U.S. patent number 3,912,260 [Application Number 05/488,060] was granted by the patent office on 1975-10-14 for skiing simulator.
Invention is credited to Walton M. Rice.
United States Patent |
3,912,260 |
Rice |
October 14, 1975 |
Skiing simulator
Abstract
A downhill skiing simulator for teaching and practicing skiing
maneuvers which includes ski structural means, a ski pole
simulating means and a frame to which they are secured. The ski
structural means includes a turntable which is hydraulically
rotatable back-and-forth in a horizontal plane and includes a
rocker pivotal about a horizontal axis and which is also
hydraulically actuated. The pivotal rocker carries a carriage to
which is attached a ski mounting means. The carriage slides by
gravity from one end of the rocker to the other, as the rocker and
turntable are pivoted by motive means, while the skier grasps
handles of the ski pole simulating means and performs various
maneuvers.
Inventors: |
Rice; Walton M. (Franconia,
PA) |
Family
ID: |
26978734 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/488,060 |
Filed: |
July 12, 1974 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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313198 |
Dec 7, 1972 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/4;
482/71 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B
69/18 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63B
69/18 (20060101); A63B 069/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/57B,56.5SS
;35/29R,12R,12E,12P ;248/371 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Apley; Richard J.
Assistant Examiner: Taylor; Joseph R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Denny & Patane
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of my pending patent
application, Ser. No. 313,198, filed Dec. 7, 1972, now abandoned on
a skiing simulator.
Claims
I claim:
1. A skiing simulating apparatus comprising
a pair of skis, and
a ski structural means defining first, second, third and fourth
axes
for moving said pair of skis up and down along said first axis
whose inclination may be alternated about said
second axis from one position to another and simultaneously pivoted
back and forth about said
third axis alternately from one position to another while said skis
are simultaneously pivoted about said
fourth axis while the latter is being transported along said first
axis and back and forth about said second axis.
2. The combination recited in claim 1 and further including a ski
pole simulating means.
3. The combination recited in claim 2 and further including a
frame,
a turntable pivotal in a horizontal plane about said third axis and
suitably secured to said frame,
a rocker pivotal about said second axis and supported by and
rotatable with said turntable,
a carriage movable along said rocker and supported by and rotatable
with said rocker, and
ski mounting means carried by said carriage.
4. The combination recited in claim 3 and further including motive
means for actuating said ski structural means.
5. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein
said frame includes a base,
pivotal means securing said turntable to said base,
roller means between said turntable and said base, said turntable
including upstanding legs,
a shaft carried by said legs and connecting said rocker to said
turntable,
said rocker including a rod extending along the length of said
rocker, and
said carriage being secured to said rod and movable along said
rod.
6. The combination recited in claim 5 and further including
damping means pivotally connected between said carriage and said
turntable to dampen the motion of said carriage near the end of its
travel from one extremity of the rocker to the other extremity.
7. The combination recited in claim 5 wherein said ski mounting
means includes
a swivel joint device mounted upon said carriage and pivotal in an
inclined plane.
8. The combination recited in claim 7 wherein said ski mounting
means further includes left and right linkage means and left and
right skis pivotally connected to said left and right linkage
means, respectively.
9. The combination recited in claim 8 wherein each linkage means
includes
a first link pivotally supported by said swivel joint device and
extending forwardly thereof,
a second link pivotally supported by the forward portion of said
first link and extending forwardly thereof, and
a third link pivotally supported by the forward portion of said
second link and to which one of the skis is pivotally
supported.
10. The combination recited in claim 9 and further including
first stop means for limiting pivotal movement of said swivel joint
device relative to said rocker, and
each linkage means includes
second stop means for limiting pivotal movement of said first link
relative to said swivel joint device,
third stop means for limiting pivotal movement of said second link
relative to said first link,
fourth stop means for limiting pivotal movement of said third link
relative to said second link, and
fifth stop means for limiting pivotal movement of each ski.
11. The combination recited in claim 10 wherein
said ski pole simulating means comprises pivot means secured to
said frame above the skier, a generally horizontal shaft connected
at its rear end to said pivot means,
a tube carried by said horizontal shaft and movable back and forth
therealong, and
a linkage assembly secured to and depending from said tube, said
linkage assembly including a U-shaped rod extending behind the
skier, and handles for the skier to grasp.
12. The combination recited in claim 11 wherein
a ball joint connects said linkage assembly to said tube, said
linkage assembly includes a rod connected to said ball joint,
and
depending links pivotally connecting opposite ends of said rod to
opposite sides of said U-shaped rod extending behind the skier.
13. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein
said means for actuating said ski structural means comprises an
hydraulic-electrical apparatus including a first hydraulic cylinder
for pivoting said turntable and a second hydraulic cylinder for
pivoting said rocker,
first linkage means interconnecting said first hydraulic cylinder
and said turntable,
second linkage means interconnecting said second hydraulic cylinder
and said rocker, and
electrical means for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to
said cylinder.
14. The combination recited in claim 4 and further including
control means for actuating said turntable and said rocker
individually or jointly.
15. The combination recited in claim 14 and further including
program means for cycling said turntable and said rocker through a
predetermined cycle.
16. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein
said ski mounting means includes two sets of complex linkages each
supporting one of said skis for pivotal movement of said skis
relative to said carriage and relative to each other.
17. The combination recited in claim 4 and further including
damping means connected to said carriage for dampening the motion
of said carriage near the end of its travel.
18. The combination recited in claim 4 wherein said means includes
hydraulic-electrical apparatus.
19. The structure recited in claim 1 wherein
each of said skis is independently capable of arcuate, angular
displacement from an equilibrium position,
said arcuate displacement being about said fourth axis.
20. The structure recited in claim 1 and further including
safety means for preventing the fall of a person mounted upon said
skis.
21. A skiing simulating apparatus comprising
a pair of skis,
a ski structural means for supporting said skis,
a ski pole simulating means, and
a frame interconnecting said ski structural means and said ski pole
simulating means, and
motor means for actuating said ski structural means,
said ski structural means including
ski mounting means for said skis,
said ski mounting means being movable up and down by the skier as
said ski mounting means is pivoted back and forth about a
horizontal axis by said motor means.
22. The structure recited in claim 21 wherein
said ski mounting means is pivoted by said motor means back and
forth about a vertical axis in addition to being pivoted back and
forth about a horizontal axis.
23. The structure recited in claim 21 wherein
said ski mounting means is also rotatable back and forth about a
vertical axis.
24. The structure recited in claim 21 and further including
safety
means for preventing the fall of a person mounted upon said
skis.
25. A ski simulating apparatus comprising
a rocker pivotal about a horizontal axis and movable back and forth
in a horizontal plane,
a carriage movable along said rocker and supported by and rotatable
with said rocker,
ski mounting means carried by said carriage,
said ski mounting means including
left and right linkage means and left and right skis pivotally
connected to said left and right linkage means, respectively,
a canted swivel joint device pivotally carrying and connecting said
left and right linkage means to said carriage,
said left and right linkage means extending cantileverlike from
said canted swivel joint,
whereby said left and right linkage means may pivot through
a variable angle with respect to the plane of said rocker as said
carriage moves along said rocker.
26. The combination recited in claim 25 wherein
said carriage being planar,
said swivel joint device is canted to said carriage at an angle of
less than 90.degree.,
each linkage means comprises
a first link pivotally supported on a vertical shaft carried by
said swivel joint device and extending forwardly and downwardly
thereof,
a second link pivotally supported on a vertical shaft carried by
the forward portion of said first link and extending forwardly and
downwardly thereof, and
a third link pivotally having a lower portion supported on a
vertical shaft carried by the forward portion of said second link
and an upper portion to which one of the skis is pivotally
supported, the upper portion of said third link is being
substantially horizontal and said lower portion being inclined
backwardly to jointly define an angle, to suit, generally between
90.degree. and 180.degree., whereby the weight of the skier is
behind the pivotal connection between second and third links, but
near the forward portion of each linkage means.
27. The combination recited in claim 26 and further including
first stop means for limiting pivotal movement of said swivel joint
device relative to said carriage, and
each linkage means includes
second stop means for limiting pivotal movement of said first link
relative to said swivel joint device,
third stop means for limiting pivotal movement of said second link
relative to said first link,
fourth stop means for limiting pivotal movement of said third link
relative to said second link, and
fifth stop means for limiting pivotal movement of each ski.
28. The combination is an exerciser or the like comprising
a turntable pivotal back and forth, in a horizontal plane, between
two positions,
a rocker pivotal back and forth, about a horizontal axis, between
two positions,
said rocker being secured to said turntable,
person supporting means extending transverse to said rocker and
movable along said rocker from one end thereof to the other and
back,
said person supporting means including an inclined swivel mount for
pivotally securing said person supporting means to said rocker,
and
motive means for actuating said turntable and said rocker,
whereby as said turntable and said rocker are actuated, said person
supporting means is repeatedly lifted and then permitted to descend
by gravity along said rocker while simultaneously pivoting relative
to said rocker on said inclined swivel mount and then lifted again
and then again permitted to descend, during which time the forward
portion of the person supporting means repeatedly moves through a
general figure eight trajectory.
29. In combination,
a pair of supports for a person,
a rocker movable up and down about a horizontal axis,
motor means for actuating said rocker,
cantilever linkage means to which said supports are secured and
actuatable by a person mounted upon said supports,
inclined swivel mount means carried by said rocker and movable back
and forth along said rocker, said cantilever linkage means being
pivotally carried by said inclined swivel mount means,
whereby said supports may be raised and lowered relative to each
other as said supports are pivoted about said inclined swivel mount
means.
30. In combination,
a pair of foot supports,
a swivel joint pendulum-like device supporting said foot supports
including a single forwardly inclined shaft, said swivel joint
pendulum-like device being pivotal about said single forwardly
inclined shaft,
rocker means to pivot said swivel joint pendulum-like device about
a horizontal axis,
whereby, as said rocker means is pivoted, the axis of said shaft
changes with respect to a horizontal plane through said horizontal
axis.
31. The structure recited in claim 30 and further including
linkage means carrying said foot supports and depending from said
shaft on opposite sides thereof and toward the front of said
apparatus,
carriage means for transporting said swivel joint pendulum-like
device, and
motive means for pivoting said rocker up-and-down and
back-and-forth.
32. The structure recited in claim 30 wherein
said rocker means is also rotatable back and forth about a vertical
axis.
33. The combination comprising
a pair of foot supports, and
a foot support structural means for simultaneously moving said pair
of foot supports up and down along the length of a first axis whose
inclination may be alternated about a second axis from one position
to another and simultaneously pivoted back and forth about a third
axis alternately from one position to another.
34. The combination recited in claim 33 wherein
said pair of foot supports are simultaneously pivotal about a
fourth axis while the latter is transported along the first axis
and pivoted about the second axis.
35. The combination recited in claim 34 and further including a
hand grasping means.
36. A skiing simulating apparatus comprising
a pair of skis, and
a ski structural means defining first, second and third axes for
moving said pair of skis along said
first axis whose inclination may be alternated up and down about
said
second axis while simultaneously said pair of skis are pivotal
about said
third axis, and said third axis being transported along said first
axis and pivoted about said second axis.
37. The structure recited in claim 36 and further including safety
means for preventing the fall of a person mounted upon said
skis.
38. A ski simulating apparatus comprising
a rocker movable up and down,
a carriage movable along said rocker,
ski mounting means carried by said carriage,
said ski mounting means including
left and right linkage means and left and right skis pivotally
connected to said left and right linkage means, respectively,
a canted swivel joint device pivotally carrying and connecting said
left and right linkage means to said carriage,
said left and right linkage means extending cantileverlike from
said canted swivel joint,
whereby said left and right linkage means may pivot through a
variable angle with respect to the plane of said rocker as said
carriage moves along said rocker.
39. The combination in an exerciser or the like comprising
a rocker movable up and down between two positions,
person supporting means extending transverse to said rocker and
movable along said rocker from one end thereof to the other and
back,
said person supporting means including an inclined swivel mount for
pivotally securing said person supporting means to said rocker,
and
motor means for actuating said rocker,
whereby as said rocker is actuated, said person supporting means is
repeatedly lifted and then permitted to descend by gravity along
said rocker while simultaneously pivoting relative to said rocker
on said inclined swivel mount and then lifted again and then again
permitted to descend, during which time the forward portion of the
person supporting means repeatedly moves through various ski
simulating modes.
