WO2005073067A1

WO2005073067A1 - Torque pedal

Info

Publication number: WO2005073067A1
Application number: PCT/NL2005/000013
Authority: WO
Inventors: Anthony Petrus Canisius Coumans
Original assignee: Coumans Anthony Petrus Canisiu
Priority date: 2004-01-15
Filing date: 2005-01-11
Publication date: 2005-08-11
Also published as: NL1025249C2

Abstract

Improved mechanical structure for increased efficiency in the transfer of the peddling force applied to a pedal crank assembly to the rear wheel of a bicycle is disclosed. This structure allows a torsion force (torque) around the pedal axle to be transmitted as a drive force to the rear wheel of the bicycle in addition to the conventional push force against the pedal axle.

Description

Torque Pedal

0. Abstract

The invention is a construction for propelling vehicles through the muscular power of the legs and is based on the common bicycle pedal construction with the addition that the pedal axle is mechanically connected to the frame in such as way that the cyclist can apply a torsion force on the pedal with the pedal axle as a rotation line which results in a propelling force for the vehicle. The result is a construction that allows the cyclist to develop a substantially higher power output to propel the vehicle.

1. Back ground of the invention

This invention named "Torque Pedal" is related to propelling vehicles of all sorts by the muscular power of the legs. Special attention will be given to the bicycle as this is the most common application of a vehicle propelled by leg power. This invention offers an improved propulsion system that allows the cyclist to develop substantially more power for the propulsion of a bicycle that the conventional pedal system, as well as offering more comfort in the process.

1.1 Current State of the Technology

In general one strives to transform the power of the leg muscles as efficiently as possible into power to propel a vehicle (bicycle). Conventional drive constructions as applied in bicycles make use of a main axle running in bearings in the frame of the vehicle with two cranks attached on opposing sides. At the end of the cranks a pedal axle is fixed around which a pedal surface runs in bearings. The pedal surface can rotate freely around the pedal axle. This construction has two disadvantages related to transmitting power from the legs to power to propel the vehicle. These are;

1. The conventional construction has a dead zone in the highest and lowest position of the pedals in which the cyclist can only produce limited power. 2. A torsion force applied to the pedal surface with the pedal axle as rotation line is not used for propelling the vehicle, because the pedal can rotate freely in its bearings. The foot however is very well capable of generating a torsion force around the pedal axle. This torsion force could very well be used to propel the vehicle, however, conventional constructions leave it unused. 2. Summary of the invention, the Torque Pedal

The essence of the Torque Pedal is that is allows the cyclist to exploit a torsion force around the pedal axle for the propulsion of the vehicle, next to the traditional pushing force on the pedal axle itself. At the same time, the cyclist is able to generate more power in the so called "dead zone". In addition the Torque Pedal prevents the cyclist from having to strain the calf muscle without it adding to useful power to the vehicle. The essence of the construction is that the pedal surface is mechanically connected to the frame in such a way that a torsion force applied to the pedal surface with the pedal axle as a rotation line results in a torsion force on the main axle and so results in a driving force for the vehicle. This allows the cyclist to exploit a torsion force around the pedal axle for the propulsion of the vehicle. In this area a number of patents have been registered (BE 511847, GB 1563303, DE 867060, FR 2154810, CH 217381, GB 2270891 , FR 2663898, WO 9207752) that describe constructions that have mechanically connected the pedal to the frame, often in a very complicated way, thus eliminating the free rotation of the pedal surface around the pedal axle. Although these constructions resemble the Torque Pedal construction in a way, they are essentially different in that they do not exploit the option to enable a torsion force on the pedal surface with the pedal axle as rotation line as a propelling force for the vehicle. The assumption in the above mentioned patents is that if the foot can rest on a stable surface it will be able to generate more power. Herein lays the essential difference because the Torque Pedal sets out to use a torsion force on the pedal surface with the pedal axle as a rotation line as a force to propel the vehicle.

