Treadmill Rear Guide Assembly for Adjustable Belt Tension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treadmills have a costly and heavy auxiliary shaft connected to driven wheels, and their circulation mechanisms are non-adjustable and difficult to assemble.
Innovation Solution
A treadmill design featuring a base frame unit, front wheel unit, rear guide unit, drive unit, and running belt unit, with a simplified rear guide unit structure that includes positioning plates and guide wheel assemblies, allowing for adjustable tension and easy assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an auxiliary shaft connected to two driven wheels is used, then the circulation mechanism can be formed in a closed loop, but the structure becomes costly and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the auxiliary shaft and driven wheels from the system. Instead of using a closed-loop circulation mechanism with auxiliary shaft, the invention uses a simple belt-driven system where the motor directly drives the belt through a pulley, eliminating the heavy auxiliary shaft component while maintaining functional reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the expensive auxiliary shaft with simpler, more economical components including a motor, pulley, and belt assembly. This substitution reduces manufacturing costs and weight while achieving the same functional outcome of moving the running belt
2Reliability
If the circulation mechanism is formed in a closed loop with fixed distance, then the structure is complete, but assembly becomes troublesome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the circulation mechanism into separate modular components: the motor assembly, the pulley assembly, and the belt assembly. These segmented components can be independently assembled and adjusted, significantly reducing assembly time and complexity while maintaining the completeness of the circulation function
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces adjustable elements that allow the distance and positioning of components to be modified during assembly and operation. The belt can be adjusted in length and positioning, and the pulley position can be modified, enabling easy assembly and adaptation without requiring precise pre-determined fixed distances
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The new design reduces manufacturing costs, weight, and assembly time, while ensuring smooth operation and adjustable tension in the running belt, enhancing overall ease of assembly and reducing friction.
Implementation Method 1
the rotation of the front wheel unit drives circular motion of the running belt unit relative to the base frame unit
Data Source
AI summary
A treadmill includes a front wheel unit and a rear guide unit that are spaced apart from each other and are connected to a base unit. The rear guide unit includes two positioning plates and two guide wheel assemblies connected to the positioning plates. Each of the guide wheel assemblies includes a plurality of roller subunits that are disposed around an axis and that are spaced apart from each other. A drive unit is operable to drive rotation of the front wheel unit. A running belt unit is looped around the front wheel unit and the guide wheel assemblies, such that the rotation of the front wheel unit drives circular motion of the running belt unit relative to the base frame unit.