EP1649845A1 - Device for the stimulation of the human body by vibrations - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a vibration plate (1) coupled over an elastic unit (2) in an intermediate unit (3) and the intermediate unit coupled at a base plate (5), a base frame or a base housing by an elastic unit (4). The unit (3) rests on a support in an operational state of the device and has a basic layout similar to that of the vibrating plate. A shaft that carries a weight is rotatably mounted and directly coupled to the vibrating plate.

Description

The invention relates to a device for stimulating the human body by means of vibrations, as it is useful for muscle training, or more generally the stimulation of the body.

Such devices can be designed as fitness devices with a vibrating platform on which a user or a user stands or sits or on which he / she supports a body part. It is also possible for a user to take hold of belt loops attached to the platform and to tension. The vibrations cause reactions of the body, resulting in a stimulating effect as well as a training effect.

An example of such a device can be found in International Publication WO 02/053078. The vibrating platform (also called vibrating plate) is set in motion by a vibrator. The vibrator consists of a motor, which is mounted on the underside of the plate and moves an eccentric weight. Due to inertia, the platform vibrates as the weight is rotated. The swinging plate is mounted on a frame, which rests on vibration-damping blocks, which stand directly on the ground. Deviating from this principle devices with vibrating platform are known in which this platform by means of vibration damping elements on one rest as heavy as possible base plate, which in turn is in contact with the ground.

In both cases, vibrations are also transmitted to the ground, which can lead to massive unwanted noise pollution and even damage to buildings, depending on the location. In addition, the entire device has no decoupled from the vibration elements, so that possibly belonging to the device electronic components in the operating state of the device constantly vibrate and take long term damage. If as few vibrations as possible are to be transferred to the base, the base plate must be very heavy, which of course is detrimental to the handling of the device.

The motor, which is mounted directly on the swinging plate, must either be of very solid construction - then it is also expensive - or it will also take longer due to the vibrations damage.

There are, in particular for specifically controlled three-dimensional oscillations (in the style of rocking movements) known solutions with a positively driven vibrating plate. These solutions are problematic in terms of wear and can lead to overloading of the engine at large weight differences of the user; Moreover, even with these solutions, the problems of unwanted mitvibrierenden elements and noise pollution are not solved.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device with a vibrating plate available, which overcomes the disadvantages of existing devices and in which in particular as little as possible vibrations are transmitted to the substrate and / or the drive.

According to a first aspect of the invention the object is achieved in that the vibrating plate is coupled via first elastic elements to an intermediate element and this intermediate element - it may be formed substantially plate-shaped and have a similar floor plan as the vibrating plate - via second elastic elements to a Base (ie, a base plate, a base frame or a base housing) is coupled, which is adapted to rest in the operating state of the device on a base. The vibration exciter has weights that are rotated by a drive in rotational movements and which are mounted eccentrically with respect to a rotation axis. The weights leading shaft is preferably directly - so not via elastic vibration damping elements - coupled to the swing plate and rotatably mounted. Apart from the coupling via the intermediate element and the first and second elastic elements, the base element is vibration-decoupled from the vibrating plate.

Preferably, the intermediate element forms a resonant counterweight, which oscillates in the opposite phase to the vibrating plate. Ideally, this happens with the identical force amplitude. Numerical simulations that can approximately calculate the force amplitude as a function of the stiffness of the first and second elastic elements and the oscillating plate and intermediate element mass are known per se. It has been found that a particularly effective decoupling of the base plate or the base frame is achieved by the vibrating plate when the mass of the intermediate element exceeds a minimum mass, i. For example, in a device for average weighted and trained users, it is at least 20 kg, preferably at least 35 kg, more preferably at least 40 kg.

According to a second aspect of the invention, at least one electric motor forming the electric drive is not on the vibrating plate but on a removed and vibrationally decoupled as possible component such as the base plate, the base frame or the base housing arranged. The vibrations are caused, as in the first aspect, by weights which are rotated by a drive and which are mounted eccentrically with respect to a rotation axis. The shaft that carries the weights is directly - not via elastic vibration damping elements - coupled to the vibrating plate and rotatably mounted. The torque transmission between the at least one electric motor and the shaft via a suitable Übetrtragungsmechanismus, which may include, for example, a propeller shaft or a belt or chain drive.

