WO2008077906A1

WO2008077906A1 - Propeller drive for a bicycle

Info

Publication number: WO2008077906A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/064389
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raffaele Canfora
Original assignee: Raffaele Canfora
Priority date: 2006-12-21
Filing date: 2007-12-20
Publication date: 2008-07-03
Also published as: DE102006061918A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a propeller drive for fastening in the vicinity of the bottom-bracket bearing of a bicycle, with an extension arm, at the free end of which a shaft for a propeller is arranged, wherein the propeller drive comprises a gear which connects the shaft for the propeller to a driving chain wheel which, as part of the propeller drive, is arranged in such a manner that, when the propeller drive is fastened to a bicycle, the driving chain wheel extends parallel to a chain wheel of a bicycle chain drive of the bicycle and is to be connected to said chain wheel via a driving chain in order to transmit force from the chain wheel of the bicycle chain drive to the driving chain wheel of the propeller drive.

Description

Berlin, December 20, 2007

Our sign: CB 1 133-02WO JVO / spi

Direct dial: 030/841 887 0

Applicant / owner: CANFORA, RAFFAELE

Official file: NβUanmβldung

Raffaele Canfora Kreuzritterstrasse 4, 13465 Berlin

Ship propeller drive for a bicycle

The invention relates to a propeller drive for a bicycle.

From the prior art, for example from EP 0 792 233 it is known to connect a bicycle with two floats, so that a watercraft results in the manner of a catamaran, which is to be moved by means of the pedal drive of the bicycle. In the solution known from EP 0 792 233, for this purpose, a propeller is provided at the end of a flexible shaft, which is connected via a friction wheel to the conventionally driven rear wheel of the bicycle.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an improved, in particular more efficient propeller drive for a bicycle.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a propeller drive which is to be fastened in the vicinity of the bottom bracket of a bicycle and has an extension arm, at the free end of which a shaft for a ship propeller is arranged. The propeller propulsion system has a transmission that connects the shaft for the propeller with a drive sprocket, which is itself part of the propeller propulsion. The drive sprocket is arranged to be connected to a sprocket of a conventional bicycle chain drive of the bicycle by a propeller drive attached to a bicycle via a short bicycle chain. The drive sprocket of the propeller drive is thus preferably in a plane with a smallest sprocket of the bottom bracket of the bicycle drive or is only as far as the chain allows parallel to this smallest sprocket offset when the propeller drive is attached to the bicycle.

The invention is based on the recognition that the propeller propulsion known from the prior art is inefficient. Furthermore, the invention makes use of the fact that in conventional bicycle chain drives usually two or three sprockets are connected to the pedals of the bicycle to provide in this way by throwing the bicycle chain between these sprockets two or three different gear stages , This allows the bicycle chain to run, for example, over a larger one of the sprockets of the bicycle chain drive, while a second chain, which in the case of the invention serves to drive the propeller drive, the drive sprocket of the propeller drive can be driven. In this way, a very efficient power transmission from the pedals of the bicycle chain drive to the propeller drive is possible.

Preferably, the cantilever arm of the propeller drive is designed as a pivoting arm, which is pivotable about a pivot joint and allows the cantilever arm can optionally assume a working position and a rest position. In its working position, the boom extends approximately vertically downwards in the case of a propeller drive fastened to the bicycle, so that a propeller screw fastened to one of the shafts of the propeller propulsion can project into the water. In its rest position, the boom is raised and allows the bike to travel on its own wheels on a firm base, without having to disassemble the propeller drive from the bicycle.

For this purpose, the pivot axis of the pivot joint and the bottom bracket of the bicycle chain drive preferably extend at least approximately parallel to each other. Also, it is advantageous if the pivot axis of the pivot joint is at least approximately identical to the axis of rotation of the drive sprocket of the propeller drive, since then the distance from the smallest sprocket of the bicycle chain drive and the drive sprocket of the propeller drive regardless of the pivot position of the boom always remains the same, so that the Propeller drive with the chain drive chain connecting chain can remain permanently mounted with a conducive to the operation voltage. To make it possible that the shaft for the propeller is not driven permanently by the bicycle chain drive - especially not if this is not necessary because the pivot arm of the screw drive is in its rest position and thus the propeller drive does not need to be effective because the bicycle is moved over land, the gearbox of the propeller drive is preferably provided with a coupling with which the power transmission from the drive sprocket of the screw drive to the shaft for the propeller can be selectively disconnected or made. It is advantageous if this clutch is as close as possible to the drive sprocket wheel of the propeller drive, so that only a few parts of the propeller drive remain driven in the disengaged state. This is achieved in a preferred embodiment of the invention in that the coupling acts in the form of a decoupling unit on a shaft for the drive sprocket so that the power transmission via this shaft for the drive sprocket is optional or interrupt.

