Safety Device for Gymnastic Machine Preventing Inertial Ascending Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gravitational load groups in gymnastic machines can cause inertial ascending motions, leading to potential injuries and equipment damage due to the movable equipment's high speed and subsequent impact with the frame or sudden recoil, especially during fast and intense exercises with reduced loads.
Innovation Solution
A safety device incorporating an elongated elastic element or repelling mechanism that generates a return force to prevent inertial ascending displacements by maintaining the movable equipment within a controlled range, ensuring continuous tension in the traction cable and minimizing sudden recoils.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If gravitational load groups are used in gymnastic machines, then resistive action against physical activity is provided, but inertial ascending motions occur causing injuries and equipment damage
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device applies a preliminary downward force on the movable equipment through an elastic element (spring) that is pre-loaded. This anti-action force opposes the inertial ascending motion before it can cause harm, by engaging when the movable equipment exceeds a predetermined position during fast repetitions with reduced loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety device acts as an intermediary between the movable equipment and the frame. It includes an elastic element that can be compressed between the movable equipment and a stop, and a blocking element that can engage with the guides to prevent excessive upward motion, thereby mediating the harmful inertial forces.
2Productivity
If reduced loads are used for fast repetitions, then exercise intensity is increased, but the movable equipment picks up high speed and impacts the frame
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic element (spring) serves as a cushioning mechanism that is positioned in advance to absorb the excessive kinetic energy of the movable equipment. When the movable equipment rises too high during fast repetitions, the spring compresses between the equipment and the stop, cushioning the impact before it reaches the frame.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the movable equipment moves in free fall, then it returns to position, but sudden tension in the traction cable causes user injury
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device performs a preliminary action by maintaining continuous engagement with the movable equipment during its entire motion range. The blocking element remains positioned to engage with the guides, and the elastic element is pre-loaded, so that when the movable equipment descends, the force is controlled and gradual rather than sudden, preventing sharp recoils to the user.
4Reliability
If the safety device engages to prevent inertial motion, then user safety is improved, but exercise execution may be interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The safety device is designed to be dynamic rather than static. The blocking element can engage and disengage from the guides based on the motion of the movable equipment. During normal exercise execution, the device remains disengaged and transparent to the user's motion. Only when excessive inertial motion occurs does the blocking element engage to prevent harm, then disengage to allow exercise continuation.
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 safety device effectively prevents inertial ascending motions, ensuring user safety and continuous exercise execution by maintaining constant tension in the traction cable and reducing the risk of injury or equipment damage, allowing users to perform exercises with reduced loads without interruptions.
Implementation Method 1
A safety device incorporating an elongated elastic element or repelling mechanism that generates a return force
Implementation Method 2
the resistive action against the physical activity of a user is exerted by one or more load elements, for instance metallic bodies usually indicated as 'weights' or 'bricks', moved against the action of the gravitational force
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~4e
AI summary
A safety device (20) for a gymnastic machine (1) provided with a frame (5) and with a gravitational load group (10) connected to an interface (2) designed to allow a user of the gymnastic machine (1) to perform exercises against the action of the load group (10); the load group (10) comprising a movable equipment (19) provided with at least one load element (11) carried, in a freely sliding manner along a given direction (V), by respective guiding elements (12) associated to the frame (5); the safety device (1) comprising a return group (21) suitable, in use, to exert a given return force (F) on the movable equipment (19) so as to prevent substantially inertial ascending displacements thereof.