EP0225783A2

EP0225783A2 - Training aid

Info

Publication number: EP0225783A2
Application number: EP86309428A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Keith Richard Cline
Original assignee: HIREMINE Ltd
Current assignee: HIREMINE Ltd
Priority date: 1985-12-03
Filing date: 1986-12-03
Publication date: 1987-06-16
Also published as: EP0225783A3

Abstract

There is disclosed a training aid on which gravity-related activities can be practiced. The training aid generally comprises a bowl supported for variable rotation and inclination on a framework. Access to the bowl by a participant and means for causing rotation of said bowl are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the training aid is adapted for practicing skiing by having the interior of the bowl covered in snow and refrigerated.

Description

This invention relates to a recreational training, or testing aid. More particularly it relates to an apparatus and system for facilitating the practice either seriously or for pleasure of almost any sport or pastime which relies upon gravity as a driving force and the movement of a participant down a slope. There exist a variety of activities which rely at least to some extent upon gravity as a driving force. Sports or recreations such as roller skating or skateboarding have developed to the point where tricks, manoeuvres and even acrobatics are performed on or involve slopes. Alpine skiing, and imitations thereof such as grass skiiing or roller- boarding have always relied upon gravity acting to propel a participant down a slope. The problem with such sports is that quite large areas are needed to practice them satisfactorily and, in the case of alpine skiing, there has never in addition been any real substitute for actual snow.
Various solutions to the problem of providing training aids suitable for operation in confined spaces have been proposed. These have varied from devices resembling inclined conveyor belts, on which the participant is expected to train by moving against the moving track, to a skirotor in a fixed plane of the type proposed in DE-OS 2410126. None of these devices has proved entirely satisfactory or commercially acceptable and there still remains a need for a training apparatus which can be used in confined spaces and which will provide a practising participant with the desired degree of realism. We have now devised an apparatus which we believe substantially fulfills this need and which is also safer in general operation.
In essence, our apparatus comprises a bowl or equivalent container of size adequate to accommodate one or more practising participants adapted in use to be mounted on a support and in use to be rotated and inclined thereon.
In one embodiment, our apparatus takes the form of a bowl the walls of which curve up and back over towards the axis of rotation, thus rather resembling in shape a hollowed-out pumpkin, mounted for inclination and rotation, each of which is preferably variable, on an appropriately robust support. Within such a bowl and with a suitable selected surface, downhill movements may be practiced by one or more participants using whatever means the participant(s) desires, whether it be a skateboard, roller skates or a pair of skis, and the walls not only add considerable interest and greater realism by also being able to be used, but also improve the safety aspects.
In the further preferred aspect, the internal surface of our apparatus is covered with either natural or artificially created snow, or by a snowlike substitute such as conventional nylon bristle. This enables the creation of an environment very similar to a natural lengthy ski slope but in a fraction of the area. A practicing skier, for example, when situated within the inclined bowl and facing down the incline during rotation of the bowl towards him continually has new ground being presented to him. Furthermore, given the rotating nature of motion of the apparatus, a practicing skier can vary for himself even further the relative speed at which descent is simulated merely by moving closer to or away from the centre of rotation. The turntable can also serve as a form of ski lift since a person who has practiced and arrived at the lower edge of the turntable can then be carried back around to the upper edge.
In our apparatus, the actual angle of inclination of the bowl may be varied, so as to create a gentler or steeper slope. A variable angle of inclination of up to 25° would be appropriate and our apparatus will provide this. The speed of rotation and the inclination of the bowl may if desired each be independently controlled by remote control by a participant from within the bowl.
As part of a total practicing or testing concept, the internal surface of our apparatus will be covered in artificially created snow and a practicing or testing environment can be carefully temperature-controlled down to temperatures well below zero, e.g. -20°C. This results in the creation of a practicing or testing environment extremely similar to the "real thing" but in a far smaller space. As part of this embodiment, the internal surface may be dressed, or contoured, evened-off or textured to suit almost any desired type of skiing, including mogul skiing.
Aspects of the invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings which are by way of example only and in which

Fig. 1 shows a cross-section through an inclined bowl and its support.
Fig. 2 shows a plan view from above of a training aid of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows a perspective view from above and to the side of a training aid with the inside of an inclined bowl revealed.