On the shaft for the drive sprocket, a further sprocket or a toothed belt wheel is preferably provided on an opposite side of the propeller drive, which can be either drive-connected to the drive sprocket via the decoupling unit (the clutch) or to be separated from it.

The further sprocket or a toothed belt wheel preferably has a larger diameter than the drive sprocket and cooperates with a third sprocket or a second toothed belt wheel in the vicinity of the free end of the propeller drive. The third sprocket or the second toothed belt wheel preferably has a smaller diameter than the second, further sprocket or the first toothed belt wheel and is connected to a bicycle chain or a toothed belt. In this way, a suitable gear ratio can be produced.

In addition, the third sprocket or the second toothed belt wheel is preferably connected directly to the shaft for the propeller via an angle drive, which is preferably formed by two intermeshing gears. The two gears of the angle drive, for example, be bevel gears and having a spiral toothing wherein the on the shaft of the third chain - A - tenblattes located first bevel gear is preferably larger than the ship's screw facing the second bevel gear. The angle drive thus preferably has a ratio of more than 1: 1, in particular a ratio of 1: 3.

On the shaft for the propeller, a ship propeller is preferably releasably attached. The attachment may be carried out in the manner of a latching connection, which allows to remove the propeller in the axial direction of the shaft. The drive can be adapted to the individual performance of the driver by simply changing and using different sized propellers. A groove in the sight and a spring on the outside of the shaft can thereby ensure a transmission of the torque from the shaft to the screw.

For attachment of the propeller drive with a bicycle a mounting arm is preferably provided, which is connected via the pivot joint with the pivot arm of the propeller drive. The mounting arm preferably has clamps with which the propeller drive is to be attached to the seat tube or down tube of a bicycle. In this way, the propeller drive can be attached to any bicycle without having to make modifications to the bicycle.

In addition, the propeller drive preferably has a spring which constantly pulls or pushes the swing arm to its rest position. In this rest position, the pivot arm is preferably on the down tube of the bicycle. The pivot arm can then be pivoted against the force of the spring in its working position. When attached to a bicycle propeller drive this is preferably done while driving from the saddle with the foot by pressure from above against a pedal attached to the rocker arm and allows the water of the vehicle dry feet without descending. Alternatively, it is possible to arrange the spring in such a way that, after releasing a fastening, the pivot arm is pulled from the rest position by the spring force into the working position. To return to the rest position, a cable is preferably used in this spring arrangement.

In order to keep the swivel arm in its working position, a locking device is preferably provided, so that the swivel arm can engage in its working position. The latching device is preferably provided by a spring-loaded th locking lever formed, which allows to easily cancel the engagement of the pivot arm in the working position by releasing the locking lever. In a marine propeller drive attached to the bicycle, this is preferably done from the saddle with the foot by pressure on the provided for this purpose free arm of the grid lever. The spring then automatically pulls or pushes the swivel arm back into its rest position (in the case of alternative spring mounting, provision preferably by cable pull) and thus makes it possible to overcome short-term shoals or to facilitate the bank of the vehicle.

Moreover, it is advantageous if the propeller drive can be pivoted away beyond its working position from the rest position. This can be particularly advantageous if the ship's propulsion in this way continues to be pivoted in the direction of travel of the bicycle backwards and thus avoid obstacles that could hit the swivel arm under water. In doing so, the spring of the swivel arm tightens more and thus dampens the impact. In order to prevent the propeller thereby strikes against the rear tire of the bicycle, an adjustable stop is preferably provided which limits the pivot angle of the pivot lever against the spring force beyond the working position accordingly. This is preferably achieved by the position of the shaped sheet which prevents the ship's bolt from hitting the rear tire by contact with the Aritierstift when swinging.

Finally, the shape of the attachment arm 239 by abutment of the Aritierstiftes prevents the pivot arm 240 abuts when pivoting in the rest position against the down tube.

Further advantageous features of preferred embodiments of the invention are mentioned in the following description of a preferred embodiment and can be partially realized independently of each other.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the pivotable propeller drive with reference to the drawings. From the drawings show: 1: in the direction of travel right side view of a bicycle with a fully folded swivel propeller drive (rest position),

2: in the direction of travel right side view of a bicycle with a slightly unfolded swiveling propeller drive,

3: in the direction of travel right side view of a bicycle with an almost completely unfolded propeller drive,

4: in the direction of travel right side view of a bicycle with a fully unfolded propeller drive (working position),

5: in the direction of travel right side view of a bicycle with a maximum folded back to the rear propeller drive (obstacle contact),

FIG. 6: in the direction of travel left side view of a bicycle with a completely folded swiveling propeller drive (resting position) according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 7: in the direction of travel left side view of a bicycle with a slightly unfolded pivotable propeller drive according to FIG. 2,

FIG. 8: in the direction of travel left side view of a bicycle with an almost completely unfolded propeller drive according to FIG. 3,

9 shows in the direction of travel left side view of a bicycle with a fully unfolded propeller drive (working position) according to FIG. 4, FIG.

