Self-powered variable resistance bicycle trainer

Abstract

A bicycle trainer includes a resistance unit engageable with the driven wheel of the bicycle, and a control console mounted to the bicycle in a user accessible location. The resistance unit is in the form of an AC alternator which generates power in response to rotation of the bicycle wheel, to power the various components of the bicycle trainer, including the control console and a resistance adjustment arrangement. In one form, the resistance is adjusted in accordance with inputs provided either from an operator or from a computer interconnected with the control console, by selectively connecting a resistor in a circuit including the AC alternator so as to provide resistance to rotation of the rotor of the AC alternator, and thereby resistance to rotation of the bicycle wheel.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A bicycle trainer adapted for use in combination with a bicycle having a frame and a set of pedals that are operable to drive a driven wheel, comprising: 
 a support adapted for engagement with the bicycle to maintain the bicycle stationary;    a variable resistance unit adapted for engagement with the driven wheel of the bicycle for imparting variable resistance to rotation of the driven wheel, wherein the resistance unit comprises a power generator configured to generate power and to function as a brake to provide resistance to rotation of the driven wheel; and    a control interconnected with the resistance unit, wherein the control is operable to vary the resistance provided by the resistance unit.    
     
     
         2 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 1 , wherein the resistance unit is mounted to the support, and wherein the control is contained in a control housing separate from the resistance unit.  
     
     
         3 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 2 , further comprising a releasable mounting arrangement interposed between the control housing and the bicycle for releasably mounting the control housing to the bicycle.  
     
     
         4 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 2 , wherein the control includes an operator interface for enabling an operator to provide operator inputs to the control, wherein the operation of the resistance unit is responsive to the operator inputs.  
     
     
         5 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 4 , wherein the power generator of the resistance unit includes a stator and a rotor adapted for rotation in response to rotation of the driven wheel of the bicycle, wherein the stator and the rotor cooperate to function as an AC power alternator that generates power for operation of the resistance unit.  
     
     
         6 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 5 , wherein the resistance unit and the control are interconnected via a cable, and wherein power generated by the stator and the rotor is transferred via the cable to the control for powering the control.  
     
     
         7 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 6 , wherein the resistance unit and the control are interconnected via a cable that is operable to supply power to the control from the resistance unit.  
     
     
         8 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 6 , wherein the control includes an internal power supply for providing operation of the control independent of power supplied to the control from the resistance unit.  
     
     
         9 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 8 , wherein the internal power supply comprises one or more batteries, wherein the one or more batteries are rechargeable via power supplied to the control from the resistance unit.  
     
     
         10 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 5 , wherein the resistance unit includes an electronic circuit that selectively applies a resistive load on the AC power alternator to control the resistance to rotation of the driven wheel.  
     
     
         11 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 10 , wherein the resistive load comprises one or more resistors and wherein the electronic circuit includes a switching arrangement for selectively coupling the one or more resistors to the AC power alternator.  
     
     
         12 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 11 , wherein the switching arrangement comprises a pulse width modulating control responsive to operator inputs to control the duration of coupling of the one or more resistors to the AC power alternator for controlling the resistance to rotation of the driven wheel.  
     
     
         13 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more resistors function to generate heat when coupled via the electronic circuit to the AC power alternator, and further comprising a heat dissipating arrangement for dissipating heat generated by the one or more resistors.  
     
     
         14 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 13 , wherein the heat dissipating arrangement comprises a heat sink member to which the one or more resistors are mounted, wherein the heat sink member is operable to absorb heat from the one or more resistors and to dissipate the absorbed heat to the surrounding atmosphere.  
     
     
         15 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 14 , further comprising a fan arrangement configured to move air past the heat sink member for facilitating the transfer of heat from the heat sink member to the ambient atmosphere.  
     
     
         16 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 15 , wherein the fan arrangement is rotatable in response to rotation of the driven wheel of the bicycle.  
     
     
         17 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 5 , wherein the resistance unit includes a roller adapted to engage the driven wheel of the bicycle for imparting rotation to the roller in response to rotation of the driven wheel, and wherein the rotor is connected to the roller so as to impart rotation to the rotor in response to rotation of the roller.  
     
     
         18 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 17 , wherein the roller defines first and second ends, wherein the rotor and stator are located outwardly of the first end of the roller, and wherein the resistance unit includes a housing located outwardly of the second end of the roller, wherein the housing contains a load varying circuit arrangement responsive to the control for varying the load on the AC power alternator to vary the resistance imparted to the driven wheel upon rotation of the rotor.  
     
     
         19 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 18 , wherein the housing further includes a power supply circuit arrangement interconnected with the AC power alternator, wherein the power supply circuit arrangement is operable to supply power to the load varying circuit arrangement.  
     
     
         20 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 19 , wherein the control is interconnected with the power supply circuit arrangement for supplying power to the control in response to operation of the AC power alternator.  
     
