Electric Motor Resistance Eliminates Backlash in Rowing Machines
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Rowers experience backlash and potential injury due to asynchronous motion between the rower's handle and the flywheel in traditional rowing machines, leading to improper technique and increased risk of back injury.
Innovation Solution
Replacing the flywheel with an electric motor/generator or solenoid, controlled by a programmable system that synchronizes the handle's motion with the resistance, eliminating backlash and providing handle pressure similar to rowing in a boat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flywheel is used to simulate boat inertia, then the resistance device can provide analogious force to changing boat speed, but the rower must catch up to the moving flywheel at the beginning of each power phase, causing asynchronous motion and potential injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical flywheel system with an electric motor/generator system that can be electronically controlled. The motor controller synchronizes the motor's rotational motion with the rower's handle motion, eliminating the need for the rower to catch up to a moving flywheel and preventing asynchronous motion and injury risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where the motor controller receives input from sensors monitoring the rower's handle position and velocity. The controller adjusts the motor's rotational velocity in real-time to match the rower's motion, ensuring synchronous operation and eliminating backlash throughout the rowing stroke.
2Power
If the flywheel moves faster during intensive exercise, then the resistance increases, but reconnecting with the flywheel becomes more difficult and requires jerky shoulder and forearm movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the inertial flywheel system with an electronically controlled motor system. The motor controller can precisely regulate the motor's rotational velocity to match the rower's handle velocity at any intensity level, eliminating the need for jerky movements to catch up with a speeding flywheel and preventing shoulder and forearm injuries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic control system where the motor's rotational velocity is continuously adjusted based on real-time feedback from the rower's handle motion. This dynamic synchronization ensures that the motor adapts to varying exercise intensities, maintaining smooth synchronous motion from low to high power levels without causing injury.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a flywheel is used to provide resistance, then the device can simulate rowing motion, but backlash exists between the idle and power phases of rowing strokes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical flywheel with an electric motor/generator system that can be electronically synchronized with the rower's motion. The motor controller ensures seamless transition between idle and power phases by coordinating the motor's startup and velocity adjustment with the rower's handle motion, eliminating backlash and improving motion precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the motor controller anticipate the transition from idle to power phase and pre-adjust the motor's rotational velocity to match the rower's handle velocity. This preliminary synchronization prevents backlash during phase transitions and ensures smooth, precise motion throughout the rowing stroke.
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 allows for stress-free rowing strokes, improves technique, reduces injury risk, and replicates the pressure experience of rowing in a boat, enhancing the rowing simulation.
Implementation Method 1
An embodiment of this invention comprises an electric motor/generator and the motor's control means
Implementation Method 2
Alternatively, the motor can also be substituted with a linear acting solenoid
Implementation Method 3
Since the moment of inertia of a flywheel is constant, the added energy manifests as the flywheel's rotational motion
Data Source
AI summary
This invention offers a rowing machine's mechanical resistance device which comprises an electric motor or a solenoid, a programmable control means and a custom algorithm, controlling the programmable controls means. It eliminates the compromising effect of backlash between the rower's handle and the resistance imparting device. This backlash is present between the power and the idle phases of rowing strokes on all state of the art rowing machines comprising flywheels. Ultimately, this invention allows all rowers to improve their rowing form and avoid injury.