Often the vibration exciter has at least two eccentric weights, or weight groups (eg weight pairs), which rotate in opposite directions. This can cause the vibrating plate to vibrate preferably in one direction, for example, the vertical, while compensating for the effect of the eccentric weights with respect to the other directions. According to a preferred embodiment, both weights or weight groups are driven by the same electric motor, wherein the torques are transmitted via belt chains or gear drive means to the shafts of both weights / weight groups. This, in addition to obvious cost savings - one motor costs less than two motors - also has the effect of not synchronizing two drives, i. E. an inverse turning in phase is easy to achieve with such a drive mechanism.

Particularly preferred is the combination of the two aspects of the invention. Then, the shape of the intermediate element, which can be arranged between base plate or base frame or base housing and the swing plate, adapted accordingly. If the intermediate element is, for example, plate-shaped, it has an opening or recess at a central location, through which elements of the transmission mechanism can be passed. Specifically, the intermediate element can be disc-shaped with at least one opening or also have the shape of a horseshoe or ring, be W-shaped or have any other suitable shape with preferably flat dimensions.

• Fig. 1 als Prinzipienskizze einen Schnitt durch eine Ausführungsform der Erfindung gemäss ihrem ersten Aspekt
• Fig. 2 eine Explosionsdarstellung einer Ausführungsform des ersten Aspekts der Erfindung
• Fig. 3 als Prinzipienskizze einen Schnitt durch eine Ausführungsform der Erfindung gemäss ihrem zweiten Aspekt
• Fig. 4 als Prinzipienskizze einen Schnitt durch eine Ausführungsform der Erfindung bei einer Kombination beider Aspekte
• Fig. 5 eine Explosionsdarstellung wesentlicher Elemente einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung, welche beide Aspekte kombiniert
• Fig. 6 eine Darstellung von Elementen eines Mechanismus, welcher durch einen Elektromotor erzeugte Drehmomente auf zwei gegenläufig drehende Exzentergruppen überträgt

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to drawings. In the drawings show:

• 1 is a schematic diagram of a section through an embodiment of the invention according to its first aspect
• Fig. 2 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the first aspect of the invention
• 3 is a schematic diagram of a section through an embodiment of the invention according to its second aspect
• Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a section through an embodiment of the invention in a combination of both aspects
• Fig. 5 is an exploded view of essential elements of an embodiment of the invention combining both aspects
• Fig. 6 is an illustration of elements of a mechanism which transmits torques generated by an electric motor to two counter-rotating eccentric groups

The device in Figure 1 has a vibrating plate 1 which can be vibrated to stimulate a user. The oscillating plate is coupled to an intermediate element 3 via a first elastic element, namely a first spring 2. This is in turn coupled via a second elastic element, namely a second spring 4, to a base plate 5. The base plate rests on a base 6 - for example, a ceiling of a gym - on, in a conventional manner still damping elements 7 may be provided. Only schematically shown is a vibration exciter 8, which includes an electrically driven shaft with at least one eccentric attached thereto. The vibration exciter is coupled directly to the vibrating plate 1, in such a way that inertial forces acting on the bearing of the shaft are transmitted to the vibrating plate without damping.

The intermediate element 3 can be designed as a substantially rigid, for example, plate-shaped body. But it can also include at least one weight that can move within certain limits relative to the rest of the intermediate element. In this embodiment, therefore, the intermediate element has an intermediate element base body and relative to this movable material. The movable material may be loose in itself, ie not be dimensionally stable. For example, the intermediate element base body may have a self-contained water tank, possibly with transverse webs, wherein the movable material is a water filling. In a second example, the movable material is granular, such as dust, sand or fine gravel. Then, for example, the intermediate element base body and a plate-shaped component have a plastic housing for the granular material, or the loose material is introduced into a cloth bag or the like. The movable material can but also be one or more inherently rigid bodies, which are coupled by a spring with the intermediate element base body. It has been found that the vibrational decoupling of the vibrating plate and the base plate or base housing by the intermediate element is particularly effective if it contains movable material.

The first elastic elements and preferably also the second elastic elements are coupled to the base body of the intermediate element.

