TRAINING APPARATUS

Abstract

A training apparatus for the simulation of rowing training includes a rolling seat to be moved linearly back and forth on a guide on a frame. Two handles which can be rotated independently of one another are mounted on an oarlock shaft. The oarlock shafts are connected to a drive mechanism in a force-flow connection. Upon introduction of force to the handles, power is output to a braking device via a drive mechanism, which has a freewheel between the oarlock shafts and the braking device. Upon actuation of the handles in a first direction about the axis of the respective rowlock shafts, power is transmitted to the braking device, and, upon actuation of the handles in the opposite direction the handles return without power being transmitted to the braking device.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A training apparatus for the simulation of rowing training, the training apparatus comprising: a frame and a guide arranged on said frame; a sliding seat linearly movable back and forth along said guide; a footrest arranged in a vicinity of an end of said guide; oarlock shafts disposed laterally of said guide; two handles each rotatably mounted on a respective said oarlock shaft and rotatable independently of one another; and a drive mechanism connected to each of said oarlock shafts by way of a force-transmitting connection, said drive mechanism including a gearing and a braking device; said drive mechanism including at least one freewheel disposed between said oarlock shafts and said braking device such that said handles are pivotable independently of one another about a respective said oarlock shaft, and wherein, when said handles are actuated in a first direction about an axis of a respective said oarlock shaft, power is discharged to said braking device and when said handles are actuated in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, about the axis of the respective said oarlock shaft, said handles are returnable without power being fed to or discharged from said braking device.

15. The training apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said oarlock shafts are each arranged perpendicular to a direction of movement of said guide and/or to a standing surface of said frame, at a distance from said guide.

16. The training apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a lever pivotally mounted with said handles about the axis of the respective said oarlock shaft and disposed on each of said oarlock shafts, and a pulling element arranged on each said lever and configured to transmit a rotational movement of said handles to said drive mechanism.

17. The training apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said pulling element is a pull rod.

18. The training apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising drawbars respectively arranged on each end of a respective said pulling element opposite said oarlock shaft and configured to transmit power from said handles to said drive mechanism.

19. The training apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said drawbars are arranged in such a manner in two spaced-apart, parallel planes so that pivoting movements of said drawbars intersect one another in a projecting plane without said drawbars touching one another.

20. The training apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said drive mechanism comprises at least one force-transmitting element arranged between one of said oarlock shafts and said braking device and configured to deflect different directions of rotation of said oarlock shafts into one common direction of rotation.

21. The training apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said force-transmitting element is a chain drive, a belt drive, or a pair of gear wheels.

22. The training apparatus according to claim 14, wherein: said oarlock shafts include a first oarlock shaft and a second oarlock shaft, and said at least one freewheel includes a first freewheel and a second freewheel; said drive mechanism comprises a first drive selected from the group consisting of a first chain drive, a first belt drive, and a first pair of gear wheels, for transmitting a rotational movement of said first oarlock shaft to said first freewheel; the rotational movement of a second oarlock shaft is transmitted via a second drive selected from the group consisting of a second chain drive, a second belt drive, and a second pair of gear wheels to said second freewheel; said first freewheel includes a first intermediate shaft and said second freewheel includes a second intermediate shaft, and wherein a rotational movement of said second intermediate shaft is transmitted to said first intermediate shaft by way of an intermediate chain drive or an intermediate pair of gear wheels or an intermediate belt drive so that the power or force which is transmitted to said handles can be added to said first intermediate shaft, and wherein an added power is deliverable from said first intermediate shaft to said braking device.

23. The training apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the added power is deliverable to said braking device via a further chain drive or a further belt drive or a further pair of gear wheels.

24. The training apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said handles are elongated cylinders rotatably mounted about axes of said cylinders and said handles include a stop configured to delimit a rotation in the cylinder axes of said handles.

25. The training apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a force measuring device integrated in said handles and configured to measure a transmission of force to said drive mechanism by way of said handles and/or an angle of a rotation of said handles, said force measuring device including a plurality of strain gauges disposed to measure a bending deformation of said handles.

26. The training apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said handles are pivotally mounted in an axis normal to an axis of said oarlock shaft.

27. The training apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said handles are pivotally mounted at an end of the respective said oarlock shaft.

