Vibration Ergometer Counterweight Layout for Unwanted Vibration Cancellation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vibration ergometers generate omnidirectional vibrations that exceed occupational health limits, cause resonance conflicts, and lack multifunctionality, leading to reduced efficiency and instability due to unwanted vibrations affecting the device and surrounding environment.

Innovation Solution

A vibration ergometer with a compensation device that generates vibrations with a phase shift of 180° to cancel unwanted vibrations, using a common motor to drive both the vibration unit and compensation device, ensuring vibrations are primarily vertical and adjustable in amplitude and frequency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a vibration unit is used to generate vibrations for training, then training effectiveness is improved, but unwanted vibrations exceed occupational health limits and cause resonance conflicts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraining effectivenessVSAvoidunwanted vibrations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a counterweight mechanism that generates vibrations with a phase shift of 180° relative to the main vibration unit. This counterweight creates opposing forces that cancel out unwanted vibrations and resonance conflicts, allowing the system to maintain effective training vibrations while eliminating harmful effects that exceed occupational health limits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful unwanted vibrations into a beneficial compensating force. By using the same vibration source to generate both the training vibration and the compensating vibration (through a phase-shifted counterweight), the system turns what would be harmful resonance conflicts into a useful vibration cancellation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Productivity

If vibration amplitude is increased for better training effects, then training intensity is improved, but device stability deteriorates due to unwanted vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraining intensityVSAvoiddevice stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The counterweight mechanism generates vibrations that oppose the unwanted vibrations caused by high-amplitude training. This allows the system to maintain high training intensity while the counterweight cancels out the destabilizing effects, keeping the device stable during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a compensation device is added to cancel vibrations, then unwanted vibrations are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunwanted vibrationsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the compensation function with the existing vibration generation system. The counterweight is integrated into the same drive mechanism as the main vibration unit, sharing common components such as the motor and drive train. This integration allows the compensation function to be achieved without adding separate independent systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common drive mechanism serves dual functions: generating the training vibrations through the vibration unit and simultaneously generating the compensating vibrations through the counterweight. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate compensation systems, maintaining relatively simple device architecture while effectively canceling unwanted vibrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution provides optimal, one-dimensional vibrations that are adjustable, reducing unwanted vibrations, enhancing user safety, and improving the ergometer's stability and efficiency by minimizing noise and mechanical damage.

Implementation Method 1

a compensation device (36) that at least partially compensates the vibrations of the vibration unit (1) outside the pedaling device by means of negative interference

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

compensates the vibrations of the vibration unit (1) outside the pedaling device by means of negative interference

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNegative interference: Interference

Implementation Method 3

at least one main shaft (12) driven directly or indirectly by a motor with an eccentric disc (6) attached thereto

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEccentric motion: Eccentric

Data Source

PatentEP4304744B1Compensation device for a dynamometer with vibration unit and its use in a vibrating dynamometer for the lower and upper extremities
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 BRAINAIX SWISS
  • EP4304744B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4304744B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP4304744B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a bicycle ergometer comprising at least one pedal device for a user and comprising a vibration unit, characterised in that the vibration unit vibrates the pedal device and the ergometer has, in addition to the vibration unit, a compensation device which at least partially compensates, by means of negative interference, the vibrations from the vibration unit outside of the pedal device.