FOOT-OPERATED DRIVE OF A BICYCLE

Abstract: A foot-operated drive of a bicycle, particularly of the back wheel fitted with slow-speed toothed wheels, comprising on both sides of the bicycle, symmetrically placed levers (1) ended with pedals (2), the levers fitted with cross-bars (3) connected stiffly by strengtheners (6) with the levers (1) fixed rotationally on an axle (5) to the bottom part of the frame (4). To the ends of the cross-bars (3) ends of the bicycle chains (7) are fixed rotationally belting guiding-straining rollers (8) fixed rotationally to the back skew part of the frame (4), driving slow-speed toothed wheel (9) of the back wheel (11) of the bicycle and gear change (10). The tension springs (13) are placed in a cylinder (14) and abut with one end (15) on the bottom (16) of the cylinder (14), and the other free ends (17) of the tension springs (13) are fixed by fasteners (18) to the bottom end of the bicycle chains (7). The bottom part of the frame (4) is fitted with a stopper (19) setting the bottom position of the lever (1).

Description: FOOT-OPERATED DRIVE OF A BICYCLE The subject of the present invention is a foot-operated drive of a bicycle, particularly of the back wheel fitted with slow-speed toothed wheels. So far, in known and used bicycles, chain transmissions, often equipped with mechanisms of gear at one or two of the toothed wheels are employed for the drive. The front tootheα wheel is connected with pedals through a crank, that pedals are driven rotationally by feet of a user. The disadvantage of such a solution is that merely a half of the rotation of the gear results in the driving of the bicycle, while the rest of the rotation is idle, i.e. no effective work is done. In such a known bicycle one obtains the maximum torque n the horizontal position of the crank of the toothed gear. In another position of the crank only a component of the force of the pressure acts on the pedal. Therefore the average torque equal to the half of the maximum torque is obtained during the rotation of the gear. It is also known from the description in Polish patent application PL 144 423 a drive of vehicles, particularly bicycles, placed on the frame and connected with the back The disadvantage of these known solutions is low efficiency of the drive. Moreover, it is known from the description m Polish patent application P. 332 269 a foot-operated drive of a bicycle for the back wheel, particularly with a toothed disc, comprising on both sides of the bicycle, symmetrically placed double-armed levers fixed on an axle on the bottom part of the frame of the bicycle, and circular sectors of internal toothed wheel are fixed to the shorter arms of the levers, co-operating with toothed discs with idle return move, placed on the axle of the back wheel of the bicycle. From the bottom skew part of the frame of the bicycle the guides of the longer part of the levers with bottom stoppers jut out down and longer arms of the levers are connected with the bottom part of the frame by tension springs, and pedals are fixed on the longer ends of the levers. The object of the invention is to provide a foot- operated drive of a bicycle, particularly for the back wheel fitted with slow-speed toothed wheels, comprising on both sides of the bicycle symmetrically placed levers ended with pedals, the levers fitted with cross-bars connected stiffly by strengtheners with the levers fixed rotationally on an axle to the bottom part of the frame. To the ends of the cross-bars, ends of the bicycle chains are fixed rotationally belting guidmg-strainmg rollers fixed rotationally to the back skew part of the frame, driving slow-speed toothed wheel of the back wheel of the bicycle and gear change. Whereas wheel, consisted with foot-operated pressing elements, connected with racks propelling toothed wheels situated on the common axle with chain central wheel connected with the back wheel of the vehicle. The ends of the racks are in the shape of pistons and are placed slidely in a leakproof vessel, preferably n a shape of a U - pipe, filled up w th a liquid, and the central wheel placed in the frame by rolling elements has on its both sides sleeves with bearings inside placed on an axle, whereas on the outer cylindrical surfaces of the sleeves are placed gears consisting of rings of gear elements and hubs, and the racks are ended with flat pedals. It is also known from the description in Polish patent application PL 171 047 a pedal mechanism, particularly for man-powered vehicles, comprising rocking levers with pedals connected with a crank mechanism by pushers. Rocking levers with pedals placed self-alignmgly on the common axle ana connected with the crank mechanism by the pushers are placed in such a way, that the straight line connecting the two extreme points of the position of the rocking levers does not intersects tne axis of rotation of the crank mechanism. It is also known from the description in Polish patent application P. 332 976 a drive of a wheel vehicle, dedicated particularly for small diameter wheel vehicles such as scooters or skate-boards. There is a pedal with a strand placed self-aligningly in the rear part of the floor. The strand belts a directional oval and unidirectional gear placed on the wheel. upper parts of the cross-bars are connected with the bottom back parts of the frame by tension springs. In the preferred embodiment the bottom parts of the cross-bars are connected w th bottom ends of the bicycle chains by the tension springs. According to another embodiment, tension springs are placed in a cylinder and abut with one end on the bottom of the cylinder, and the other free ends of the tension springs are connected by fasteners with bottom ends of the bicycle chains, causing squeezing the tension springs. According to the invention, the bottom part of the frame is fitted with a stopper setting the bottom position of the lever . The invention exchanges advantageously the rotational motion of the so far bicycle drives into the reciprocating motion. Such a solution essentially improves the efficiency of the usage of numan muscles. The drive according to the invention enables independent motion of tne both driving levers, protects bottom parts of the clothing of a cyclist from getting dirty and screwing in