The present invention relates to a bicycle trainer, and particularly to an electromagnetically actuated bicycle trainer and a resistance control method thereof.
Bicycles are a common transportation means. However, as times change, bicycles have also become a recreational means in the lives of modern people. Bicycle riding allows one to not only appreciate sceneries along the road while riding but also achieve the goal of working out for fitness, and is extensively loved by the public. However, not all occasions and climates (e.g., in the snow or rain) are suitable for bicycle riding. Thus, in order to enjoy the fun of bicycle riding under all circumstances, bicycle trainers have been developed. By securing and positioning one's bicycle on a bicycle trainer, one can stay amused with the fun of bicycle riding, disregarding space and location issues.
To better simulate actual riding conditions, a mechanical mechanism that changes the resistance along with speed is further disposed in certain bicycle trainers. The curve of the resistance may be set and adjusted according to a predetermined application scenario. However, such design only provides one single application scenario, and the amount of the resistance cannot be controlled as desired or be programmable.
Thus, a device with electrically controlled resistance is further designed. For example, the U.S. Patent Publication No. 20140171272, “Bicycle Trainer”, includes a frame assembly and a flywheel assembly. The frame assembly is for supporting the flywheel assembly. The flywheel assembly includes a flywheel axle, T-shaped portions disposed annularly around the flywheel assembly, and a flywheel member connected to the flywheel axle. The T-shaped portions receive a current to generate a magnetic field. When the flywheel axle drives the flywheel member to rotate, the flywheel member rotates against the magnetic field and thus provides a braking force. The strength of the magnetic field can be varied by changing the current, and the amount of braking force can be changed to simulate different scenarios.
However, the above braking force consumes a substantial amount of electric power. Thus, current bicycle trainers can only achieve full operations and functions given that they are connected to an external power supply, meaning that current bicycle trainers are nonetheless bound by an application location restriction.
The primary object of the present invention is to solve an issue of a conventional trainer, which has a large power consumption and needs an external power supply that result in an application location restriction.
To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electromagnetically actuated bicycle trainer. The electromagnetically actuated bicycle trainer includes a base, a support assembly disposed on the base, and a hysteresis resistance generating module mounted on the base. The support assembly includes a support arm disposed on the base, and a fastening member disposed at one end of the support arm away from the base and for securing an axle of a pedaling wheel. The hysteresis resistance generating module includes an inner magnetic stationary member, an outer magnetic stationary member, a semi-hard magnetic rotating member disposed between the inner magnetic stationary member and the outer magnetic stationary member, and a conductive coil receiving an electric power. The inner magnetic stationary member includes an accommodating groove for accommodating the conductive coil, and an inner magnetic sensing region. The external magnetic stationary member includes an outer magnetic sensing region. The semi-hard magnetic rotating member is correspondingly disposed between the inner magnetic sensing region and the outer magnetic sensing region, and rotates correspondingly to turning of a rear axle. The inner magnetic sensing region includes a plurality of inner recesses disposed at an interval to form a plurality of inner magnetic portions. The outer magnetic sensing region includes a plurality of outer recesses disposed at an interval to form a plurality of outer magnetic portions. The outer magnetic portions correspond to positions of the inner recesses, and the inner magnetic portions correspond to positions of the outer recesses.
The conductive coil receives the electric power and senses opposite magnetisms that the outer magnetic portions and the inner magnetic portions generate, such that the semi-hard magnetic rotating member correspondingly generates magnetism and generates a hysteresis resistance when rotated.
To achieve the above object, the present invention further provides a resistance control method of an electromagnetically actuated bicycle trainer. The control method includes following steps.
In step S1, a user adjusts strength of a predetermined pedaling resistance through a central control module.
In step S2, the central control module inputs an electric power to a conductive coil of a hysteresis resistance generating module. The conductive coil senses opposite magnetisms that a plurality of inner magnetic portions of an inner magnetic stationary member of the hysteresis resistance generating module and a plurality of outer magnetic portions of an outer magnetic stationary member of the hysteresis resistance generating module generate. The inner magnetic stationary member includes a plurality of inner recesses disposed at an interval from the inner magnetic portions. The outer magnetic stationary member includes a plurality of outer recesses disposed at an interval from the outer magnetic portions. The outer magnetic portions correspond to positions of the inner recesses, and the inner magnetic portions correspond to positions of the outer recesses.
In step S3, the user pedals and drives a pedaling wheel to turn, such that a semi-hard magnetic rotating member of the hysteresis resistance generating module rotates along with the pedaling wheel. The semi-hard magnetic rotating member is disposed between the inner magnetic stationary member and the outer magnetic stationary member.
