Exercise Machine Retrofit with the Capacity to Pump Fluid
A mechanism for modifying existing exercise machines to enable them to move fluid in addition to providing variable resistance to the operator. This may include at least one original equipment manufacturer (OEM) pull, push, or rotational motion exercise machine and the described retrofit system and method to allow for fluid pumping.
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RELATED APPLICATIONSThis application claims priority from U.S. Patent Application No. 63/234,564, filed on Aug. 18, 2021, the contents of which are fully incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Technical FieldThe present invention relates generally to modifying exercise machines. More particularly, the invention relates to an exercise machine modified with the capacity to pump fluid.
2. BACKGROUND INFORMATIONA 2017 survey documented there to be 38,477 exercise facilities and gyms in North America alone. Each of these facilities uses between 2-20 of the exercise machines. Typically, these exercise machines provide resistance to enable physical exercise. But the work to perform physical exercise is not harvested or used for productive output beyond the physical exercise itself. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to have an exercise machine capable of harvesting the energy produced by the machine during exercise for productive output.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention describes retrofitting an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) exercise machine with the capacity to pump fluid. This retrofit system and method would allow the capacity to produce food with hydroponic or aquaponic agriculture and become a source of food for a community by using the exercise equipment. One goal is to be a catalyst and a tool for urban agriculture and innovative thinking.
The present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
The commercial centrifugal pump 328 attaches to bottom bracket 302 with one or more pump mount screws 334 a,b,c,d which aligns pump with first end of modified pump shaft 319, incorporating the pump shaft roller bearing 312a with small timing pulley 321 in line with the commercial pump 328.
The drive train assembly, including small timing pulley 321. attaches to the large timing pulley 325 which, through rollerclutch bearing 324 and drive shaft bearing 304b, is directly connected to OEM drive shaft 322. The small timing pulley 321 is secured to the large timing pulley 325 with a timing belt 326, secured with nut 210. The timing belt 326 is tensioned with tensioner unit made up of roller bearing 317, spacer 316, pulley 315, and secured with spindle 318 to nut 314 attaching through tensioner guide 701 found in FIG. Further embodiments of the drive train may include direct gearing, planetary gearing, or a roller chain drive system.
Commercial pump 328 may include a PVC inlet port of 90 degrees 329, further embodiments may vary materials metal, PVC, composite, carbon fiber, or plastic. Barb fitting 330b attaches to inlet port 329 to inlet hose 333 with hose clamp 331b. Outlet port connects to barb fitting 330a to outlet hose 332 with hose clamp 331a. Further embodiments of pumps may include diaphragm, peristalsis, transfer, or impeller type pump.
A second end of modified pump shaft 319 continues through lower bracket 302 to connect through pump shaft bearing 312b attaching to flywheel housing back 311 with one or more ¼″ flywheel screws 310 a,b,c,d and flywheel assembly 306, and flywheel veins 313 secured with flywheel mounting nut 309. All secured to lower bracket 302 and balanced on second end of modified pump shaft 319 and covered with flywheel shroud 307, flywheel resistance damper 308 secured to assembly with four flywheel cover bolts 207 to secure original assembly.
Because there can be the present invention and that other embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the present invention will be appreciated that not limited to the specific embodiment example, defined in the claims.