between the gear and the oxled chain. Such a drive may be used m different kinds of man-operated vehicles, because it enables the work with almost constant driving torque with an error of 4Ϊ. The gear change applied makes it easier to ride m different area. Moreover, thanks to possible regulation of the pedal travel it is easier to overcome land obstacles and thanks to possibility of using only one of the two pedals one can pedal even m a sharp turn. Also the relaxed position of riding becomes more comfortable because the two legs of a cyclist may be kept straignt simultaneously. The embodiments of the invention are presented m the drawings, where fig. 1 shows the drive of a bicycle with the gear change according to the invention in the end view, fig. 2 shows the second one embodiment of the drive of a bicycle in the end view, fig. 3 shows the third one embodiment of the drive of a bicycle m the end v ew. The foot-operated drive of a bicycle, particularly of the back wheel fitted with slow-speed tootned wheels, comprises on both sides of the bicycle, symmetrically placed levers _1 ended with pedals 2, the levers fitteα with crossbars 2! connected stiffly by strengtheners 6 with the levers _1 fixed rotationally on an axle 5 to the bottom part of tne frame 4_. To the ends of the cross-bars 3 , ends of the bicycle chains 1_ are fixed rotationally belting guiding-straining rollers 13 fixed rotationally to the back skew part of the frame 4_, driving slow-speed toothed wheel 9 of tne back wheel 11 of the bicycle and gear change 1_0, whereas upper parts of the cross-bars _3 are connected with the bottom back parts of the frame _4 by tension springs 12. In this solution the compensation of the chain length is obtained thanks to the gear change and the spring guarantees the return of the pedal into the upper position. In the preferred embodiment, the bottom parts of the cross-bars 3 are connected with the bottom ends of the bicycle chains 7 through the tension springs 13. In this solution compensation of the chain length is obtained through the tension spring. In another embodiment tension springs 1_3 are placed m a cylinder 1_4 and abut with one end 1_5 on the bottom 1_6 of the cylinder 14_, and the other free ends 1_7_ of the tension springs 1_3 are connected by fasteners 1_8 with bottom ends of the bicycle chains 1_, causing squeezing the tension springs 13. In the preferred embodiment according to the invention, the bottom part of the frame is fitted with a stopper 1_9 setting the bottom position of the lever 1 . In the solution of the drive according to the invention not only the driving torque close to the maximum torque is obtained but also the torque may be essentially increased using a long driving lever thus increasing the dynamics of the drive. The inventor as an amateur cyclist obtained the speed of 40 km/h on a long distance without much effort.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A foot-operated drive of a bicycle, particularly of the back wheel (1_1) fitted with slow-speed toothed wheels (9) characterized m that it comprises on both sides of the bicycle, symmetrically placed levers (1_) ended with pedals (2) , the levers fitted with cross-bars (3) connected stiffly by strengtheners ( 6 ) with the levers (1_) fixed rotationally on an axle (5) to the bottom part of the frame (_4) . To the ends of the cross-bars (3) ends of the bicycle chains (7) are fixed rotationally belting guiding-straining rollers (8) fixed rotationally to the back skew part of the frame (4), driving slow-speeα toothed wheel (9) of the back wheel (11) of the bicycle and gear change (1_0) , whereas upper parts of the cross-bars (3) are connected with the bottom back parts of the frame (4_) by tension springs (1_2) . 2. The drive according to the claim 1 characterized in that the bottom parts of the cross-bars (3) are connected with the bottom ends of the bicycle chains (7) through the tension springs (1_3) . 3. The drive according to the claim 2 characterized in that the tension springs (1_3) are placed in a cylinder (14) and abut with one end (1_5) on the bottom (1_6) of the cylinder (14), and the other free ends (1_7_) of the tension springs (13) are connected by fasteners (1_8) with bottom ends of the bicycle chains (7) causing squeezing the tension springs (13) . 4. The drive according to the claim 1 characterized in that the bottom part of the frame (_4) is fitted with a stopper (1_9) setting the bottom position of the lever (_1) . AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 9 April 2001 (09.04.01); original claims 1 -4 replaced by new claims 1 -4 (2 pages)] 1. A foot-operated drive of a bicycle, particularly of the back wheel (11) with slow-speed toothed wheels ( 9]_ and a gear change (1_0) , comprising pedals ( 2 ) on both sides of the bicycle, fixed rotationally on an axle (5) to the ends of the symmetrical levers (1_) , to the bottom part of the frame (4_) characterized in that the levers (1_) are fitted with cross-bars (3) connected stiffly by strengtheners (6>) with these levers ( 1 ) , and to the ends of the cross-bars (3) are fixed rotationally ends of the bicycle chains ( ) belting guiding- straining rollers (_8) fixed rotationally to the back skew part of the frame (4_) , whereas upper parts of the cross-bars (3) are connected with the bottom back parts of the frame (_4) by tension springs (12) . 2. The drive according to the claim 1 characterized in that the bottom parts of the crossbars (3_) are connected with the bottom ends of the bicycle chains ( _) through the tension springs (_13) . 3. The drive according to the claim 2 characterized in that the tension springs (_13) are placed in a cylinder (14_) and abut with one end ( 15) on the bottom ( 1_6) of the cylinder ( 1_4_) , and the other free ends (17) of the tension springs (13) are connected by fasteners (1_8) with bottom ends of the bicycle chains { _) causing squeezing the tension springs (_13_) . 4. The drive according to the claim 1 characterized in that the bottom part of the frame (_4) is fitted with a stopper (1_9) setting the bottom position of the lever (1) .

Inventors: RABIEGA RYSZARD, RABIEGA, RYSZARD
Applicants: RABIEGA RYSZARD, RABIEGA, RYSZARD
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B62M1
IPC codes: B62M1