40. A skiing simulating apparatus comprising
a pair of skis,
a carriage supporting said skis,
a turntable supporting said carriage, said carriage being movable
along said turntable,
means for supporting said turntable in a first plane inclined
relative to a horizontal plane, and
motive means for pivoting said turntable up and down in said first
plane about an axis at about a right angle to said first plane,
said motive means being energized from a source external to said
skier,
whereby repeated simulation of a ski lift and a simulated descent
down a snow slope may take place.
41. The combination recited in claim 40 and further including a ski
pole simulating means.
42. The combination recited in claim 41 wherein said ski pole
simulating means includes a safety means for preventing the fall of
a person mounted upon said skis.
43. The combination recited in claim 42 and further including
sensing means responsive to the position of said turntable and
carriage for automatically and alternately elevating and lowering
opposite end portions of said turntable.
44. The combination recited in claim 43 wherein said motive means
includes an hydraulic motor.
45. The combination recited in claim 40 and further including a
swivel joint device pivotally connected to said carriage, and
linkage means pivotally connected to said swivel joint device and
supporting said skis, said linkage means being connected to said
swivel joint device on opposite sides of the pivotal connection
between said swivel joint device and said carriage.
46. The combination recited in claim 45 wherein said linkage means
includes a plurality of links pivotally connected to each other,
and said linkage means includes damping means to restrain movement
of said links relative to each other.
47. The combination recited in claim 40 and further including
control means to regulate said motive means, said control means
including predetermined program means.
48. A skiing simulating apparatus comprising
a pair of skis,
a carriage supporting said skis,
a rocker supporting said carriage, said carriage being movable
along said rocker,
first means for supporting said rocker,
second means for alternately elevating and lowering said rocker,
said second means including motive means energized from a source
external to said skier, and
sensing means for controlling the elevating and lowering of said
rocker and the movement of said carriage,
whereby repeated simulation of a ski lift and a simulated descent
down a snow slope may automatically take place.
49. The combination recited in claim 48 wherein opposite end
portions of said rocker are alternately elevated and lowered.
50. The combination recited in claim 48 wherein said sensing means
comprises limit switches actuated by said rocker and said
carriage.
51. The combination recited in claim 48 wherein said motive means
includes an hydraulic motor and fluid pressurizing means to supply
pressurized fluid to said hydraulic motor.
52. The combination recited in claim 51 and further including
solenoid valves electrically connected to said limit switches and
hydraulically connected to said hydraulic motor so as to cause
rotation of said hydraulic motor alternately in one direction or
the opposite direction.
53. The combination recited in claim 48 and further including a
swivel mount means pivotally connected to said carriage, and
linkage means supporting said skis and pivotally connected to said
swivel mount on opposite sides of the axis about which said swivel
mount is pivotally connected to said carriage.
54. The combination recited in claim 53 and further including
damping means to restrain the pivotal movement of said linkage
means.
55. The combination recited in claim 53 and further including a ski
pole simulating means supported by said carriage, and gear means
also supported by said carriage interconnecting said swivel mount
means and said ski pole simulating means.
56. The combination recited in claim 55 wherein said ski pole
simulating means includes a generally horizontally disposed
annularlike member and handles for the skier to grasp, and said
annularlike member being pivotally mounted about an axis inclined
to a horizontal plane through said annular-like member.
57. The combination recited in claim 56 and further including
damping means to restrain pivotal movement of said annular-like
member.
58. The combination recited in claim 48 wherein said sensing means
includes predetermined program means.
59. A skiing simulating apparatus comprising
a pair of skis,
a ski structural means comprising supports for said skis, and
a longitudinally extending platform having end portions and
defining a simulated slope along which said skis move back and
forth while said opposite end portions of said platform are
alternately moved up and down,
a ski pole simulating means movable up and down simultaneously with
said ski structural means,
frame means interconnecting said ski pole simulating means and said
ski structural means, and
external energy supplying means to power said ski structural
means,
whereby a person may simulate various skiing maneuvers as the skis
move up and down and along the path of the simulated slope.
60. Apparatus for simulating skiing or the like comprising
first means having alternately elevatable and lowerable opposite
end portions and defining a first axis common to said end
portions,
a pair of foot supports movable along said first axis of said first
means from the elevated end portion to the opposite lowered end
portion of said first means,
second means for repeatedly and alternately elevating or lowering
said opposite end portions of said first means to permit the
descent by gravity of said foot supports along said first axis,
and
said second means including motor means for elevating or lowering
said opposite end portions and for simultaneously pivoting back and
forth said first means about a second axis, and
a safety means movable with said foot supports up and down as said
foot supports also move up and down.
61. The combination recited in claim 60 and further including
control means for automatically lifting said foot supports,
said control means including predetermined program means for
predetermining the extent of elevating or lowering of said foot
supports.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus for simulating Alpine or
downhill snow skiing and may be used to enjoy the pleasure and
thrills of skiing, to train the correct body movements for skiing
maneuvers, and to practice skiing and its various maneuvers.
In the past few years, the popularity of snow skiing has greatly
increased. Many persons have taken to the sport. But most of these
persons are only occasional skiers and do not take the proper steps
necessary before skiing to train themselves and to assure that they
are in appropriate physical condition. While ski training and
exercising apparatuses have been provided in the past, they have
not simulated sufficiently either the actual skiing movements or
the forces to be expected during ski maneuvers.
My apparatus simulates the effect of elevating a skier in a lift to
the top of a slope. In the usual lift, the skier is taken to the
top of a slope and then proceeds to ski to the bottom of the slope,
the process being repeated, as desired.
My apparatus simulates this by automatically elevating the skier up
a distance representing an increment of the slope and then letting
him ski down the slope increment. This incremental process is
repeated until the skier has traversed a length representing the
length of the slope.
In some of the previous ski simulating devices of the prior art,
the skier has been required to himself actuate the devices, i.e.,
to work the devices by supplying his energy to them. In my
apparatus, the apparatus supplies the energy to lift and rotate the
skier, and as the skier "skis" down the slope, he may, but need
not, perform various skiing maneuvers. To perform these maneuvers
the skier is required to supply energy to the apparatus, i.e., he
is required to supply energy to the apparatus to perform the skiing
maneuvers.
Thus, this apparatus will challenge the skiers ability to maneuver,
to remain on his feet, or even to "fall", all as in genuine
downhill skiing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this invention is to provide a simulator of Alpine or
downhill snow skiing (in contrast to Nordic or crosscountry skiing)
on which snow skiing maneuvers may be practiced and which may be
used for the pleasure and thrills of skiing, for training purposes,
and for physical conditioning purposes.
The apparatus I provide simulates lifting a skier to the top of a
slope and then simulates letting him descend the slope. During the
descent he is rotated or pivoted so that he must simulate the body
movements required of a skier while making a turn.
The simulator which I have invented includes a ski support
apparatus and a ski pole simulating device, both preferably secured
to a frame.
The ski support apparatus includes a turntable which is
hydraulically pivotal back-and-forth in a horizontal plane and
includes a pivotal rocker movable in a vertical plane and which is
also hydraulically actuated. The pivotal rocker carries a carriage
to which is pivotally attached a ski mounting means. The carriage
slides by gravity from one end of the rocker to the other, as the
rocker pivots and rotates, and the skier grasps handles of the ski
pole simulating device to balance himself. As the carriage
approaches the end of each traverse, the ski mounting means pivots
to simulate a ski turn.
The hydraulically actuated rocker provides a sequential,
incremental lifting action in combination with centrifugal forces
created by the hydraulically actuated turntable to simulate turns,
requiring the skier to manuever so as to follow the simulated
course down an imaginary "fall line" and to make repeated turns
while traversing the simulated "fall line.38 As the skier
maneuvers, he supplies additional energy to the machine and moves
the necessary parts involved in the desired ski maneuver.
The power energy supplied by the machine is equivalent to the
recreational lifting devices used on slopes, such as chair lifts
and the like, which are in common usage for the purpose of
elevating a passenger uphill prior to his descent by gravity, the
skier during his descent making turns and sliding according to the
terrain. The individual style or skill of the skier allows him to
select the various optional styles of posture by which he remains
on his feet (as he descends the simulated slope) such as
"snow-plow," "stem turns," or "parallel skiing" posture or a
"braking" or "checking" posture, or the skier may even "fall", if
he loses control. However, a safety device is provided for the
passenger in the event he starts to fall and a safety switch will
shut off the machine at such time. Thus, this machine raises the
passenger "uphill" and then permits him to descend the simulated
slope using the style of posture which he wishes to use.
One difference between mountainside lifts which transport the
passenger uphill in a one-way uninterrupted lift and this machine
is that the passenger in this case is repeatedly lifted a small
increment or fraction of the height of a "slope." Also, this
machine supplies a pivotal movement, during the descent, simulating
the centrifugal force a skier experiences when making a sharp turn
against inertial force, forcing the skier to assume a turning
posture at such time.
Thus, the machine provides a combination of anti-gravity force,
i.e., the rocker lift, and of anti-inertial force, i.e., the
pivoting turntable, to simulate a movement up the slope and then
movement down the terrain of the ski slope. With this machine, an
almost infinite number of rocker lift and turntable combinations
may be provided, either by controlling the hydraulic system
manually or by programming it electronically, to suit the skill of
the skier.
The foregoing and other objects of this invention, the principles
of this invention, and the best mode in which I have contemplated
applying such principles will more fully appear from the following
description and accompanying drawings in illustration thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is a front, side and top perspective view of my simulator
showing a skier (in dot-dash lines) mounted upon the skis and
grasping the handles, the view showing the ski structural means,
the ski pole simulating means, and the frame, but with some of
their parts omitted for clarity of illustration,
FIG. 2 is a partial top and front view of the turntable, rocker,
carriage and ski mounting means shown in FIG. 1, but viewed from
the left, relative to FIG. 1 and enlarged relative to FIG. 1,
showing the skis and part of the ski mounting means in an exploded
position for clarity;
FIG. 3 is a top view of the carriage taken along the line 3--3 in
FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a partial side view taken from the left in FIG. 2,
showing the turntable partly cut away and the rocker partly in
section, and showing the carriage and ski mounting means in side
elevation;
FIG. 5 is a partial top view of the skis, the ski mounting means,
the carriage, and the rocker;
FIGS. 6 and 7 are partial sectional views taken along the lines
6--6 and 7--7, respectively, in FIG. 4;
FIG. 8 is a partial view taken along the line 8--8 in FIG. 6;
FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 are partial sectional views taken along the
lines 9--9, 10--10 and 11--11, respectively, in FIG. 4;
FIG. 12 is a top view of the ski structural means and, shows the
position in which the left hand end of the rocker, as viewed in
FIG. 12, is elevated, and the carriage is about to descend by
gravity toward the opposite end of the rocker, i.e., in the
direction indicated by the arrow;
FIG. 13 is a top view of the ski structural means and shows the
position in which the carriage has moved to about the midpoint of
the rocker;
FIG. 14 is a top view of the ski structural means and shows the
position in which the carriage has moved to the right hand end of
the rocker;
FIG. 15 is a top view of the ski structural means and shows the
position of the skis after the skier has completed the turn, the
right hand end of the rocker has been elevated and the turntable
has pivoted to its opposite position;
FIG. 16 diagrammatically shows the path of a skier down a slope and
indicates the positions along the path represented by FIGS. 12
through 15, inclusive;
FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 are diagrammatic, partial top views of the skis
and the swivel plate to which they are connected by a linkage means
(not illustrated), showing the pivoting of the swivel plate due to
the skier's weight being on the right ski in FIG. 17, evenly on
both skis in FIG. 18, and on the left ski in FIG. 19;
FIGS. 20, 21 and 22 are diagrammatic, front elevation views
corresponding to FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 showing the raising of one ski
relative to the other in FIGS. 20 and 21 as the swivel plate
pivots,
FIG. 23 is a top, perspective view of a modified form of my
invention;
FIG. 24 is a partial, top, perspective view of the simulator shown
in FIG. 23, but showing some of the parts in an exploded view;
FIG. 25 is a sectional view taken along the line 25--25 in FIG.
