JPH026542B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an exercise device with a double-acting hydraulic cylinder.

Exercise devices commonly used for the two purposes of muscle strengthening and rehabilitation are known. Traditional, old-fashioned exercise equipment commonly uses a series of pulleys and ropes to lift weights. However, recent exercise devices include a frame that supports the body, an actuator attached to the frame to be moved by a part of the body, and a part of the body that resists the movement of the actuator and moves the actuator. It is equipped with a double-acting hydraulic cylinder that strengthens or trains the muscles of the body. An example of such an exercise device is
U.S. Patent No. 4,066,259, issued January 3, 1978
``Neck Exercise Device'' in U.S. Patent Application No. 790,051 filed April 22, 1977;
US patent application Ser. No. 914,356, filed on June 21, 1978, discloses a "leg atrophy exercise device." For information regarding the operation and use of these devices, please refer to the above references.

Although these motion devices operate successfully with conventional double-acting hydraulic cylinders,
It would be desirable to have a special double-acting hydraulic cylinder for use in such devices, or a special double-acting hydraulic cylinder capable of controlling the amount of force required to move the actuating parts of the motion device, which has not heretofore been developed. Not as effective.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a motion device which resists movement of the piston in either direction as the piston rod attached to the slidably mounted piston moves into and out of the cylinder. and a double-acting hydraulic cylinder.

It is also an object of the invention to control the amount of opposing force within the cylinder and thereby the necessary force applied through the piston rod attached to the piston within the cylinder to move the piston rod relative to the cylinder. The object of the present invention is to provide an exercise device and a double-acting hydraulic cylinder configured as described above.

According to the present invention, a double-acting hydraulic cylinder has an outer tube and an inner tube provided inside the outer tube, and the tube ends of the outer tube and the inner tube are connected by a head member and a base member. Closed, the members each have a passageway that places fluid in the inner tube in fluid communication with fluid in the outer tube. A piston is slidably mounted within the inner tube for acting on the fluid within the inner tube, the piston having a passageway therethrough that places the fluid on one side in fluid communication with the fluid on the other side. A piston rod is attached to the piston for moving the piston and is configured to move fluid within the inner tube through the head member. A first valve arrangement is attached to the base member to prevent fluid communication through the passageway in the base member as the piston moves toward the base member, and a second valve arrangement is attached to the piston. , configured to prevent fluid communication through the piston passageway as the piston moves toward the base member. The valve and piston rod cooperate so that during movement of the piston, fluid in the inner tube always flows from the inner tube to the outer tube through the passage in the head member. Additionally, the flow of fluid through the passageway in the head member is adjusted to control the flow rate of fluid from the inner tube to the outer tube to adjust the amount of force required to move the piston in either direction. It has a device to

The exercise device according to the invention includes a frame for supporting the body, an actuating device attached to the frame to be moved by a part of the body, and a double-acting device coupled to the frame for resisting movement of the actuating device. It is equipped with a fluid pressure cylinder. This cylinder is
The container includes a first chamber and a second chamber for holding a fluid therein and a passageway for placing the chambers in fluid communication with each other. In addition, this motion device includes a control device in which a plurality of orifices of different sizes are formed in order to adjust the flow of fluid through the passage, and a control device that selectively positions the orifice that communicates with the passage. and a device for controlling the resistance to flow and varying the amount of force required to move the actuator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the drawings. Note that the same parts are given the same reference numbers throughout the drawings.

The present invention will be described below with reference to preferred embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an exercise device 20 for exercising a part of the human body, the exercise device having a frame 22 for supporting the body. The frame 22 has an H-shaped base 24 with feet 26 attached by screws to the outer ends of the arms of the base, and a chair portion 28 having a seat portion 30 and a back portion 32. However, these are supported by front legs 34, 36 and rear legs 38, 40 that extend upwardly from the cross member of the base 24. A pair of hand clips for restricting the movement of the human body during exercise are positioned on either side of the seat portion 30 using support rods 44 connected to the rear legs 38, 40.

Actuating device 4 for moving leg "L" back and forth
6 is provided in front of the seat 30. The actuator 46 is provided with a pair of mounting arms 48 connected to the front end of the seat portion 30 to which a lever 50 is pivotally mounted in alignment with the knee "K" joint. An arm 52 is attached to the outer end of the lever 50 and supported by a brace 54. A front pair of padded rollers 56 and a rear pair of padded rollers 58 are connected to the arm 52 by front and rear padded rollers on both sides of the arm 52 so as to hold the ankles, respectively.

