WO2000056595A1

WO2000056595A1 - Dual powered drive for a human powered vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2000056595A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/007308
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard Dahlem
Original assignee: Richard Dahlem
Priority date: 1999-03-19
Filing date: 2000-03-17
Publication date: 2000-09-28

Abstract

A dual powered drive (18) for human powered vehicles, includes an alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter (38) for receiving steering means (34) input and converting it to drive wheel driving means rotation. The steering means (34) has a pivot point (60) at the center of the steering means (34), and the connection of the steering means (34) to the upper end of the steering column (24) is a pivotal connection at the pivot point (60). The steering means (34) has a power axis (62) passing through the pivot point (60), and the power axis (62) is substantially perpendicular to the steering axis (25) and substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis (28) of a front wheel (26) of the vehicle. The steering means (34) is rotatable about the power axis (62) for powering the vehicle, and rotatable about the steering axis (25) for steering the vehicle. The dual powered drive (18) further includes foot-pedal power transfer means (36) which is rotatably mounted on the support frame of the vehicle for foot-pedal input to the drive wheel driving means (32).

Description

Dual Powered Drive for a Human Powered Vehicle

1.0 TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates in general to bicycles, and more particularly to such bicycles which have more than one human-powered means for propelling them. In recent times, there is more and more a need for human-powered vehicles which can be powered by both the vehicle operator' s hands and feet. It would be useful to apply the arm power, which one naturally applies against the steering means, into a form which could propel or assist in propelling the vehicle .

2.0 BACKGROUND ART

• Patent 553,083 issued to J. J. Thompson discloses a railroad car having a lever which can be used to drive the railroad car by arm power.

• Patent 598,026 issued to E. Slippern discloses a bicycle with a bicycle propelling mechanism which uses a split rather than a one-piece handlebar, and has a handlebar pivot axis parallel to the path of the bicycle.

• Patent 1,018,264 issued to D. L. Palmer discloses a railroad car having a lever which can be used to drive the railroad car by arm power. • Patent 3,921,464 issued to T. S. Greseth discloses a handle bar driven bicycle which is described as follows: ^,A handlebar driven bicycle has a handlebar pivotally mounted to a steering post for upward and downward swinging movement about a generally horizontal axis" and in which the axis of this bicycle is perpendicular to the path of the bicycle.

• Patent 4,437,677 issued to H. Ksayian discloses a bicycle in which the hands and feet cooperatively provide leverage to propel the bicycle thereby enabling one to exercise one's arms and legs while providing means to maintain great speed for extended periods of time. • Patent 5,328,195 issued to Sommer et al . discloses a bicycle with an arm powered drive assembly which is described as follows: ^λ,A dual drive bicycle includes an arm powered drive assembly including a drive mechanism mountable on one of the bicycle wheels or on the foot powered crank mechanism. The drive assembly includes a sprocket and a ratchet assembly for pivotal engagement with the sprocket wheel, a drive line coupled to the ratchet assembly for driving the ratchet assembly and the drive sprocket, and a free wheeling mechanism for coupling the ratchet assembly and the drive sprocket wheel. Movement of the handlebar moves the drive line which engages the ratchet assembly for driving the drive mechanism" .

• Patent 5,575,739 issued to G. D. Piaget discloses a bicycle having an upper pivot lever (which serves as a type of handlebar) in which the use thereof is described as: 'In use, the operator stands on the foot platforms, grasps the hand grips of the upper pivot lever, and reciprocates the feet and hands in a rocking, or see-saw type motion similar (to that of) bicycling, rock climbing or stair climbing." • Patent 5,653,663 issued to F. B. McCahon discloses a bicycle in which the hands and feet cooperatively provide leverage to propel the bicycle thereby enabling one to exercise one's arms and legs while providing means to maintain great speed for extended periods of time.

3.0 DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

3.1 Opening

The instant invention is an improvement to human- powered vehicles, and provides a way to apply human body power using both one's arms and legs to propel a vehicle for health and fitness, fun, and transportation. The idea came about from riding bicycles and wanting to apply the arm power, which one naturally applies against the handlebar, into a useful form. (Please note, although 'handlebar" is often used in the plural, i.e. 'handlebars", in order to avoid any possible confusion, the term as applied to bicycles will be used in the singular throughout this application. )

Thus, the instant invention is a dual powered drive for human powered vehicles, comprising an alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter for receiving steering means input and converting it to drive wheel driving means rotation. The steering means has a pivot point at the center of the steering means, and the connection of the steering means to the upper end of the steering column is a pivotal connect±-σn at the pivot point. The steering means has a pivot axis passing through the pivot point, and the pivot axis is substantially perpendicular to both the steering axis of the vehicle and the rotation axis of a front wheel of the vehicle. This pivot axis will be referred to as the power axis throughout this specification. The steering means is rotatable about the power axis for powering the vehicle, and rotatable about the steering axis for steering the vehicle. Thus the steering means is for both steering and powering the vehicle. The dual powered drive further comprises foot-pedal power transfer means which includes foot pedals. The foot- pedal power transfer means is rotatably mounted on the support frame of the vehicle thus providing for foot-pedal input to the drive wheel driving means. Thus alternating up and down rotational movement of the steering means about the power axis, with or without foot-pedal input, drives the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter thus providing rotational power to a drive wheel driving means thus causing a drive wheel of the vehicle to rotate .

One embodiment of the instant invention is the application of the dual powered drive to a bicycle which results in a handlebar driven bicycle. This bicycle has a handlebar pivotally mounted on the steering post for upward and downward swinging movement about a horizontal axis which passes through the steering post and is perpendicular to the handlebar. Thus, as one rides, one can use one's arms, alternately and oppositely pushing and pulling on the handlebar ends, without significantly affecting the steering, and have that motion power the bike, with or without pedal input from the bicycle operator's legs.