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of an embodiment according to the principle shown in Figure 1. The base plate 5 is substantially rigidly connected to a structure 11 which includes handles 12 for the user and a control panel 13. In the interior of the structure or attached to this is also a control electronics and possibly power supplies and the like. Connected to the base plate is - optionally - a wheel axle 14 with transport rollers 15, by means of which the device can be transported over short distances. The oscillating plate 1 is made of a rigid glass fiber composite material or any other suitable material (reinforced plastic, metal alloy, etc.) and has a pleasant to the user footprint, for example, due to an anti-slip coating or a non-slip mat. The swing plate 1 still has mounting holes for electric motors and elastic elements (drawn here round) and for belt loops (here angularly drawn). The intermediate element 3 is rigid in itself, substantially plate-shaped and has openings 3.1, 3.2. These openings serve in the illustrated embodiment to provide space for two electric motors 16, which are both attached to the vibrating plate and put on a shaft each have a not shown in the figure eccentric or a group of eccentrics in rotational movement. Preferably, the electric motors are designed so that they in at least one operating mode, the eccentric / eccentric groups in mutually opposite movement so that, for example, only the vertical component of the inertia forces is converted into vibratory motions, while other components of the inertial forces compensate each other.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first elastic elements 2 are formed as honeycomb-shaped elastomeric body, while the second elastic elements 4 are symmetrical in the plane of the plate. Damping feet 17 are also depicted. These dampening feet are optional and may be omitted or replaced by felt pads or the like.

Examples:

• Steifigkeit der vier ersten elastischen Elemente: c_x=40 N/mm, c_y=11.5 N/mm, c_z=33 N/mm (x und y bezeichnen die Richtungen entlang der Plattenebene, z die Vertikale).
• Steifigkeit der vier zweiten elastischen Elemente: c_x= c_y=42 N/mm, c_z=120 N/mm.

The following parameters were used in a first example of spring stiffness and board masses:

• Stiffness of the four first elastic elements: c _x = 40 N / mm, c _y = 11.5 N / mm, c _z = 33 N / mm (x and y denote the directions along the plane of the plate, z the vertical).
• Stiffness of the four second elastic members: c _x = c _y = 42 N / mm, c _z = 120 N / mm.

Mass of components used: Vibration plate with vibration exciters: 24 kg, intermediate plate 40 kg, base plate with electronics and body 23 kg.

The calculated amplitudes of the reaction forces at the root points do not exceed 15 N at 50 Hz in this configuration. So it is a far-reaching decoupling of the base plate achieved by the vibrations.

In a second example, the stiffnesses of the elastic elements were left unchanged, but the intermediate plate had a mass of 60 kg. The amplitude of the reaction forces at the foot points is then below 50 Hz at 50 Hz.

By further changes in the mass of the intermediate element and also the vibrating plate and changing the stiffness and rigidity of the elastic elements, the reaction forces can be further influenced. A reduction in the stiffness c _x and c _y of the second elastic elements along the plane of the plate, for example, brings an even further decoupling, but the static properties (in particular when entering the vibrating plate by heavy persons) can be worse.

A principle sketch for the second aspect of the invention can be found in Figure 3. The system has a comparatively massive (the mass is for example at least 60 kg, preferably at least 100 kg) base plate 5, on which by elastic elements 22, a swing plate 1 is mounted. According to the second aspect of the invention, the vibration exciter consists of at least two components: At least one electric motor 26, which is decoupled from the vibrating plate and therefore largely does not vibrate, and an eccentric module 27 which has at least one weight by turning a shaft in a rotational movement is displaceable and is arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation. The eccentric module 27 is coupled directly to the vibrating plate 1 in the sense that inertial forces acting on bearings of the shaft are transmitted to the vibrating plate substantially unattenuated. The torque transmission between the electric motor 26 and cam module 27 is via transmission elements 28 such as a propeller shaft (propshaft or the like), elastic belt drive or chain drive, etc. The transmission mechanism may be selected from known transmission mechanisms as long as the electric motor and cam module are vibration decoupled. ie the transmission mechanism ensures decoupling (in the sense of transmission of vibrations).

