Load control unit

Abstract

To provide a load control unit which can be easily retrofitted to a load generating device.SOLUTION: In a load control unit (1), a housing portion (17) that houses a reel (11) that rotates around a rotating shaft member (11a) and a magnetorheological fluid device (14) that applies a braking force to the rotating shaft member (11a) is fixed to a load generating device (100), and a cable (12) that is reeled out from the reel (11) is connected to a transmission path via a load generating portion (104).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a load control unit. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an active muscle training device in which a grip is connected to the front rope of a direction-changing roller attached to the top of a support pole, a weight is connected to the rear rope, and muscle strength is assisted by an electric motor fixed near the direction-changing roller. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1-110374 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a load control unit that allows an external device to be easily retrofitted to training equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, a load control unit according to one embodiment of the present invention is a load control unit that is retrofitted to a load generating device in which a load generated in a load generating section is applied to a predetermined location via a transmission path, and includes: a reel having a rotating shaft member and rotating around the rotating shaft member; a cable that is unwound from the reel when the rotating shaft member rotates in a predetermined direction; a magnetorheological fluid device that applies a braking force to the rotating shaft member by applying a magnetic field to a magnetorheological fluid; and a storage section that stores the reel and the magnetorheological fluid device, wherein the storage section is fixed to the load generating device, and the cable is connected to the transmission path via the load generating section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a load control unit that can be easily retrofitted to a load generating device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a general configuration of a load generating device to which a load control unit according to an embodiment of the present invention is retrofitted; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the load control unit as seen from the left side in the left-right direction. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the fixing pin shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the general configuration of a load generating device to which a load control unit according to one embodiment of the present invention is retrofitted. Training device 100 is used for exercise or rehabilitation aimed at strengthening muscles. FIG. 1 illustrates training device 100 as an example of a load generating device. Hereinafter, the up-down direction, left-right direction, and front-rear direction will be defined as shown in FIG. 1.

[0009] The training device 100 employs a weight stack system and includes a frame 101, a first cable 102, a pulley group 103, a weight stack 104, a lift shaft 105-1, a left guide shaft 105-2, and a right guide shaft 105-3.

[0010] The frame 101 is a skeleton that supports the weight stack 104. The frame 101 shown in FIG. 1 includes a right frame 101-1, an upper frame 101-2, a left frame 101-3, and a lower frame 101-4. The right frame 101-1 and the left frame 101-3 are pillars that extend in the vertical direction. The upper frame 101-2 connects the upper end of the right frame 101-1 to the upper end of the left frame 101-3. The lower frame 101-4 connects the lower end of the right frame 101-1 to the lower end of the left frame 101-3.

[0011] One end 102a of first cable 102 is located outside frame 101 of training device 100. A user of training device 100 (hereinafter simply referred to as the user) connects an attachment to one end 102a of first cable 102 according to the training to be performed. The other end 102b of first cable 102 is fixed to upper frame 101-2. For example, by connecting a handle to be held by the user to one end 102a of first cable 102, training device 100 functions as an adjustable pulley.

[0012] The pulley group 103 is arranged to smooth the movement of the first cable 102, and each pulley has a rotatable structure. The pulley group 103 shown in FIG. 1 includes pulley 103-1, pulley 103-2, pulley 103-3, and pulley 103-4. The pulley 103-4 is hung on the first cable 102 and connected to the tip of the lift shaft 105-1. The first cable 102 and the pulley group 103 are an example of a transmission path.

[0013] The weight stack 104 is an example of a load generating section, and has multiple weight plates aligned vertically along the left guide shaft 105-2 and the right guide shaft 105-3. The weight stack 104 is provided so that the load applied to the first cable 102 can be adjusted for each weight plate. In FIG. 1, a weight pin P is inserted into one of the multiple weight plates. The weight pin P shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a second pin. The weight plate into which the weight pin P is inserted is an example of a first weight.