Thus, in this application of the- instant invention, a conventional bicycle is modified by replacing the handlebar and pedal/drive sprocket (s) assemblies, with altered assemblies which allow my improvements to be applied and be useful, and mounting additional apparatus between the handlebar and pedal/drive sprocket (s) assemblies which allow handlebar derived motion to augment (or independently apply) the driving motion to the driven wheel.

The handlebar is moveable up and down on its ends, about an axis which is roughly parallel to the direction of motion, and (very close to) perpendicular to the steering axis, so that as one rides, one can use one's arms, alternately and oppositely pushing and pulling on the handlebar ends, without significantly affecting the steering, and have that motion power the bike, with or without the legs.

There are several important points which should be noted for the bicycle embodiment:

1) The pivot axis of the handlebar is critical to the application because as the pivot axis diverges from optimal, more steering torque will be applied with the arm motion, and it is desirable to keep the two motions as independent as possible so that steering will not be adversely affected. Optimally, the pivot axis will be substantially perpendicular to both the steering axis of the vehicle and the rotation axis of a front wheel of the vehicle.

2) The resultant motion of either end of the handlebar through its range of motion must ultimately turn out to be more than one-half the revolution of the pedals, so that when both inputs are applied at the same time, the arms will not reach their motion limit before the pedal reaches 180 degrees of rotation. This allows proper body timing of synchronous arm and leg motion. This is achieved on my prototype by having the roughly 120 degrees of ratchet motion turn a proportionally larger sprocket, which in turn turns a smaller sprocket roughly 220 degrees at the other end where it connects to the driving sprocket.

3) When the front wheel of the bicycle is pointed straight ahead and thus its rotation axis is parallel to the rotation axis of the rear drive wheel, the pulleys which receive the cables from the handlebars must be positioned during the manufacturing process such that lines passing through the exact pulling points of these cables from the handlebar (the points where the cables are attached to the handlebar) and the exact points of tangency of the cables on the pulleys where the handlebar cables come into the pulleys must pass through a point which lies on the steering axis. This is because these three points (the point where a cable is attached to a handlebar, the exact point of tangency of this cable on the pulley where the handlebar cable comes into the pulley, and a point which lies on the steering axis) tend to line up on the side whose cable is being pulled, and this tendency to line up tends to cause a deflection in the steered direction. That is, when you move the handlebar as prescribed, the handlebar deflects, if not resisted, so that the above three points will tend to line up on the pulling side. So it is important during construction of the bicycle to line up these 3 points with the steered wheel aimed in the forward direction. This can be achieved by adjusting (while the front wheel is pointed in the straight ahead forward direction, i.e. when the rotation axis of the front wheel is perpendicular to the plane of the support frame) the location of each of the first set of pulleys where the cable from the handle bar enters that pulley so that the tangent point of the cable on that pulley is in line with the steering axis and the end of the cable on the handle bar. Then the natural deflection when handlebar power is applied is in that forward direction. 4) The additional power which the power input from handlebar up and down movement will contribute depends on the distance apart of the hand positions, and the strength of the person riding. Theoretically, adding the handlebar input to the foot-pedal input could double the driving power of the bike in certain configurations and with a sufficiently trained rider.

On a conventional bicycle, where the steering neck extends forward to the handlebar, I essentially make that extension an axis, around which the ends of the handlebar can be alternately moved up and down on the ends. I then tap that motion and convert it to allow it to apply power to turn the drive transmission. In my first application, I accomplish this by using bearings, cables, pulleys, ratchets, springs, sprockets and chain, and additional mounting parts. This can also be accomplished, for example, through solid rods and links to one way rotation assemblies attached to the main driving mechanism as well.

Another important factor, when the bicycle is used with optional leg input as well as with arm input, is the ratio of the input motion of the arms to the input motion of the legs, so that they can work synchronously, that is, when the pedal goes from top to bottom for one leg, the opposite arm can move from top to bottom of its motion and will not reach its limit before the pedal reaches the bottom of its range. That is why the drive output resulting from movement of the handlebar from the top to bottom of its range is required to be slightly more than the drive output from one-half rotation of the pedals. This can be achieved by adjusting one or more of the following: 1) The placement of the cable attachment points on the left and right sides of the handlebar.

2) The distance of the attachment points of the other ends of the cables on the ratchet arms from the ratchet shaft's axis . 3) The ratio of the size of the shaft's sprocket to the auxiliary pedal sprocket which is attached to the pedal sprocket .

I should point out that the most significant distinguishing feature of the instant invention over all the background art human-powered vehicles is that in the closest background art human-powered vehicles, the power axis is parallel to the rotation axis of a front wheel of the vehicle whereas in the instant invention the power axis is perpendicular to the rotation axis of a front wheel of the vehicle. When one is trying to attain top speed on a conventional bicycle, for example, one is literally standing on the foot-pedals and alternately pulling first on the left and then on the right end of the handle bar with all one's might as one pushes down first on the left and then on the right foot-pedal with one's feet. The instant invention takes full advantage of this alternate pulling action, whereas with the closest background art bicycles such an action would contribute nothing to powering the bicycle; with the closest background art bicycles there is no similar coordination of hands and feet. In those background art handlebar powered bicycles in which the power axis is parallel to the rotation axis of a front wheel of the bicycle, one raises and lowers both ends of the handlebar simultaneously as one pedals with one's feet. If one should stand upon the foot-pedals in an attempt to attain top speed, one would be able to raise the handlebar ends, but one would not be able to lower them in synchronized side to side motion with the legs. Thus is seen the immense advantage of having the handlebar pivot axis perpendicular to the rotation axis of the front wheel and, thus, also parallel to the direction of travel.

The dual powered drive for a human powered vehicle when incorporated into a vehicle results in an improved or extended version of that vehicle.

When the vehicle is a two-wheeled bicycle, the improvements to it are as follows:

The first improvement is the addition of a pivoting bearing at the handlebar which allows the handlebar to move up and down at its ends, roughly perpendicular to the steering axis.

The second improvement is the attachment of cables, one on each side of the handlebar, which are pulled alternately as the handlebar is moved up and down by the rider.