23;
FIGS. 26, 27 and 28 are back, partial views of the rocker and
carriage as viewed from the line 26-26 in FIG. 25, but showing in
FIGS. 26, 27 and 28 different positions of the rocker and
carriage;
FIG. 29 is a partial-sectional view taken along the line 29--29 in
FIG. 28;
FIG. 30 is a partial front view taken along the line 30--30 in FIG.
28;
FIG. 31 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken along the line
31--31 in FIG. 23;
FIG. 32 is a top view, partly in section, taken along the line
32--32 in FIG. 31;
FIGS. 33 and 34 are sectional views taken along the lines 33--33
and 34--34, respectively, in FIGS. 25 and 33;
FIG. 35 is a partial, exploded view of the track shown in FIG. 32
together with the switches cooperating with it, the track being cut
away for illustrative purposes;
FIG. 35A is a partial side elevation view showing the spatial
relation of the track and limit switches shown in FIG. 35 and
generally taken along the line 35A--35A in FIG. 35;
FIGS. 36 and 37 are schematic diagrams of the electrical control
circuit for the modified simulator shown in FIGS. 23 to 35A,
inclusive;
FIG. 38 illustrates an alternate, pivotal support for the simulated
ski pole handles and safety ring combination shown in FIGS. 23, 24,
and 25;
FIG. 39 is a top view of a further modification of my invention;
and
FIG. 40 is a sectional view taken along the line 40--40 in FIG.
39.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, the skiing
simulator 10 of my invention includes a ski structural means 12 and
a ski pole simulating means or device 14 preferably interconnected
and attached to a supporting frame 16.
The ski structural means 12 comprises a base plate 18 upon which is
pivotally mounted a turntable 20. The turntable 20 includes two
spaced vertically upstanding legs 22 between which is pivotally
secured a rocker 24.
The rocker 24 supports a carriage 26 which is movable along the
length of the rocker 24 (compare FIGS. 1 and 2) as the rocker 24
pivots. Attached to the carriage 26, and carried thereby, is a ski
mounting means 28, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4.
The ski mounting means 28 includes an arm 30 which, in turn,
supports a swivel joint device 32, FIGS. 2 and 4, the arm 30
extending laterally and to the rear of the carriage 26. Attached to
the swivel joint device 32, by two independently movable linkage
means 34 and 36, are two skis 38 and 40, FIG. 1.
The base plate 18 rests upon base beams 41 and 42 (FIGS. 1 and 2)
and longitudinal beams 43 and 44, the beams 43 and 44 forming part
of the frame 16. The longitudinal beams 43 and 44 are connected to
side, base beams 45 and 46 (FIG. 1) and the latter are, in turn,
connected to upstanding, but inclined, struts 47 and 48 which come
together at the top to form an inverted V-shape.
The beams 44 and 46 may be interconnected for strength by a plate
50, as shown. Likewise, the plate 50 and the strut 48 may be
interconnected by the plate 51, as shown.
Similarly, the beams 43 and 45 may be interconnected for strength
by a plate 54, as shown. Likewise, the plate 54 and the strut 47
may be interconnected by the plate 55.
At the apex of the struts 47 and 48 a vertical plate 60 is
connected between them, as shown in FIG. 1. Extending from the
plate 60 toward the skier, is a support arm 61. Connected to the
arm 61 is a channel 52. A circular plate 67 is secured to the lower
part of the channel 52. Pivotally connected to the circular plate
67 is a depending (generally vertical) rotatable shaft 62.
Extending from the shaft 62 (inclined slightly downwardly
therefrom) is a shaft 63 having a rear enlarged block 68. A tube
65, including internal bearings (not shown), is carried by the
shaft 63 and is slidable along the shaft 63, its movement being
limited at the forward end by a stop 66 fixed to the shaft 63 and
at the rear end by the block 68, the block 68 being larger than the
shaft 63, as shown. The stop 66 may be adjustable, along the length
of the shaft 63, as desired.
Depending from the tube 65, and fixed thereto, is a socket-like
extension 69 receiving a ball (not shown) from which extends a
shaft 70. An L-shaped bracket 72 is pivotally connected to the
shaft 70. A rod 74 is pivotally secured at its midpoint by a pin 71
to the vertical arm of the bracket 72, as shown, the opposite ends
of the rod being bent downwardly, as shown, the rod 74 extending
transverse to the shaft 63.
Links 76 and 78 (with clevis-shaped opposite ends) depend from the
opposite ends of the rod 74 and are pivotally connected at their
clevis-shaped upper ends to the ends of the rod 74 (received within
the clevis) by pins extending transverse to the ends of the rod 74
and the links 76 and 78. The lower clevis-shaped ends of the links
76 and 78 are, in turn, pivotally connected to the legs 80 and 82,
respectively, of a U-shaped rod 83 having the base portion 84 of
the U behind the skier. These pivotal connections provide for
movement of the rod 74 and the links 76 and 78 in planes transverse
to the longitudinal axis of the shaft 63.
The forward portions of the legs 80 and 82 have secured to them
upstanding handles or simulated ski pole grips 86 and 88,
respectively, to be grasped by the skier. The U-shaped rod 83 is
large enough to encompass the skier on three sides, i.e., the back
and two sides, as shown, with the pivotal connections between the
links 76 and 78 being made between the handles 86 and 88 and the
base 84, as shown, i.e., behind the skier.
The apex of the struts 47 and 48 extends above the rocker 24
sufficiently, and the other members involved are so proportioned,
that when a person is mounted upon the skis, his head will clear
the rod 74 and also clear the links 76 and 78 on the sides.
From the foregoing, it is seen that as the skier moves along the
length of the rocker 24, the ski pole simulating device 14 pivots
or "follows" the skier, since the shaft 63 is free to rotate (in
approximately a horizontal plane) about the arm 61. Further, as the
skier moves up or down, as the rocker 24 pivots up or down, the ski
pole simulating device 14 also may be flexibly pivoted up or down
about the pin 71 because of the pivotal connections between the rod
74 and the links 76 and 78, as well as the pivotal connections
between the links 76 and 78 and the legs 80 and 82. Also, the tube
65 is free to move along the length of the shaft 63. Thus, the
various pivotal and slidable connections permit the various members
of the ski pole simulating device 14 to assume complex positions,
as required by the skier's movements, and the device 14 may be
considered as a multi-connected linkage constrained at one end
above the skier's head, but free to move in all directions within
predetermined limitations.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 the turntable 20 is pivotal back and
forth in a horizontal plane upon the base plate 18, between the two
extreme positions G and H illustrated in dot-dash lines in FIG. 5,
about a stud 90, see FIGS. 4 and 6, which extends through a
suitable central hole in the base plate 18 and into a lateral
member 92. Referring to FIG. 2, the turntable 20 further comprises
two L-shaped members 94 and two shorter L-shaped members 95
suitably secured to each other in a pictureframe-like arrangement.
Secured to the underside of the turntable 20 at each of its four
corners are four casters 97, as shown, having balls resting upon
the upper surface of the base plate 18.
The legs 22 extend upwardly from the approximate midportions of the
L-shaped members 94 to support the rocker 24 between the legs 22.
The rocker 24 comprises two long L-shaped members 101 and two
shorter L-shaped members 102 suitably secured together in a
pictureframe-like arrangement. Shafts 105 (FIG. 2) and 106 (FIG. 7)
are suitably secured to the opposed, L-shaped members 101, as
shown, the shafts 105 and 106 being carried by the upper ends of
legs 22 and secured thereto by bearing blocks 107. The bearing
blocks 107 are secured to the top of the legs 22, as illustrated,
by studs as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 7.
Centrally, located along the length of the rocker 24 and extending
between the opposed, L-shaped members 102 is a rod 110 having its
end portions suitably secured thereto.
The carriage 26 is supported upon the opposed L-shaped members 101,
and the central rod 110, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6. The carriage
26 comprises a tube 112 (FIG. 6) slidable along the central rod 110
between end stops 113 (FIG. 6) and 114 (FIG. 2), the stops 113 and
114 being formed by springs and collars, carried around the rod
110, as shown, the stops 113 and 114 being adjustable and movable
along the rod 110, as desired. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 6,
secured across the tube 112 (above the rod 110) is a plate 116
whose central, underportion is secured to the tube 112 by two
U-bolts 127 which surround the tube 112 and have upper threaded
ends extending through suitable holes in the plate 116 and fastened
thereto by suitable nuts, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 6. The
opposite end portions of the plate 116 are forked, as shown in FIG.
4, and carry rollers to which are secured wheels 117, the wheels
resting upon the L-shaped members 101.
When the rocker 24 pivots, between its extreme positions shown
diagrammatically in FIG. 7 by the dot-dash lines CC and DD, for
instance to the position DD shown in FIG. 1, the carriage 26 slides
by gravity down (to the right) along the rod 110. To dampen and
stop the movement of the carriage 26 as it arrives near the end of
its travel at either end along the rod 110, a damping device 118,
as best shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, is provided comprising a bracket
121 having a forked lower end 111 (FIG. 8) connected by a pin 119
to an upstanding flange 125 of a tube 124 movable along the shaft
96.
The bracket 121 also includes two pins 123 slidably received in
bushings 120 formed in a collar 128 disposed on opposite sides of
the tube 112 and which is secured to the tube 112 by two U-bolts
122 wrapped around the tube 112, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, and
having threaded ends extending through holes in the collar 128 and
secured thereto by suitable threaded nuts. Compression springs 126
surround the lower ends of the pins 123, as shown, and engage the
underside of the bracket 121 only when the carriage 26 approaches
one end or the other of the rod 110 to bring the carriage 26 to a
gradual stop. At such time the rocker 24 has pivoted to one extreme
position, e.g., the position DD shown in FIG. 1, and thereafter
commences to return to its other extreme position, e.g., position
CC shown diagrammatically in FIG. 7.
The carriage 26 includes an arm 30 secured to the tube 112 and to
the top of the plate 116 and extending to the rear, as shown in
FIG. 2. Upon the rear portion of the arm 30 is mounted the swivel
joint device 32, FIG. 4.
The swivel joint device 32 includes a base 130 and a canted or
inclined shaft 132 projecting upwardly at an angle to the arm 30,
as viewed in FIG. 4, the shaft 132 being tilted toward the front of
the simulator, i.e., an angle of less than 90.degree. being formed
between the longitudinal axis of the shaft 132 and the arm 30. The
base 130 provides a surface at approximately a right angle to the
longitudinal axis of the canted shaft 132 upon which is seated a
thrust bearing 132, the shaft 132 extending through the thrust
bearing 134. The thrust bearing 134 has parallel opposite surfaces,
as shown. Carried by the shaft 132 and seated upon the thrust
bearing 134 is an inclined collar 136 forming part of the first
link or hip plate 138, the collar 136 thus being at about a
90.degree. angle with the longitudinal axis of the shaft 132.
The hip plate 138 has generally horizontal feet portions 140 and
142, FIGS. 2 and 5, the foot portion 140 providing the support for
the (left as viewed in these figures), ski supporting linkage means
34 and the foot portion 142 providing the support for the (right)
ski supporting linkage means 36. Rotation of the plate 138 about
the shaft 132 is limited by studs 143 and 144 (FIG. 5) carried on
extensions of the plate 138 on opposite sides of the arm 30 and
engageable with sides 145 and 146, respectively, projecting from
the arm 30.
Referring particularly to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the hip plate 138
includes a vertically upstanding shaft 150 secured to the foot
portion 142. Rotatable about the shaft 150 is a second link 154
which is seated upon thrust bearing 153, the thrust bearing 153
being seated upon the foot portion 142. The second link 154 has
ears 160 carrying studs 162 engageable with an upstanding stop 164
projecting from and carried by the hip plate 138. The second link
154, as viewed in FIG. 2, extends toward the front of the
simulator, and is inclined downwardly slightly, as shown. The
rightmost end portion of the second link 154 includes a vertically
upstanding shaft 156. Pivotally seated around the shaft 156 and
upon a thrust bearing 158 (carried by an enlarged portion of the
second link 154) is a third link 170. The third link 170 includes
ears 172 carrying adjustable studs 174 which are engageable with a
stop 176 secured to the second link 154 for limiting rotation of
the third link 170 about the shaft 156 relative to the second link
154.
The third link 170 extends forward (to the right), as viewed in
FIGS. 2 and 4, and is inclined downwardly, and has a righthand
portion 180 having a central hole therethrough, the portion 180
extending upwardly, backwardly and at an angle with the main
portion of the third link 170, to form therewith a V-shape, as
shown in FIG. 4.
