Cable Guide Winding Layout for Compact Exercise Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exercise machines with cable-based resistance systems face issues such as disorderly cable winding, leading to non-fluid resistance perception, unwanted resistance peaks, machine malfunctions, and increased size and cost, limiting flexibility and manageability.
Innovation Solution
An exercise machine with a guide device that transforms the oscillatory evolution of a cable segment into a rectilinear evolution, ensuring orderly winding onto a winding member, allowing for compact design and modular use, using a grip handle connected to a winding member via cable traction means and an electronically controllable actuator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the cable is allowed to oscillate freely during winding, then the machine structure can be compact, but the cable winds disorderly causing resistance peaks and malfunctions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a guide device as an intermediary component between the drum and the cable. This guide device includes a guide surface that directs the cable onto the drum at a controlled angle, preventing disorderly winding while maintaining a compact machine structure. The guide surface acts as a mediator that transforms the cable's motion path from oscillatory to orderly wrapped coils.
2Reliability
If transmissions are moved away from the drum to reduce cable oscillation angle, then cable winding regularity improves, but the machine size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving transmissions away from the drum in the radial direction (increasing machine size), the patent uses a guide surface that operates in the angular dimension. The guide surface controls the cable's wrapping angle as it contacts the drum, achieving orderly winding without increasing the radial distance between the drum and transmissions.
3Ease of operation
If a smooth drum is used to reduce friction, then cable movement is more fluid, but a larger oscillation angle is required causing disorderly winding
Solution Approach 1:
The guide surface serves as an intermediary between the smooth drum and the cable. It provides the necessary directional control for the cable while the smooth drum surface maintains low friction. The guide surface ensures the cable contacts the drum at the correct angle, preventing disorderly winding even with a smooth drum surface.
4Reliability
If the cable length between drum and transmissions is increased to reduce oscillation angle, then cable winding regularity improves, but the machine becomes larger and less manageable
Solution Approach 1:
The guide device acts as a mediator that eliminates the need for excessive cable length. By providing a controlled path for the cable onto the drum, the guide surface ensures regular winding with a compact cable arrangement, maintaining machine manageability while achieving reliable cable winding.
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
Guarantees correct and constant cable winding, reduces machine size and complexity, enhances flexibility in muscle stimulation and muscle group involvement, and allows easy handling and movement, facilitating modular combinations for complex workouts.
Implementation Method 1
the cable, transitioning from a linear to an oscillatory movement
Data Source
AI summary
Exercise machine including a traction cable having at least a first segment defined between a motorized winding member and a transmission member; the machine includes a guide device disposed between the winding member and the transmission member, in such a way as to guide the winding of the first segment of the cable onto the winding member.