GB2290272A - Pedal and crank arm assembly for a cycle - Google Patents

Description

2290272 1 SIMPLE & ENERGY-SAVING DEVICE FOR BICYCLE

Background of the Invention

This invention aims to provide a kind of energy saving device, it is very compact in outlook, and easy to fit, very simple and convenient in operation. It can naturally eliminate unreachable corner of the pedalling force and result in very efficient power with relatively effortless leg force. The energy-saving device for bicycles is very practical, ideal, and modern and never existing before.

At the era of traffic highly development, bicycle with its features of compact size, light weight and economic cost, not only it won't be passed up, instead it will increasingly prove its value especially when more and more improvements being made on its development. It will be efficiently utilized as a means of transportation as well as a kind of practical leisure items in the future.

In a normal bicycle's design, it is to f it two pedals directly on the end of the driving arm (ie the arm which drive wheel chain), while we step on pedals to make cycle 2 movements, we are driving the bicycle forward, but as we knowt when the direction of force is vertical to the driving arm, maximum power of stepping force is achieved. On the contrary, when direction of force is horizontal with driving arm, minimum power is achieved (sometimes it can't even rotate the driving arm). Therefore, when a person steps pedals and makes cycle movements, since the fixing axle of pedal is stationarily fixed on the end of driving arm, naturally, one point of the stepping force will be exactly kept at the same line with driving arm and.conseq uently stepping force can't create function and become arduous for rider (in fact, this kind of arduous riding is very obvious when climbing uphill and less obvious while on flat road or down hill). In order to improve cycling motions, enterprises change material of mechanical part and reduce weight, but most of all is to change teeth ratio between front and rear wheel chain (so called variation speed device). Undeniably, this is very practical and most prevailing way as of today, however, we should know that by using teeth ratio to change stepping force means when speed remains unchanged and want to reduce stepping force, obviously, we have relatively to increase stepping times, this, according to power and energy theory, is not meeting energy-saving purpose. Besides, this kind of variation speed device will also increase cost and make repair and maintenance job more complicated. Of course, if we lengthen the driving arm, according to leverage theory, we can also save our energy, but, this way will increase r.

3 the up and down distance of two pedals and consequently direct influence the leg stretching and bending motions, also it is against ergonomics.

Summary of the Invention

In consideration of the prevalence of bicycle and in order to develop its best function, I have dedicated myself to combine practice with theory and finally complete this invention. As mentioned earlier, the key purpose of this invention'is to provide a simple, energy-saving device by fitting a freely rotating swivel arm and fitting pedals into such arm. While we step on pedals, such swivel arm can correspond to leg's motion with most natural way and most proper angles so as to eliminate efficiently the original unreachable blind corner of stepping force and consequently create biggest power efficacy as well as saving energy.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide a kind simple and energysaving device for bicycle, as swivel arm fitted on driving arm can rotate freely, it will not influence the up and down distance of pedal and also won't influence leg movement of rider, it certainly takes into consideration of ergonomics.

The key purpose of this invention is to provide a device, which is easy to be installed and simple to be 4 used, it can eliminate blind corner of stepping force and result highest efficiency, its practical features and ideal design is unprecedented.

Brief Description of the Invention

Figure 1 is the three-dimensional drawing to show the way the device is attached to driving arm and pedals.

Figure 2 is the break-down drawing of invention device.

Figure 3 is the graphic drawing showing device in combination with driving arm and pedals.

Figure 4 is graphic demonstration drawing showing this device in operation.

Detail Description of the Invention

Please refer to Figure 1, where it is clearly shown that the purpose of this device is to reach the goal of energy-saving for bicycle. It is originally in the position between pedal (1) and driving arms (2) where wheel chain (A) is driven, a swivel arm (3) on both sides is now fitted, the swivel arm (3) can freely rotate and with adequate length and pedal (1) is fitted on one side with the swivel arm (3).