[0014] Lift shaft 105-1 is integrated with a weight plate into which a weight pin P is inserted. When a user performs training by pulling a handle connected to one end 102a of first cable 102, a load corresponding to the total weight of the weight plate integrated with lift shaft 105-1 and a weight plate disposed above the weight plate integrated with lift shaft 105-1 is applied upward to one end 102a of first cable 102. Hereinafter, the weight plate integrated with lift shaft 105-1 by weight pin P will be referred to as the first weight.

[0015] When the user pulls down the handle against the load, first cable 102 is reeled out to the outside of training apparatus 100. Because the other end 102b of first cable 102 is fixed to upper frame 101-2, when first cable 102 is reeled out to the outside of training apparatus 100, pulley 103-4, lift shaft 105-1 connected to pulley 103-4, the first weight, and the weight plate located above the first weight are lifted upward.

[0016] The pulley 103-4 is not essential to the training apparatus 100. Providing the pulley 103-4 in the training apparatus 100 provides the following effect. The pulley 103-4 is a movable pulley, and has the effect of increasing the stroke of the user pulling a handle or the like connected to one end 102a of the first cable 102. When the pulley 103-4 is provided, the stroke is doubled compared to when the pulley 103-4 is not provided. Providing the pulley 103-4 in the training apparatus 100 increases the stroke, thereby providing the effect of enabling more effective training. When the pulley 103-4 is not used, the tip of the lift shaft 105-1 is connected to the other end 102b of the first cable 102, which is fixed to the upper frame 101-2 in FIG. 1.

[0017] A load control unit 1 is installed as an add-on directly below the weight stack 104 of the training device 100. The load control unit 1 includes a unit case 17. The unit case 17 is an example of a storage section. A flange 17c protrudes from the unit case 17 in the left-right direction. The flange 17c of the unit case 17 abuts against the lower frame 101-4. The flange 17c of the unit case 17 of the load control unit 1 is fixed to the lower frame 101-4 by a fixing pin 200. The unit case 17 has a protective case 18. The unit case 17 will be described later using FIG. 2. Fixing the unit case 17 using the fixing pin 200 will be described later using FIG. 3.

[0018] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the load control unit 1 as seen from the left side in the left-right direction. As shown in Figure 2, the load control unit 1 includes a reel 11, a second cable 12, a rotation detection unit 13, a magnetorheological fluid device 14, and a laser distance measuring device 19 inside a unit case 17. The load control unit 1 also includes a control device 15 housed inside a protective case 18.

[0019] The reel 11 has a rotary shaft member 11a and rotates around the rotary shaft member 11a. A second cable 12 is wound around the reel 11. The tip 12a of the second cable 12 is connected to a joint 12b. The second cable 12 is connected to the lower end of the lift shaft 105-1 via the joint 12b.

[0020] The rotation detector 13 detects the amount and direction of rotation of the rotating shaft member 11a. The rotation detector 13 is, for example, a rotary encoder, a magnetic sensor, or the like. When the lift shaft 105-1 rises, the rotating shaft member 11a rotates in the normal direction, and the second cable 12 is unwound from the reel 11. At this time, the rotation detector 13 transmits to the control device 15 a detection signal including information indicating that the rotating shaft member 11a has rotated in the normal direction and information indicating the amount of rotation.

[0021] The rotating shaft member 11a is biased in the reverse direction opposite to the normal rotation direction by a biasing member such as a spiral spring. When the magnetorheological fluid device 14 is not applying a braking force, the second cable 12 is wound onto the reel 11 by the biasing force of the biasing member.

[0022] The magnetorheological fluid device 14 has a magnetorheological fluid 14a and a container 14b that stores the magnetorheological fluid 14a. The magnetorheological fluid 14a has a property that its viscosity changes depending on the strength of a magnetic field. The container 14b has an opening 14c on its side that faces the reel 11 in the front-to-rear direction. A portion 11b of the rotating shaft member 11a is inserted into the container 14b through the opening 14c.

