FR2645753A1 - - Google Patents

Abstract

Improved ergometric treadmill which is noteworthy in that the runner himself provides the movement and the driving of the treadmill while himself modulating and regulating the speed of advance of the belt, and in that the runner is attached to a waistband (5) which is itself associated by means (6) with the carrier frame of the belt, having a freedom of movement in the vertical and lateral planes and not in the frontal or displacement plane of the belt and in that measurement means are disposed on the attachment and linking means (6) of the runner and on the treadmill permitting the recording and the calculation of certain parameters such as the momentary vertical power and the momentary horizontal power of the runner.

Description

The subject of the invention is a treadmill

advanced ergometer.

  The invention relates to hardware and.

  equipment allowing the training of sportsmen in particular, but also allowing the rehabilitation of the people. This material is also suitable for performing research work for

physiological and biomechanical ..

  We know. already 1O motorized treadmills likely to recreate the relative movement of a runner relative to a track by making it movable. Thus the track is constituted by an endless belt shaped belt between two cylinders or return rollers and driven by an electric motor whose speed is. constant. In this implementation, the speed level is adjustable or preset by a servo system, so the runner is then motionless relative to the environment which allows room 0 training at constant speed and facilitates the input

  only physiological data.

  Motorized treadmills of this type

  however, have limitations of use and.

  certain disadvantages which are: - for the athlete a speed imposed not allowing the sprint, nor to modulate the power of race, - for the trainer, the researcher, and more generally the biomechanic in charge of establishing the tests and tests to appreciate the results, the impossibility for him to measure the power 3'0

  external mechanics provided during the race.

  A first goal sought according to the invention was. therefore to offer a device offering more flexibility of use and making it possible to measure the effort of

  the user in different racing situations.

  fast such as sprint, regular or de-accelerated. Another object of the invention was to propose an apparatus making it possible to measure the power of the user in the various racing situations considered. Another object of the invention was to design a simple, inexpensive apparatus allowing a measurement to be made. simultaneous with various other parameters, these goals and more will stand out well

from the rest of the description,

  According to a first characteristic of the invention. the treadmill comprises an endless belt arranged in tension between two rollers positioned and held on a carrying frame, the runner being in action on the upper run of the mat, itself held by a support plate associated with the chassis driving the mat, characterized in that the rider provides himself the movement and training of the treadmill by modulating and regulating itself the running speed of the carpet, and. in that the runner is attached to a belt itself associated by means of the carrier frame of the belt, having a freedom of movement in the vertical and lateral planes, and not in the frontal plane or movement of the carpet and in that measuring means are arranged on the attachment means and. the rider and the treadmill allowing the recording and calculation of certain parameters such as the instantaneous vertical power and the instantaneous horizontal power of the rider. These and other features

  will emerge from the rest of the description.

  To fix the object of the invention illustrated in a non-limiting manner to the figures of the drawings oa: - Figure 1 is a schematic view illustrating the ergometric treadmill s elon the invention involved for a series of three S

  measurements recorded simultaneously.

  - Figure -2 is a schematic view according to Figure 1 illustrating the ergometric treadmill according to the invention associated with a system for measuring and automatic calculation of recorded data. FIGS. 3, 4 and S are graphs illustrating the respective measurements of: the evolution of the potential power of gravitation (in watts) as a function of time (in seconds), corresponding to the measurement of the power

  vertical vertical developed by the user.

  - the evolution of the kinetic translation power (in watts) as a function of time (in seconds) corresponding to the measurement of the instantaneous horizontal power developed by the user, - the evolution of the instantaneous external mechanical power (in watts ) as a function of time (in seconds), being the sum of the two measurements

Previous.

  In order to make the object of the invention more concrete, it is now described in a non

  illustratively illustrated in the figures of the drawings.

  The ergometric treadmill according to the invention is established from a concept of operation different from the prior art, namely that it is the rider who sets himself in motion and drives the treadmill, thus being able to modulate at will

  different effects or racing situations sought.