The third improvement is the transmission of the above motion of the cables through pulleys down to an apparatus near the driving chain. The apparatus takes the alternating cable motion and changes it into rotational motion, in this case, by using twin ratcheting mechanisms, one for each cable. The twin ratcheting mechanisms are made so that when one cable pulls on the pawl mount (ratchet arm) , it turns a shaft. Since the second cable and ratchet are attached to the same shaft, they alternately turn the shaft as the handlebar is moved up and down at its ends. This shaft is attached to a driven sprocket which pulls a chain which pulls the auxiliary pedal sprocket which is fixedly attached to the pedal sprocket. An additional ratchet is installed between the pedal and the pedal sprocket so that the handlebar motion can drive the pedal sprocket when the pedals are not providing power.

The instant invention can have a number of important alternate variations or embodiments. The motion of the handlebar, on the correct axis, is the key to my invention. That motion can be converted to output motion in a variety of ways, such as by using cables or belts or rods or gears, etc. Also, a crankshaft can be used in place of the ratchet assembly I am using; however, that limits the arm motion and introduces other complications. And obviously, the motion can also be applied for an exercise machine, or to a generator or boat drive.

It is, therefore, the main object of the invention to provide a dual powered drive for a human powered vehicle in which the steering means, upon application of arm power, moves up and down at its ends, roughly perpendicular to the steering axis, and this motion propels or assists in the propulsion of the vehicle.

This dual powered drive for human-powered vehicles possesses the following advantages: • The instant invention allows significantly faster vehicle motion and body input power.

• The instant invention is easy to apply to conventional human powered vehicles.

• The instant invention is economical to manufacture and easy to use. 3 . 2 Contents

The above features are objects of this invention. Yet further objects are as follows:

An object of the instant invention is to provide a dual powered drive for a human powered vehicle which when incorporated in a vehicle results in a vehicle that is strong and sturdy, light weight, and easy to use.

A further object is to provide a dual powered drive for a human powered vehicle that is economical in cost to manufacture and incorporate into a human powered vehicle. A still further object is to provide a dual powered drive for a human powered vehicle which results in a vehicle in which the steering means is moveable, up and down on its ends, about an axis which is roughly parallel to the direction of motion, and (very close to) perpendicular to the steering axis, so that as one rides, one can use one's arms, alternately and oppositely pushing and pulling on the steering means ends, without significantly affecting the steering, and have that motion power the vehicle, with or without one's legs providing foot-pedal input.

Still another object is to provide a dual powered drive for a human powered vehicle which can be used to manufacture pollution-free human powered vehicles which can then be used in areas of high congestion instead of motor powered vehicles .

A further object is to provide a dual powered drive for a human powered vehicle which has a high level of accuracy and reliability.

Yet another object is to provide a dual powered drive for a human powered vehicle which when incorporated into a bicycle results in a bicycle which is still small enough and light enough to be carried in a car or a sport vehicle.

These and other objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings and will be otherwise apparent to those skilled in the art.

For the purpose of illustration of this invention, a preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that this is for the purpose of example only and that the invention is not limited thereto.

4.0 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1A shows a perspective view of a human-powered vehicle with the instant invention installed;

Fig. IB shows a perspective view of a human-powered vehicle with the instant invention installed with parts broken away (one cable, one set of pulleys, and one ratchet mechanism are removed for greater clarity) ;

Fig. IC shows a diagrammatic perspective view representation of the instant invention installed with many parts broken away to illustrate the three points (151, 177, 77) which must be aligned during the manufacturing process so that the natural deflection when handlebar power is applied is in the forward direction;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the ratchet mechanism for receiving power from the motion transfer elements and converting it to rotary power for the pedal ratchet;

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of the ratchet mechanism for receiving power from the motion transfer elements and converting it to rotary power for the auxiliary pedal sprocket with a pawl mount removed to reveal a ratchet and pawl;

Fig. 4 shows a diagrammatic side view representation of the foot-pedal power transfer means;

Fig. 5A shows a diagrammatic side view representation of the ratchet and pawl and the surrounding components;

Fig. 5B shows a diagrammatic side view representation of a ratchet and pawl which shows the pawl spring which presses the pawl against the ratchet wheel thus causing the pawl to engage the ratchet wheel;

Fig. 5C shows a diagrammatic rear view representation of a ratchet and pawl with parts broken away, which shows the pawl spring which presses the pawl against the ratchet wheel thus causing the pawl to engage the ratchet wheel;

Fig. 6 illustrates the interaction of the ratchet mechanisms with the auxiliary pedal sprocket and pedal sprocket, and through them, with the rear wheel driving sprocket;

Fig. 7 shows a diagrammatic representation of the front view of a bicycle having the instant invention installed but with parts broken away;

Fig. 8 shows a bicycle with the instant invention installed.

5.0 BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

5.1 Detailed Description of the Elements

5.2.1 Description of Dual Powered Drive for a Human Powered Vehicle

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, Figure 1A illustrates one embodiment of this invention incorporated into a human powered vehicle. For purposes of illustration, the human- powered vehicle shown in Figure 1A is a two wheeled bicycle 20. Figure IB is the same as Figure 1A except that one cable, one set of pulleys, and one ratchet mechanism are removed for greater clarity. As seen in Figures 1A and IB, human powered vehicles of the kind to which the instant invention can be applied can be described as follows:

The instant invention is a dual powered drive 18 for that class of human powered vehicles which have the following elements:

(a) a support frame 22;

(b) a steering column 24 having a steering axis 25 parallel to the steering column 24 and passing through the upper and lower ends of the steering column 24. The steering column 24 is rotatably mounted on the support frame 22 of the vehicle 20;

(c) at least one front wheel 26 having a front wheel rotation axis 28. The front wheel 26 is communicatively connected to the lower end of the steering column 24 for being steered by rotation of the steering column 24 about its steering axis 25;

(d) at least one drive wheel 30 having drive wheel driving means 32 for driving the drive wheel 30; (e) steering means 34 connected to the upper end of the steering column 24; and (f) foot-pedal power transfer means 36.