The Torque Pedal can make use of a click binding and a shoe with a ridged sole so that the foot becomes an integral unit with the pedal surface, as is common in bicycle racing. The pedal axle will be situated at the fore foot, identical with conventional pedal shoe bicycle click bindings. When the cyclist makes the down stroke from the highest point to the lowest point, the pedal at the highest point will start under an angle of around 45degrees to the horizontal, with the heel up and the toe down. The cyclist now pushes on the heel and pulls up the toes, so creating a torsion force on the pedal surface with the pedal axle as rotation line. Through the mechanical connection between the pedal surface and the frame this results in a torsion force on the main axle. In the mechanical connection a one way clutch has been introduced that blocks in this direction. The ration in the mechanical connection has been chosen so that the foot starts in an angle of around 45 degrees to the horizon and ends around horizontal when the foot arrives at the lowest point in the down stroke. When the crank travels the full down stroke it passes an angle of 180 degrees to the frame. The pedal surface will pass an angle of around 225 degrees during the down stroke. The drive ratio is therefor around 180 to 225 for the mechanical connection. When the cyclist makes the up stroke he can only apply a pull force on the pedal surface and not a torsion force, because on the upstroke the one way clutch de-blocks in this direction. This is thus identical to the up stroke of the conventional bicycle construction. Possibly the cyclist will adapt their technique to optimise the new option to use the torsion force on the pedal surface to propel the vehicle.

There are two technical constructions to implement the principle of the Torque Pedal. Both have the desired out come. One construction makes use of a large crown gear with inside teeth inside which a gear is meshed that is attached to the crank. The other uses a chain that connects a gear attached to the pedal axle to a gear located at the main axle. The ratio pedal gear to main axle gear is around 12 to 15.

3. Description of Drawings

Figure 1

Figure 1 shows a three dimensional impression of the construction. The chain connecting pedal gear and main axle gear is not shown. The pedal construction is not shown. It becomes apparent that the construction of the torque pedal does not alter the charcter of the of the bicycle.

Figure 2 Components (1) Frame, (2) Pedal Axle, (3) Pedal Surface (4) Pedal Gear, (5) Crank, (6) Main axle gear fixed to the frame and centred on the main axle, (7) Bearings, (8) Bearing house, part of the frame, (9) Main axle, (10) Gear used to power the rear wheel, (11) One way clutch

Figure 2 shows a cross section at the main axle of the bicycle. The construction with pedal gear main axle gear and connecting chain. At the main axle a gear is fixed that propels the rear wheel by means of a chain identical to the construction of conventional bicycles. The main axle gear runs on bearings on the main axle and is prevented from rotating by a strip of material that is connected to the frame.

Figure 3 Components

(I) Rear wheel of the bicycle, (2) Frame, (3) Chain, (4) Chain gear (5) Help axle (6) Gear crown fixed to the frame, (7) One way clutch (8) gear running in crown gear, (9) Main axle, (10) Crank,

(I I) Bearing, (12) Bearing house, part of the frame, (13) Chain gear attached to main axle to drive rear wheel through a chain, (14) Chain gear, (15) Pedal construction.

Figure 3 shows the second construction option in the form of a cross section at the main axle of a bicycle, including a part of the rear wheel, and shows how the pedal surface is connected through chain gears and chain to the help axle. The help axle runs in bearings in the crank. On the frame side the help axle is connected via a one way clutch to a gear that is meshed in the gear crown. A torsion force on the pedal surface with the pedal axle as rotation line results in a torsion force on the main axle (when the one way clutch blocks) that is exploited for the propulsion of the vehicle. The cyclist places his foot on the pedal surface with his fore foot over the pedal axle as with a conventional pedal construction. The cyclist pushes down on the heel, and if the shoe is clicked into a binding on the pedal he pulls the toe up thus exercising a torsion force around the pedal axle. The torsion force applied by the foot results in a torsion force on the main axle that in turn adds to the propelling power of the vehicle.