10 shows in the direction of travel left side view of a bicycle with a maximum rearwardly unfolded propeller drive (obstacle contact) according to Figure 5, 11 shows in the direction of travel right side view of a completely folded swivel propeller drive (rest position) according to Figures 1 and 6,

FIG. 12: in the direction of travel right side view of a slightly unfolded pivotable propeller drive according to FIGS. 2 and 7,

13 shows in the direction of travel right side view of an almost completely unfolded propeller drive according to FIGS. 3 and 8, FIG.

FIG. 14: right side view in the direction of travel of a completely unfolded propeller drive (working position) according to FIGS. 4 and 9,

FIG. 15 is a right side view in the direction of travel of a propeller drive (obstacle contact) which has been folded out to the rear to the rear, according to FIGS. 5 and 10,

Figure 16: in the direction of travel left side view of a fully folded swivel propeller drive (rest position) accordingly

FIGS. 1, 6 and 11,

17 shows a left side view of a slightly unfolded pivotable propeller drive according to FIGS. 2, 7 and 12, FIG.

FIG. 18: in the direction of travel, a left side view of an almost completely unfolded pivotable propeller drive according to FIGS. 3, 6 and 13,

FIG. 19: in the direction of travel left side view of a completely unfolded pivotable propeller drive (working position) corresponding to FIGS. 4, 9 and 14,

FIG. 20 shows a left side view of a swivellable propeller drive (obstacle contact) which is folded out to the rear in accordance with FIGS. 5, 10 and 15, FIG. 21: perspective in the direction of travel right view of a bicycle with a completely unfolded pivotable propeller drive, viewed from the front,

FIG. 22 shows a perspective detailed view of the pivoting range of a pivotable propeller drive without the right-hand housing of a decoupling device in the direction of travel, wherein the decoupling device is in the decoupled state, and the driver is not mounted.

FIG. 23 shows a perspective detailed view of the pivoting range of a pivotable propeller drive with the housing part hidden, a decoupling device, the decoupling device being in the decoupled state,

FIG. 24 shows a perspective detailed view of the pivoting range of a pivotable propeller drive with a complete housing of a decoupling device, the decoupling device being in the coupled state,

FIG. 25: a sectional view of a drive shaft of a decoupling unit,

FIG. 26 is a sectional view of a drive shaft of a decoupling unit with an indicated interior view.

FIGS. 1 to 10 and 21 illustrate a bicycle 110 with a pivotable propeller drive 220. Detailed views of the swiveling propeller drive 220 are shown in FIGS. 11 to 20.

The page details "left" and "right" refer generally to the direction of travel of a bicycle 10 and denote the sides of the propeller propulsion per se according to the intended mounting position on a bicycle.

Accordingly, the terms "up" and "down" refer to directions that result when the tiltable propeller drive 220 is engaged mounted on a horizontal plane vertical bike 1 10 is mounted.

The main components of the swiveling propeller drive 220 are a mounting arm 239, a pivot arm 240, a decoupling unit and an angle drive for propelling a propeller 221. Hereinafter, these main components of the propeller propeller 220 will be described in more detail.

The mounting arm 239 is primarily formed by two opposite, interconnected by spacers, sheet metal parts. The swing arm 240 consists of two parts. The upper part also consists of two sheet metal parts, which are similar to a rail in the lower, designed as a housing part of the pivot arm, pushed and connected to the overlapping position with at least one clamping screws 238 together. This division in two makes it possible to tension a drive chain 229 or a toothed belt running parallel to the pivoting arm, as described below. For this purpose, that longitudinal portion of the pivot arm 240, which is connected to the decoupling unit, which is located in a housing 233, towards the end on the imaginary center line of the pivot arm 240 has a slot. In the upper region of the lower part of the swivel arm, the housing 230, both parts of the swivel arm 240, the sheet metal parts, overlap with the housing parts.

