Brakes – Operators – Electric
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-26
2001-09-25
Schwartz, Christopher P. (Department: 3613)
Brakes
Operators
Electric
C188S161000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293375
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1) Field of the Invention
The invention herein relates to a permanent magnet brake mechanism for general applications such as a brake mechanism on health and therapeutic exercise machines that provides for simplified structural assembly and installation, stable performance and, furthermore, an complete structure in which the brake torque adjustment is continuous and stepless.
2) Description of the Prior Art
The brake mechanisms on current exercise machines or therapeutic machines are typically friction- and hydraulic-type or electric fan- or generator-based units; of these, the shortcomings of friction-type brake devices include wear and unstable braking (loading), the drawbacks of hydraulic-type brake devices include oil leakage, noise, and reduced braking at high temperatures; the defects of electric fan-based devices include overly large dimensions, unattractive appearance, a narrow load range, and difficult adjustment; and the negative aspects of the generator-based devices are structural complexity and high purchase prices.
Referring to FIG.
1
and
FIG. 2
, since the product structure of the currently marketed, manufacturer researched and developed “Permanent Magnet-type Adjustable Brake Device” utilizes an electrical conductor to vary the magnetic flux, back electromagnetic force (EMF) is generated in the circuit of the electrical conductor, producing local current or so-called eddy currents; according to Lenz's Law, the direction of the eddy currents sets up a reverse current flow that varies the original magnetic flux, with the square ratio of the directional torque and flux density permeating the air calculated using Maxwell's equation.
Based on the foregoing fundamental principle, the permanent magnet-type adjustable brake device of the said disclosure is comprised of bearings
11
inside a neck
10
, a single-direction flywheel assembly
12
of a rotatable outer hub
1
disposed adjacent to the neck
10
, a main shaft
3
inserted through the bearings
11
mounted in the rotatable outer hub
1
, a sliding seat
4
sleeved on the main shaft
3
and situated within the interior spatial confines of the rotatable outer hub
1
and, furthermore, has a permanent magnet
41
along its outer circumference, with the sliding seat
4
also positioned on the outer side of the main shaft
3
and, furthermore, a return spring
51
installed between the main shaft
3
and the sliding seat
4
, a brake line
52
that is connected to the sliding seat
4
and, furthermore, controls the movement of the sliding seat
4
, and a minimum of one guide key
53
at the interior side of the brake line
52
that provides for the positioning of a mounting frame
5
when the sliding seat
4
slides along the main shaft
3
; an annular groove
13
of an indented profile is formed along the circumferential edge of the said rotatable outer hub
1
that accommodates the entry of the permanent magnet
41
of the sliding seat
4
and, furthermore, a guide ring
2
is situated along both the upper and lower interior surfaces of the said annular groove
13
such that when the said structural components are assembled, the upper and lower surfaces of the permanent magnet
41
become physically coupled which increases the unit loading capacity and enables a reduction of structural dimensions.
In the said structural assembly, although the upper and lower surfaces of the permanent magnet
41
are physically coupled to thereby increase the unit loading capacity and reduce the structural dimensions, since an annular groove
13
of an indented profile must be formed along the circumferential edge of the said rotatable outer hub
1
, the initial fabrication of the rotatable outer hub
1
involves an inexpedient finishing procedure and after the annular indentation is formed in the surface, the guide ring
2
must be inserted inside which similarly results in assembly inconveniences; notably, when the brake line
52
is pulled to control the movement of the sliding seat
4
, this causes the permanent magnet
41
along its circumferential edge to be extended in or out of the indented profile of the annular groove
13
in a reciprocal path of operational movement, thereby enabling the variation of the coupling surface area size between the permanent magnet
41
and the guide ring
2
and proportionately varying the magnetic flux density, with the process producing an increase in temperature that cannot be effectively diverted or dissipated that seriously decreases the quality of powderized metal permanent magnets and thus adversely affects the objectives and performance of the entire structure.
Therefore, to remedy the said shortcomings of the conventional structure, the inventor of the invention herein, based on many years of experience gained while engaged in the marketing and production of various types of health and therapeutic exercise machines as well as after-sales consumer feedback, conducted extensive research that was additionally supported by research results accumulated from manufacturing experience which culminated in the successful completion of the invention herein and its submittal for purposes of patent application.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the invention herein is to provide a permanent magnet brake mechanism of a very simple structure that is simple to assemble and install, but which has increased unit load capacity and provides for effective heat dissipation during the coupling control process of the permanent magnet and the guide ring, with the increased effective coupling surface area between the entire guide ring and the permanent magnet not only affording more control over the brake torque and efficient cooling between the two components during the coupling operation process, but also continuous and stepless brake torque adjustment.
To further understand the structure, innovative features, and operation of the invention herein for purposes of review and reference, the brief description of the drawings below is followed by the detailed description of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6186290 (2001-02-01), Carlson
Bartz C. T.
Dougherty & Troxell
Schwartz Christopher P.
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