In Figs. 1-3, a ski training slope in the form of a bowl 1 resembling a hollowed-out pumpkin approximately 9 m in diameter and 3 m deep is formed of a corrugated steel shell 2. On the outside of the shell the steel is covered with a layer of insulating cladding and finished off with a layer of decorative waterproof material. Internally, the steel is lined with a timber or hardboard floor to which a layer of snow is slush-bonded and finished off with a layer of top snow 3, all created in situ by a conventional snow-blowing machine.
The bowl is mounted for rotation and inclination on a support assembly 4. In the embodiment shown the bowl itself rotates on two sets of wheels, concentrically mounted. One set 5, comprising eight wheels evenly distributed around the circle is close to the lower outer edge of the bowl, and is mounted for rotation on a supporting framework 6 and an angle steel track 7 is provided on the underside of the bowl. Another set of wheels 8, comprising four wheels evenly distributed around the circle is provided closer to the centre, is mounted on the underside of the bowl and a flat steel track 9 on which they rotate is provided on the framework. In an alternative embodiment, the bowl could be supported on a cushion of air provided from underneath the support in place of the wheels.
The support assembly comprises a robust frame or block 4 secured with anchor bolts 10 to the ground. Mounted for pivoted movement on the frame or block at 11 for variable inclination, is a girder framework platform 6 suitably braced for strength and adapted for raising or lowering via a hydraulic ram or worm drive lift 12 pivoted to the platform at 13 and to the block 4 at 14. The ram may readily be fitted with actuating means for remote control (not shown) and is generally capable of providing a variable slope of up to 25°. Mounted on the platform 6 is a drive motor 15 which will provide a variable speed of up to ¹/₂ a revolution per second, thereby providing a surface speed of up to about 40 km/h. This could of course be varied by making the bowl of greater radius or increasing the angular velocity. The motor is capable of driving the bowl either clockwise or anti-clockwise, will itself be powered by any convenient energy source and is also capable of being actuated by remote control. Transmission to the bowl may be effected via a driving wheel 16, through direct transmission via a gearbox mounted centrally or close to the centre of the bowl is also envisaged.
The open portion of the top of the bowl is covered with a twin-skin transparent covering 17 e.g. of Perspex secured at its edge to the shell 2 to permit vision from above but at the same time retain cold air. Cold air at a temperature of for example around -3° C is led into the bowl via inlet pipe 18 and is led away via outlet pipe 19. Entry and exit are permitted during rotation of the bowl by disc valve 20 situated at the centre of the transparent sheeting. A control arm 21 bearing other services such as lighting, TV monitor, microphone or loudspeaker and control sensor, and supported on the framework of the platform is suspended over the bowl. As an optional feature, an instructor platform may be provided which can be either secured at the centre of the bowl on the floor and retained by a pole descending downwards into the bowl from the end of the arm, or mounted so as to be stationary relative to rotation of the bowl.
There is provided in the wall of the bowl means, e.g. a door 22 for access to the interior by a participant. When motion of the bowl ceases, the door will desirably always be aligned with a cooled antechamber, shown in Fig. 2 schematically as 23, so as to prevent ingress of warm air when participants move into or out of the bowl and out of or into the antechamber, thus helping to preserve the snow in good condition. During use, the interior of the bowl is hermetically sealed.
The apparatus as a whole will be able to be controlled by remote control by a participant or instructor. This will include variation of the slope and speed of rotation, and control of a TV monitor or sound facility.
In use, in a suitably refrigerated environment, a layer of snow is slush-bonded all over the plywood internal surface of the bowl and, when suitably frozen, finished off with a layer of top snow, all created by a conventional snow-blowing machine. The snow is retained in condition by the refrigerated environment.
If it is desired not to incur the expense of covering the surface with snow and maintaining refrigeration, an appropriate snow-resembling (from a skiing point of view) substitute may be used, such as nylon brushes.
Quite apart from its application as a training device for participants, our device can also be used as a testing station for equipment manufacturers, within which new equipment can be tested by experts for a manufacturer's benefit. The fact that the temperature of the environment and, hence, the snow; the speed of rotation and the angle of inclination can all independently be varied provides equipment manufacturers with a unique facility for testing all sorts of apparatus under a variety of conditions. This need not apply only to ski apparatus, but to automotive parts, military equipment and a variety of other products. Conditions may be generated so as to resemble conditions either in the high mountains in mid-winter or in polar areas.

Claims

1. A training aid for the practice of gravity-related activities which comprises

a) a support,

b) a bowl either having or adapted to be provided with an inner surface of a material on which it is desired to practice, and mounted for inclined rotation on said support,

c) means for a participant to gain access to the interior of the bowl, and

d) means for driving rotation of said bowl.

2. A training aid as claimed in claim 1 in which each of the speed of rotation and the angle of inclination is independently variable.

3. A training aid as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which each of the speed of rotation and angle of inclination is independently controllable by remote control by a participant within the bowl.

4. A training aid as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the bowl has an inner surface of snow.

5. A training aid as claimed in claim 4 wherein the bowl is capable of being hermetically sealed during use and the interior of the bowl is capable of being refrigerated.