GB2358161A

GB2358161A - Human-powered snow vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2358161A
Application number: GB0000711A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Masahiro Oyamada
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-12-22
Filing date: 2000-01-14
Publication date: 2001-07-18
Also published as: GB0000711D0; FR2804080B1; FR2804080A1; DE19962051A1

Abstract

The vehicle comprises a pair of front and rear pulleys 2, 3 disposed on either side of a frame body in a transverse direction thereof; a crawler 4 for connecting the pair of front and rear pulleys together; a saddle 6 disposed on the top of the frame body at a substantially central portion thereof; and, a pair of pedals positioned at a low portion of the frame body, in which rotation of the pedals by human power rotates the rear pulleys and means to steer the human powered snow vehicle so as to change direction or reverse. Gearing to the pulleys 3 can be a continuously variable pulley-belt drive and adjustment can be manual, electric or hydraulic. Reverse gearing in the drive enables the vehicle to be reversed. The drive to respective pulleys on either side can be varied to provide steering. A front bucket 5 has raising, tilting &c. operated manually, electrically or hydraulically.

Description

2358161 HUMAN POWERED SNOW VEHICLE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a human powered snow vehicle for use in heavy snowfall districts, which is designed to clear away snow from roads and travel over snow by virtue of human power only without gliding on skis.

In the heavy snowfall districts, there are usually seen from the past snow-covered roads or residential areas. When people use bicycles in order to attend school or go for shopping in the neighbourhood, then the bicycles are found to be of no use because tires thereof slip on snowy roads. Accordingly, people cannot help walking.

In addition, people shovel snow off areas surrounding their houses, using a shovel exclusively adapted for snowploughing. This is extremely laborious work.

In order to overcome such situations, a snow vehicle driven by an internal combustion engine, such as a snowrnobile, has been available as an alternative to the bicycle. However, a problem with this alternative is that such a snow vehicle is dangerous for both children and women to steer, and is further costly to purchase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a human powered snow vehicle designed to plough snow off roads and travel over snow by a short distance through the aid of a driving force that is caused by human power only, not by power from an internal combustion engine driven snow vehicle.

2 The object of the present invention is achieved by a human powerdc snow vehicle including: a pair of front and rear pulleys disposed 0 1 either side of a frame body in a transverse direction thereof; crawler for connecting the pair of front and rear pulleys together;,: saddle disposed on the top of the frame body at a substantial central portion thereof; a pair of pedals positioned at a low portigr of the frame body, in which rotation of the pedals by human pow1 brings the rear pulleys into driving rotation; and, a gear system fro( to steer the snow vehicle so as to change a moving direction of th( vehicle, to turn the vehicle in reverse, and to move the vehic h rearward.

Further, the human powered snow vehicle according to the presexii invention has a bucket disposed on the frame body at the frooi thereof. The gear system allows the bucket to be moved up aflC' down, and further to be sloped. Thus, the human powered snc),.ka vehicle according to the present invention is capable of clearin away snow from snowy roads using the bucket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a descriptive illustration, showing the entire hurnalr powered snow vehicle according to the present invention., Figure 2 is a descriptive illustration, showing one embodiment of driving mechanism according to the present invention; Figure 3 is a descriptive illustration, showing an example of continuously variable transmission according to the preser,,11 invention; Figure 4 is a descriptive illustration, showing an enlarged feature the aforesaid continuously variable transmission; 3 Figure 5 is a descriptive illustration, showing a bucket- supporting portion according to the present invention; Figure 6 is a descriptive illustration, showing a bucket assembled on the bucketsupporting portion according to the present invention; and Figure 7 is a descriptive illustration, showing a mechanism for making the bucket slanted according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawing in which such an embodiment is illustrated.

Figure 1 illustrates a snow vehicle 30 run by human power. The snow vehicle 30 has pairs of front and rear pulleys 2, 3 disposed on both sides of a frame body 1 in a transverse direction thereof. The snow vehicle 30 further includes a crawler 4 for connecting each pair of the pulleys 2, 3 together. When the rear pulleys 3 are brought into driving rotation, the crawlers 4 are thereby wheeled around. Thus, the human powered snow vehicle 30 is allowed to travel over snow.

A bucket 5 is attached to the frame body 1 at the front thereof. The bucket 5 is constructed to freely move upward and downward as well as slanting in a forward direction of the snow vehicle 30. A human operator who sits on a saddle upright positioned in the frame body 1 can, as such, run the snow vehicle 30 and handle the bucket portion 5 as well.