The clamping screws 238 each extend through a round hole in the overlapping with the housing portion of the corresponding sheet metal part and connect the two longitudinal sections of the pivot arm 240 by this screw fixed and adjustable in the longitudinal direction with each other (see Fig. 1, 2, 8, 1 1 and 21) ,

The mounting arm 239 and the pivot arm 240 are pivotally connected to each other via a non-visible pivot joint. A drive shaft 300 penetrates this pivot joint.

The drive shaft 300 is part of the decoupling unit and carries a small chain sprocket 224 as drive sprocket as well as a larger sprocket wheel or a larger sprocket 228. The small sprocket gear 224 is via an intermediate ring 225 on a ball bearing as part of the sprocket 224 connected to the drive shaft 300. A bearing seat 312 of the drive shaft 300 serves to receive the ball bearing. The ball bearing allows the small sprocket 224 to rotate freely with respect to the drive shaft 300, so that no drive force is transmitted between the small sprocket 224 and the drive shaft. The intermediate ring 225 mounted on the drive shaft 300 serves to receive the small sprocket 224. The axial position of the small sprocket 224 may vary on the extended bearing seat 312 to correspond to the different bottom bracket axles of bicycles. This is preferably done by different arrangement of the spacers 310 on the bearing seat 312 with respect to the stored small sprocket 224. This ensures that the small drive chain pinion 224 at the differently positioned on bicycles front smallest sprocket of a sprocket unit 1 15 always in one plane lies. Thus, by interchanging the spacers 310 on the extended bearing seat 312, even with different versions of the bottom bracket units 1 12 of bicycles, the small sprocket 224 and the smallest sprocket of the sprocket unit 1 15, always lie in one plane and the spanning chain 227 can a occupy optimal working position.

The larger toothed wheel or the larger sprocket 228 is rotatably connected to the drive shaft 300. For this purpose, the drive shaft 300 has a groove ring in the middle region. The larger toothed wheel or the larger sprocket 228 is designed so that it is centrally arranged non-positively connected to the drive shaft.

In order to enable a power transmission from the small sprocket 224 via the drive shaft 300 to the larger sprocket 228, a driver 306 is provided. This is in the direction of travel right on the drive shaft 300 rotatably and longitudinally displaceable. For rotatably receiving this driver 306 is located on the right side in the direction of travel of the drive shaft 300 at least one driving pin 309 of exactly in a driver provided in the bore 306 bore permanently but movably introduced. On the small chain sprocket 224 side facing the driver are in turn at least one driver pin 302 of exactly in a small sprocket 224 provided therefor hole 303 can be inserted. Are the driver 306 and the small sprocket 224 in exactly this position, then a frictional connection of the small chain sprocket 224 via the driving pin 302, which is located in the driving bore 303, the driver 306, the driving pins 309 in the for them provided bores of the driver 306, the drive shaft 300 made on the larger sprocket 228, that is, the decoupling member is in the coupled state.

In order to prevent the driver 306 from moving in the coupled direction in the direction of travel to the left and thus decoupling, a latching mechanism is provided.

The latching mechanism comprises a bore 304 in the driver 306, a driving pin 301 guided in a hollow shaft 313 in a slot 313, a clutch control shaft 308 in the drive shaft 300, a molded clutch positioning spring 307 locked in the clutch operating tube 308 and Clutch positioning cover 314 in which engage the grooves of the clutch positioning spring 307 after loosening the same in the respective coupling state. This allows coupling by pressing the clutch positioning spring 307 and axially displacing the clutch actuating tube 308 together with the positioning spring 307, driving pin 301 and driver 306 with the driving pins 302 from the opposite side of the chain drive towards the small driving pinion 224 and then relieving the clutch positioning spring 307 the groove of the side facing away from the drive engages in the clutch positioning cover. Thus, coupling from the opposite side of the drive is made possible without coming into contact with the components of the drive. The slot 313 in the shaft 300 is exactly as long as the distance between decoupled and coupled state of the driving pins 302 which are introduced in the respective coupling state in the driving holes 303 of the small sprocket 224.

In order to achieve an unlocking of the driver 306 and thus the separation of the power transmission of the small sprocket 224 of the pivotal propeller drive 220, the coupling mechanism again comprises the bore 304 in the driver 306, in the drive shaft 300 in the slot 313rd guided dog pin 301, the clutch actuation tube 308 guided in the drive shaft 300, the shaped clutch position spring plate 307 locked in the clutch actuation tube 308, and the clutch positioner cap 314 in which the grooves of the clutch position spring 307 in the disengagement state groove are locked. This allows actuation of the clutch by pressing the clutch positioning spring 307 and axially displacing the direction of the small drive pinion 224 of the clutch positioning tube 308 along with the positioning spring 307, driving pin 301 and driver 306 with the driving pins 302 from the opposite side of the chain drive. This causes the driver pins 302 are led out of the designated hole 303 of the small sprocket and are no longer engaged and thus the small mounted drive pinion 224 is no longer connected to the drive shaft 300. The swiveling propeller drive 220 is decoupled.