[0023] The control device 15 is, for example, a semiconductor substrate equipped with a microcontroller (microcomputer), and controls the magnetorheological fluid device 14. Under the control of the control device 15, the magnetorheological fluid device 14 applies a magnetic field to the magnetorheological fluid, thereby changing the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid and applying a braking force to the rotating shaft member 11a. Specifically, the magnetorheological fluid device 14 has a rotor to which the rotating shaft member 11a is fixed and a coil that applies a magnetic field to the rotor. A magnetic field is generated by passing a current through the coil. This magnetic field changes the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid. The change in viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid applies a load that hinders rotation of the rotor, i.e., rotation of the rotating shaft member 11a.

[0024] When the lift shaft 105-1 is lifted upward, the second cable 12 connected to the lower end of the lift shaft 105-1 via the joint 12b is unwound from the reel 11. At this time, the load control unit 1 applies an additional load to the training load provided by the weight stack 104 by causing the magnetorheological fluid device 14 to apply a braking force to the rotating shaft member 11a of the reel 11.

[0025] Laser distance meter 19 is an example of a measuring unit, and measures the distance to the first weight among the multiple weight plates included in weight stack 104. Laser distance meter 19 is housed on the upper surface side of unit case 17, and the laser light emitting surface and light receiving surface are exposed to the outside of unit case 17.

[0026] 2 shows the weight plates that make up the weight stack 104, including the bottom weight plate 104-1, the second-lowest weight plate 104-2, and the third-lowest weight plate 104-3. The weight plates that make up the weight stack 104 each have a pin insertion hole into which a weight pin P can be inserted. For example, weight plate 104-1 has a pin insertion hole 104-1h, and weight plate 104-2 has a pin insertion hole 104-2h. In FIG. 2, the weight pin P is inserted into the pin insertion hole 104-2h of weight plate 104-2, and weight plate 104-2 is the first weight.

[0027] The lift shaft 105-1 has pin insertion holes 105-1h that correspond to the pin insertion holes 104-2h of the weight plates 104-2 that make up the weight stack 104. The weight pins P are inserted from the front openings of the pin insertion holes 104-2h of the weight plate 104-2, pass through the pin insertion holes 105-1h at the positions corresponding to the weight plate 104-2, and reach the rear sides of the pin insertion holes 104-2h. This allows the weight plate 104-2 to become one with the lift shaft 105-1.

[0028] The laser light emitted from the light-emitting unit of the laser rangefinder 19 is reflected by the weight pin P inserted into the pin insertion hole 104-2h of the weight plate 104-2 and enters the light-receiving unit of the laser rangefinder 19. The laser rangefinder 19 transmits to the control device 15 a signal indicating the phase difference between the laser light emitted from the light-emitting unit and the laser light incident on the light-receiving unit, the time difference between the time the laser light is emitted from the light-emitting unit and the time the laser light is incident on the light-receiving unit, or the angle difference between the laser light emitted from the light-emitting unit and the laser light incident on the light-receiving unit. The control device 15 is an example of an estimation unit, and acquires the distance between the laser rangefinder 19 and the weight pin P based on the signal received from the laser rangefinder 19, estimates the total weight of the first weight and the weight plate arranged above the first weight, and estimates the load generated by the weight stack 104. In the case of FIG. 2, the control device 15 estimates the total weight of the weight plate 104-2, which is the first weight, and the weight plate arranged above the weight plate 104-2, and estimates the load generated by the weight stack 104.

[0029] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the fixing pin 200 shown in FIG. 1. The fixing pin 200 is, for example, a ball lock pin. The fixing pin 200 has a head 200h and a shaft 200j. The shaft 200j has a ball 201 at its tip 200a. The fixing pin 200 has a first state in which the ball 201 protrudes from the side surface of the shaft 200j, and a second state in which the ball 201 is housed inside the shaft 200j. When a predetermined operation is performed while the fixing pin 200 is in the first state, the fixing pin 200 transitions to the second state, and when the predetermined operation is released, the fixing pin 200 transitions to the first state. The predetermined operation is, for example, pressing a part of the head 200h of the fixing pin 200.

