Planetary Gear Exercise Cycle With Natural Lateral Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard stationary bicycles rely on direct drive systems like chain or belt drives, which require frequent adjustments and are bulky, limiting the integration of the crank and flywheel into a compact assembly and failing to replicate the natural motion of riding a bicycle, especially during turns or sprints.
Innovation Solution
A planetary gear system integrated with a rolling recoiled lateral motion system, where the flywheel and axle shaft are coaxial, allowing the crank and flywheel to be integrated into a single assembly, and featuring a sun gear, planet carrier, and ring gear to achieve a compact, high gear ratio, and a recoil support mechanism for lateral motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a direct drive system (chain or belt drive) is used, then the power transmission is simple, but the system requires frequent adjustments and has large volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the crank and flywheel into a single integrated assembly through the planetary gear system, eliminating the need for separate chain or belt drive components. This integration removes the complexity of external drive mechanisms and eliminates frequent adjustments required by traditional direct drive systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical chain or belt drive system with a planetary gear mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for lubrication, tensioning, and adjustment that characterize chain and belt drives, while providing more reliable power transmission.
2Device complexity
If a direct drive system is used, then the structure is simple, but the crank and flywheel cannot be integrated into a compact assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The planetary gear system nests the planet gears within the annular space between the sun gear (crank) and the ring gear (flywheel), allowing the entire transmission mechanism to be contained within a compact cylindrical volume. This nested arrangement enables the crank and flywheel to be integrated into a single compact assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a linear or radial arrangement of components to a three-dimensional planetary configuration where gears operate in multiple dimensions around a central axis. This dimensional reorganization allows compact integration of the crank and flywheel while maintaining efficient power transmission.
3Ease of manufacture
If a traditional bicycle drive system is used, then the implementation is straightforward, but it fails to replicate natural motion during turns or sprints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a recoil support mechanism that allows the integrated crank-flywheel assembly to dynamically adjust its position and orientation in response to rider movements. This dynamic capability enables the system to replicate natural bicycle motions during turns and sprints, enhancing adaptability while maintaining straightforward implementation.
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 system eliminates the need for chain or belt adjustments, achieves a higher gear ratio in a smaller space, and provides a more natural riding experience by integrating the crank and flywheel and allowing lateral motion, enhancing user experience and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
A planetary gear system comprises a flywheel and an axle shaft disposed through the center of the flywheel. The axle shaft has a first end and a second end, and a first crank is fixedly attached to the first end and a second crank is fixedly attached to the second end of the axle shaft.
Implementation Method 2
The planetary gear system allows for the crank and flywheel to be integrated into a single assembly. Advantages of the planetary gear system of the present invention are discussed herein.
Implementation Method 3
The rolling recoiled lateral motion system allows for lateral, side-to-side, and rolling motion to be achieved, which feels similar to the natural motions when riding a bicycle into a turn or when standing up (e.g., for a sprint).
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3A
AI summary
A planetary gear system in an exercise machine featuring a flywheel; an axle shaft positioned through the center of the flywheel, a sun gear disposed on the axle shaft and fixedly attached to the flywheel, a housing disposed on the axle shaft, a planet carrier fixedly attached to the axle shaft and disposed in the housing, and a ring gear fixedly attached in the housing, One or more planet gear wheels are rotatably attached to the planet carrier. The planet gear wheels can rotate independently of the planet carrier. Rotation of the axle shaft in a first direction rotates the planet carrier in the first direction, thereby causing the planet gear wheel to rotate in a second direction within the ring gear. Rotation of the planet gear wheel in the second direction causes the sun gear and the flywheel to together rotate in the first direction.