Auxiliary drive for a training device

Abstract

An auxiliary drive for a training device, comprising a first force measuring device, a control device, and a drive unit, wherein the control device determines a target force F S,max , the first force measuring device determines an actual force F S which is applied to a main traction means and which is caused by an acceleration of a movable mass connected to the main traction means. The first force measuring device also transmits the determined actual force F S to the control device, and the control device also compares the actual force F S with the target force F S,max and controls the drive unit such that, if the actual force F S exceeds the target force F S,max , an auxiliary force F Z having a component that offers resistance to a gravitational acceleration acts on the movable mass by connection of the drive unit to the movable mass.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . An auxiliary drive for a training device, comprising a first force measuring device ( 1 ), a control device ( 2 ), and a drive unit ( 3 ), wherein said control device ( 2 ) is configured to determine a target force (F S,max ), said first force measuring device ( 1 ) is configured to determine an actual force (F S ) that is applied to a main traction means ( 11 ) and is substantially caused by an acceleration of a movable mass ( 5 ) connected to said main traction means ( 11 ), and wherein said first force measuring device ( 1 ) is further configured to transmit the determined actual force (F S ) to said control device ( 2 ),
 said control device ( 2 ) is further configured to compare the actual force (F S ) with the target force (F S,max ) and to control said drive unit ( 3 ) in such a way that, if the actual force (F S ) exceeds the target force (F S,max ), an auxiliary force (F Z ) having a component opposite to an acceleration of gravity acts on said movable mass ( 5 ) through a connection of said drive unit ( 3 ) to said movable mass ( 5 ).   
     
     
         2 . The auxiliary drive according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said control device ( 2 ) is further configured to control said drive unit ( 3 ) in such a way that, if the actual force (F S ) exceeds the target force (F S,max ), the auxiliary force (F Z ) reduces the actual force (F S ) applied and determined on said main traction means ( 11 ).   
     
     
         3 . The auxiliary drive according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said control device ( 2 ) is further configured to control said drive unit ( 3 ) in such a way that, if the actual force (F S ) exceeds the target force (F S,max ), the auxiliary force (F Z ) reduces the actual force (F S ) applied and determined on said main traction means ( 11 ) substantially to the target force (F S,max ).   
     
     
         4 . The auxiliary drive according to at least one of  claim 1 , wherein
 said auxiliary drive additionally comprises   a movement sensor ( 8 ) configured to determine a direction of movement of said movable mass ( 5 ) and to transmit it to said control device ( 2 ), and   said control device ( 2 ) is further configured to additionally determine the target force (F S,max ) as a function of the direction of movement of said movable mass ( 5 ).   
     
     
         5 . The auxiliary drive according to  claim 4 , wherein
 said movement sensor ( 8 ) is configured to determine an absolute or relative position of said movable mass ( 5 ) and/or the first and/or second time derivative thereof or a correspondingly proportional variable, respectively, and to transmit it to said control device ( 2 ), and   said control device ( 2 ) is further configured to additionally determine the target force (F S ,max) as a function of the position of said movable mass ( 5 ) and/or the first and/or second time derivative thereof.   
     
     
         6 . The auxiliary drive according to at least one of  claim 4 , wherein
 said movement sensor ( 8 ) is integrated into said drive unit ( 3 ).   
     
     
         7 . The auxiliary drive according to at least one of  claim 1 , wherein
 said first force measuring device ( 1 ) is configured to determine a tension of said main traction means ( 11 ) in order to determine the actual force (F S ).   
     
     
         8 . The auxiliary drive according to  claim 7 , wherein
 said first force measuring device ( 1 ) is configured to determine the tension of said main traction means ( 11 ) by means of a deflection.   
     
     
         9 . The auxiliary drive according to at least one of  claim 1 , wherein
 said first force measuring device ( 1 ) is configured to determine an elongation of said main traction means ( 11 ) in order to determine the actual force (F S ).   
     
     
         10 . The auxiliary drive according to  claim 9 , wherein
 said first force measuring device ( 1 ) comprises a strain gauge and/or a magnetostrictive sensor.   
     
