Abstract:
A flywheel magnetic controller for mating with an existing flywheel has a magnetic wheel, an external driving module, an elongated pulling element and a rotary engaged adjustment unit. The cable assembly adjustment structure of the flywheel magnetic controller is simplified structurally, thus greatly reducing the fabrication and assembly cost, and facilitating flexible and universal assembly with better applicability.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT  
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO A APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    The present invention relates generally to a flywheel magnetic controller, and more particularly to an innovative one which enables its operation with the cable assembly adjustment structure by rotating the engaged adjustment unit. 
         [0007]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98 
         [0008]    A flywheel magnetic controller is an adjustable damper device applied to fitness equipment. A flywheel magnetic controller is generally categorized into built-in and outboard driving types, of which the present invention is intended for improvement of its outboard driving pattern. 
         [0009]    According to said outboard driving pattern, the driving module of the magnetic adjustment structure for the flywheel magnetic controller is set externally at a spacing with the flywheel magnetic controller, and both of them are linked by a cable assembly. After assembly of said cable assembly, an adjustment means and mechanism shall be required to meet the preset drive accuracy. As for a common structure, a rotatable nut is generally set onto the cable assembly to regulate the correlation between the steel cable and conduit for the desired tightness of the steel cable. However, the following shortcomings are observed during actual applications: 
         [0010]    Due to screwing adjustment of said rotatable nut, such unstable fixation state likely causes reverse screwing under the pulling force of the steel cable, resulting in loss of accuracy. For this problem, a positioning nut must be set additionally at one end of the rotatable nut to mate with each other for secure positioning, leading to cost increase of components. Moreover, the rotatable nut is often adjusted using a spanner, bringing about inconvenience in use. On the other hand, such adjustment structure with rotatable nut is only applied to the cable assembly composed of steel cable and conduit, so there is an urgent need to resolve such an obvious shortcoming. 
         [0011]    Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, it would be an advancement in the art to provide an improved structure that can significantly improve the efficacy. 
         [0012]    Therefore, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability after deliberate design and evaluation based on years of experience in the production, development and design of related products. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    Based on the innovative structure and technical features of the present invention wherein the “flywheel magnetic controller” mainly comprises the magnetic wheel, external driving module, elongated pulling element and rotary engaged adjustment unit, the cable assembly adjustment structure of the flywheel magnetic controller hereto could be simplified structurally, thus reducing greatly the fabrication and assembly cost, and facilitating flexible and universal assembly with better applicability. 
         [0014]    Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of main components of the flywheel magnetic controller in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a partially enlarged view of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the rotary engaged adjustment unit in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an exploded sectional view of the rotary engaged adjustment unit in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is an assembled sectional view of the rotary engaged adjustment unit in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a B-B sectional view of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an adjustment status view of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is an exploded perspective view of the rotary engaged adjustment unit in another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is an assembled sectional view of the rotary engaged adjustment unit in another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is an actuating sectional view of the rotary engaged adjustment unit in another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 11  is an application view of the present invention wherein the elongated pulling element is formed by fabric tape. 
           [0026]      FIG. 12  is an application view of the present invention wherein the driven wheel is fitted with the steel rope mating hole and fabric tape mating hole. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0027]      FIGS. 1-6  depict preferred embodiments of the flywheel magnetic controller of the present invention, which, however, are provided for only explanatory objective. Said flywheel magnetic controller A is mated with an existing flywheel  11 . 
         [0028]    Said flywheel magnetic controller A comprises a magnetic wheel  10 , comprising of a seat body  12 , a cover body  13 , a central shaft  14 , a drive unit  15  and two magnetic adjustment discs  16 . Of which, these two magnetic adjustment discs  16  are assembled onto the seat body  11  via a pivotal portion  161 , such that the moveable end  162  of these two magnetic adjustment discs  16  can swing. Said drive unit  15  comprises of a driven wheel  151  set externally on the cover body  13  and at least a driving wheel  152 ,  153  set into the cover body  13 . With this drive unit  15 , the moveable end  162  of these two magnetic adjustment discs  16  is driven to swing synchronously. Of which, the driven wheel  151  and driving wheel  152  (or  153 ) are linked coaxially. 
         [0029]    An external driving module  20  is set at a spacing with the magnetic wheel  10 . Referring to  FIG. 2 , it comprises of a casing  21 , a driving motor  22  accommodated into the casing  21 , a change gear set  23  driven by the driving motor  22 , a power output wheel  24  driven by the change gear set  23  and a driving end  25  protruding out of the casing  21  and driven by the power output wheel  24 . The driving end  25  is bolted onto the power output wheel  24  via a bolt  50 . 
         [0030]    An elongated pulling element  30  is connected between the driving end  25  of the external driving module  20  and the driven wheel  151  of the drive unit  15  set for the magnetic wheel  10 . 
         [0031]    A rotary engaged adjustment unit  40  is set between the power output wheel  24  and driving end  25  of external driving module  20  (shown in  FIGS. 2-5 ). Said rotary engaged adjustment unit  40  comprises of a permanent geared portion  41  and a rotatable geared portion  42  that can be engaged or disengaged from each other, as well as a restoring spring  43  (a helical spring) enabling the permanent geared portion  41  and rotatable geared portion  42  to be restored automatically into an engaged state. Of which, the permanent geared portion  41  is set into the power output wheel  24 , and the rotatable geared portion  42  is set into the driving end  25 . 
