Electric Muscular Exerciser.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Electric Muscular Exerciser.
ARCHIE BROWN MACMILLAN, 480, 7th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y., U.S.A., Subject
of the Queen of Great Britain, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention, subject of my present application, is an improvement applicable
to exercising apparatus, such as chest-weights, rowing machines and the like,
which are provided with cords or straps arranged to be drawn over a pulley or
pulleys and caused to raise weights or stretch elastic bands.
The object of the invention is to provide for the passage of an electric current
or succession of electric shocks through the portions of the body of a person
using the apparatus, that are being exercised, and to utilise a part of the power
expended in exercise in generating the electrical energy applied to this purpose.
I accordingly, in carrying out my invention, pass the straps or cords which
are attached to the weights or elastic bands, over pulleys, one of which imparts
rotation to a small magneto electric generator, and maintain suitable electric
connections between the terminals of the generator and the handle or handles
attached to the cord. I also provide certain appliances which render the appa-
ratus more effective and useful, the nature and purpose of which will be more
fully hereinafter described.
In the drawings hereto annexed, Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of my improved
exercising apparatus,
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the generator,
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the generator with certain parts removed, and shewing
diagrammatically a transformer in connection with the generator and the neces-
sary circuit connections,
Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a modified form of the apparatus of
Figure 1,
Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the generator in same.
In Fig. 1 A designates any resisting device, such as one or more elastic cords,
secured to a fixed support and attached to ordinary cords or straps B, B¹, but
detachable separately therefrom.
One of these cords is carried up over a two-step fixed pulley C on the shaft of
or in gear with the armature of a small magneto generator D, mounted in any
convenient manner. The other cord is carried up over a pulley C₁, mounted
loosely on the shaft, so as not to influence or be influenced by, the revolution of
the armature in either direction.
To the ends of these cords are attached straps or bands E, F containing or com-
posed of electric conductors to which are connected flexible conductors & leading
from the terminals of the generator D) and of such lengths as to permit, without
becoming taut, the cords B, B1, to be drawn out to their fullest extent.
With this arrangement, when the cord B is drawn over the pulley, an alter-
nating current is developed in the armature coils of the generator that passes
D 077

page_text: from one handle to the other through the body of the person exercising, and
similarly, when the cord is drawn back by the reaction of the elastic band.
One end of the armature winding is connected to the shaft J which is in elec-
trical connection with the frame of the machine through either bearing, and the
other end to an insulated ring H, and the conductors which convey the current.
to the handles are connected to these two parts of the generator-the frame and
insulated ring H-in any ordinary way, but inasmuch as it is desirable to use a
small and inexpensive magneto machine, the current from which is comparatively
feeble, I make special provision for intensifying its effects by using a circuit
breaker K (Figs. 1 & 3) which is a conducting ring mounted directly on the
shaft J and provided with two insulating segments L at diametrically opposite
points of, and flush with, its periphery. A brush M bears upon the ring Hand
another brush N bears on the ring K; the two brushes are electrically connected,
and the ring K is in electrical contact with the shaft J.
The wires for the outer circuit are taken from the brush M and the frame of
the machine. With this arrangement, the armature winding is short circuited
when brush N is in contact with ring K, but broken momentarily twice in each
revolution at the instant that each insulating segment L passes under the brush,
said segments being arranged on the shaft in a position at right angles to the
poles of the armature so that the momentary breaks occur at the moment when
each pulsation of current is at its maximum strength. At each break, the
electro motive force of self-induction, which is much higher than the initial
electro-motive force, traverses the outer circuit, so that there is thus produced a
succession of strong shocks.
The brush N is pivoted at O so as to be removable from contact with ring K
when it is desired to use simply the alternating current of the generator, and a
pin is employed to hold it in position when in use.
The position of the brushes M and N relative to the rings H, K is such, that
the armature operates equally well in either direction of rotation.
I may use in conjunction with the generator, and either with or without the
circuit breaker, a step-up transformer W to still further raise the electro-motive
force of the current. In such case I employ a two-way switch R by means of
which the transformer may be cut in and out of circuit. With the switch R in
the position shewn in Fig. 3 the transformer is cut out of circuit, one side of
each winding being open. When the switch is moved into the other position.-
the are of movement being indicated by the dotted lines-the armature is, short
circuited through the primary coil of the transformer and the circuit of the
secondary is completed through the outer circuit. When the circuit breaker is
in action in conjunction with the transformer the current of self-induction from
the armature traverses the primary of the transformer. By lifting brush N over
the pin and withdrawing it from contact with ring K, the circuit breaker is
cut out and the alternating current of the generator now passes through the
primary of the transformer..
The transformer is provided with a movable core Wi so that the strength of
the currents may be adjusted to suit the person exercising.
I also provide a footplate S which may be used when desired, and a single
switch Tin connection therewith. When not in use the footplate is practically
an open circuit and the switch is kept in the position shewn in Fig. 3. When
the footplate is used the switch may be used in either position, the current
simply taking different paths through the body according to the position of the
switch. With the switch in the position shewn the circuit is completed through
one handle and footplate in parallel, the legs and one arm of the operator in
parallel, the trunk, the other arm and the other handle to generator. With the
switch in the other position. the circuit is completed through both handles in
parallel, both arms in parallel, the trunk, both legs in parallel, the footplate and
conductor S¹ to generator.
In order to provide for different frequency of the. alternations of the current I

