JPH0363074A - Belt conveyor for improved ergometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To measure a user's stress in stable running like in a sprint or decelation by moving a belt to vertical and lateral directions, arranging a measuring means on a fixing-jointing means and belt conveyer to the user, and recording-calculating a parameters in a runner's momentary vertical and horizontal power. CONSTITUTION: An user can move in the vertical and horizontal directions against the moving direction of a belt conveyor by hinge-connection of a rod 6. A sensor mounted on a belt conveyor 1 and fixed rod 6 is connected to an electronic interface type recording means 7, and an electronic signal, for example, in response to speed of the belt conveyor, horizontal tensile force of a runner (C) and vertical motion of the runner can be obtained by the sensor. Speed of the belt conveyor 1 driven by the user is calculated by a signal generated by means of an optical encoder type VIII connected to a frequency/voltage convertor mounted on one shaft of a returning-driving roll 2 of the belt. Runner' s vertical motion is calculated from a signal generated by a potentiometer type means 10, for example, which is positioned on a rotating axis of fixed rod.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is an improved ergometer belt conveyor. The present invention relates to equipment that can be used not only for the training but also for the rehabilitation of sportsmen.

This facility is also suitable for carrying out research for physiological and biomechanical purposes.

Motor-driven belt conveyors are already known for creating a relative movement of a runner with respect to a track by moving the belt conveyor. The track thus consists of a belt in the form of an endless belt between two cylinders or return rolls and is driven at a constant speed by an electric motor.

With the belt conveyor in operation, the speed can be adjusted or pre-adjusted by means of a servo control.

Therefore, the runner is immobile relative to an environment that allows training at a constant speed indoors and facilitates the input of only physiological data.

However, this type of motor-driven belt conveyor has limited use and has the following disadvantages.

For athletes, forced speed does not take into account variations in sprinting or sprinting power.

Trainers and researchers, and more generally biomechanists responsible for developing test plans and evaluating results, are unable to measure the external mechanical power provided during running.

The first object of the invention is therefore to propose a device which is more flexible in use and capable of measuring the user's stress in various running conditions, for example fast, steady running or deceleration, such as sprinting. Was that.

Another object of the invention was to provide a device capable of measuring the user's power in different driving conditions.

Another object of the invention was to design a simple and inexpensive device that can measure various other parameters simultaneously.

The following description will make these and other objectives clear.

According to a first feature of the invention, the belt conveyor includes an endless belt fitted over two rolls which are arranged and held on a support frame. The runners exercise on an upper belt held by a support plate connected to a frame that drives the belt.The present invention allows the runners themselves to move and drive the belt conveyor by adjusting the operating speed of the belt itself. that the runner is fastened by means to a band which is connected to the support frame of the belt, but is free to move in the vertical and lateral planes rather than in the forward plane, i.e. in the direction of belt movement; and that the measuring means It is characterized in that it is arranged on the fixing and connecting means and on the belt conveyor, by means of which certain parameters such as the instantaneous vertical power and the instantaneous horizontal power of the runner can be recorded and calculated.

These and other features will become clear from the description below.

In order to clarify the purpose of the invention, the present invention will be described in a non-limiting manner with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The objects of the invention will be better understood when the following non-limiting description is considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The ergometer belt conveyor of the present invention differs in operational design from the prior art. That is, it is the runner himself who moves and drives the belt conveyor and can thus adjust the desired different running effects or running conditions at will.

With this in mind, the belt conveyor comprises an endless belt, known as 1 as a whole and stretched between two rolls 2. The roll is properly positioned and held by a support 3 on a support frame 4. The upper belt is a plate or support 1 connected to the frame.
It is held by 8. Runner C is held on the upper belt and held in place by a band 5 fixed around the runner's waist. The band is integral with the user's back by means of a fixing rod 6. The fixing rod has one end 6
．． 1, it is hinged to the upper part of the vertical bracket 7 at the rear of the support frame 4. The articulation of the rods allows the user to move vertically and horizontally rather than back and forth with respect to the direction of movement of the belt.

The sensors mounted on the belt conveyor and on the fixed rod are connected to recording means 7, for example of the electronic interface type,
The sensor provides the following data (belt conveyor speed,
An electronic signal (analog voltage) corresponding to the runner's horizontal pulling force and the runner's vertical movement
oltage)) can be obtained.

The speed of the belt conveyor driven by the user is determined by a signal generated by means of an optical encoder type 8 coupled to a frequency-to-voltage converter mounted on the shaft of one of the belt return and drive rolls. calculated.

The horizontal force exerted by the runner or user is detected by means 9 of the force sensor type, for example comprising a strain gauge mounted on a fixed bar.
is calculated from the signal generated by

The vertical movement of the runner is calculated from the signals generated by means 10, for example of the potentiometer type, located on the axis of rotation of the fixed rod.

The different means 8, 9.10 are connected to the electronic interface 7 mentioned above, by which the results of the determination can be printed out and displayed.

In the variant of FIG. 2, the data can be acquired and processed on the computer 14 via the digital-to-analog interface 15 and adapted software. The interface and software then provide the following data (horizontal pulling force of the user or runner, speed of the belt conveyor,
vertical movement of the user or runner, instantaneous vertical power provided by the user or runner, instantaneous horizontal power provided by the user or runner, total instantaneous power provided by the user or runner) over time and can be displayed.

The instantaneous vertical power (Pv) provided is the result of the runner's continuous up and down movement.

h+ = Lg-Vv [where H is the user's weight (kg), g is the gravitational acceleration (9,81 m/s/s), and vv is the user's vertical velocity (m/s) ] The instantaneous horizontal power (Ph) provided by the user is the result of the velocity and horizontal forces generated during driving.

