Elliptical Trainer Linkage Mechanism for Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional elliptical trainers face issues with noise, unsmooth operation, and material inefficiency due to complex designs involving wheels and tracks, leading to drawbacks such as noise and derailing.
Innovation Solution
The elliptical trainer incorporates a frame with a resistance device, cranks, guide link assemblies, and flexible members, which provide a more compact, simple, and smooth operation by allowing pedals to move along an elliptical path through a combination of horizontal and vertical movements, supported by rollers within a hollow tube and hand assemblies for user engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wheels and tracks are employed to form an elliptical moving path, then the elliptical trainer can achieve the intended exercise function, but noise and derailing issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional wheel-on-track mechanical system with a linkage mechanism consisting of cranks, guide links, and flexible members. This substitution eliminates the rolling contact that causes noise and derailing, while maintaining the elliptical motion path through pure mechanical linkages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs flexible members (belts or ropes) instead of rigid wheels and tracks. These flexible elements transmit motion smoothly without the friction and noise associated with wheel-track contact, while still forming the closed elliptical path required for exercise.
2Reliability
If wheels and tracks are employed to form an elliptical moving path, then the elliptical trainer can achieve the intended exercise function, but the structure becomes complex and materials are inefficiently used
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the linkage mechanism. The cranks, guide links, and flexible members work together as an integrated system to simultaneously provide structural support, guide motion, and transmit force, eliminating the need for separate wheel and track assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from the traditional design. By removing wheels, tracks, and associated mounting structures, the design achieves stability with fewer parts, reducing both complexity and material usage while maintaining the essential elliptical motion function.
3Ease of operation
If a complex design with wheels and tracks is used, then an elliptical moving path can be formed, but the operation becomes unsmooth and noisy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the noisy wheel-on-track rolling contact with a linkage-based motion transmission system. The cranks convert rotational motion to linear motion through guide links, which then drive the pedals along the elliptical path, eliminating the source of noise while ensuring smooth operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible members in the linkage system provide smooth motion transmission without the friction and impact noise characteristic of rigid wheel-track interfaces. The flexibility allows for gradual force transmission and absorbs minor variations in motion, maintaining operational smoothness.
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 design results in a more efficient, low-noise, and cost-effective exercise machine with improved training performance by reducing the complexity of mechanisms and enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
two flexible members 15. A front end of each flexible member is indirectly pivoted to the first pivot and a rear end of each flexible member is coupled with one corresponding guide link assembly
Implementation Method 2
one or more rollers are disposed within the hollow support tube, each flexible member are guided by the one or more rollers
Data Source
AI summary
An elliptical trainer is provided with a frame, a resistance device, two cranks, two guide link assemblies, and two flexible members. The frame includes a first pivot. The resistance device provides a resistance and includes a wheel with an axis. The two cranks are arranged at a left and a right side of the wheel, respectively, and each crank has a first end coupling with the axis. The two guide link assemblies are arranged at a left and a right side of the frame, respectively, and each guide link assembly has a front end pivotally coupling with the first pivot and a second end coupling with a pedal. In addition, each crank has a second end coupling with a corresponding guide link assembly, and each flexible member has a first end indirectly pivoted to the first pivot and a second end coupled to a corresponding guide link assembly.