Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02305550 2000-04-03
WO 99/19202 PCT/US98/21726
.1.
LINEAR DRIVING APPARATUS
Background of the Invention
Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to the field of an apparatus for powering a human-
powered machine. More
particularly, the invention pertains to a linear driving mechanism suitable
for a bicycle.
Description of the Related Art
Conventional bicycles are mostly driven by circular motion of crank pedals.
However, only a small portion of
the 360° rotation of the crank is used to propel the bicycle; the rest
is rotary motion and is wasted. Rotary crank
pedals do not provide a uniform effective conversion of the substantially
linear driving force exerted by a rider into
drive torque. Thus, a rider expends excessive energy and fatigues more
quickly. Since the pedal stroke of circular
crank pedals cannot be adjusted. and a full turn of the crank pedal is
inevitably required to drive the conventional
bicycle, the rider's legs and stroke pattern do not always fit with the
crank's pedal circular motion stroke.
Although lever propelled bicycles, propelled by up and down arcuate motion
levers have been proposed, the
mechanisms used for transmitting the motion of energy of the levers to a drive
wheel has not been satisfactory. Since
a majority of these solutions do not provide a true linear drive mechanism,
they do not provide a 100% efficiency in the
stroke. Furthermore, these solutions have failed to provide a mechanism by
which an individual can power a vehicle on
a backward and forward stroke.
Therefore, bicyclists and bicycle manufacturers are in need of a linear drive
system which provides true linear
driving capabilities as well as the capability to drive the bicycle upon an
upward and backward stroke of the pedals.
Summary of the Invention
The invention is a human powered vehicle or machine and it generally comprises
a frame supporting a rider, a
driven wheel rotatably mounted on the frame, a rotatable driver for driving
the driven wheel, left and right pedals
mounted on the frame, the pedals reciprocally traveling in a substantially
rectilinear path, and a power transmitter for
converting the rectilinear motion of the pedals into rotary motion for
propelling the driven wheel.
One version of the invention includes a vehicle or machine powered by a rider,
comprising a frame, at
least one drive wheel, at least one rotatable driver comprising a pulley or a
sprocket, rotatably mounted with respect
to the frame, which engages with the drive wheel to rotate the drive wheel, a
flexible, elongated power transmitter
comprising a belt, a chain, or a cable, said transmitter being mounted for
reciprocating linear motion with respect to
the frame and passing around and engaging the rotatable driver to rotate the
driver in at least a first rotational
direction, said power transmitter having a first portion and a second portion,
a first pedal fixedly engaging the first
portion of the power transmitter, and a second pedal fixedly engaging the
second portion of the power transmitter,
said first and second pedals being mounted to the frame in a manner that
permits only non-arcuate, linear reciprocating
CA 02305550 2000-04-03
WO 99/19202 PCT/US98/21726
.2.
motion of said pedals with respect to said frame, said second pedal connected
to the first pedal such that motion of
the first pedal in a first linear direction causes the second pedal in an
opposite, second linear direction, and the motion
of the first pedal in the second linear direction causes motion of the second
pedal in the first linear direction, whereby
linear motion of said pedals causes said power transmitter to rotate said
rotatable driver and said drive wheel.
Yet another version of the invention includes a drive system for a human-
powered vehicle or machine,
comprising: a linear track, a pair of pedals mounted for linear reciprocating
motion along said track, a linkage
between said pedals such that upon linear motion of one pedal in one direction
the other pedal moves in the opposite
direction, and vice versa, a power transmitter comprising a belt, a cable, or
a roller chain, said power transmitter
having a first portion fixedly connected to said first pedal and a second
portion fixedly connected to said second pedal,
said power transmitter mounted for reciprocating movement, at least one
rotatable driver comprising a pulley or a
sprocket coupled to said power transmitter such that movement of said power
transmitter rotates said driver, and first
-and second one way clutches, each coupled to one said rotatable driver, and a
drive wheel coupled to said roller
clutches, such that upon movement of said power transmitter in a first
direction, said first roller clutch engages to
rotate said drive wheel in a predetermined direction, and upon movement of
said power transmitter in a second
direction, said second roller clutch engages to rotate said drive wheel in
said same predetermined direction.
Brief Descriution of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle employing a drive mechanism using
linear tracks to provide a rear
wheel drive.