Figure 4 Components

(1) Frame, (2) Chain gears for propelling the vehicle, (3) Chain gear fixed to the frame side of the help axle en that is meshed in the gear crown, (4) Chain connecting chain gear fixed to the pedal and chain gear fixed to the help axle, (5) chain gear connected to the pedal surface (pedal surface not shown here), (6) Pedal axle, (7) Chain gear fixed to the help axle, (8) Gear crown centred in the main axle and fixed to the frame which is meshed with gear described in (three), (9) Crank, (10) Main axle, (11) Chain for propelling rear wheel of the bicycle

Figure 4 shows a side view of figure 3 and shows the drive connection between the chain gear fixed to the pedal and the chain gear fixed to the help axle (pedal itself not shown here). The figure shows the ratio of around 1 to 1.7 but could be as much as 1 to 2.2. The figure shows the chain gear fixed on the frame side of the help axle meshed in the gear crown. For an engineer / craftsman it is evident that a torsion force on the pedal surface with the rotation line around the pedal axle will result in a force by the help axle on the crank and so to a torsion force on the main axle (when the one way clutch blocks).

Figure 5 Components

(1) Frame, (2) Gear crown centred on the main axle and fixed to the frame meshed with gear described in (four) (3) Chain gear fixed to the main axle for propelling the vehicle (4) Chain gear attached to the frame side of the help axle and meshed with the gear crown, (5) Chain gear fixed to the pedal surface (pedal surface not shown here), (6) Chain, (7) Chain gear fixed to the help axle, (8) Crank, (9) Chain to propel the rear wheel

Figure 5 shows the Torque Pedal construction (option with gear crown) as fixed to a bicycle. It can be seen how the various parts of the construction fit into the bicycle as a whole. The figure shows the construction is feasible without harming the character of the bicycle. The position of the cyclist as well as his leg movements remain unchanged. However in the down stroke the cyclist pushes down on the heel rather than the fore foot.

Claims

4. Conclusions and ClaimsI claim as my invention:

1. Drive constructions to move along (propel) vehicles by means of the muscular power of the legs comparable to the construction of the common bicycle with the specific addition of an extra mechanical construction that provides that a torsion force by the foot on the pedal surface with the pedal axle as rotation line is exploited for the propulsion of the vehicle.

2. A drive construction to move along (propel) a vehicle by means of the muscular power of the legs consisting of (1) a main axle running in bearings in a frame (2) two cranks fixed to the main axle at an angle of around 180 degrees (3) two pedal axles fixed (possible in bearings) to the ends of the cranks (4) two pedal surfaces fixed on the pedal axles (possibly though bearings) and upon which the force (power) of the legs can be apply through the (5) an extra mechanical drive (transmission) between the frame and the two pedal surfaces that provides that a torsion force by the foot on the pedal surface with the pedal axle as rotation line results in a torsion force on the main axle and so can be exploited to propel the vehicle (6) one or more chain gears fixed to the main axle to transmit the power to a part of the vehicle to move it along (for instance a rear wheel of a bicycle or the screw of a boat.

3. A mechanical drive (transmission) as described in claim 2 sub. 5 consisting of (1) a chain gear fixed to the end of the pedal axle on the frame side of the pedal (2) a chain gear fixed to the frame and centred on the main axle (possibly running on bearings on the main axle) and having more teeth than the chain gear on the pedal axle (optimal ration is around 15 to 12), (3) a one way clutch included in the drive (transmission) between pedal surface and the chain gear fixed at the main axle (4) a chain connecting chain gears described in points one and two.

4. A mechanical drive (transmission) as described in claim 2 sub. 5 consisting of (1) a pedal construction to which is fixed a chain gear centred on the pedal axle (2) a help axle running in bearings in the crank situated between the main axle and the pedal axle and on which two gears are fixed on opposing ends (3) a chain gear that connects the pedal chain gear to the chain gear on the help axle (4) a gear crown with internal teeth centred on the main axle and fixed to the frame possibly running in bearings on the main axle meshed with a gear fixed to the frame end of the help axle, (5) a one way clutch included in the drive (transmission) between pedal surface and the gear crown with internal teeth

5. A pedal construction with a provision for a special cycling shoe that can be attached to the pedal surface and that allows the foot and shoe to rotate as a unit around the pedal axle and that has a provision (for instance a ridged sole) allowing the cyclist to push on the heel in the down stroke so that a torsion force is applied on the pedal surface with the pedal axle as a rotation line and that is increased by pulling the toe up.

6. A pedal surface construction that consists of a plane that allows the cyclist to position the fore foot over the pedal axle and that extends to under the heel so that the cyclist is able to apply the force (push down) on the heel on the down stroke of the movement.