Motor vehicles – Special wheel base – Rider propulsion with additional source of power – e.g.,...
Patent
1990-01-16
1991-06-18
Hill, Mitchell J.
Motor vehicles
Special wheel base
Rider propulsion with additional source of power, e.g.,...
180 652, 180207, B62M 700, B62M 2302
Patent
active
050242865
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a motor assisted pedal cycle and in the preferred embodiment provides a pedal cycle in which the motor can be controlled automatically in response to the operation of the pedals.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention a motor assisted pedal cycle comprises: a pair of foot operated rotary pedals for applying a driving torque to a wheel of the cycle; a motor for applying a driving torque to a wheel of the cycle; means for sensing the torque reduced by foot pressure on the pedals as the pedals are rotated to drive the cycle; and control means responsive to the torque sensing means for controlling the motor in response to the torque produced by foot pressure on the pedals.
With a preferred embodiment of the invention a cycle can be produced having a motor, for example an internal combustion engine, which is controlled automatically to assist the rider of the cycle in response to the manner in which the rider of the cycle applies force to the pedals of the cycle. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the throttle opening of an internal combustion engine is increased as the torque applied to the pedals and/or the speed of rotation of the pedals is increased. In the preferred embodiment, the internal combustion engine is started automatically when certain predetermined threshold conditions are reached, and is stopped automatically in response to cessation of pedal rotation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of example only with, reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view which illustrates a portion of a bicycle in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates a control box layout; and
FIG. 3 illustrates a control circuit;
FIG. 4 is a schematic elevational view of a typical bicycle with which the invention is used.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment of the invention is in the form of a bicycle 30 having a conventional pedal arrangement comprising a pair of pedals (32) connected by crank arms 1 and 2 to a common pedal shaft 3. The pedal shaft is journaled in appropriate bearings mounted on the frame of the bicycle so that the rider of the bicycle may place his feet upon the pedals in the conventional manner. The pedal shaft 3, as described in more detail hereinafter, applies a drive force to one wheel 34 of the bicycle, e.g. by means of a conventional roller chain arrangement. A motor, e.g. a small internal combustion engine, is provided to apply a driving torque to one wheel of the bicycle.
Drive from the pedal shaft 3 is applied to the pedal driven wheel of the cycle by means of a sprocket wheel 8 which drives the rear wheel of the bicycle by way of a chain 36. The sprocket wheel 8 is mounted on a hub 7 which is rotationally mounted on the frame of the bicycle. A drive gear 4 is also mounted on the hub 7 and is engaged by an output gear of an internal combustion engine 38 mounted on the bicycle frame so that drive from the internal combustion engine is transferred to the sprocket 8 by the gear 4 and hub 7.
The hub 7 is connected to the pedal shaft 3 by means which permit limited relative angular displacement of the hub relative to the pedal shaft 3. In the illustrated embodiment, a torsion spring 5 is coupled to the pedal shaft 3 at one end thereof and to a plate 6 at the other end thereof. The plate 6 is connected to the hub 7 which is rotatably supported on the bicycle frame, and to which the gear 4 and main drive sprocket 8 are connected. The arrangement is such that as the pedals are rotated to drive the sprocket 8 the pedal shaft can advance to a limited extent relative to the hub 7, the amount of advance being progressive up to a predetermined limit in response to progressively higher torque applied to the pedal shaft by foot pressure on the pedals.
A first disk 9 is fast with
REFERENCES:
patent: 2836732 (1958-05-01), Newlin
patent: 4085814 (1978-04-01), Davidson et al.
patent: 4122907 (1978-10-01), Davidson et al.
patent: 4364448 (1982-12-01), Ikuma
Dennis Anthony H. K.
Lean Gordon D.
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