U.S. patent application number 11/011722 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-15 for magnetic dampening unit for an exercise gym apparatus.
Invention is credited to Shu-Chiu Lu, Chi-Hsiu Ma.
Application Number | 20060128533 11/011722 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36584756 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060128533 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ma; Chi-Hsiu ; et
al. |
June 15, 2006 |
Magnetic dampening unit for an exercise gym apparatus
Abstract
A magnetic dampening unit for an exercise gym apparatus includes
a plate and an axle secured on the plate. A flywheel is rotatably
mounted on the axle and has a hub. A stub is formed at a central
portion of the hub and opposed to the plate. A non-magnetic metal
member is provided in the flywheel and faces the plate. A disk is
rotatably mounted on the axle and between the flywheel and the
plate. A resilient member is mounted on the axle and between the
disk and the plate. Multiple permanent magnets are provided on the
disk with an alternate arrangement of N-polarities and S-polarities
and facing the non-magnetic metal member. Two cables are provided
on the disk and extend out from the plate. When drilling the
flywheel for a dynamic balance, material waste will not be drawn to
the magnets and the flywheel can be easily cleaned.
Inventors: |
Ma; Chi-Hsiu; (Taichung,
TW) ; Lu; Shu-Chiu; (Taichung, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jackson Walker L.L.P.
Suite 2100
112 E. Pecan Street
San Antonio
TX
78205
US
|
Family ID: |
36584756 |
Appl. No.: |
11/011722 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/225 20130101;
A63B 21/0051 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/063 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/06 20060101
A63B022/06; A63B 69/16 20060101 A63B069/16 |
Claims
1. A magnetic dampening unit for an exercise gym apparatus, the
magnetic dampening unit comprising: a plate (20); an axle (17)
secured on the plate (20); a flywheel (10) rotatably mounted on the
axle (17), the flywheel (10) having a hub (11), a stub (12) formed
at a central portion of the hub (11) and opposed to the plate (20),
a non-magnetic metal member (14) provided in the flywheel (10) and
facing the plate (20); a disk (15) movably mounted on the axle (17)
and between the flywheel (10) and the plate (20); a resilient
member (18) mounted on the axle (17) and between the disk (15) and
the plate (20); a plurality of permanent magnets (16) provided on
the disk (15) with an alternate arrangement of N-polarities and
S-polarities and facing the non-magnetic metal member (14); two
first cables (19) provided on the disk (15) and extending out from
the plate (20); and a belt (30) provided on the stub (12).
2. The magnetic dampening unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
flywheel (10) has two bearings (121) provided in the stub (12) for
rotatably installing the flywheel (10) on the axle (17).
3. The magnetic dampening unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
flywheel (10) has a recess (13) defined at a side facing the plate
(20), the non-magnetic metal member (14) is formed in the recess
(13) and the disk (15) is located in the recess (13).
4. The magnetic dampening unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
balance (10) is made of plastic material by means of injection
molding and provided with an iron ring (101) embedded in the
flywheel (10).
5. The magnetic dampening unit as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a pulley (21) provided on the plate (20), the first
cables (19) having distal ends fastened on the pulley (21).
6. The magnetic dampening unit as claimed in claim 5, further
comprising a second cable (22) fastened on the pulley (21).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an exercise gym apparatus,
and more particularly to a magnetic dampening unit for an exercise
gym apparatus
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] With reference to FIG. 3, in a conventional exercise gym
apparatus, a magnetic dampening unit has an axle (48) mounted on a
plate (50). A flywheel (40) is rotatably mounted on the axle (48),
and a non-magnetic metal member (46) is mounted between flywheel
(40) and the plate (50). A resilient member (49) is mounted on the
axle (48) and between the non-magnetic metal member (46) and the
plate (50). The flywheel (40) has a hub (41) and a stub (42) formed
at a center of the hub (41). Bearings (421) are provided in the
stub (42) to rotatably mount the flywheel (40) on the axle (48). A
belt (60) is provided on the stub (42) and connected to a crank
(not shown) of the exercise gym apparatus.