The dual powered drive 18 comprises an alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter 38 for receiving steering means input and converting it to drive wheel driving means rotation.

Preferably, the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter 38 is a double ratcheting mechanism 40, which comprises a ratchet frame 42 attached to the frame 22 of the vehicle, a shaft 4 rotatably supported by the ratchet frame 42, a ratchet wheel 46 fixedly attached to the shaft 44, and a one-way shaft rotation member 48 rotatably mounted on the shaft 44. The one-way shaft rotation member 48 has a one-way engagement means 50 rotatably attached to it. The one-way engagement means 50 engages the ratchet wheel 46 in order to turn the ratchet wheel 46 and shaft 44 in one direction. The one-way shaft rotation member 48 is rotatably attached to a motion transfer element 52. Preferably, the one-way shaft rotation member 48 is a pawl mount 54 rotatably mounted on the shaft 44, and the one-way engagement means 50 is a pawl 56 rotatably attached to the pawl mount 54. Most preferably, the pawl mount 54 is a wheel —rotatably mounted on the shaft 44, and the pawl 56 is rotatably attached to the pawl mount 54.

Preferably, the double ratcheting mechanism 40 further comprises a one-way shaft rotation member return means 58 for pulling the one-way shaft rotation member 48 in the direction opposite to the direction that the motion transfer element 52 pulls on the one-way shaft rotation member 48. Preferably, the one-way shaft rotation member return means 58 is either a spring or an elastic band. The one-way shaft rotation member return means 58 causes a constant tension to be maintained on the motion transfer element 52, and thus returns it when the handlebar begins to move in a downward direction. Thus when the handlebar begins to move in a downward direction the one-way shaft rotation member 48 is returned to its original position and is now properly positioned for the start of a new cycle. This arrangement of the double ratcheting mechanism 40 ensures that when the motion transfer element 52 is pulling on the one-way shaft rotation member 48, the one-way engagement means 58 attached to the one-way shaft rotation member 48 engages the pawl which engages the ratchet wheel 46 and pulls on it thus imparting rotational movement to the shaft 44 attached to it.

Most preferably, as shown in Figure 5C, the pawl mount 54 has a pawl pivot pin 53 upon which the pawl 56 is rotatably mounted. As shown in Figures 5B and 5C, a pawl spring 55 under tension is wound around the pawl pivot pin 53. One end of the pawl spring 55 is bent over to push on the back of the pawl 56, and thus pushes the front edge of the pawl 56 against the ratchet wheel 46, while the other end of the pawl spring 55 is bent back to secure that end of the pawl spring 55 in a hole 57 in the pawl mount 54. Thus when the pawl mount 54 is pulled forward by a motion transfer element 52, the pawl spring forces the pawl against the ratchet wheel 46, the pawl engages a cog of the ratchet wheel 46 and pulls the ratchet wheel 46 forward. When the pawl mount 54 is pulled backward by a one-way shaft rotation member return means 58, the pawl slips back over the cogs of the ratchet wheel 46 without engaging them and has no effect on the motion of the ratchet wheel 46.

The one-way shaft rotation member return means 58 causes a constant tension to be maintained on the motion transfer element 52, and thus returns it when the steering means 34 begins to move in a downward direction. Thus when the steering means 34 begins to move in a downward direction the one-way shaft rotation member 48 is returned to its original position and is now properly positioned for the start of a new cycle.

Fixedly mounted to the shaft 44 is the ratchet mechanism output power sprocket 66. The ratchet mechanism output power sprocket 66 therefore turns with the shaft 44 and drives the auxiliary pedal sprocket 68 via a chain 70.

The auxiliary pedal sprocket 68 turns the pedal sprocket 72 to which it is fixedly attached which in turn powers the drive wheel driving means 32 via a chain 74.

In the instant invention, the steering means 34 has a pivot point 60 at the center of the steering means 34, and the connection of the steering means 34 to the upper end of the steering column 24 is a pivotal connection at the pivot point 60. The steering means 34 has a power axis 62 passing through the pivot point 60, and the power axis 62 is substantially perpendicular to the steering axis 25 and substantially perpendicular to a rotation axis 28 of a front wheel 26. The steering means 34 is rotatable about the power axis 62 for powering the vehicle, and rotatable about the steering axis 25 for steering the vehicle. Thus, the steering means 34 is for both steering and powering the vehicle.

The dual powered drive further has foot-pedal power transfer means 36 which includes foot pedals 64, 64. The foot-pedal power transfer means 36 is rotatably mounted on the support frame 22 thus providing for foot-pedal input to the drive wheel driving means 32 through pedal sprocket 72.

Thus, alternating up and down rotational movement of the steering means 34 about the power axis 62, with or without foot-pedal input, drives the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter 38 thus providing rotational power to a drive wheel driving means 32 thus causing a drive wheel 30 of the vehicle to rotate .

Figure 8 illustrates one embodiment of the dual powered drive 118 incorporated into a two wheel bicycle 120. As shown in Figure 8, bicycles of the kind to which the instant invention can be applied can be described as follows: The bicycle 120 has a front wheel 126 which can be steered and a rear drive wheel 130. The support frame is a bicycle frame

122. The steering means is a bicycle handlebar 134, and the front wheel 126 is mounted on the lower end of the steering column 124 of the bicycle 120. The drive wheel driving means is a rear wheel driving sprocket 132. The foot-pedal power transfer means 136 includes foot pedals 164 which are rotatably mounted on the frame 122 of the bicycle 120. The foot-pedal power transfer means 136 includes a foot pedal 164 with a foot pedal ratchet wheel 84 (see Fig. 4) fixedly attached which engages a foot pedal sprocket pawl 86 (see Fig. 4) which drives the foot pedal sprocket 172 which pulls the chain 174 driving the rear wheel driving sprocket 132 thus providing for foot-pedal input to a rear wheel driving sprocket 132.