[0030] A hole 17h is provided in the flange 17c of the unit case 17. The hole 17h is an example of a second hole. When the fixing pin 200 is in the first state, the ball 201 is caught in the opening of the hole 17h, and the shaft portion 200j cannot pass through the hole 17h. When the fixing pin 200 is in the second state, the shaft portion 200j can pass through the hole 17h.

[0031] The training device 100 shown in FIG. 3 has a hole 101-4h in the lower frame 101-4. The hole 101-4h in the lower frame 101-4 is an example of a first hole. The diameter of the hole 101-4h in the lower frame 101-4 is approximately the same as that of the hole 17h in the flange 17c. That is, when the fixing pin 200 is in the first state, the ball 201 is caught in the opening of the hole 101-4h, and the shank 200j cannot pass through the hole 101-4h. When the fixing pin 200 is in the second state, the shank 200j can pass through the hole 101-4h. The hole 101-4h penetrates the upper plate 101-4a of the lower frame 101-4 and communicates with the hollow portion 101-4b of the upper plate 101-4a.

[0032] When the load control unit 1 is retrofitted to the training apparatus 100, the unit case 17 of the load control unit 1 is positioned so that the hole 17h of the flange 17c is connected to the hole 101-4h of the lower frame 101-4. When the fixing pin 200 is in the second state, it is inserted into the hole 17h of the flange 17c and passes through the hole 17h of the flange 17c and the hole 101-4h of the lower frame 101-4 to reach the hollow portion 101-4b of the lower frame 101-4. When a predetermined operation on the fixing pin 200 is released, the ball 201 protrudes from the side of the shaft portion 200j of the fixing pin 200, causing the unit case 17 to transition to the first state. Because the ball 201 is caught in the opening of the hole 101-4h, the fixing pin 200 cannot be removed from the hole 101-4h, and the unit case 17 is fixed to the lower frame 101-4.

[0033] A spring 202 is provided between the head 200h of the fixing pin 200 and the flange 17c of the unit case 17. The spring 202 is an example of a biasing portion. The spring 202 biases the head 200h of the fixing pin 200 in a direction (upward) that pulls the fixing pin 200 out of the hole 17h of the flange 17c. When the fixing pin 200 is in the first state, the biasing force of the spring 202 presses the ball 201 against the upper plate 101-4a of the lower frame 101-4. This prevents the fixing pin 200 from rattling in the vertical direction. The spring 202 also biases the flange 17c in the depth direction of the hole 17h (downward), pressing the unit case 17 against the lower frame 101-4. This prevents the unit case 17 from rattling in the vertical direction.

[0034] [Modification] In the above embodiment, a case has been described in which the load control unit 1 is retrofitted to training equipment 100, which is an example of a load generating device. However, the load generating device to which the load control unit 1 can be retrofitted is not limited to training equipment 100. The load control unit 1 may also be retrofitted to, for example, plate-loading type training equipment, power rack type training equipment, simple cranes used in manufacturing sites, arcade game machines where players pull ropes, etc. Furthermore, in a load generating device to which the load control unit 1 can be retrofitted, the load generating section does not have to have multiple weight plates like weight stack 104, but may have a single weight.

[0035] In the above embodiment, the spring 202 biases the head 200h of the fixing pin 200 in the direction of removing the fixing pin 200 from the hole 17h of the flange 17c. However, the biasing portion that biases the head 200h of the fixing pin 200 in the direction of removing the fixing pin 200 from the second hole (e.g., hole 17h) is not limited to the spring 202. For example, it may be a disc spring, a wave washer, or an elastic member made of rubber or the like.

