Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
  • B62M3/00—Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot
  • B62M3/02—Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot of adjustable length
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
  • B62M1/00—Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles
  • B62M1/36—Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles with rotary cranks, e.g. with pedal cranks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
  • B62M1/00—Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles
  • B62M1/10—Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles involving devices which enable the mechanical storing and releasing of energy occasionally, e.g. arrangement of flywheels
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
  • B62M3/00—Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot
  • B62M3/02—Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot of adjustable length
  • B62M3/04—Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot of adjustable length automatically adjusting
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
  • B62M3/00—Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot
  • B62M2003/006—Crank arrangements to overcome dead points

Definitions

• the invention concerns a cycle crank, comprising at least one chain wheel which is rotatably mounted about a centre axis, two pedal arms each of which is mounted at a first end in a restrictedly rotatable fashion in its rotating link which is fixed relative to the chain wheel and provided eccentrically on each side of the chain wheel, and at a second end each is rotatably connected to its pedal for the exercise of force by a cyclist, and two spring devices each of which is attached at a first end to its first spring attachment which is fixed relative to the chain wheel and provided eccentrically on each side of the chain wheel, and at a second end is attached to each of the pedal arms in a second spring attachment at a distance from the pedal arm's first end, in order to pull the pedal arm's second end with the pedal towards the centre axis and permit the pedal arm's second end with the pedal to rotate away from the centre axis when the exercise of force on the pedal is increased.
• Cycle cranks transfer movement and force from the cycle pedals to one or more concentric chain wheels, for further transfer of the movement and force to the back wheel via a chain.
• FR 2 062 858 describes a cycle crank wherein an internal pedal arm and an external pedal arm are connected in a spring-loaded joint. By means of a leaf spring the joint is forced into a position in which the two pedal arms form an angle of approximately 90 °. When force is exerted on the pedal during the downwardly directed pedalling action the joint is straightened, with the result that the pedal arm is extended and the force on the pedal obtains a longer moment arm.
• DE 858 648 describes a cycle crank with a similar pedal arm, but with the difference that a spiral spring is employed instead of a laminated spring.
• NO 80 229 describes a cycle crank with a sprung, curved pedal arm, which, when force is exerted on it during the downwardly directed pedalling action, is forced out to an approximately straight position, thus increasing the distance from the pedal to the centre of the cycle crank.
• US 2 316 530 describes a cycle crank in which the pedal arm is eccentrically, rotatably attached to the chain wheel, near the radius of the chain's engagement.
• a spring device in the form of a compression spring with a through-going, threaded tension rod, which causes the compression spring to act as a extension spring, extends from an eccentric attachment in the chain wheel to an attachment on the pedal arm, thus pulling the pedal arm towards the chain wheel.
• the spring's eccentric rotating attachment is located diametrically opposite the pedal arm's eccentric attachment, and the spring's attachment in the pedal arm is located closer to the pedal than the pedal arm's rotating attachment.
• Adjustable nuts on the tension rod provide a stop which restricts the spring's movement, thus enabling the pedal arm to be moved between an inner position and an outer position.
• the object of the invention is to provide a cycle crank in which energy is partly accumulated during a phase in the pedalling action where the force on the pedal is greatest, and is released to a driving force during a subsequent phase of the pedalling action.
• a further object is that the cyclist should experience the foot's movement and the force on the foot as a steady movement or force during the accumulation and the release of the energy.
• a further object is that during the lower part of the pedalling action the pedal should not move substantially closer to the ground than in the case of known cycle cranks where energy is not accumulated, in order to avoid scraping the ground.
• the cycle crank according to the invention should provide cushioning against vibrations and jolting from the cycle to the cyclist.
• a further object is that the pedal force's moment arm should be extended during the downwardly directed pedalling action.
• a further object is that the invention should be able to be implemented by exchanging or adding components in a cycle crank of the known type where the pedals are fixed relative to the chain wheel.
• fig. 1 is a elevational view of a cycle crank according to the invention, viewed from the cycle's chain wheel side
• fig. 2 is a elevational view of the cycle crank in fig. 1, viewed from the opposite side
• fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a rotating joint for use in the invention
• fig. 4 is a principle view of a cycle crank according to the invention
• figs. 5a-e illustrate the cycle crank according to the invention during a downwardly directed pedalling action
• figs. 6a-e illustrate a cycle crank of the type which is described in US 2 316 530 during a downwardly directed pedalling action.
• Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the cycle crank according to the invention, viewed from the cycle's chain wheel side and the opposite side respectively.
