DE9313824U1 - Multi-wheel vehicle, especially bicycle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a multi-wheeled vehicle, in particular a bicycle, of the type corresponding to the preamble of claim 1.

Attempts were made early on to not only power a bicycle using leg work, but to let the arms, which on a normal bicycle only hold on to the handlebars, contribute to the torque on the rear wheel.

In DE-PS 94 205, the handlebar extends far to the rear and is connected via a crank linkage to a pinion mounted near the bottom bracket, which acts on a gear wheel that is connected to the pedal crank.

US Patent 47 79 882 provides for a rickshaw-like vehicle with three wheels, the tubular frame of which is designed as a four-bar linkage that can be deformed in the vertical plane running in the direction of travel, the displacement of which is also transmitted to the rear axle via a crank.

The aforementioned known embodiments require considerable structural effort in the form of protruding rod arrangements, without the inclusion of the arm work being ergonomically satisfactory.

Newer versions of such bicycles are from DE-GM 91 10 206 and 92 00 880. Here is

0-40239 DÜSSELDORF I MljLVANCSTRftJSE 2 ; TEtEI;ON*49 /£1.1 /.63 27 27 · TELEFAX 49 / 211 / 63 79 15

Although more consideration is given to the ergonomic sequence of the overall movement when driving, these designs require special frame constructions, which lead to increased manufacturing costs.

A construction based on the generic term according to FR-PS 953 429 already includes a normal so-called pentagonal frame, to the handlebar head of which an upward-facing bearing fork is firmly attached, on the free legs of which an upper, downward-facing bearing fork is mounted so that it can be tilted around a transverse axis, which in turn supports the handlebar. The movement of the handlebar is transmitted via a universal joint to the fork tube mounted in the handlebar head. The inclination of the handlebar is transmitted via a chain to a pinion with a freewheel clutch on the pedal crank, so that a torque contribution can only be made in one direction. In the other direction, the handlebar can be freely tilted, which represents an element of uncertainty when riding.

How the firm connection of the lower bearing fork with the handlebar head is to be achieved in FR-PS 953 429 is not specified in detail.

The invention is based on the object of designing a generic multi-wheeled vehicle, in particular a bicycle, in such a way that the arm movement can be included in the drive without any loss of driving safety, without the need for specially designed frame structures.

This object is solved by the invention set out in claim 1.

The bearing part, which is required for the tilting handlebar and the second drive connection, is therefore connected to the handlebar head by simply bracing it. The underlying idea is to be able to start with a commercially available pentagonal frame and to be able to design it without making any structural changes to it by attaching additional parts so that it has a tilting handlebar to incorporate the arm force in

the drive. There is therefore no need to drill or weld on a commercially available pentagonal frame, so that it can be used, possibly even already painted, for a normal bicycle one time and for a bicycle according to the invention another time. The frame is the most expensive part of a bicycle. If a commercially available frame that is available in large quantities can be used, the costs for the bicycle according to the invention can be reduced considerably. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the bearing part is braced in the manner set out in claim 2.

In the usual pentagonal frame, the handlebar head is formed by the front upright frame beam, which consists of a tube section cut at the top and bottom perpendicular to the axis. The bracing elements clamp the tube section between them, which means that considerable clamping forces can be applied without having to fear deformation of the tube section.

The ends of the handlebar head often protrude slightly upwards or downwards over the adjacent frame members. In such cases, the design according to claim 3 is expedient in order to achieve a particularly secure fixation of the bearing part.

The inclination bearing can be realized in the manner set out in claim 4.

In the preferred embodiment, the bearing part serves not only to support the tiltable handlebar, but also to support drive parts, as set out in claim 5.

An arrangement of the transverse axis of the bearing which is least disruptive and protrudes little beyond the silhouette of the bicycle is the subject of claim 6.

To achieve this position of the transverse axis, the structural design can be as set out in claim 7.

If the second drive connection has the features defined in claim 8

reproduced features, it is possible to get by with commercially available parts. The second drive wheel on the pedal crank can be implemented, for example, using the chain wheel arrangement found on tandem bikes.

The "flexible tension member" will generally be a standard bicycle chain, but can also be a belt, cord or the like.

In order that the second drive connection does not result in an increase in the projection of the drive parts towards one side of the frame, the arrangement according to claim 9 may be recommended.