The small sprocket 224 lies in a plane with a smallest sprocket of a sprocket unit 115, which is connected to a bottom bracket unit 112 as part of a bicycle chain drive of a bicycle 1 10, as described below. The small chain sprocket 224 and the smallest sprocket of the chain blade unit 15 are spanned by a chain 227. This allows the transmission of power from the smallest sprocket of the sprocket assembly 1 15 through the chain 227 and sprocket 224 to the swivel propeller drive 220.

The larger sprocket or sprocket wheel 228 connected to the drive shaft 300 of the decoupler unit lies in a plane with a small chain sprocket or small sprocket wheel, not visible in the figures, as a third sprocket or second sprocket wheel located in a transmission housing 230 at the free end of the swing arm 240. The small chain pinion or the small toothed belt wheel is connected via a likewise housed in the gear housing 230 and therefore not visible in the drawings 90 ° angle drive with a likewise not visible in the drawings shaft for a propeller 221. The second sprocket 228 or the first toothed belt wheel and the third sprocket or the second toothed belt wheel are connected to one another via a drive chain 229 or via a drive toothed belt and serve to propel the propeller 221 via the angular gear located in the gear housing 230, that is to set the propeller 221 in a rotational movement. This happens only when the decoupling unit connected to the sprocket 228 or a toothed belt wheel is in the coupled state, that is to say when there is a frictional connection between the two coupling members of the decoupling unit, as described below.

Furthermore, a molded sheet 235 is screwed to the housing in the housing 233 of the decoupling unit. The shaping plate 235 has an extension in the direction of the working position of the pivoting arm and serves to receive a locking device for the pivoting arm 240, as explained below (see FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 11 and 21 to 26).

At the opposite end of the mounting arm 239 is a clamping device 223 for the swiveling propeller drive 220. It is used to attach the swiveling propeller drive 220 to a bicycle 1 10. The clamping device 223 comprises two clamps, which allow the mounting arm 239 parallel to the seat tube 109 fasten. A first clamp of the clamping device 223 is located near the free end of the mounting arm 239. A second threshold on the mounting arm 239 is disposed between the first clamp and the pivot joint.

Furthermore, between one of the bridge parts 316 with which the housing halves 233 in which the drive shaft 300 is mounted are connected and the locking pin 237 tensioned a tension spring 232. In the locking pin 237, a bore is provided for the engagement of the spring. The tension spring 232 serves to hold the pivot arm 240, as described below, on the one hand in the rest position or in a locked (engaged) position as a working position (see FIGS. 2 and 11).

A screw 241 whose shaft is used to receive a locking lever 234 and protrudes at a right angle from the molded sheet 235 is attached to the shaped sheet 235 of the housing 233 about the pivot joint described above. The locking lever 234 serves to prevent the pivoting of the swing arm 240 in its rest position due to the tensile force of the tension spring 232 when the Swing arm 240 is in working position. The axis 241 of the locking lever 234 is arranged so that it is below the pivot axis on an imaginary continuation of the rear side edge of the pivot arm 240 when the pivot arm 240 occupies the working position, that is, when the pivot arm 240 perpendicular to the driving plane of the bicycle 1 10th stands. Slightly removed from the screw 241 of the locking lever 234, there is attached to the forming plate 235 a detent spring 236 for the detent lever 234 which urges the detent lever 234 to its locked position and which engages for latching with a detent pin 237 secured to the pivot arm 240 in that a hook formed by a nose at the free end of the locking lever 234 can engage the locking pin 237. The pressure spring 236 thereby prevents the release of the pivot arm 240 from the lock when the pivot arm 240 is in the working position. As a result, it is not possible for the pivoting arm 240 to pivot back to the rest position without preceding manual release of the lock (for example from the saddle through the cyclist's foot) (see FIGS. 11 and 16).

