Pulley force detection device for weight-training fitness equipment

Abstract

A pulley force detection device for a weight-training fitness equipment includes a measured element arranged on a stator portion of a pulley of the fitness equipment, and a detection module arranged on a rotor portion. The detection module includes at least one measuring element corresponding to the measured element to detect a motion stroke, a speed, and a power value during force application to a pulley body. Alternatively, the measured element is arrangeable on the rotor portion of the pulley, while the measuring element is arranged on the stator portion of the pulley. The pulley force detection device is further combinable with a weight measurement device for detecting a weight of the weight block.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pulley force detection device for a weight-training fitness equipment, comprising:
 a stator portion including an axle and a support frame that supports the axle, a weight block being connected to a bottom of the support frame;   a rotor portion including a pulley body and a bearing, the rotor portion being rotatably mounted, by means of the bearing, to the axle of the stator portion, the pulley body having an outer circumference in which a grooved track is formed in order to receive a pull cord in the grooved track, an end of the pull cord being connected to the weight block, such that the pull cord, upon being acted upon by a force applied thereto, drives the pulley body to rotate about a rotation center defined by the axle so as to pull and move the weight block;   a measured element arranged on the stator portion; and   a detection module including:   at least one measuring element arranged on the rotor portion and corresponds to the measured element, wherein when the pulley body is caused to rotate by the force, the at least one measuring element generating at least one force signal through detecting the measured element;   a transmission module connected to the at least one measuring element to receive the at least one force signal generated by the measuring element and transmit the at least one force signal in a wireless manner, and   a power source for supplying an electrical energy to the at least one measuring element and the transmission module.   
     
     
         2 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the measured element is selected from one of ring magnet and barcode, which is positioned on the stator portion in such a manner as being arranged in a concentric form around a center defined by the axle. 
     
     
         3 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one measuring element comprises one of a Hall effect element, a reed switch, and an opto-coupling diode. 
     
     
         4 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmission module a low-power wireless transmission module, which comprises one of Bluetooth, ANT+ and Wi-Fi, for transmitting the force signal generated by the at least one measuring element to one of a control station, a smart phone, and a smart personal wearable device. 
     
     
         5 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection module further comprises an automatic wake-up element, which comprises one of a reed switch, a relay, a Hall effect element, and a vibration switch. 
     
     
         6 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection module further comprises one of three-axial or more than three-axial accelerometer that detects at least one acceleration signal of the rotor portion. 
     
     
         7 . A pulley force detection device for a weight-training fitness equipment, comprising:
 a stator portion including an axle and a support frame that supports the axle, a weight block being connected to a bottom of the support frame;   a rotor portion including a pulley body and a bearing, the rotor portion being rotatably mounted, by means of the bearing, to the axle of the stator portion, the pulley body having an outer circumference in which a grooved track is formed in order to receive a pull cord in the grooved track, an end of the pull cord being connected to the weight block, such that the pull cord, upon being acted upon by a force applied to a free end thereof, drives the pulley body to rotate about a rotation center defined by the axle so as to pull and move the weight block;   a measured element arranged on the rotor portion; and   a detection module including:   at least one measuring element arranged on the stator portion and corresponds to the measured element, wherein when the pulley body is caused to rotate by the force, the at least one measuring element generating at least one force signal through detecting the measured element.   
     
     
         8 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 7 , wherein the measured element is selected from one of ring magnet and barcode, which is positioned on the rotor portion in such a manner as being arranged in a concentric form around a center defined by the axle. 
     
     
         9 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one measuring element comprises one of a Hall effect element, a reed switch, and an opto-coupling diode. 
     
     
         10 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 7 , wherein the detection module further comprises one of three-axial or more than three-axial accelerometer that detects at least one acceleration signal of the rotor portion. 
     
     
         11 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 7 , further comprising a weight measurement device connected between the bottom of the support frame and the weight block, the weight measurement device including at least one strain gauge electrically connected to the detection module for detecting a weight of the weight block and generates, in response thereto, a weight signal transmitted to the detection module. 
     
     
         12 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 11 , further comprising a three-axial or more than three-axial movement detecting accelerometer electrically connected to the detection module for detecting at least one acceleration signal of the weight measurement device and transmitting the at least one acceleration signal to the detection module. 
     
     
         13 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one magnet mounted on a vertical frame of a strength machine; and   at least one magnetism detecting element electrically connected to the detection module and mounted on the weight measurement device at a place corresponding to the at least one magnet at a distance therebetween.   
     
     
         14 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 at least one optical transmitter mounted on a vertical frame of a strength machine; and   at least one optical receiver electrically connected to the detection module and mounted on the weight measurement device at a place corresponding to the at least one optical transmitter at a distance therebetween.   
     
     
         15 . A pulley force detection device for a weight-training fitness equipment, comprising:
 a pulley device including a stator portion fixed to a top frame of the weight-training fitness equipment and a rotor portion rotatably mounted to the stator portion;   a pull cord extended around the rotor portion of the pulley device, having a mounting end and a free end; and   a weight measurement device connected between the mounting end of the pull cord and a weight block of the weight-training fitness equipment, such that the pull cord, upon being acted upon by a force applied to the free end thereof, drives the rotor portion to rotate so as to pull and move the weight block through the weight measurement device;   wherein the weight measurement device includes at least one strain gauge mounted on a side wall of the weight measurement device for detecting a weight of the weight block and correspondingly generates a weight signal to a detection module.   
     
     
         16 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 15 , further comprising a three-axial or more than three-axial movement detecting accelerometer electrically connected to the detection module for detecting at least one acceleration signal of the weight measurement device and transmitting the at least one acceleration signal to the detection module. 
     
     
         17 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least one magnet mounted on a vertical frame of the weight-training fitness equipment; and   at least one magnetism detecting element electrically connected to the detection module and mounted on the weight measurement device at a place corresponding to the at least one magnet at a distance therebetween.   
     
     
         18 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least one optical transmitter mounted on a vertical frame of the weight-training fitness equipment; and   at least one optical receiver electrically connected to the detection module and mounted on the weight measurement device at a place corresponding to the at least one optical transmitter at a distance therebetween.   
     
     
         19 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 at least one optical reflector mounted on a vertical frame of the weight-training fitness equipment; and   an optical transceiver electrically connected to the detection module and mounted on the weight measurement device at a place corresponding to the at least one optical reflector at a distance therebetween.   
     
     
         20 . The pulley force detection device according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a barcode mounted on a vertical frame of the weight-training fitness equipment; and   a barcode reader electrically connected to the detection module and mounted on the weight measurement device at a place corresponding to the barcode at a distance therebetween.