Patent Application
20130065734
Roller assemblies have application for exercise equipment, in particular bicycle trainers or equipment. Bicycle trainers employ one or more rollers which are supported relative to a frame. A user pedals a bicycle to rotate the one or more rollers for exercise and training. One illustrative bicycle trainer employs a series of rollers that are coupled to a frame. The rollers are spaced so that a rider can balance a bicycle upright on the rollers while pedaling. As the rider pedals, the bicycle imparts rotation to the rollers so that the bicycle remains stationary and one or more rollers impart resistance to rotation of the pedals. In another trainer, the bicycle is supported relative to a frame to maintain the bicycle in the upright position. Similarly, the user pedals the bicycle to impart rotation to one or more rollers while the bicycle is fixed to the frame and resistance of the rollers imparts resistance to rotation of the pedals.
The application discloses a roller assembly that utilizes internal resistance components to increase resistance to enhance training intensity. The internal resistance components include a rotatable resistance component coupled to an outer tubular body of the roller and rotatable with rotation of the tubular body. In illustrated embodiments, a stationary resistance component restricts rotation of the rotatable resistance component increasing torque required to rotate the outer tubular body. In embodiments disclosed, the rotatable resistance component forms an impeller which is disposed in a fluid chamber within the tubular body. In the described embodiments, the stationary resistance component is also disposed in the fluid chamber and maintained in a stationary position to impart resistance to the rotatable resistance component increasing the torque required to rotate the outer tubular body. In one embodiment, the stationary resistance component is retained in a stationary position via a magnetic assembly including one or more magnetic components on the stationary resistance component configured to interact with one or more stationary magnetic components to retain the second resistance component in the stationary position relative to the rotatable resistance component.
As shown in
The first and second resistance components 110, 112 are disposed in a fluid chamber 120. The first resistance component includes a plurality of blades 122, which rotate about axis 108 to form an impeller or fluid resistance component. The second resistance component 112 includes a plurality of blades 124 that interact via fluid in the chamber 120 with the plurality of blades 122 on the impeller or first resistance component 110. The second resistance component 112 is held in a stationary position so that the blades 124 restrict fluid flow to impart resistance to rotation of blades 122 and the rotation of the first resistance component 110 (and roller 104).
The second resistance component 112 is held in the stationary position through magnetic components of a magnetic assembly. As described herein, the magnetic assembly includes one or more magnet components 126 on the second or stationary resistance component 112 that interact with one or more magnetic components 128 fixed relative to a stationary portion of frame 105. The interaction of the magnetic components 126, 128 inhibits rotation of the second or stationary resistance component 112 to maintain the second resistance component 112 in the stationary position relative to the first or rotatable resistance component 110. In the schematic illustration of
As shown in
The fluid chamber 120 is formed in the inner passage 132 of the tubular body 130 between partitions 144, 146. An O-ring 148 is used to provide a fluid seal between partition 146 and the tubular body 130. The O-ring 148 seal significantly reduces the possibility of leaks because it rotates with body 130 and thus is stationary with respect to body 130. In illustrated embodiments, the fluid chamber 120 is filled with a fluid such as silicone (e.g., having a viscosity approximately equal to 50 centistrokes). The amount or type of fluid within the chamber can be varied to change the resistance of the assembly. In addition, the number of blades 122, 124 on the first resistance component 110 and the second resistance component 112 can be varied to obtain the desired resistance.
The plurality of blades 124 of the second or stationary resistance component are formed about a central hub of stationary disc 156. Disc 156 is coupled to disc 152 through bearing assembly 116 so that disc 152 (or the impeller) rotates relative to the stationary disc 156. Discs 152, 156 are disposed in chamber 120 such that blades on the rotating impeller interact with the fluid to impart fluid flow, which is resisted by blades 124 on the stationary disc 156.
As previously described, disc 156 is maintained in a stationary position with respect to the rotating impeller or disc 152 through magnetic components 126, 128 of the magnetic assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, blades 124 are formed on a backside of disc 156 facing the impeller and one or more magnetic components 126 of the magnetic assembly are position on the front side of disc 156 to hold the disc 156 in the stationary position.