  3S -4 - For this purpose, the treadmill is. referenced as a whole by Cl (1) and includes a band without

  end arranged in tension between two rollers (2), those

  they are properly positioned and. held by supports (3) on a carrier frame (4). The upper strand S of the treadmill is itself maintained by

  a plate or support (18) associated with the chassis.

  The runner (C) stands on the upper run of the mat and is held in a fixed position by a belt (S) fixed around his waist, said belt being secured to the side of the back of the user to a support bar C ( 6E), which is hinged at one of its ends (6.1) & the upper part of a bracket (7) vertical in the rear part of the carrier frame (4), the hinge 1S of the bar allows vertical and horizontal displacements of the user but not his frontal displacements. that is, forward or backward

  in the direction of movement of the carpet.

  Sensors mounted on the treadmill and. the holding bar are connected to a recording means (7) of the type for example an electronic interface and make it possible to obtain electronic signals (analog voltage) corresponding to the following data: 28 - Speed of the treadmill

  - horizontal pulling force of the runner.

- vertical displacement of the runner.

  The calculation of the speed of the conveyor belt driven by the user is. realized by a signal generated by a means of the optical encoder type (8) associated with a frequency-voltage converter mounted on the axis of one of the return and drive rolls of the belt. The calculation of the horizontal forces exerted by the runner or user is made from a signal generated by a means (9) of the force sensor type for example & strain gauges mounted on the

holding bar.

  The calculation of the vertical displacement of the runner is made from a signal generated by a means (10) for example of the potentiometer type located on the axis

  rotation of the holding bar.

  The various means (8, 9, and 10) are connected to the above-mentioned electronic interface (7), which in conjunction with tracers (11, 12, and 13)

  to print and. visualize the results observed.

  As a variant according to FIG. 2, data acquisition and processing can be carried out on a computer (14) by means of a digital analog interface (15) and adapted software. The interface and the software make it possible has-to calculate and

  view the following data as a function of time.

  - the horizontal pulling force of the subject or runner - the speed of the treadmill - the vertical movement of the subject or runner - the instantaneous vertical power provided by the subject or runner - the instantaneous horizontal power provided by the subject or runner - the total power instant provided by the subject

or runner.

  the instantaneous vertical power supplied (PV) is the consequence of successive rises and falls of the runner: PV = M. g. Vv or M is the mass of the subject in kilograms g is the acceleration of gravity (9.81 m / s / s) Vv is the vertical velocity of the subject in m / s - the instantaneous horizontal power (Ph) provided by the subject is the consequence of speed and forces

  horizontals occurring during the race.

  Ph = Fh. Vh o Fh is the horizontal force produced in Newton 1O Vh is the horizontal velocity of the subject in m / s - The instantaneous total power supplied (Pt) is the sum of the instantaneous horizontal power supplied and the instantaneous vertical power supplied Pt = Pv + Ph The graphs in Figures 3, 4 and S illustrate

  some measurements done on a subject.

  According to another characteristic arrangement of the invention, the treadmill can be driven in a complementary manner by a motor (16) whose torque is constant so as to more or less compensate the mechanical friction forces, the speed of the motor being free. The motor torque level can be adjusted by a 2S torque control system. It should be noted that the motor torque compensation value can be set for a value close to zero that simply compensates for the friction forces or reaches a value up to 2 or 10 times in increase or in

decrease of these.

  - So when there is a simple compensation of the friction forces, we are in the same conditions

than a normal track.

  - If the engine torque is greater than the forces of

  friction to a value of 2 to 10 times

  -7- ci, the subject must mainly hold the treadmill thus ensuring a drive of the eccentric type allowing the overspeed, - If the engine torque is lower than the forces of

  friction to a value of 2 to 10 times

  here, there is then increase of the hardness of the carpet for its training, resulting in a training of the concentric type requiring an over-power of the user, ie a higher effort of the latter, It appears for this last situation in a very advantageous way that the ergometric treadmill makes it possible to train a subject in environmental conditions superior to those actually existing on the track and thus to obtain in the long term superior results and to improve the maximum speed or power This is particularly advantageous for a training of

quick sprint races.

