WO1993001965A1

WO1993001965A1 - Tricycle

Info

Publication number: WO1993001965A1
Application number: PCT/DE1992/000614
Authority: WO
Inventors: Egon Nehrke
Original assignee: Egon Nehrke
Priority date: 1991-07-25
Filing date: 1992-07-24
Publication date: 1993-02-04
Also published as: DE4124926A1; DE4124926C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a tricycle consisting of two rear wheels, a frame holding the rear wheels, a chassis with a saddle connected to the frame so as to be pivotable about an approximately horizontal axis, a front wheel which, together with a handlebar, can pivot in the chassis about an approximately vertical axis, a drive on the chassis for the rear wheels, a first bearing between the chassis and frame with approximately horizontal bearing axes, a first gear wheel, the bearing of which is firmly secured to the chassis and on which the drive operates, a second gear wheel, the bearing of which is firmly secured to the frame and which drives the rear wheels and can be driven by the first gear wheel via a shaft comprising a universal joint, the pivot of which lies on the axis about which the frame can pivot in relation to the chassis. In the invention, between the chassis (3) and the frame (15) there is a second bearing (20), the pivot axis of which is identical to that of the first bearing (27) and the coupling between the chassis and the frame is subject to no restoring force. Thus the tricycle is more stable than prior art types and running over and obstacle with one rear wheel does not result in lateral shocks on the chassis.

Description

tricycle

The invention relates to a tricycle consisting of two rear wheels, a frame that holds the rear wheels, a frame with a saddle that is pivotally connected to the frame about an approximately horizontal axis, a front wheel that together with a handlebar is pivotally mounted in the frame about an approximately vertical axis, a drive on the frame for the rear wheels, a first bearing between the frame and frame with an approximately horizontal bearing axis, a first gear wheel, the bearing of which is firmly connected to the frame and to which the Drive acts, a second gear wheel, the bearing of which is fixedly connected to the frame and which can be driven in terms of drive on the rear wheels and can be driven by the first gear wheel via a shaft which contains a universal joint whose pivot point lies on the axis about which the Frame is pivotable relative to the frame.

Such a wheel is known from British Patent Specification 1 448 805, Figures 6, 7, 9 and 10. In this case, only the mentioned bearing is present between the frame and the frame. In addition, means are provided which produce restoring forces when the frame is pivoted relative to the frame in such a way that the frame tends to remain in its position which it assumes when driving straight ahead, or when pivoting into it Position return. The disadvantage of this solution is that the wheel is not very stable due to the presence of only one bearing between the frame and the frame. In addition, when driving over an obstacle with a rear wheel, the frame, and thus the person on it, have a more or less strong lateral movement by the means mentioned Experiences shock that is annoying or can lead to falling. Finally, cornering poses problems because the driver has to compensate for the restoring forces in the in-the-corner curve.

The invention is based on the object of designing the above-mentioned wheel in such a way that with simultaneous increase in the stability of the wheel there is no lateral impact when driving over an obstacle with a rear wheel and driving through a curve for the driver, as designed with a two-wheeler.

This object is achieved in that a second bearing is provided between the frame and the frame, the pivot axis of which is identical to the pivot axis of the first bearing, and that the bearing between the frame and the frame is free of restoring forces.

The second bearing increases the stability of the wheel. The restoring-force-free storage avoids side impacts on the frame or on the driver when driving over an obstacle with a rear wheel. Driving through a curve, in which the driver lies in the curve, is the same as with a two-wheeler. The driver therefore does not have to lie as far into the curve as in the known case, in which he not only has to compensate for the centrifugal forces, but also for the restoring forces.

The invention also relates to a motorcycle. In this case, the drive mentioned is the motor. Is it on the other hand, a tricycle without a motor, then the drive mentioned is the pedal crank.

The approximately horizontal bearing axis expediently runs through the point of contact between the front wheel and the ground.