• the cycle crank comprises in the known manner at least one chain wheel 1 which is rotatably mounted about a centre axis 2 for operation of a chain by means of an external tooth ring with radius Rl .
• two pedal arms 3, 3' are each mounted at a first end 4, 4' in a restrictedly rotatable manner in its rotating joint 6, 6' which is provided eccentrically on each side of the chain wheel 1 and is fixed in relation thereto.
• This fixed connection between the rotating joints and the chain wheel is achieved on the chain wheel side by arranging the rotating joint 6 at one end of a bracket 17 which is securely connected to the chain wheel 1 and functionally constitutes a reinforcement of the chain wheel.
• the rotating joint 6' On the opposite side the rotating joint 6' is arranged in a bracket 17' which is securely connected to the chain wheel via a rotatable hub 16.
• the rotatable hub 16 is of the same type which is employed in known cycle cranks where energy is not accumulated, and is therefore not further described.
• Each of the pedal arms is rotatably connected at a second end 5, 5' to its pedal 7, 7' in rotatable attachments 15, 15' for the exercise of force by a cyclist.
• Two spring devices in the form of extension springs 8, 8' are each attached at a first end 9, 9' to its first spring attachment 1 1, 11' which is fixed relative to the chain wheel 1 and arranged eccentrically on each side of the chain wheel. This fixed attachment is achieved by the spring attachment 11 on the chain wheel side being a part of the chain wheel, while the spring attachment 11' on the opposite side of the chain wheel is a part of the bracket 17'.
• the extension springs 8, 8' are attached at a second end 10, 10' to each of the pedal arms 3, 3' in a second spring attachment 12, 12' at a distance from the pedal arm's first end 4, 4'.
• the second spring attachment 12, 12' is located in the pedal arm's second end 5, 5', near the pedal's attachment 15, 15', and slightly further away from the rotating joint 6, 6' than the pedal's attachment.
• the second spring attachment may also be coincident with the pedal's attachment 15, 15'.
• the extension springs 8, 8' pull the pedal arm's second end 5, 5' with the pedal 7, 7' towards the centre axis 2, permitting the pedal arm's second end with the pedal to rotate away from the centre axis in the direction illustrated by the arrow P2 when increasing downwardly directed force is exerted on the pedal.
• Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the rotating joint 6, 6'.
• a stop 13, 13' which is securely connected to the bracket 17, 17' co-operates with a stop 14, 14' in the pedal arm's 3, 3' first end 4, 4'. Together these two stops lead to a restricted rotatability in the rotating joint 6, 6'.
• the stops 13, 14, 13', 14' are adapted to permit the pedal arm 3, 3' to rotate between an inner position where the pedal arm and a line between the centre axis 2 and the rotating joint 6, 6' form an obtuse angle v ⁇ , and an outer position where the pedal arm 3, 3' points substantially radially out from the centre axis 2.
• fig. 4 which is a principle drawing of the cycle crank according to the invention, illustrating the pedal arm in the inner position.
• the outer position is illustrated in fig. 1, where the front pedal arm 5 assumes the outer position.
• the first spring attachment 1 1, 11 ' should be located on the same side of the line between the centre axis 2 and the rotating joint 6, 6' as the pedal arm's second end 5, 5' when the pedal arm is located in its inner position.
• the first spring attachment's position should be determined by the fact that an angle V2 which is formed by a line between the first spring attachment 11, 11' and the centre axis 2 and the line between the centre axis 2 and the rotating joint 6, 6' should be between 30° and 150°.
• Figs. 5a-e show the cycle crank according to the invention during a downwardly directed pedalling action, where the pedal is influenced by a force F and the chain wheel is moving in the direction illustrated by the arrow PI .
• the spring stretches, thereby accumulating energy when the pedal arm moves from the inner position, see fig. 5b, to the outer position, see fig. 5c.
• the spring contracts, see fig. 5d, releasing the stored energy as a driving force which drives the chain wheel, while at the same time the pedal arm moves back to the inner position.
• Tests show that the pedal's movement and counterpressure against the foot of the cyclist are experienced as a steady movement or force during the pedal arm's movement from the inner position to the outer position and back to the inner position.
• Tests further show that during the lower part of the pedalling action the pedal does not move substantially closer to the ground than in known cycle cranks where energy is not accumulated.
• the cycle crank according to the invention further provides a cushioning of vibrations and jolts from the cycle to the cyclist. This is particularly marked when the cyclist is standing in the frame while cycling with a mountain bicycle down a rough slope, where the ground may, for example, be composed of roots or stones which produce severe vibrations and jolting in the bicycle.