The invention according to its second aspect can be used per se for any fitness equipment with vibration platform, which provide a vibration drive via an eccentric module and inertial forces; only the electric motor has to be mounted on a component different from the vibration plate and as far as possible from this vibration-decoupled component. But particularly advantageous is the combination with the first aspect of the invention, since the base plate or the base frame is particularly efficiently decoupled from the vibration platform. A corresponding principle sketch can be found in Figure 4. The reference numerals 1 to 7 in this figure designate the same elements as in Figure 1. However, the vibratory drive is as in Fig. 3 divided into two components, namely an electric motor 26 and an eccentric module 27, which by Transmission elements 28 are connected. Also in contrast to the structure according to Figure 1, the plate-shaped intermediate element 3 has a recess or opening 3.3, due to which the connection between the electric motor 26 and eccentric module 27 is possible. Of course, even with a combination of both aspects of the invention, the intermediate element having an intermediate element base body and relative to this movable, for example, in itself loose material.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment according to the principle of FIG. 4 in an exploded view. The reference numerals 1-5, 11-15 and 17 denote the same elements as in Fig. 2. In contrast to Fig. 2, the fitness device has only a single electric motor 26 which is fixed to the base plate - for example, screwed - is. It is also possible to mount the electric motor on a separate component which is also vibration-decoupled from the oscillating plate. For example, in the base plate, a recess or opening may be present, through which the electric motor protrudes downward, wherein the Electric motor is then screwed onto a plate attached to the base plate. So space can be gained.

The eccentric module 27, however, is firmly connected to the swing plate 1, for example, also screwed to it. The plate-shaped intermediate element 3 has a T-shaped opening 3.3 in the illustrated embodiment through which the electric motor project from below and the eccentric module from above. A propeller shaft 31 serves as a transmission element and transmits torques from the electric motor to the eccentric module.

The eccentric module 27 is shown somewhat more clearly in FIG. The module has in the illustrated embodiment, a mounting plate 41 and two rigidly connected to this webs 42. Between the webs 42 are three gears 43, 44, a double-sided toothed belt 47 and a tension roller 46. The gears 43, 44 are by bearings 45 in led to the webs and are rotatable about a respective axis of rotation 48. As soon as the middle gear 43 (the input gear) is rotated by the hinge shaft 31 in rotation, due to the action of the toothed belt 47, the two outer gears 44 (the output gears) to rotate, in the illustrated leadership of the timing belt in opposite sense of rotation. Of the shafts 49 of the outer gears each pair of eccentrics 50 is guided (in Figure 6, the rear eccentric are not visible in each case). When the eccentric pairs rotate in opposite directions, the eccentric module and therefore also the oscillating plate 1 firmly coupled thereto vibrate primarily in the vertical direction.

The illustrated embodiment still has a specialty: In addition to the mentioned eccentric 50 two pairs of Ausgleichsexzentern 51 are still present. These have a smaller imbalance with respect to the axis of rotation than the eccentric 50, For example, because they are lighter than these. They are not rotatably connected to the shaft in contrast to the eccentric 50 but pivotally relative to this. Also, they are located directly next to the gears. The gears each have two drive pins 52 due to which also the compensation eccentric are rotated in a rotational movement of the gears. In a rotation in the one direction of rotation while the compensating eccentric 51 are arranged so that their eccentricity counteracts that of the eccentric 50 as in the drawing. Then the total eccentricity and thus also the inertial forces decrease at a rotation speed given by the fixed vibration frequency. Upon rotation in the other direction, the balancing eccentric automatically come on the other side of their driving pin 52 - the two sides of the driving pin serve as stops for the Ausgleichsexzenter - to lie, then in the same rotational position as the eccentric 50 and increase the imbalance and therefore the inertial forces. With this simple measure, therefore, the vibration amplitude can be varied between two values by selecting the direction of rotation of the drive.

Both the principle of the transmission of the drive torque from an electric motor to two counter-rotating eccentric or eccentric groups by means of a toothed belt or the like and the principle of controlling the vibration amplitude by selecting the direction of rotation by means of the Ausgleichsexzenter can also be used for embodiments in which the electric motor ( or the electric motors) are mounted on the vibrating plate.