Furthermore, it is expedient if the first and second gearwheels are sprockets, the first gearwheel being drivable by the drive via a chain and the second gearwheel via a chain a third sprocket, preferably equipped with a differential gear, which is on the rear wheel shaft sits, can drive.

It is then proposed that the first sprocket be mounted on a first part which is fixedly connected to the frame and that the second sprocket be mounted on a second part which is fixedly connected to the frame.

A further development of the invention is that the unit, consisting of the first and the second part, the frame and the other parts seated thereon are fastened to the frame so as to be separable, in particular screwed on. In this way it is possible to equip the tricycle with wheels of different sizes without any problems: In this case the same unit can be used in each case: the provision of rear wheels of different sizes is easily possible. The provision of front wheels of different sizes, however, requires front wheel forks and frames adapted to the respective size of the front wheel. For all of these cases, the same unit, consisting of the first and second part, and the same frame can be used. Furthermore, it is expedient if the rear wheel axis, the pivot axis of the two bearings and the rod of the frame, to which the first and second parts and the other parts connected to them are fastened, lie approximately at the same height, calculated from the ground . In this way it is achieved that there is sufficient ground clearance for the shifting gears of a derailleur.

In a first embodiment, the first bearing lies in front of the universal bearing and supports the second part and the frame on the frame or on the first part, the second bearing lying behind the universal bearing and in front of the rear wheel axle and supporting the frame on the first part.

In a second embodiment, the first bearing lies behind the rear wheel axle and supports the frame on the first part, the second bearing lying in front of the rear wheel axle and behind the universal bearing and supports the frame on the first part. This second embodiment has the advantage over the first that the distance between the front wheel and the rear wheels is shorter, with the result that the turning price of the tricycle can be smaller.

In this case, the first part has two approximately horizontally extending rods arranged one above the other and a plate to which the two rear ends of the rods are connected, in particular screwed, and which carries the first bearing.

For the second exemplary embodiment, it is also expedient _/ if the first part is U-shaped when seen from above, if the first gear wheel is mounted on its central part, if it is on the frame with its front leg, which holds the front ends of the rods is attached and attached to his rear leg, which is connected to the central parts of the rods, carries the second bearing.

Furthermore, in connection with the second exemplary embodiment, it is expedient if the second part is an arm which is attached to the frame with its rear end and the second gear wheel is mounted at its front end.

The invention then provides that the pivotability of the frame relative to the frame can be canceled, in particular by the fact that an adjustable bolt sits on the frame or on the first part and can be inserted into a recess in the first part or frame is, the bolt is adjustable by means of a Bowden cable against the force of a spring.

According to the invention, it is expedient if an adjustable locking lever is provided, in particular is seated on the second part, which blocks the bolt in its position which is inserted into the recess.

The bolt and the safety lever can preferably be actuated from the handlebar.

Further details of the invention emerge from the drawing. In it show:

1 is a bicycle of the type according to the invention,

2 shows a section along the line II-II of FIG. 1, illustrating a first embodiment, 3 shows the same section, but of a second embodiment,

4 shows a section along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3 in an exploded form,

Fig. 5 is a section along the line V-V of Fig. 3, wherein the frame is tilted relative to the frame, and

6 shows a sectional illustration of the rear part of the unit, illustrating the blocking elements.

The tricycle illustrated in FIG. 1 consists of two rear wheels 1, a front wheel 2, a frame 3, a pedal crank 4, a unit 5, a saddle 6 and a link 7. A container 8 for receiving is located between the two rear wheels 1 of goods.

FIG. 2, which shows a section along the line II-II of FIG. 1, shows various details on an enlarged scale for a first embodiment. The rear wheels 1, the unit 5, the pedal crank 4 and a part of the frame 3 can be seen.

The rear wheels 1 are held by a frame 15.

