WO1999060927A9

WO1999060927A9 - Measuring arrangement in a training device for muscular strength

Info

Publication number: WO1999060927A9
Application number: PCT/FI1998/000431
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kalevi Artturi Nieminen
Original assignee: Kalevi Artturi Nieminen
Priority date: 1998-05-25
Filing date: 1998-05-25
Publication date: 2007-08-16
Also published as: WO1999060927A1

Abstract

A measuring arrangement in a training or a rehabilitation equipment comprised of a pulling member (2) between user and loading unit (1) for transmission of motion brought forth by muscular strength and power, a rotating wheel (4) guide the said member, necessary motion sensors and power sensors (6) and a steering unit (8) for procession of sensor messages, rotating member (4) and its structure of suspension (5) are arranged to move against spring member (7), when the pulling member is affected by pulling force and the arrangement includes a device measuring the flexing travel of the flexing member, a device (6) measuring the rotation member rotation and a unit (8) that transforms the flexing travel into pulling force and counts and indicates at least the work done or power.

Description

MEASURING ARRANGEMENT IN A TRAINING DEVICE FOR MUSCULAR

STRENGTH

The invention relates to a measuring arrangement determined in ^■the introduction of patent claim 1, to be used for measuring strength, power or work by muscles.

Previously known from publication print wo-95/11626 is a measuring arrangement, where the pulling force of a transmission member, as a chain, between two rotation-producing wheels is measured. The suspension of one chain wheel is swinging or shifting due to the pulling force and the pulling force is reckoned from the size of the shift. The other chain wheel is driving, thus transmitting power to the chain.

In the above solution the pulling wheel is the one, whose force of suspension is measured. This causes in the suspension of the driving wheel also other force components than the one by the pullings member . Depending on how the rotational motion is brought to the driving wheel, force components in different directions and of different size are produced, which are aimed at the suspension of the wheel target for measuring and give a faulty addition to measuring. If rotational power is brought by means of pedals, a twisting force component is produced. If rotational power is brought by means of another chain or by means of a cogwheel, by these ones also a force component in a certain direction is produced affecting the pulling wheel suspension force which is to be measured.

In Finnish publication 87133 a measuring device of the working order of muscles is presented, where many types of motion are measured and the measurement results processed by computer.

In publications GB 2 179 164 and 2 224 855 measuring of strength directed to the pulling member is presented, when the wheel is by means of a joint fixed to the frame, whereby the wheel flexes against a spring or a pressure sensor due to the load of the pulling member. However, in the publications referred to above, measuring of force and the length of travel of a pulling member making to- and-fro motion has not been solved as an ergonomic device application in a way that there would be an almost friction- less not-transmitting measuring wheel , whose closely towards the pulling member directed force of suspension is measured. The pulling force on the pulling member is directly available from the force of suspension

The measuring arrangement according to this invention is characterized in what is presented in the patent claims.

The advantage of the invention is that from the ergonomic device the use of power in both directions can be closely measured. E.g. the use of power by letting down the load, such as weights. Further, additional lifting power due to increased exertion by lifting weights can be included. On the other hand, in known devices, where the weight of load is fed to a calculating unit and the lifting times counted, the amount of work done and power is received as too small, since power used for increased exertion will not be included by calculation. The lifting distance can also remain inaccurate.

In the construction as per the invention the sensor that measures the pulling force gives, in all cases, proper power data that corresponds to the pulling member pulling force. The length of the pulling member motion is measured by means of the device and the counting unit carries out necessary calculations, i.e. strength, power and work (energies) in a way known per se .

In the following the invention is disclosed with reference to the enclosed drawing, where,

Fig. 1 shows a side view of an ergonomic equipment.

Fig. 2 shows how the bearing is suspended in the frame.

Fig. 3 shows the location of sensor in connectio with the bearing. Figure 1 is an ergonomic device, comprised of frame beams 3, placed on base 9 , by means of which the muscles are trained or rehabilitated. The device includes a load unit 1, which is lifted up and let down with pulling device 2. Using different types of handles in one end, the pulling device can be, arranged for training the hand, foot and other muscles. Pulling device 2 is steered over a special sheave 4 to lift weights 1. There is for the pulling member an additional sheave 14 to make the pulling member leave sheave 4 horizontally.

Rotation of sheave 4 is measured by means of magnetic bits on its surface, whose travel pass the sensor (10 fig. 2) is followed. For wheel 4 there is a bearing 12 in casing 5. Casing 5 is placed in a guide in frame beam 3, where it can move vertically. Bearing casing 5 is suspended from below by a flexing member 7, most suitably some spring type known per se, the spring constant of which is known.

The pulling member 2 fixed on the set of weights 1 produces in lifting situation a downward force Fv on wheel 4 , which is as big as the force of suspension upward of flexible member 7. When leaving wheel 4 horizontally, the pulling member produces, in bearing casing 5, a horizontal force for which there is a corresponding force of suspension F with no effect on member 7 compression= Pulling the member 2 from its handle end can be done in different directions and does not, thus have any impact on the member 7 compression and the result of measurement.

The equipment has a steering unit 8 counting on basis of the measured compression of member 7 the force produced on the pulling member, on basis of the message from the motion sensors 10 the length of motion and, by means of these. The strength, power and work used together for lifting and letting down the weights. Unit 8 can in a way known per se indicate momentary strength or power, register maximum values and inform, for instance, the use of total energy. In figure 2 the location of bearing casing 5 in the guide in beam 3 is more closely illustrated. In beam 3 there is a crosswise holder 11 with flexible member 7 on top of it. As to its spring constant the flexible member is a known spring or pressure sensor, which indicates the load directly. In the example solution member 7 is compressed a little, ab. 0,1 i 2 mm, due to the load, and the compression is observed using a Hall sensor 13 in a way shown in figure 3. One part of sensor 13 is in bearing casing 5 and the second part in frame 3. The compression and power ratio of member 7 must be known, whereby a known spring type must be used.

It is advantageous that the flexing motion is small. Most suitably between 0 i 2 mm. Then the direction of pulling member remains horizontal on leaving wheel 4. Likewise, slight springiness ensures that there will be no swing in weights 1, even though the pulling member would we jerked.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

A measuring arrangement in a training or a rehabilitation equipment comprised of a pulling member (2) moved to-and- fro between user and loading unit (1) for transmission of motion brought forth by muscular strength and power, a freely- rotating wheel (4), as a sheave not transmitting pulling force to the said member but to steer the said member, necessary motion sensors and power sensors (6) , (10) , (13) and a steering unit (8) for procession of sensor messages, characterized in that rotating member ( 4 ) and its structure of suspension (5) are arranged to move in the pulling member (2) direction against flexible member (7), when the pulling member is affected by pulling force and the arrangement includes a device (13) measuring the flexing travel of member (7), a device (6,10) measuring the rotating member (4) rotation, and a unit (8) to transform the flexing travel into pulling force and to count and indicate at least the work done or power.

2. An arrangement according to patent claim 1 characterized in that the maximum flexing travel is short, appr. 0,5 i 2 mm and its direction the direction of the portion of pulling member (7) that leads to load (1).

3. An arrangement according to patent claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the flexing travel of flexing member (7) is directly proportional with respect to the pulling force or the proportionality is known.

4. An arrangement according to any above patent claim 1 - 4 characterized in that the pulling force can be measured in both directions of the pulling member motion and by means of unit (8) work done and/or strength of both directions of motion counted and indicated.

5. An arrangement according to any above patent claim 1 - 5 characterized in that the flexing travel of bearing casing (5) is measured from the message from Hall sensor (13.