Resistance System for a Rowing Machine

Abstract

A resistance system for a rowing machine has a mounting bracket, and a housing assembly, a driving assembly and a restoring assembly mounted on the mounting bracket. The housing assembly is for storing liquid and a paddle wheel. The driving assembly is connected to the paddle wheel and drives the paddle wheel to rotate in a direction only. The restoring assembly is connected to a strip hub of the driving assembly and is able to drive the strip hub to rotate in a reverse direction. The resistance system for the rowing machine has simplified structure. Therefore, it is easy to assemble to resistance system, and manufacturing cost of the resistance system can be decreased. In addition, a service life of the resistance system as well as the rowing machine can be increased.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A resistance system for a rowing machine comprising:
 a mounting bracket;   a housing assembly mounted on the mounted bracket and including a liquid tank, and the liquid tank being for storing liquid and having two opposite side walls;   a paddle wheel mounted in the liquid tank and having
 a rotating base; 
 multiple paddle blades formed on and arranged around the rotating base at intervals; and 
 a driven shaft protruding from a center of the rotating base, rotatably mounted through one of the side walls of the liquid tank, and having an outer end protruding out of the liquid tank; 
   a driving assembly mounted on the outer end of the driven shaft and including
 a strip hub mounted around the outer end of the driven shaft and having a connecting axle, and the connecting axle protruding from an end surface of the strip hub and being coaxial with the driven shaft; 
 at least one one-way bearing mounted between and connected to the driven shaft and the strip hub; 
 a driving strip wound around the strip hub and having
 an inner connecting end connected with the strip hub; and 
 an outer pulling end; and 
 
 a handle connected with the outer pulling end of the driving strip; and 
   a restoring assembly mounted around the connecting axle of the strip hub and including
 a casing securely connected to the mounting bracket and mounted around the connecting axle; and 
 a restoring element being resilient, mounted in the casing, and having two ends respectively connected to the casing and the connecting axle; 
   wherein   when the driving strip is pulled to drive the strip hub to unwind the driving strip, the strip hub drives the paddle wheel to rotate, and a resilient restoring force of the restoring element is formed and pulls the connecting axle of the strip hub to rotate in a reverse direction; and   when the driving strip is released, the resilient restoring force of the restoring element drives the strip hub to wind the driving strip, and the strip hub is free from driving the paddle wheel to rotate.   
     
     
         2 . The resistance system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the liquid tank has an annular wall formed between the two side walls of the liquid tank;   the housing assembly further includes two baffles disposed in the liquid tank and attached to the two opposite side walls of the liquid tank respectively, and each of the baffles is annular and has a through hole defined through the baffle;   an interior of the liquid tank is divided into an inner compartment surrounded by the baffles and an outer compartment formed between the annular wall of the liquid tank and the baffles;   the rotating base of the paddle wheel is rotatably disposed between the baffles; and   the paddle blades of the paddle wheel are disposed in the outer compartment of the liquid tank and alternately protrude toward the two side walls.   
     
     
         3 . The resistance system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the resistance system further comprises at least one strip guiding member mounted on the mounting bracket; and   the driving strip abuts against and is oriented by the at least one strip guiding member.   
     
     
         4 . The resistance system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein
 the resistance system further comprises at least one strip guiding member mounted on the mounting bracket; and   the driving strip abuts against and is oriented by the at least one strip guiding member.   
     
     
         5 . The resistance system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein
 the strip hub further has an annular recess formed in and around an annular side surface of the strip hub; and   the driving strip is wound around the strip hub in the annular recess.   
     
     
         6 . The resistance system as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein
 the strip hub further has an annular recess formed in and around an annular side surface of the strip hub; and   the driving strip is wound around the strip hub in the annular recess.   
     
     
         7 . The resistance system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein
 the strip hub further has an annular recess formed in and around an annular side surface of the strip hub; and   the driving strip is wound around the strip hub in the annular recess.   
     
     
         8 . The resistance system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein
 the strip hub further has an annular recess formed in and around an annular side surface of the strip hub; and   the driving strip is wound around the strip hub in the annular recess.   
     
     
         9 . The resistance system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein
 the liquid tank is connected to the driven shaft of the paddle wheel via at least one bearing; and   the casing of the restoring assembly is connected to the connecting axle of the strip hub via at least one bearing.   
     
     
         10 . The resistance system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein
 the liquid tank is connected to the driven shaft of the paddle wheel via at least one bearing; and   the casing of the restoring assembly is connected to the connecting axle of the strip hub via at least one bearing.   
     
     
         11 . The resistance system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein at least one sealing member is mounted between the liquid tank and the driven shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The resistance system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein at least one sealing member is mounted between the liquid tank and the driven shaft.