The embodiments described above are mere examples of the implementation of the invention. They can be changed in some ways. The intermediate element may, for example, have a shape that differs significantly from the illustrated embodiments, wherein it is preferably flat for practical reasons, ie in the direction perpendicular to the Vibration platform level has only a relatively small size. In order to be able to position the elastic elements ideally, it will advantageously extend over a plurality of peripheral areas. It may be present, for example, as a ring-like element that approximately follows the course of the swing plate edge. There may also be several non-contiguous intermediate elements.

The invention according to its second aspect also works with more than one electric motor. For example, two electric motors may be arranged on the base plate, the base frame or in the base housing and each equipped with one transmission means each having one eccentric module. Although all described embodiments assume that there are two eccentric or eccentric groups with opposite directions of rotation, the invention can also be implemented with a single eccentric or a single eccentric group or also with a plurality of eccentric / eccentric groups; then more complex two- or three-dimensional vibrations may be performed instead of substantially vertical vibrations. Many variants are also conceivable for the transmission mechanisms between the electric motor and the eccentric module and are known to the skilled person from the functional principle.

The transmission of torque from a shaft to the eccentric weight / weights 50 can be done as in the described embodiment by the weights are rotationally fixed on the shaft, or via driver elements, for example, as is the case for the Ausgleichsexzenter, etc. Incidentally, the coupling between a propeller shaft and the shaft to which the weights are attached may also be that the weights are attached to one end of the propeller shaft itself, that is, the propeller shaft is identical to the shaft of the eccentric weights.

Claims (12)

Apparatus for stimulating the human body by means of vibrations, comprising a vibration-excitable vibration plate (1) and a vibration exciter comprising at least one rotatable and eccentric weight (50) and drive means whereby the eccentric weight (50) is made to rotate is, wherein the position of the rotation axis (48) relative to the vibration plate (1) is fixed, characterized in that the vibration plate is coupled via first elastic elements (2) to an intermediate element (3) and the intermediate element (3) via the second elastic elements to a base plate (5), a base frame or a base housing is coupled. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the stiffness of the first and second elastic elements and the mass of the intermediate element are chosen so that the intermediate element forms a resonant counterweight, which oscillates in opposite phase to the vibrating plate. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mass of the intermediate element (3) or the sum of the masses of all intermediate elements is at least 20 kg, preferably at least 35 kg. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the intermediate element (3) is substantially plate-shaped. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the intermediate element (3) relative to an intermediate element base body has movable material. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the movable material is loose. Apparatus for stimulating the human body by means of vibrations, in particular according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a vibration-excitable vibration plate (1) and a vibration exciter comprising at least one rotatable and eccentric weight (50) and drive means by means of which the eccentric weight (50) is rotationally displaceable, wherein the position of the rotation axis (48) relative to the swing plate (1) is fixed, characterized in that the drive means comprise at least one electric motor (26) which differs from the swing plate is attached to these at most via elastic elements (2, 4, 22) coupled component. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the component to which the electric motor (26) is mounted is a base plate, a base frame or a base housing intended to be placed on a base, possibly by damping elements 17 is supported on the pad. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that transmission means from the at least one electric motor to a fixed Position relative to the vibration plate mounted shaft 49 via a propeller shaft 31 takes place. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vibration exciter comprises two eccentric weights or groups of eccentric weights (50) which each rotate about an axis of rotation (48) during operation, and in that both eccentric weights or groups of eccentric weights (50 ) are drivable by a single electric motor. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the axes of rotation (48) are substantially parallel and the directions of rotation of the rotational movements of the two eccentric weights or groups of eccentric weights are opposite to each other. Apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that each group of eccentric weights (50) is non-rotatably coupled to a shaft (49) and that each of these two shafts (49) is associated with an additional eccentric weight pivotable relative to the shaft between two stops , wherein the additional eccentric weight is at one rotation of the shaft in one direction of rotation at the first stop and a rotation in the other direction of rotation at the other stop and is rotated by this, and that caused by the additional eccentric weight imbalance the entire Imbalance increases when it is at the first stop, whereas the imbalance of the eccentric weight or group of eccentric weights (50) is at least partially compensated by the imbalance caused by the additional eccentric weight when it is present at the second stop.

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