JP3581178B2 - Energy-saving indoor walking device with brake - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a non-powered indoor walking device of a type in which a walking belt moves by its own weight, and more particularly to a walking device capable of changing and controlling a load.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally known as this kind of indoor walking device is a device that drives a walking belt with the power of a motor or the like and a pedestrian walks on the walking belt, without using a special power source. There is an energy-saving type in which a walking belt is driven by a pedestrian's own weight.
[0003]
The former consumes a lot of electric energy every time walking, so it goes against energy savings, and it also makes noise and cannot be driven by a general commercial power supply. In addition, since the apparatus itself is heavy, it is inconvenient to use for transportation and the like, and it is expensive and requires a running cost. Also, in the unlikely event of a failure, there is a risk of a great danger.
[0004]
On the other hand, in the latter, the walking belt is inclined with respect to the floor, and when the pedestrian stands on it, the walking belt is driven by its own weight, which is energy saving. However, this also had the following disadvantages.
In other words, in this case, the speed of the walking belt affects the intensity of the pedestrian's movement, but the adjustment of the belt speed is performed by mechanically changing the inclination angle of the belt. The exercise had to be interrupted each time, and the adjustment was tedious, time-consuming and inaccurate. Further, since the force applied to the walking belt changes each time a pedestrian kicks or lands, the speed of the walking belt tends to fluctuate and is not smooth, so that the walking feeling is not good. And it was not suitable for control based on information from a microcomputer or a pulse sensor.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The type in which the walking belt is driven by the pedestrian's own weight in this way meets modern needs because of energy saving, but has the above-mentioned disadvantages.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve such problems and disadvantages. The purpose of the present invention is to make adjustments automatically instantaneously and accurately. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an energy-saving indoor walking device with a brake that has a smooth walking feeling and a good walking feeling.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an indoor walking device with a brake according to the present invention includes a front free roller, a back free roller, and an endless walking belt connecting between the two free rollers. A walking road surface device used as a pedestrian walking road surface,
When the pedestrian stands on the endless walking belt, the walking road surface device is moved relative to the floor to such an extent that the endless walking belt starts moving from the front free roller to the back free roller by its own weight. A pedestrian support device that is supported by being inclined,
A brake device arranged to apply a desired braking force to the walking road surface device;
An input unit for inputting data for the braking device to apply a desired braking force to the walking road surface device;
A calculation control unit that calculates a desired braking force based on the data and gives the result to the brake device;
A display unit for displaying desired contents of the input data and the calculation result,
It is characterized by comprising from.
[0008]
Further, the brake device is constituted by an eddy current brake device, in which case either one of the front and rear free rollers is used as a brake target roller, and the brake target roller and the rotor of the eddy current brake device are on the same central axis and the same. It is characterized by being connected so as to rotate.
[0009]
Further, the braked roller is constituted by a hollow pipe, the hollow pipe and the eddy current brake device rotor are connected via a collar, and a rotary bearing is disposed inside the collar. is there.
[0010]
The material of the collar is a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the material of the roller or the rotor.
[0011]
In addition, a rotation speed detecting means magnet 7 for detecting the speed of the endless walking belt 13 as the rotation speed of the free roller 11 or 12 is provided.
[0012]
[Action]
With the above configuration, when the pedestrian stands on the endless walking belt, the floor surface is such that the endless walking belt starts moving from the front free roller to the back free roller by its own weight. And an input unit for inputting data for the brake device to apply a desired braking force to the walking road surface device, so that the desired speed of the endless walking belt is The pedestrian need only select the desired training level to be controlled from the input unit in advance, and then the calculation control unit performs calculation and control according to the selection instruction, and as a result, the desired braking force is braked. To walk at 4 km / h for the first time, and automatically turn off when 10 minutes have passed since you thought you were tired on the way. If you build a program to increase the speed of the parking device a little and make it about 2 km / h, the load will automatically become 2 km, and if you try to walk at 2 km or more, you will move forward, so pedestrians will If you notice this, you can walk slowly.