Figure 2 is a cutaway rear elevational view along the lines 1 ~1 of the linear
tracks shown in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the linear tracks of the vehicle shown in
Figure 1.
Figure 4 is perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention
wherein the vehicle can be ridden
by a rider who is resting his chest on a chest rest.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention
wherein two linear tracks are
attached to a vehicle at a 90 degree angle in reference to a ground plane.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention
wherein a vehicle is configured
to provide a front wheel drive.
Figure 7 is a front elevational view of a spring loaded pulley which is used
in the embodiment of the invention
shown in Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention
employing one rotatable driver to
provide a rear wheel drive.
Figure 9 is a cutaway elevational view of the rotatable driver shown in Figure
8.
Figure 10 is a side elevational view of the rotatable driver shown in Figure
8.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the invention
employing one rotatable driver
to a provide a front wheel drive.
CA 02305550 2000-04-03
WO 99/19202 PCT/US98/21726
-3~
Detailed Description of the Invention
The following detailed description is directed to certain specific embodiments
of the invention. However, the
invention can be embodied in a multitude of different ways as defined and
covered by the claims. In this description,
reference is made to the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like
numerals throughout.
Referring to Figure 1, a first preferred embodiment of a linear drive
transmission which is used in a vehicle
100, such as a bicycle, is illustrated. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the
vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 may generally
include a frame 102, a drive wheel, such as a rear wheel 104, left and right
pedals 105A, 1058, and two linear tracks
107. Although a bicycle is shown, it will be appreciated that, in its broadest
form, the principles of the invention are
applicable to other vehicles having a driven wheel, such as any vehicle having
one or more driven wheels. and one, two,
three, four or more total wheels.
In one embodiment, the frame 102 may be constructed of suitable strong
materials as are well-known in the
bicycle art, such as aluminum or steel or their alloys or glass or carbon
graphite fibers. One embodiment of the frame
102 may generally include a front beating or fork tube 118 in which is
journaled a front fork assembly 120. The front
fork assembly 120 includes at its upper end a journal or steerer rotatably
mounted in the fork tube 118. A front wheel
122 is rotatably mounted, such as on a front axle 124, to the lower end of the
front fork assembly 120. Twa
handlebars 126 are attached to the upper end of the front fork assembly 120
for rotating the front fork assembly 120
and front wheel 122 about the axis of the fork tube 118, thereby steering the
vehicle 100. The frame 102 includes at
least one down tube member, such as down tubes 128, having at its rear end a
wheel mount 130 for mounting a rear
wheel axle and the rear wheel 104. Other frame arrangements, including
conventional-style bicycle or tricycle frames
are also contemplated.
The frame 102 includes a seat 132 for comfortably supporting a rider.
Preferably, the seat 132 is padded
and easily adjustable to accommodate the rider. The seat 132 can be mounted in
front of the rear wheel 104, as
illustrated, or may be more conventionally located above the wheels. The
linear tracks 107 are mounted in a desired
location, such as on each side of a forward portion 109 of the frame 102. The
forward portion 109 of the frame 102
extends from a forward side of the fork tube 118. The linear tracks 107 guide
the left and right pedals 105A, 1058 to
travel in a rectilinear motion. The connections between the pedals 105A, 1058
and the linear tracks 107 are
described in greater detail in reference to Figures 2 and 3. Further, the
embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figure
1, illustrates the linear tracks 107 in a substantially horizontal position in
relation to a ground plane. However, as will
be discussed in greater detail in reference to Figure 5, other positions may
be used.
A flexible elongated linkage 116 is connected at a first end 117A to the left
pedal and at a second end 1178
to the right pedal 105B. In one embodiment of the invention, the linkage 116
is routed around a first linkage pulley
134 and a second linkage pulley 136. The first and second linkage pulleys 134,
136 are located on a first and second
side of a forward end of the frame 102, respectively. In one embodiment of the
invention, the first and second linkage
CA 02305550 2000-04-03
WO 99/19202 PCT/US98/21726
-4-
pulleys may be substituted with a single pulley. The linkage 116 may comprise
a belt, a chain, or a cable. Further, if
the linkage 116 is a belt, the belt may cogged. A cable is preferred.
