Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Hsaio-Wen Hsu

Chih-Hsiang Shen

Ching-Yao Lin

Chung-Wei Lin

A crank apparatus includes a crank arm having at least one cavity on one of the surfaces of the crank arm, at least one thin material layer embedded within the at least one cavity and having an exposed outer surface, and at least one sensing element attached to the outer surface of the thin material layer. The crank arm is manufactured of a material with non-uniform strain characteristics, the thin material layer is manufactured of a material with uniform strain characteristics, the crank arm is adapted to be deformed by a force, the thin material layer is adapted to be deformed correspondingly with the deformation of the crank arm, the at least one sensing element is adapted to measure the corresponding strain of the thin material layer to measure the force applied on the crank arm. A bicycle and a stationary exercise bicycle equipped with the crank apparatus are further provided.

Crank apparatus, bicycle and stationary exercise bicycle

A bicycle trainer is adapted to be arranged with a bicycle to simulate riding a bicycle on an outdoor road. The bicycle includes a stand, a roller and a resistance source. The stand is adapted to support the bicycle. The roller is pivoted to the stand and adapted to contact a bicycle wheel of the bicycle. The resistance source is coupled to the roller and provides resistance to the bicycle wheel via the roller. The resistance source varies the magnitude of the provided resistance according to the rotation speed of the roller.

Bicycle trainer

A resistance device applied to relative rotations between a flywheel and an axis includes an inner stator, an outer rotor, a conductive wire and a magneto-rheological fluid. The inner stator is fixedly joined with the axis and includes an accommodating space surrounding the axis at a position away from the axis. The outer rotor, fixedly joined with the flywheel, encloses and rotates relative to the inner stator. An accommodating gap is formed between the outer rotor and the inner stator at a position away from the axis. The conductive wire is wound in the accommodating space, and generates a magnetic line passing the accommodating gap when applied by an electric current. The magneto-rheological fluid is filled in the accommodating gap. Thus, the outer rotor is disposed at the outer most region of the resistance device to increase the braking torque, and the magneto-rheological fluid is away from the axis to increase the braking moment.

Magneto-rheological fluid rotary resistance device

An electromagnetically actuated bicycle trainer includes a base, a support assembly disposed on the base, and a hysteresis resistance generating module. The support assembly includes a support arm, and a fastening member disposed on the support arm and for securing an axle of a pedaling wheel. The hysteresis resistance generating module includes an inner magnetic stationary member and an outer magnetic stationary member, a semi-hard magnetic rotating member between the inner magnetic stationary member and the outer magnetic stationary member, and a conductive coil. The conductive coil receives an electric power and senses opposite magnetisms that the inner magnetic stationary member and the outer magnetic stationary member generate. Thus, the semi-hard magnetic rotating member is caused to generate a hysteresis resistance when rotated in response to hysteresis effects.

Electromagnetically actuated bicycle trainer and resistance control method thereof

A bicycle trainer is adapted to be arranged with a bicycle to simulate riding a bicycle on an outdoor road. The bicycle includes a stand, a roller, a first resistance source and a second resistance source. The stand is adapted to support the bicycle. The roller is pivoted to the stand and is adapted to contact a bicycle wheel of the bicycle. The first resistance source is coupled to the roller and provides resistance to the bicycle wheel via the roller. The second resistance source is coupled to the roller and provides resistance to the bicycle wheel via the roller.

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Taichung, Taiwan

Hsaio-Wen Hsu