Upon incorporation of the instant invention into such a bicycle, the drive mechanism for the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter will comprise a left-hand motion transfer element and a right- hand motion transfer element 150, 150. Such motion transfer elements can be rods, belts, or chains, or, preferably, as shown in Figure 8, cables 152, 152. As shown in Figure 8, the steering means attachment end of the left-most cable 152 is attached to a point on the handlebar 134 to the left of the pivot point 160 of the handlebar and the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter attachment end of the cable 152 is attached to the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter 138. (Preferably, the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter is a double ratcheting mechanism 140 similar to that described above.)

Likewise the steering means attachment end of the right-most _Λ„, _M

WO 00/56595 cable 152 is attached to a point on the handlebar 134 to the right of the pivot point 160 of the handlebar 134 and the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter attachment end of the cable 152 is attached to the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter 138. Preferably, the drive mechanism for the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter further comprises a pulley 176 to properly direct the alternating linear motion from the handlebar 134 to the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter 138.

Most preferably, as best seen in Figure IC taken in conjunction with Figure 8, during the manufacturing process, the first set of pulleys 76 which receive the cables 52, 52 from the left and right sides of handlebar 34 is positioned on the support frame 22 as follows:

1) the front wheel 26 of the bicycle is pointed straight ahead such that its rotation axis 28 is parallel to the rotation axis 31 of the rear drive wheel 30, and the rotation axis 28 of the front wheel 26 is perpendicular to the plane of the support frame 22;

2) position the first set of pulleys 76, 76 such that lines 75, 75 passing through the exact pulling points 151, 151 (shown in Fig. IC) of the cables 52 from the handlebar (the points 151, 151 where the cables are attached to the handlebar 34) and the exact points of tangency 177, 177 of the cables 52, 52 on the first set of pulleys 76, 76 where the handlebar cables 52, 52 come onto the pulleys 76, 76 pass through points 77, 77 which lie on the steering axis 125. This step should be done because these three points (the point 151 where a cable 52 is attached to the handlebar 34, the exact point of tangency 177 of this cable 52 on the pulley 76 where the handlebar cable 52 comes onto the pulley 76, and a point 77 which lies on the steering axis 125) tend to line up on the side whose cable is being pulled, and this tendency to line up tends to cause a deflection in the steered direction. That is, when you move the handlebar as prescribed, the handlebar deflects, if not resisted, so that the above three points will tend to line up on the pulling side. Therefore, during construction of the bicycle, the pulleys are positioned such that these 3 points line up when the steered wheel is aimed in the forward direction. This can be achieved by pointing the front wheel in the straight ahead forward direction (thus making the rotation axis of the front wheel perpendicular to the plane in which the support frame 22 lies) , and then adjusting the location of each of the first set of pulleys so that the tangent point of the cable on that pulley is in line with a point on the steering axis and the point where the end of the cable is attached to the handle bar. When this is done, the cross- coupling effect of the alternating up and down rotational movement of the handlebar 34 upon steering is minimized.

Most preferably, the amount of rotation of the rear wheel driving sprocket 132 caused by one movement of the handlebar 134 from the top of its range of motion to the bottom of its range of motion is greater than the amount of rotation of the rear wheel driving sprocket 132 caused by one half of a revolution of the foot-pedals 164, 164. The proper ratio of rear wheel driving sprocket rotation to one complete movement of the handlebar through its range of movement ensures that proper body timing of synchronous arm and leg motion can be achieved. Further, as shown, the means for drivingly connecting the foot-pedal sprocket 172 to the rear wheel driving sprocket 132 is a chain 174.

Most preferably, for bicycles which incorporate the instant invention, the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter 138 is a double ratcheting mechanism 140 comprising a first ratchet mechanism 78 (Fig. 3) and a second ratchet mechanism 80 (Fig. 3) and a shaft 144 upon which the ratchet mechanisms (78, 80) are mounted.

Each of these ratchet mechanisms (78, 80) comprises a pawl mount 154 which has a pawl 56 (See Fig. 3) rotatably attached to it. The shaft connection end of the pawl mount 154 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 144, and the motion transfer element connection end of the pawl mount 154 is rotatably attached to a motion transfer element 152 for receiving a pulling motion from the motion transfer element

152. Each of these ratchet mechanisms (78, 80) further have a spring 58 (See Fig. 5A) attached to the pawl mount 154 which opposes the pull of the motion transfer element 152 upon the motion transfer element connection end of the pawl mount 154. In addition, each of the ratchet mechanisms (78, 80) have a ratchet wheel 46 fixedly mounted on the shaft 144, and each ratchet wheel 46 is engaged by the pawl 56 on the pawl mount 154 for receiving a pulling rotational movement from the pawl 56 when a motion transfer element 152 is pulling on a pawl mount 154 to which a pawl 56 is attached. Thus when a motion transfer element 152 is pulling on a pawl mount 154, the pawl 56 attached to the pawl mount 154 engages the ratchet wheel 46 and pulls on it thus imparting rotational movement to the ratchet wheel 46 and thus to the shaft 144. When the motion transfer element 152 ceases to pull on the pawl mount 154 at the end of a cycle, the spring 58 attached to the pawl mount 154 pulls the pawl mount 154 back into position for the next cycle of motion. (The spring 58 causes a constant tension to be maintained on the motion transfer element 152, and thus returns it when the handlebar begins to move in a downward direction. Thus when the handlebar begins to move in a downward direction the one-way shaft rotation member 48 is properly positioned for the start of a new cycle.)

Fixedly mounted to the shaft 144 is the ratchet mechanism output power sprocket 166. The ratchet mechanism output power sprocket 166 therefore turns with the shaft 144 and drives the auxiliary pedal sprocket 168 via a chain 170. The auxiliary pedal sprocket 168 turns the pedal sprocket 172 which in turn powers the rear wheel driving sprocket 132 via a chain 174.

