AT505617B1 - ERGOMETRIC TRAINING DEVICE - Google Patents

Description

2 AT 505 617B1

The invention relates to an ergometric stationary exercise device with a manual or foot-operated drive with two alternately operable drive elements, wherein the drive is connected via a transmission with a flywheel, as well as with a measuring means for measuring the drive force applied via the drive or the associated therewith acting torque and a measuring arrangement for measuring the movement position, in particular angular position of the drive. The drive elements are preferably pedals, similar to those of a bicycle, but may be of other types such as e.g. the treads of a so-called stepper.

A training device of this kind is described in US 5,027,303 A. To measure parameters such as torque, work, power, angular velocity, and duration of a turn on a pedal assembly, the torque is measured by strain gauges attached to loaded components of the pedal assembly. This results in a measurement of the total torque and the torque on the left and right pedal (left or right leg); From this, the work done and the performance can be calculated. EP 0 925 096 B1 describes an electronic training system with a physical activity monitor having a sensor and recording device which captures and records data during a first period of physical activity. The exercise device has a resistance generator, e.g. an eddy current brake, and a controller that uses the recorded data of the physical activities to control the operation of the exercise device. US 5,354,251 A describes an exercise machine in which a seat and a spring-loaded rotary shaft are mounted on an elongated frame. The rotary shaft is connected to a flywheel and has resistance devices. As resistance devices, for example, a centrifugal brake, a wind turbine-like perforated flywheel, and an eddy current brake wheel, in which a wind turbine is integrated for cooling disclosed.

Further training devices are described in US 2002/0004439 A1, US 2007/0117680 A1, US 5,611,759 A and US 5,749,807 A.

JP 05 201374 A discloses a torque measurement on the chain of a bicycle. On the upper chain strand part there is arranged a tension detector for measuring the tension force, namely a toothed wheel which contacts the chain from the outside, and a strain gauge which measures the force exerted by the chain on the toothed wheel. DE 199 19 594 A1 describes a method and a device for applying a biasing force to an endless drive element, in particular a chain. A pressure rail is pressed by means of a chain tensioner with a predetermined force from the outside to the chain. The resulting biasing force on the chain is adjusted via control electronics as a function of sensor data relating to vibration data or other authoritative parameters. US 4,141,245 A describes a device for measuring mechanical work and power, which is transmitted to a drive element between two drive wheels. A force measuring element with a roller is pressed by means of spring force against the driving element, and the extent of the deflection serves to measure the transmitted tensile force. Various embodiments include an inside or outside adjacent roll, or a combination of at least one inside and at least one outside adjacent roll.

Other measuring devices for measuring the drive torque in a drive system, e.g. of a bicycle are presented in US 4,909,086 A and US 2007/0099735 A1. DE 42 27 586 A1 shows a pedal exercise device with separate force measurement for both 3 AT 505 617 B1

Pedal lever, namely by means of a respective strain gauge on the two pedal levers, and with an angle sensor, whereby an evaluation of the movement of e.g. is possible as a polar diagram. DE 44 35 174 A1 also proposes to arrange the strain gauges obliquely on the respective pedal lever.

Other approaches to force measurement in the course of pedal movement are described in US 2007/0149364 A1, US 5,573,481 A, WO 02/47551 A2 and EP 1 362 552 A1.

These known training and measuring devices achieve the measurement of the force exerted by the trainees or the associated torque in various ways, which, however, are often very complicated and complex. Especially when a differentiated consideration of different sections of the process, namely a division between the two feet (or hand-operated devices between the two hands) is desired, the known methods are very complex.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an exercise device in which a measurement of the applied force / torque force is possible split to the left / right movements.

This object is achieved on the basis of an exercise device of the type mentioned above, in which according to the invention the measuring arrangement for measuring the movement position has a pair of sensor means which are arranged at mutually opposite positions with respect to a wheel connected in a motion-synchronous manner with the drive, each one Movement position of a load change between the two drive elements correspond.

