TORQUE MEASURING DEVICE FOR A FLYWHEEL

Abstract

A torque measuring device for a flywheel is mounted on a frame of an exercise bike and has a base, multiple torque measuring apparatuses of a measuring assembly mounted on the base, a communication module mounted on the base, and a power module mounted on the base. The base is directly connected to the flywheel, a Wheel shaft, and a transmission mechanism of the exercise bike. The communication module receives and outputs measurement data. The power module provides electricity to the communication module and the measuring assembly. Through the simplified structure, the torque measuring device is directly assembled on the exercise bike to improve installation convenience and facilitate inspection or replacement. Moreover, the multiple torque measuring apparatuses can rotate simultaneously along with the base so as to improve the accuracy of torque measurement.

Claims

1. A torque measuring device for a flywheel, the torque measuring device adapted to be mounted on a frame of an exercise bike which has the flywheel, a wheel shaft mounted through the flywheel, and a transmission mechanism driving the flywheel, the torque measuring device adapted to be connected to the flywheel, the wheel shaft, and the transmission mechanism, and the torque measuring device comprising: a base rotatably mounted on the wheel shaft and having a combination portion having a first side fixed to the flywheel; and a second side opposite to the first side; and a connection portion attached to the first side of the combination portion and having an outer peripheral surface; and a transmission portion disposed next to the connection portion and connected to the transmission mechanism; and a measuring assembly mounted on the wheel shaft and the base and having a magnet mounted on the wheel shaft; multiple torque measuring apparatuses mounted on and arranged around the outer peripheral surface of the connection portion of the base; and a communication module mounted on the second side of the combination portion of the base and receiving and outputting measurement data measured by the measuring assembly; a power module mounted on the second side of the combination portion of the base and providing electricity to the communication module and the multiple torque measuring apparatuses.

2. The torque measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication module has an information processing component receiving the measurement data measured by the measuring assembly and converting the measurement data into torque data; and a wireless transmission component outputting the torque data.

3. The torque measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power module has a battery and a battery case capable of accommodating the battery.

4. The torque measuring device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the power module has a battery and a battery case capable of accommodating the battery.

5. The torque measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base has multiple mounting recesses formed in and arranged around the outer peripheral surface of the connection portion, and the torque measuring apparatuses are mounted in the mounting recesses respectively.

6. The torque measuring device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the base has multiple mounting recesses formed in and arranged around the outer peripheral surface of the connection portion, and the torque measuring apparatuses are mounted in the mounting recesses respectively.

7. The torque measuring device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the base has multiple mounting recesses formed in and arranged around the outer peripheral surface of the connection portion, and the torque measuring apparatuses are mounted in the mounting recesses respectively.

8. The torque measuring device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the base has multiple mounting recesses formed in and arranged around the outer peripheral surface of the connection portion, and the torque measuring apparatuses are mounted in the mounting recesses respectively.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is an operational perspective view of a torque measuring device for a flywheel in accordance with the present invention, shown mounted on an exercise bike;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the torque measuring device in FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the torque measuring device in FIG. 2;

[0019] FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the torque measuring device in FIG. 2;

[0020] FIG. 5 is a side view of the torque measuring device in FIG. 2;

[0021] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view along line 6-6 in FIG. 5;

[0022] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the torque measuring device in FIG. 2, showing a measuring assembly, a communication module, and a power module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0023] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, a torque measuring device for a flywheel in accordance with the present invention is used on a frame 51 of an exercise bike 50 which has the flywheel 52, a wheel shaft 53 mounted through the flywheel 52, and a transmission mechanism 54 driving the flywheel 52. The torque measuring device is connected to the flywheel 52, the wheel shaft 53, and the transmission mechanism 54. The torque measuring device comprises a base 10, a measuring assembly 20, a communication module 30, and a power module 40.

