GB2102683A - An automatic pacemaker for sports - Google Patents

Abstract

An automatic pacer is for use along a swimming lane or an atheletics track. In swimming it is set up along the length of a swimming pool. A loop (2) of nylon rope is driven in either direction by a low voltage DC reversible electric motor through a drive pulley (9) in a control unit (10). A brightly-coloured float (1) is incorporated in the loop and is propelled up and down a track or lane between end pulleys (6, 7) or end stops, clamped to hand rails (8) at each end. Spring- loaded arms (11, 12) with pulleys (13, 14) through which the rope (2) is threaded take up any slack in the rope, and a switching unit sensitive to the positions of the spring-loaded arms causes the motor to reverse when one arm moves due to a sudden increase in rope tension experienced when the float (1) reaches an end. A swimmer follows the float (1) while swimming in a parallel lane. The float moves at a constant speed, but the control box (10) may programme changes in speed, periods of rest between lengths, and different speeds for different strokes or lengths. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An automatic pacemaker for sports This invention relates to a pacemaker or pacer for setting a speed in sports, and especially to a pacer for use along the lanes of a swimming pool during training sessions.

It is well known that an athlete or a swimmer performs better when he competes against a pacemaker, i.e. another athlete or swimmer moving at a similar speed. A swimmer, for example, may instead race against the clock, by reading the starting and finishing time of a length or lap on large clocks at the ends of a swimming pool. In a training session he may have to swim one length within a certain time, rest for a certain time, and then swim another length in a different stroke, at a different speed. He may be instructed constantly by a coach; if not, it is complicated and unreliable for the swimmer to use only a clock to regulate and monitor his training.

An automatic pacer according to the invention, for use along a section of swimming lane or an athletics track, comprises a runner, drive means for propelling the runner at a predetermined constant speed in either direction parallel to the lane or track, and means responsive to the runner reaching either end of the section of the lane or track to cause the drive means to propel the runner towards the other end.

An automatic pacer according to the invention can perform the function of a human pacemaker. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for an athlete or swimmer to use a clock to regulate his own training; a training coach need not devote his constant attention on one athlete or swimmer, but can use the invention to help train many people simultaneously.

The invention is especially useful in a swimming pool where high voltages could be particularly dangerous, and where wires and external motors would also be hazardous.

In order that the invention may be better understood, the preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawing, in which: Figure 1, comprising two halves labelled 1A and 1 B, is a cross-section along the length of a swimming pool, showing an automatic pacer, according to the invention, arranged along the surface.

The invention is particularly well suited to use on a straight track or lane, and is especially advantageous when used along the length of a swimming pool. The embodimerit to be described with reference to the drawing is a portable set of apparatus which may easily be put up for one training session and then taken down afterwards.

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section of one lane of a swimming pool, the deep end to the left (Fig. 1A) and the shallow end to the right (Fig. 1 B). A runner in the form of a float 1 is propelled up and down a section of the lane, between pulleys at either end, and it is intended that a swimmer should follow the float while swimming in a parallel lane. The float should be made easily visible, and may even include an electric light unit, with lights at each end of the float powered through a magnetic switch by an internal dry cell.

The float 1 is attached at each end to a 4 mm nylon or similar rope 2. The rope 2 from the left-hand end of the float 1 is threaded through a deep end pulley 4 clamped onto to a hand rail 5, loops back to a first shallow end pulley 6 clamped to another hand rail 8, is threaded through a first arm pulley 14, looped around a drive pulley 9, and then through a second arm pulley 1 3 and a second shallow end pulley 7 to the right-hand side of the float 1. The float 1 is propelled up or down the length of the swimming lane by the loop of rope 2 driven by a reversible motor through the drive pulley 9 in control unit 10.

The motor (not shown) is powered by a 1 2 volts battery or power source or a similar low voltage supply. The power supply is preferably contained within the control unit 10 for reasons of safety.