• the cycle's speed is maintained by gravity and the cyclist substantially rests on the pedals, with the pedals pointing forwards and backwards as illustrated in fig. 5c. Due to the fact that the cyclist distributes his weight on both pedals, and given that the cycle crank's various dimensions and the spring's tensile force are adapted to the cyclist's weight, the front pedal will assume a sprung intermediate position between the inner position and the outer position. Due to the back wheel's rotation and free wheel coupling between the chain wheel and the back wheel, the front pedal's sprung movement will be transferred to the back pedal without the movement being transferred to the back wheel. A spring-cushioning of both pedals is thereby provided.
• the pedal force's torque arm i.e. the torque arm of the force exerted by the cyclist on the pedal
• This extension of the pedal force's torque arm helps to increase the energy transfer from the cyclist to the chain wheel, but since this is also accomplished with several of the known cycle cranks mentioned at the beginning, this feature in isolation cannot be said to constitute the core of the invention.
• the invention can be implemented by mounting the bracket 17 on a chain wheel and an associated hub of the standard known type where the pedals are fixed relative to the chain wheel. Similarly, the bracket 17' may be mounted on the hub on the opposite side in relation to the chain wheel.
• the first spring attachment 1 1 can be implemented by means of an existing or a new hole in the chain wheel.
• first spring attachment 11, 1 1' should be located in such a manner that the angle V2 is between 60° and 120°, more preferably between 75° and 105°, and most preferred, as illustrated in fig. 4, approximately 90°.
• the distance between the centre axis 2 and the rotating joints 6, 6' should be between 0.6 and 1.4, more preferably between 0.8 and 1.2 and most preferred approximately 1.0 of the radius Rl for the chain's engagement, as illustrated in fig. 4.
• the distance between the first spring attachments 11, 1 1' and the centre axis 2 should be between 0.3 and 1.0, more preferably between 0.5 and 0.8 and most preferred approximately 0.65 of the distance between the centre axis 2 and the rotating joints 6, 6'.
• the distance between the rotating joints 6, 6' and the pedals' attachment 15, 15' should be between 0.5 and 1.2, more preferably between 0.7 and 1.0 and most preferred approximately 0.8 of the distance between the centre axis 2 and the rotating joints 6, 6'.
• the spring device 8, 8' should be pre-tensioned, so that a certain amount of tensile force is required in order to give it an incipient extension.
• the aim is thereby achieved that the cyclist has to exert a certain amount of minimum force on the pedal in order to move the pedal arm from the inner position towards the outer position.
• the pedal arm With the correct choice of spring constant and pre-tensioning for the spring the pedal arm will only assume the outer position in the area of the downwardly directed pedalling action where the pedal force is greatest, which means when the pedal is in the position illustrated in figs. 5b-d.
• the chain wheel's outer diameter is 220 mm
• the angle v ⁇ is 145°
• the angle V2 is 90°
• the distance between the centre axis 2 and the rotating joints 6, 6' is 100 mm
• the distance between the first spring attachments 1 1 , 1 1' and the centre axis 2 is 65 mm
• the distance between the rotating joints 6, 6' and the pedals' attachment 15, 15' is 80 mm
• the distance between the rotating joints 6, 6' and the second spring attachment 12, 12' is 97 mm.
• the spring devices are composed of linear extension springs pre-tensioned to an incipient extension by a tensile force of 1.3 kN.
• the cycle crank illustrated in fig. 6a comprises a chain wheel 101, a pedal arm 104 which is attached at one end to the chain wheel 101 in an eccentric rotating joint 106 and at the other end is provided with a pedal 107, and a spring device 108 which is attached at one end to the chain wheel 101 in a first spring attachment 11 1 and at the other end is attached to the pedal arm 104, nearer the pedal 107 than the rotating joint 106.
• Stop devices in the form of nuts in the spring device 108 ensure that the pedal arm 104 can be moved between an inner position, as illustrated in fig. 6a, and an outer position as illustrated in fig. 6c.
• the stop devices further provide the spring device 108 with a pre-tensioning.
• the spring attachment 111 is located diametrically opposite the rotating joint 106, which is a fundamental difference in relation to the cycle crank according to the invention.
• the pedal arm 104 moves over an area which is located closer to the centre of the crank.
• Figs. 5a-e illustrate the cycle crank according to the invention during a downwardly directed pedalling action, and figs.