Even if such a program is not prepared, the brake device is composed of an eddy current brake device, so if the control button is provided at a position that is easy for pedestrians to operate using the electric brake It is also possible to change the walking belt speed while walking. Of course, large electric power is not consumed by an electric motor or the like, and durability is good because there is no friction portion.
Furthermore, a rotation speed detecting means for detecting the speed of the endless walking belt as the rotation speed of the free roller at a high speed is provided, and an output of the rotation speed detecting means is provided to the arithmetic control unit. Even if there is landing or landing, the speed of the walking belt is controlled at a high speed, so that the walking becomes smooth and the walking feeling is good.
[0013]
【Example】
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an indoor walking device with a brake according to the present invention.
The walking road surface device 1 includes a front free roller 11, a back free roller 12, and an endless walking belt 13 around which these two free rollers are wound.
The walking road surface device 1 is supported on the walking road surface device support base 2 while being inclined with respect to the floor surface. When the pedestrian rides on the walking belt, the walking belt 13 is moved by its own weight. The angle is just enough to start moving. When the pedestrian is too light and the walking belt 13 does not move, the adjustment knob 9 may be rotated to an angle at which the pedestrian moves. The mechanism by which the front free roller 11 is lifted when the adjustment knob 9 is rotated may be any one of well-known lifting mechanisms, and a description thereof will be omitted.
[0014]
The material of the endless walking belt 13 is, for example, a laminated material of polyester, urethane, rubber, or the like, and is preferably elastic and strong. If the material is not so strong, a plate may be provided under the endless walking belt 13. In this case, the coefficient of friction between the walking belt and the plate is related to the movement of the walking belt. .
Also, many free rollers may be arranged in place of the plate. In this case, the coefficient of friction between the walking belt and the board is smaller than that of the board, and if walking on the walking belt with bare feet, the utility of Aotake health law can be obtained.
[0015]
The front free roller 11 is provided with an eddy current brake device 3 known per se. This means that the degree of braking changes according to the magnitude of the coil current flowing through the eddy current braking device 3. FIG. 2 shows an example of attaching the eddy current brake device 3 to the front free roller 11. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the free roller 11 or 12 and the eddy current brake device 3. The stator 32 of the eddy current brake device 3 is connected to the shaft of the front free roller 11, and , The rotor 31 of the eddy current brake device 3 is coupled so as to be on the same central axis and rotate at the same speed. In the case of such outer rotation and inner fixing, it is usual to control the rotational movement by using a chain or a belt, but here, the eddy current brake device 3 The feature is that the rotor 31 is directly connected. A coil 33 is provided on the stator 32 of the eddy current brake device 3, and a current flowing through this coil is controlled by an arithmetic control unit described later. The magnet 7 is attached to the end 14 of the front free roller 11. When the front free roller 11 rotates, the magnet 7 also rotates, and this is fixed by a Hall element (not shown) fixedly installed in the vicinity of the magnet 7. As a result, the rotation speed of the front free roller 11 is detected. The rotation speed detection may use optical means in addition to the magnet-Hall element. In the rotation speed detection in this embodiment, for example, about 500 rpm is counted in the no brake state.
[0016]
As described above, the stator 32 of the eddy current brake device 3 is connected to the fixed shaft of the front free roller 11 and the rotor 31 of the eddy current brake device 3 is connected to the rotating circumference of the front free roller 11. Is to form a front free roller with a hollow pipe, connect the hollow pipe and the rotor 31 of the eddy current brake device via a collar 15, and arrange a rotary bearing 16 inside the collar 15. It is advantageous.
[0017]
Further, in this eddy current brake, heat of about 80 to 100 degrees is generated, so that the rotor 31 becomes hot. On the other hand, the walking belt is not so hot because it is made of rubber or the like. Therefore, heat conduction is prevented by making the material of the collar a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the material of the roller or the rotor.
[0018]
The eddy current brake device 3 is provided on the front free roller 11 side, but may be provided on the back free roller 12 side. Also, eddy current brakes are the most convenient at the moment, but friction and hydraulic brakes are also acceptable.