In the instant invention, the handlebar 134 has a pivot point 160 near the center of the handlebar 134 and the connection of the handlebar 134 to the upper end of the steering column 124 is a pivotal connection at the pivot point 160. The handlebar 134 has a power axis 162 passing through the pivot point 160, and the power axis 162 is substantially perpendicular to the steering axis 125 and substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis 128 of the front wheel 126. The handlebar 134 is rotatable about the power axis 162 for powering the bicycle, and rotatable about the steering axis 125 for steering the bicycle. Thus, the bicycle handlebar 134 is for both steering and powering the bicycle.

The dual powered drive further has foot-pedal power transfer means 136 which includes foot pedals 164, 164. The foot-pedal power transfer means 136 is rotatably mounted on the bicycle's frame 122 thus providing for foot-pedal input to the rear wheel driving sprocket 132 through pedal sprocket 172.

Thus alternating up and down rotational movement of the handlebar 134 about the power axis 162, with or without foot-pedal input, drives the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter 138 thus providing rotational power to a rear wheel driving sprocket 132 thus causing the drive wheel 130 of the bicycle to rotate.

Thus as one moves the handlebar ends up and down, the following events take place:

1) The right handlebar end is raised from the bottom of its range of motion to the top of its range of motion. The rightmost cable attached to the right half of the handlebar pulls on the rightmost pawl mount. The pawl attached to the rightmost pawl mount engages the rightmost ratchet wheel and pulls on it thus imparting rotational movement to the rightmost ratchet wheel and thus to the shaft. When the rightmost cable ceases to pull on the pawl mount as the right handlebar reached the top of its range, the spring attached to the rightmost pawl mount pulls the rightmost pawl mount back into position for the start of a new cycle. 2) Upon reaching the top of its range of motion, the right handlebar end is lowered and the left handlebar is raised from the bottom of its range of motion to the top of its range of motion. The leftmost cable attached to the left half of the handlebar pulls on the leftmost pawl mount. The pawl attached to the leftmost pawl mount engages the leftmost ratchet wheel and pulls on it thus imparting rotational movement to the leftmost ratchet wheel and thus to the shaft. When the leftmost cable ceases to pull on the pawl mount as the left handlebar reached the top of its range, the spring attached to the leftmost pawl mount pulls the leftmost pawl mount back into position for the start of a new cycle.

Fig. 2 shows the ratchet mechanism for receiving power from the motion transfer elements 52, 52 and converting it to rotary power for the auxiliary pedal sprocket 68.

Fig. 3 shows the ratchet mechanism for receiving power from the motion transfer elements 52, 52 and converting it to rotary power for the auxiliary pedal sprocket 68 with a pawl mount 54 removed to reveal a ratchet and pawl.

Fig. 4 shows a diagrammatic representation of the foot-pedal power transfer means. Mounted on the pedal shaft 82 is a foot-pedal ratchet wheel 84 which engages a foot pedal sprocket pawl 86 (attached to the foot-pedal sprocket 72) only in the forward direction which drives the foot-pedal sprocket 72.

Fig. 5A shows a diagrammatic representation of the ratchet wheel 46 and pawl 56 and the surrounding components.

Fig. 5B shows a diagrammatic side view representation of a ratchet wheel 46 and pawl. As shown, the pawl 56 is attached to the pawl mount 54 which rotates freely around the shaft

44. A pawl spring 55 presses the pawl 56 against the ratchet wheel 46 thus causing the pawl 56 to engage a cog in the ratchet wheel 46 in the forward direction but not in the backward direction. Therefore, when the pawl mount 54 rotates around shaft 44, the pawl 56 attached thereto pulls the ratchet wheel 46 forward, but not backward, in effect making a one way clutch.

Fig. 5C shows a diagrammatic rear view representation of a ratchet and pawl with parts broken away. As shown, the pawl spring 55 presses the pawl 56 against the ratchet wheel 46 thus forcing the front edge of the pawl 56 against the ratchet wheel 46.

Fig. 6 illustrates the interaction of the ratchet mechanisms with the auxiliary pedal sprocket 68 and pedal sprocket 72, and through them, with the rear wheel driving sprocket 32.

Fig. 7 shows a diagrammatic representation of the front view of a bicycle having the instant invention installed but with parts broken away.

Fig. 8 shows a bicycle with the instant invention installed.

5.3 Some Examples of a Dual Powered Drive for a Human Powered Vehicle 5 . 3 . 1 Example :

On the original dual powered bicycle I made and tried out, the cables were attached to the handlebar and run down through the pulleys to a ratchet mechanism. The ratchet mechanism was connected directly to the pedals on the opposite side of the regular wheel driving chain, because I could not integrate a pedal ratchet at that time into the pedals. I made this to prove it could be ridden and the concept would work. Since then, on the revised editions, the ratchet is connected by chain on the other side down to a sprocket and pedal ratchet.

In my test, I used a road simulation machine which allows variable programmed input resistance and digital power output at the wheel readout. With the arm output locked, and with only my legs I was able to get output in the low to mid 200 ' s watts level with spurts up into the 300 's, and a sustained ride output in the low 200' s. Then with the arm output unlocked, I had power outputs which spurted above 400, and sustained output over 300 watts with ease. It should be noted that I was not in great aerobic state at the time of this test. My output increase at the time, I would confidently estimate to have been increased at least a third.

