Underwater treadmill device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention meets these needs by providing an underwater treadmill device having a motor directly coupled to the drive roller which is capable of delivering a wide range of power and torque to the treadmill.
These needs are also met by providing a treadmill device having an electrical motor powering the motor to the drive roller which is remotely positioned and electrically isolated from the water, and which may be remotely controlled by the user.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a treadmill device is provided and comprises a frame, an endless treadmill belt, a drive roller and an idler roller coupled to the frame and engaging opposite ends of the endless treadmill belt, and a fluid-powered motor directly coupled to the drive roller.
The fluid-powered motor imparts rotary motion to the drive roller which in turns imparts rotary motion to the treadmill belt.
The treadmill device may be at least partially submerged in a body of water.
The fluid-powered motor preferably has a torque of at least 9 Nm.
The fluid-powered motor may be driven by a fluid pump while the fluid pump may be driven by a variable speed drive motor.
The treadmill device may further comprise a remote control unit transmitting a signal in the electromagnetic spectrum to control a speed of the variable speed motor.
The signal may be a radio frequency signal.
The variable speed motor may comprise a cut-off sensor to prevent the variable speed motor from stalling.
The idler roller may comprise a first shaft superposed over a second shaft with water acting as a lubricant to facilitate movement between the first and second shafts.
The first shaft may be comprised of an ultrahigh molecular weight (UHMW) plastic such as polyproylene while the second shaft may be comprised of stainless steel.
The first shaft may further comprise a plurality of roller portions.
The drive roller may comprise a first outer portion having a diameter of increasing cross-section and a second outer portion having a diameter of increasing cross-section