Curved Treadmill Roller Assembly With One-Way Belt Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treadmills face challenges in preventing reverse direction movement of looped belts and in designing roller assemblies that allow rotation in one direction while preventing significant rotation in the opposite direction, as well as in coordinating hand placement and foot placement for varying exercise intensity.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a one-way device comprising an inner and outer ring, where the inner ring is fixed to a stationary shaft and the outer ring is coupled to a rotating roller tube, allowing rotation in one direction while preventing rotation in the opposite direction, and includes color-coded hand grip and foot placement positions to facilitate user coordination with exercise intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a one-way clutch is installed on the roller assembly to prevent reverse direction movement of the looped belt, then the belt can move forward smoothly, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A one-way clutch is introduced as an intermediary component between the roller tube and the shaft. The clutch allows the roller tube to rotate freely in the forward direction while preventing rotation in the reverse direction, thus mediating the motion control function and resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a one-way bearing is used to allow rotation in one direction and prevent rotation in the opposite direction, then the exercise intensity control is improved, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The one-way bearing is designed to automatically control the direction of roller assembly rotation based on the user's movement. When the user moves forward, the bearing allows free rotation; when the user attempts to move backward, the bearing automatically locks. This self-regulating mechanism provides exercise intensity control without requiring complex external control systems, thereby managing manufacturing costs.
3Ease of operation
If the roller tube is allowed to rotate freely on the shaft, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reverse direction movement cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static connection between the roller tube and shaft to a dynamic one-way connection. The one-way clutch or bearing creates a dynamic system that adapts its constraint level based on the direction of rotation, allowing free rotation in the forward direction for ease of operation while automatically preventing reverse rotation for reliability.
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
This solution effectively restricts reverse belt movement and enhances user coordination with exercise intensity, ensuring safe and efficient operation of the treadmill by allowing forward movement while preventing reverse movement and providing intuitive placement cues.
Implementation Method 1
The one-way device comprises an inner ring and an outer ring, the inner ring being fixedly coupled to the first shaft not to rotate on the first shaft, the outer ring is fixedly coupled to the roller tube to allow the roller tube to rotate in a first direction around the first shaft and to prevent the roller tube from rotating around the first shaft in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
A treadmill has a front or rear set of pulleys and a looped running belt. The pulleys rotate with the movement of the belt, e.g., when a user walks, jogs, or runs on the treadmill. The pulleys are mounted on a rotating roller tube so that the roller tube rotates with the pulleys. The roller tube is mounted on a stationary shaft using bearings on each side and a one-way device that allows the pulleys to rotate in one direction. The rotation direction corresponds to the movement of the top of the belt from the front to the rear of the treadmill. The one-way device prevents the pulleys from rotating in the opposite direction, preventing the top of the belt from moving from the rear of the treadmill to the front. The one-way device may be a sprag clutch. The treadmill may be a motor-less, curved treadmill.