GB688538A - Improved mechanical-horse exercising machine - Google Patents

Abstract

688,538. Exercising apparatus. SPENCER, HEATH & GEORG E, Ltd., and CHAMBERLAIN, W. E. July 11, 1950. [Sept. 19, 1949] No. 24039/49. Class 132 (i). A machine for riding exercise comprises a cage mounted, above a base pedestal, on a pair of crank shafts which are rotated, so as to rock the cage, by an electric motor mounted on the pedestal and connected to the shafts by clutch means operated by the rider sc that variation in the angular relationship of the cranks, occurring after disengagement of the clutches, causes the motion on reengagement to be different; accessible speed control means are provided for the shafts. An electric motor 7, mounted on a pedestal 6 has a shaft 8 provided with a pulley 9 engaged by a belt 10 extending upwardly and over a pulley 11 on lay shaft 12. Pulley 11 has a movable flange so that its effective diameter, and hence the speed at which belt 10 drives shaft 12, is variable. A second pulley 13, secured to lay-shaft 12, is engaged by a belt 14 passing over a pulley 15 on a shaft 16 carried by a frame 18 that is secured to the pedestal, Fig. 4. Shaft 16 has a worm 19 which meshes with a worm-wheel 20 on a transverse rotatable shaft 21. Shaft 21 has a rotatable pinion 24 meshing with toothed pinions 25, 26 on crank shafts 27, 30 to which the pinions may be simultaneously coupled or released by clutches 33, 34 respectively. The outer ends of the shafts 27, 30 carry crank pins 29, 32 on which a cage 38 is mounted. Cage 38 fits within a body 1 representing a horse fitted with a saddle 2, stirrups 3 bridle 4 and'reins 5. The crank pins 29 engage in slots 35 in links 36 pivoted to cage 38. Each link 36 has a lower flange 39 with two holes through which pass rods 40 the outer ends of which are joined by a plate 41 and the upper ends of which extend through a cross head 42 mounted freely on the corresponding crank-pin 29, the rods being secured with nuts 43. Pairs of compression springs 44, 45, encircling rods 40, act between flange 39 and the plate 41 and cross head 42 respectively and form spring buffers. Similar spring buffers join crank pins 32 directly to the cage 38 as shown, Fig. 4. The speed is controlled by lever 54 pivoted to bars 56 and attached at its lower end to a rod 57 pivotally connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 58. Lever 58 is pivoted at 18 and has its other end pivoted to a rod 59 connected to a thrust plate 60 engaging the slidable flange of pulley 11. The clutches are operated by lever 55 connected by linkage 61 to a shaft 62 having striker arms 63 connected to the operating parts of clutches 33, 34. The machine is lubricated through a system of oil pipes 69 supplied with lubricant from a single point.