This solution allows a simple detection of the load changes between the left and the right extremity, and thus a distinction between the forces applied by them or performed work. The wheel is e.g. a non-rotatably mounted on the pedal shaft gear, or may be connected to the pedal shaft via a transmission, provided that the implementation allows a sufficient inference from the angular position of the wheel to the movement position of the drive.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, which represents a particularly effective implementation of the solution underlying the invention, the two sensor means are formed as mounted on the wheel at mutually opposite positions sensor pieces; In addition, at least one sensor is arranged stationary, by means of which the passing of the sensor pieces is detectable at a specific angular position of the wheel, wherein the angular position corresponds to a movement position of a load change between the two drive elements.

However, it is also expedient if the two sensor means are designed as fixedly arranged sensors, and also at least one sensor piece attached to the wheel is provided, whereby the sensors allow the at least one sensor piece to be detected at specific, opposite angular positions of the wheel , wherein the angular positions each correspond to a movement position of a load change between the two drive elements. For an effective contactless detection of the moving parts, it is favorable if the sensor pieces are magnets, in particular permanent magnets, and the sensors are magnetic field sensors.

Moreover, in order to achieve a simplification of the measuring devices used for measuring the applied force, it is advantageous if the measuring means for measuring the driving force is an arm applied to a traction means, in particular a chain, of the transmission Pull means slightly laterally depressing and has a measuring sensor for measuring the force exerted by the traction means thereby.

Advantageously, an evaluation device can be provided in order to receive signals from the measuring device regarding the applied driving force or torque force associated therewith and to calculate and continuously output the time profile of the driving force or the torque force as well as the quantities derived therefrom on the basis of the signals supplied by the measuring device , The evaluation device can also receive signals from the measuring arrangement regarding times of load changes and alternately assign the calculated quantities in dependence on the load change reported by the measuring arrangement to a right or left extremity of a trainee. The output of the variables calculated in this way can thus be divided into the right and left extremities on the basis of the signal of the measuring arrangement relating to times of the load changes. Through this development succeeds in a straightforward determination and automated output of 15 left / right on shared training performance.

Furthermore, it is desirable that the speed-dependent resistance that the exerciser must overcome on the exercise device according to the invention, as natural as possible, i. corresponds to the resistance on a roadworthy bicycle. For this purpose 20, it is favorable if the flywheel has a device braked by air friction and is connected to an electromagnetically acting brake. The braked by air friction device may be a non-rotatably connected to the flywheel paddle wheel. In addition, the impeller may have a plurality of parallel to the axis of rotation aligned blade surfaces. 25

In addition, in order to adjust the air friction effect as needed, it is advantageous if the braked by air friction device is located in a housing having means for adjusting the amount of moving due to the movement of the flywheel air flow. For example, the housing may have openings whose width and / or air permeability can be adjusted and with the aid of which the air flow passing through the housing can be adjusted.

The invention will be explained in more detail below by means of a non-limiting embodiment, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings show: 35 Fig. 1 Fig. 2 and 3 40 Fig. 4 Fig. 5 Fig. 6 Fig. 7 45 Fig. 8 and 9

Fig. 10 is Fig. 11; Fig. 12 is a perspective view (from the right front) of the exercise apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention; the exerciser in a further oblique view and a side view from the left side; the gear of the training device in a detailed view (side view from the right without housing); a detail of Figure 4 with the force measurement on the chain of the transmission. a sectional view of the wheel drum of the training device; a view of the training device with opened magnetic brake;

Detailed views from the left on the area of the pedal assembly, with partially removed housing, so that the sensors for measuring the pedal position are visible, in Fig. 7 also the carrier spar and the axle bearing are omitted; a block diagram of the signal and data evaluation; a plan view of the handle portion of the training device with a display, and an example of a representation of the driving force in dependence on the rotation angle (polar shape).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following is a detailed description of a stationary ergometric bicycle exerciser shown in different views in FIGS. 1-3. The 55 5 AT 505 617B1

Exercise device 10 may be used, for example, as a home trainer, as a training device in a gym or for use in elite sports, or even in the medical field. 5 The training device 10 has a bicycle-like frame frame 11 with seat 12 and handle portion 13, whose position is adjustable in each case, but during a training session is fixed. In the foot area is a housing 14, which has a wheel well 15 in the front area, and a pair of pedals 16. The pedals 16 are fixed in a known manner to a pedal shaft 17 and are connected via a transmission with resistance means in connection, as nachste-io Hend described in the wheel arch 15 are housed.