Double-acting fluid pressure is used to resist movement of actuator 46 as it is moved by the user between an extended position, shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1, and a retracted position, shown in solid lines. A cylinder 60 is used. This hydraulic cylinder 60 is connected to a lever 62 attached to the seat 30 of the frame 22 and an actuating device 4.
It is rotatably attached between the lever 64 attached to the lever 6 and the lever 64 attached to the lever 64.

3a, 3b and 4 show a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 60, with actuator 46 being moved from the extended position to the retracted position in FIG. 3a, and actuator 46 being moved from the retracted position to FIG. 4 shows the case where it is moved to the extended position. Fluid cylinder 60 has an outer tube 66 and an inner tube 68 disposed concentrically within the outer tube, both tubes extending between head member 70 and base member 72. With this configuration, the first chamber is formed within the inner tube, and the second chamber is formed by the annular space between the inner and outer tubes.

Cylindrical piston 74 acting on the fluid in the first chamber
is slidably mounted within the inner tube 68.
An O-ring 76 is mounted around the outside of the piston 74 to prevent fluid communication around the outside of the piston, and a ring 78 is provided that allows the piston 74 to be inserted into the inside tube 68. This limits wear on the piston when it is moved. A passageway 80 is provided concentrically in the cylindrical piston 74 for placing a portion of the first chamber on one side of the piston in fluid communication with a portion of the first chamber on the other side.

Piston rod 8 for moving piston 74
2 extends through the head member 70, and the first end of the piston rod is provided with an externally threaded member 84 which may extend into the passageway 80 for threaded engagement with the internal threads on the piston. A passageway 86 extends through the male threaded member 84 to a cross passageway 88 to provide fluid communication between the two portions of the first chamber. The other end of the piston rod 82 is connected to a bracket 86 which is provided with a hole 88 into which a pin can be inserted for attaching the piston rod 82 to the lever 64 of the actuator 46.

A check valve 90 is mounted within the passageway 80 of the piston 74 to prevent fluid communication through the piston passageway as the piston is moved toward the head member 70. , the piston 74 is in fluid communication via the piston passageway 80 as the piston 74 is moved toward the base member 72 . The valve body of the check valve 90 is connected to the piston 7
4, and the ball 92 is supported by a four finned support 94 to permit fluid flow therethrough. A spring 96 extends between the support member 94 and the externally threaded member 84 of the piston rod 82 to urge the ball 92 against a valve seat 98 provided by a shoulder projecting annularly into the passageway 80.

As shown in FIGS. 3a, 4, 6 and 7, the base member 72 has a first surface 10 facing outwardly from one another.
0 and the second table 102. A protruding shoulder 104 extends from the first surface 1 to receive the tube ends of the outer and inner tubes.
It is located prominently from 00. The outer O-ring 106 and the inner O-ring 108 are attached to the protruding shoulder 1
04 to prevent leakage between the seams between the base member 72 and the outer and inner tubes. Passage 110 is connected to base member 72
A second base member passageway 112 extends from the second valve surface 102 to the valve inlet port 114 .

Preventing fluid communication through the base member passageway 112 as the piston moves toward the base member, while allowing fluid communication through the base member passageway 112 as the piston moves toward the head member. A check valve 116 is mounted within base member 72. The valve body of check valve 116 is defined by a base member, with passageway 114 defining the valve inlet port and outlet port 118 allowing fluid to flow from the valve to the first chamber. Check valve 116
has a ball 120 held by four finned supports 122 that allow fluid flow.
A plug 124 is screwed and connected to the base member 72, and the plug 124 and the support 122 are connected to each other by screwing.
By inserting a spring between the base member 72
A ball 120 is pressed against a valve seat provided by an upper annular shoulder 128. A closure plug 1 is provided in an access passageway 130 extending outwardly from the plug 124.
32 are also connected by screwing.

Passageway 136 extending across and through base member 72
A bearing 134 is mounted therein to allow a pin to pass through the passageway 136 to attach the base member 72 to the lever 62.

As shown in FIGS. 3b, 9 and 10, the head member 70 has a first surface 138 directed toward the first surface 100 of the base member 72 and a second surface 140 directed away from the first surface 138. have A projecting shoulder 142 is provided on the first surface 138 for receiving the other ends of the outer and inner tubes. An outer O-ring 144 and an inner O-ring 14 are placed on the outer and inner surfaces of this protruding shoulder 142.
6 are provided to seal the head member 70 to the outer and inner tubes. A piston rod 82 is inserted into the head member 70 through a first passage 148 concentrically with the outer and inner tubes, and a piston rod 82 is inserted through the first passage 148 concentrically with the piston rod 82.
A seal ring 150 and wiper ring 152 are mounted within 48 . A second passage 154 is provided concentrically with the first passage 148, and the head member 7
An annular portion around the piston rod 82 is formed within the piston rod 82. Cage 15 indicating the pressure in the first chamber
A gauge passage 156 for inserting the gauge 8 is provided through one side of the head member 70. A control passageway 160 extends from the lateral counter-gauge passageway 156 to the annulus 154 and communicates with a passageway 162 extending through the protruding shoulder 142, thereby placing the first and second chambers in fluid communication.