Ph = Fh·vh [where Fh is the generated horizontal force (N) and vh is the horizontal velocity of the user (m/s). The total instantaneous power provided (Pt) is the sum of the instantaneous horizontal power provided and the instantaneous vertical power provided.

PL = Pv + Ph The graphs in Figures 3, 4 and 5 show measurements made on users.

According to another characteristic arrangement of the invention, the belt conveyor may additionally be driven with a constant torque by a motor I6 in order to compensate for mechanical frictional forces. Motor speed is free.

The drive torque is adjustable by a torque servo controller. The correction value of the driving torque can be adjusted by simply correcting the frictional forces or by 2 to 10 times these frictional forces or 172
It is noteworthy that it can be adjusted close to zero by making ~l/10.

Therefore, when the frictional forces are simply corrected, the same conditions as in a normal truck are created.

If the drive torque is 2 to 10 times the frictional force, the user must primarily hold the belt conveyor, thereby providing an eccentric drive that allows for excess speed.

If the driving torque is 1/2 to 1/10 of the frictional force, it will be difficult to drive the belt, resulting in a concentric type drive that requires excess power from the user, that is, more power from the user. .

In the latter case, the belt conveyor of this ergometer allows the user to train under better environmental conditions than the existing conditions with respect to the truck, thus ultimately achieving better results and reducing the user's maximum power or speed. The belt conveyor is very advantageous in this respect.

This is especially advantageous when training for fast sprint-type races.

Adjustment of the drive torque and application of the torque to the belt conveyor is accomplished by conventional mechanical means known to those skilled in the art.

The invention has a number of advantages. Ergometer belt conveyors can vary the speed, force and power provided during travel at will. The present invention offers biomechanical measurement and analysis possibilities not available with conventional belt conveyors.

The present invention provides new training and research perspectives. To provide race training, especially with the possibility of changing running power.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a belt conveyor of an ergometer according to the invention capable of simultaneously recording a series of three types of measurement data, and FIG. 2 shows an ergometer according to the invention coupled to an automatic measuring and calculating device for recording data. The schematic diagram in Figure 1 shows a belt conveyor of
tentia power of gravitatio
Figure 4 shows the evolution of the translational force (old/time (seconds)) corresponding to the measurement of the instantaneous horizontal force generated by the user. Figure 5 shows the instantaneous external mechanical power (-) which is the sum of the two measurement data.
It is a figure showing development of 7 hours (seconds). 101. Belt conveyor, 211. Roll, 308. Support, 491. support frame, 511, band, 6.2
．． Fixed rod, 14, Computer, 15. ,,Digital Analog Interface,16. ,,motor.

Claims (11)

[Claims] (1) Placed and held on a support frame 2
An improved ergometer belt comprising an endless belt stretched between two rolls, in which the runner performs the exercise on an upper belt held by a support plate connected to a frame, and in which a motor drives the belt. a conveyor, the runner itself moving and driving the belt conveyor by adjusting the operating speed of the belt itself, the runner being tightened by means of a band connected to the support frame of the belt; , being free to move in the vertical and lateral planes rather than in the front plane, i.e. in the direction of movement of the belt, and that measuring means are arranged on the fastening and connecting means of the runner and on the belt conveyor, so that the instantaneous vertical power of the runner and A belt conveyor characterized by being able to record and calculate certain parameters such as instantaneous horizontal power. (2) the means consist of a fixing rod, one end of which is integral with the band and the other end hinged on a vertical support bracket arranged on the rear part of the support frame of the belt; Belt conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that the articulation of the rods allows the runner to move vertically or horizontally. (3) Measuring means arranged on the belt conveyor and on the fixed rod are connected to recording means of the electronic interface type and electronically related to the following parameters (velocity of the belt conveyor, horizontal pulling force of the runner and vertical movement of the runner) Belt conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the interface is connected to a plotter for printing out and recording the data, making it possible to obtain signals. (4) Measuring means placed on the belt conveyor and on the fixed bar are equipped with a computer with adapted software and the following data (horizontal traction force of the runner, speed of the belt conveyor, vertical movement of the runner, 3. A recording means of the digital-to-analog interface type connected to a plotter for calculating and displaying the instantaneous vertical power provided by the runner and the instantaneous horizontal power provided by the runner. Belt conveyor described in. (5) The speed of the belt conveyor driven by the runner is
3 or 3, characterized in that the signal is measured and calculated by means of the optical encoder type coupled to a frequency-to-voltage converter mounted on the shaft of one of the belt return and drive means. 4. The belt conveyor described in 4. (6) The horizontal force exerted by the runner is measured and calculated by a signal generated by means of the force sensor type, for example comprising a strain gauge mounted on a fixed bar. 4. The belt conveyor described in 4. (7) The vertical movement of the runner is measured and calculated by means of signals generated by means of the potentiometer type, located on the axis of rotation and articulation of the fixed rod. Belt conveyor as described. (8) the belt is driven by a motor with a constant torque adapted to compensate for or be greater than, less than, or equal to the mechanical friction force, and the motor speed is free; and Belt conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the torque is adjustable. (9) The belt conveyor according to claim 8, wherein the driving torque value is adjusted to a value that corrects the frictional force. (10) The belt conveyor according to claim 8, wherein the driving torque value is adjusted to be 2 to 10 times the frictional force. (11) The belt conveyor according to claim 8, wherein the driving torque value is adjusted to be 1/2 to 1/10 of the frictional force.