Referring to Fig. 4, the transmission 40 in the embodiment shown is a combination of two traction mechanism, namely a gear transmission with a belt transmission, whereby a high translation of the movement from the pedal 16 to the flywheel 18 is reached 15. The pedals 16 are rigidly connected via the pedal shaft 17 with a gear 19 which drives a pinion gear 42 via a chain 41. The pinion gear 42 in turn is connected to a disk wheel 43, which drives the flywheel 18 via a belt 45, which is tensioned by means of an auxiliary wheel 44. The embodiment shown has a measuring system with a measuring accuracy of 2% or better. It is used to measure the force applied by the user and the pedal speed and is connected to a computer system for displaying and evaluating the measurement data. 25 force measurement

As shown in FIG. 5, a measuring means 50 for measuring the force which the trainee applies to the chain 41 via the pedal drive is preferably provided in the first traction mechanism transmission. Since the pedal length is fixed and known, the driving force is directly converted into the acting torque ("torque force") and is therefore equivalent.

The measuring means is preferably realized as a bending beam with a measuring stretch strip, which deflects the chain slightly and measures the restoring force. An arm 11 fixed to the frame 51 carries at its end a slider 52, which is made of plastic, for example. The slider is attached to the chain 41, for example, from the inside, similar to a chain tensioner, and pushes the chain slightly outward. When the chain is under tension due to a force exerted by the exerciser, a tangential component of the force on the plastic slider results and the slider acts on a restoring force that is proportional to the chain tension and thus the torque force. The resulting elastic bending of the arm 51 is detected by a measuring sensor, e.g. a strain gauge 53, measured. The signal from the measuring sensor is evaluated electronically, as explained below.

For example, to calibrate the force measurement, a weight of known magnitude is attached to a pedal 16 and the rotation is mechanically locked to the flywheel 18 or flywheel 27 (Figure 7) by means of a blocking means (not shown). The force measured in this condition serves as the basis for the calibration of the force measuring system by comparison with the known force impressed by the weight. so resistance means

Referring to FIG. 6, the flywheel 18 driven by the pedal movement via the gear 60 has an air impeller 21 which is rotatably mounted on the circumference of the flywheel blade in the embodiment shown. The air impeller 21 is located in 55 its own container as part of the wheel arch 15 6 AT 505 617 B1

As can be seen in FIG. 7, in the exemplary embodiment shown an eddy current brake 20 is arranged on the same axis as the flywheel 18, preferably lying opposite to it. The eddy current brake 20 is for example a magnetic brake, in which a metallic flywheel 27 with adjustable (permanent) magnet 28 cooperates in a known manner; Alternatively, another electromagnetic brake can be realized. In the embodiment shown, the magnets are mounted on a steel bracket along a peripheral portion of the disc 27 and are positioned by means of an actuating mechanism 29 to the disc 27 and away from it. The disc 27 is made of steel, for example, which is covered with a copper ring. In order to be able to completely block the rotation, for example, two holes are provided in the disk 27, into which a blocking pin (not shown) held in the housing or on the frame can be inserted from the side.

The resistance means of the training device according to the invention were modeled on those that occur when cycling. The resistances acting during cycling are (a) air resistance, (b) friction of the mechanical parts inside the bicycle and (c) rolling resistance between tires and the surface of the road or slope of the terrain. Air resistance usually accounts for the vast majority - often more than 90% - of the total resistance and grows quadratically with speed. Thus, the power produced increases with the third power of speed. The friction in the bicycle and the rolling resistance grow linearly with the speed, which corresponds to a power with quadratic speed dependency.