The unit 5 consists of two parts 16 and 17. The part 16 sits rigidly on the frame 3. The frame 15 is mounted on the part 16 via a bearing 20 so as to be pivotable about an axis 21. Furthermore, a first gearwheel 22 is seated on part 16. A second gearwheel 23 is located in part 17. The two gearwheels 22 and 23 are connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner via a shaft 24. The shaft 24 has a universal sal articulation 25, whose pivot point lies on the axis 21. At the front end of part 17 there is a transverse arm 26 which is connected to frame 3 or part 16 via a bearing 27.

The first gear wheel 22 is driven by the pedal crank 4 via a chain 30. The first gear wheel 22 drives the second gear wheel 23 via the shaft 24. The second gear 23 drives the rear wheels 1 via a chain 31, with the interposition of a gear 32 with a differential gear.

The rear wheels 1 with the frame 15 can be pivoted about the axis 21 relative to the frame 3. The first part 16 is U-shaped when viewed from above. The gear wheel 22 is mounted on its central part. The front leg 16c is screwed onto the frame 3. The rear leg 16d supports the bearing 20.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment, which differs somewhat from the embodiment of FIG. 2. The main difference between the second embodiment and the first is that the bearing, which in the first embodiment lies in front of the universal joint 25, namely the bearing 27, in the case of the embodiment in FIG. 3 lies behind the rear wheel axis, namely in Shape of the bearing 40. The second part of the unit is designed as an arm 41 which is attached at one end to the frame 43 for the rear wheels and at its other end carries a bearing 44 for the second gear wheel 23. Furthermore, on the first part 16 (see FIG. 4) there are two rods 45 and 46 arranged one above the other, which carry a plate 47 at their rear end. The bearing 40 is seated on this. For the rest, FIGS. 3 and 4 point for parts that are designed with speaking parts of Figure 2 match, the same reference numerals. The plate 47 is screwed onto the two rods 45, 46. During assembly (see FIG. 4) the frame 43 with the parts located on it is brought between the rods 45, 46 of the part 16. Then the plate 47 is brought into the position shown in FIG. 4 and everything is pushed against one another. Finally, the plate 47 is screwed onto the rods 45, 46.

Figure 5 shows a section along the line V-V of Figure 3, wherein the frame is slightly tilted relative to the frame or the axis of the rear wheels. With 48 part of a derailleur is designated. This includes of two small shift gears 48a and 48b, which are attached to a part 48c so as to be displaceable in parallel.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment in which the frame 3 can be blocked with respect to the rear wheels. In this case, the blocking elements are provided on the embodiment according to FIG. 2. The rear bearing 20 can be seen between the frame 15 and the part 16. The second part, on which the second gear wheel (not shown) is located, is again designated by 17.

On the frame 15, a bolt 50 is slidably mounted in the horizontal direction. This is pressed to the left by a spring 51. The driver can push it to the right by means of a Bowden cable 52. The Bowden cable 52 has a sleeve 53 which is pressed to the right against a spring 54 when the Bowden cable is actuated. The sleeve 53 abuts a nose 55 of the bolt 50 and thus pushes the bolt to the right as it moves. The right end of the bolt 50 moves into a recess 56 of the part 16. This is already the locking between the frame 15 and Unit 5 or frame 3 manufactured. To secure a lever 57, on which a spring 58 acts, now jumps into a groove 59 of the bolt 50.

The lever 57 can be moved upwards by a Bowden cable 60, which has the consequence that it moves out of the groove 59. The bolt 50 can now be moved to the left by the spring 51. The locking between the part 16 and the frame 3 on the one hand and the frame 15 on the other hand is released again.

The two Bowden cables 52 and 60 are expediently actuated by levers which are located on the handlebar 7.

Instead of the gear wheels 22 and 23, cardan gear wheels can also be provided. Instead of the universal joint 25, a so-called constant velocity joint (ball cap, in which a ball head is supported via balls) can also be provided.

