GB2357252A

GB2357252A - Stator for an eddy current brake; Resistance device for an exercise cycle

Info

Publication number: GB2357252A
Application number: GB9929780A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clive Graham Stevens
Original assignee: Pro Gym Co International Ltd
Current assignee: Pro Gym Co International Ltd
Priority date: 1999-12-16
Filing date: 1999-12-16
Publication date: 2001-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-16
Also published as: GB2357252B; GB9929780D0

Abstract

A resistance device 10, suitable for an exercise cycle, includes: a fly wheel 10 with a flange 100 to which a plurality of magnets 3 are attached; and a stator 2 mounted on the axle 4 of the fly wheel. The stator has a plurality of first 21 and second 22 apertures, preferably at different radii from the centre of the stator, and a plurality of first 23 and second 24 radial slots communicating with the respective apertures. The stator is preferably made from a non-Ferro material such as aluminium and the apertures are suitable for receiving coil windings 6 and 60. An actuating portion (Figure 2, 12) of the fly wheel is connected to a driving device (e.g. exercise cycle) via a belt, which drives the flywheel and magnets around the stator, generating an alternating current in the coil windings 6. The windings 6 are connected to a control box (Figure 3, A) in which the generated alternating current is rectified to be direct current. The direct current is supplied to windings 60 via an auxiliary power supply (Figure 4, B). A switch (Figure 3, C) on the control box controls the amount of current supplied to the second windings, which determines the resistance force applied to the fly wheel. Alternatively, there may be two stators for the two sets of windings.

Description

2357252 DAMPING DEVICE FOR AN EXERCISE CYCLE The present invention relates

to a damping device for an exercise cycle, which has a fly wheel with magnets connected to an inside of a flange extending radially laterally from the fly wheel, and the magnets rotate about a stator in the center of the fly wheel to generate alternating current which is controlled by a switch to adjust a resistance force that allows the fly wheel to be rotated.

A conventional damping device for an exercise cycle known to the applicant includes an aluminum disk and an adjusting means. When the adjusting means is moved away is from the aluminum disk, the resistance force between the aluminum disk and the adjusting means is less so that the user can rotate the wheel of the exercycle with less effort. On the contrary, when the adjusting means is moved toward the aluminum disk, the resistance force between the aluminum disk and the adjusting means is increased so that the user has to make a larger effort to rotate the wheel of the exercise cycle. By the movement of the adjusting means, the user can set the desired or appropriate distance between the adjusting means and the aluminum disk.

Nevertheless, the maximum resistance force generated between the aluminum disk and the adjusting means is still limited and cannot meet the requirement of users.

An object of the present invention is to provide a damping device that employs a stator and magnets to generate alternating current and which is rectified to be direct current and which is controlled by the user to set the required direct current for the stator so as to have a desired resistance force for rotating the fly wheel.

The present invention is easy to control and can 2 generate a wide range of the resistance force that meets the requirements of different users.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a damping device comprising a fly wheel having a flange extending laterally from a periphery of the fly wheel and a plurality of magnets connected to an inside of the flange. The fly wheel has an actuating portion extending from a center of a side of the fly wheel so as to be connected to a driving device. A stator is mounted to an axle of the fly wheel and a plurality of first holes and a plurality of second holes are respectively defined through the stator. The first holes are located at a first radius distance from the center of the stator. The second holes are located at a second radius distance from the center of the stator. A plurality of first slots and a plurality of second slots are defined radially in a periphery of the stator, and the first slots communicate with the first holes and the second slots communicate with the second holes. First wires are connected between the first holes and second wires are connected between the second holes.

The present invention therefore provides a damping device which uses the change of magnetic field between the magnets connected to a fly wheel and the stator located in the fly wheel to adjust the resistance force that allows the fly wheel to be rotated. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view to show the fly wheel, the magnets and the stator of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an end cross-sectional view to show the fly wheel, the magnets and the stator of the present invention; Fig. 3 is an illustrative view to show the damping device is connected to a control box, and Fig. 4 is an illustrative view to show the circuit arrangement in the control box.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the damping device in accordance with the present invention comprises a fly wheel 1 having a flange 100 extending laterally from a periphery of the fly wheel 11. An actuating portion 12 extends from a center of a side of the fly wheel 10 and the actuating portion 12 has grooves 12 defined in an outer periphery thereof so as to be connected with a driving device a belt (not shown). A passage 10 is defined through a center of the fly wheel I and the actuating portion 12 so that an axle 4 is engaged with the passage 10. A bearing 5 is mounted to the axle 4 and located between the axle 4 and the actuating portion 12. A plurality of magnets 3 are connected to an inside of the flange 10 and each two adjacent 5 magnets 3 contact with each other at two respective ends having different polarities.