4 Figure 2 illustrates an example of a driving mechanism for the r(-i pulleys 3. In the driving mechanism, a continuously variabtc transmission 8a has each driving shaft 9a connected to a pedal 7: and further has each output shaft 10a linked to a driving shaft 9b 011 each continuously variable transmission 8b. Each of the rem pulleys 3 is connected to an output shaft 10b of the continuously variable transmission 8b through a normally and reverse[y converting gear portion 11.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an example of a mechanism of tht transmission 8a and 8b. In this mechanism, a driving pulley 12a,Ic be brought into driving rotation by the pedals 7 is connected to',c driven pulley 12b through a continuous belt 13 so as to adjust a bell. radius of the driving pulley 12a in response to driving rotation (P the same pulley 12a. Such belt radius adjustment provides a smood. speed change.

It is to be noted that various mechanisms other than the abov( transmission mechanism may be devised. In addition, a stagdc transmission employing speed change gears may be used.

The belt radius of the driving pulley 12a in the transmission 8a 1 controlled by means of a steering handle (not shown) that i, positioned on the frame body 1, and a rotational speed of the drivCr pulley 12b is thereby regulated. As a result, the snow vehicle 30 i,, allowed to travel at freely regulated speeds.

Further, the transmissions 8b rotate the right and left rear pulleys;! at different speeds, thereby changing a moving direction of tli( snow vehicle 30.

Moreover, the normally and reversely converting gear portion 11 between the output shaft 10b and the rear pulley 3 causes one of the rear pulleys 3 to be brought into reverse rotation, thereby turning the snow vehicles 30 in reverse.

Turning now to Figure 5, a bucket- sup porting portion 14 is shown positioned on the frame body 1 at the front thereof in such a manner as to freely move upward and downward. A steering handle 17 is free to adjust upward and downward movement of the bucketsupporting portion 14 in conjunction with a flat gear 15 and bevel gears 16. The handle 17 is disposed on the frame body 1. The flat gear 15 is attached to the reverse side of the bucket- supporting portion 14. The bevel gears 16 mesh with the flat gear 15.

As seen from Figure 6, the bucket 5 is mounted on the bucketsupporting portion 14. The bucket 5 is pivotaby supported between bucket- supporting arms 18. The arms 18 are fitted to the bucketsupporting portion 14.

As illustrated in Figure 7, the bucket 5 is provided with a pivotal arm 19. The pivotal arm 10 extends over an outer surface of the bucket 5 at a substantially central portion thereof. A distal end of the pivotal arm 19 is pivotably supported on the bottom of the bucket 5. The pivotal arm 19 is foldably connected together at an intermediate portion thereof. The bevel gears 16 in mesh with each other permit the pivotal arm 19 to be pivoted at a proximal end thereof. Such structures of the pivotal arm 10 make the bucket 5 slanted.

Thusl the bucket 5 is free to move up and down and slope back and forth under the control of the steering handle 17 on the frame 1. In a snowploughing operating, the snow vehicle 30 is capable of practicing the following steps of: receiving snow in the bucket 5 6 while the snow vehicle 30 is advanced; lifting and then holding t hic bucket 5 at a high position until the snow vehicle 30 arrives aC predetermined location; and, inclining the bucket 5 in the forwat( direction of the snow vehicle 30 in order to discharge the snow oll of the bucket 5.

Although the continuously variable transmissions 8a, 8b, tli( normally and reversely concerting gears 11, and the bucket 5 are a:l manually operated, they may either be actuated by an electric mot(p. or may be hydraulically powered. For running the electric motor, 1 battery is disposed in the snow vehicle 30.

As described above, the human powered snow vehicle according tc the present invention can travel over snow as well as ploughing t:h( snow off snowy roads using human power only.

In addition, the human powered snow vehicle according to t4( present invention is steerable in a manner similar to bicyclels j Therefore, a wide range of generation between children and t4( aged can handle the human powered snow vehicle. Moreover, t4t human powered snow vehicle according to the present inventiold provides an effect in which environmental pollution caused such by exhaust gases can be prevented because the snow vehic employs no internal combustion engine.

i i 7

Claims

What is claimed is:

1 A human powered snow vehicle, comprising: a pair of front and rear pulleys disposed on each side of a frame body in a transverse direction of the frame body; a crawler for connecting the pair of front and rear pulleys together; a saddle disposed on a top portion of the frame body at a substantially central portion thereof; a pair of pedals positioned at a low portion of the frame body, in which rotation of the pedals by human power brings the rear pulleys into driving rotation; and, a suitable means free to steer the human powered snow vehicle so as to change a moving direction of the snow vehicle, to turn the snow vehicle in reverse, and to move the snow vehicle rearward.

2. A human powered snow vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein a bucket is disposed on the frame body at a front portion thereof, and the suitable means allows the bucket to be moved up and down, and further to be sloped.