WO2016116789A1

WO2016116789A1 - Bicycle

Info

Publication number: WO2016116789A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/059535
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gennadii Pavlovych KRYKUN; Serhii Oleksiyovych FEDOTOV
Original assignee: Krykun Gennadii Pavlovych; Fedotov Serhii Oleksiyovych
Priority date: 2015-01-20
Filing date: 2015-12-11
Publication date: 2016-07-28
Also published as: UA109623C2; EP3247618A1

Abstract

The invention relates to land vehicles driven by human muscular force, specifically to bicycles. A bicycle comprises a frame (1) with a handlebar (2) mounted thereon, at least one front steering wheel (4) connected with the handlebar (2), at least one rear driving wheel (5), a transmission comprising reciprocating pedal levers (6) connected with the rear driving wheel (5) via at least one flexible element (8), each pedal lever (6) is equipped with a driving lever (7) configured to rotate about its mounting axis (9) on the pedal lever (6), the driving lever (7) comprising a flexible element (8) takeup (10). Therefore, the developed invention is a bicycle which structural embodiment provides achievement of the technical effect lying in optimization of movement and energy consumption for the movement, as well as in flexibility of a bicycle.

Description

BICYCLE

The invention relates to land vehicles driven by human muscular force, specifically to bicycles.

It is known that rotational motion of pedals provided by a cyclist is not perfect since this motion causes pedals regularly appear in positions when the force line passes through the center of rotation of pedals. These positions are called "dead" because the moment of force in these positions is zero. Thus, when pedals rotate in "dead" positions and positions close to them the force of a cyclist's leg does not do useful work. Prior art comprises numerous technical solutions which overcome said drawback by replacing rotational motion of pedals by oscillatory motion of them, therefore, the moment of force is never zero and an estimated gain in work is 20% ... 25%. However, it is desirable to develop bicycle structures with reciprocating pedals that allow to consider traffic conditions (movement along a straight line, downhill or uphill) and thereby to optimize work of legs of a cyclist.

There is known a bicycle described in the Chinese patent document No. 2587750, published on 26.11.2003, the bicycle comprising a frame with a handlebar mounted thereon, a front steering wheel connected with the handlebar, a rear driving wheel and a transmission comprising reciprocating pedal levers kinetically connected with the rear driving wheel via flexible elements.

The closest prior art to the claimed invention, selected as a prototype, is a bicycle described in the Chinese patent document N° 203544273, published on 16.04.2014, the bicycle comprising a frame with a handlebar mounted thereon, a front steering wheel connected with the handlebar, a rear driving wheel, a transmission comprising reciprocating pedal levers kinetically connected with the rear driving wheel via flexible elements. The pedal levers in turn are kinetically interconnected to ensure an alternate work thereof.

Disadvantage of the described devices is relatively high energy consumption for driving them due to lack of automatic control of transmission ratio depending on traffic conditions (angle of inclination of a route).

An object of the claimed invention is to create a bicycle which structural embodiment will provide achievement of the technical effect lying in optimization of movement and energy consumption for the movement, as well as in flexibility of a bicycle.

The object is solved due to developing a bicycle comprising a frame with a handlebar mounted thereon, at least one front steering wheel connected with the handlebar, at least one rear driving wheel, a transmission comprising reciprocating pedal levers connected with the rear driving wheel via at least one flexible element, each pedal lever being equipped with a driving lever configured to rotate about its mounting axis on the pedal lever, the driving lever comprising a flexible element takeup. Therefore, the pedal levers are connected with the rear driving wheel via the driving levers, in takeups of which the flexible elements being secured.

At small load, the pedal levers rotate about an axis of mounting thereof to the frame, and the driving levers are motionless relative to the pedal levers (for example, they are in position generally parallel to position of the pedal levers), the takeup of the driving lever moves along an arc trajectory, and a length of the flexible element secured in the takeup of the driving lever is maximum that corresponds to a minimum moment and a maximum speed. As far as the load increases (for example, when moving uphill) the driving lever begins to rotate about its mounting axis on the pedal lever that causes a change in a trajectory of the takeup, and therefore, a change of position of the line of pull of the flexible element, and leads to an increase of the moment on the wheel. When the leg is fully bent the force is minimal and the moment of force is maximal, as far as the leg unbends the force increases and the moment decreases thus increasing the speed. In this way, automatic optimization of movement and energy consumption is achieved.

