Pedal bar system and method

A method for using a pedal bar system comprising:

• providing the pedal bar system, including:
• a frame;
• a motor disposed on the frame and selectively operable in a forward mode and a reverse mode, the motor having a motor shaft;
• a pedal shaft disposed on the frame and rotatably coupled to the motor shaft via a drive belt;
• a pedal assembly disposed on the frame and rotatably coupled to the pedal shaft;
• a tensioner in communication with the motor shaft and the pedal shaft via the drive belt, the tensioner having a disengaged position and an engaged position, the drive belt having insufficient tension to rotate the pedal shaft when the tensioner is in the disengaged position, and the drive belt having sufficient tension to rotate the pedal shaft when the tensioner is in the engaged position;
• a limit switch disposed adjacent to the tensioner and configured to be activated by the tensioner in the disengaged position, the limit switch configured to reverse the motor;
• and
• a controller configured to operate the tensioner,
• wherein upon the limit switch being activated by the tensioner in the disengaged position, the motor of the pedal bar system is placed into the reverse mode, but the pedal shaft is not rotated by the motor in a reverse direction due to a slack in the drive belt;
• operating the pedal bar system in the forward mode with the tensioner in the engaged position;
• actuating the controller to place the tensioner in the disengaged position;
• and
• operating the pedal bar system in the reverse mode.

A method for decoupling a motor of a pedal bar system including:

• providing the pedal bar system, including:
• a frame;
• a motor disposed on the frame and selectively operable in a forward mode and a reverse mode, the motor having a motor shaft;
• a pedal shaft disposed on the frame and rotatably coupled to the motor shaft via a drive belt;
• a pedal assembly disposed on the frame and rotatably coupled to the pedal shaft;
• a tensioner in communication with the motor shaft and the pedal shaft via the drive belt, the tensioner having a disengaged position and an engaged position, the drive belt having insufficient tension to rotate the pedal shaft when the tensioner is in the disengaged position, and the drive belt having sufficient tension to rotate the pedal shaft when the tensioner is in the engaged position;
• and
• a limit switch disposed adjacent to the tensioner and configured to be activated by the tensioner in the disengaged position, the limit switch configured to reverse the motor,
• a coupler configured to selectively couple the motor to the motor shaft, the coupler including a spider coupling,
• wherein upon the limit switch being activated by the tensioner in the disengaged position, the motor of the pedal bar system is placed into the reverse mode, but the pedal shaft is not rotated by the motor in a reverse direction due to a slack in the drive belt;
• operating the pedal bar system with the motor coupled to the motor shaft;
• removing the spider coupling from the coupler, thereby decoupling the motor from the motor shaft.