[0036] In the above embodiment, the fixing pin 200 is a ball lock pin having a ball 201 at the tip 200a. However, the protrusion that protrudes from the side surface of the shank 200j of the fixing pin 200 in the first state is not limited to the ball 201. For example, a columnar protrusion may protrude from the side surface of the shank 200j of the fixing pin 200 in the first state. Furthermore, the fixing pin 200 may be configured such that a groove whose width can be changed in the extension direction of the shank 200j is provided on the side surface of the shank 200j, an elastic member is provided in the groove, and the elastic member is compressed in the extension direction of the shank 200j, causing the elastic member to protrude from the groove to the side surface of the shank 200j.

[0037] In the above embodiment, the control device 15 that controls the magnetorheological fluid device 14 is accommodated in the protective case 18 of the unit case 17. However, the control device 15 does not necessarily have to be accommodated inside the unit case 17. For example, the functions of the control device 15 may be performed by a server provided outside the unit case 17, or by a smartphone, tablet terminal, laptop computer, or the like that is carried by the user.

[0038] In the above embodiment, the rotating shaft member 11a of the reel 11 is biased in the reverse direction opposite to the normal rotation direction by a biasing member such as a power spring. The method of biasing the rotating shaft member 11a of the reel 11 does not have to use a biasing member such as a power spring, and the rotating shaft member 11a may be biased using an electric motor under the control of the control device 15.

[0039] 〔summary〕 The load control unit of aspect 1 of the present invention is a load control unit that is retrofitted to a load generating device in which a load generated in a load generating section is applied to a predetermined location via a transmission path, and includes: a reel having a rotating shaft member and rotating around the rotating shaft member; a cable that is unwound from the reel when the rotating shaft member rotates in a predetermined direction; a magnetorheological fluid device that applies a braking force to the rotating shaft member by applying a magnetic field to a magnetorheological fluid; and a storage section that stores the reel and the magnetorheological fluid device, wherein the storage section is fixed to the load generating device, and the cable is connected to the transmission path via the load generating section.

[0040] The load control unit 1 houses the reel 11 and the magnetorheological fluid device 14 in a unit case 17, the unit case 17 is fixed to the training apparatus 100, and the second cable 12 that is unwound from the reel 11 is connected to the lower end of the lift shaft 105-1. According to the above configuration, the load control unit 1 can be easily retrofitted to a load generating device by connecting the second cable 12 to the lower end of the lift shaft 105-1.

[0041] A load control unit according to aspect 2 of the present invention is the same as that of aspect 1 above, wherein the load generating device has a first hole at a position where the load control unit is to be retrofitted, the accommodating portion has a second hole that is positioned at a position that connects to the first hole when the load control unit is retrofitted, and the load control unit further comprises a fixing pin that can be transitioned between a first state in which a protrusion protrudes from the side of the shaft portion and a second state in which the protrusion is stored in the shaft portion by a predetermined operation, and after the fixing pin passes through the second hole and the first hole in the second state, it transitions to the first state by the predetermined operation.

[0042] According to the above configuration, the load control unit can be easily attached to the load generating device using the fixing pin.

[0043] The load control unit of aspect 3 of the present invention is, in the above-mentioned aspect 2, provided with a biasing portion that biases the fixing pin in the direction of removing the fixing pin from the second hole, and after the fixing pin has passed through the first hole and transitioned to the first state, the biasing portion causes the fixing pin to abut against the opening of the first hole.

[0044] According to the above configuration, rattle of the fixing pin 200 and the unit case 17 of the load control unit 1 in the direction in which the fixing pin 200 is removed from the second hole (hole 17h) can be reduced.

[0045] A load control unit according to aspect 4 of the present invention is any one of aspects 1 to 3 above, wherein the load generating section has a weight, a lift shaft extending in the vertical direction, with its upper end connected to the transmission path and its lower end connected to the cable, and which moves up and down integrally with the weight, and a weight pin that fixes the weight to the lift shaft.