28. The training apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said braking device comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a fan wheel, a magnetic brake, an eddy current brake, and an element which generates an electric current.

29. The training apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising two outriggers mounted to said frame, and wherein each of said oarlock shafts is mounted in a respective one of said outriggers.

30. The training apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each of said oarlock shafts includes oarlock having one of said handles mounted thereon.

31. The training apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said force measuring device is configured to supply to an electronic evaluation unit information of a force applied to said handles and/or a position of said handles, and wherein a resistance of said braking device is adjustable in dependence on the force applied to said handles and/or on the position of said handles.

32. The training apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the position of said handles measured by said force measuring device is an angular position about the axes of rotation thereof.

Description

[0024] The invention is shown schematically in the drawings below by way of particularly advantageous exemplary embodiments which are not, however, to be understood as limiting and is described as an example with reference to the drawings:

[0025] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a training apparatus according to the invention, FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of a view of a detail of the drive mechanism, FIG. 3 shows a view of a detail of a handle and of part of an oarlock shaft, FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the drive mechanism, FIG. 5 shows a side view of the drive mechanism according to FIG. 4, FIG. 6 shows a top view of the drive mechanism according to FIGS. 4 and 5, FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the drive mechanism with a magnetic brake and FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the drive mechanism with a current-generating element.

[0026] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a training apparatus 10 according to the invention for the simulation of rowing training. The training apparatus 10 includes two handles 7a, 7b which are each rotatably mounted in two oarlock shafts 3a, 3b. The handles 7a, 7b are each pivotably mounted on an end with the respective oarlock shaft 3a, 3b in addition in an axis normal to the axis of the oarlock shaft 3a, 3b. The training apparatus 10 additionally comprises a frame 5, on which a guide 2 is arranged. A sliding seat 1 is fastened along the guide 2, which sliding seat is movable back and forth in a linear manner along the guide 2 along the axis thereof. A footrest 8, on which the user can place his feet or against which he can press his feet or support said feet during a rowing stroke, is arranged in the region of the one end of the guide 2. In the case of the rowing movement, the user or rower sits on the sliding seat 1, supports his feet on the footrest 8 and holds the handles 7a, 7b with two hands. In the case of a rowing stroke, the handles 7a, 7b are then pulled from a position with stretched arms and bent knees in the direction of the chest and at the same time the legs of the user are stretched, as a result of which the sliding seat 1 slides back, that is to say away from the footrest 8 and the handles 7a, 7b are rotated or pivoted in the direction of the backward movement of the sliding seat 1. When the handles 7a, 7b are rotated or pivoted, the respective oarlock shaft 3a, 3b is also rotated, the two oarlock axes being rotated in different directions of rotation on account of the arrangement of the handles 7a, 7b, that is to say one clockwise and the other one counter-clockwise. Two outriggers 16a, 16b, which each extend to the side parallel to the standing surface of the frame 5 normal to the progression of the guide 2, are arranged on the frame 5. The oarlock shafts 3a, 3b are mounted in said outriggers 16a, 16b, as a result of which the oarlock shafts 3a, 3b are each arranged at a distance normal to the direction of movement of the guide and normal to the standing surface of the frame 5 on a side of the guide 2. The mechanism of a rowing boat, which usually also comprises outriggers on which the oars are rotatably arranged, is imitated as a result of the arrangement of the oarlock shafts 3a, 3b at a distance from the guide 2.