Extending into the hole in the righthand portion 180 of the third
link 170 is a fourth link 184, having its lower portion 183
inclined, as shown, relative to its upper, approximately horizontal
portion 190. Fixed to the lower portion 183 of the fourth link 184
is a collar 186 (by set screw 185), the collar 186 having arms 187
extending on opposite sides thereof and carrying adjustable studs
189 engageable with opposite sides of the third link 170 to limit
rotation of the fourth link 184 relative to the third link 170.
Also, the collar 186 seats against a thrust bearing 188 which in
turn seats against the righthand portion 180 of the third link 170,
to thereby limit downward movement of the fourth link 184.
Preferably, the angle between the lower portion 183 and the
horizontal portion 190 is greater than 90.degree., as shown.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 11, pivotally carried by the upper,
horizontal portion 190 (of the fourth link 184) is a U-shaped
saddle 192 which is secured to the underside of the ski 40. Axial
movement of the saddle 192 along the upper portion 190 is limited
at one end by collar 194 fixed to the portion 190 and at the other
end by spring 196 and a collar 205 which is secured to the portion
190 by a screw 198, FIG. 11. The spring 196 also has end portions
200 and 201, FIG. 11, which engage the underside of the ski and
bias it to a horizontal or neutral position, the position shown in
FIG. 11. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 10, rotation of the ski 40 about
the shaft portion 190 is limited by engagement of the underside of
the ski 40 with one or the other of two studs 204, functioning as
adjustable stops, since they are threaded to a collar 205 fixedly
attached to the shaft portion 190, as shown, and carried on
opposite sides of the shaft portion 190.
While only the linkage means 36 for the ski 40 has been described
in detail, it is to be understood that the linkage means 34 for the
ski 38 is constructed substantially the same and for purposes of
brevity its description will not be repeated.
A suitable motive means is provided to actuate the turntable 20 and
the rocker 24.
The turntable 20 is pivoted back and forth, between the two
dot-dash lines GG and HH in FIG. 5, by hydraulic-electrical means,
including a cylinder 300 and links 302, 304 and 306. The link 302
is pivotally secured at its right hand end, as shown in FIGS. 1 and
5, to the plate 50 and at its left hand end to the rear end of the
link 304 while the forward end of the link 304 is pivotally secured
to the link 306. In turn, the link 306, as shown in FIG. 4, is
fixedly secured to the rear (left) leg 22, such as by being welded
thereto.
Within the cylinder 300 is a piston (not shown) and connected to
the piston is a rod 310 which extends from one end of the cylinder
and is pivotally connected to the link 304, as shown, the other end
of the cylinder being pivotally connected to the link 302. The
cylinder includes electrical solenoid means (not shown) for
controlling a valve (not shown) to supply oil to one side or the
other of the piston so as to extend or to retract the rod 310 from
the cylinder 300, so as to move the links 302 and 304 toward or
away from each other, at which time the links 304 and 306 assume
the positions illustrated by the dot-dash lines GG and HH shown in
FIG. 5, and thereby pivot the turntable 20 between the dot-dash
lines GG and HH.
Pivoting of the rocker 24 about the shafts 105 and 106, to the
dot-dash line positions CC and DD shown in FIG. 7, is done by
hydraulic-electrical means including a cylinder 320 shown in FIG.
7. The lower end of the cylinder 320 is pivotally connected to an
internally threaded block 322 which is in turn carried by a
threaded rod 324. The opposite ends of the threaded rod 324 are
secured to spacers 326 which are in turn fastened to the rear
L-shaped member 94.
Likewise, a rod 340 extends from the upper end of the cylinder 320
and is pivotally connected to an internally threaded block 342
which is, in turn, carried by a threaded rod 344. The opposite ends
of the threaded rod 344 are secured to spacers 346 which are in
turn fastened to the rear L-shaped member 101.
Both of the rods 324 and 344 have a left hand headed end so that
they may be easily turned to adjust the position of the blocks 322
and 342 along the rods 324 and 344.
Within the cylinder 320 is a piston (not shown) and connected to
the piston is the rod 340. The cylinder 320 includes electrical
solenoid means (not shown) for controlling a valve (not shown) to
supply oil to one side or the other of the piston so as to extend
or retract the rod 340 from the cylinder 320 and to thereby pivot
the rocker 24 up or down about the shafts 105 and 106.
Referring to FIG. 1, a control panel 350 for controlling the
cylinders 300 and 320 is provided with an on-off switch 352 for
energizing the hydraulic-electrical system. In addition, a lever
354 is provided to control cylinder 300 and a lever 356 is provided
to control cylinder 320. Movement of the lever 354 toward the skier
(as viewed in FIG. 1) causes the rod 310 to extend and movement
away from the skier causes the rod 310 to retract. Likewise,
movement of the lever 356 toward the skier (as viewed in FIG. 1)
causes the rod 340 to extend and movement away from the skier
causes the rod 340 to retract.
A third control lever 358 is also provided controlling a means (not
shown) for actuating the cylinders 300 and 320 jointly in a
predetermined pattern or program.
Further, a safety switch 370 (FIG. 1) is provided at the handle 86
to permit the skier to deenergize the system, as a further safety
measure.
While an hydraulic-electrical system has been described for
actuating the mechanisms involved, it is seen that an entirely
electrical system could also be used.
Further, while I have described a control panel 350 which requires
an operator to control the various levers, it is seen that a
suitable programming means could be provided so as to dispense with
the need for an operator.
I prefer to provide a safety harness 360 to be strapped around the
skier and to be connected by straps 362 and 364 to the legs 80 and
82, respectively, of the ski pole simulating device 14, so as to
prevent the skier from falling if for any reason he should lose his
grip on the handles 86 and 88.
Thus, it is seen that I have provided an arrangement whereby by
controlling the lever 354 the turntable 20 may be pivoted
back-and-forth at the desired rate of speed. Likewise, by
controlling the lever 356 the rocker 24 may be pivoted up and down,
as desired. As desired, one or the other of levers 354 and 356 may
be operated or they may be operated simultaneously.
The skier may thus be presented with a simple pivoting motion of
the turntable 20 or he may be presented with a simple rocking
motion of the rocker 24 or a combination thereof.
When the rocker 24 is pivoted, say to the position shown in FIG. 1,
the carriage 26, by gravity, will slide down to the right. As the
carriage 26 moves down and to the right, the ski mounting means,
i.e., the swivel joint device 32 will pivot relative to the
carriage 26 and the linkage means 34 and 36 will pivot relative to
the swivel joint device 32 and the skier may, if he so desires,
move the linkage means 34 and 36 relative to each other to extend
or retract one ski relative to the other, compare FIGS. 12 to 15
with each other.
Thus, the skier is lifted by the rocker, as it pivots up, and is
then permitted to descend by gravity, as the turntable rotates,
back-and-forth, subjecting the skier to the centrifugal forces on a
skier during turns, requiring the skier to maneuver so as to follow
the simulated course down an imaginary "fall line." The skier is
free at such time to select the various optional styles of posture
such as "snow plow," "stem turns" or "parallel skiing."
To better understand this machine, FIGS. 12 to 14 show various
momentary positions of the rocker 24, skis 38 and 40, and the
linkage means 34 and 36.
In FIG. 12, the left hand end of the rocker is in its most elevated
position, and the carriage 26 together with the linkage means 34
and 36 and the skis 38 and 40 are moving to the right, in the
direction indicated by the arrow. Note that the tip of the downhill
ski 38 is forward of the other ski 40. In the position of FIG. 12
the left hand end of the turntable has pivoted back and the right
hand end has pivoted forward, the position indicated
diagrammatically by line HH in FIG. 5. Note further how the skier
has actuated the linkage means so that the various stops are in
engagement with the various links, as shown. The skier has placed
his weight on ski 38 causing the hip plate 138 to pivot
counterclockwise lowering ski 38 and raising ski 40 as further
described in connection with FIGS. 17 to 22. In summary, the
position of the skis in FIG. 12 represents a skier about to
traverse the slope to his left.
FIG. 13 illustrates the momentary position when the carriage 26 has
moved, by gravity, about half-way down the rod 110 and the skier
has during such movement actuated the skis so that the linkage
means 34 and 36 assume the positions illustrated. That is, the
skier has, by pivoting the skis, caused the linkage means 34 and 36
to pivot, generally counterclockwise, from the positions shown in
FIG. 12 to the positions shown in FIG. 13, thereby causing the
opposite stops to engage the opposite sides of the links, compare
FIGS. 12 and 13. In summary, the position of the skis in FIG. 13
represents a skier in his descent down the slope, the skier
travelling to his left.
FIG. 14 illustrates the momentary position when the carriage 26 has
moved fully to the right (down the rod 110) and the skier has
during movement to this position actuated the skis so that the
linkage means 34 and 36 move to the position illustrated. That is,
the skier has, by pivoting the skis, caused the linkage means 34
and 36 to pivot, generally clockwise, from the positions shown in
FIG. 13, thereby causing the opposite stops to engage the opposite
sides of the links, compare FIGS. 13 and 14. In summary, the
position of the skis in FIG. 14 represents a skier after he has
completed his descent to the left and is preparing to make a turn
to his right.
FIG. 15 illustrates the momentary position with the carriage 26 at
the rightmost end of the rocker (as in FIG. 14) but the right hand
end of the turntable has been pivoted back so that the turntable is
now in the position indicated by dot-dash lines GG in FIG. 5. Also,
the rocker 24 has moved to its opposite position, i.e., the right
hand end has moved up, the position indicated by the line CC in
FIG. 7. Note that the skier has, in moving from the position of
FIG. 14 to that of FIG. 15, been carried backward somewhat (due to
the pivoting backward of the turntable 20) but during such movement
he has edged his skis vigorously and has made a turn so that he is
now headed in the opposite direction, compare the arrows in FIGS.
14 and 15. Also, the skier has shifted his weight from his right to
his left ski, causing the hip plate 138 to rotate clockwise, as
viewed in FIG. 15, raising his right ski relative to his left ski.
After the turntable 20 moves to the position shown in FIG. 15 (from
the position shown in FIG. 14) the right hand end of the rocker 24
is raised quickly to the dot-dash position CC diagrammatically
illustrated in FIG. 7. In summary, the position of the skis in FIG.
15 represents a skier after he has completed a turn (from the
position shown in FIG. 14) and he is about to begin a descent to
his right.
Referring to FIG. 16, this figure represents the simulated path of
a skier down a slope. Marked along the path are the locations which
correspond to the positions of the machine illustrated in FIGS. 12
to 15, inclusive.
FIGS. 17 to 22, inclusive, are intended to better illustrate
diagrammatically the arrangement of the hip plate 138 and the skis
38 and 40 by which one ski is raised relative to the other ski. In
FIGS. 17 to 22 the shaft 132 is always in a vertical plane and the
ski linkage means 34 and 36 (while not shown) are intended to be
fully extended in a straight line from the hip plate 138 and
extending forwardly. In FIG. 17, the skier has his weight on his
left foot. This causes the linkage means 36 to pull clockwise on
the hip plate 138 about the shaft 132. Since the collar 136 (of the
hip plate 138) is inclined and sits on an inclined thrust bearing
134, the hip plate 138 will pivot to the position shown in FIG. 20,
causing linkage means 34 to "float up" or raise and linkage means
36 to lower, resulting in a raising of ski 38 and a lowering of ski
40.
FIGS. 18 and 21 diagrammatically show the relative positions of the
parts illustrated when the skier has his weight about evenly
distributed on the skis.
FIGS. 19 and 22 diagrammatically show the relative positions of the
parts illustrated when the skier has his weight on his right ski.
This causes the hip plate 138 to pivot in a counterclockwise
direction, causing linkage means 36 to rise and linkage means 34 to
lower, resulting in a raising of ski 40 and a lowering of ski 38,
as shown in the elevation, diagrammatic view of FIG. 22.
It is preferred that when the skier mounts the machine, the machine
will be in the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, i.e., the linkage
means 34 and 36 are fully extended forward, as shown, the rocker 24
is horizontal and the turntable 20 is in its neutral position,
i.e., with the longitudinal axis of the turntable 20 aligned with
the longitudinal axis of the base 18. The electrichydraulic means
is then energized and the rocker 24 is pivoted to position DD (FIG.