[0019]
FIG. 3 illustrates a panel that also serves as the input unit 4 and the display unit 6, and an arithmetic control unit 5 is disposed behind the panel. The input unit 4 includes necessary buttons such as a power on / off button, a numeric keypad, a confirmation button, and a cancel button. Data is selected and input from the numeric keypad in accordance with guidance of the display unit. Further, the display unit and the input unit may be integrated by using a transparent electrode as seen in ATMs of banks.
[0020]
The display unit 6 is constituted by a liquid crystal display screen, and displays necessary information for the pedestrian each time. The pedestrian sees the information displayed on the display unit and inputs necessary data from the input unit, or refers to walking while looking at the display unit while walking. For example, before using the pedestrian's name, age, gender, stride, weight, expected walking time, usage mode, training level, walking course, etc., request and input necessary data on the display unit. Data that pedestrians want, such as distance, elapsed time, calorie consumption, pulse rate, and count of steps (walking distance / step length), is displayed in real time from moment to moment. FIG. 3A shows one example.
[0021]
Also, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), a typical course corresponding to a walk course selected by the pedestrian, for example, a silver bra (2 km) course or a round the Imperial Palace (4 km) course, is displayed on the display unit so as not to bore the pedestrian. The image can be displayed as a still image or a moving image that changes every moment according to the walking distance. Alternatively, the names of the pedestrians may be stored, and the data may be updated each time the pedestrians are used, so that the Tokaido 53rd course can be completed for a long time.
[0022]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the arithmetic control unit 5 used in the present invention for performing such control. The arithmetic control unit 5 receives various data input from the input unit 4, detects the magnetic force of the magnet 7, counts the pulses output by the Hall element, detects the number of rotations, and thereby determines the speed of the traveling belt. The pulse is calculated and the pulse is detected based on the output from the pulse sensor 8, and each data is stored in a memory built in the microcomputer. In addition, since necessary data such as pedestrian's name, age, gender, stride, weight, expected walking time, use mode, training level, walk course, etc. have been input before use, micro data is based on these data. The computer calculates necessary control signals and sends necessary control signals to the power supply circuit to the power supply circuit, and data which is not stored in the internal memory in the auxiliary memory, for example, silver data which is image data of a walking course. The image is displayed on the display unit using the image data of the scenery of the course around the Imperial Palace or the Bra Course.
[0023]
The power supply circuit changes the field coil current of the eddy current brake according to the control signal, and performs the brake control so as to be optimal. The detection and control of the rotation speed is performed at a high speed of several hertz or more so as to meet the requirements of the pedestrian. The reason for the high-speed control is that when the walking belt is stopped, the belt is slightly heavy due to friction, so do not apply the brakes when you start walking, but once you start moving, the inertia is added to some extent, so the speed is getting faster and faster If you do so, you may not be able to ride on the rollers of this belt or the movement will be severe, and if you land or kick, the speed of the belt will go up and down , There are times when feeling is not good. In order to solve this, the speed of the movement of the belt is finely detected and controlled at high speed.
[0024]
The pulse sensor 8 is attached to a place where it does not interfere with walking such as the lobe of the pedestrian, detects a pulse based on the output of the pulse sensor 8, and determines whether the walking speed of the pedestrian is maintained as it is, or slightly increased or decreased. The computer judges, and as a result, the eddy current brake, which is applied with a voltage of about 12 volts, increases the voltage in the vicinity thereof (then the speed of the running belt decreases) or decreases (the belt speed increases, and the pedestrian moves fast). Then, the load torque is changed by changing the current.
[0025]
As another brake control method, time may be controlled mainly without using a sensor. For example, when controlling at 2 km / h or 4 km / h, first walk at 4 km / h, and at a time when you feel tired on the way, control the microcomputer to 2 km by a pre-set program. Do it. Then, the brake is automatically applied a little more and the load of 2 km is applied, and the pedestrian does not need to walk at 2 km or more, and can walk slowly. In this way, the brake control mainly consists of a pulse sensor and a belt speed (rotational speed) sensor. In addition, a program of exercise time is set up, and the speed of the belt is reduced when the exercise becomes more and more difficult. Control.