[0027] The oarlock shafts 3a, 3b, on the ends opposite the handles 7a, 7b, each comprise a lever 12a, 12b which is pivotable or rotatable with the handles 7a, 7b about the axis of the respective oarlock shaft 3a, 3b. Arranged on the end of each lever 12a, 12b is a pulling element, in the case of this embodiment a pull rod 13a, 13b, which transmits the force or power which is transmitted to the handles 7a, 7b by the rower to the drive mechanism 4. The drive mechanism 4 additionally comprises a braking device 6, to which the power or force, which the user outputs to the training apparatus 10 at the handles 7a, 7b, is discharged from the drive mechanism 4 and a resistance, torque or an effort is thus to be applied by the user in order to pivot the handles 7a, 7b about the axis of the oarlock shafts 3a, 3b. During the training by a rower, at every stroke, that is to say at every rotation of the handles 7a, 7b, the sliding seat 1 is slid back, that is to say away from the footrest 8, and the handles 7a, 7b are rotated in the direction of the sliding of the sliding seat 1. The force transmitted to the handles 7a, 7b is forwarded via the oarlock shafts 3a, 3b and the pulling element, or in the case of this embodiment the pull rods 13a, 13b, to the drive mechanism 4, said drive mechanism then outputting the power or force to the brake device 6. The drive mechanism 4 additionally comprises a freewheel 11 which is arranged between the oarlock shaft and the braking device 6. The freewheel 11 makes it possible to pivot the handles 7a, 7b independently of one another about the respective oarlock shaft 3a, 3b, the freewheel 11 allowing the force transmission or power transmission to the braking device 6 when the handles 7a, 7b are rotated in a first direction about the axis of the respective oarlock shaft 3a, 3b, that is to say in the direction of the backward movement of the sliding seat 1, and the freewheel 11 releasing the movement and thus being returnable without effort or without power being supplied to or removed from the braking device 6 when the handles 7a, 7b are actuated in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, about the axis of the respective oarlock shafts 3a, 3b, that is to say in the direction of the forward movement of the sliding seat 1.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a view of a detail of a drive mechanism 4 of a preferred embodiment of the training apparatus 10. As explained with respect to FIG. 1, the force is forwarded to the drive mechanism 4 via the handles 7a, 7b by means of a pull rod 13a, 13b in each case. In the case of this embodiment, the drive mechanism 4 comprises a drawbar 18a, 18b for each pull rod 13a, 13b, which drawbars are connected at the end of the pull rods 13a, 13b opposite the levers 12a, 12b to the respective pull rod 17a, 17b and at the other end are each rotatably mounted on a shaft 17a, 17b. The drive mechanism 4 additionally includes a first chain drive 14a which is connected to the intermediate shaft 17a so that when the drawbar 18b is actuated or when the drawbar 18b is rotated, the chain drive 14a is rotated or pivoted by the pull rod 13a. A first intermediate shaft 15a, on which a first freewheel 11a is fastened, is arranged on the second end of the chain drive 14a. The second drawbar 18b is connected to a second chain drive 14b which transmits the rotational movement of the drawbar 18b to a second freewheel 11b. The second freewheel 11b comprises a second intermediate shaft 15b which is connected to the first intermediate shaft 15a by means of an intermediate pair of gear wheels consisting of two gear wheels 19a, 19b. If force or power is then output at the handles 7a, 7b via the oarlock shafts 3a, 3b and the pull rods 13a, 13b to the drive mechanism 4, as a result of the arrangement of the first chain drive 14a with the second chain drive 14b and the intermediate pair of gear wheels, the power from the second intermediate shaft 15b is transmitted to the first intermediate shaft 15a and consequently the power of the two handles 7a, 7b is added or totaled, that is to say the force, the torque and the power of the intermediate shaft 15a is increased by the force, the torque and the power of the second intermediate shaft 15b. If the handles 7a, 7b are then returned again in opposition to the backward movement of the sliding seat 1, the first freewheel 11a and the second freewheel 11b allow for a force-free or powerless resetting, as a result of which the rowing movement is repeated again in a force-free manner. A chain wheel of a further chain drive 27, by way of which the added or totaled power of the handles 7a, 7b or of the intermediate shaft 15a is output to a braking device or is transmitted to said braking device, is arranged once again on the first intermediate shaft 15b. The braking device 6 of FIG. 2 includes a belt drive 61 and a fan wheel 23 which is connected to the belt drive 61 so as to transmit force. The belt drive 61 is connected to the further chain drive 27, as a result of which the power or force from the further chain drive 27 or the first intermediate shaft 15a is transmitted to the fan wheel 23 and sets said fan wheel in rotation. As a result of the aerodynamic resistance of the fan wheel 23, a braking action or power is taken from the drive mechanism 4 and a training resistance is thus generated. As an option, the fan wheel 23 can also be arranged in a housing so that the aerodynamic resistance of the fan wheel 23 can be varied or adjusted in dependence on the design of the fan wheel 23 and of the housing. The housing can comprise, for example, a defined progression of the wall or guide vanes facing the fan wheel 23 in order to influence the aerodynamic characteristics of the fan wheel 23.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the drive mechanism 4 according to FIG. 2 with a view of the first chain drive 14a. As a result of the arrangement of the first intermediate shaft 15a with the second intermediate shaft 15b and of the connection between the first intermediate shaft 15a and the second intermediate shaft 15b via a pair of intermediate gear wheels, the various directions of rotation of the first intermediate shaft 15a and of the second intermediate shaft 15b are converted into one common direction of rotation at the first intermediate shaft 15a. The power combined or added at the first intermediate shaft 15a is output to the braking device 6 of the training apparatus 10 via the further chain drive 27. Consequently, the power or force, which is transmitted to the oarlock shafts 3a, 3b by the user at the handles 7a, 7b, is transmitted via the respective pull rods 13a, 13b and the first chain drive 14a and the second chain drive 14b together via the first freewheel 11a and the second freewheel 11b to the first intermediate shaft 15a and consequently to the braking device 6. The first freewheel 11a and the second freewheel 11b, in this case, allow for the force-free or powerless resetting of the handles 7a, 7b when the handles 7a, 7b are returned in opposition to the backward movement of the sliding seat 1, whereby the rotational movement of the fan wheel 23 remains unchanged. Increased or reduced aerodynamic resistance of the fan wheel 23 or resistance uptake and power uptake of the braking device 6 is obtained in dependence on the stroke rate, that is to say in dependence on the amount and speed of the transmission of force to the handles 7a, 7b.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of the training apparatus 10 with a view of the second chain drive 14b and the fan wheel 23. The first drawbar 18a is arranged at a distance above the second drawbar 18b in a plane parallel to the plane of the second drawbar 18b so that the pivoting movements of the drawbars 18a, 18b intersect one another in a projecting plane without the drawbars 18a, 18b touching one another. The drawbars 18a, 18b, and thereby the first chain drive 14a, 14b, are consequently arranged one above the other in two planes arranged in parallel at a spacing from one another and allow the drive mechanism 4 to be realized in a space-saving manner. The two drawbars 18a, 18b or the first chain drive 14a and the second chain drive 14b are arranged at a distance, that is to say offset, in the direction of the axes of the shafts 17a, 17b (FIG. 6), being arranged symmetrically at a distance about the axis of symmetry of the drive device 4 or the center axis of the guide 2.