     
         11 . The auxiliary drive according to at least one of  claim 1 , wherein
 said first force measuring device ( 1 ) is configured to determine the actual force (F S ) in that it comprises a weighing device configured to determine the mass of said movable mass ( 5 ) and in that it further comprises an acceleration sensor configured to determine a second change of a position of said movable mass ( 5 ) over time.   
     
     
         12 . The auxiliary drive according to  claim 11 , wherein
 said acceleration sensor is a movement sensor ( 8 ) configured to determine the absolute or relative position of said movable mass ( 5 ) and the first and second time derivative thereof or a respective quantity correspondingly proportional thereto.   
     
     
         13 . The auxiliary drive according to at least one of  claim 1 , wherein
 the connection of said drive unit ( 3 ) with said movable mass ( 5 ) acts at a first point of said main traction means ( 11 ) closer to said movable mass ( 5 ) than a second point of said main traction means ( 11 ) at which said first force measuring device ( 1 ) determines the actual force (F S ).   
     
     
         14 . The auxiliary drive according to at least one of  claim 1 , wherein
 said drive unit ( 3 ) comprises a generator.   
     
     
         15 . The auxiliary drive according to at least one of  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary drive further comprises
 a second force measuring device configured to determine the auxiliary force (F Z ) acting on said movable mass ( 5 ).   
     
     
         16 . The auxiliary drive according to at least one of  claim 1 , wherein said auxiliary drive further comprises
 an operating unit ( 4 ), and   said operating unit ( 4 ) is configured to transmit data, from which said control device ( 2 ) additionally determines the target force (F S,max ), to said control device ( 2 ).   
     
     
         17 . The auxiliary drive according to  claim 16 , wherein
 said control device ( 2 ) is further configured to transmit data to said operating unit ( 4 ) and/or to an IT infrastructure and to receive data from the IT infrastructure and   said operating unit ( 4 ) is further configured to receive data of an external measuring unit and/or from the IT infrastructure and/or to transmit data to the IT infrastructure.   
     
     
         18 . The auxiliary drive according to at least one of  claim 1 , said auxiliary drive further comprising
 an auxiliary pull rope ( 12 ) connected to said drive unit ( 3 ) and said movable mass ( 5 ) and thus establishing the connection of said drive unit ( 3 ) to said movable mass ( 5 ).   
     
     
         19 . The auxiliary drive according to  claim 18 , wherein
 said drive unit ( 3 ) is configured as a rope drum.   
     
     
         20 . The auxiliary drive according to  claim 19 , wherein
 said drive unit ( 3 ) is configured to always provide a sufficient torque for winding up said auxiliary pull rope ( 12 ).   
     
     
         21 . A system comprising the training device and the auxiliary drive for the training device according to  claim 18 , wherein
 said movable mass ( 5 ) comprises one or more weight plates which are connected by means of a driver bar ( 6   a ) and a pin ( 6   b ) and are movable in two parallel guide rods ( 7   a ,  7   b ), and   the connection of said movable mass ( 5 ) with said main traction means ( 11 ) is established via said driver bar ( 6   a ).   
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein
 said auxiliary drive additionally comprises   two outer deflection rollers ( 19   a ,  19   b ) and two rear deflection rollers ( 20   a ,  20   b ) which are connected to said movable mass ( 5 ) by a first and a second connecting device ( 13   a ,  13   b ),   a first upper clamping device ( 10   a ) attached to one of said two parallel guide rods ( 7   a ,  7   b ) with a non-positive connection and   a second upper clamping device ( 10   b ) attached to the other of said two parallel guide rods ( 7   a ,  7   b ) with a non-positive connection,   wherein   said first upper clamping device ( 10   a ) accommodates a first end of said auxiliary pull rope ( 12 ),   said auxiliary pull rope ( 12 ) is guided through the two outer deflection rollers ( 19   a ,  19   b ) and through the two rear deflection rollers ( 20   a ,  20   b ), and   said drive unit ( 3 ) accommodates a second end of said auxiliary pull rope ( 12 ).   
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the connection of said drive unit ( 3 ) to the movable mass ( 5 ) is established in that said movable mass ( 5 ) is connected to a first end of said auxiliary pull rope ( 12 ) and said drive unit ( 3 ) accommodates a second end of said auxiliary pull rope ( 12 ).