In the training device 10, a combined brake system is used to simulate these two types of resistance, which, as already described, an air braking braking means in the form of the wheel 21 and an electromagnetically acting brake 20. In this way, a realistic modeling of the resistance behavior succeeds of a bicycle, which gives the feeling of moving on a "normal" bike. The two subsystems can be set independently of each other. They have no influence on the measuring devices described below. The combination of the two Bremsteilsysteme allows a large resistance range, which results in dependence on the cadence. There are no external sources of energy necessary.

Referring again to Fig. 6, the air impeller 21 has a substantially cylindrical ring-like shape. Along the circumference a number of blade surfaces 25 are arranged between two lateral retaining rings 24 at regular intervals, which are each aligned like a sheet parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel 21 and at an angle different from 90 ° to the radius. When the wheel 21 rotates, the blade surfaces 25 move the surrounding air inwardly. In this way, air is sucked in through the side window 15b and pushed out again via the opening 15a (Fig. 2) located at the lower front of the wheel house 15; Thus, the wheel 21 is braked by the resulting air circulation.

In contrast to known training devices with an air brake, the resistance in the device shown can be adjusted by regulating the air supply on the stator side (FIG. 3), namely by more or less closing the opening 15a by means of a flap 22 and / or adjusting the side window 15b with respect to its air permeability, for example in the manner of a blind. As a result, the braking effect resulting from the air resistance can be set within a wide range. In particular, by closing the opening 15a and the window 15b, the resistance can be set to a minimum value near zero, so that substantially only the mechanical friction remains in the system.

By these measures, the resistance can be set for both brake subsystems. In the illustrated embodiment, a resistance effect of 0 to 5000 W can be selected. 7 AT 505 617 B1

Measurement of pedal speed

In Fig. 8 and 9, the sensor assembly 30 is shown for measuring the pedal speed. Two magnetic field sensors 31, e.g. Reed switches are fixedly arranged next to the pedal gear 19. On the gearwheel 19 there are two permanent magnets 32 in exactly opposite positions, so that each magnet 32 passes through the sensors 31 once in each case of a rotation of the gearwheel 19, and so on e.g. generates a signal pulse. The resulting signal is sent to an evaluation and allows the accurate measurement of the speed and - over the crank length of the pedals - the pedal speed.

The two sensors 31 and the associated magnets 32 corresponding to each other in pairs and are each (to exclude mutual triggering of a sensor by the magnet of the other sensor) positioned at different radial distances from the axis. The magnets are arranged with respect to their angular position to the respectively associated sensors with respect to the position of the pedals 16 so that a signal pulse of a sensor 31 is given in each case when the force change from the left to the right pedal or vice versa. As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the position shown at 0 ° (right pedal vertically upwards), one magnet is just in position with the sensor assigned to it, while the other magnet is located exactly opposite the sensor assigned to it. This allows a division of the measurement and separate assignment to the left or right foot, and a right / left evaluation of each performed by a foot force and power, and a comparison of the two foot powers (balance).

evaluation

As shown in Fig. 10, the sensor signals provided by the force measuring sensor (strain gauges) 53 and the pedal measurement sensors 53 are amplified, digitized by analog-to-digital converters and subjected to electronic evaluation, e.g. a training display 33 located on the handle part (FIG. 11) and / or an associated computer system 34. On the computer system 34, the signals are converted into a time-dependent course of the applied to the pedals driving force, for example, with a data rate of 100 data points per second, also the signals can be displayed and / or stored in real time. The data can then be retrieved and edited at a later date. The representation of the data takes place advantageously in a manner related to the pedal rotation and / or in a polar representation as shown in FIG. 12.

Fig. 12 shows an example of a measured pedal force FP (in N, the outer circle corresponds to 250 N) over one complete revolution with the pedal, as a function of the angle of rotation in a polar diagram. The angles shown correspond directly to the angle of the pedal, which was moved clockwise, where 0 ° corresponds to a position of the right pedal vertically upwards. It is also worth noting that in the drive movement, especially in trained athletes to a synergy between the two feet, and the better the coordinative ability of the exerciser is pronounced, the rounder is the figure of the curve FP.