As shown in Figures 3b and 10-14, a device 164 is connected to the head member 70 by a snap ring 166 for controlling the flow rate of fluid from the inner tube to the outer tube. The device 164 has a tubular portion 168 having a longitudinal passageway 170 for receiving fluid from the passageway 160 and a longitudinal passageway 170 extending through the wall of the tubular portion 168 for regulating the flow of fluid into the passageway 162. At least one control orifice 172 is provided. Preferably, four orifices 172 of varying cross-sectional area are provided radially through the side wall of tubular member 168 to vary the amount of force required to move piston 174.

In order to align the position of each orifice 172 with the position of passageway 162, it is necessary to provide some type of indicator. In the illustrated example,
A control knob 174 is attached to the shaft 178 of the control device 164.
is attached by a set screw 176. A ball mounted within the passageway of the knob 174 is held against the opposing surface 1 of the head member 70 by a spring 184.
It is being pushed towards 84. Opposing surface 18
Four recesses 186 are provided in passageway 1 so that when knob 174 is rotated to position ball 180 within the selected recess, one of the orifices
The position can be aligned with 62.

As shown in FIGS. 3a and 5, an accumulator tank 188 capable of storing a predetermined amount of fluid is mounted in fluid communication with the fluid in outer tube 66. This is accomplished by using a tube 190 between a passageway 192 formed in the second surface 102 of the base member 72 and a passageway 194 formed in the end cap 192. Fluid passes through passage 110 to the second
Plug 198 connects tube 19 to accumulate volume changes that occur as it flows from the chamber through passageway 112 to the first chamber.
It is movably mounted within 0. plug 19
A guide rod 200 is threadedly connected to the plug 19 and extends through a passage formed in the end cap 196 to cooperate with the end cap.
6 from becoming stuck within the tube 190 due to the wedge action. End cap 196 and plug 198
A spring 202 is mounted between the piston 70 and the piston 198 to urge the plug 198 toward the base member 72 with sufficient force to ensure that fluid is in the first chamber as the piston 72 is moved toward the head member 70. I try to make it flow. To prevent atmospheric changes from affecting the movement of the plug 198, the end cap 19
6 is provided with a through ventilation hole 204.

Head member 70, base member 72 and end cap 196 are preferably formed with four corners that extend beyond the diameters of outer tube 66 and storage tube 190. Four holes are drilled through the corners described above for the passage of bolts 206 through the head member, base member and end cap, and each bolt 206 is fitted with a nut 208 for tightening the components of the fluid cylinder together. There is.

In operation, the user adjusts the setting force of fluid cylinder 60 by rotating knob 174 on control 164. Next, sit on the exercise device 20,
The ankle is positioned between the padded rollers 56 and 58, the handle 42 is grasped, and the foot is extended and contracted a predetermined number of times over a predetermined period of time. When the user extends his or her legs, the actuator 46 moves from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 to the position shown in dashed lines. As shown in FIG. 4, this moves the piston 74 toward the head member 70, closing the piston valve 90 and transferring fluid pressure from the first chamber to the passageway 160 and to the selection orifice 1.
72 and passageway 162 to the second chamber, and base member valve 116 is opened to allow fluid to flow from accumulator 118 through passageway 112, inlet port 114 and outlet port 118 to the first chamber. When the user retracts the foot, the actuating device 46 moves from the position shown in broken lines to the position shown in solid lines. As shown in FIG. 3a, this movement moves the piston 74 toward the base member 72, causing the base member valve 11
6 to prevent fluid from flowing into the accumulator 188 and piston valve 90 to allow fluid to communicate between the two portions of the first chamber by moving the piston rod 82 into the first chamber. , fluid flows from the first chamber back into the second chamber via passageway 160, selection orifice 172, and passageway 162. Thus, fluid cylinder 60 provides resistance to movement of actuator 46 in either direction, thereby exercising the user's muscles in both directions.

As is clear from the above, according to the present invention, all of the above objects can be achieved,
It also has various advantages.

