Passive-type treadmill having an improved governor assembly and an electromagnetic speedometer integrated into the flywheel assembly

摘要

A passive treadmill having a governor mounted upon one end of a treadmill roller to adjustably limit the rate of speed of the treadmill belt. Resilient flexible rotating springs flex due to the centrifugal force developed during rotation, the magnitude of the centrifugal force being a function of the linear speed of the treadmill belt. Arcuate shaped brake pads mounted on integral projections of the flexible springs move into sliding engagement with an annular stationary surface to limit the linear speed of the treadmill belt. A rotatably mounted cam is manually adjustable to adjust the spacing between the aforesaid slidably engagable surfaces to adjust the operating speed. A stabilizing ring arranged between the governor springs prevents the projections from resonant non-uniform flexing. Support rollers rollingly support the treadmill belt, and are rotatably mounted within elongated openings provided in each of a pair of mounting rails. An adjustment roller having an hour-glass configuration is swingably mounted beneath the belt support rollers. The adjustment roller is pivoted at one end and its opposite end may be releaseably positioned within one of a plurality of positioning notches to compensate for irregularities of the belt. A fully passive speedometer assembly cooperates with a flywheel mounted upon the opposite end of the first-mentioned treadmill roller for providing a reading of the linear speed of the treadmill belt. The treadmill may alternatively be provided with a plurality of rollers intermediate the forward and rearward rollers for supporting the belt or may have a sliding bed and guides for maintaining the sliding belt in proper alignment.