Patent Application
20070298942
The present invention relates to precessional devices. More specifically, the invention relates to a device and method which utilize precessional forces in a controlled manner.
Most existing precessional devices are passive devices that require a deflecting torque from an external source to generate a precessional torque. A common example of this type of precessional device is the gyroscopic heading indicator used for aviation navigation. The spinning rotor inside such a device does not generate precessional torque on its own, rather, it simply responds to the torque exerted on it (by the directional changes of the aircraft) by maintaining its original heading relative to the magnetic compass.
In contrast to this passive type of precessional device, U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,556 issued to Hamady on Jun. 11, 2002, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a precessional device which generates a precessional torque without requiring an externally inputted deflecting torque. The disclosed device employs rotors which precess along a circular race or track. Axles run through each rotor making contact at either end with the surface of the tracks. The rotors' spin rate, ωs, is directly proportional to the rotational velocity, ωr, which is defined as the frequency of the rotors' precession around the track. The relationship between ωr and ωs is determined by the ratio of the diameter of the axle tips such that ωs=ωr dtrack/daxle. The practical implication of this direct relationship is that the rotor speed (and resulting net precessional output torque) cannot be increased without a corresponding increase in the oscillation frequency (Hz) of the net output torque. This limits the devices usefulness in applications such as resistive exercise where high resistance is often associated with slower movements and low resistance exercise is often associated with faster movements. Therefore, there remains a need for a device where ωs may be increased beyond the constraints defined by ωs=ωr dtrack/daxle, including but not limited to, a device where ωs and ωr may be controlled independently of each other.
One embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus comprising: a rotor spinning at a rotor spin rate about a spin axis; an axle supporting the rotor, the axle having a first axle tip, a second axle tip, and a longitudinal axis aligned with the spin axis of the rotor; a rotatable circular race in rolling contact with the first axle tip and in rolling contact with the second axle tip at a point on the circular race diametrically opposite the first axle tip; a motor for rotating the circular race; and a controller for controlling the rotation of the circular race independently of the rotor spin rate.
Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus comprising: a rotor spinning about a rotor axle at a rotor spin rate; a track assembly in rolling contact with the rotor axle during precessional movement of the rotor; and means for rotating the track assembly independently of the rotor spin rate.
Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus comprising: a first rotor spinning about a first spin axis and rotating about a first rotational axis inside a first rotatable track assembly, the first track assembly having a first tract rotation axis coincident with the first rotational axis; a second rotor spinning about a second spin axis and rotating about a second rotational axis inside a second rotatable track assembly the second track assembly having a second tract rotation axis coincident with the second rotational axis; and a housing supporting the first rotatable track assembly and the second track assembly, wherein neither spin axes are parallel to the rotational axes.
Another embodiment of the present invention is directed to a method for modifying a resistance curve characterized by a periodicity, the resistance curve generated by a precessional device, the method comprising: providing a precessional device comprising a rotor spinning at a spin frequency capable of precessional rotation at a precessional frequency in a track assembly; and rotating the track assembly to modify the periodicity of the resistance curve.
The invention will be described by reference to the preferred and alternative embodiments thereof in conjunction with the drawings in which:
a is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in
b is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention;
a is perspective rendering illustrating another embodiment of the present invention;
b is a side view rendering illustrating the embodiment shown in
c is a section view of a detail of the embodiment shown in
A locking solenoid 150, when engaged to a lock plate 155, keeps the position of the axle 115 fixed. The locking solenoid 150 and lock plate 155 act as a clutch such that when the locking solenoid 150 is engaged with the lock plate 155, the rotation of the motor driven track 120 provides a driving force to increase or decrease the spin rate of the rotor 110 about the rotor axis. Disengaging the locking solenoid 150 from the lock plate 155, allows the spinning rotor 110 to rotate, or precess, about the rotation axis of the rotatable track 120.
The frictional contact between the moving track 120 and the axle tips causes the flywheel 110 to rotate about the axle 115. In one embodiment, the rotor may accelerate to thousands of RPM as they are driven by the frictional contact between the flywheel axle tips and the moving track driven by the motor 130. No precessional torque is generated during the spin-up of the flywheel, however, because travel of the tips within the track 120 is prevented by the engaged locking solenoid 150.