The present invention is not limited to the examples described above, and can be implemented with various modifications within the scope of the present invention.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view of the exercise device according to the present invention, FIG.
The figure is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 1, viewed from the bottom;
Figures 3a and 3b are cross-sectional views of the double-acting hydraulic cylinder according to the present invention in the first operating mode, with some parts cut away, and Figure 4 shows the part shown in Figure 3a in the second operating mode. FIG. 5 is an end view of the cross section taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 3a as seen in the direction of the arrow;
Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Figure 3a, Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Figure 3a, and Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Figure 3a.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 in figure a, Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in figure 3b, and figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in figure 3b.
11 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the device shown in FIG. 3b, FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 in FIG. 11, and FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line 14-14 in FIG. 11. 20... Exercise device, 22... Frame, 46... Actuating device, 60... Double-acting hydraulic cylinder, 66... Outer tube, 68... Inner tube, 70... Head member, 72... Base member, 74... Piston, 80... Piston Passage, 82... Piston rod, 90... Check valve, 96
... Spring, 110 ... Base member passage, 116
...Check valve, 124...Plug, 160...Control passage,
164...Flow rate control device.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A frame 22 and an actuating device 46 attached to the frame that is moved by a part of the human body.
and a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 60 coupled to the frame for resisting movement of the actuator, the cylinder 60 having first and second fluid-supporting chambers disposed therein. container 6 with
6, 68, control passages 160, 162 that place the first and second chambers in fluid communication with each other;
a piston 74 slidably mounted within the first chamber for acting on a fluid disposed within the chamber;
a control device 164 for regulating fluid flow through the control passage, the control passage 164 having a plurality of orifices 172 of different sizes formed therein;
means 174 for selectively positioning the orifice 172 in communication with the actuator 62 to control the resistance to fluid flow and vary the amount of force required to move the actuator 46. 2 the piston 74 has a passageway 74 for placing a portion of the first chamber on one side of the piston 74 in fluid communication with a portion of the first chamber on the other side of the piston 74; a piston rod 82 extending into the container to move the piston 74 in response to movement of the cylinder 60;
a valve arrangement 92,120 disposed within the chamber for restricting fluid flow through a particular passageway such that fluid always flows from the first chamber to the second chamber through a selected orifice 172; The exercise device according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The patent includes an accumulator tank 188 mounted in fluid communication with the second chamber for storing fluid therein as the piston 74 moves across the first chamber. The exercise device according to claim 2. 4. A plug 198 movably disposed within the accumulator tank 188 and used when it is necessary to add fluid to the first chamber.
3. The exercise device according to claim 2, further comprising a spring 202 for pressing the container toward the container. 5 Rod 200 connected to the plug 198
and aligning the plug 198 with the accumulator tank 188 when the plug 198 moves in response to fluid flowing into or out of the accumulator tank 188. 4. The exercise device of claim 3, further comprising a rod guide member 194 connected to said accumulator tank 188 to maintain the same condition. 6. The control device 164 includes a cylindrical member 168 having an axially extending passageway 170, one end of which is closed and the other end of the passageway connected to the chambers 154, 160. The cylindrical member 168 communicates with one of the chambers.
includes a plurality of orifices 17 extending generally in a radial direction.
2, one end of these orifices communicates with the axially extending passageway 170, and the other end communicates with the other of the chambers. The exercise device described in . 7 The frame includes sheet members 30 and 32,
means 42, 44 for preventing movement of the human body relative to these sheet members 30, 32; and means 48 for pivotally coupling the actuating device to engage an end of the human body. The exercise device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has the following. 8 The control device 164 includes a tubular plug 16 having four metering orifices 172 of different sizes.
8, the orifice extends radially through the side of the tubular plug in order to vary the force required to exert in moving the actuating device 46, allowing fluid flow into the chamber and the piston 74. 7. The force required for movement is varied by rotating the tubular plug to position differently sized orifices 172 within the control passage. exercise equipment. 9. The means for selectively positioning the orifice rotates the tubular plug, positions the selected orifice 172 within the control passageway, controls the resistance to fluid flow, and controls the force required to move the actuator 46. a spring load coupled to the knob for engaging a recess 186 on the container to indicate the position of each orifice 172 when each orifice 172 is aligned with the passageway 162; 9. The exercise device according to claim 8, further comprising a ball 180. 10 The cylinder 60 has an inner tube 68 disposed within the outer tube 66, the ends of the tubes 66 and 68 are closed to form a first chamber in the inner tube 68, and a head member 70 and a base member 72 forming a second chamber;
Control passages 160 and 162 are formed in the head member for fluidly communicating the chamber and the second chamber with each other, and a check valve means 120 is formed in the base member 72, and the control passage 164 and the check valve are formed in the base member 72. 1
20 is a fluid flowing through a selected orifice 172 such that as the piston moves across the first chamber, fluid always flows from the first chamber to the second chamber through the selected orifice 172; 2. The exercise device according to claim 1, wherein the exercise device limits the amount of exercise.