[0026]
It is also possible to provide a handle 21 as shown in FIG. 1 and to use the handle 21 instead of a cane to assist walking.
[0027]
A harder walking mode may be adopted in which the brake is strongly applied to the walking road surface device 1 so that the walking belt does not move under its own weight, and the user walks by grasping the handle 21 and stepping one step at a time. This is called a “climbing mode” and is distinguished from the “walk mode”, which is the mode described above. In the "climbing mode" as well as in the walking mode, when simulating an actual climbing course such as the 5th course or the 9th course of Mt. Fuji, pedestrians can enjoy training without boring.
[0028]
In addition, although it is named as an indoor walking device, it goes without saying that it can also be used as a room runner from the principle.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the energy-saving indoor walking device with a brake according to the present invention, the eddy current braking device is provided on the completely free walking belt, and the eddy current braking device is controlled by the microcomputer. It does not consume a large amount of power, has no friction, and has good durability.Furthermore, it has a rotation speed detection means that detects the speed of the walking belt as the rotation speed of the free roller at a high speed, so strong kicks by pedestrians Even if there is a dashi or landing, the speed of the walking belt is controlled at a high speed, so that the walking becomes smooth, and the walking feeling is good.
[0030]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of an embodiment of an energy-saving indoor walking device with a brake according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a free roller and an eddy current brake device when the brake device 3 of FIG. 1 is an eddy current brake device.
FIG. 3 is a front view of a panel of an input unit 4 and a display unit 6 of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an arithmetic and control unit 5 used in the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Walking road surface device 11 Front free roller 12 Back free roller 13 Endless walking belt 14 Roller end 15 Collar 16 Bearing 2 Walking road surface device support base 21 Handle 3 Eddy current brake device 31 Brake device rotor 32 Brake device stator 33 Brake device coil 4 Input unit 5 Operation control unit 6 Display unit 7 Magnet for rotation speed detecting means 8 Pulse sensor 9 Height adjustment knob

Claims (3)

A front free roller (11), a back free roller (12), and an endless walking belt (13) connecting the two free rollers, and an upper upper surface of the endless walking belt (13) is used as a pedestrian walking surface. A walking road surface device (1) to be used as an endless walking belt (13). The endless walking belt (13) is separated from the front free roller (11) by its own weight when the pedestrian stands on the endless walking belt (13). A walking road surface device support base (2) for supporting the walking road surface device (1) at an angle to the floor so as to start moving to the back free roller (12); and the walking road surface device (1). A braking device (3) arranged to apply a desired braking force to the walking road surface device (1), and data for the braking device (3) to apply a desired braking force to the walking road surface device (1). An input unit (4), a calculation control unit (5) for calculating a desired braking force based on the data and providing the result to the brake device (3), and a desired content of the input data and the calculation result, etc. And a display unit (6) for displaying an energy-saving indoor walking device with a brake, comprising :
The brake device (3) is constituted by an eddy current brake device, wherein one of the two free rollers (11, 12) is used as a roller to be braked, and the roller to be braked and the eddy current brake device (3) are used. ) Are connected so that they are on the same central axis and rotate the same,
Further, the braked roller is constituted by a hollow pipe, and the hollow pipe and the eddy current brake device rotor (31) are connected via a collar (15), and a rotating bearing (16) is provided inside the collar (15). ) Is an energy-saving indoor walking device with brake. The material of the collar (15) has a lower thermal conductivity than the material of the two free rollers (11, 12) or the material of the eddy current brake device rotor (31). An energy-saving indoor walking device with a brake as described. Claim 1 or, characterized in that providing the rotational speed detection means magnet (7) for detecting the speed of the endless walking belt (13) as two free rollers (11, 12) one of the rotational speed either 2. The energy-saving indoor walking device with a brake according to 2 .

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