[0046] According to the above configuration, the load control unit can add a load corresponding to the braking force applied by the magnetorheological fluid device to the load caused by the weight.

[0047] A load control unit according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the same as that of the fourth aspect, wherein the load generating section has one or more weights aligned in the vertical direction, the weight pin fixes a first weight, which is one of the one or more weights, to the lift shaft, the lift shaft moves up and down integrally with the first weight and a weight arranged above the first weight, the storage section further houses a measuring section that measures the distance from the storage section to the first weight, and the load control unit further includes an estimation section that estimates the total weight of the weights that move up and down integrally with the lift shaft based on the measurement results of the measuring section, and estimates the load generated by the load generating section based on the total weight.

[0048] The unit case 17 of the load control unit 1 further accommodates a laser distance meter 19. According to the above configuration, since the measurement unit is further accommodated in the accommodation unit, it is possible to easily retrofit the measurement unit to a load generating device that does not have a measurement unit.

[0049] A load control unit according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to fifth aspects, further comprising a control device for controlling the magnetorheological fluid device, and the housing portion further houses the control device.

[0050] According to the above configuration, the load control unit can easily retrofit the control section that controls the magnetorheological fluid device to the load generating device.

[0051] [Additional Notes] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in different embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1 Load Control Unit 11 reels 11a Rotating shaft member 12 Second Cable 14 Magnetorheological fluid device 14a Magnetorheological fluid 15 Control device 17 Unit Case 19 Laser rangefinder 100 Training Equipment 101-4 Lower frame 102 First Cable 103 Pulley Group 104 weight stack 105-1 Lift shaft 200 fixing pin 201 Ball 202 Spring P Weight pin

Claims

1. A load control unit is attached to a load generating device in which a load generated by a load generating unit is applied to a predetermined portion via a transmission path, a reel having a rotary shaft member and rotating around the rotary shaft member; a cable that is unwound from the reel when the rotary shaft member rotates in a predetermined direction; a magnetorheological fluid device that applies a braking force to the rotating shaft member by applying a magnetic field to the magnetorheological fluid; a housing portion that houses the reel and the magnetorheological fluid device, The housing is fixed to the load generating device, a load control unit to which the cable is connected to the transmission path via the load generating unit;

2. the load generating device has a first hole at a position where the load control unit is to be retrofitted, the accommodation portion has a second hole arranged at a position connected to the first hole when the load control unit is retrofitted, The load control unit further comprises a fixing pin; The load control unit of claim 1, wherein the fixing pin can be transitioned between a first state in which a protrusion protrudes from the side of the shaft portion and a second state in which the protrusion is stored in the shaft portion by a predetermined operation, and after passing through the second hole and the first hole in the second state, the fixing pin transitions to the first state by the predetermined operation.

3. a biasing portion that biases the fixing pin in a direction to remove the fixing pin from the second hole, The load control unit according to claim 2 , wherein after passing through the first hole, the fixing pin transitions to the first state, and the biasing portion causes the protrusion to abut against the opening of the first hole.

4. The load generating unit Weight and a lift shaft that extends in a vertical direction, has an upper end connected to the transmission path, has a lower end connected to the cable, and moves up and down integrally with the weight; 2. The load control unit of claim 1, further comprising a weight pin for securing said weight to said lift shaft.

5. The load generating section has one or more weights aligned in a vertical direction, the weight pin fixes a first weight, which is one of the one or more weights, to the lift shaft; the lift shaft moves up and down integrally with the first weight and a weight disposed above the first weight, The housing portion further houses a measuring portion that measures a distance from the housing portion to the first weight, 5. The load control unit according to claim 4, further comprising an estimation unit that estimates a total weight of weights that move up and down integrally with the lift shaft based on the measurement results of the measurement unit, and estimates the load generated by the load generation unit based on the total weight.

6. Further, a control device for controlling the magnetorheological fluid device is provided. The load control unit according to claim 1 , wherein the housing further houses the control device.

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