• FIG. 6a-e illustrate a cycle crank of the type which is described in US 2 316 530 during a corresponding downwardly directed pedalling action, fig. 5a corresponding to fig. 6a, fig. 5b corresponding to fig. 6b, and so on.
• F p*a p F s *a s , where Fp is the pedal force, ap is the pedal force's moment arm, F s is the spring force and a s is the spring force's moment arm.
• the moment equilibria will be present as long as the rotating joint 6, 106 does not take up any moment, i.e. during the entire pedal arm's movement towards the outer position.
• the pedal arm's position is determined by the pedal force and its moment arm, and the spring force and its moment arm, which are all variable quantities. A complete comparison of the pedal arm's position during the pedalling action for the two cycle cranks will therefore be extremely comprehensive.
• Figs. 5a, 6a show the pedal near the top, where the pedal force is directed towards the rotating joint.
• the pedal force's moment arm ap, a'p is thereby 0, and consequently the pedal force generates no moment.
• the spring force has the moment arm a s , a' s and generates a moment which retains the pedal arm in the inner position.
• Figs. 5c, 6c show the pedal in a position where the pedal force is perpendicular to the distance from the pedal to the rotating joint.
• the pedal force's moment arm a , a'p is equal to the distance from the pedal to the rotating joint, thereby obtaining its maximum value, which means that the pedal force's moment also obtains its maximum value.
• the pedal force's moment arm ap, a'p is approximately double the size of the spring force's moment arm a s , a' s . It is assumed that the springs in both the cycle cranks are dimensioned in such a manner that the pedal arm is here located in the outer position.
• Figs. 5d, 6d show the pedal in a position where the pedal force's moment arm ap, a'p is approximately 1.33 times as great as the spring force's moment arm a s , a' s . Since in this case the pedal arm is located in the outer position and the springs are stretched, the spring force is greater than when the pedal arm is located in the inner position, and for the sake of comparison it is assumed that the springs in both the cycle cranks are dimensioned in such a manner that the pedal arm here begins to move towards the inner position.
• Figs. 5e, 6e show the pedal near the bottom, and the pedal force is again directed towards the rotating joint.
• the pedal force's moment arm ap, a'p is again 0, and the pedal force consequently generates no moment.
• the spring force's moment arm a s , a' s causes the spring force to generate a moment which retains the pedal arm in the inner position.
• the ratio between the pedal force's moment arm and the spring force's moment arm is the same.
• the moment of the pedal force is dependent on the crank's rotation position, and, as mentioned with reference to fig. 5c, has its maximum value when the pedal force is perpendicular to the distance from the pedal to the rotating joint. It is desirable that this maximum moment should occur when the pedal is located approximately on a level with the centre axis, and according to the invention, therefore, the pedal arm points substantially radially out from the centre axis when it is located in the outer position.
• the spring force's moment arm is independent of the crank's rotation position. As illustrated in figs. 5 and 6, the spring force's moment arm is dependent on the pedal arm's position and location of the first spring attachment, and it can be seen that for both cycle cranks the spring force's moment arm decreases as the pedal arm moves from the inner position towards the outer position.
• the first spring attachment cannot be located diametrically opposite the rotating joint in the cycle crank according to the invention, since this will cause the spring force's moment arm to go towards 0 when the pedal arm moves towards the outer position where it points radially out from the centre axis.
• this condition is specified by the angle V2 which is formed by a line between the first spring attachment and the centre axis and the line between the centre axis and the rotating joint being at least 30°.
• the invention is further limited by the fact that the angle V2 should be a maximum of 150°, since a larger angle will give little extension of the spring during the movement of the pedal arm. From the above discussion, however, it should be clear that these limits to the practical design of the cycle crank according to the invention are not strict.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Shafts, Cranks, Connecting Bars, And Related Bearings (AREA)
• Steering Devices For Bicycles And Motorcycles (AREA)
• Arrangement And Mounting Of Devices That Control Transmission Of Motive Force (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=19901271

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (12)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1997
  • 1997-10-30 NO NO975001A patent/NO304734B1/no unknown
• 1998
  • 1998-10-07 CA CA002307608A patent/CA2307608A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-10-07 KR KR1020007004484A patent/KR20010024568A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-10-07 EP EP98951824A patent/EP1024995A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1998-10-07 CN CN98811328A patent/CN1279640A/zh active Pending
  • 1998-10-07 AU AU97667/98A patent/AU732911B2/en not_active Ceased
  • 1998-10-07 WO PCT/NO1998/000302 patent/WO1999022981A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1998-10-07 JP JP2000518875A patent/JP2001521859A/ja not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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