Claims
1. A method for modifying an exercise machine to pump fluid, the exercising machine including a human interface mechanism to allow at least one human to engage with the exercise machine, the human interface mechanism connected to a drive chain, the drive chain engaging with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) drive shaft, the exercise machine including a frame, the method comprising:
- removing an OEM assembly from the frame of the exercise machine;
- affixing a bracket to the frame of the exercise machine, for securing a pump to the frame of the exercise machine, the bracket including a modified drive shaft with first and second ends;
- securing a drive train to a first end of the modified drive shaft and OEM drive shaft, the drive train causing rotational movement to transfer power from the OEM drive shaft to the modified drive shaft;
- securing a pump to the first end of the modified drive shaft and a flywheel to the second end of the modified drive shaft, the pump including an inlet and outlet for fluid transfer through a hose;
- whereby engagement with the human interface mechanism of the exercise machine drives the pump to draw fluid through the inlet and discharge fluid through the outlet.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising securing a modified flywheel to the bracket and the second end of the modified drive shaft, whereby the flywheel maintains rotational velocity of the pump, even when the human interface mechanism is not engaged.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising installing a flywheel damper onto the modified flywheel to provide variable resistance to the human interface mechanism.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the drive train comprises a large timing pulley, small timing pulley, and a timing belt to cooperatively transfer power from the OEM drive shaft to the large timing pulley, through the timing belt to the small timing pulley to gear up/down the rotational speed of the pump [to match the operating speed of the selected pump]
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pump includes one of a centrifugal, diaphragm, peristalsis or impeller pump.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein a human engages with the human interface mechanism through one of a pull, push, and/or rotational type motion.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the OEM assembly includes a flywheel assembly.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid drawn through the inlet is expelled through the outlet.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid drawn through the inlet is pumped though the outlet and fed into a fluid structuring and oxygenating element and is recirculated back into the inlet of the pump.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid drawn through the inlet is discharged through the outlet into a nutrient reservoir and is recirculated back into the inlet of the pump.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the exercise machine is connected in series to at least one additional exercise machine through a Y connector affixed to the hose.
12. A modified exercise machine, comprising:
- a frame;
- a human interface mechanism to allow at least one human to engage with the exercise machine;
- a drive chain connected to the human interface mechanism, the drive chain engaging with an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) drive shaft;
- a bracket affixed to the frame, for securing a pump to the frame of the exercise machine, the bracket including a modified drive shaft;
- a drive train connected to a first end of the modified drive shaft and OEM drive shaft, the drive train causing rotational movement to transfer power from the OEM drive shaft to the modified drive shaft;
- a pump connected to the modified drive shaft, the pump including an inlet and outlet for fluid transfer;
- whereby engagement with the human interface mechanism of the exercise machine drives the pump to draw fluid through the inlet and discharge fluid through the outlet.
13. The system of claim 13, further comprising a modified flywheel connected to the bracket and the second end of the modified drive shaft, whereby the flywheel maintains rotational velocity of the pump, even when the human interface mechanism is not engaged.
14. The system of claim 13, further comprising flywheel damper installed onto the modified flywheel to provide variable resistance to the human engagement mechanism.
15. The system of claim 13, wherein the drive train comprises a large timing pulley, timing belt, and small timing pulley, to cooperatively transfer power from the drive shaft to the timing belt to gear up/down the rotational speed of the pump [to match the operating speed of the selected pump].
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the drive train includes a large timing pulley, small timing pulley, and timing belt to cooperatively transfer power from the drive shaft to the timing belt to gear up/down the rotational speed of the pump [to match the operating speed of the selected pump]
17. The system of claim 13, wherein the pump includes one of a centrifugal, diaphragm, or impeller pump.
18. The system of claim 13, wherein a human engages with the human interface mechanism through one of a pull, push, or rotational type motion.
19. The system of claim 13, wherein the OEM assembly includes a flywheel assembly.
20. The system of claim 13, wherein the fluid drawn through the inlet is expelled through the outlet.
21. The system of claim 13, wherein the fluid drawn through the inlet is discharged through the outlet into a fluid structuring and oxygenating element and is recirculated back into the inlet of the pump.
22. The system of claim 13, wherein the fluid drawn through the inlet is discharged through the outlet into a nutrient reservoir and is recirculated back into the inlet of the pump.
23. The system of claim 13, wherein the exercise machine is connected in series to at least one additional exercise machine through a Y connector affixed to the hose.
24. A system for vortexing water, comprising:
- a handle, pedal or other human interface mechanism for a user, the human interface mechanism affixed to a drive train which rotates the OEM drive shaft. This shaft rotates a large timing pulley that engages with the timing belt and transfers power and rotational motion to a small timing pulley.
- a drive train for transferring power from the OEM drive shaft to the timing belt works in conjunction with the small timing pulley to gear up/down the rotational speed of the modified drive shaft to match the operating speed of the selected pump;
- a modified drive shaft that transfers power from small timing pulley to pump;
- the pump connected to an inlet hose and outlet hose;
- whereby the pump thrusts water through the outlet hose through a vortex system, and returns through the inlet hose.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 5, 2022
Publication Date: Feb 23, 2023
Inventors: Adam Russell (Blanco, TX), Jacob Schapson (Houston, TX)
Application Number: 17/881,812