  The modulation of the engine torque and its action on the treadmill is obtained by conventional mechanical means, within the reach of those skilled in the art. The invention finds many advantages. The ergometric treadmill makes it possible to vary the speed, the forces and the power supplied during the race at will. It offers possibilities of measurements and bio-mechanical analyzes impossible to obtain on the classic treadmills, It offers new perspectives of training and research, In particular, a training & the race, with possibility of

  variation of the running power, is possible.

Claims (1)

CLAIMS CATIONS   -1- Improved ergometric treadmill, of the type comprising an endless belt arranged in tension between two rollers (2) positioned and held on a carrier frame (4), the runner (2) being in action on the upper strand of the mat -Even maintained by a support plate (18) associated with the chassis, a motor (16) driving the carpet, characterized in that the runner itself ensures the movement and training of the treadmill by modulating and regulating itself the speed of movement of the carpet, and in that the runner is attached to a belt (S) itself associated by means (6) to the carrier frame of the belt, with freedom of movement in the vertical and lateral planes, and not in the frontal or moving plane of the belt and in that measuring means are arranged on the means (6) for attaching and connecting the runner and on the conveyor belt allowing the recording and calculation of certain parameters such as power v instant erect and the instantaneous horizontal power of the runner. -2- treadmill according to claim 1 characterized in that the means (6) is constituted by a retaining bar whose one end is secured to the belt and the other (6.1) end articulated on a support bracket ( 7) vertical arranged in the part   rear of the carrier frame (4) of the carpet.   the articulation of the bar allowing the displacements   vertical and horizontal runner.   -3- Treadmill according to any one of   claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the means   S3R measuring arranged on the treadmill and the holding bar are connected to a means of registration (7) of the-type electronic interface and allow to obtain the electronic signals relating to the following parameters: speed of the treadmill, traction force horizontal runner, vertical movement of the runner, said interface (7) being connected to plotters (11, 12, 13> printing and data recordings, -4- Treadmill according to any one of   claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the means   measuring devices arranged on the treadmill- and. the holding bar are connected to a digital analogue interface type recording means associated with a computer with appropriate software and plotters allowing the calculation and visualization of the following data: - horizontal traction force of the rider - speed of the treadmill - displacement runner's vertical - instant vertical power provided by the runner instantaneous horizontal power supplied by the runner - instantaneous total power provided by the runner -5- Treadmill according to any of the   Claims 3 and 4 characterized in that the measurement   and calculation of the speed of the treadmill driven by the rider are obtained by a signal generated by a means of the optical encoder type (8) associated with a frequency-voltage converter mounted on the axis of   one of the means of returning and training the carpet.   -6- conveyor mat according to any one of revendJications 3 and 4 characterized in that the measurement -10o- and the calculation of the horizontal forces exerted by the runner are obtained by a signal generated by a means (9) of the type force sensor for example with strain gauges mounted on the holding bar, -7- Treadmill according to any one of the   Claims 3 and 4 characterized in that the measurement   and calculating the vertical displacement of the runner are obtained by a signal generated by a means (10) for example of the potentiometer type located on the axis of   rotation and articulation of the holding bar.   -8- Treadmill according to any one of   Claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the carpet   is capable of being driven by a motor (16) whose torque is constant and adapted to compensate or for values greater or less than or equal to the mechanical frictional forces, the speed   motor being free and the level of torque adjustable.   Treadmill according to claim 8 characterized in that the value of the engine torque is set for   a value that compensates for frictional forces.   -10- Treadmill according to claim 8 characterized in that the value of the engine torque is set to be greater than the friction forces up to 2 to 10 times thereof, -111- Treadmill according to claim 8 characterized in that that the value of the driving torque is established to be lower than the frictional forces up to 2 to 10 times this one.