5.4 Advantages of the Invention

• The instant invention is economical to manufacture and easy to use, and has a reasonable weight. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

dual powered drive for human powered vehicle

human powered vehicle

support frame

steering column

steering axis

front wheel

front wheel rotation axis

drive wheel

drive wheel rotation axis

drive wheel driving means

steering means

foot-pedal power transfer means

alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter

double ratcheting mechanism

ratchet frame

shaft

ratchet wheel

one-way shaft rotation member one-way engagement means

motion transfer element

pawl pivot pin

pawl mount

pawl spring

pawl

hole in pawl mount for pawl spring

one-way shaft rotation member return means

pivot point

power axis

foot pedal

ratchet mechanism output power wheel

auxiliary pedal sprocket

chain

pedal sprocket

chain

a line which passes through both the pulling point 151 of a handlebar cable 52 and the point of tangency 177 of that cable 52 on the pulley 76

pulley

the point on the steering axis 125 through which must pass the line 75 in order to minimize the cross-coupling effect of the alternating up and down rotational movement of the handlebar 34 upon steering

78 first ratchet mechanism

80 second ratchet mechanism

82 pedal shaft

84 foot pedal ratchet wheel

86 foot pedal sprocket pawl

118 dual powered drive for bicycle

120 two-wheeled bicycle

122 bicycle frame

124 steering column

125 steering axis

126 front wheel

128 front wheel rotation axis

130 drive wheel

132 rear wheel driving sprocket

134 bicycle handlebar

136 foot-pedal power transfer means

138 alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter 140 double ratcheting mechanism

142 ratchet frame

144 shaft

150 motion transfer element

151 the pulling point of a handlebar cable (the point where the cable is attached to the handlebar)

152 cable

154 pawl mount

160 pivot point

162 power axis

164 foot pedal

166 ratchet mechanism output power wheel

168 auxiliary pedal sprocket

170 chain

172 foot-pedal sprocket

174 chain

176 pulley

177 the point of tangency of a cable entering a pulley on a pulley

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of devices and methods differing from those types described above.

5.6 Alternatives and the Closing

Thus the reader will see that my dual powered drive for a human powered vehicle supplies a long felt need for a simple, economical, easy to use way of modifying existing human-powered vehicles so that one can get the benefit of supplementing foot-pedal power with arm power to propel that vehicle.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible which will be apparent to those who are skilled in the art. While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS : What is claimed is :

1 . A dual powered drive for human powered vehicles which have

(a) a support frame;

(b) a steering column having an upper end and a lower end, the steering column having a steering axis parallel to said steering column and passing through the upper and lower ends of the steering column, said steering column being rotatably mounted on said support frame;

(c) at least one front wheel having a front wheel rotation axis, said front wheel being communicatively connected to said lower end of said steering column for being steered by rotation of said steering column about its steering axis;

(d) at least one drive wheel having drive wheel driving means for driving said drive wheel;

(e) steering means connected to the upper end of said steering column; and

(f) foot-pedal power transfer means;

said dual powered drive comprising an alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter for receiving steering means input and converting it to drive wheel driving means rotation, said alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter having a drive mechanism;

wherein:

(a) said steering means has a pivot point at the center of said steering means, said connection of said steering means to the upper end of said steering column being a pivotal connection at said pivot point, said steering means having a power axis passing through said pivot point, said power axis being substantially perpendicular to the steering axis and substantially perpendicular to a rotation axis of said front wheel, said steering means being rotatable about said power axis for powering the vehicle, and rotatable about said steering axis for steering the vehicle, whereby said steering means is for both steering and powering said vehicle;

(b) said foot-pedal power transfer means includes foot pedals, said foot-pedal power transfer means being rotatably mounted on said support frame for foot- pedal input to the drive wheel driving means;

whereby alternating up and down rotational movement of said steering means about said power axis, with or without foot-pedal input, drives said alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter thus providing rotational power to a drive wheel driving means thus causing a drive wheel of said vehicle to rotate.

The dual powered drive for human powered vehicles of claim 1 wherein the human powered vehicle of claim 1 is a bicycle having a front wheel and a rear drive wheel, and

(a) the support frame is a bicycle frame;

(b) the steering means is a bicycle handlebar;

(c) the front wheel is mounted on the lower end of said steering column;

(d) the drive wheel driving means is a rear wheel driving sprocket;

(e) said foot-pedal power transfer means includes foot pedals, said foot-pedal power transfer means being rotatably mounted on said support frame, said foot- pedal power transfer means including a foot pedal sprocket for receiving foot-pedal input from the foot-pedals and for communicating said foot pedal input to a rear wheel driving sprocket through a chain;

wherein

the drive mechanism for said alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter comprises:

(i) a left-hand motion transfer element selected from the group consisting of cables, rods, belts, and chains, said left-hand motion transfer element having a handlebar attachment end and an alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter attachment end, said handlebar attachment end being attached to a point on the handlebar to the left of the pivot point of the handlebar and an alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter attachment end attached to said alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter; and

(ii) a right-hand motion transfer element selected from the group consisting of cables, rods, belts, and chains, said right-hand motion transfer element having a handlebar attachment end and an alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter attachment end, said handlebar attachment end being attached to a point on the handlebar means to the right of the pivot point of the handlebar and an alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter attachment end attached to said alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter;

(b) said foot-pedal power transfer means further includes means for communicating said power received from said alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter to said foot pedal sprocket and thus to a rear wheel driving sprocket .

The dual powered drive for human powered vehicles of claim 2, wherein said means for communicating said power received from said alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter to said foot pedal sprocket comprises an auxiliary sprocket fixedly attached to said foot-pedal sprocket.

4. The dual powered drive for human powered vehicles of claim 2, wherein:

(a) the left-hand motion transfer element is a cable;

(b) the right-hand motion transfer element is a cable;

(c) said foot pedal sprocket has a one way motion transfer device for drivingly connecting the foot pedal to said foot-pedal sprocket; and

(d) the means for drivingly connecting the foot-pedal sprocket to said rear wheel driving sprocket is a chain.

5. The dual powered drive for human powered vehicles of claim 4, wherein said one way motion transfer device comprises a ratchet and pawl.

6. The dual powered drive for human powered vehicles of claim 2 wherein the drive mechanism for said alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter further comprises a pulley to properly direct said alternating linear motion from said handlebar to said alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter.