The locking lever 234 is formed by a straight piece of flat material, which is pivotally mounted about two thirds of the length about the screw 241. This results in two free ends of the locking lever 234, of which one end of the locking lever 234 is formed to the upper side as a nose, which points in the pivoting direction of the pivot arm 240 toward the down tube 117 of the bicycle 1 10. The outer edge of the nose, which forms the end face of the locking lever 234, is formed so that the locking lever 234 is deflected laterally against the force of the pressure spring 236 from the locking pin 237 on the pivot arm 240 when the pivot arm 240 is pivoted to its working position. If the pivot arm has reached its working position, the pressure spring 236 ensures that the hook engages the locking pin 237 at the end of the locking lever 234 and thus prevents the pivot arm 240 from being pulled back into its rest position by the tension spring. The locking lever is designed so that the pivot arm 240 can very well continue to pivot in the other direction. This happens, for example, when the swivel arm 240 comes into contact with an obstacle under water during a movement of the bicycle 110 on a water surface. In order to prevent the propeller from hitting the rear tire of the bicycle, the shaped metal sheet 235 is shaped such that it likewise fulfills an adjustable stop which correspondingly limits the pivoting angle of the pivoting lever against the spring force beyond the working position. This is achieved by the adjustable position of the forming plate 235 which prevents contact with the Aritierstift 237 when swinging the propeller strikes against the rear tire.

The locking lever 234 is fixed by the screw 241. The already described pressure spring 236 is fixed in approximately 1/3 of the length of the locking lever 234 away from the right-angled end of the locking lever 234 (see Fig. 1 1 and 16).

Slightly further in the direction of the end of the pivoting arm 240, a tensioning pin 231 is attached, with the aid of which the pivoting arm 240 can be brought by hand or from the saddle with the foot from a rest position into a working position (see FIGS. 1, 11 and 21). ,

At the free end of the pivot arm 240, an angle drive not visible in the figures for driving the propeller 221 is arranged, which is located in a transmission housing 230. A part of the angle drive is a small sprocket or a small toothed belt wheel, which is connected via the drive chain 229 or timing belt with the second sprocket 228 or first timing pulley. Right angles to the pivot arm 240 in the working position of the pivot arm 240 pointing backwards extends in a protective jacket 242 also not visible in the figures drive shaft which is mounted in a likewise not visible ball bearing. A marine propeller 221 is attached to the drive shaft and connected to a quick connection system. As a result, the propeller 221 is quickly and easily released by the pressure of a knob 222 from the drive shaft. The release of the propeller 221 of the drive shaft is always made when the Überwasserfahrt ended with the bike 1 10 and the pivot arm 240 has been pivoted into rest position to continue the way by a cross-country ride with the bike 110 can. The propeller 221 is put on the drive shaft so that the blades of the propeller 221 rotate parallel to the swivel arm 240 to ultimately move the bicycle 10 on the water (see Figs. 1, 11 and 16).

Now, the function of the pivotable propeller drive 220 will be explained.

It is assumed that the pivotable propeller drive 220 is mounted on a per se known bicycle 1 10, as shown in Figures 1 to 10. The bicycle 1 10 has a bicycle frame 1 11, which at its base a bottom bracket unit 1 12 with a bottom bracket 1 13, a pedal drive 1 14 and a sprocket unit 115 has. The chainring unit 115 in turn has at least two chainrings, the largest chainring being arranged on the outside and the smallest chainring on the inside.

Usually, the movement of the bicycle 1 10 takes place by the action of muscle power on the pedal drive 1 14. The power transmission to the rear wheel 1 19 via the sprocket unit 1 15, on a bicycle chain and from this to a pinion 118 on the rear wheel 1 19. This leads to a rotational movement of the rear wheel 119 and thus to locomotion of the bicycle 1 10 on solid ground.

In order to achieve a locomotion of the bike 1 10 on the water, this is in addition to the preparation of the buoyancy of the bicycle 1 10 a drive for the medium water necessary. This is achieved according to the invention by the pivotable propeller drive 220 described here (see FIGS. 1 to 21).

The swivel propeller drive 220 according to the invention can, as already described above and shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 and 21, be fastened to a seat tube 109 of the bicycle frame 11 by means of the already described clamping device 223.

In order to enable a power transmission to the swiveling propeller drive 220, a chain 227 is stretched around the smallest inner chainring of the sprocket unit 115 and the small chain sprocket already described above 224 of the swivel propeller drive 240, which with the Decoupling unit of the pivotable propeller drive 220 is connected. The size of the three sprockets or the small sprocket and two toothed pulleys of the propeller drive 220 and especially the propeller 221 can be varied depending on the performance of the cyclist. Thus, the pedal force from the pedal drive 114 of the bicycle 110 via the sprocket 224, the decoupling unit, the second sprocket 228 or first toothed belt, the drive chain 229 or timing belt, the third sprocket or second toothed belt and the angle drive transmitted to the drive shaft for the propeller 221 be (see Fig. 1, 11 to 20).