         [0032]    Referring also to  FIGS. 8-10 , a schematic view of another preferred embodiment of the rotary engaged adjustment unit  40 , the driven wheel  151  and driving wheel  152  (or  153 ) are mated via a mating wheel  80 . Said mating wheel  80  comprises of an oriented plug-in portion  81  and an expanded disk  82 . Of which, the oriented plug-in portion  81  (of a hexagonal column shape) is inserted into an insertion hole  154  (of a hexagonal column shape) preset onto the driving wheel  152  or  153 ); said expanded disk  82  is exposed out of the cover body  13  to be mated with the driven wheel  151 . The rotary engaged adjustment unit  40  is set between the driving wheel  152  (or  153 ) and driven wheel  151  for the drive unit  15  of the magnetic wheel  10 . In this preferred embodiment, the driven wheel  151  and driving wheel  152  (or  153 ) is bolted and linked coaxially via a bolt  50 B. 
         [0033]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 , the driving end  25  is fitted with a circular shoulder  60 . A holding space  70  is formed between the circular shoulder  60  and the head  51  of the bolt  50 , so that the restoring spring  43  is assembled into the holding space  70 . Moreover, the structural features of the circular shoulder  60  and holding space  70  also apply to the preferred embodiments disclosed in  FIGS. 8-10 , namely, the driven wheel  151  is fitted with a circular shoulder  60 . Also, a holding space  70  is formed between the circular shoulder  60  and the head  51  of the bolt  50 B, so that the restoring spring  43  is assembled into the holding space  70 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the elongated pulling element  30  is formed by a steel rope  301 . 
         [0035]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , the elongated pulling element is also formed by a fabric tape  302 . The driving end  25  is fitted with an arched ratchet positioning groove  251  for insertion and positioning of the end of the fabric tape  302  (note: adhesive can be used for further fixation). 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the driving wheels  152 ,  153  of said drive unit  15  can be engaged in the form of left and right wheels, so that gear rows  163  are set at the moveable ends  162  of two magnetic adjustment discs  16  for meshing with the gear rim of the driving wheels  152 ,  153 . In such case, the driving wheels  152 ,  153  can synchronously drive the moveable ends  162  of two magnetic adjustment discs  16  for swinging motion. When said gear rows  163  are actuating, they move in a circumferential path according to the oscillation of two magnetic adjustment discs  16 . 
         [0037]    Of which, the permanent geared portion  41  and rotatable geared portion  42  of the rotary engaged adjustment unit  40  are coaxially configured inwards or outwards. 
         [0038]    Based on the above-specified structural design, the core design of the present invention lies in the innovative structure of rotary engaged adjustment unit  40  that can be set between the power output wheel  24  and driving end  25  of the external driving module  20  (shown in  FIGS. 2-5 ), or between the mating wheel  80  and driven wheel  151  of the drive unit  15  (shown in  FIGS. 8-10 ). As for the preferred embodiment disclosed in  FIGS. 1-6 , when the user intends to adjust the tightness of the elongated pulling element  30 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , the driving end  25  is pulled outwards (indicated by arrow L 1 ) until the permanent geared portion  41  and rotatable geared portion  42  of the rotary engaged adjustment unit  40  are fully disengaged, making the driving end  25  in a release state. Meanwhile, the restoring spring  43  is pressed to accumulate its elastic force. 
         [0039]    Referring also to  FIG. 7 , the user could rotate clockwise or counterclockwise the driving end  25  (indicated by arrow L 2 ), so as to adjust the tightness of the steel rope  301  of the elongated pulling element  30  (indicated by arrow L 3 ). As compared with prior art, the permanent geared portion  41  and rotatable geared portion  42  of the rotary engaged adjustment unit  40  of the present invention could be directly formed on the flywheel magnetic controller components such as the power output wheel  24 , driving end  25  or the mating wheel  80  and driven wheel  151  of the drive unit  15 , so very few components are required (note: only the restoring spring  43  is additionally fabricated), reducing greatly the fabrication and assembly cost. On the other hand, as the rotary engaged adjustment unit  40  of the present invention is not assembled onto the steel rope, the elongated pulling element made of either steel rope or fabric tape can apply to flexible and universal assembly. Furthermore, the rotary engaged adjustment unit  40  of the present invention features ease-of-operation, since the user is only required to pull manually the driving end  25  or driven wheel  151  for adjustment without other tools. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIGS. 8-10 , when the user intends to adjust the tightness of the elongated pulling element  30 , the driven wheel  151  is pulled outwards for rotation (indicated by arrow L 4  in  FIG. 10 ), such that the permanent geared portion  41  and rotatable geared portion  42  of the rotary engaged adjustment unit  40  can be disengaged into a release state. 
         [0041]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the elongated pulling element  30  is formed by a steel rope  301 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 11 , the elongated pulling element is formed by a fabric tape  302 . 
         [0043]    Referring also to  FIG. 12 , the driven wheel  151  is structurally designed in such a way that a steel rope mating hole  155  and a fabric tape mating hole  156  are set separately at both sides. Alternatively, steel rope  301  or fabric tape  302  can be assembled depending on different elongated pulling elements, but different types of driven wheels  151  must be fabricated to cut down the fabrication cost.