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GB2280153A - Bicycle with elliptical pedal sprocket - Google Patents

Bicycle with elliptical pedal sprocket Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2280153A
GB2280153A GB9418223A GB9418223A GB2280153A GB 2280153 A GB2280153 A GB 2280153A GB 9418223 A GB9418223 A GB 9418223A GB 9418223 A GB9418223 A GB 9418223A GB 2280153 A GB2280153 A GB 2280153A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
chain
sprocket
elliptical
bicycle
cycle
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9418223A
Other versions
GB9418223D0 (en
Inventor
Stanley Kee Man Kwok
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB909026214A external-priority patent/GB9026214D0/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of GB9418223D0 publication Critical patent/GB9418223D0/en
Publication of GB2280153A publication Critical patent/GB2280153A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
    • B62M9/00—Transmissions characterised by use of an endless chain, belt, or the like
    • B62M9/16—Tensioning or adjusting equipment for chains, belts or the like
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
    • B62M1/00—Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles
    • B62M1/10—Rider propulsion of wheeled vehicles involving devices which enable the mechanical storing and releasing of energy occasionally, e.g. arrangement of flywheels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
    • B62M9/00—Transmissions characterised by use of an endless chain, belt, or the like
    • B62M9/04—Transmissions characterised by use of an endless chain, belt, or the like of changeable ratio
    • B62M9/06—Transmissions characterised by use of an endless chain, belt, or the like of changeable ratio using a single chain, belt, or the like
    • B62M9/08—Transmissions characterised by use of an endless chain, belt, or the like of changeable ratio using a single chain, belt, or the like involving eccentrically- mounted or elliptically-shaped driving or driven wheel; with expansible driving or driven wheel
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H7/00—Gearings for conveying rotary motion by endless flexible members
    • F16H7/08—Means for varying tension of belts, ropes, or chains
    • F16H7/10—Means for varying tension of belts, ropes, or chains by adjusting the axis of a pulley
    • F16H7/12—Means for varying tension of belts, ropes, or chains by adjusting the axis of a pulley of an idle pulley
    • F16H7/1254—Means for varying tension of belts, ropes, or chains by adjusting the axis of a pulley of an idle pulley without vibration damping means
    • F16H7/1281—Means for varying tension of belts, ropes, or chains by adjusting the axis of a pulley of an idle pulley without vibration damping means where the axis of the pulley moves along a substantially circular path
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
    • B62M9/00—Transmissions characterised by use of an endless chain, belt, or the like
    • B62M2009/002—Non-circular chain rings or sprockets
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H7/00—Gearings for conveying rotary motion by endless flexible members
    • F16H7/08—Means for varying tension of belts, ropes, or chains
    • F16H2007/0802—Actuators for final output members
    • F16H2007/0804—Leaf springs
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16H—GEARING
    • F16H35/00—Gearings or mechanisms with other special functional features
    • F16H2035/003—Gearings comprising pulleys or toothed members of non-circular shape, e.g. elliptical gears

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Arrangement Or Mounting Of Propulsion Units For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Automatic Cycles, And Cycles In General (AREA)
  • Devices For Conveying Motion By Means Of Endless Flexible Members (AREA)
  • Gears, Cams (AREA)