     
         21 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 18 , wherein the housing contains a circuit board to which the load varying circuit arrangement is mounted, and wherein the load varying circuit arrangement includes resistive elements that generate heat, and further comprising a heat sink member located within the housing to which the resistive elements are mounted.  
     
     
         22 . The bicycle trainer of  claim 21 , further comprising a fan member interconnected with the rotor and rotatable in response to rotation of the rotor, wherein the fan member is located adjacent the heat sink member for circulating air in the vicinity of the heat sink member to assist in dissipating heat from the heat sink member to the atmosphere surrounding the heat sink member.  
     
     
         23 . A method of applying resistance to rotation of the driven wheel of a bicycle, comprising the steps of: 
 engaging the driven wheel of the bicycle with a resistance unit interconnected with a support frame which is operable to maintain the bicycle stationary;    operating the bicycle to drive the driven wheel, wherein the resistance unit functions to provide resistance to rotation of the driven wheel and includes an electrical power generating arrangement that operates in response to rotation of the driven wheel to produce electrical power; and    varying the resistance provided by the resistance unit to rotation of the driven wheel by means of a resistance varying arrangement powered by the electrical power generating arrangement.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of varying the resistance provided by the resistance unit is carried out by selectively applying a load to the electrical power generating arrangement, wherein the load is applied to the electrical power generating arrangement via a circuit powered by the electrical power generating arrangement.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the electrical power generating arrangement comprises a stator and a rotor, wherein the step of operating the bicycle to drive the driven wheel is operable to impart rotation to the rotor, and wherein the stator and the rotor cooperate to output AC electrical power upon rotation of the rotor.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of selectively applying a load to the electrical power generating arrangement is carried out by selectively connecting one or more resistive elements in the circuit.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the one or more resistive elements are mounted to a heat sink member, wherein the heat sink member is operable to draw heat from the one or more resistive elements, and further comprising the step of moving air past the heat sink member to assist in dissipating heat from the heat sink member, by means of a rotatable fan arrangement which is rotated in response to rotation of the driven wheel of the bicycle.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising a control arrangement for receiving operator inputs, wherein the control arrangement is contained within a housing separate from the resistance unit adapted for mounting to the bicycle in a location accessible by a user of the bicycle, and wherein the step of bearing the resistance provided by the resistance unit is carried out in response to inputs to the control arrangement by the user.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising the step of supplying electrical power to the control arrangement from the electrical power generating arrangement included in the resistance unit.  
     
     
         30 . In a bicycle trainer having a roller member adapted to engage the driven wheel of a bicycle, the improvement comprising an electrical power generating arrangement interconnected with the roller member for generating electrical power in response to rotation of the roller member caused by engagement of the roller member with the driven wheel of the bicycle, and a resistance varying arrangement interconnected with an powered by the electrical power generating arrangement, wherein the resistance varying arrangement interfaces with the electrical power generating arrangement to vary the resistance to rotation of the driven wheel through engagement of the driven wheel with the roller member.  
     
     
         31 . The improvement of  claim 30 , wherein the resistance varying arrangement includes a control for receiving inputs that are operable to control operation of the resistance bearing arrangement.  
     
     
         32 . The improvement of  claim 31 , wherein the electrical power generating arrangement comprises a stator mounted to the bicycle trainer and a rotor interconnected with the roller member, wherein the stator and the rotor cooperate to form an alternator for generating AC electrical power.  
     
     
         33 . The improvement of  claim 32 , wherein the resistance varying arrangement comprises one or more resistive elements, and wherein the control is operable to selectively place the one or more resistive elements in a circuit including the alternator for varying the load on the alternator and thereby the resistance provided to the driven wheel of the bicycle through the roller member.  
     
     
         34 . The improvement of  claim 33 , wherein the resistance varying arrangement includes a pulse width modulator that operates in response to the control for selectively connecting the one or more resistive elements to the alternator.  
     
     
         35 . The improvement of  claim 32 , wherein the roller member defines first and second ends, wherein the rotor is interconnected with the first end of the roller member, and further comprising a housing located outwardly of the second end of the roller member, wherein the housing contains a power conversion circuit arrangement and wherein the resistance varying arrangement comprises one or more resistive elements located within the housing.  
     
     
         36 . The improvement of  claim 35 , wherein the one or more resistive elements are mounted to a heat sink member for absorbing heat from the one or more resistive elements, and further comprising a fan arrangement interconnected with the roller member and located outwardly of the second end of the roller member, wherein rotation of the roller member causes rotation of the fan arrangement and wherein the fan arrangement is configured so as to move air relative to the heat sink member for dissipating heat from the heat sink member to the ambient atmosphere.  
     
     
         37 . The improvement of  claim 31 , wherein the bicycle trainer includes a first housing containing circuitry incorporated in the electrical power generating arrangement and the resistance varying arrangement, and further comprising a second housing separate from the first housing and adapted for engagement with the bicycle in a user accessible location for enabling an operator to provide inputs to the control.