[0031] As an option, also as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the drive mechanism 4 can comprise chain tensioners 31 for the first chain drive 14a, the second chain drive 14b and/or the further chain drive 27.

[0032] As an option, also as shown in FIG. 7, the braking device 6 can include a magnetic or eddy current brake 24 which enables a braking action or power take-up from the drive device 4. As a result of the realization of a magnetic or eddy current brake 24, it is possible to design the resistance inside the braking device 4 in a variable manner and to adjust it in dependence on the requirements of the user.

[0033] As an option, as shown in FIG. 8, the braking device 6 can also be realized as an element 25 which generates electric current. The element 25 generating current includes a copper disk 40 on which electric coils 41 are mounted. The copper disk 40 is covered by a metal disk 42 which is fixedly connected to a housing. As a result of rotating the copper disk 40, current is generated in the coils 41 and the resistance of the braking device 6 can be adjusted in a variable manner by a microcontroller by means of control unit in dependence on the coil setting. The amount of current fed to the coils 41 and the volume of the electromagnetic energy field generated as a result then determines the level of the resistance of the braking device 6 and consequently the amount of current generated by the rowing.

[0034] As an alternative to this, it can also be provided that the braking device 6 includes another element 25 which is disclosed in the prior art and generates electric current, such as, for example, a generator which converts the power of the rower or user supplied to the braking device 6 into electric current. The current generated can then be used for the operation of the training apparatus 10 and the resistance of the braking device 6 can be modified in dependence on the stroke rate, the force to the handles 7a, 7b and the position of the handles 7a, 7b.