The alternative according to claim 10 is also possible. In this case, the chain wheel and the other drive wheel are arranged directly next to each other on the same side of the frame. It is possible to use double chain wheels, as used in three-speed gearshifts.

A possible embodiment of the bearing part comprises legs that continue downwards from the handlebar support and extend to both sides of the handlebar head, with the crank for the second drive connection engaging one of these legs.

An important embodiment of the invention is the subject of claim 12. The spring accumulator serves to even out the drive. It is charged when the handlebar is pushed forward with the arms. It releases its stored energy again when the handlebar moves backwards, i.e. is pulled towards the body with the arms. In this case, such large forces cannot be applied due to the lack of support. This also makes it possible to operate the two pedals in parallel by moving one pedal by 180° (see Fig. 4). This results in a symmetrical rowing-like overall movement. The energy accumulator is needed in this case to make it easier to "lift up" the pedals and to enable even out the drive.

In this phase, stored energy supports the drive of the rear wheel via the second drive connection.

The spring accumulator is conveniently arranged on the side of the frame opposite the drive wheel, in order to distribute the weight and projection evenly.

In the embodiment of the bearing part with the legs that continue the handlebar support, the other leg can engage the spring accumulator (claim 14), which in the preferred embodiment is formed by a helical spring that is pulled apart or compressed in the direction of its axis.

An alternative embodiment instead of the embodiment with clamping plates that are pulled against each other in the axial direction of the handlebar head is given in claim 16.

The clamping is radial to the handlebar head. The bearing for the first drive wheel and the support of the spring accumulator are expediently attached to the counter clamping piece (claim 17).

A structural simplification can be achieved by the embodiment according to claim 18.

Only one cross pin is required, on which the drive wheel is mounted and on which the coil spring is also attached.

It is also important in the alternative design with spring accumulator that all functional parts required for incorporating the arm force into the drive when the handlebar is tilted, including the spring accumulator, are arranged on the bearing part and can be connected to the frame by simply clamping it in place, without any machining operations being required on the frame.

Although the invention is described using a preferred embodiment in the form of a bicycle, it is not limited to this. Multi-wheeled vehicles, for example rickshaw-like vehicles with one front wheel and two rear wheels, are also considered for the invention.

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An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawing.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a bicycle according to the invention from the front;

Fig. 2 shows a side view of the bicycle to illustrate the function;

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the handlebar head area as an exploded view on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a bicycle according to the invention in perspective view;

Fig. 5 shows the area of the handlebar head of the bicycle according to Fig. 4 in perspective view from the other side.

When the description refers to "top", "bottom", "front" or "back", this always refers to the normal upright operating position of the bicycle.

The bicycle, designated as a whole with 100 in Fig. 1 and 2, has a front wheel 1 and a rear wheel 2. The front wheel 1 is mounted in the usual way on a front wheel axle 3 in a front wheel fork 4, which is mounted with a fork pin 5 attached to its web, which essentially continues the direction of the fork legs, in a handlebar head 6, which is designed as a tube section surrounding the fork pin 5, at the upper and lower ends of which ball bearings are provided for pivotally mounting the front wheel fork about a steering axis 11 inclined downwards and forwards in the direction of travel and coinciding with the axis of the tube section.

The tube section forming the handlebar head 6 is the front frame member of a so-called pentagonal frame, designated as a whole by 10, which has the shape shown in Fig. 1 and 2. The frame 10 has an upper frame member 7 leading from the handlebar head 6 approximately horizontally to the rear, as well as a frame member 8 leading from the handlebar head 6 diagonally downwards and backwards to the pedal crank, designated as a whole by 40. The free

The ends of the frame members 7, 8 are connected to one another by a slightly backward-inclined frame tube 9, into which the seat tube 12 is inserted from above, at the upper end of which the saddle 13 is attached. The frame members 6, 7, 8, 9 lie in a plane that forms the center plane for pairs of frame members 14, 15 that extend backwards from the frame tube 9 and form a frame triangle with the frame tube 9. The rear wheel axle 16 is attached in the rear corner of the frame triangle. The rear wheel 2 is driven by a chain wheel 51 that is rotatably connected to the pedal crank 40 via a chain 17 that acts on a chain pinion 52 that is rotatably connected to the rear wheel 2.

