초록 ▼

A controllable platform suspension system (20) for treadmills (18) and other platforms and devices therefor which exhibit controllability of the impact condition of the platform, such as a treadmill deck (36). In the treadmill application, user-selectable damping/stiffness is provided to simulate va

A controllable platform suspension system (20) for treadmills (18) and other platforms and devices therefor which exhibit controllability of the impact condition of the platform, such as a treadmill deck (36). In the treadmill application, user-selectable damping/stiffness is provided to simulate variable track conditions, such as pavement, rubber, grass, gravel, sand, and the like. The controllable suspension system (20) comprises spring mounts (40) or the like or a flexible deck (36) for allowing movement of the deck (36) relative to the frame (22) at a contact location (29) due to impact and a controllable device such as an Electrorheological (ER) device, Electrophoretic (EP) device, Electromechanical Hydraulic (Semi-Active) device, controllable mounting, or a Magnetorheological (MR) device, such as an MR brake (42a, 42a, 42b), MR damper (42d), or MR mount (42c, 42e, 42f) interconnecting between the frame (22) and platform (36) to provide the user-variable impact restraint. Various MR devices are described which exhibit controllability in a first direction (ex. bound) and substantially unrestricted motion in a second direction (ex. rebound).

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A controllable platform suspension system for absorbing impacts imparted to a moving member, comprising:(a) a platform mountable for movement in a substantially vertical, downward, bound direction and in a rebound direction;(b) at least one controllable electromechanical assembly i

[ We claim:] [1.] A controllable platform suspension system for absorbing impacts imparted to a moving member, comprising:(a) a platform mountable for movement in a substantially vertical, downward, bound direction and in a rebound direction;(b) at least one controllable electromechanical assembly interconnected to said platform for providing user-controllable impact characteristics including a bound direction damping rate, said electromechanical assembly operable to provide a plurality of different said bound direction damping rates; and(c) a controller for controlling said electromechanical assembly in response to user input to provide a selected one of said plurality of different said bound direction damping rates.