Land vehicles – Wheeled – Occupant propelled type
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-26
2001-05-29
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 2167)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Occupant propelled type
C280S258000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237928
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to pedaled propulsion systems of the type described in my earlier U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,927, which is incorporated by reference. The invention concerns a drive mechanism for a pedaled vehicle having a rotary drive, e.g., a bicycle whose rear wheel is driven by a chain and sprocket drive arrangement. The invention may also be applied to other pedaled vehicles, such as a paddle boat, or to vehicles driven by a shaft rather than a drive chain.
A number of reciprocating foot-lever drives have been proposed for bicycles to be used in stead of the conventional crank and sprocket. Several of these are discussed in my earlier pat. U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,927. Typical of these is the bicycle drive system shown in Wheatley U.S. Pat. No. 584,200. In that case, there are foot levers that are pumped up and down to pull a drive chain back and forth over a sprocket, and a gear arrangement converts the back and forth motion to forward rotary motion to drive the rear wheel. However, the lever action used in these designs does not make optimal use of the muscle dynamics of the leg over the range of motion of the rider's leg. Also, there is no provision to recover energy from the top or bottom of a stroke to assist in the next stroke.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a pedaled propulsion system that avoids the drawbacks of the prior art, and which efficiently provides motive power to a bicycle, water craft, or other pedaled vehicle.
According to an aspect of this invention, left and right foot pedals are mounted to travel up and down on roller bearing slides or slides with wheels on track members that are mounted on the bicycle frame. A drive web, i.e., a belt, chain, cable, or similar drive means, passes between the pedals and loops around a driven wheel at one end of the track assembly. The drive web also loops around an idler at the other end of the track assembly. The driven wheel is mounted on the input shaft of a unidirectional gear transfer arrangement based in part on a clutch bearing drive mechanism.
The input shaft is oriented in the fore-and-aft direction, and couples to a transverse output shaft. The input shaft has a bevel pinion gear on it that meshes with left and right driven bevel gears. These bevel gears each are mounted to the output shaft by means of clutch bearings inside the bevel gears. The clutch bearings are unidirectional, so each bevel gear drives in one direction and idles in the other direction. As the drive shaft oscillates back and forth, i.e., reverses direction, the driven shaft continues to rotate in the same direction.
A sprocket wheel can be mounted on the driven shaft to power a chain drive or other mechanism. This example is shown here on a bicycle, but the principle can be used with a paddle boat or any other foot powered vehicle. For that matter, the drive mechanism can include a shaft drive rather than a chain drive, for example, to turn a propeller or screw of a watercraft or other propelling means suitable for the vehicle.
The drive system of this invention can be installed on a standard bicycle. First, the crank can be removed from the crank housing of the bicycle, and this drive assembly can be installed simply by bolting it to the bicycle frame. No cutting of the frame and no welding are required. Here, an automotive timing belt is shown, and the drive wheel is a sprocket timing wheel with teeth that mesh with the drive belt. In other possible embodiments, other systems can be used, e.g., other belts, drive chains, drive cables, etc. Also, the drive sprocket and the uni-directional transfer arrangement can be disposed at the upper end or at the lower end of the track arrangement, as desired.
The pedals are mounted on shoe assemblies that travel up and down on metal slides or tracks on either side of the frame, here going between the crank housing and the upper tube or cross bar of the bicycle frame. Plastics or other materials besides metals would serve the purpose. The pedal position on these shoes is adjustable for the height of the rider. The position of the drive assembly in respect to the upper tube is also adjustable for the comfort and preference of the rider. Means can be included to release the propulsion system from the rear wheel so that the bicycle can be backed up.
On the roller slide mechanisms there are springs attached to bump into stops at the bottom of the stroke which cushion the momentum of the strokes and return this energy back into a positive motion at the commencement of the next stroke. These springs could also be attached in lieu of the stops which in effect will achieve the same end and have the slide bump the springs either at the bottom or at the top of the stroke. The springs could be on top and on bottom on just one side, and would have the same effect as having the two springs on opposite sides.
The above and many other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of a preferred embodiment, which is to be considered in connection with the accompanying Drawing.
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Fischer Andrew J.
Molldrem, Jr Bernhard P.
Olszewski Robert P.
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