In order to tension the chain 227, which connects the bottom bracket unit 112 of the bicycle 110 with the small chain sprocket 224 of the swiveling propeller drive 220, the following steps are necessary:

easy release of the clamping device 223 of the pivotable propeller drive 220;

- Pushing down the swivel propeller drive 220 parallel to the seat tube 109 of the bicycle frame 11 1 in the direction of the bottom bracket unit 112, and that until the desired tension of the chain 227 is reached;

non-positive tightening of the clamping device 223 for the pivotable ship propeller drive 220, so that no movement of the mounting arm 239 of the swiveling propeller drive 220 is possible (see FIGS. 1 and 21).

If the propeller drive 240 is fastened to the bicycle 110 and the chain 227 is tensioned, then a pedal force as the driving force for the marine propeller 220 can be transmitted from the bicycle 110 to the propeller drive 220.

The further power transmission of sprocket 224 of the propeller drive

220 then takes place via the decoupling unit located in the housing 233, in the center of which a larger second chainring 228 or toothed belt wheel is integrated. The coupling unit, which is located in the housing 233, only provides one Traction to the chainring 228 or pulley, if, as already described above, by a pressure on the Kupplunspositionierungsfeder 307 and axial displacement of the coupling unit (307, 308, 301, 306, 302) in the direction of the small drive pinion 224 and then releasing the coupling positioning spring 307 mechanically engages them and thus the driving pins 302 are permanently inserted into the holes provided 303 of the small chain drive pinion 224.

The chainring 228 or toothed belt wheel of the decoupling unit is non-positively connected via the drive chain 229 or toothed belt with the small invisible sprocket or toothed belt wheel of the angle drive for driving the propeller 221. About this located in the transmission housing 230 invisible angle drive ultimately a rotation of the propeller 221 is brought about, causing a movement of the bicycle 1 10 on the water (see Fig. 8 and 16).

The drive chain 229 or timing belt can be tightened by the two adjacent clamping screws 238 located in the middle of the pivot arm 240 are easily released and the two longitudinal sections of the pivot arm 240 pulled apart until the desired voltage of the drive chain 229 or timing belt is reached. Thereafter, the two clamping screws 238 are force-tight screwed so tightly that no movement of the two longitudinal sections of the pivoting arm 240 is more possible (see Fig. 8).

When the pivotal propeller drive 220 is in the rest position, the outer edge of the angular gear transmission housing 230 secured to the upper end of the swing arm 240 rests parallel to the down tube 117 after the locking pin 237 engages the attachment arm 239 by the pulling force of the tension spring 232. The swivel propeller drive 220 may remain firmly mounted on the bicycle 110 during overland travel in this position (see FIG. 1).

For this purpose, the propeller 221 can be removed from its drive shaft in order to prevent a possible risk of injury. Basically, the propeller 221 is only shortly before an overwater ride on the drive source to stick. Since the propeller 221 has a quick connect system, it is quickly and easily assembled and disassembled via the button 222 of this system, which is on the propeller 221.

If an over-water ride of the bicycle 1 10 is imminent, the swivel arm 240 of the swiveling propeller drive 220 is to be brought into the working position after assembly of the propeller 221. In this case acts on the dowel pin 231, a force (for example, from the saddle with the foot), which must be greater than the tensile force of the tension spring 232. The swing arm 240 is pivoted from top to bottom in the direction of the rear wheel until it is approximately vertical located to the plane. Shortly before the swivel arm 240 has reached its final position, the locking pin 237 located on the swivel arm 240 touches the end face of the locking lever 234 and moves along this end face until the locking pin 237 engages in the locking hook of the locking lever 234. The pressure spring 236 for the locking lever 234 ensures that the locking lever 234 is pressed against the locking pin 237 and thereby the pivot arm 240 can not swing back into the rest position. The tension spring 232 ensures due to the existing permanent spring tension that also the locking pin 237 is pressed into the locking hook of the locking lever 234, that is, that the pivot arm 240 always remains in the working position (see Figs. 1 to 4 and 6 to 9) ,

Only when a force, such as an obstacle acts on the pivot arm 240 in the direction of the rear wheel 1 19 of the bicycle 110, the pivot arm 240 leaves its working position. In this case, the swing arm 240 pivots in the direction of the rear wheel 1 19 of the bicycle 1 10. After eliminating such a force exerted by an obstacle, for example, after overcoming the obstacle, the pivot arm 240 pivots back into the working position. Due to the spring tension of the tension spring 232, the pivot arm 240 then snaps back into the locking hook of the locking lever 234 (see FIGS. 5 and 10).

If, after water travel, the swiveling propeller drive 220 is returned to its rest position, then only the rear end of the detent lever 234 is to be pushed down and the swivel arm 240 automatically pivots to the position of that described above due to the tensile force of the tension spring 232 Rest position back (see Fig. 9). This can be done for example by a person sitting on the bicycle 110 person by means of his foot by the person presses the locking lever 234 at the opposite end to the locking hook with the foot down.