7), i.e., the left hand end of the rocker 24 is elevated, as viewed
in FIG. 2. Preferably, before the elevation of the rocker 24 is
completed, the turntable 20 is pivoted counterclockwise (as viewed
in FIG. 5) to the position of links 304 and 306 indicated by the
dot-dash lines AA.
During such movement of the rocker 24 and turntable 20, the
carriage 26 slides down by gravity along the rod 110 carrying the
skier to the lower end of the rocker 24, see FIG. 1.
In the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the skier has reached the
lower end of the rocker 24 and is making a "turn" toward his right
to prepare himself for travel to his right (after the rocker 24
pivots to its opposite position), the right hand end of the
turntable 20 is moving backward and the rocker 24 is about to make
a fast elevation to the position opposite from that
illustrated.
It is seen that various effects may be produced by varying the
timing and speed at which the pivoting of the turntable 20 and of
the rocker 24 take place relative to the position of the skier
along the rocker 24.
In the preferred embodiment, the movement of the turntable 20 to
its opposite position starts as soon as the carriage 26 engages the
damping device 118. At such time the movement of the turntable 20
to its opposite position starts. The motion of the carriage 26 has
been completely stopped by the time the turntable 20 reaches the
central position illustrated in FIG. 5. At about this time the
rocker 24 begins to elevate to its opposite position.
When the turntable 20 pivots to its opposite position, the skier
turns and edges his skis to point them in the opposite direction,
so as to prepare for a descent in the opposite direction.
The speed and timing of the movement of the turntable 20 and rocker
24 may be adjusted to suit. For example, a suitable needle valve
may be connected to each hydraulic cylinder 300 and 320 to adjust
the hydraulic flow. By proper adjustments "fast" or "slow" skiing
may be simulated.
From the foregoing it is seen that I have provided a skiing
simulating machine comprising a frame interconnecting a ski
structural means together with a ski pole simulating means for
permitting ski lift simulation, edging of skis, snow plowing
skiing, snow plow ski turns, stem christie skiing, ski checking,
ski sliding, flailing of ski pole simulating means, falling while
skiing, parallel skiing, parallel ski turning, wedel skiing,
stopping skiing to rest, leaning forward while skiing with weight
on forward part of a ski, leaning backward while skiing with weight
on heel, "leaning-out" so as to curve the body of the skier into a
"C". formed with the shoulder and ankles forming the outer part of
the "C," the hips being the inner part of the "C," while causing
the skis to edge with the skier's weight on the downhill ski,
shifting of the skier's weight from one ski to another, side
slipping skiing, up and down motion of skier and ski pole
simulating means, and ski pole planting on turns.
From the foregoing it is also seen that the hip plate 138 may be
considered to be pendulum-like as it hangs down from the canted
shaft 132 with two "weights," namely, the weight of the skier
pulling on it at the two shafts 150. When this weight is not evenly
balanced the plate 138 will be pivoted about the inclined bearing
134.
Further, the hip plate 138, the link 154, the link 170 and the link
184 extend cantilever-like from the shaft 132 and bearing 134 and
overhang the rocker 24 and turntable. Since the upper part 190 of
link 184 extends back toward the shaft 132, it is seen that the
weight of the skier is back of the pivotal connection between the
links 184 and 170. Thus, by edging the skis, i.e., by pivoting them
about the link portion 190 and by attempting to pivot link 184 in
its connection to link 170, a compound action of ski edging and ski
turning results. The skier, by shifting his weight from one foot to
another, actuates the hip plate 138. Further, the skier may extend
or retract the links 154 and 170, as shown.
It will also be seen that as the skis move along the rocker, the
skier in accomplishing his "turn" actually traverses a general
figure-8 trajectory. The skier never actually turns in the sense of
a full turn as he is always facing generally forward. But the
combination of pivoting of the turntable 20, pivoting of the hip
plate 138, together with the relatively flexible links 154, 170 and
184, simulates a "turn."
Further, it should be observed that I have provided a machine in
which when the carriage 26 reaches the limit of its travel, the
inertial force of the skier propels the skier beyond the
carriage.
It is seen that the swivel joint device 32 pivots about a canted
shaft 132 and that the two linkage means 34 and 36 which support
the two skis 38 and 40 are pivotally mounted on two shafts 150
disposed on opposite sides of the shaft 132 and forwardly thereof,
as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
Referring to FIGS. 20, 21 and 22, the shaft 132 is shown in the
vertical position, because the rocker 24 is assummed to be in the
horizontal position. As the rocker 24 pivots up-and-down, to the
positions CC and DD, in FIG. 7, the canted shaft 132 will not
remain vertical, but will instead change its angle with the horizon
as the rocker 24 pivots. Because of this changing angle, the
linkage means 34 and 36 would swing from the position in FIG. 17 in
the position of FIG. 19 due to the force of gravity on them, i.e.,
"a pendulum effect."
It should also be observed that the provision of the pivotal
mounting for the skis and the angled fourth link 184 results in a
compound force being applied by the skier to the linkage means 34
and 36. That is, the fourth link 184 has upper and lower parts 190
and 183, respectively, angled to each other at more than 90.degree.
but less than 180.degree., so that when the ski is edged it engages
the stop 204, FIG. 10, transmitting power from the ski to the link
184, causing link 170 to pivot. (The skier is mounted on the skis
so that his feet are above and in line with the upper part 190 of
the fourth link 184 with the ball of the feet approximately above
the juncture of the upper and lower parts.) It can be seen that the
engaging of stops 204 exerts a compound force on the total linkage.
Part of this force causes the rotation of the shaft 184 in its
bearing, and part of the force causes torsional pressure against
the third link 170, which is transmitted through stops 172 and 162
to counterbalance some of the gravitational pull on the hip plate
around shaft 132. The position of the linkage will vary, dependent
on the balance of unequal forces of torsional pressure as
counter-balanced by gravitational and centrifugal pressures as well
as inertial force. It must be appreciated that the amount of
torsional force required to balance the other forces is partially
generated by "leverage action" of the fourth link 184.
Referring to FIGS. 23 to 37, a modified form of my ski simulator is
shown. In FIG. 23, the ski simulator 10A includes a ski structural
means 12A and a ski pole simulating device 14A interconnected by a
pivotal column-like frame 16A.
The ski structural means 12A comprises a base plate 18A upon which
is pivotally mounted a turntable 20A. The turntable 20A, as shown
in FIG. 25, includes an inverted U-shaped wall 22A which supports a
shaft 105A upon which is mounted a rocker 24A.
The rocker 24A supports a carriage 26A which is movable along the
length of the rocker 24A (compare FIGS. 23, 26, 27 and 28), as the
rocker 24A is pivoted up and down about the horizontal shaft 105A.
Attached to the carriage 26A, and carried thereby, is a ski
mounting means 28A, as shown in FIGS. 23, 24, and 25.
The ski mounting means 28A includes an arm 30A which extends
laterally and to the rear of the carriage 26A to form an upwardly
inclined support 31A, as shown in FIG. 25. A swivel joint device
32A is secured to the support 31A. Pivotally connected to and
extending forwardly of the swivel joint device 32A are two movable
linkage means 34A and 36A which in turn support two skis 38A and
40A, respectively.
The ski pole simulating device 14A comprises a ring 83A to surround
the skier. While the ring 83A has been shown as completely
circular, it will be understood that it could be semi-circular or
U-shaped, the latter shape being shown in FIG. 1 of the previous
embodiment. The ring 83A has upstanding handles 86a, as shown, for
the skier to grasp.
The column-like frame 16A comprises a column 48A having a lower
portion 49A inclined rearwardly and forming approximately a right
angle with the support 31A, as shown in FIGS. 23 and 25. The column
48A further includes a vertically extending upper portion 51A which
is fixed at its upper end to the rear portion of the ring 83A. The
lower end of the portion 49A is rotatably received in a sleeve
bearing 55A, the sleeve bearing 55A being secured to the support
31A through a bracket 46A.
Fixed to the lower column portion 49A, and rotatable therewith, is
a gear 52A which mates with a gear 53A rotatable about shaft 132A,
the latter being part of the swivel joint device 32A, The gear 52A
rests upon a thrust collar 57A carried by the bearing 55A.
The shaft 132A is rigidly attached to and extends upwardly from the
support 31A, through the bracket 46A, at approximately a right
angle to the support 31A, as shown in FIG. 25. The shaft 132A
pivotally supports a hip plate 138A which pivots in an arc about
the shaft 132A, the hip plate 138A also being part of the swivel
joint device 32A. The hip plate 138A rests upon a thrust bearing or
collar 139A which in turn rests upon the upper surface of the
inverted U-shaped bracket 46A through which the shaft 132A and the
bearing 55A extend. The gear 53A is fixed to the hip plate 138A and
movable jointly with the hip plate 138A and concentric with the
shaft 132A.
Pivotally mounted on the hip plate 138A, as shown on FIGS. 23, 24
and 25, and extending forwardly of the hip plate 138A, i.e., to the
right as shown in FIG. 25, are the linkage means 34A and 36A. The
linkage means 34A and 36A are pivotally attached to opposite,
forward portions of the triangularly shaped hip plate 138A,
equispaced on opposite sides of the shaft 132A and to the front,
i.e., to the left thereof, as viewed in FIG. 24.
As in the previous embodiment, the linkage means 34A and 36A are
secured to and extend from the triangularly shaped hip plate 138A.
For brevity, only the linkage means 34A is hereinafter described,
it being understood that the linkage means 36A is similarly
constructed.
As viewed in FIGS. 25, 33 and 34, the right hand end portion of the
hip plate 138A carries a dash pot device 149A comprising a shaft
150A extending through a suitable hole in the hip plate 138A and
secured by a pin 151A to the forward part of the hip plate 138A.
The shaft 150A also extends through suitable sleeve bearings in
upper and lower arms 160A and 161A of a clevis-type link 154A. To
the lower arm 161A of the clevis-type link 154A is secured a cup
156A having a partition wall 158A dividing the interior of the cup
156A into two arcuate sections receiving compressible, arcuate
shaped elements 165A and 166A. The compressible elements 165A and
166A may be of rubber, cellular or other suitable material.
Secured to the lower end of the shaft 150A by pin 170A is a disc
172A. The disc 172A has, in turn, secured to it an upstanding
paddle 174A disposed between and engaging on its opposite sides the
compressible elements 165A and 166A. Thus, as the clevis-type link
154A pivots relative to the hip plate 138A, the paddle 174A will
tend to compress either the element 165A or the element 166A
providing a dash pot type of restraint or limitation upon the
relative movement of the link 154A relative to the hip plate
138A.
The clevis-type link 154A, at its right hand end, carries another
dash pot device 180A which includes a shaft 182A by which it is
pivotally connected to another clevis-type link 184A.
The clevis-type link 184A, at its right hand end as viewed in FIG.
25, also carries another dash pot device 190A which includes a
shaft 192A bent back, as shown in FIG. 25, to carry a still further
dash pot type device 200A to which is pivotally mounted the ski 38.
The dash pot devices 180A, 190A and 200A are all constructed
similar to the dash pot device 149A and, hence, are not described
in detail.
From the foregoing, it is seen that as the skier moves along the
length of the rocker 24A, i.e., as the carriage 26A moves along the
length of the rocker 24A, the ski pole simulating device 14A will
move along with the skier.
Further, as the skier moves up and down, as the rocker 24A pivots
up and down, the ski pole simulating device will also move up and
down.
Also, as the hip plate 138A pivots about the shaft 132A, it will
rotate the gear 53A which will rotate the gear 52A causing the
column 48A and the ring 83A to also rotate in unison with the
general motion of the hip plate 138A and the linkage means 34A and
36A extending therefrom.
Referring to FIGS. 25 to 28 in particular, the rocker 24A comprises
an elongated inverted U-shaped channel 210A having opposed walls
212A through which the shaft 105A projects to support the rocker
24A. Interior strengthening walls 213A approximately parallel and
spaced from the walls 212A, as shown in FIG. 25, may be provided
through which the shaft 105A also extends, and to provide a greater
bearing surface upon the shaft 105A.