[0005] A recess (43) is defined in the flywheel (40) and faces the
non-magnetic metal member (46). An iron member (44) is provided in
the recess (43) and multiple permanent magnets (45) are mounted on
the iron member (44) with an alternate arrangement of N-polarities
and S-polarities to face the non-magnetic metal member (46). Two
cables (47) fixed on the non-magnetic metal member (46) and extend
out from the plate (50). The cables (47) are connected to an
adjusting device (not shown) and can be pulled to a gap between the
non-magnetic metal member (46) and the permanent magnets (45).
Then, a distribution of magnetic forces of the permanent magnets
(45) is changed so as to adjust a dampening force of the flywheel
(40).
[0006] The flywheel (40) must be machined carefully in manufacture
to achieve the necessary dynamic balance for vibration-free
operation when fitted to the apparatus. A common method for
achieving dynamic balance is drilling at proper portions of the
flywheel (40). Because the flywheel (40) is made of iron, the small
amounts of waste material cut from the flywheel (40) will be drawn
by the permanent magnets (45) to still adhere to the flywheel (40),
and it is difficult to clear away the waste material. Furthermore,
as the permanent magnets (45) are directly provided in the flywheel
(40), the flywheel (40) itself may become magnetized such that the
magnetic forces of the permanent magnets (45) are weakened.
Therefore, the dampening force of the dampening unit will become
low.
[0007] Therefore, the invention provides a magnetic dampening unit
for a gym apparatus to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned
problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The main objective of the present invention is to provide a
magnetic dampening unit for an exercise gym apparatus that can be
easily configured for a dynamic balance.
[0009] Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the
invention will become more apparent from the following detailed
description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view of a magnetic dampening
unit in accordance with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the magnetic dampening
unit in adjustment; and
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a conventional magnetic
dampening unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a magnetic dampening unit
for an exercise gym apparatus in accordance with the present
invention includes an axle (17) mounted on a plate (20) of the
exercise gym apparatus (not shown). A flywheel (10) is rotatably
mounted on the axle (17). The flywheel (10) is made of plastic
material and provided with an iron ring (1101) embedded therein by
means of injection molding. The flywheel (10) has a hub (11), and a
stub (12) is formed at a central portion of the hub (11) and
opposed to the plate (20). Multiple bearings (121) are received in
the stub (12) to rotatably install the flywheel (10) on the axle
(17). A recess (13) is defined in the flywheel (10) and faces the
plate (20).
[0014] A disk (15) made of a non-magnetic metal is movably mounted
on the axle (17) and received in the recess (13). A resilient
member (18) is provided on the axle (17) between the disk (15) and
the plate (20). Multiple permanent magnets (16) are mounted on an
interior side of the disk (15) with an alternate arrangement of
N-polarities and S-polarities. A non-magnetic metal member (14) is
mounted in the recess (13) and faces the permanent magnets (16).
Two first cables (19) are formed on an exterior side of the disk
(15) and extend out from the plate (20). A belt (30) is provided on
the stub (12) and connected to a wheel (not shown) for driving the
magnetic dampening unit.
[0015] A pulley (21) is provided on the plate (20) and the first
cables (19) are fastened on the pulley (21). A second cable (22) is
fastened on the pulley (21) and connected to an adjusting device
(not shown). When the pulley (21) is turned by the second cable
(22), the first cables (19) can be pulled to move the disk (15)
along the axle (17) so as to adjust a gap between the permanent
magnets (16) and the non-magnetic metal member (14). Then, the
distribution of the magnetic force of the disk (15) is changed, and
the dampening effect of the flywheel (10) is adjusted.
[0016] Because the permanent magnets (16) are provided in the disk
(15) and separated from the flywheel (10), waste material cut from
the flywheel (10) during drilling for dynamic balance of the
flywheel (10) will not be drawn to the permanent magnets (16) and
the flywheel (10) can be easily cleaned. Moreover, the permanent
magnets (16) are provided adjacent to the non-magnetic metal member
(14) and the disk (15), so the magnetic forces of the permanent
magnets (16) will not be weakened.
[0017] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been
set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of
the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is
illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in
matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the
principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the
broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are
expressed.
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