CPC A63B 22/0257 (2013.01) [A63B 21/0056 (2013.01); A63B 22/0023 (2013.01); A63B 22/0235 (2013.01); A63B 22/025 (2015.10); A63B 22/0264 (2015.10); A63B 24/0087 (2013.01); A63B 71/0054 (2013.01); A63B 21/008 (2013.01); A63B 21/0085 (2013.01); A63B 21/015 (2013.01); A63B 21/225 (2013.01); A63B 2071/0081 (2013.01); A63B 2220/18 (2013.01); A63B 2220/30 (2013.01)] | 9 Claims |
1. A method for braking moving components of an exercise machine, the method comprising:
providing a treadmill including:
a running deck having a belt roller disposed at one end thereof and a continuous belt disposed around said running deck and belt roller;
an electric belt motor comprising a stator and rotor, said electric belt motor operatively coupled to said belt roller via a motor axle;
a flywheel disposed on said motor axle;
a mechanical brake which is an electromagnetic brake comprising:
a brake mount sized and shaped to mount to said electric motor, said brake mount mounting said mechanical brake to said stator;
an armature movable between a braking position and a non-braking position and biased to said braking position by a biasing means;
a brake pad disposed between said brake mount and said armature; and
a brake coil; and
a main circuit board;
supplying said electric belt motor with electricity;
operating said electric belt motor with said electricity, said operating turning said belt roller to move said continuous belt around said running deck;
supplying said mechanical brake with electricity to energize said brake coil, said energized brake coil moving said armature from said braking position to said non-braking position;
said main circuit board:
accessing an amount of incline of said running deck;
detecting a stopping event; and
instructing a brake controller to brake and hold said continuous belt with said mechanical brake only if said amount of incline is above a predefined threshold when said stopping event is detected, by removing said electricity supply from said mechanical brake, said removing said electricity supply de-energizing said brake coil such that said biasing means moves said armature to said braking position.
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