Besides, when the pedal levers of the claimed bicycle are pressed, legs naturally move, as when going up stairs, said movement may be of different amplitude that allows cyclists with a large difference in height to use one model, thus providing flexibility of the bicycle as claimed.

The takeup may be, in particular, a hole (eye) at the end of the driving lever to secure the end of the flexible element, or a hole (eye) to secure the end of the flexible element and a guide groove to place therein the secured flexible element, or a hook to grapple the end of the flexible element.

The flexible element may be, in particular, a cable, a chain or a composite rope.

These explanations are given solely as an example and do not limit the scope of claims of this application. In one of preferable embodiments the driving levers are equipped with force controllers. The latter may be mounted to control force required to rotate the driving levers about the axis of mounting thereof on the pedal levers. When moving along the track with a minimal inclination such force controllers will secure the driving levers from rotating about the axis of mounting on the pedal levers. When moving along the track with a higher inclination the pull created by the flexible element will be higher than the force created by the controllers, as a result of which the driving levers will rotate and thereby will change the moment on the wheel.

In one of preferable embodiments the pedal levers are kinetically interconnected to ensure an alternate work. The kinetic connection may be provided with the help of the flexible element, one end of which being secured on the first pedal lever and another one being secured on the second pedal lever, the flexible element being thrown over a sprocket (if the flexible element is a chain) or a pulley (if the flexible element is a cable) mounted on the frame. In another preferable embodiment the driving levers are kinetically interconnected to ensure an alternate work of the pedal levers. The law of motion of the levers does not change. In the same way as in the previous embodiment, the kinetic connection may be provided with the help of the flexible element, one end of which being secured on the first driving lever and another one being secured on the second driving lever, the flexible element being thrown over a sprocket (if the flexible element is a chain) or a pulley (if the flexible element is a cable) mounted on the frame.

In the preferable embodiment the bicycle comprises a transmission ratio controller (that in this case allows for winding the flexible element up) mounted on the driving wheel of the bicycle. The mentioned controller further optimizes movement and energy consumption to provide the movement.

Preferably the claimed bicycle comprises a saddle mounted on the frame.

In one of preferable embodiments the claimed bicycle is equipped with a front wheel electric drive with an electric battery thereby providing an all-wheel drive of the claimed bicycle. Such embodiment of the invention allows a cyclist to move the bicycle when movement using a muscular force is not possible (in condition of tiredness, injuries).

Preferably the electric battery is provided under the frame. Such arrangement thereof provides a low center of weight of the bicycle and therefore a good controllability thereof.

The invention as claimed is explained using the following drawings. Fig. 1 is a general view of a bicycle as claimed, wherein driving levers are in position being generally parallel to position of pedal levers.

Fig. 2 is a general view of a bicycle as claimed, wherein driving levers are turned relative to their initial position on pedal levers, the pedal levers being kinetically interconnected. Fig. 3 is a general view of a bicycle as claimed, wherein driving levers are kinetically interconnected and turned relative to their initial position on pedal levers.

Fig. 4 is a diagram of motion of a force application point at a maximum load.

Fig. 1 represents a general view of a bicycle as claimed, which comprises a frame 1, a handlebar 2 and a saddle 3, which are mounted on the frame 1, a front steering wheel 4 connected with the handlebar 2, a rear driving wheel 5, as well as a transmission comprising reciprocating pedal levers 6, each reciprocating pedal lever 6 being equipped with a driving lever 7 kinetically connected with the rear driving wheel 5 by cables 8 and configured to rotate about its mounting axis 9 on the reciprocating pedal lever 6. Each driving lever 7 comprises a takeup 10 for the cable 8 in the form of an eye wherein said cable 8 is secured. The reciprocating pedal levers 6 are kinetically interconnected via a cable 11 thrown over a pulley 12 mounted on the frame 1. On the general view being discussed, the driving levers 7 are in a position being generally parallel to position of the reciprocating pedal levers 6.

