IL40407A

IL40407A - An occupant-propelled vehicle and a drive system therefor

Info

Publication number: IL40407A
Application number: IL40407A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co
Priority date: 1971-09-23
Filing date: 1972-09-21
Publication date: 1976-02-29
Also published as: DE2246813A1; GB1401788A; IL40407A0; FR2154211A5; JPS5546908B2; AU4692672A; BE789200A; JPS4841845A; IT974806B

Claims

1. In a man-powered drive system for supplying power to a rotary driven member such as a vehicle wheel, the combination of a speed change transmission having a rotary input shaft and a rotary output shaft; at least one operating 0"°/ member ' supported for movement between a first position and a second position along an at least approximately straight line path and adapted to be moved from said first position toward said second position by a human operator; motion transfer means interconnecting said at least one operating member and the input shaft of said transmission, said motion transfer means comprising one-way clutch means arranged to rotate said input shaft in a predetermined direction and only when said at least one operating member moves toward said second position; means for connecting the output shaft of said transmission to the rotary member to be driven; and constant force restoring means connected to said at least one operating member for returning the same to said first position.

2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one operating member comprises two pedals; and said motion transfer means comprises two one-way clutches each interposed between the input shaft of said transmission and a different one of said pedals.

3. The combination defined in claim 2, wherein said constant force restoring means comprises two constant force springs each operatively associated with a different one of said clutches, said motion transfer means including two flexible elements each connected between the driving elemtnt of a different one of said clutches and the pedal connected to that clutch, said springs being connected each to the driving element of a different one of said clutches.

4. The combination defined in claim 3, wherein said flexible elements are cables, said motion transfer means includes two reels each secured to the driving element of a different one of said clutches, and said cables are wound each on a different one of said reels.

5. The combination defined in claim 4, wherein said pedals are mounted for movement along straight, mutually parallel paths.

6. The combination defined in claim 4, wherein said pedals are each carried by a different one of two elongated levers, said levers being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis remote from said pedals, and said cables are connected to the respective end portions of said levers remote from said axis.

7. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said motion transfer means comprises a pinion connected to the driving element of said one-way clutch means and a rack connected to said at least one operating member and meshed with said pinion, said rack extending generally in the direction of movement of said at least one operating member.

8. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one operating member comprises an elongated crank arm, means at one end of said crank arm supporting the same for swinging movement about a fixed axis, and a pedal carried by said crank arm at a point remote from said axis, said crank arm being connected to the driving element of said one-way clutch; and said motion transfer means comprises chain and sprocket means interconnecting the driven element of said one-way clutch and the input shaft of said transmission.

9. In a man-powered vehicle having a powered wheel, an improved drive system comprising, in combination a speed change transmission having an input shaft and an output shaft; means connecting the output shaft of said transmission to drive the powered wheel of the vehicle; operating means located forwardly of said transmission and comprising two pedals, and means supporting said pedals for movement between a first position and a second position, said first position being nearer said transmission; two motion transfer devices each interconnecting said input shaft of said transmission and a different one of said pedals each of said motion transfer devices comprising a one-way clutch connected to impart rotary motion to said input shaft only when the corresponding one of said. edals is moved toward said second position; and constant force restoring means connected to restore said pedals to said first position

10. The combination defined in claim 9, wherein said input shaft extends transversely of the vehicle, said one-way clutches are carried by said input shaft, and each of said motion transfer devices comprises a reel connected to the driving element of one of said one-way clutches, and an elongated flexible member wound on said reel and extending forwardly to the corresponding one of said pedals.

11. The combination defined in claim 10, wherein said restoring means comprises two constant force spiral springs each connected to a different one of said reels and arranged to rotate the reel in a direction to wind the elongated flexible member thereon.

12. The combination defined in claim 9, wherein said means for supporting said pedals comprises two lever arms each mounted to pivot about and depend from a horiztonal axis which is spaced above the plane of. said input shaft, the lower ends of said lever arms being remote from said axis and, when traversing the distance between said first and second positions, being generally aligned horizontally with said input shaft, and each of said motion transfer defices comprises a flexible cable extending from said transmission forwardly to the lower ends of said lever arms.