7. The dual powered drive for human powered vehicles of claim 6 wherein the pulling point of the cable from the handlebar, the point of tangency on the pulley where the handlebar cable comes onto the pulley, and one of the points on the turning axis lie substantially on the same straight line when the rotation axis of the front wheel is parallel to the rotation axis of the rear wheel, whereby the cross-coupling effect of alternating up and down rotational movement of said handlebar upon steering is minimized. The dual powered drive for human powered vehicles of claim 2, wherein the amount of rotation of the rear wheel driving sprocket caused by one movement of the handlebar from the top of its range of motion to the bottom of its range of motion is greater than the amount of rotation of the rear wheel driving sprocket caused by one half of a revolution of the foot-pedals, whereby proper body timing of synchronous arm and leg motion can be achieved.

The dual powered drive for human powered vehicles of claim 2 wherein the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter is a double ratcheting mechanism, and wherein said double ratcheting mechanism comprises

(a) a ratchet frame attached to the frame of the bicycle;

(b) a shaft rotatably supported by said ratchet frame;

(c) a ratchet wheel fixedly attached to said shaft;

(d) a one-way shaft rotation member rotatably mounted on said shaft, said one-way shaft rotation member having a one-way engagement means rotatably attached thereto, said one-way engagement means engaging said ratchet wheel for turning said ratchet wheel and shaft in one direction, the one-way shaft rotation member being rotatably attached to a motion transfer element;

(e) a one-way shaft rotation member return means for pulling the one-way shaft rotation member in a direction opposite to the direction that the motion transfer element pulls on the one-way shaft rotation member, thus causing the one-way shaft rotation member to return for the start of a new cycle when the motion transfer means ceases to pull on the one- way shaft rotation member; and

(f) a ratchet mechanism output power wheel fixedly mounted on said shaft for receiving power input from said shaft, said ratchet mechanism output power wheel being drivingly connected to said auxiliary pedal sprocket;

wherein the means for drivingly connecting ratchet mechanism output power wheel to said auxiliary pedal sprocket is a chain;

whereby when said motion transfer element is pulling on said one-way shaft rotation member, said one-way engagement means attached to said one-way shaft rotation member engages said ratchet wheel and pulls thereon thus imparting rotational movement to the shaft attached thereto, and when said motion transfer element ceases to pull on said one-way shaft rotation member said one-way shaft rotation member return means pulls said one-way shaft rotation member back into position for the next cycle of motion.

10. The dual powered drive for human powered vehicles of claim 9 wherein the one-way shaft rotation member return means is selected from the group consisting of springs and elastic bands.

11. The dual powered drive for human powered vehicles of claim 9 wherein the one-way shaft rotation member return means is a spring, wherein the spring causes a substantially constant tension to be maintained on the motion transfer element, and thus returns it when the handlebar begins to move in a downward direction, whereby the one-way shaft rotation member is properly positioned for the start of a new cycle.

12. The dual powered drive for human powered vehicles of claim 9 wherein the one-way shaft rotation member is a pawl mount rotatably mounted on said shaft, and the oneway engagement means is a pawl rotatably attached to said pawl mount.

3. The dual powered drive for human powered vehicles of claim 1 wherein the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter comprises:

(a) an alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter frame fixedly attached to the support frame of the vehicle;

(b) a shaft rotatably supported by said ratchet frame;

(c) a ratchet wheel fixedly attached to said shaft;

(d) a one-way shaft rotation member rotatably mounted on said shaft, said one-way shaft rotation member having a one-way engagement means rotatably attached thereto, said one-way engagement means engaging said ratchet wheel for turning said ratchet wheel and shaft in one direction, the one-way shaft rotation member being rotatably attached to a motion transfer element; and

(e) a one-way shaft rotation member return means for causing the one-way shaft rotation member to return for the start of a new cycle;

whereby when said motion transfer element is pulling on said one-way shaft rotation member, said one-way engagement means attached to said one-way shaft rotation member engages said ratchet wheel and pulls thereon thus imparting rotational movement to said shaft, and when said motion transfer element ceases to pull on said oneway shaft rotation member said one-way shaft rotation member return means pulls said one-way shaft rotation member back into position for the next cycle of motion.

4. The dual powered drive for human powered vehicles of claim 13 wherein the one-way shaft rotation member is a pawl mount, and the one-way engagement means is a pawl attached to said pawl mount.

5. The dual powered drive for human powered vehicles of claim 2 wherein the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter is a double ratcheting mechanism comprising a first ratchet mechanism and a second ratchet mechanism and a shaft upon which each ratchet mechanism is mounted, each such ratchet mechanism comprising:

(a) a pawl mount having a motion transfer element connection end and a shaft connection end, said pawl mount having a pawl fixedly attached thereto, said shaft connection end of said pawl mount being rotatably mounted on said shaft, and said motion transfer element connection end of said pawl mount being rotatably attached to a motion transfer element for receiving a pulling motion from said motion transfer element;

(b) a spring attached to said pawl mount wherein said spring opposes the pull of the motion transfer element upon the motion transfer element connection end of the pawl mount; and

(c) a ratchet wheel fixedly mounted on the shaft, said ratchet wheel being engaged by said pawl for receiving pulling rotational movement from said pawl when said motion transfer element is pulling on said pawl mount to which said pawl is fixedly attached;

whereby when said motion transfer element is pulling on said pawl mount, said pawl attached to said pawl mount engages said ratchet wheel and pulls thereon thus imparting rotational movement to said ratchet wheel and thus to said shaft, and when said motion transfer element ceases to pull on said pawl mount, said spring pulls said pawl mount back into position for the next cycle of motion.

6. The dual powered drive for human powered vehicles of claim 1 wherein the alternating reciprocating power motion to rotary motion converter is a double ratcheting mechanism, and wherein said double ratcheting mechanism comprises:

(a) a ratchet frame attached to the frame of the vehicle;

(b) a shaft rotatably supported by said ratchet frame;

(c) a ratchet wheel fixedly attached to said shaft;

whereby when said motion transfer element is pulling on