page_text: use a pulley having two or more steps or diameters as shewn at C in Fig. 1, for
the purpose of varying the speed of the generator.
Figures 4 & 5 shew a modification of my invention in which I use only one
pulley and cord, the conducting bands connected to the handles being attached.
to the cord at a common point and flexible connections maintained between that
point and the generator terminals. The action of this apparatus and the results
are the same as in the other form of device described.
Without departure from the invention I may use an electro instead of a per-
manent field magnet; weights suitably suspended instead of elastic bands; a
circuit breaker having any suitable number of insulating segments; a separate
shaft or bearings for the loose pulley; I may also dispense with the intermediate
ordinary cords B, B', and use instead continuous covered conducting bands direct
from the handles to the elastic bands, thence by suitable connections to the ter-
minals of the generator; or I may use continuous bare conductors and make the
pulleys of insulating material.
It will be understood that the details of the construction and arrangement of
the generator and circuit connections may be widely varied without departure.
from the invention.
:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination with an exercising apparatus of the kind described, of a
magneto electric generator adapted to be operated by the movement of one or
more cords or bands to which the handles are attached, and circuit connections
from the generator to the handles, as set forth.
2. In an exercising apparatus the combination of a device, such as elastic
bands, cords provided with handles and attached thereto, independent pulleys over
or around which the cords pass, a magneto electric generator operated by the rota-
tion of one of the pulleys and, circuit connections from the generator to the
handles, as set forth."
3. The combination with an exercising apparatus of the kind described, of a
magneto electric generator adapted to be operated by the movement of one or
more cords or bands to which the handles are attached, a conducting footplate
and circuit connections from the generator to the handles and footplate, as set
forth.
4. The combination with an exercising apparatus operated by drawing cords or
bands over pulleys, of a magneto electric generator operated by the rotation of
one of the pulleys, an interrupting device whereby the armature winding of the
generator may be short circuited intermittently as the armature is rotated and
circuit connections from the generator to the parts of the apparatus in contact
with the body of the person exercising, as set forth.
5. The combination with an exercising apparatus operated by drawing cords
or straps over pulleys, of a magneto electric generator operated by the rotation
of one of the pulleys, a transformer for raising the potential of the current
generated, circuit connections to the parts of the apparatus in contact with the
body of the person using the apparatus and switch mechanism for controlling
and varying the said connections, as set forth.
6. The combination with an exercising apparatus operated by drawing cords or
bands over pulleys, of a magneto electric generator operated by the rotation of
one of the pulleys, an interrupting device whereby the armature winding of the
generator may be short circuited intermittently as the armature is rotated, a
transformer for raising the potential of the current generated, circuit connections
to the parts of the apparatus in contact with the body of the person using the
apparatus and switch mechanism for controlling and varying the said connec-
tions, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination with an exercising apparatus operated by drawing cords

page_text: or bands over pulleys, of a magneto electric generator operated by the rotation
of one of the pulleys, one end of the armature winding being connected to the
armature shaft and the other end to an insulated ring H carried by the armature
shaft, an outer circuit connected respectively with the said ring and the armature
shaft and including parts of the apparatus with which the user comes in contact,
an interrupting device consisting of a conducting ring K connected with the
armature shaft and formed with insulated sections, a pivoted brush bearing on
said ring, said brush having electrical connection with the ring H, and means
whereby the said brush may be held either in or out of contact with the ring K,
substantially as set forth.
8. The combination with an exercising apparatus operated by drawing cords
or straps over pulleys, and provided with a pair of handles, of a magneto electric
generator, fast and loose pulleys on the shaft thereof, one of said pulleys having
a plurality of steps or diameters, an interrupting device whereby the armature
winding of the generator may be short circuited intermittently as the armature is
rotated, a conducting footplate, a circuit connection between the footplate and
one end of the armature winding, a transformer for raising the potential of the
current generated, said transformer having an adjustable core for the purpose
of regulating the strength of the current, an outer circuit including the parts
of the apparatus with which the user comes in contact, switch mechanism and
connections whereby the transformer may be cut in and out of circuit, and a
switch device whereby the connections with the handles may be arranged in
series, the current then going through the arms and trunk of the user, or whereby
the handles may be arranged in parallel, when the current passes through both
handles and the arms of the user in parallel, thence through the trunk, the legs
in parallel, the footplate and by the circuit connection to the generator, substan-
tially as set forth.
בד
1 "
71
T
1000