A stator 2 made of non-Ferro material such as Aluminum is mounted to the axle 4. A plurality of first holes 21 and a plurality of second holes 22 are defined through the stator 2. The first holes 21 are located at a first radius distance from the center of the stator 2, and the second holes 22 are located at a second radius distance from the center of the stator 2. A plurality of first slots 23 and a plurality of second slots 24 are defined radially in a periphery of the stator 2. The first slots 23 communicate with the first holes 21 and the second slots 24 communicate with the second holes 22. First wires 6 are connected between the first holes 21 and second wires 60 are connected between the second holes 22.

Further referring to Fig. 4, when using the damping device, the fly wheel 10 is first rotated by the user and the magnets 3 are rotated about the stator 2.

4 Alternating current is generated between the magnets 3 and the fixed first wires 6 on the stator 2. The alternating current is connected to a control box "All in which rectifier, amplifier and chips are disposed. The alternating current is rectified to be direct current which is connected to and stored in an auxiliary power supply "B" such as a rechargeable battery. A switch IICII on the control box controls the required direct current sent to the second wires 60. When the direct current supplied to the second wires 60 is increased, the magnetic field between the stator 2 and the magnets 3 is increased so as to increase the resistance force that allows the fly wheel 1 to be rotated.

By the damping device, the resistance force applied to the fly wheel 1 can be adjusted according to the user's need by rotating the switch "C", and the resistance force can be generated to a large value.

While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

A damping device comprising:

a fly wheel having a flange extending laterally from a periphery of said fly wheel, an actuating portion extending to one side of said fly wheel, said actuating portion adapted to be connected with a driving device, a passage defined through a center of said fly wheel and said actuating portion, an axle engaged with said passage; a plurality of magnets connected to the inside of said flange; a stator mounted to said axle, a plurality of first holes and a plurality of second holes defined through said stator, said first holes located at a first radius distance from said center of said stator, said second holes located at a second radius distance from said center of said stator, a plurality of first slots and a plurality of second slots defined radially in a periphery of said stator, said first slots communicating with said first holes and said second slots communicating with said second holes, and first wires connected between said first holes and second wires connected between said second holes.
2. The damping device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said stator is made of non-Ferro material.
3. The damping device as claimed in claim 2, said stator is made of Aluminum.
4. A stator for or in a damping device which includes a plurality of apertures for receiving coil windings, each aperture communicating with the peripheral edge of the stator via a slot, wherein at least a first group of apertures is positioned closer to the centre of the stator 6 than a second group of apertures.
5. A stator substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

% 0 00.

5. An exercise cycle including a stator as set out in any of the preceding claims.

6. An exercise cycle including; a rotatable fly wheel provided with one or more permanent magnets; a stator mounted within or adjacent the fly wheel, said stator being provided with first coil windings which in use induce a current wherein said induced current can be rectified and supplied via a control device to a second, receiving coil winding provided on the same stator, or on a further stator associated with the fly wheel; wherein the amount of said applied current can be controlled by the control device responsive to selection by a user so as to vary the resistance force of the cycle.

7. A stator substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A damping device comprising:

a f ly wheel having a f lange extending laterally from a periphery of said fly wheel, an actuating portion extending to one side of said fly wheel, said actuating portion adapted to be connected with a driving device, a passage defined through a center of said fly wheel and said actuating portion, an axle engaged with said passage; a plurality of magnets connected to the inside of said flange; a stator mounted to said axle, a plurality of first holes and a plurality of second holes defined through said stator, said first holes located at a first radius is distance from said center of said stator, said second holes located at a second radius distance from said center of said stator, a plurality of f irst slots and a plurality of second slots def ined radially in, a periphery of said stator, said f irst slots communicating with said f irst holes and said second slots communicating with said second, holes, and first wires connected between said first holes and second wires connected between said second holes.

2. A stator for or in a damping device which includes a plurality of apertures for receiving coil windings, each aperture communicating with the peripheral edge of the stator via a slot, wherein at least a f irst group of apertures is positioned closer to the centre of the stator than a second group of apertures.

3. An exercise cycle including a stator as set out in any of the preceding claims.

4.- The damping device pf claim I wherein said stator is provided with first coil windings which in use induce a current wherein said induced current ca, n be rectified and supplied via a control device to a second, receiving coil winding provided on the same stator, or on a further stator associated with the fly wheel; wherein the amount of said applied current can be controlled by the control device responsive to selection by a user so as to vary the resistance force of the cycle.