Abstract

The pedal sprocket 20 is oval or elliptical to provide greater torque as the pedals approach their top and bottom positions. A pair of upper and lower chain tensioners is provided, each having a sprocket 22, 24 which is biassed outwardly by a leaf spring 26, 28. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROPULSION OF CYCLES The present invention relates to improvements in the propulsion of cycles.
The bicycle is now coming back into its own for transportation within town and city areas. Traffic congestion within town and city areas is now reaching a point where it is frequently quicker to walk.
Moreover emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other noxious gases have now reached alarming quantities and many cities eg Los Angeles are now shrouded in a semi-permanent haze, produced by these noxious gases. In addition there is of course the effect of global warming caused by the emission of carbon dioxide, the internal combustion engine being one of the major contributors to the emission of carbon dioxide.
However, in order to make the bicycle more attractive for transportation within town and city areas, certain modifications to the basic pedal cycle principle are desirable.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide mechanical means to assist in the propulsion of bicycles, so that they are more attractive to users who wish to make relatively short journeys within urban areas.
According to the present invention there is provided a pedal cycle having mechanical means for facilitating its propulsion, the mechanical means taking the form of an elliptical pedal sprocket and a chain tensioning device to take-up the slack, the eccentricity of the sprocket providing greater torque as the pedals approach their top and bottom positions.
The present invention will now be described in greater detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a diagrammatic side view of a bicycle provided with an elliptical pedal sprocket, in accordance with the present invention.
The drawing shows an otherwise conventional bicycle 2, in which the conventional pedal sprocket is replaced by an oval or elliptical pedal sprocket 20.
A pair of upper and lower chain tensioning means 22 and 24 is provided in order to allow for changes in effective chain length caused by the rotation of the elliptical sprocket 20. The chain tensioning means 22 and 24 are in the form of sprockets which are spring biased to urge the chain outwards to take up the slack by leaf-spring means 26 and 28 connected to the frame of the bicycle.
The principal advantage of this embodiment is the increased lever action afforded by the elliptical sprocket 20. When either of the pedals is at its top position, the increased lever action is at its peak.
Accordingly, for the same pedal effort a greater torque is applied to the rear wheel of the bicycle particularly as the right and left pedals approach their uppermost position.
The present invention thus provides mechanical means to assist or facilitate in the propulsion of pedal cycles, thus encouraging the use of pedal cycles in urban areas in order to reduce traffic problems and the emission of carbon dioxide and other noxious gases into the atmosphere from internal combustion engines.

Claims (4)

1 A cycle having a drive mechanism which includes: a pedal sprocket, a rear wheel sprocket and a chain mounted on said sprockets, and wherein the pedal sprocket is elliptical, the cycle also having a chain tensioning device operable to take up slack in the chain as the elliptical sprocket rotates in use.
2 A cycle according to claim 1, comprising upper and lower chain tensioning means engageable with the chain, said upper chain tensioning means acting to urge the upper run of the chain resiliently upwards and said lower chain tensioning device acting to urge the lower run of the chain resiliently downwards, to take up slack in the chain.
3 A cycle according to claim 2, wherein the chain tensioning means are leaf springs.
4 A cycle substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB9418223A 1990-12-03 1991-12-03 Bicycle with elliptical pedal sprocket Withdrawn GB2280153A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB909026214A GB9026214D0 (en) 1990-12-03 1990-12-03 Improvements in the propulsion of bicycles
GB9125722A GB2251586B (en) 1990-12-03 1991-12-03 Improvements in the propulsion of cycles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9418223D0 GB9418223D0 (en) 1994-10-26
GB2280153A true GB2280153A (en) 1995-01-25

Family

ID=26298047

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9418223A Withdrawn GB2280153A (en) 1990-12-03 1991-12-03 Bicycle with elliptical pedal sprocket
GB9418222A Expired - Fee Related GB2280406B (en) 1990-12-03 1991-12-03 Improvements in the propulsion of cycles

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9418222A Expired - Fee Related GB2280406B (en) 1990-12-03 1991-12-03 Improvements in the propulsion of cycles

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (2) GB2280153A (en)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1857356A1 (en) * 2006-05-20 2007-11-21 Ming-Tsan Shu Chain wheel for bicycle
WO2009009912A1 (en) * 2007-07-19 2009-01-22 Katz Biking Gmbh Drive for a motorbike
ITMI20110526A1 (en) * 2011-03-31 2012-10-01 Giovanni Bauce SCOOTER
FR2982234A1 (en) * 2011-11-04 2013-05-10 Franck Jean Savard Automatic chain tensioner for bicycle, has first segment used to press on chain to ensure correct tension of chain, and second segment overlapping chain to ensure better guidance of chain on support unit
CN103863514A (en) * 2012-12-18 2014-06-18 杨泰和 Periodically variable ratio drive train with reciprocating movement storage and release kinetic energy auxiliary pulley

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN111891288B (en) * 2020-07-09 2022-01-28 周美芳 Bicycle with a wheel

