초록 ▼

An exercise device includes pedals, a belt and a hydro-kinetic brake. A user applies muscular force to the pedals and the pedal belt transfers the motion of the pedals to a flywheel shaft of the fluid brake. The pedals may be configured to accept force from a hand, foot, arm, leg and/or neck of the

An exercise device includes pedals, a belt and a hydro-kinetic brake. A user applies muscular force to the pedals and the pedal belt transfers the motion of the pedals to a flywheel shaft of the fluid brake. The pedals may be configured to accept force from a hand, foot, arm, leg and/or neck of the user. The amount of work performed by the user is derived by measuring the relative rotational speeds of two radial-blade impellers of the fluid brake. The wattage exhibited by the fluid brake during the exercise session may be recorded and associated with an identified user, whereby records of the exercise performance of an individual may be updated.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. An exercise equipment device, the device comprising: a. A frame and pedals, the pedals rotatably coupled with the frame; b. A hydro-kinetic coupling, the hydro-kinetic coupling having a housing, with a radial-blade impeller, and a liquid medium, the housing rotatably coupled with the fr

I claim: 1. An exercise equipment device, the device comprising: a. A frame and pedals, the pedals rotatably coupled with the frame; b. A hydro-kinetic coupling, the hydro-kinetic coupling having a housing, with a radial-blade impeller, and a liquid medium, the housing rotatably coupled with the frame and the inner radial-blade impeller affixed to the frame; c. The housing having a radial-blade impeller and a housing shaft, and the housing containing the liquid medium; d. A variable ratio transmission, the variable ratio transmission rotatably coupled with the frame and coupled with the housing shaft; e. A flywheel, the flywheel rotatably coupled with the frame and having an outer diameter and an input shaft; f. A first drive belt, the first drive belt coupled with the flywheel outer diameter and the variable ratio transmission; and g. A second drive belt, the second drive belt coupled with the flywheel input shaft and pedals, whereby rotation of the pedals is translated into rotation of the housing of the hydro-kinetic coupling. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises an upper body linkage, the upper body linkage coupled with the frame and configured to drive the second drive belt, whereby a user may rotate the housing by moving the pedals or the linkage separately or simultaneously. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a seat, the seat and frame configured to support a human body. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the variable ratio transmission comprises variable ratio pulley. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a computer and a first speed sensor, the first speed sensor communicatively coupled with the computer and the first speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the flywheel and report the detected flywheel speed to the computer. 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the device further comprises a second speed sensor, the second speed sensor communicatively coupled with the computer and the second speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the hydro-kinetic coupling housing and report the detected hydro-kinetic housing speed to the computer, wherefrom the computer calculates the wattage applied to the hydro-kinetic coupling housing. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the variable ratio transmission comprises an element selected from the group consisting of gearing, a toothed belt, a V belt, and a chain. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the second belt is a belt selected from the group consisting of gearing, a toothed belt, a V belt, and a chain. 9. An exercise equipment device, the device comprising: a. A frame and pedals, the pedals rotatably coupled with the frame; b. A hydro-kinetic coupling, the hydro-kinetic coupling having a housing having radial-blades, an inner radial-blade impeller, and a liquid medium, the housing rotatably coupled with the frame and the inner radial-blade impeller statically affixed to the frame; c. A variable ratio transmission, the variable ratio transmission rotatably coupled with the frame; d. A first drive belt, the first drive belt coupled with the variable ratio transmission coupling and the hydro-kinetic coupling housing shaft; e. A flywheel, the flywheel rotatably coupled with the frame and having an outer diameter and a shaft; f. An intermediate wheel, the intermediate wheel have a shaft, the shaft coupled with the variable speed transmission, and the intermediate wheel configured to be rotated by contact with the outer diameter of the flywheel and to translate rotation of the flywheel into rotation of the variable speed transmission; and g. A second drive belt, the second drive belt coupled with the flywheel shaft and pedals, whereby rotation of the pedals is translated into rotation of the housing of the hydrokinetic coupling. 10. The device of claim 9, wherein the device further comprises a computer and a first speed sensor, the first speed sensor communicatively coupled with the computer and the first speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the flywheel and report the detected flywheel speed to the computer. 11. The device of claim 10, wherein the device further comprises a second speed sensor, the second speed sensor communicatively coupled with the computer and the second speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the hydro-kinetic coupling housing and report the detected hydro-kinetic housing speed to the computer, wherefrom the computer calculates the wattage applied to the hydro-kinetic coupling housing. 12. The device of claim 9, wherein the variable ratio transmission is an element selected from the group consisting of gearing, a toothed belt, a V belt, and a chain. 13. The device of claim 9, wherein the second drive belt is a belt selected from the group consisting of gearing, a toothed belt, a V belt, and a chain. 14. In an exercise system, the system including a frame and a drive, the drive for translating muscular force of a human body part into an output rotational force, a device comprising: a. A hydro-kinetic coupling having a housing, an inner radial-blade impeller, and a liquid medium, the housing rotatably coupled with the frame; b. The housing having a housing radial-blade impeller and the housing containing the liquid medium, the housing coupled with the drive and receiving an output rotational force; c. The inner radial-blade impeller having a shaft, and the inner radial-blade impeller blade rotatably enclosed within the housing; and d. A disc, the disc coupled with the inner radial-blade impeller shaft, whereby rotation of the inner radial-blade impeller is affected by the mass of the disc. 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the device further comprises a computer and a first speed sensor, the first speed sensor communicatively coupled with the computer and the first speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the flywheel and report the detected flywheel speed to the computer. 16. The device of claim 15, wherein the device further comprises a second speed sensor, the second speed sensor communicatively coupled with the computer and the second speed sensor configured to detect a speed of the hydro-kinetic coupling housing and report the detected hydro-kinetic housing speed to the computer. 17. The device of claim 16, wherein the device further comprises a third speed sensor, the third speed sensor communicatively coupled with the computer and the third speed sensor configured to detect the speed of the disc and report the detected speed of the disc to the computer, wherefrom the computer calculates the wattage applied to the hydro-kinetic coupling. 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the computer further comprises an output device, the output device for writing the results of calculations of the computer to an electronic media. 19. The device of claim 14, wherein the device further comprises a variable transmission, the variable ratio transmission rotatably coupled with the drive and the hydro-kinetic coupling housing, and the variable ration transmission configured to transfer force from the drive to rotational movement of the brake housing. 20. The device of claim 14 or claim 19, wherein the fluid comprises a low viscosity lubricant.