Instead of the manual decoupling unit described here, in which the traction, e.g. An automatic decoupling unit, which automatically produces a traction only in the working position of the pivoting lever 240, can also be provided by inserting or removing driver pins 302 into or out of driver bores 303 which are incorporated in the small drive chain pinion 224 ,

Claims

claims

A ship propeller drive (220) for attachment near the bottom bracket (1 13) of a bicycle (1 10), with a boom (239), at the free end of a shaft for a propeller (221) is arranged, the propeller drive ( 220) includes a transmission (224, 228, 229, 230, 233) connecting the shaft for the propeller (221) to a drive sprocket (224) disposed as part of the propeller drive (220) so as to engage the drive sprocket (224) extends on a bicycle (1 10) attached propeller drive (220) parallel to a sprocket of a bicycle chain drive (115) of the bicycle (110) and with this via a drive chain (227) for transmitting power from the sprocket of the bicycle chain drive (115) Drive sprocket 224 of the propeller drive (220) is to be connected.

2. propeller drive (220) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cantilever arm is designed as a pivoting arm (240) which surrounds a

Swivel joint is pivotable, so that the swivel arm (240) can assume a working position in which it extends in its attached to a bicycle (1 10) state at least approximately vertically downwards and a rest position, which is in attached to a bicycle propeller drive ( 220) is in a raised position in which the shaft for the propeller (221) is spaced from a driving plane defined by the wheels of the bicycle (110).

3. propeller drive (220) according to claim 2, characterized in that the pivot joint defines a pivot axis, which in at a bicycle (1 10) mounted propeller drive (220) parallel to

Rotation axis of a bottom bracket (1 13) of the bicycle (1 10) and which is at least approximately identical to an axis of rotation of the drive sprocket (224) of the propeller drive (220).

4. propeller drive (220) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transmission has a coupling with which the

To separate or connect drive sprocket (224) of the propeller drive (220) from the shaft for a propeller (221) such that a power transmission by means of the transmission of the drive sprocket (224) of the propeller drive to the shaft for a propeller (221) is selectively interrupt or produce.

5. propeller drive (220) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a drive sprocket (224) of the propeller drive (220) on a drive shaft (300) with a further sprocket (228) or toothed belt wheel is arranged as part of the transmission.

6. propeller drive (220) according to claim 3 and 5, characterized in that the coupling in the form of a decoupling unit between the drive sprocket (224) of the propeller drive (220) and the other sprocket (228) or toothed belt wheel is arranged and designed so that the Power transmission from the drive sprocket (224) of the propeller drive (220) to the further sprocket (228) or toothed belt wheel via the drive shaft (300) is to be selectively interrupted or established.

7. Schiffsschraubenantrieb (220) according to claim 5 and 6, characterized in that the further sprocket (228) or toothed belt wheel via a chain (229) or toothed belt with a third sprocket or second toothed belt of the propeller drive (220) is connected, which in the area the free end of the boom and arranged over a

90 ° angle drive is connected to the shaft for a propeller (221).

8. propeller drive (220) according to claim 7, characterized in that the angle drive has a drive gear connected to the third sprocket or second toothed belt and a driven gear connected to the shaft for a propeller (221), wherein the

Drive gear and the output gear mesh.

9. propeller drive (220) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by a ship's propeller (221) which is releasably secured to the shaft for a ship's propeller (221).

10 Schiffsschraubenantrieb (220) according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the holder has a fastening arm (239) which is to be fastened via clamps (223) on the seat tube (109) of a bicycle (110) and on which the swivel arm (240) is fastened via the pivot joint.

1 1. propeller drive (220) according to claim 10, characterized by a between the housing (233) and the pivot arm (240) arranged spring (232) which is designed and arranged such that it moves the pivot arm (240) in its rest position Direction of the down tube (1 17) of a bicycle pushes or pulls.

12. propeller drive (220) according to one of claims 2 to 11, characterized by a releasable latching connection (234, 235, 236, 237, 241), which is arranged and formed so that in a locked position, the pivot arm (240) in its Working position holds.

13. propeller drive (220) according to claim 12, characterized in that the latching device (234, 235, 236, 237, 241) is designed to allow pivoting of the pivot arm (240) beyond its working position from the rest position away.

14. propeller drive (220) according to any one of claims 1 1 to 13, characterized by the stop of a locking pin (237) on the mounting arm (239) on which it rests in its rest position and against which the pivot arm (240) through the Spring (232) is pulled or pushed.