The channel 210A is stepped, as shown in FIG. 25, to provide two
shoulders 214A on opposite sides of the rocker 24A. Seated upon
each of the shoulders 214A is an elongated rod 216A, the two rods
216A providing tracks along which the carriage 26A moves. Each rod
216A has an upper section 218A which is circular and key-like in
cross section, i.e., has an upper section which is circular in
cross section, except for the depending foot portion by which it is
secured to the shoulder 214A, such as by being welded thereto or
the like.
The carriage 26A includes a bed 219A having two marginal portions
219A formed with key-like hole-like slots for receiving in keying
relation the upper key like section 218A of the rods 216A. The arm
30A is secured to the bed 219A with suitable bolts, as shown in
FIG. 25. At opposite ends of the rods 216A, suitable stop collars
220, which may be of rubber material, are secured to the rods 216A
to limit the travel of the carriage 26A. If desired, dash pot
devices 222A may be secured to the opposite ends of the rods 216A
adjacent to the stop collars 220 so as to aid in deceleration of
the carriage.
The rocker 24A may extend for any convenient length, but I prefer
to have it approximately 8 feet in length. Along its length, at
suitable intervals, the channel 212A is strengthened by transverse
struts 224 welded or otherwise secured to the interior thereof, as
shown in FIG. 31.
The rocker 24A is pivoted up and down about the shaft 105A by a
vertical link 300A which is pivotally connected to a shaft 301
carried by supports 302A secured to the inside of the channel 210A.
The link 300A is part of a linear hydraulic motor 304A which when
suitably supplied with pressurized hydraulic fluid will extend
upwardly or retract downwardly the link 300A to push up or pull
down the rocker 24A. The linear motor 304A is secured to the
interior of the turntable 20A by arms 306A, FIGS. 31 and 32, and
rotatable therewith, the link 300A extending from the turntable 20A
through a suitable opening therein.
Referring to FIGS. 31 and 32, the turntable 20A pivots back and
forth about a vertical shaft 310A upon which is mounted (and
rotatable therewith) a gear 312A. The vertical shaft 310A is
secured to a suitable bearing 314A which is in turn secured to a
plate 320A. Secured to the plate 320A is a rotary hydraulic motor
322A which has a shaft carrying a gear 324A mating with the gear
312A. When the rotary motor 322A is suitably supplied with
pressurized hydraulic fluid it rotates back and forth and in so
doing it rotates back and forth the turntable 20A about the
vertical shaft 310A.
The turntable 20A further comprises a pyramid-like cover 326A
having opposed deck segments 60A. The cover 326A overlies the
aforementioned linear motor 304A and gears 322A and 324A and
includes a peripheral, upturned flange 330A housing a plurality of
wheels 332A suitably carried on shafts 333A supported by inverted
U-shaped legs 334A. The wheels 332A rest on a circular frame 338A
forming part of the base 18A and secured to the plate 320A by
radial braces 321A.
Two annular wells 336A are thus formed by the upturned flange 330A,
the sloping portions 337A and the vertical walls 361A, FIGS. 31 and
32, into and out of which opposite end portions of the rocker 24A
move as the opposite rocker ends are raised and lowered.
Also, leveling feet 342A may be secured by suitable threaded studs
to the outer extremities of the braces 321A, as shown in FIGS. 31
and 32.
As shown in FIGS. 23, 24 and 31, a circular, annular guard 343A
surrounds the turntable 20A. As shown in FIG. 31, the guard is
quarter-round in cross-section and may be fabricated of fiberglas
plastic material or any other suitable material. The guard 343A is
attached at its lower, inner section to the circular frame 338A.
The guard 343A is slightly spaced from the upturned flange 330A and
the deck segments 60A to permit free movement of the turntable 20A
relative to the stationary guard.
Preferably the guard 343A and the rest of the base is slightly
above the floor level, the entire unit being supported upon the
leveling feet 342A, as shown. Further, it is preferred that the
guard 343A be constructed in arcuate segments, as shown in FIG. 32,
and assembled with suitable fasteners.
OPERATION OF THE SKI SIMULATOR OF FIGS. 23 TO 37
The ski simulator 10A shown in FIGS. 23 to 37 is controlled by an
electrical system shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 36 and 37, FIG.
37 being a continuation of FIG. 36.
The ski simulator 10A has three modes of operation. The first mode
(or position 1 of selector switch SS) is the manual mode in which
the simulator is taken through each step of its cycle by manually
depressing and closing test push button PB7, the second mode (or
position 2 of selector switch SS) is the continuously automatic
repetition of the cycle of the simulator as long as push button PB3
is held depressed and closed, and the third mode is the automatic
completion of only one cycle accomplished while push button PB3 is
held depressed and closed.
SUMMARY OF THE CONTROL SYSTEM
The control system shown in FIGS. 36 and 37 comprises a programmed
stepper unit SU which automatically sequences a plurality of load
circuits through various steps, in accordance with a predetermined
program, as hereinafter described. The stepper unit SU comprises
eight cam wheels (not shown) which are programmed to open or close
light switches which they control, the switch being designated SW1,
SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, SW6, SW7 and SW12 in FIGS. 36 and 37. As
hereinafter described, each cam wheel indexes through seven steps.
In each step, certain of the light switches are closed and others
are open, depending on the cam program.
The control system further includes a plurality of limit switches
responsive to the position of the turntable 20A, the rocker 24A and
the carriage 26A, the limit switches being designated LS1 through
LS12 in FIGS. 36 and 37.
The linear hydraulic motor 304A and the rotary hydraulic motor 322A
are supplied with pressurized fluid from a pump 504A driven by an
electric motor 502A (shown diagrammatically in FIG. 23). The supply
of pressurized fluid to the motors 304A and 322A is controlled by a
plurality of solenoid valves, designated SOL1 to SOL4, as
hereinafter described.
The mode of operation of the ski simulator is selected by operating
the selector switch SS. The selector switch SS has a handle movable
to three positions corresponding to the three modes of
operation.
Power to the motor 502A, preferably 230 volts, 60 cycles, is
available through lines AH and BH which are interrupted by a main
disconnect switch 514A.
A transformer 520A is connected to lines AH and BH by lines AV and
BV to provide 120 volt power at lines CH and DH. Connected to lines
CH and DH are lines 5V and 2V, respectively, as shown in FIG. 36.
To close the circuit to the motor starter MS is provided in line
2H. When the motor starter MS is actuated (assuming switch 514A to
be closed and safety push button switch PB1 to be closed also),
switch MS-A will close (in line 5V between lines 214 and 4H) and
switches MS-B and MS-C will close (in lines AH and BH,
respectively).
Assuming that switches 514A and PB1 have been closed, and the motor
starter MS actuated to energize the motor 502A, if the selector
switch SS is moved to position 2 the circuit will be in condition
to initiate automatic operation when push button PB3 (which is
carried by the ring 83A) is depressed (i.e., closed) and held
depressed. Push button PB3 is spring loaded to open its contacts
when not held depressed.
As shown in FIG. 37, the push button PB3 is in line 47H and is
connected to lines 45V and 50. Further, lines 45V and 50V are
preferably connected to opposite sides of the secondary of a step
down transformer which reduces the voltage from 120 volts to 24
volts, 60 cycles.
For convenience, the reference point known as the "home" position
is taken to be the position in which the rocker 24A is
approximately horizontal and the turntable 20A is extending
diagonally from the 1:30 o'clock position to the 7:30 o'clock
position looking down upon the turntable. In this "home" position
the carriage 26A is at the left hand end of the rocker, as viewed
from the front. The "home" position is also the first step position
of the stepper unit SU, hereinafter referred to as step 1.
Operation of the ski simulator in the automatic mode, position 2 of
selector switch SS, in which the machine will continuously repeat
its cycle as long as push button PB3 is held depressed, will now be
briefly described.
When the cycle starts, the turntable 20A rotates clockwise from its
home position and transports the carriage 26A to a rearward
position, viewed from the front, FIG. 23. As the turntable 20A
rotates clockwise, the rocker 24A starts to pivot and raises the
left hand end of the rocker. The turntable 20A may or may not have
reached the end of its clockwise motion when the rocker 24A has
been lifted its maximum amount. The carriage 26A has been lifted by
the rocker 24A and eventually the force of gravity on the carriage
26A produces a force downwardly on the carriage which overcomes the
frictional force and the centrifugal force on the carriage, and the
carriage starts moving down along the rocker. While the carriage is
moving down along the rocker, the rocker is returned to its
horizontal position, but the momentum of the carriage 26A carries
it to the end of the rocker.
subsequently, the rocker is rotated about its vertical axis counter
clockwise and the right hand end of the rocker is lifted, whereupon
the carriage descends, from right to left, back toward its home
position.
AUTOMATIC MODE -- SELECTOR SWITCH SS IN POSITION 2
The ski simulator is initially in its home position, the switches
514A and PB1 are closed, and the motor starter MS is actuated to
energize the motor 502A, and the selector switch SS is in position
2, the stepper unit SU will now be in step 1. FIGS. 36 and 37 shown
the diagram corresponding to this home position or step 1 of the
stepper unit SU.
The skier may then mount the simulator at this time, for example,
and be secured to the carriage 26A. To commence the operation, the
skier will depress and hold depressed the push button PB3. At such
time the stepper unit SU will move to step 2.
Preferably the push button PB3 is spring biased to its contacts
open position and is mounted on the right hand (as viewed in FIG.
23) handle 86A, carried by the ring 83A, in a position to be
depressed by the thumb of the skier.
When the skier presses push button PB3, energizing control relay
CR1, the control relay CR1 actuates two switches CRS1-A, located in
line 5H, and CRS1-B in line 7H.
In the home position (in which the rocker 24A is level) the
turntable cam C1 is depressing the limit switch LS1, i.e., the
limit switch LS1 is being held actuated by cam C1. The limit switch
LS1 is a two pole mechanically interconnected switch and at this
time its first pole, limit switch LS1-A, is open (in line 31H) and
its second pole, limit switch LS1-B, is closed (in line 8H). Limit
switch LS1-A is normally closed but in the home position it is held
open by cam C1. likewise, limit switch LS1-B is normally open, but
it is held closed by cam C1 in the home position.
In the home position, the cam C1 (which is carried by the rocker
24A) is engaging and actuating the limit switch LS10. The limit
switch LS10 is also a two pole switch, having limit switch poles
LS10-A and LS10-B, mechanically interconnected for joint movement.
At this time, limit switch LS10-A is closed and limit switch LS10-B
is open. Since limit switch LS10-A is closed, the control relay CR2
is now energized. Since control relay CR2 is energized, the
switched CRS2 in line 8H is now closed. At this time, since both
latching relays 2LR and 1LR are in line 8H and both are closed, the
stepper motor rotates to step 2.
As soon as the skier depresses push button PB3, the turntable
rotates clockwise, the cam C1 releasing limit switch LS1 at which
time the contacts of limit switch LS1-A close and the contacts of
limit switch LS1-B open. As soon as the push button PB3 is closed
and the control relay CR1 is energized, the normally open switch
CRS1-B in line 7H is closed. The closing of switch CRS1-B in line
7H supplies power to vertical line 6V and the circuits connected to
it and line 2V.
Referring to line 30H, it is seen that in step 2, the contacts AC
of switch SW3 are closed, and since limit switch LS2 is closed at
this time, solenoid SOL3 is energized, opening a hydraulic valve to
supply pressurized fluid to the rotary hydraulic motor 322A. The
rotary hydraulic motor 322A will rotate the turntable 20A clockwise
at this time. During this initial rotation, the cam C10 remains in
engagement with limit switch LS10. As the turntable 20A rotates
clockwise, the cam C3 (carried by the turntable) engages the limit
switch LS3. The turntable continues to rotate clockwise until the
cam C2 actuates the limit switch LS2.
However, when the cam C3 engaged limit switch LS3, the limit switch
LS3 was closed, energizing the motor SUM of stepper unit SU which
rotates or indexes to step 3. Even though the turntable 20A is
still being rotated by the rotary motor 322A at this time, as soon
as the limit switch LS3 is actuated, the stepper motor SUM is
energized, the stepper unit goes to step 4, and the necessary
circuit is closed to supply hydraulic power to the linear motor
304A which then starts to lift the rocker 24A while the carriage is
still rotating.
