including a secondary rotary force output shaft, and means for the controlled coupling of said rotary force output assembly to said force input assembly; c) a speed reduction and torque amplifying device including force input means interconnected to the secondary rotary force output shaft of said clutch device, means for reducing the speed and amplifying the torque of the force input means of said speed reduction and torque amplifying device, and a tertiary rotary force output shaft of reduced speed with respect to the speed of said primary and secondary force output shafts, the tertiary output shaft of said speed reduction and torque amplifying device being mechanically interconnected with the force mechanism of an exercise machine for applying variable active and passive torque force to the exercising person using said machine; d) electronic sensor means associated with the tertiary rotary force output shaft of said speed reduction and torque amplifying device for sensing the speed, motion and torque of said tertiary output shaft and the opposing torque force and motion of an exercising person as applied to said output shaft; e) microprocessor means electrically interconnected to said electronic sensor means for receiving the speed, motion and torque force information sensed by said sensor means; and f) control means electrically interconnected to said force creation device, to the controlled coupling means of said dynamic clutch device, and to said microprocessor means, said control means being directed by said microprocessor in relation to the speed, motion and torque force information sensed by said sensor means to operate and control said force generation device and to operate and control the controlled coupling means of said clutch device whereby controlled variable speeds and active and passive torque forces are applied to the force mechanism of the exercise machine in direct relation to the force applied to said mechanism by the exercising person during the active and positive force motion and passive and negative force motion of an exercise.