Fig. 2 represents a general view of a bicycle as claimed, wherein the driving levers 7 are turned relative to their initial position on the reciprocating pedal levers 6. The reciprocating pedal levers 6 are kinetically interconnected by a cable 11 thrown over a pulley 12 mounted on the frame 1, the ends of the cable 11 being secured in eyes 13 of the pedal levers 6. Structural elements of the bicycle being identical to the structural elements indicated on Fig. 1 are indicated accordingly on Fig. 2. Fig. 3 represents a general view of a bicycle as claimed, wherein the driving levers 7 are turned relative to their initial position on the reciprocating pedal levers 6. The driving levers 7 are kinetically interconnected via a cable 11 thrown over the pulley 12 mounted on the frame 1, the ends of the cable 11 are fixed in the eyes 13 of the driving levers 7. Structural elements of the bicycle being identical to the structural elements indicated on Fig. 1 are indicated accordingly on Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 represents a diagram of motion of a force application point at a maximum load. In the diagram, point O indicates an axis of rotation of the reciprocating pedal lever 6, point B indicates an axis of rotation of the driving lever 7, point A is a force application point (point of securing of the cable 8 on the driving lever 7), position 14 is a curve of the force application at a load relative to an arc 15 being a curve of the force application at absence of the load with an axis of rotation at point O.

The diagram illustrates a law of motion of point A (a force application point at the lower, initial position of the driving lever) to point A₂ (a force application point at the upper, final position of the driving lever), when a bicycle is moving uphill. When segment OB turns to angle a being 60° (OB→ OB i), point A will move to point Ai, a length of segment AAi will be 25% of a length of segment AA₂ that increases rotational moment 4 times. The trajectory from point A to point A₂ (A→ Ai→ A₂) is an elongation of the cable 8 connected with the rear driving wheel 5 relative to the turning angle a of levers AB and BO, and therefore a distance covered by a cyclist.

The invention as claimed works as follows.

In order to move, the reciprocating pedal levers 6 are pressed. Here, either the reciprocating pedal levers 6 are kinetically interconnected via the cable 11 thrown over the pulley 12 mounted on the bicycle frame 1, or the driving levers 7 are kinetically interconnected via the cable 11 that also provides an alternate work of the pedal levers 6. At small load the pedal levers 6 turn about an axis of mounting thereof on the frame 1, and the driving levers 7 are motionless relative to the pedal levers 6 and are in position generally parallel to position of the pedal levers 6, the takeup 10 of the driving lever 7 moves along an arc trajectory, and the length of the flexible element 8 secured in the takeup 10 of the driving lever 7 is maximum that corresponds to a minimum moment and a maximum speed. As far as the load increases (for example, when moving uphill) the driving lever 7 begins to rotate about its mounting axis 9 on the pedal lever 6, that causes a change in a trajectory of the takeup 10, and therefore, a change of position of the line of pull of the flexible element 8, and leads to an increase of the moment on the wheel 5. When the leg is fully bent the force is minimal and the moment of force is maximal, as far as the leg unbends the force increases and the moment decreases increasing the speed. Comfortable use by cyclists of different height is achieved due to increasing or reducing inclination amplitude of the pedal levers 6 when they are pushed.

Therefore, the developed invention is a bicycle which structural embodiment provides achievement of the technical effect lying in optimization of movement and energy consumption for the movement, as well as in flexibility of a bicycle.

Claims

1. A bicycle comprising a frame with a handlebar mounted thereon, at least one front steering wheel connected with the handlebar, at least one rear driving wheel, a transmission comprising reciprocating pedal levers connected with the rear driving wheel via at least one flexible element, characterized in that each pedal lever is equipped with a driving lever configured to rotate about its mounting axis on the pedal lever, the driving lever comprising a flexible element takeup.

2. The bicycle according to Claim 1, characterized in that the driving levers are equipped with force controllers.

3. The bicycle according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pedal levers are kinetically interconnected to ensure their alternate work.

4. The bicycle according to Claim 1, characterized in that the driving levers are kinetically interconnected to ensure alternate work of the pedal levers.

5. The bicycle according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a transmission ratio controller.

6. The bicycle according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a saddle mounted on the frame.

7. The bicycle according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a front wheel electric drive with an electric battery.

8. The bicycle according to Claim 7, characterized in that the electric battery is provided under the frame.