Resistance training exercise apparatus with poppet load system
View Patent ↗Resistance training exercise apparatus includes a poppet load system. During movement of a user-engaged exercise member in a first exercise direction, fluid flows past an open poppet in a first flow direction between housing chambers. During movement of the user-engaged exercise member in a second exercise direction, fluid flow between the chambers is blocked by a closed poppet, and instead fluid flows through an auxiliary passage through a one-way valve. Ballistic training is enabled with the addition of a second auxiliary fluid passage, second one-way valve, and a release valve.
1. Resistance training apparatus comprising a load system for providing resistance comprising an axially extending tubular housing having a valve seat therein, a poppet axially movable in said housing into and out of engagement with said valve seat to closed and open positions, respectively, to block and permit passage of fluid past said poppet, a biasing member biasing said poppet into engagement with said valve seat to said closed position, said tubular housing having first and second chambers on axially distally opposite sides of said poppet, a selected one of said first and second chambers being fluidly motively coupled to a user-engaged exercise member such that movement of said user-engaged exercise member creates fluid pressure differential across said poppet, and when said pressure differential overcomes the bias of said biasing member, said poppet moves out of engagement with said valve seat to said open position permitting fluid flow past said poppet between said first and second chambers, an auxiliary fluid passage in fluid communication with a given one of said chambers, a one-way valve in said auxiliary passage providing uni-directional fluid flow therethrough, such that during movement of said user-engaged exercise member in a first exercise direction, fluid flows past an open said poppet and in a first flow direction in said given one of said chambers and is blocked from flowing through said auxiliary passage by said one-way valve, and such that during movement of said user-engaged exercise member in a second exercise direction, fluid between said first and second chambers is blocked by a closed said poppet and flows through said auxiliary passage through said one-way valve.
2. The resistance training exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein:
said biasing member is in said first chamber;
said first chamber is said selected one of said chambers fluidly motively coupled to said user-engaged exercise member;
said auxiliary passage is in fluid communication with said first chamber through a connecting passage;
said one-way valve permits fluid flow through said auxiliary passage from said connecting passage, and blocks fluid flow through said auxiliary passage to said connecting passage.
3. The resistance training exercise apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a force transducer fluidly and motively coupling said selected one of said chambers to said user-engaged exercise member, said force transducer comprising a fluid cylinder housing having an extensible and retractable plunger rod, said rod having a piston in said cylinder and dividing said cylinder into first and second plenums on distally opposite sides of said piston, one of said rod and said cylinder housing being coupled to said user-engaged exercise member, one of said first and second plenums being in fluid communication with said selected one of said chambers.
4. The resistance training exercise apparatus according to claim 3 comprising:
a second auxiliary fluid passage in fluid communication with the other of said plenums;
a second one-way valve in said second auxiliary passage providing uni-directional fluid flow therethrough to permit movement of said piston and said rod in a first piston direction enabling said user-engaged exercise member to move in said first exercise direction, and preventing movement of said piston and said rod in a second opposite piston direction;
a release valve in fluid communication with said other plenum and actuatable to enable fluid flow therebetween to enable movement of said piston and said rod independently of and regardless of fluid flow through said second one-way valve.
5. The resistance training exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said selected one of said first and second chambers is said given one of said chambers.
6. The resistance training exercise apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said one-way valve is separate from said poppet, and wherein no fluid flows in either direction through said poppet in said closed position of said poppet.
7. Resistance training exercise apparatus comprising a load system for providing resistance comprising an axially extending tubular housing having a valve seat therein, a poppet axially movable in said housing into and out of engagement with said valve seat to closed and open positions, respectively, to block and permit passage of fluid past said poppet, a biasing member biasing said poppet into engagement with said valve seat to said closed position, said tubular housing having first and second chambers on axially distally opposite sides of said poppet, a selected one of said first and second chambers being fluidly motively coupled to a user-engaged exercise member such that movement of said user-engaged exercise member creates fluid pressure differential across said poppet, and when said pressure differential overcomes the bias of said biasing member, said poppet moves out of engagement with said valve seat to said open position permitting fluid flow past said poppet between said first and second chambers, an auxiliary fluid passage in fluid communication with a given one of said chambers, a one-way valve in said auxiliary passage providing uni-directional fluid flow therethrough, such that during movement of said user-engaged exercise member in a first exercise direction, fluid flows past an open said poppet and in a first flow direction in said given one of said chambers and is blocked from flowing through said auxiliary passage by said one-way valve, and such that during movement of said user-engaged exercise member in a second exercise direction, fluid between said first and second chambers is blocked by a closed said poppet and flows through said auxiliary passage through said one-way valve, wherein:
said biasing member is in said first chamber;
said first chamber is said selected one of said chambers fluidly motively coupled to said user-engaged exercise member;
said auxiliary passage is in fluid communication with said first chamber through a connecting passage;
said one-way valve permits fluid flow through said auxiliary passage from said connecting passage, and blocks fluid flow through said auxiliary passage to said connecting passage, and comprising:
a force transducer fluidly and motively coupling said selected one of said chambers to said user-engaged exercise member, said force transducer comprising a fluid cylinder having an extensible and retractable plunger rod, said rod having a piston in said cylinder and dividing said cylinder into first and second plenums on distally opposite sides of said piston, one of said rod and said cylinder housing being coupled to said user-engaged exercise member, one of said first and second plenums being in fluid communication with said selected one of said chambers;
a second auxiliary fluid passage in fluid communication with the other of said plenums;
a second one-way valve in said second auxiliary passage providing uni-directional fluid flow therethrough to permit movement of said piston and said rod in a first piston direction enabling said user-engaged exercise member to move in said first exercise direction, and preventing movement of said piston and said rod in a second opposite piston direction;
a release valve in fluid communication with said other plenum and actuatable to enable fluid flow therebetween to enable movement of said piston and said rod independently of and regardless of fluid flow through said second one-way valve.