[0024] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the base 10 is rotatably mounted on the wheel shaft 53 and has a combination portion 11, a connection portion 12, and a transmission portion 13. The combination portion 11 has a first side 111 and a second side 112. The first side 111 is fixed to the flywheel 52. The second side 112 is opposite to the first side 111. The connection portion 12 is attached to the first side 111 of the combination portion 11 and has an outer peripheral surface 121. The transmission portion 13 is disposed next to the connection portion 12 and connected to the transmission mechanism 54. Specifically, the base 10 has multiple mounting recesses 14 formed in and arranged around the outer peripheral surface 121 of the connection portion 12.

[0025] With reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, the measuring assembly 20 is mounted on the wheel shaft 53 and the base 10. The measuring assembly 20 has a magnet 21 and multiple torque measuring apparatuses 22. The magnet 21 is mounted on the wheel shaft 53. The multiple torque measuring apparatuses 22 are mounted on and arranged around the outer peripheral surface 121 of the connection portion 12 of the base 10. The multiple torque measuring apparatuses 22 are mounted in the mounting recesses 14 respectively.

[0026] With reference to FIGS. 2, 6, and 7, the communication module 30 is mounted on the second side 112 of the combination portion 11 of the base 10 and receives and outputs measurement data measured by the measuring assembly 20. The communication module 30 has an information processing component 31 and a wireless transmission component 32. The information processing component 31 receives the measurement data which is measured by the measuring assembly 20 and converts the measurement data into torque data. The wireless transmission component 32 outputs the torque data.

[0027] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 7, the power module 40 is mounted on the second side 112 of the combination portion 11 of the base 10 and provides electricity to the communication module 30 and the multiple torque measuring apparatuses 22. The power module 40 has a battery and a battery case capable of accommodating the battery.

[0028] When the torque measuring device is in use, with reference to FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, the transmission mechanism 54 of the exercise bike 50 directly drives the base 10 to rotate and allow the flywheel 52 to rotate relative to the wheel shaft 53 along with the base 10. Meanwhile, the torque measuring apparatuses 22 on the base 10 rotate relative to the magnet 21 on the wheel shaft 53. The multiple torque measuring apparatuses 22 obtain the measurement data by detecting a magnetic change with the magnet 21. The communication module 30 receives the measurement data from the multiple torque measuring apparatuses 22 and wirelessly outputs the measurement data.

[0029] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 6, in the torque measuring device in accordance with the present invention, the multiple torque measuring apparatuses 22 of the measuring assembly 20, the communication module 30, and the power module 40 are set on the base 10 and the base 10 is directly assembled with the flywheel 52, the wheel shaft 53, and the transmission mechanism 54 of the exercise bike 50. When installing the torque measuring device, the user just needs to dispose the wheel shaft 53 of the exercise bike 50 through the base 10 and fix the wheel shaft 53 on the frame 51. Then, the flywheel 52 is fixed on the combination portion 11 of the base 10, and the transmission mechanism 54 of the exercise bike 50 is connected to the transmission portion 13 of the base 10 by a belt or chain. The assembly work of the torque measuring device is completed easily.

[0030] With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 6, since the communication module 30 and the power module 40 are mounted on the second side 112 of the combination portion 11, the communication module 30 and the power module 40 are exposed without being shielded. When the battery in the power module 40 runs out of power or is dead, or when the communication module 30 needs to be repaired, the user can replace the battery in the power module 40 or repair the communication module 30 without disassembling the base 10.

[0031] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 6, since the transmission mechanism 54 directly drives the base 10 to rotate, the multiple torque measuring apparatuses 22 located on the base 10 can rotate simultaneously with the base 10. Through the direct transmission, the torque measurement of the torque measuring device is well prevented from being affected by the assembly tolerances between components and the accuracy of the torque measurement is improved.

[0032] Accordingly, in the torque measuring device of the present invention, with the simplified structure that the measuring assembly 20, the communication module 30, and the power module 40 are mounted on the base 10, the user can directly assemble the torque measuring device on the exercise bike 50 to improve installation convenience and facilitate inspection or replacement. In addition, the transmission mechanism 54 can drive the base 10 to rotate by direct transmission so that the multiple torque measuring apparatuses 22 located on the base 10 can rotate simultaneously along with the base 10. Influence of the assembly tolerance between components during the process of the torque measurement can be avoided, and accordingly, the accuracy of torque measurement can be improved.