A power transmitter 110 is provided to transmit power from the pedals to the
drive wheel. The power
transmitter 110 can advantageously be a belt, a chain (such as a roller chain)
or a cable. The belt can be of any design
capable of transmitting power, including a "U" belt and a cogged belt such as
the belt material typically used for
automotive timing chains. The power transmitter 110 includes a drive portion
and two pedal connection portions 112,
114. At the pedal connection portions 112, 114, the power transmitter 110 is
mounted for reciprocating linear motion
with respect to the frame 102. The drive portion and the at least two pedal
connection portions 112, 114 may
constitute different portions of a single belt or may be two or more belts
each connected to pedals 105A and 1058. In
one embodiment of the invention, each of the two pedal connection portions
112, 114 are respectively located
proximate to a first and second end 138, 140 of the power transmitter 1 i 0.
Further, each of the pedal connection
portions 112, 114 are located on the first and second side of the vehicle 100,
respectively. From the left pedal 105A,
the power transmitter 110 extends to a pulley 142 which is located proximate
to the fork tube 118, and then across
to a pulley 144 which is located underneath the seat 132. The pulley 144
guides the power transmitter 110 around
the first rotatable driver 106 which is rotatably mounted to the wheel mount
130. From the first rotatable driver 106,
the power transmitter 110 extends around a pulley 145 which is centrally
positioned along the frame axis and directly
in front of the rear wheel 104. The pulley 145 is used to guide the power
transmitter 110 around the rear wheel 104.
From the pulley 145, the power transmitter 110 extends around a second
rotatable driver 108 on a second side of the
vehicle. Similar to the first rotatable driver 10B, the second rotatable
driver 108 is rotatably mounted to the wheel
mount 130. Each of the first and second rotatable drivers 106, 108 are
rotatably engaged by the drive portion 111 of
the power transmitter I 10. From the second rotatable driver 106, the power
transmitter 110 extends over a pulley
146 which is situated on a side of the frame 102 opposite the pulley 144 and
underneath the seat 132. The power
transmitter 110 then extends over a pulley 148 which sits on a side of the
frame 102 opposite the pulley 142. The
power transmitter 110 then connects to the right pedal 105A proximate to the
second end 140 of the power
transmitter 110. Together the power transmitter 110 and the linkage 116
provide a closed loop. It is noted, the
power transmitter 110 and the linkage 116 may be separate or may together
comprise a single member.
It is also noted that the number and location of the pulleys used to guide the
power transmitter 110 may be
varied. For example, a different pulley configuration may be used to route the
power transmitter 110 across different
parts of the vehicle 100 depending on the selected frame 102 of the vehicle
100. Exemplary, non-limiting alternative
pulley configurations are described in reference to alternative embodiments of
the invention, such as are shown in
Figures 4, 5, 6, 8, and 11.
The first rotatable driver 106 and the second rotatable driver 108 may each
include a pulley or sprocket
which is rotatably mounted with respect to the frame 102. The first and second
rotatable drivers 108, 108 each
engage the rear wheel 104. In one embodiment of the invention, the first
rotatable driver 106 and the second
CA 02305550 2000-04-03
WO 99/19202 PCT/US98/21726
-5-
rotatable driver 108 each include a one way clutch which rotationally couples
its respective rotatable driver to the rear
wheel 104.
The first rotatable driver 106 is adapted to engage when the power transmitter
110 moves in a first
direction, and the second rotatable driver 108 is adapted to engage when said
power transmitter 110 moves in a
second direction opposite to the first direction. The power transmitter 110
connects pedals 105A and 1058 to drive
the first and second rotatable drivers 106, 108 such that rearward movement of
the left pedal 105A activates ar
engages the second rotatable driver 108, while the linkage 116 moves the right
pedal 1058 forward. Similarly, the
rearward movement of right pedal 1058 rotates or activates the first rotatable
driver 106, while the linkage 116
moves the left pedal 105A forward. It is to be appreciated that the activation
direction of each of the first rotatable
driver and the second rotatable drivers may be switched, so the rearward
movement of the right pedal 1058 engages
the second rotatable driver 108, and the rearward movement of the left pedal
105A engages the first rotatable driver
1 O6.
The first rotatable driver 106 and the second rotatable driver 108 may
optionally have teeth to engage the
power transmitter 110, such as sprocket teeth or cogs that engage a roller
chain or a cogged belt.