Above the handlebar head, a universal joint is provided, designated as a whole with 20, which reaches downwards through the handlebar head 6 with a lower tube attachment and engages in the fork pin 5 and is fixed therein in a rotationally fixed manner. At the top, a tube attachment 19 reaches through an upright handlebar support 21 designed as a tube section and engages in a handlebar tube 22 which is rotatably mounted in the handlebar support 21. The tube attachment 19 and the handlebar tube 22 are connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner. The actual handlebar 24 is attached to the upper end of the handlebar tube 22 protruding from the handlebar support 21 via a so-called stem 2 3.

Below and above the handlebar head 6, bracing elements are provided in the form of clamping plates 25, 26, which are arranged with their plate plane perpendicular to the axis of the handlebar head 6 and rest against it from below or above. The handlebar head 6 protrudes slightly above or below the adjacent ends of the frame members 7, 8. The clamping plates 25, 26 have flat circular grooves, of which only the groove 27 in the clamping plate 25 is visible. The grooves accommodate the ends of the handlebar head so that the clamping plates 25, 26 engage the handlebar head 6 in a form-fitting manner. Four clamping screws 28 are distributed over the circumference of the handlebar head 6, which run close to the outer circumference of the handlebar head 6.

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and the clamping plates 25,26 pass through the corresponding holes. The clamping plates 25,26 can be pulled against each other using nuts 29.

On the top of the upper clamping plate 26, two bearing blocks 30 are provided which are opposite one another in the transverse direction and define a tilt axis 31 running in the transverse direction and are fastened to the clamping plate 26 by screws 32.

In the assembled state, as shown in Fig. 1, the tilt axis 31 runs through the center of the universal joint 20. The handlebar support 21 arranged above the universal joint 20 has bearing forks 34 on two downwardly bent pipe sockets 33, which overlap the bearing blocks 30 and have holes for bearing pins (not shown) on which the handlebar support 21 can be tilted about the transverse axis 31.

Beneath the clamping plate 26, angle pieces 35, 36 are attached to it on both sides of the handlebar head 6, for which purpose the clamping screws 28 have an additional nut 37. The front legs 35', 36' of the angle pieces 35, 36 connected to the clamping plate 26 run approximately horizontally or approximately parallel to the upper frame member 7, while the other legs angled backwards and downwards, of which only the other leg 36" is visible, essentially follow the course of the lower frame member 8 and have a bearing 38 at their free ends for a drive wheel 39 designed as a chain wheel, which can be rotated on the shaft journal 41 about a transverse axis 46. The transverse axis 46 runs at a small distance through the interior of the frame area, which is formed by the handlebar head 6 and the frame members 7, 8.

A tubular triangle 42 extends backwards from the handlebar support 21, which in its lower rear area forms a bearing point 43 for a connecting rod 44, which at the other end engages a crank 45 that is connected to the drive wheel in a rotationally fixed manner. By tilting the handlebar head 21 forwards and backwards, the drive wheel 39 can be set in rotation.

hung be moved.

It is important that no structural changes need to be made to the frame 10 to attach the tiltable handlebars 21, 24. Instead, a normal frame can be used, as is also suitable for a normal bicycle. The entirety of the parts 25, 26, 30, 35, 36 forms a bearing part 50, which can be immovably connected to the frame 10 by simply clamping it using the clamping screws 28 and forms the tilt bearing for the handlebars 21, 24 and the pivot bearing for the drive wheel 39.

The torque of the drive wheel 29 is transmitted by means of a chain 47 to another drive wheel 49, which is arranged on the pedal crank 40. The drive wheel 49, as well as the chain 47 and the drive wheel 39, are located on the side of the frame 10 opposite the chain 17.

The phase relationship between the pedal crank 40 and the tilting movement of the handlebars 21,24 is selected as it is ergonomically most favorable. Of course, this phase relationship must be maintained during operation, which is why the drive wheels 39,49 are the same size and the gear ratio is 1:1.

Fig. 2 shows how the bicycle works. The handlebars 21, 24 can be tilted forwards and backwards between the specified limit positions, with the torque being transmitted via the chain 47 to the pedal crank 40 and from there via the chain 17 to the rear wheel 2. The "second" drive connection leading from the handlebars to the rear wheel therefore comprises the chains 47 and 17.