Claims

Claims:

1. Tricycle, consisting of two rear wheels, a frame that holds the rear wheels, a frame with a saddle that is pivotally connected to the frame about an approximately horizontal axis, a front wheel that together with a handlebar about an approximately vertical Axis is pivotally mounted in the frame, a drive on the frame for the rear wheels, a first bearing between the frame and the frame with approximately horizontal bearing axis, a first gear wheel, the bearing of which is fixedly connected to the frame and to which the user drives a second gear wheel, the bearing of which is fixedly connected to the frame and which can be driven by the rear wheels and can be driven by the first gear wheel via a shaft which contains a universal joint, the pivot point of which lies on the axis about which the The frame can be pivoted relative to the frame, characterized in that a second bearing (20) is provided between the frame (3) and the frame (15? 5), de The pivot axis is identical to the pivot axis of the first bearing (27; 40), and that the bearing between the frame (3) and frame (15, -45) is free of restoring forces.

2. Tricycle according to claim 1, characterized in that the approximately horizontal bearing axis runs through the point of contact between the front wheel (2) and the ground.

3. Tricycle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first and second gear wheel are sprockets (22, 23), the first gear wheel (22) being drivable by the drive (4) via a chain (30) and the second Gear wheel (23) via a chain (31) a third, preferably with a sprocket (32) equipped with a differential gear, which sits on the rear wheel shaft.

4. Tricycle according to claim 3, characterized in that the first sprocket (22) is mounted on a first part (16) which is fixedly connected to the frame (3), and that the second sprocket (23) on a second part (17; 41) is mounted, which is fixed to the frame (15; 43).

5. Tricycle according to claim 4, characterized in that the unit, consisting of the first and second part (16, 17; 41), the frame (15; 43) and the other parts sitting thereon, on the frame (3) is fastened separably, in particular is screwed on.

6. Tricycle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the rear wheel axis, the pivot axis (21) of the two bearings (27.20; 40.20) and the rod of the frame (3) on which the first and the second part (16, 17; 16, 41) and the further parts connected to them are fastened, approximately at the same height, calculated from the ground.

7. tricycle according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized gekenn¬ characterized in that the first bearing (27) in front of the universal bearing (25) and the second part (17) and the frame (15) on the frame (3) or on the first part (16) and that the second bearing (20) lies behind the universal bearing (25) and in front of the rear wheel axle and supports the frame (15) on the first part (16) (Fig. 2).

8. tricycle according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized gekenn¬ / that the first bearing (40) is behind the rear wheel axle and the frame (43) on the first part (16) and that the second bearing (20) lies in front of the rear wheel axle and behind the universal bearing (25) and supports the frame (43) on the first part (16) (Fig. 3).

9. tricycle according to claim 8, characterized in that the first part has two approximately horizontally extending, one above the other arranged rods (45,46) and a plate (47) with which the two rear ends of the rods (45,46) connected, in particular screwed, and which carries the first bearing (40).

10. tricycle according to claim 9, characterized in that the first part (16) seen from above is U-shaped, that on its central part, the first gear (22) is mounted, that it with its front leg (16c), the holds the front ends of the rods (45, 46), is fastened to the frame and carries the second bearing (20) on its rear leg (16d), which is connected to the central parts of the rods (45, 46) .

11. Tricycle according to claim 8, characterized in that the second part is an arm (41) which is fixed at its rear end to the frame (43) and at the front end of which the second gear wheel (23) is mounted.

12. tricycle according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized ge indicates that the pivotability of the frame (3) relative to the frame (15) can be canceled, in particular by the fact that on the frame (15) or on the first part - (16th ) an adjustable bolt (50) sits, which can be inserted into a recess (56) on the first part (16) or frame (15), the bolt (50) by means of a Bowden cable (52) against the force of a spring (51) is adjustable.

13. Tricycle according to claim 12, characterized in that an adjustable locking lever (57) is provided, in particular on the second part (17) which holds the bolt

(50) blocked in its position in the recess (56).

14. Tricycle according to claim 12 or 13, characterized gekennzeich¬ net that the bolt (50) and the locking lever (57) can be actuated by the handlebar (7).