Flywheel magnetic control resistance apparatus for indoor exercise facilities

Abstract

A flywheel magnetic control resistance apparatus for indoor exercise facilities includes a flywheel and a holding dock located on the periphery of the flywheel with a plurality of permanent magnets and electromagnets laid thereon alternately. The holding dock is formed in an arched shape outside the periphery of the flywheel and concentric with the flywheel. The electromagnets are connected to a power supply to allow the coils winding thereon to generate magnetic attraction forces. The current on the electromagnets is alterable to change the magnetic attraction forces between the permanent magnets and the electromagnets. Thereby the vortex resistance of the flywheel can be changed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an indoor exercise facility and particularly to a magnetic control resistance apparatus for flywheels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional indoor exercise facility (such as a treadmill) usually uses a magnetic control resistance apparatus to control the treading resistance. Referring to FIG. 1, such an apparatus generally includes a flywheel 1 with the surface made of aluminum or copper. There is a holding dock 2 on the periphery of the flywheel 1. The holding dock 2 is coupled with a motor 4 through a steel cable 3. The holding dock 2 further has a plurality of magnets 5 arranged to correspond to the direction of the flywheel 1. The magnets 5 are permanent magnets and have N poles and S poles laid alternately to generate a magnetic force against the flywheel 1 to produce vortex resistance. As people who do exercises differ in physical strength depending on gender and age, those who have a greater physical strength want a greater rotational resistance on the flywheel 1 to train their foot power and body stamina, while the people who have a lower physical strength would prefer a smaller rotational resistance on the flywheel 1.

Adjusting the rotational vortex resistance of the flywheel 1 is done by pulling the holding dock 2 forwards or backwards by the motor 4 through the steel cable 3. Namely the holding dock 2 has to be moved closer to the periphery of the flywheel 1 to increase the rotational resistance of the flywheel 1. On the other hand, to reduce the magnetic resistance of the flywheel 1 to make rotation smoother, the holding dock 2 has to be moved away from the flywheel 1 at a greater distance to reduce the vortex resistance.

In other words, the conventional magnetic control resistance apparatus alters the vortex resistance of the rotating flywheel 1 during rotation by moving the holding dock 2 via the motor 4 to adjust the distance between the holding dock 2 and the flywheel 1. Such an approach requires a complicated structure and is troublesome during adjustment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforesaid problems, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a flywheel magnetic control resistance apparatus for indoor exercise facilities that includes a flywheel and a holding dock located on the periphery of the flywheel. The holding dock has a plurality of permanent magnets and electromagnets located thereon alternately. The holding dock is formed in an arched shape and concentric with the flywheel. The electromagnets are connected to a power supply, and the current flowing through the electromagnets is alterable to change the magnetic attraction force between the electromagnets and the permanent magnets, thereby the vortex resistance of the flywheel can be changed. The structure is simpler. Adjustment is easier. And production cost also can be reduced.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a flywheel magnetic control resistance apparatus of a conventional exercise facility.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plane view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the invention for adjusting the current I of the electromagnets.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the invention for adjusting the number of the electromagnets

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plane view of the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 2 and 3 for a first embodiment of the flywheel magnetic control resistance apparatus for indoor exercise facilities of the invention. It includes:

• • a flywheel 10 (made of aluminum or copper) and a holding dock 20 located on the periphery of the flywheel 10. The holding dock 20 has a plurality of permanent magnets 21 and electromagnets 22 laid thereon alternately. The holding dock 20 is formed in an arched shape and concentric with the flywheel 10. The electromagnets 22 are connected to a power supply to enable the coils winding on the electromagnets 22 to generate magnetic attraction forces. By altering the current I on the electromagnets 22, the magnetic forces of the electromagnets 22 can be increased or reduced.

Refer to FIG. 4 for the main feature of the invention. By increasing the current I on the electromagnets 22, the electromagnets 22 generate a greater magnetic attraction force. They form mutual induction with the permanent magnets 21 (N poles and S poles) to generate a greater magnetic attraction. As a result, a greater resistance is generated on the flywheel 10 due to mutual induction between the magnetic attraction force and the flywheel 10 (made of aluminum or copper). With the resistance between the flywheel 10 and the permanent magnets 21 and the electromagnets 22 increased, users have to use a greater strength to rotate the flywheel 10.

On the contrary, the rotational resistance of the flywheel 10 can be reduced or eliminated by reducing the current I on the electromagnets 22, or setting the current I to zero. Then the rotational resistance of the flywheel 10 decreases or does not exist. And the users can do exercise with a smaller physical strength.

Referring to FIG. 5, aside from adjusting the current I on the electromagnets 22 to alter the resistance of the flywheel 1, the resistance against the flywheel 10 may also be increased or reduced by changing the number of the electromagnets 22.

Refer to FIGS. 6 and 7 for a second embodiment of the invention (with the permanent magnets 21 and the electromagnets 22 located on an inner peripheral side of the flywheel 10). It mainly includes a flywheel 10 and an arch-shape holding dock 20. The flywheel 10 has a center hole coupled on an axle 11. The axle 11 has an axle hole 12.

The holding dock 20 has a center shaft inserted into the axle hole 12. The holding dock 20 has a plurality of permanent magnets 21 and electromagnets 22 located thereon in an arched manner. Its operation principle is same as the first embodiment previously discussed. By adjusting the current I, the magnetic attraction force of the electromagnets 22 can be controlled, thereby the rotational resistance of the flywheel 10 can be increased or reduced.

In short, the present invention has the following benefits compared with the conventional exercise facilities:

It can alter the resistance without changing the distance between the flywheel 1 and the holding dock 2 via the motor 4 or manually as the conventional ones do (referring to FIG. 1). It increases or reduces the rotational resistance of the flywheel 10 by changing the current I on the electromagnets 22 or the number of the electromagnets 22. Thus the structure is simpler, fabrication and assembly are easier, and the production cost also is lower. The flywheel magnetic control resistance apparatus of the invention also can be adapted to other types of exercise facilities.

Prototypes of the invention have been made and tested. The results confirm the functions and benefits previously discussed.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A flywheel magnetic control resistance apparatus for indoor exercise facilities, comprising:

a flywheel; and

a holding dock which is located on the periphery of the flywheel and has a plurality of permanent magnets and electromagnets laid thereon alternately in an arched manner corresponding to the direction of the flywheel, the electromagnets being connected to a power supply, the current flowing on the electromagnets being alterable to determine the magnetic attraction force between the electromagnets and the permanent magnets thereby to change resistance on the flywheel.

2. The flywheel magnetic control resistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the number of the electromagnets is alterable according to requirements, and the resistance on the flywheel increases when the number of electromagnets increases, and the resistance on the flywheel decreases when the number of electromagnets decreases.

3. The flywheel magnetic control resistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holding dock is located outside the periphery of the flywheel.

4. The flywheel magnetic control resistance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holding dock is arch-shaped and has a center shaft, the flywheel having a center hole coupled on an axle, the axle having an axle hole to be coupled by the center shaft, the permanent magnets and the electromagnets being located alternately on an outer periphery of the holding dock.