[0035] As an option, it can be provided that the footrest 8 is fastened along the frame 5, for example by means of a tensioning mechanism, as a result of which the spacing between the footrest 8 and the guide 2 or the sliding seat 1 is able to be adapted to the user.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of one of the handles 7a, 7b. The handle 7a is realized in the form of an elongated cylinder. The handle 7a is realized in two parts, the first part 71 being realized in a hollow manner and being introduced into a second handle receiving means 72 which is realized in a mirror-inverted manner. The first part 71 of the handle 7a is rotatable in the handle receiving means 72 along the axis of the first part 71, as a result of which a rotational movement of the oar about its own axis in the water is able to be simulated. The handle 7a additionally comprises a stop 21 which is realized as an elongated hole 22 which extends along a radius. A continuation or a screw 73, which is connected to the first part 71 of the handle 7a which, when the first part 71 is rotated, slides along in the elongated hole 22 along the axis of said first part, extends in the elongated hole 22. The rotational movement along the axis of the first part 71 is delimited as a result of the dimensioning of the elongated hole 22 with the continuation or the screw 73.

[0037] As an alternative to this, the oarlock shafts 3a, 3b, such as shown, as an example, for a handle 7a in FIG. 3, can comprise, on one of their ends, an oarlock 30a, 30b, on which the handles 7a, 7b are mounted so as to be tiltable. The tilting or bearing arrangement of the handles 7a, 7b is effected, in this case, in an axis which is normal to the rotational axis of the oarlock shafts 3a, 3b, as a result of which the handles 7a, 7b, are able to be tilted or pivoted upward and downward with reference to the sliding seat 1 or to the user of the training apparatus 10.

[0038] As an option, it can be provided that the training apparatus 10 includes a force measuring device, said force measuring device preferably being integrated in the handles 7a, 7b. The force transmission of the force or power output at the handles 7a, 7b to the drive mechanism 4 can be measured using the force measuring device, the force measuring device being able to be realized preferably by a number of strain gauges which are arranged on the handles 7a, 7b. It can additionally be provided, as an option, that the angle of the rotation of the handles 7a, 7b about their axes is measurable, for example, by means of an angle transmitter and supplied to an electronic evaluation unit. As a result of the arrangement of the strain gauges on the handles 7a, 7b, it is possible to measure, in particular, the bending deformation of the handles 7a, 7b and thus to detect the force transmission to the handles 7a, 7b in each case separately from one another and, for example, to feed back or report different rowing movements of the individual arms to the user of the training apparatus 10.

[0039] It can additionally be provided, as an option, that the force which is detected by the force measuring device and is applied to the handles 7a, 7b by the user and/or the position of the handles about the respective oarlock shafts 3a, 3b and/or the position of the handles 7a, 7b about their axes, can be forwarded to the electronic evaluation unit. The resistance of the braking device 6 can be adapted to the measured parameters by means of the electronic evaluation unit. Thus, for example, the increased hydrodynamic resistance of the water when the speed of the boat or the stroke rate is raised can be adapted and a more realistic resistance in the braking device 6 is thus able to be simulated.

[0040] If force is exerted on the oar, the following is defined approximately:

Foar=k2*(|voar|−vboat)^2   (1)

wherein Foar is the force on the oars, voar the speed of the oar in the water and vboat the speed of a boat in the water. That is to say the necessary force on the oars rises quadratically with the difference in speed between oar or oar blade and rowing boat, the factor k2 taking into consideration the resistance of the oar. Thus, by means of the equation (1), the resistance at the braking device 6 can be adapted in each case to the force supplied by the user and the resistance of the oar in the water can be better simulated at higher boat speeds.

[0041] The boat speed changes under the influence of the force on the oars:

d(vboat(/dt=−k1*vboat^2+k3*Foar   (2)

wherein the value k1 takes into consideration the cw value of the boat in the water or the resistance of the air and of the water and the second term, k3*Foar, takes into consideration the acceleration of the boat on the basis of the rowing force.

[0042] As when returning the handles 7a, 7b into the starting position by means of the freewheel 11 or the freewheels 11a, 11b, no force is applied to the handles 7a, 7b, the speed of the boat is reduced or said speed is delayed as the second term of the equation (2) in said phase is zero. If the equations (1) and (2) are taken into consideration in the evaluation unit, the necessary force at the handles 7a, 7b or the power which the braking device takes away can be adapted thereto and a more realistic boat feeling can be simulated with the training apparatus 10.

[0043] As an alternative to the described chain drives 14a, 14b, 27, other force transmitting elements, for example belt drives or pairs of gear wheels or other gearings disclosed in the prior art, can also be provided.

[0044] Other braking devices 6 disclosed in the prior art can be provided optimally for the power take-up from the drive device 4, said other braking devices being able to include, for example, flywheels, mechanical brakes or others.