At a preset rotor speed sufficient to generate a noticeable output torque, the locking solenoid 150 disengages and current to the motor 130 driving the tracks 120 is cut. When current is cut to the motor 130, the motor 130 acts as an electronic brake, braking the rotation of the tracks. In a preferred embodiment, the low transmission ratio from the tracks to the motor multiplies the braking effect of the motor thereby quickly stopping the rotating tracks. The rotational inertia of the spinning flywheel coupled by the frictional contact between axle tips and track causes the rotor assembly to precess around the track.
The precession of the rotor assembly 100 around the track 120 acts as a deflecting torque on the spinning flywheel thereby generating a precessional torque that is perpendicular to both the deflecting torque and the axis of rotation. In the embodiment shown in
When the user inputs a deflecting torque against the rotor-generated precessional torque, causing the track surfaces to push back on the axle tips, a second precessional torque is generated in the direction of the rotation of the rotor assemblies. The second precessional torque causes an acceleration of the rotor assemblies around their respective tracks. The increased rotational velocity around the track, and the corresponding increase in spin velocity, increases the rotor-generated precessional torque according to the formula τ=|ωsωr, where | is the rotational inertia of the rotors, ωs is the spin velocity of the rotors, and ωr is the rotational velocity of the rotor around the track.
The preferred range for spin velocity of the rotor depends on the size and mass of the rotor and on the desired torque output from the device. In some embodiments, the rotor spins at an operational angular speed of between approximately 2,000-15,000 RPM, preferably between 4,000-12,000 RPM, and most preferably between 8,000-10,000 RPM. In some embodiments, the precession of the axle tip in the circular race 120 is between about 0.25-2.0 Hz. Once operational speed has been reached, the rotational energy of the rotor assemblies drives the tracks' counter-rotation. The track motor continues to act as an electronic brake, siphoning energy out of the system to recharge the batteries.
a is an illustration of one embodiment of the present invention. The precessional engine 410 may include at least one secondary portion such as a housing 420 that allows for safe and comfortable manipulation by a user. The housing 420 provides secure support for the precessional engine 410 and transmits the internal forces generated by the precessional engine 410 through the detachable outer handle 425 or other outer attachment accessories. The device produces a smooth, harmonic oscillating net torque that can be used as the basis for resistive exercise including concentric and eccentric muscle exertions and aerobic and anaerobic exercises. The secondary portions function to interface with the user and the precessional engine 410 or with the user, the precessional engine 410, and a suitable environment. The secondary portions allow for safe and comfortable manipulation by a user and are preferably one of several variations.
In a first series of variations, as shown in
In another series of variations, as shown in
Additionally, the secondary portions preferably function to removably accept a precessional engine 410 such that a user may use the same precessional engine in multiple secondary portions and multiple variations of secondary portions. The user may do so by detaching the precessional engine 410 from a first second potion and then attaching the precessional engine 410 to a different secondary portion. The secondary portion may function to removably accept multiple precessional engines 410 and may function removably accept precessional engines 410 with both single and double rotor assemblies.
b is an illustration of another embodiment of the present invention. The housing provides for ergonomically designed inputs 428 for the user to control operations.
As previously described, the torque sensed by a user interacting with the device is defined by: τ=| ωsωr, where | is the inertia of the rotors (a function of their shape and mass), ωs is the rotor spin velocity (about the axis of the rotor axle) and ωr is the rotational velocity of the rotor assemblies around the track. The rotational velocity, ωr, also referred to herein as the precessional velocity, determines the oscillation rate (Hz) of the net torque generated by the device.
In known precession devices, there is a fixed relationship, or ratio, between the rotor spin velocity, ωs, and the rotational velocity, ωr. The ratio, ωs/ωr, may be determined by assuming pure rolling of the axle tip on a fixed track surface, resulting in the relation, ωs/ωr=DtDa, where Dt is the diameter of the track and Da is the diameter of the axle tip. Both Dt and Da are fixed and therefore ωs/ωr is also fixed once Dt and Da are specified. Thus, in known precession devices, a given ωs corresponds to a given ωr. An increase ωs results in a proportional increase ωr. The user may increase ωr by manipulating the device at a higher tempo, which increases the deflecting torque on the rotors, causes an angular acceleration of the rotor assemblies around the track, and produces a higher torque output, τ. The fixed ratio of ωs/ωr, however, requires an increase in ωr. Therefore, as the output torque is increased, the oscillation rate of the output torque must also increase. For the expected range of output torques useful in exercise devices, the oscillation rate is usually higher than the 0.5-1.5 Hz oscillation rate preferred for resistive exercise.