As soon as the stepper unit motor SUM went to step 3, the contacts
AC of switch SW2 closed, and since the contacts of limit switch LS7
are normally closed, as shown, the solenoid SOL1 is energized,
opening its hydraulic valve, and supplying pressurized fluid to the
linear motor which extends its link and raises the rocker. At this
point in time, the turntable is still rotating and the left hand
portion of the rocker is being lifted.
It should be noted that after the left hand part of the rocker has
lifted sufficiently, the cam C10 is disengaged from the limit
switch LS10. At this time, limit switch LS10-B opens and limit
switch LS10-A closes. The opening of limit switch LS10-B
deenergizes the coil of control relay CR2, causing switch CRS2-A in
line 8H to open and switch CRS2-B in line 15H to close. Even though
limit switch LS10-A is now closed, no circuit is completed by it,
because contacts AC of switch SW4 are by now in step 4, i.e., open
across its contacts AC. Note that limit switch LS10-A remains
closed so that when switch SW4 is advanced to step 7 in which its
contacts AC will be closed, a circuit will then be completed to
solenoid SOL1.
Rotation of the turntable 20A ceases at about the time the rocker
24A reaches its maximum lift. The rotary motion of the turntable
20A is stopped when the cam C2 engages the normally closed limit
switch LS2 and opens limit switch LS2, in line 30H, the stepper
unit SU being still in step 3. Step 3 ends when limit switch LS5 is
actuated, indexing the stepper unit motor SUM to step 4.
In step 3 several things are happening at the same time. The
rotation of the turntable 20A which started in step 2 is continuing
in step 3. The rocker 24A is lifting and after the rocker 24A has
lifted the carriage 26A to the height where the force of gravity
down on the carriage 26A exceeds the centrifugal force outwardly on
the carriage 26A and the friction force on the carriage 26A, the
carriage 26A then starts to descend the rocker 24A.
After the carriage 26A drops sufficiently, it actuates limit switch
LS5, which advances the stepper unit SU to step 4. In step 4, the
rocker 24A will return to the horizontal or level position. When
stepper unit SU moves to step 4, the contacts AC of switch SW6 will
close, see line 26H. Since the prior actuation of limit switch LS7
had closed the contacts of limit switch LS7B, the latch coil of
relay 2LR was energized and it closed the switch 2LRS in line 26H.
Since limit switch LS9A is normally closed, a current path to
solenoid SOL2 is now completed. The energization of solenoid SOL2
opens the valve it controls to supply pressurized fluid to the
linear motor 304A in the direction to retract its link 300A.
Retraction of the (linear motor) link 300A will cause the rocker
24A to move to the level (horizontal) position.
As shown in FIGS. 26 through 30, the cams C7, C8, C9 and C10 are
carried by a bracket 79A suitably fixed to the rocker 24A. The cams
C7, C8, C9 and C10 are each provided with an elongated slot, as
shown, receiving elongated blocks 78A to which they are secured by
suitable screws 77A. The cams C7, C8, C9 and C10 each have a
sloping cam surface 76A whose position may be adjusted up-and-down
relative to the limit switches LS7, LS8, LS9 and LS10, the latter
being fixed to another bracket 80A which is in turn carried by the
turntable 20A.
Movement of the rocker 24A to the level position eventually causes
cam C9 to actuate limit switch LS9. Actuation of limit switch LS9
opens the normally closed limit switch LS9, in line 29H, and closes
the normally open limit switch LS9B, in line 27H, energizing relay
coil CR3, in line 27H, closing switches CRS3-A and CRS3-B, in lines
12 and 9H-2, respectively.
The carriage 26A however continues its downward movement, due to
its own momentum, toward the right hand end of the rocker 24A, even
though the rocker has returned to its horizontal position. In
moving to the end of the rocker, the carriage actuates limit switch
LS11. Since the contacts of switch CRS3 were already closed (line
12H), when limit switch LS11 is closed, the stepper unit motor SUM
now advances to step 5.
As illustrated in FIGS. 26, 27 and 28, the carriage 26A has
surfaces 70A and 71A which engage the limit switches LS5, LS6, LS11
and LS12 as the carriage 26A moves from one end of the rocker 24A
to the other end. As shown in FIG. 29, the limit switch LS11 is
slidably mounted on a rod 74A, the latter being secured to the
rocker 24A. The limit switch LS11 is secured to the rod 74A by a
set screw 75A, but the position of the limit switch LS11 may be
adjusted along the length of the rod 74A, as required. The limit
switches LS5, LS6 and LS12 are likewise adjustably mounted on the
rod 74A.
In step 5, the contacts AB of switch SW3 are closed. However, when
the cam C1 released limit switch LS1-A (when the stepper unit moved
from the home position to position 2), the limit switch LS1-A
closed (it is a normally closed switch), and the circuit is now
closed to solenoid SOL4. Solenoid SOL4 opens a valve to supply high
pressure fluid to the rotary motor 322A to rotate the turntable 20A
counterclockwise. The turntable 20A rotates until cam C4 actuates
the limit switch LS4 to advance the stepper unit SU to step 6, but
the turntable 20A continues to rotate.
In step 6, the linear motor is retracted fully. The switch SW5 is
closed across contacts AC completing the circuit through limit
switch LS8 and solenoid SOL2 to retract the link 300A of the linear
motor 304A.
Rotation of the turntable 20A counterclockwise terminates when the
limit switch LS1 is actuated by cam C1 opening switch LS1-A in line
31H. Retraction is stopped through limit switch LS8 when the cam C8
engages the limit switch LS8 (in line 25H) and closes limit switch
LS8B (in line 29H) to energize the unlatching coil of relay 2LR and
restoring the contacts of switch 2LRS to the initial condition,
i.e., the condition shown in FIGS. 36 and 37.
When the carriage 26A is raised sufficiently it starts downhill and
engages the limit switch LS6, advancing the stepper unit motor SUM
to step 7. The carriage 26A, as described previously, will descend
when the force of gravity tending to move it down overcomes the
centrifugal force and the frictional force. In step 7, the linear
motor 304A is energized to return the rocker 24A to the horizontal
position.
When the rocker 24A returns to the horizontal position, the cam C10
actuates the limit switch LS10-B energizing the coil of control
relay CR2. The switch CRS2, in line 15H, closes in preparation to
advance to the home position where the cam C12 will actuate the
limit switch LS12. The closing of the limit switch LS12 will
advance the stepper unit motor SUM to its initial step 1 and the
simulator is back in its home position.
The cycle will then automatically repeat, so long as push button
PB3 is still maintained depressed, i.e., colsed so as to maintain
the coil of control relay CR1 energized and its switch CRS1-B (line
7H) closed (while switch CRS1-A, line 5H, is now open).
During any step of the cycle, if the push button PB3 is released,
the cycle will stop, except that if the rocker 24A is in a raised
position, the linear motor 304A will return it to its horizontal
(level) position. To accomplish this return at such time, switch
SW7 is provided and its contacts AC are closed in steps 3, 4, 6 and
7 only. Therefore, if in steps 3, 4, 6 and 7, the push button PB3
is released, causing the coil of control relay CR1 to be
deenergized, the contacts of switch CRS1 (in line 7H) will open,
and power will be supplied to either solenoid SOL1 or SOL2
(depending on the part of the cycle at the time from line 5V
through the switch SS-C (in line 9H) which is closed in position 2
(and also closed in position 3, as described hereinafter) of the
selector switch SS.
In addition to switch SS-C in line 9H there is in series with it
another switch PB6-B mechanically interconnected with the home
stepper push button switch PB6-A in line 6H. Switch SS-C is
mechanically interconnected to selector switch SS. When the
selector switch SS is in the automatic position, i.e., position 2,
the switch SS-C is closed. When the push button PB6-A is open,
switch PB6-B is automatically closed.
AUTOMATIC OPERATION OF ONE CYCLE ONLY SELECTOR SWITCH POSITION
3
If it is desired to automatically complete only one cycle of the
simulator and then to stop the machine (even though the push button
PB3 is held closed by the skier), the selector switch SS is moved
to position 3. The primary elements for performing this function
are switch SS-D, switch SW1 and the latching relay 1LR.
Movement of the selector switch SS to position 3 will open switches
SS-A (in line 5H) and SS-E (in line 21H) while simultaneously
closing switches SS-B (in line 8H), SS-C (in line 9H), and SS-D (in
line 20H), since the five switches SS-A, SS-B, SS-C, SS-D and SS-E
are mechanically interconnected to jointly open and close, as
indicated, when the selector switch is moved from one position to
another.
Thus, when the machine returns to the home position (step 1) it
will close limti switch LS1-A energizing the coil of control relay
CR2 (in line 24H) opening the contacts of switch CRS2-A (in line
8H), whereby the circuit to the stepper unit motor SUM is open and
the stepper unit cannot advance to step 2, the cycle thus
terminating. In the automatic mode (position 2 of the selector
switch SS) the circuit is closed to the stepper unit SU through a
circuit, in line 8H, which includes closed switch CRS2-A (since the
limit switch LS10-B is closed energizing the coil of the control
relay CR2 (in line 24H).
MANUAL TEST OPERATION -- SELECTOR SS IN POSITION 1
When the selector switch SS is in position 1, the circuit to the
stepper unit motor SUM is open because the switch SS-B (in line 8)
is now open.
In the manual test operation mode, electrical power is supplied to
the stepper unit motor SUM through push button PB5 and switch SS-A
(in line 5) and through the normally closed switch (CRS1 (in line
5).
That is, the stepping now is signaled by depressing and closing the
push button PB5 instead of through the limit switch LS3 (in line
10), for example.
To test the machine, the push button PB5 is depressed and then
released. The manual closing of PB5 supplies power to the stepper
unit motor SUM which advances to the next step. Assuming that at
the time button PB5 is manually closed that the machine is in the
home position (step 1), it will then step to step 2. Subsequently,
when test push button PB7 (mounted on the panel of cabinet 505A,
remote from the turntable), the machine will perform the function
called for in step 2. That is, the closing of push button PB7
energizes the coil CR1-A (in line 5H). Once the switch CRS1-B (in
line 7H) is closed, electrical power is supplied to the wire 6V and
anything connected to it. So depending on whatever the step the
machine is in, the step will be performed and the machine will then
stop. To repeat, depress and release push button PB5 and then
depress test push button PB7.
RETURN OF SKI SIMULATOR TO HOME POSITION PUSH BUTTON PB6
To "home" the machine at any time during the cycle, place the
selector switch SS in position 1, then depress the push button PB6
and hold it depressed. The stepper motor SUM will rotate
automatically and stop in the home position, i.e., step 1, and this
may be indicated by illumination of a green light provided in line
6H. But the machine stops at whatever position it was in at the
time the push button PB6 was pressed or at the time the selector
switch SS was turned to position 1. To return the machine to the
home position, depress the test button PB7 and hold it closed. The
machine will then go through whatever steps are required to return
it to the home position.
STEPPER SEQUENCE AND SWITCHES
The stepper unit SU sequence or program may be summarized relative
to the light switches SW1, SW2, SW3, SW4, SW5, SW6, SW7 and SW12 in
tabular form as noted hereinafter. Each of these switches has a
common contact, designated by the letter "A," and two additional
contacts designated "B" and "C." In the program table which
follows, only the contact "B" or "C" which is closed during the
particular step is enumerated. Thus, in step 2, i.e., during
clockwise rotation of the turntable away from the home position,
switches SW1 and SW3 are closed across contacts AC, all of the
other switches being closed across contacts AB.
__________________________________________________________________________
Program Table
__________________________________________________________________________
Switch 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 12 Line (20H) (22H) (30H) (23H) (25H) (26H)
(9H) (6H) Step 1 B B B C B C B C Step 2 C B C B B B B B Step 3 C C
C B B B C B Step 4 C B C B B C C B Step 5 C B B B B C B B Step 6 C
B B B C B C B Step 7 C B B C B B C B
__________________________________________________________________________
The stepper unit which has been used in this ski simulator is sold
by the Automatic Timing & Controls Co., of King of Prussia,
Pennsylvania, and is designated as Controller Series 1800. The
stepper unit is provided with a plurality of cam wheels each
controlling a switch. In the stepper unit actually used each cam
wheel is capable of 20 steps but only seven steps are presently
used. In each cam wheel, steps 1 to 7 are used, steps 8, 9 and 10
are rotated through without being used, and steps 11 to 17 repeat
the cycle of steps 1 to 7, and then steps 18, 19 and 20 are rotated
through without being used. It will be understood that other
arrangements could be provided to program this machine to perform
sequentially the operations which I have described.
