Linear motor system for an exercise machine
Exercise machines and linear motor systems for use in exercise machines are provided herein, where the linear motor provides a resistance force in response to a force generated by a user performing an exercise. The linear motor systems include a programmable logic and force generation control system, which is programmable to control the resistance provided by the linear motor.
1. An exercise machine that comprises:
a linear motor system having a linear motor including:
a base;
a header support;
a pair of linear shafts that extend from the base to the header support and a magnetic shaft being located between the linear shafts and extending from the base to the header support;
a forcer slidably attached to the linear shafts that moves along the magnetic shaft, wherein the linear motor acts as a force producing element to provide resistance to a force generated by a user when performing an exercise.
2. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the resistance provided by the linear motor can be varied in increments of about 0.5 pounds or greater.
3. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the resistance provided by the linear motor can be provided in a positive direction or a negative direction.
4. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the linear motor is a servo motor.
5. The exercise machine of claim 1 , wherein the forcer is mechanically connected to a handle to which the user applies force while performing the exercise.
6. The exercise machine of claim 5 , wherein the forcer is connected to the handle by cables and pulleys.
7. An exercise machine that comprises:
a linear motor system having a linear motor including a forcer that moves along a magnetic shaft, wherein the linear motor acts as a force producing element to provide resistance to a force generated by a user when performing an exercise,
the linear motor system further including a programmable logic and force generation control system operatively connected to the linear motor system, the programmable logic and force generation control system comprising a microprocessor that is programmable to control the resistance provided by the linear motor.
8. An exercise machine that comprises:
a linear motor system having a linear motor including a forcer that moves along the a magnetic shaft, wherein the linear motor acts as a force producing element to provide resistance to a force generated by a user when performing an exercise,
where the forcer is linearly displaced in response to the force generated by the user when performing an exercise and starts at a home position when the user is in an initial position for performing the exercise, rises vertically to a stroke displacement as the user reaches a full stroke of the exercise, and returns to the home position as the user finishes the exercise by returning to the initial position.
9. A linear motor system for producing a resistance force in an exercise machine in response to a force generated by a user when performing an exercise, the linear motor system comprising:
a base;
a header support;
a pair of linear shafts that extend from the base to the header support;
a magnetic shaft located between the linear shafts and extending from the base to the header support; and
a forcer slidably attached to the linear shafts that moves along the magnetic shaft to produce the resistance force.
10. The linear motor system of claim 9 , wherein the linear motor system further comprises a programmable logic and force generation control system operatively connected to the linear motor system, the programmable logic and force generation control system comprising a microprocessor that is programmable to control the resistance provided by the linear motor.
11. The linear motor system of claim 9 , wherein the programmable logic and force generation control system farther comprises;
a user interface; and
a linear position feedback sensor to allow control of the linear position and velocity of the forcer.
12. The linear motor system of claim 11 , wherein the user interface comprises graphical user interface.
13. The linear motor system of claim 11 , wherein the user interface comprises an interactive interface configured to allow the user to input data to program an exercise routine.
14. The linear motor system of claim 13 , wherein the interactive interface comprises at last one of a touch screen, a keypad, or a data transfer link.
15. The exercise machine of claim 9 , wherein the resistance force provided by the linear motor can be provided in a positive direction or a negative direction.
16. The exercise machine of claim 9 , wherein the linear motor is a servo motor.
17. The exercise machine of claim 9 , wherein the forcer starts at a home position when the user is in an initial position for performing the exercise, rises vertically to a stroke displacement as the user reaches a full stroke of the exercise, and returns to the home position as the user finishes the exercise by returning to the initial position.
18. A linear motor system for producing a resistance force in an exercise machine in response to a force generated by a user when performing an exercise, the linear motor system comprising:
a base;
a header support;
a pair of linear shafts that extend from the base to the header support;
a magnetic shaft located between the linear shafts and extending from the base to the header support;
a forcer slidably attached to the linear shafts that moves along the magnetic shaft to produce the resistance force; and
a programmable logic and force generation control system operatively connected to the linear motor system, the programmable logic and force generation control system comprising a microprocessor that is programmable to control the resistance provided by the linear motor.