Figs. 4 and 5 show a further embodiment 200 of a bicycle, in which functionally corresponding parts of the embodiment 100 are identified with the same reference numbers.

In contrast to the bicycle 100, in which the crank 44 is hinged to the lower rear corner of the tube triangle 42, the bicycle 200 is connected to the handlebars 21

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Legs 52, 53 are provided which continue essentially downwards and are arranged on both sides of the handlebar head 6, which together with the handlebar support form a substantially elongated two-armed lever which can be pivoted about the transverse axis 31.

As can be seen from Fig. 5, the connecting rod 44 is hinged to the lower end of one leg 52, which acts on the drive wheel 39, which in this case is mounted on the same side as the chain wheel 51 on the pedal crank 40'. The chain wheel 51 and the other drive wheel 49 are therefore provided directly next to each other.

On the opposite side, a spring accumulator 60 designed as a helical spring 61 engages at the lower end of the approximately equally long leg 53, which is firmly supported at the lower end at 62, so that when the handlebar 21,24 is tilted forwards, the helical spring 61 is compressed and stores energy, which it releases to the handlebar 21,24 when it is tilted backwards, from which it is welded into the drive of the rear wheel 2 via the connecting rod 44 and the chain 47.

The inclination of the handlebars 21, 24 around the transverse axis 31 is carried out on a fork part 54, which is arranged between the legs 52, 53 in front of the handlebar head 6 and supports the handlebars 21, 24 around the transverse axis 31 at the upper ends of its legs 55, 56, which are located on both sides of the universal joint 20. The web of the fork part 54 has a partially cylindrical recess on the back that is adapted to the front of the handlebar head 6 and is found on the front as a corresponding bead 57.

On the back of the handlebar head 6, a counter clamping piece is provided (not visible in the drawings), which surrounds the handlebar head 6 from behind and is connected to the fork part 54 by clamping screws 58 running essentially in the longitudinal direction. The fork part and the counter clamping piece thus clamp the handlebar head between them.

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Connected to the counter clamping piece are struts 63, 64 running diagonally from top to bottom and back, which form a support triangle with a half-shell-shaped support part 65, which rests on the top of the frame beam 8 and is connected to the counter clamping piece in the upper area, in the lower rear corner of which the drive wheel 39 is mounted so as to be rotatable about the transverse axis 46 and on the opposite side the articulation point 62 for the coil spring 61 is provided. The entire arrangement of the parts 54, 63, 64, 65 and the counter clamping piece forms the bearing part 50', which can be attached to a conventional bicycle frame by simply tightening it using the screws 58.

In the bicycle 200, the pedals 48 are not arranged offset by 180° as in the bicycle 100, but the crank arms supporting the pedals 48 point in the same direction. The legs therefore work in the same direction. The presence of a spring accumulator is particularly important in such an embodiment, because the ride and the drive are much more even when the phase relationship between the rotation of the pedal crank 40' and the tilting movement of the handlebars 21, 24 is ergonomically correctly coordinated.

Claims (18)