In step S4, the semi-hard magnetic rotating member receives mutual effects of the outer magnetic portions and the inner magnetic portions to generate a hysteresis resistance that corresponds to the predetermined pedaling resistance of the user.
In conclusion, the present invention provides following features.
1. By using the hysteresis resistance generating module as a resistance generating mechanism, the hysteresis resistance of the inner magnetic stationary member and the outer magnetic stationary member is efficiently generated through the magnetic conductivity of the semi-hard magnetic rotating member. When the rear wheel drives the semi-hard magnetic rotating member to rotate, a smooth resistance can be generated to effectively and significantly reduce the required electric power.
2. As the semi-hard magnetic rotating member does not come into contact with the inner magnetic stationary member and the outer magnetic stationary member, issues of wear caused by friction is eliminated, thereby providing advantages of having a long lifecycle and reduced consumption costs.
3. A variable amount of resistance is achieved as the input voltage or current of the conductive coil is controllable, in a way that various riding scenarios can be more accurately simulated.
Referring to
Referring to
When the conductive coil receives 44 an electric power, it senses opposite magnetisms that the outer magnetic portions 421b and the inner magnetic portions 412b generate. Thus, the semi-hard magnetic rotating member 43 is caused to correspondingly generate magnetism and also generates a smooth resistance when it rotates, thereby effectively and significantly reducing the required electric power. Further, the inner magnetic stationary member 41, the outer magnetic stationary member 42 and the semi-hard magnetic rotating member 43 do not come into contact with one another, and so issues of replacement due to wear is eliminated to further increase the lifecycle and reduce consumption costs.
In the embodiment, the magnetically actuated bicycle trainer further includes a linkage assembly 30. The linkage assembly 30 includes a positioning seat 31 fixedly connected to the base 10, and a linkage axis 32 pivotally connected to the positioning seat 31. A distance between the linkage axis 32 and the fastening member 22 corresponds to a wheel diameter of the pedaling wheel 2, such that the linkage axis 32 comes into contact with the pedaling wheel 2 and rotates as the pedaling wheel 2 turns. Further, the semi-hard magnetic rotating member 43 is connected to the linkage axis 32 and rotates as the linkage axis 32 rotates.
In the embodiment, the electric power is provided by a power generating and storage module 50 disposed on the base 10. The power generating and storage module 50 and the hysteresis resistance generating module 40 are disposed at two sides of the pedaling wheel 2, respectively. Thus, while the power generating and storage module 50 and the hysteresis resistance generating module 40 take effect simultaneously, not only the issue of mutual interference between the magnetic fields is prevented but also an effect of weight balance is achieved to ensure smooth rotations. The power generating and storage module 50 includes a power generator 51 that operates correspondingly to the pedaling wheel 2, a rectifying regulating unit 53 (shown in
The rectifying regulating unit 53 rectifies and regulates the electric power that the power generator 51 generates, and transmits the rectified and regulated electric power to the power storage unit 52. The power storage unit 52 stores the electric power, and provides the electric power to the hysteresis resistance generating module 40 when needed to allow the outer magnetic portions 421b and the inner magnetic portions 412b to generate opposite magnetisms. Thus, the power generated from the user's pedaling the pedaling wheel 2 is converted to the electric power and stored to achieve an object of self sustainability. Without connecting to an external power supply, the magnetically actuated bicycle trainer can be applied in various occasions where electric power is unavailable, such as the suburbs and scenic spots, hence staying free from environmental restrictions as well as satisfying the go-green trend. In the embodiment, for example but not limited to, the power storage unit 52 is a lithium battery.
Further, while the semi-hard magnetic rotating member 43 rotates, in response to the magnetisms of the inner magnetic stationary member 41 and the outer magnetic stationary member 42, the arrangement of particles of the semi-hard magnetic rotating member 43 is constantly changed and the magnetic pole is hence changed, heat energy is generated. Further, heat energy is also generated during the power generation process of the power generator 51. Thus, a heat dissipating member 100 may be disposed on the linkage axis 32 to dissipate heat of the hysteresis resistance generating module 40 and the power generator 51, so as to reduce the effects generated by the heat, e.g., reduced efficiency. In the embodiment, for example but not limited to, the heat dissipating member 100 is disposed between the hysteresis resistance generating module 40 and the power generator 51, and includes a plurality of blades 101 connected to the linkage axis 32 and regarding the linkage axis 32 as a center.
As shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In step S1, a user adjusts the strength of a predetermined pedaling resistance through a central control module 60. Alternatively, the user selects a simulated path through a simulated path selecting module to allow the central control module 60 to adjust the strength of the pedaling resistance according to a virtual route. Thus, the resistance of an actual riding path can be simulated to enhance riding pleasure. Step S1 further includes following steps.
In step S1A, the user inputs the strength of the pedaling resistance to a mobile application 81 in an external device 80.
In step S1B, the mobile application 81, through a wireless connection means, e.g., Bluetooth Smart or ANT+, transmits the strength of the pedaling resistance to a wireless transmission module 70 and further to the central control module 60.
In step S2, the central control module 60 inputs an electric power to a conductive coil 44 of a hysteresis resistance generating module 40 according to the strength of the pedaling resistance. The conductive coil 44 senses opposite magnetisms that a plurality of inner magnetic portions 412b of an inner magnetic stationary member 41 of the hysteresis resistance generating module 40 and a plurality of outer magnetic portions 421b of an outer magnetic stationary member 42 of the hysteresis resistance generating module 40 generate. The inner magnetic stationary member 41 includes a plurality of inner recesses 412a disposed at an interval from the inner magnetic portions 412b. The outer magnetic stationary member 42 includes a plurality of outer recesses 421a disposed at an interval from the outer magnetic portions 421b. Further, the outer magnetic portions 421b correspond to positions of the inner recesses 412a, and the inner magnetic portions 412b correspond to positions of the outer recesses 421a.
In step S3, the user pedals and drives a pedaling wheel 2 to turn, and causes a semi-hard magnetic rotating member 43 of the hysteresis resistance generating module 40 to rotate along with the pedaling wheel 2. The semi-hard magnetic rotating member 43 is disposed between the inner magnetic stationary member 41 and the outer magnetic stationary member 42. Meanwhile, the pedaling wheel 2 jointly drives a power generating and storage module 50 for power generation and storage. The electric power stored by the power generating and storage module 50 is provided for use in step S2. Heat energy is generated while the hysteresis resistance generating module 40 generates resistance and the power generating and storage module 50 generates power. Thus, the pedaling wheel 2 may jointly drive a heat dissipating member 100 that dissipates heat of the hysteresis resistance generating module 40 and the power generating and storage module 50.
In step S4, as opposite magnetisms are generated by the outer magnetic portions 421b and the inner magnetic portions 412b, the semi-hard magnetic rotating member 43 receives the mutual effects of the opposite magnetisms and generates a hysteresis resistance when rotated. The hysteresis resistance corresponds to the predetermined pedaling resistance of the user.
In conclusion, the present invention provides following features.
1. By using the hysteresis resistance generating module as a resistance generating mechanism, the hysteresis resistance of the inner magnetic stationary member and the outer magnetic stationary member is efficiently generated through the magnetic conductivity of the semi-hard magnetic rotating member. When the rear wheel drives the semi-hard magnetic rotating member to rotate, a smooth resistance can be generated to effectively and significantly reduce the required electric power.
2. As the semi-hard magnetic rotating member, the inner magnetic stationary member and the outer magnetic stationary member do not come into contact with one another, issues of wear caused by friction is eliminated, thereby providing advantages of having a long lifecycle and reduced consumption costs.
3. By using the inner rotor magnetic member as the power generator, an advantage of having a small resistance is provided, leaving the total resistance generated by the hysteresis resistance generating module unaffected.
4. The electric power generated by the power generating and storage module is provided to the hysteresis resistance generating module. With the low power consumption property of the hysteresis resistance generating module, no additional power line connected to a socket is required, thereby allowing the present invention to be totally unbound by any environmental, time and space restrictions.
5. With the collaboration of the central control module, the current or voltage of the conductive coil can be controlled as desired to further simulate conditions of various application scenarios, or to even replicate resistance values collected in real riding routes on the bicycle trainer.
6. Heat dissipation of the hysteresis resistance generating module and the power generator is performed by the heat dissipating member, hence reducing the effects generated by heat.
7. The force detecting module is capable of detecting the actual pedaling strength of the user, and provides a more accurate result comparing to a conventional method that calculates the strength though computerized simulations based on acceleration.
8. By electrically connecting the central control module to the hysteresis resistance generating module, the power generating and storage module, and the force detecting module, various types of riding data can be detected, and then transmitted to the external device by the wireless transmission module for the user to observe. Further, a programmable interface can be formed in conjunction with software for the user to perform adjustment and setting.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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104136636 | Nov 2015 | TW | national |