In contrast to the fixed relation between the output torque and oscillation rate of the output torque of prior art devices, the present invention allows independent control of the output torque and oscillation rate regardless of the ratio of the track diameter to the axle diameter. The decoupling of the output torque from the oscillation rate of the present invention allows for a more compact precessional engine that provides sufficient resistive exercise over a wider range of resistive forces and oscillation rates.
In a preferred embodiment, the track 120 is rotatable and may be counter-rotated relative to the precession of the rotor. Counter-rotation of the track relative to the precession of the rotor allows for a greater effective rotor spin velocity with a smaller track diameter, allowing for more compact device designs than previously achievable. The relative precession rate, ωrp, is the rate of rotation of the rotor assembly relative to the track surface and is given by ωrp=ωr+ωt, where ωt is the rotation rate of the track. In the rotating track system, a relative precession rate of 4 Hz, for example, may be achieved as a combination of actual rotor assembly rotation relative to the device as a whole ωr, and the rate of track counter-rotation ωt. For example, ωr is 1 Hz and ωt is 3 Hz, the relative precession rate, ωrp, is 4 Hz. The resulting output torque, τ, is 4 times greater than it would be if the track were stationary, since ωrp is 4 times greater than ωr. The user may therefore control torque output during operation by increasing or decreasing the track counter-rotation rate, ωt.
In some embodiments, the present invention allows for modification of the sinusoidal resistance curve 520 by computer control of the motorized rotor, precession, and track speed. The sinusoidal resistance curve may be modified by, for example, reducing the precession rate near the peak output, which flattens the force output and generates a more constant resistance force across each oscillation.
As an illustrative example, the track speed may be controlled on a real-time basis to accelerate track counter-rotation when the net torque curve nears its peak. If the rotor spin rate, ωs, is constant, the relative precession rate, ωrp, will also remain constant. As the track rotation rate, ωt, is increased, ωr must decrease in order to maintain constant ωrp. As ωr decreases, however, the output torque is also reduced thereby flattening the resistance curve.
Independent control of the track rotation may be used to quickly stop the precession of the rotor assembly if the user loses control of the device. A pressure sensor may be disposed on the handle of the device such that when the user breaks contact with the handle, a signal from the pressure sensor is transmitted to the CPU indicating loss of contact with the handle. In response to the receipt of the signal from the pressure sensor, the control program may disengage the motor from the track, thereby allowing the track to free-wheel. The free-wheeling track will accelerate to match the precessional rotation rate, ωrp, such that ωr quickly approaches zero. Alternatively, the motor may be engaged to counter-rotate the track such that the precession of the rotor assembly is offset by the counter-rotation of the track.
a is a rendering of another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in
b is a side view of the embodiment shown in
c is a section view of the axle and track assembly showing the axle tip configuration in the circular track. Referring to
The configuration shown in
The use of separate motors to drive the rotor and track assemblies allows independent control of ωs and ωr thereby allowing independent control of the output torque and torque oscillation frequency. The advantage of a single motor driving both the rotor and track assemblies through a transmission is reduced cost while still allowing high output torque at a suitable oscillation frequency. For a rotatable track, the relation between ωs and ωr is given by ωs=ωr (1+G)(dtrack/daxle) where G is the ratio, G=ωt/ωr. For prior art systems having a non-rotatable track, ωt=O and G=O. Counter-rotating the track results in a positive G thereby generating a higher output torque at the same oscillation frequency. Rotating the track in the same direction as the rotation of the spinning rotor results in a negative G thereby reducing the output torque at the same oscillation frequency.
Having thus described at least illustrative embodiments of the invention, various modifications and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art and are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended as limiting. The invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and the equivalents thereto.
This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/549,642, filed on 14 Oct. 2006 and entitled “Precessional Device and Method”, which is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/428,761, filed 02 May 2003, entitled “Precessional Device and Method”, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,181,987. This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/747,824, filed 22 May 2006, and entitled “Precessional System”. All three applications are incorporated in their entirety by this reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60747824 | May 2006 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10428761 | May 2003 | US |
| Child | 11549642 | Oct 2006 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11549642 | Oct 2006 | US |
| Child | 11752262 | May 2007 | US |