Protection claims 1. Multi-wheeled vehicle, in particular bicycle (100), with a substantially flat upright frame (10), with a seat (13) arranged on the frame (10), with a rear wheel arrangement (2) mounted on the frame (10) and a front wheel arrangement (I) mounted on the frame (10) and steerable by pivoting about an upright axis in a handlebar head (6) fixed relative to the frame (10)/ with a crank (4O,40 ^f ) mounted on the frame (10) with foot pedals (48), with a first drive connection for transmitting the torque of the pedal crank (40) generated by the foot force exerted on the foot pedals (48) to the rear wheel arrangement (2), with a handlebar (21,24) pivotally connected to the front wheel arrangement (1) and tiltable about a horizontal transverse axis (31), which is connected to the front wheel arrangement (1) via an angle joint (20) whose center lies on the transverse axis (31) and which clearly converts a pivoting of the handlebar (21,24) into a rotation of the front wheel fork (4) about the steering axis (11), and with a second drive connection for transmitting the tilt torque generated by the arm force exerted on the handlebar (21,24) to the rear wheel D-40239 DÜSSELD0F1F ; TlSlJLYArilJSTFV^Sffa · JEj-EfQN.-W/.2T1 / 63 27 27 · TELEFAX 48 / 211 / 63 79 15 I ■ 504 arrangement (2), characterized, that a bearing part (50, 50') supporting the inclination bearing of the handlebar (21, 24) and elements of the second drive connection is clamped to the handlebar head (6) of a conventional frame (10) without structural changes to the latter. 2. Vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the handlebar head (6) is formed by a pipe section and the bearing part comprises tensioning elements resting against the two ends of the handlebar head (6), which are pulled against each other by tensioning screws (28) running parallel to the axis (11) of the handlebar head (6) just outside the latter. 3. Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that the bracing elements are designed as clamping plates (25, 26) with a plate plane lying perpendicular to the axis (11) of the handlebar head (6) and in at least one of the mutually facing limiting surfaces of the clamping plates (25, 26) flat circular grooves (27) are provided for receiving the ends of the handlebar head (6). 4. Vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the bearing part comprises bearing blocks (30) mounted on the upper side of the upper bracing element as an inclination bearing for the handlebar (21). 5. Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a bearing (38) for a drive wheel (39) rotatable on a transverse axis (46) is provided on the bearing part (50), which is connected to the handlebar (21, 24) via a crank (45) and a connecting rod (44) and to the rear wheel (2) via the second drive connection. 6. Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in ♦ · net that the transverse axis (46) of the bearing (38) extends behind the handlebar head (6) through the interior of the frame (10). 7. Vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the bearing part (50) comprises angle pieces (35, 36) extending on both sides of the handlebar head (6), the front leg (35', 36') of which extends essentially in the direction of the upper frame member (7) being firmly connected to the upper bracing element and the rear leg (35", 36") of which is angled downwards approximately in the direction of the lower frame member (8) having the bearing (38) for the drive wheel (39) at the free end. 8. Vehicle according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the second drive connection comprises a further drive wheel (49) arranged on the pedal crank (40), which is connected to the first drive wheel (39) via a flexible tension member (47) engaging the circumference of the drive wheels (39, 49). 9. Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the first drive connection comprises a chain wheel (51) arranged on the pedal crank (40), a chain (17) and a chain pinion (52) on the rear axle (16) and the drive wheels (39, 49) and the flexible traction member (47) are arranged on the side of the frame (10) opposite the chain wheel (51). 10. Bicycle according to claim 8, characterized in that the first drive connection comprises a chain wheel (51) arranged on the pedal crank (40'), a chain (17) and a chain pinion (52) on the rear axle (16) and the drive wheels (39, 49) and the flexible traction member (47) are arranged on the same side of the frame (10) in the chain wheel (51). 11. Bicycle according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the handlebar support (21) is rigidly connected to legs (52, 53) which continue downwards at the side of the handlebar head (6) and the connecting rod (44) engages the lower end of the leg (52). 12. Bicycle according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a spring accumulator (60) is arranged on the bearing part (50') that can be clamped to the frame (10), which can be charged in a tilting phase of the handlebar (21, 24) and releases the stored energy to the second drive connection in the opposite tilting phase of the handlebar (21, 24). 13. Bicycle according to claim 12, characterized in that the spring accumulator (60) is arranged on the side of the frame (10) opposite the drive wheel (39). 14. Bicycle according to claim 11, 12 and 13, characterized in that the other leg (53) engages the spring accumulator (60). 15. Bicycle according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the spring accumulator (60) is formed by a helical spring (61). 16. Bicycle according to one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that the bearing part (50') comprises a fork part (54) arranged transversely to the frame plane in front of the handlebar head (6) with upwardly pointing legs (55, 56) and a web (57), that the web (57) has a partially cylindrical depression on the side facing the handlebar head (6) that adapts to the handlebar head (6), that the inclination bearing for the handlebar (21, 24) is provided at the upper end of the legs (55, 56), that a counter-clamping piece is provided on the back of the handlebar head (6) and that the fork part (54) and the counter-clamping piece are clamped together by clamping screws (58) running in the longitudinal direction. 17. Bicycle according to claim 16, characterized in that the bearings for the drive wheel (39) and the support of the spring accumulator (60) are attached to the counter-clamping piece. 18. Bicycle according to claim 17, characterized in that the spring accumulator (60) designed as a helical spring (61) is mounted on the transverse axis (46) of the drive wheel (39).