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB449504A (en) * 1934-12-04 1936-06-29 Pierre Van Deuren Improvements in or relating to bicycle transmission drives
GB776880A (en) * 1954-10-05 1957-06-12 Otto Bernhard Improvements in or relating to variable-speed gearing, particularly for farm tractors
GB1156529A (en) * 1965-12-14 1969-06-25 Mark Hattan Sprocket Wheel Drives
US3899932A (en) * 1973-12-19 1975-08-19 Roger Owen Durham Chain retention device for elliptical sprockets
US4193324A (en) * 1977-12-27 1980-03-18 Clint, Inc. Bicycle sprocket drive apparatus with elliptical pedal path
US4522610A (en) * 1982-06-01 1985-06-11 Shimano Industrial Company Limited Gear crank apparatus for a bicycle
GB2196572A (en) * 1986-10-29 1988-05-05 Fortschritt Veb K Bale press
US4865577A (en) * 1988-09-08 1989-09-12 Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York Noncircular drive
WO1993007044A1 (en) * 1991-10-11 1993-04-15 Michel Sassi Non-circular front chain wheel for crank gear

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB465669A (en) * 1935-11-27 1937-05-13 Stanley Charles Dexter Improvements in and relating to drive-transmitting means for pedal or manually driven vehicles
GB520069A (en) * 1938-11-16 1940-04-12 Michel Ange Marten Perolino Propelling system for cycles and similar vehicles
GB635043A (en) * 1948-02-18 1950-03-29 Arthur Pryce Goodwin Improvements in or relating to bicycles and other vehicles propelled by a person or persons riding thereon
GB842642A (en) * 1956-02-14 1960-07-27 Air Reduction Face mask and similar devices having body-conforming means
CA938631A (en) * 1970-03-16 1973-12-18 W. Newman Joseph Velocipede
US4779485A (en) * 1983-01-24 1988-10-25 Lee Dollison Flywheel driven vehicle comprising plural flywheel energizing means and a forward reverse planetary gear set

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB449504A (en) * 1934-12-04 1936-06-29 Pierre Van Deuren Improvements in or relating to bicycle transmission drives
GB776880A (en) * 1954-10-05 1957-06-12 Otto Bernhard Improvements in or relating to variable-speed gearing, particularly for farm tractors
GB1156529A (en) * 1965-12-14 1969-06-25 Mark Hattan Sprocket Wheel Drives
US3899932A (en) * 1973-12-19 1975-08-19 Roger Owen Durham Chain retention device for elliptical sprockets
US4193324A (en) * 1977-12-27 1980-03-18 Clint, Inc. Bicycle sprocket drive apparatus with elliptical pedal path
US4522610A (en) * 1982-06-01 1985-06-11 Shimano Industrial Company Limited Gear crank apparatus for a bicycle
US4522610B1 (en) * 1982-06-01 1991-08-13 Shimano Industrial Co
GB2196572A (en) * 1986-10-29 1988-05-05 Fortschritt Veb K Bale press
US4865577A (en) * 1988-09-08 1989-09-12 Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York Noncircular drive
WO1993007044A1 (en) * 1991-10-11 1993-04-15 Michel Sassi Non-circular front chain wheel for crank gear

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1857356A1 (en) * 2006-05-20 2007-11-21 Ming-Tsan Shu Chain wheel for bicycle
WO2009009912A1 (en) * 2007-07-19 2009-01-22 Katz Biking Gmbh Drive for a motorbike
ITMI20110526A1 (en) * 2011-03-31 2012-10-01 Giovanni Bauce SCOOTER
WO2012131537A1 (en) * 2011-03-31 2012-10-04 Bauce Giovanni Scooter
FR2982234A1 (en) * 2011-11-04 2013-05-10 Franck Jean Savard Automatic chain tensioner for bicycle, has first segment used to press on chain to ensure correct tension of chain, and second segment overlapping chain to ensure better guidance of chain on support unit
CN103863514A (en) * 2012-12-18 2014-06-18 杨泰和 Periodically variable ratio drive train with reciprocating movement storage and release kinetic energy auxiliary pulley
EP2746143A1 (en) * 2012-12-18 2014-06-25 Tai-Her Yang Transmission wheel series with periodically varied speed ratio and having reciprocally displacing auxiliary pulley for storing/releasing kinetic energy
CN103863514B (en) * 2012-12-18 2018-10-23 杨泰和 Periodic variable-speed-ratio transmission gear train with reciprocating displacement energy-storing and releasing auxiliary belt wheel

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2280406B (en) 1995-08-09
GB9418222D0 (en) 1994-10-26
GB9418223D0 (en) 1994-10-26
GB2280406A (en) 1995-02-01

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)