Please now ref er to Figures 2 and 3, the upper part of swivel arm (3) is f ixed to a position setting block (31), p which in the centre section has a f lange (311), so that two sides can use grease to set and hold bearing (32), also, a T-shape bushing (33) is f itted with a position setting screw (34). Af ter T-shape bushing (33) is set, its edge can properly put bearing steel balls (32), the side edge of 331 can keep the 32 steel balls in place because it protrudes at adequate length, the setting screw (34) can directly go through the centre of T-shape busing (33) because at its rear end, there is a f lange (341) and a holding edge (342) to put and hold bearing (32).

Also the position setting screw (34) after driven, between its holding edge (342) inner side and inner side of T-shape busing (33), there is an adequate distance b, which is, af ter screw (34) goes through setting block (31) and ' T 1 bushing (33), it directly locks on screw hole (21) which originally fits pedal (1), moreover, using a- nut (35) to tighten it, as the flange (331) of 'T' bushing (33) adequately protrude out, it can touch swivel arm (3) and inner side of 'T' bushing, also keep an adequate distance b with the inner side of holding edge (342) of setting screw (34), therefore, swivel arm (3) can directly use screw (34) as axle and with the corporation of 'T' bushing (33) and bearing (32), it can rotate freely and correspond to the leg movement of rider, meanwhile setting screw (34) can be adjusted by loose or tight locking motion and through nut (35) to adjust the touching pressure of bearing (32) and setting blocks (31) flange (311), therefore swivel 6 arm (3)ls rotation can act most efficiently and adequately according to rider's motions. Also, on the other side of swivel arm (3), there is a setting screw hole (36) for fitting pedal's (1) shaft (11).

Please ref er to Figure 4, as swivel arms (3) are attached to driving arms (2) which can rotate freely, when we step on pedal (1), such swivel arm (3) can correspond to leg movement in a most natural way with most adequate angle so as to efficiently eliminate blind corners of stepping force (ie-using the free rotation (swivel) of swivel arm (3), when step on pedal (1) and give force to swivel arm, the force will not be at the same axle line with driving arm (2). Therefore, biggest power efficiency can be achieved, and obtain energy-saving purpose (especially obvious while at uphills). Moreover, as swivel arms (3) are fitted into two driving arm (2) and can rotate freely, so when our legs make cycle movement on pedals (1), the distance between two pedals (1) (especially means up and down stroke) is not increased or decreased from originally setting, therefore, will not influence rider's stretching, bending and stepping motions. And actually meet ergonomics requirement, as mentioned, swivel arm (3) is fitted to driving arm (2) by screw (34) which utilizes bearing (32) to cooperate with 'TI bushing (33). To secure stability and deft rotation, it can also be fitted directly with a bearing to achieve same free rotation effect of swivel arm (3).

t 7 Another thing worth mentioning is, this device will not interfere with existing bicycle's construction and design, it is very simple to add this device to the position between pedal and driving arm and it immediately can heighten bicycle's operation efficiency, obviously, in terms of improvements of bicycle, it provides a costeffective, ideal and easy to adopt means.

Conclusively, this device is a simple and energysaving device which provides an easy solution for meeting bicycle's. practical demand. Although its structure and installation is not complicated, but it embodies feasibility to practical operation and this design is unprecedented up to this moment, therefore, it qualifies "innovative, modern and feasible for industrial purpose" requirement for new patent application.

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Claims (1)

1.

An energy saving device for a bicycle including a swivel arm freely rotatably connected at one end to the driving arm for driving the wheel chain and a pedal fitted to the other end of the swivel arm.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the upper part of swivel arm is provided with a]osition setting block; in the middle section of the block, there is a f lange; and on both sides of f lange, there are bearings to be lubricated with grease and held in place, and are locked at a 'T' bushing of driving arm with setting screw.

A device as claimed in Claim 2, wherein after the IT' bushing has been f itted into position in a setting block of the swivel arm, its edge protrudes adequately to contact directly the driving arm.

A device as claimed in Claim 2 or 3 wherein the setting screw is driven into the centre of the position setting block (of the swivel arm) and the 'T' bushing, and locks at the rear of driving arm; an adequate distance being preserved between the bearing holding edge inner side and the 'T' bushing inner t 1 R 9 side.

5. A device as claimed in Claims 2, 3 or 4 wherein the setting screw is locked at the rear of the driving arm with proper tightness and there is provided a nut on the other side of driving arm to lock with this screw.