The various contacts closed and open positions of the five
mechanically interconnected switches SS-A, SS-B, SS-C, SS-D and
SS-E may also be tabulated as follows. In the table, the manual
mode is designated by the vertical column headed P1, the repeating
automatic mode column P2, and the one cycle automatic mode as
column P3.
______________________________________ Selector Switch Modes P1 P2
P3 ______________________________________ Switch SS-A Closed Open
Open Switch SS-B Open Closed Closed Switch SS-C Open Closed Closed
Switch SS-D Open Open Closed Switch SS-E Closed Closed Open
______________________________________
From the foregoing it is seen that when the switch SW1 is closed
across the contacts AC, in steps 2 through 7, inclusive, the coil L
of the latching relay 1LR (in line 20H) will be energized. Thus,
when the selector switch SS is in the mode to automatically perform
one cycle only, position P3 of the selector switch SS, the switch
1LRS, in line 8H, will be open, preventing the stepper unit motor
SUM from advancing to step 2. The unlatching coil UL, in line 21,
is energized when the selector switch SS is in positions P1 or P2,
at which time the switch SS-E is closed to unlatch the switch 1LRS
and permit it to return to its normally closed contacts position,
the position shown in FIG. 36.
Further, it should be noted that the relay 2LR similarly has a
latching coil L, in line 28H, and an unlatching coil UL, in line
29H. When the limit switch LS7-B is closed (line 2H) the coil L of
relay 2LR is energized latching the switch 2LRS-A (line 8H) in the
closed position, but since switch 2LRS-A is mechanically
interconnected to switch 2LRS-B, in line 9H-1, the switch 2LRS-B is
open at such time. Similarly, the switch 2LRS-C, in line 23, is
closed while the switch 2LRS-D is open at such time.
The coil UL, in liine 29, is energized upon the closing of the
limit switch LS8-B, the switches LS8-A and LS8-B being mechanically
interconnected for joint movement, as shown by the dotted line in
FIG. 37.
The switich CRS3-B, in line 9H-2, is closed when the coil CR3 is
energized upon the closing of the limit switch LS9-B, it being
understood that the limit switches LS9-A and LS9-B are mechanically
interconnected for joint movement, as shown by the dotted line in
FIG. 37.
Thus, with the closing of the switches CRS3-B and 2LRS-B, in line
9H-2, a circuit is completed around switches CRS2-A and 2LRS-A, in
line 8H, to alternately complete the circuit to the stepper motor
SUM when either the switch CRS2-A or the switch 2LRS-A is open.
Thus, it is seen that when the circuit to the stepper motor SUM is
completed through line 8H, the motor SUM will index and the running
terminal R will move from terminal S1 to terminal S2 and remain
there until limit switch LS3 is closed. When limit switch LS3 is
closed, the motor SUM is energized stepping the running terminal R
from terminal S2 to terminal S3. This stepping movement of the
running terminal R takes place sequentially until terminals S4, S5,
S6 and S7 are all traversed whereupon on the closing of switches
LS12 and CRS2-B, the running terminal R is returned to its initial
step, step S1.
As shown in FIG. 36, the running terminal R is connected by line 7C
to the switch SW12 at terminal B thereof and the motor SUM is
connected by lines 7HA and 7HB to the terminal B of switch SW12 and
the vertical line 2V, respectively.
I prefer to provide the turntable 20A with two arcuate shaped decks
60A, best illustrated in FIG. 23, the decks rotating as part of the
turntable 20A and providing approximately horizontal surfaces
useful in mounting the machine. The outer peripheral poprtions of
the decks closely but slidable mate with the quarterround guard
343A.
If the cams are adjusted relative to the limit switches so that the
pivoting of the turntable starts before the carriage reaches the
end of the rocker, and if the rocker starts to lift before the
rotation of the turntable reaches the end or limit of its rotation,
the traverse pattern of the carriage will be in the nature of a
graceful "figure-8." Otherwise, if each movement of the turntable
and rocker takes place at the end of the previous movement, the
trajectory of the carriage will have sharp corners and be in the
nature of two equilateral triangles joined at their apexes. Thus,
with proper adjustment of the cams the trajectory of the carriage
is made to follow a path defined by two circumocular-like shapes
with the two shapes being joined along their longitudinal axes.
Referring to FIGS. 32, 35 and 35A, the cams C1, C2, C3 and C4 for
actuating the limit switches LS1, LS2, LS3 and LS4, respectively,
are shown. The cams C1, C2, C3 and C4 are in the form of blocks
secured by suitable screws to an arcuate segment 370A. The arcuate
segment 370A has arcuate grooves in it to permit angular adjustment
of the cams C1, C2, C3 and C4.
The arcuate segment 370A is secured to the turntable 20A and is
rotatable therewith, the segment 370A being secured to a depending
bracket 371A, FIG. 31, of the turntable 20A.
It will be noted that the limits of rotation of the turntable 20A
are established by the positions of the limit switches LS1 and LS2
and the cams C1 and C2. By adjusting the positions of cams C1 and
C2 on the segment 370A these limits of rotation may be varied.
The point in the cycle at whih the rocker 24A is lifted is
determined by the limit switches LS3 and LS4 and these points may
be varied by adjusting the cams C3 and C4.
To help decelerate the carriage, the limit switches LS5 and LS6
signal the end of the rocker opposite to the carriage to left. The
point in the cycle where this lifting starts may be adjusted by
moving limit switches LS5 and LS6 along the rod 74A.
To signal the end of the extension limit or the retraction limit of
the stroke of the linear motor, limit switches LS7 and LS8 are
provided. By adjusting cams C7 and C8 the limit of the
corresponding stroke may be adjusted. (This extent of the
inclination of the slope for the carriage while travelling
downhill).
The stroke of the linear motor in the direction of movement
opposite to that direction controlled by switches LS7 and LS8 is
controlled by switches LS9 and LS10 whose limit of stroke may be
varied by similarly adjusting cams C9 and C10. (This establishes
the degree of incline during the runout or deceleration of the
carriage.)
To signal the beginning of the clockwise or counterclockwise
rotation of the turntable, limit switches LS11 and LS12 are engaged
by the carriage. Likewise, by adjusting the position of these
switches, the point in time for beginning the rotation may be
varied.
It will be seen that the cams C1, C2, C3, C4, C7, C8, C9 and C10
may be so mounted as to be adjusted from a remote location by a
suitable drive means which would move the cam to predetermined,
adjustable positions as determined by a predetermined program.
Likewise, the limit switches LS5, LS6, LS11 and LS12 may be
remotely adjustable (by suitable means) along the rod 74A. The
predetermined programs would be keyed to the skills of novice,
intermediate or expert skiers.
While I have described my invention, as embodied in the embodiments
of FIGS. 1 to 39, as including a turntable which rotates back and
forth about a vertical axis, it will be understood that my
invention includes an embodiment in which the turntable remains in
a fixed position, i.e., without moving back and forth, in which
case only the rocker would move up and down. While the simulation
would not be as complete, if only the rocker moved up and down,
some skiing simulation could still take place.
Referring to FIG. 38, a further modification is illustrated, in
which the horizontal ring 83AB is secured to an inclined shaft
63AB. The shaft 63AB is received within a tube 60AB which is fixed
to an upper column 49AB, the column 49AB being fixed to the lower
column 48AB by a rigid coupling 50AB. As shown, the members 48AB,
49AB and 50AB may be threaded together and jointly take the place
of the upper column portion 51A shown in FIGS. 23 and 25.
The tube 60AB carries bearings 61AB and 65AB through which the
shaft 63AB extends, as shown in FIG. 38. The shaft 63AB also
includes a collar 62AB resting against the bearing 61AB, the ring
83AB being preferably welded to the collar 62AB, as shown.
Further, the lower left hand end of the shaft 63AB extends into a
dash pot device 66AB, similar to the dash pot devices previously
described, the dash pot device 66AB being fixed to the tube 60AB.
Thus, any pivoting movement of the ring 83AB is transferred to the
shaft 63AB and the shaft 63AB is restrained from rotation by the
dash pot device 66AB.
As the ring 83AB pivots relative to the column 48AB (within the
limits of rotation defined by the dash pot device 66AB), the skier,
who is holding on to handles (not shown) secured to the ring 83AB
will elevate one shoulder while lowering his other shoulder and
simultaneously rotate his torso to better accomplish skiing
maneuvers.
As shown in FIG. 23, it is preferred that the push button PB3 be
built into one of the handles 86A to be operated by the thumb of
the skier. All of the other indicated push buttons and switches
which are to be manually operated, such as push buttons PB1, PB2,
PB5, PB6 and the selector switch SS are preferably mounted on a
control panel of cabinet 505A.
Referring to FIGS. 39 and 40, a further embodiment of my invention
is illustrated. In FIGS. 39 and 40 the skiing simulator 10B
includes a ski structural means 12B and a ski pole simulating
device 14B.
The ski structural means 12B includes a base 13B having a
downwardly and inwardly extending flange 15B forming a circular
raceway 24B.
A turntable 20B includes wheel devices 22B resting upon the raceway
24B. The turntable 20B is rotatably supported upon the raceway 24B
for pivotal movement up and down preferably between the limits
defined by the lines A--A and B--B in FIG. 39. The raceway 24B lies
in a plane which is inclined to a horizontal plane, as illustrated
in FIG. 40.
The turntable 20B includes a track device formed by rods 36B and
38B along which a carriage 50B is movable, suitable stops 40B and
42B being provided at opposite ends of the rods 36B and 38B.
The turntable 20B is pivoted about an axis, defined by the shaft
28B which is approximately at a right angle to the inclined plane
of the raceway 24B. Rotatable with the shaft 28B and carried
thereby is a gear 34B which mates with another gear 32B, the latter
being driven by a suitable motor 30B. The shaft 28B may be suitably
supported in a bearing 26B, the bearing 26B and the motor 30B being
suitably fixed to the base 13B.
The ski pole simulating means 12B is secured to the carriage 50B,
as in the embodiment of FIGS. 23 to 37. Further, the carriage 50B
supports a swivel joint device 51B similar to that illustrated in
FIGS. 23 to 37. Likewise, linkage means 56B and 58B are pivotally
connected to the swivel joint device 51B and skis 52B and 54B are
pivotally connected to the linkage means 56B and 58B,
respectively.
In FIG. 39, the turntable 20B has been rotated to a position where
the rods 36B and 38B are approximately vertically oriented. This
has been done for illustrative purposes. It is preferred that
rotation of the turntable 20B be limited so that its rotation will
be only between the axes A--A and B--B shown in FIG. 39.
The skiing simulator 10B shown in FIGS. 39 and 40 may be provided
with a control system similar to that described in connection with
FIGS. 23 to 38.
In operation, assuming the initial position of the turntable 20B is
such that the rods 36B and 38B are parallel to the axis A--A in
FIG. 39 and that the carriage 50B is down at the lower left hand
portion of the simulator, when viewed as in FIG. 39, the rotation
of the motor 30B will lift the carriage 50B up the inclined plane
(while it is also moving outwardly) until the force of gravity
downward upon the carriage exceeds the combined outward centrifugal
force and the frictional resistance of the carriage, whereupon the
carriage moves down approximately along the axis B--B to the lower,
right hand portion of the simulator as viewed in FIG. 39.
Thereafter, the rotation of the turntable is reversed and the
carriage is elevated up the inclined plane (while it is also moving
outwardly) until the force relation is such that it starts to
travel in the opposite direction, i.e., toward its initial
position.
Further, it is proposed that an air safety bag device (not
illustrated) could be added to the ski pole simulating means. The
air safety bag device would be triggered by the skier to envelope
the skier in a safety cushion, should he lose his balance, to
prevent injury to the skier. In the embodiment of FIGS. 23 to 39,
the air safety bag would be carried by the ring 83A.
Also, while my invention has been described as using motors of the
hydraulic type to power the rockers and the turntables, it is seen
that an all electrical system could be provided.
While the movement of the carriages has been shown along a straing
line, i.e., the track provided by the rods 216A and 218A in FIG. 23
is a "straight line" track, this track could be bowed, so as to be
concave when viewed in a view taken such as FIG. 31 is taken. If
the track is so bowed an additional complexity is introduced into
the ski simulation.
* * * * *