An exercise apparatus includes a rope wrapped around a spindle having a one-way clutch rotatably mounted on a driveshaft. The driveshaft is driven by a motor controlled by a motor controller. The controller is capable of driving and braking the motor such that the driving torque and the braking torque can be set at different values to ensure the safety of the apparatus and user.

An exercise apparatus includes a rope wrapped around a spindle driven by a motor. A controller is capable of applying a brake when power loss is detected to ensure the safety of the apparatus and user.

Among other things, a rowing technology includes a first rowing machine having an electromagnetic brake providing a resistance to a rower of the machine in each rowing stroke of a series of rowing strokes of the rower An electronic controller causes the resistance of the electromagnetic brake to vary over each rowing stroke in a profile that emulates resistance to which another rower in a shell on water or on a second rowing machine is subjected in each rowing stroke of a corresponding series of rowing strokes.

Among other things, a rowing technology includes a first rowing machine having an electromagnetic brake providing a resistance to a rower of the machine in each rowing stroke of a series of rowing strokes of the rower An electronic controller causes the resistance of the electromagnetic brake to vary over each rowing stroke in a profile that emulates resistance to which another rower in a shell on water or on a second rowing machine is subjected in each rowing stroke of a corresponding series of rowing strokes.

Among other things, a rowing technology includes a first rowing machine having an electromagnetic brake providing a resistance to a rower of the machine in each rowing stroke of a series of rowing strokes of the rower An electronic controller causes the resistance of the electromagnetic brake to vary over each rowing stroke in a profile that emulates resistance to which another rower in a shell on water or on a second rowing machine is subjected in each rowing stroke of a corresponding series of rowing strokes.

An exercise machine may include a deck, a motor housing incorporated into the deck, a lift motor located in the motor housing, and a cooling mechanism that cools the lift motor when the cooling mechanism is activated. An airflow pathway may be defined to direct air from the cooling mechanism to a location above the motor housing and on to a user of the exercise machine. The exercise machine may be configured such that upon beginning operation of the machine, substantially all of the airflow exhausts to the location above the motor housing. A mechanism may be provided to selectively alter a characteristic of the airflow after the exercise machine has begun operation.

A method for cooling a motor on a treadmill includes rotating a flywheel with a drive motor. A ring member coupled to the flywheel is be rotated with the flywheel. A pressure drop is generated in an annulus of the ring member between the drive motor and a lift motor. Intake air is drawn in a first direction across the lift motor toward the pressure drop.

This invention offers a rowing machine's mechanical resistance device which comprises an electric motor or a solenoid, a programmable control means and a custom algorithm, controlling the programmable controls means. It eliminates the compromising effect of backlash between the rower's handle and the resistance imparting device. This backlash is present between the power and the idle phases of rowing strokes on all state of the art rowing machines comprising flywheels. Ultimately, this invention allows all rowers to improve their rowing form and avoid injury.

An exercise machine includes a shaft configured to rotate about an axis; a spool configured to receive a strap and drive rotation of the shaft about the axis in response to movement of the strap; a flywheel configured to rotate about the axis; one or more conductive coils arranged to generate magnetic fields that induce eddy currents in the flywheel; a clutch configured to engage and disengage transmission of torque between the spool and the flywheel; and a spring arranged around the axis, the spring configured to exert a return torque on the spool about the axis in response to rotation of the shaft.

An exercise apparatus includes a rope wrapped around a spindle having a one-way clutch rotatably mounted on a driveshaft. The driveshaft is driven by a motor controlled by a motor controller. The controller is capable of driving and braking the motor such that the driving torque and the braking torque can be set at different values to ensure the safety of the apparatus and user.