Stationary Exercise Machine with Resilient Coupling and Optical Power Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stationary exercise machines lack sufficient adjustability and fail to effectively engage the upper body, particularly in providing balanced exercise input from both the lower and upper body, and do not accurately measure the power generated by each input.
Innovation Solution
The exercise machine incorporates an upper and lower moment-producing mechanism connected to a crankshaft, with adjustable resistance mechanisms and an energy tracking system using optical sensing components and code wheels to measure differential forces, allowing for variable resistance and precise power measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional stationary exercise machines use minimal adjustability with fixed connections between handles and leg portions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adaptability for different exercise needs and body parts is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise machine is divided into separate upper body and lower body moment-producing mechanisms that can independently generate force. The upper body mechanism includes handles with upper linkages, while the lower body mechanism includes pedals with lower linkages. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient coupling mechanism serves multiple functions: it connects the upper and lower body mechanisms, allows independent force generation from each body part, enables power measurement, and provides mechanical flexibility. This multi-functionality increases adaptability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If existing stationary machines are equipped with means to determine power generated by upper versus lower inputs, then measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional measurement apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The power measurement apparatus is integrated into the resilient coupling mechanism itself. The optical measurement system is combined with the mechanical connection between upper and lower body mechanisms, allowing power determination without adding separate, independent measurement devices. This merging reduces overall device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient coupling acts as an intermediary element that transmits and differentiates forces from upper and lower body inputs. By placing the measurement apparatus at this intermediary point, the system can accurately measure power contribution from each body part through the mechanical interaction, rather than requiring direct measurement at multiple separate points.
3Adaptability or versatility
If stationary exercise machines provide only minimal adjustability limited to resistance amount, then the device complexity is kept low, but the adaptability for comprehensive workouts engaging both upper and lower body is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient coupling introduces dynamic flexibility into the system, allowing the mechanical connection between upper and lower body mechanisms to adapt during exercise. This dynamic element enables varied exercise patterns and force distributions without requiring complex adjustable mechanisms, thereby increasing comprehensive workout capability while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
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 enables more comprehensive and adjustable workouts by engaging both the upper and lower body effectively, providing variable resistance and accurate power tracking, enhancing user experience and exercise efficacy.
Implementation Method 1
The measurement apparatus includes an optical sensor operatively arranged with a pair of code wheels to detect a relative displacement between the two code wheels
Data Source
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AI summary
A stationary exercise machine in accordance with some examples herein may include a frame, a crankshaft rotatably supported by the frame, an upper moment-producing mechanism and a lower moment-producing mechanism both operatively engaged to the crankshaft to cause the crankshaft to rotate. The lower moment-producing mechanism and the upper moment-producing mechanism may be resiliently coupled to one another, such as via a resilient coupling between a crank arm of the lower moment-producing mechanism and a link or virtual crank arm or the upper moment-producing mechanism. The exercise machine may further include a measurement apparatus which may be configured to measure differential forces between the upper and lower mechanisms.