In the illustrated embodiment, the one or more magnetic components on the front side of disc 156 include a plurality of magnets 160 spaced about a central hub of disc 156. As shown, the plurality of magnets 160 interact with a plurality of magnets 162 spaced about a backside of disc 164 connectable to the frame (not visible in
Although in the illustrated embodiment, the magnetic assembly includes six magnets 160, 162 connected to discs 156, 164, respectively, application is not limited to the specific embodiments or number of magnets shown. For example, any number of magnets can be connected to discs 156, 164 to form the magnetic components of the magnetic assembly. In alternate embodiments, discs 156, 164 are formed of a magnetic material or portions of the discs are magnetic to provide interacting magnetic fields to hold the second resistance component 112 (or disc 156) in the stationary position.
In the embodiment shown in
As previously described, passage 132 is closed by end caps 140, 142. Fastener 200 extends through bearing 106 in end cap 140 to form a stationary or axle portion at which the first end 134A of the roller 104 is coupled to the frame 105. The tubular body 130 is rotationally coupled to the frame or stationary portion through bearing 106 supported in end cap 142 relative to the stationary portion. Fastener 202 extends through an inner ring 204 concentric with bearing 106 in end cap 142. A raised hub element 206 of disc 164 extends into end cap 142. Fastener 202 extends into an opening in the raised hub element 206 of disc 164 to form a stationary or axle portion at end 134B. The roller 104 is connected to the frame 105 at second end 134B through fastener 202 (or stationary portion) and the tubular body 130 is rotationally coupled to the stationary portion through bearing 106 at end 134B.
In another embodiment, the magnets spaced around each of the discs 156, 164 can have an alternating polarity where the alternating polarity of magnets 160 of disc 156 align with the magnets 162 on disc 164 to restrict rotation of disc 156. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, application is not limited to a particular number or arrangement of magnets to retain the second resistance component 112 in the stationary position, as described.
Illustratively, the magnets can be formed of a high-permeability magnetic material. As used herein “high-permeability magnetic material” shall mean a material used to concentrate magnetic flux from the magnets along a desired path. Commonly, such a material is ferromagnetic, for example, iron or steel, although other materials can also be used. In illustrated embodiments, discs 156, 164 are formed from a non-magnetic material, such as plastic, fiberglass, ceramic, or a paramagnetic material, such as aluminum. An illustrative non-magnetic material includes Garolite™ available from McMaster-Can of Chicago, Ill. In one embodiment, magnets 160, 162 can be secured to discs 156, 164 by an adhesive such as available from the Loctite Corporation of Rocky Hill, Conn. In other embodiments, the discs 156, 164 are formed of magnetic materials having a desired polarity to provide the magnetic attraction to restrict rotation of the stationary disc 156 as described.
In the embodiment shown, rotation of the rollers 104A and 104B is interconnected through a pulley assembly 225 to rotationally interconnect the front and rear wheel rollers 104A and 104B. In the embodiment shown, the pulley assembly 225 includes a sheave 226 including grooves 228A-228B. Sheave 226 is rotationally coupled to rail 222 as shown. Rotation of roller 104B imparts rotation to sheave 226 through a continuous loop cable or line 230A (illustrated schematically). A first element of the continuous loop cable 230A is supported in groove 232A extending about an outer circumference of roller 104B and a second element of the cable 230A is supported in groove 228A of sheave 226 to rotationally connect roller 104B to sheave 226. Thus, as described, rotation of roller 104B imparts rotation to sheave 226.
Roller 104A is rotationally coupled to sheave 226 through continuous loop cable 230B. A first element of the continuous loop cable 230B is supported in a groove 232B extending about an outer circumference of roller 104A and a second element of the continuous loop cable 230B is supported in groove 228B of sheave 226. As shown, ends of rollers 104A-C are rotationally connected to rails 220, 222 through brackets 234A-C connected to the rails 220, 222 (only brackets on rail 222 are visible in
Bracket 234A is connected to a slidable element 236, movable along rails 220, 222 to adjust the position or spacing of roller 104A relative to roller 104B. The position of the slidable element 236 is locked via insertion of pin 238 into slots 240 along rails 220, 222. In the embodiment shown, rails 220, 222 include multiple rail segments, which are slidably interconnected to form the rails 220, 222. The rail segments are locked into position via insertion of pins into one or more slots of the interconnecting rail segments. Selection of multiple slots allows for adjustment of the spacing of rollers 104A-104C to accommodate different bicycle sizes. Feet 248 are connected to the rails 222,244 to support the rollers 104A-104C above the ground for rotation.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/522,496, filed Aug. 11, 2011, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61522496 | Aug 2011 | US |
