Sundstrand Corporation

Roadmaster, Inc.

Jeffrey D Metcalf

Gary D Gillingham

Daniel F Brashear

John C Layer

David K Camfield

Brent A Klopfenstein

David J Lang

Wesley A Burandt

Matthew D Buchanan

Craig A Topp

Duane Wingate

Ski exercise machine

A synchronous/asynchronous exercise machine is changeable between a synchronous exercise mode wherein a user's limbs, such as his legs, oppositely reciprocate, and an asynchronous exercise mode wherein the user's limbs move independently. The synchronous/asynchronous exercise machine may comprise a first movable element for accepting a user's limb, and a second movable element for accepting another limb. A load source against which the user can exercise may also be provided. A first drive belt operatively connects the first movable element to the load source, and a second drive belt operatively connects the second movable element to the load source. A quick change mechanism, which may be connected to the first movable element, is releasably engagable with the second drive belt for changing the synchronous/asynchronous exercise machine between the synchronous exercise mode and the asynchronous exercise mode.

Quick change mechanism for synchronous/asynchronous exercise machine

Combined base and arm mechanism for a ski exercise machine

A quiet air resistance exercise cycle has a number of sound reduction features in its preferred embodiments. Soundproofing material is used on the inside of the housing surrounding the wheel to absorb sound. The housing comprises solid panels to limit air from outside the housing from contacting the wheel. The housing panels generally defining a polyhedron to create dead spaces for air eddies inside the wheel compartment. The wheel may also include a pitch reduction material and preferably is belt driven.

Exercise device

An exercise cycle includes a frame having a front wheel assembly and handlebars. The front wheel assembly includes a fan wheel having side plates one of which has an intake port, and an intake assembly around the intake port, the intake assembly having openings which may be opened and closed. By opening and closing the intake openings, the resistance of the wheel to the air can be varied without changing the rotational rate of the wheel. The handlebars of the exercise cycle are pivotally connected to the cycle intermediate their ends. The lower ends of the handlebars are pivotally connected to a cam arm which is removably connected to the shaft to which the pedal is mounted. By connecting or disconnecting the cam arm to or from the pedal shaft, the handlebars can be selectively moved between a stationary mode and a mode in which the handlebars reciprocate between forward and backward positions.

Exercise cycle

An overspeed protection system for an aircraft fan engine wherein blades are rotatable from a coarse pitch to a fine pitch to a thrust-reverse condition. A wobbler-type hydraulic motor is provided for rotating the blade. An overspeed governor is operatively associated with the motor for effecting rotation of the blades in a direction toward the coarse pitch condition. A control, including a solenoid valve actuatable in thrust-reverse mode, changes the sense of the hydraulic motor to drive the motor further into thrust-reverse on actuation of the overspeed governor means.

Overspeed protection system for aircraft fan engine

An exercise bicycle flywheel (1) comprises a pair of facing concave sheet metal discs (15A, 15B). The space defined between the discs is filled with a heavy material (M) which is a mixture of hematite chips, magnetite powder, hydrated lime, portland cement, and water.

Flywheel

A brake actuator for use in combination with a hydraulic motor which includes a port structure. The port structure defines an interface with a motor block of the hydraulic motor and includes ports for supplying fluid to the motor. A brake is operatively associated with the hydraulic motor. A hydraulically operated piston is disposed substantially within the confines of the port structure for actuating the brake.

Brake actuator for hydraulic motors

A speed responsive control device is useful for preventing a dangerous overspeed condition of a propulsor. The device begins governing before the dangerous overspeed condition occurs through the use of an acceleration responsive mechanism which actuates the spool of a governor pilot valve. The spool is also actuated by a speed responsive mechanism in the form of a flyweight governor. The control device thus anticipates dangerous overspeed conditions to make necessary adjustments such as blade pitch corrections, to prevent a dangerous overspeed condition.

Anticipating overspeed governor

A torque limiter which includes an input shaft and an output shaft coaxial with the input shaft. A ball ramp torque transmitting device is disposed concentrically relative to the shafts. A first spring is axially disposed of the ball ramp device for normally preloading the device. A friction brake assembly is axially disposed between the ball ramp device and the first spring and operatively associated with the output shaft. Pins extend axially through the friction brake assembly for transferring preloading spring force to the ball ramp device. A second spring is disposed on the same side of the friction brake assembly as the first spring and acts on the friction brake assembly. Both springs are mounted about the output shaft whereby the shaft itself carries the loads of the torque limiter.

Torque limiter

A dual hydraulic motor system where motor wobblers are mechanically linked and the motor outputs are torque summed, is controlled by a three position dual valve assembly. Each valve assembly is controlled by pilot pistons that are mechanically linked to provide three functions, one being normal operation, a second where one motor must be shut-off and its load on the system is minimized and the third where both motors are shut-off and significant drag is then provided. These functions are implemented by a separate spool in each valve which has three independent stable positions.

Three position dual failure shut-off valve system

An overspeed governor for adjusting the blade pitch of a propulsor in an unducted fan aircraft engine to prevent propulsor overspeed comprises a flyweight governor which is rotated in response to rotation of the propulsor, a governor pilot valve with a valve spool which is axially moved in response to actuation of the flyweight governor for adjusting the blade pitch of the propulsor, and a governor checkout apparatus which sensitizes the flyweight governor so that it is actuated to maintain a substantially lower propulsor rotative speed during a start-up operation of the engine as compared with during normal operation, whereby the operation of the governor can be checked out during start-up operation of the aircraft engine.

Governor checkout apparatus and method

A shock absorbing overtravel stop apparatus which includes a rotatable drive shaft 10, a screw shaft 15 driven by the drive shaft 10, and a nonrotatable travelling nut 30 threaded on and moveable axially along the screw shaft 15. At one end 28 of the screw shaft 15, the apparatus is provided with a rotating stop 38 and a stationery stop 40. At the other end 20 of the screw shaft 15, there is provided a bearing housing 21, journalling the screw shaft 15 for rotation and mounting the screw shaft for axial movement along the axis. The travelling nut 30 is moveable in one direction to engage the stops 38, 40 whereupon the rotary motion of the screw shaft 15 is terminated. The travelling nut 30 is also moveable in the other direction into contact with the bearing housing 21 to exert an axial force upon the screw shaft 15 such that the screw shaft 15 moves axially to engage the stops 38, 40 whereupon the rotary motion of the screw shaft 15 is terminated. The screw shaft 15 of the present invention acts as a torsion shock absorber upon the termination of the rotary motion of the screw shaft 15 by the stops 38, 40.

Growing community of inventors

Albion, IL, United States of America

Jeffrey D Metcalf