On the computer system 40, the analysis of the measured data and graphical representation on the screen is carried out by means of suitable ergometric software, for example:

Calculation and representation of the pedal torque,

Force as a function of foot position,

Rotation speed,

Speed (converted to a fictitious bicycle speed),

Power (W),

Average power

Claims (1)

8 AT 505 617 B1 • Energy (kJ, by integration), • Balance between left and right foot (in%), heart rate (via additional sensor belt worn by the user), statistical analyzes. Of course, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, but extends to all embodiments that fall within the scope of the claims. In particular, the exercise device according to the invention may also comprise other drive elements as pedals, for example, treads as in a stepper or a pair of handles that are operated alternately. Here, the movement is mechanically converted by a transmission in a rotary motion of a drive wheel in a known manner. 1. Stationary ergometric exercise device with a hand or foot-operated drive with two alternately operable drive elements (16), preferably foot-operated pedals, wherein the drive via a transmission with a flywheel (18) is connected, and with a measuring means (50 ) for measuring the drive force applied via the drive or the torque acting thereon and a measuring arrangement (30) for measuring the movement position, in particular angular position, of the drive, characterized in that the measuring arrangement (30) for measuring the movement position comprises a pair of sensor means (31, 32), which are arranged in relation to a motion synchronously connected to the drive wheel (19) at mutually opposite positions, each corresponding to a movement position of a load change between the two drive elements (16). 2. An exercise device according to claim 1, characterized in that the two sensor means as on the wheel (30) secured to mutually opposite positions sensor pieces (32) are formed, and also at least one sensor (31) is arranged stationary, by means of which the passing the sensor pieces can be detected at a specific angular position of the wheel, the angular position corresponding to a movement position of a load change between the two drive elements (16). 3. Exercising device according to claim 1, characterized in that the two sensor means as stationary arranged sensors (31) are formed, and also at least one on the wheel (19) fixed sensor piece (32) is provided, wherein by means of the sensors passing the at least a sensor piece is detectable at specific, mutually opposite angular positions of the wheel, wherein the angular positions each correspond to a movement position of a load change between the two drive elements (16). 4. Training device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the sensor pieces are magnets (32) and the sensors (31) are magnetic field sensors. 5. Exercising device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the measuring means (50) for measuring the driving force to a traction means, in particular to a chain, the transmission applied arm which pushes the traction means slightly laterally and a measuring sensor ( 53) for measuring the force exerted thereby by the traction means. 6. Exercising device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by an evaluation device (40, 41) which is adapted to receive signals from the measuring means (50) concerning the applied driving force or the torque acting thereon associated with and at least one of the AT 505 617B1 on the basis of the signals supplied by the measuring means (50) to calculate the time course of the driving force or of the acting torque as well as derivable variables and continuously output. 7. An exercise device according to claim 6, characterized in that the evaluation device (40, 41) is also adapted to receive signals from the measuring arrangement (30) concerning times of load changes and the quantities calculated in accordance with the signals supplied by the measuring means (50) Dependence on the load change reported by the measuring arrangement (30) can be assigned alternately to a right or left extremity of a trainee. 8. An exercise device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the output of the thus calculated quantities on the basis of the signal of the measuring arrangement (30) concerning times of load changes is divided into the right and left extremity. 9. exercise device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the flywheel (18) comprises a device which can be braked by air friction and is connected to an electromagnetically acting brake (20). 10. An exercise device according to claim 9, characterized in that the braked by air friction device is located in a housing having means (15a, 15b) for adjusting the amount of due to the movement of the flywheel (18) moving air flow. 11. Training device according to claim 10, characterized in that the housing has openings (15a, 15b) whose width and / or air permeability is adjustable and with the aid of which the air flow passing through the housing can be adjusted. 12. Exercising device according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the device can be braked by air friction is a non-rotatably connected to the flywheel paddle wheel (21). 13. Exercising device according to claim 12, characterized in that the impeller (21) has a plurality of parallel to the axis of rotation aligned blade surfaces. Including 4 sheets of drawings