The rope 2 is threaded through arm pulleys 13, 14 at the ends of spring-loaded arms 11, 1 2 pivoted within the control unit 10 above the drive pulley 9. The two spring-loaded arms and the drive pulley 9 incorporate a sensitive switching unit for reversing the motor. The spring-loaded arms 11, 1 2 move up and down depending on which way the float is being driven, taking up any slack in the portion of the rope which is not under tension as the float is propelled through the water to one end of the pool. One spring-loaded arm 11 is up and the other one 1 2 is down taking up any slack. When the float hits a pulley, or a reversing stop, at an end of the swimming lane, the spring-loaded arms reverse thereby operating the switching unit within the control unit to put the motor into reverse.The float is then propelled in the opposite direction, and the process is repeated. As long as the machine is switched on, the float therefore is propelled backwards and forwards from end of the pool to the other at a predetermined speed.

The speed of the motor can be altered while the float is in motion by means of a speed control on the control unit 1 0. The machine can also be linked to a timing device which may incorporate a microprocessor which can be programmed by a swimming coach in order to preset a series of lengths at different speeds, incorporating for example any desired rest periods or repeated runs.

As the nylon rope 2 has a certain degree of elasticity, no additional tensioning device is necessary, and any slack is taken up by the spring-loaded arms 11, 1 2. The switching unit within the control unit 10 which causes the motor to reverse the drive responds to the angular position of the arm which supports the section of rope under tension. The switch ing device therefore responds to any sudden increase in tension in the rone. which will normally be due to the float reaching an end pulley or stop but may also be due to the float encountering an obstacle to its progress along the swimming lane. This therefore provides an additional safety feature.

The control unit 10 is mounted on four rubber pads and is placed near the edge of the swimming pool. The two arm pulleys 13, 1 4 at the end of the spring-loaded arms 11, 1 2 are positioned just over the edge of the pool and above the hand rail fitted to the side of the pool just above the water level. The deep end pulley 4 and the shallow end pul leys 6, 7 are preferably enclosed within covers, and are attached to the hand rail at each end of the pool. The complete apparatus may be portable an easily assembled or taken down.

The motor which drives the drive pulley 9 is preferably a 1 2 volt or similar low voltage permanent magnet DC electric motor, and drives the drive pulley 9 through a gear box.

The speed of the motor can be infinitely varied by a voltage control unit incorporated within the device 1 0.

While this invention has been described in the context of swimming baths, it can also be applied to running tracks for athletics, even including curved tracks. The apparatus is completely safe both mechanically and electrically, and is portable.

Claims (9)

1. An automatic pacer for use along a swimming lane or an athletics track, comprising a runner, drive means for propelling the runner at a predetermined constant speed in either direction parallel to the lane or track, and means responsive to the runner reaching either end of the section of the lane or track to cause the drive means to propel the runner towards the other end.

2. An automatic pacer in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drive means for propelling the runner comprises a loop of flexible material attached to both ends of the runner, and a reversible motor for driving the loop in either direction.

3. An automatic pacer in accordance with claim 2, wherein the loop of flexible material is a loop of rope arranged substantially length wise along the lane or track, the loop being threaded through pulleys at each end of the said section of the lane or track.

4. An automatic pacer in accordance with claim 2 or 3, wherein the said means responsive to the runner reaching either end of the section of the lane or track comprises a swiching unit sensitive to the tension in the said loop of flexible material.

5. An automatic pacer in accordance with claim 4, wherein the said means responsive to the runner reaching either end of the section further comprises a pair of spring-loaded arms each with a pulley through which the loop of flexible material is threaded, the said switching unit responding to the position of the spring-loaded arms.

6. An automatic pacer in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the predetermined constant speed of the runner may be set on a control panel by an operator.

7. An automatic pacer in accordance with any preceding claim, comprising means for controlling the drive means, the control means being programmable by an operator to set a predetermined sequence of laps or lengths at predetermined speeds.

8. An automatic pacer in accordance with claim 7, wherein the control means incorporates a timing device, the control means being programmable to include periods where the runner is stationary at one end of the said section of the lane or track.

9. An automatic pacer in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the runner is illuminated by an internal electric light circuit powered by a dry cell.

1 0. An automatic pacer substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.