Referring now to Figure 2 and Figure 3, the means for connecting the left and
right pedals 105A, 1058 to the
linear tracks 107 are illustrated. Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the
right pedal 1058 shown in Figure 1. Figure
3 is a top plan view of the pedal assembly shown in Figure 1. Although the
connection between the right pedal 1058
and the frame 102 is described in detail in reference to Figure 2, a similar
connection is employed in reference to the
left pedal 105A and the frame 102.
It will be appreciated that the illustrated pedal and track mechanism is
exemplary only, and numerous
mechanical equivalents and variations will be apparent to those of skill in
the art. In the illustrated embodiment, the
right pedal 1058 may be attached to one of the linear tracks 107 by multiple
rollers 202A, 2028, and 202C. Each of
the linear tracks 107 can provide two guide rails 214, 216 (Figure 2) to
support the multiple rollers 202A, 2028, and
202C. In another embodiment of the invention, each of the linear tracks 107
houses four rollers. However, it is to be
appreciated that fewer or more rollers may be used to engage each of the
pedals 105A, 1058 to the linear tracks 107.
The right pedal 1058 is mounted on two posts 204 and 206. The two posts 204,
206 are rotatably connected to a
pedal support member 208 and extend orthogonal from a surface of the pedal
support member 208 which is distal to
the frame 102. The pedal support member 208 has at least one aperture (not
shown) for the purpose of receiving
roller bolts 210A, 2108, and 210C. The roller bolts 210A, 2108, 210C
respectively connect the pedal support
member 208 to one of multiple rollers 202A, 2028, 202C.
The second end 1178 of the linkage 116 may be connected to the pedal support
member 208. As discussed
above, the linkage 116 causes, upon the movement of one of the two pedals
105A, 1058 in a first direction, the
movement of the other pedal in an opposite direction. Also connected to the
rear of pedal support member 208 is the
power transmitter 110 (Figure 3). In one embodiment, the pedals 105A, 1058 may
use toe clips or may use a standard
clipless mechanism (not shown) wherein the rider's standard cycling shoes snap
into the pedal 105A, 1058. Figures Z
CA 02305550 2000-04-03
WO 99/19202 PCT/US98/21726
-h-
and 3 also further illustrate that each of the linkage pulleys 134, 136 are
rotatably mounted to the frame 102 by a
pulley bolt 222 and a pulley nut 224.
Now referring to Figure 4, an alternative embodiment of the invention is
disclosed. For purposes of
simplicity, only the differences between the embodiment of the invention shown
in Figure 1 and Figure 4 are described.
The vehicle 100 includes a chest rest 402 for support the chest of a rider
(not shown). The chest rest 402 may be
contoured to support the rider's chest. Further, as shown, the chest rest 402
may be in a fixed position on the frame
102 or, the chest rest 402 may be slidably mounted with a mount assembly pot
shown) to the remainder of the frame
102. Similar to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the vehicle 100 has
linear tracks 107 positioned at an
approximately 45 degree angle in reference to a ground plane.
Each of the ends 138, 140 of the power transmitter 110 is connected to one of
the pedals 105A, 1058.
From the pedal 105A, the power transmitter 110 extends to the pulley 142. The
pulley 142 guides the power
transmitter 110 in a downward direction to a first rotatable driver 302
mounted on a bottom end of a rear wheel
support member 404. From the first rotatable driver 302, the power transmitter
110 extends upward and around a
pulley 306 which is mounted on a rear side of the rear wheel support member
404. The power transmitter 110 then
extends downward to a second rotatable driver 308, the second rotatable driver
308 being mounted on the bottom end
of the rear wheel support member 404. From the second rotatable driver 308,
the power transmitter 110 extends
around the pulley 148 and finally connects to the right pedal 1058.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first rotatable driver 302 and the
second rotatable driver 308 each
include a one way clutch. The one way clutch may be implemented by using a
roller clutch, a pawl and ratchet, a
freewheel, or any other conventional drive mechanism that engages in one
rotational direction but not the other.
The movement of the power transmitter 110 (Figure 4) in the first direction
engages the first rotatable driver
302 to drive the rear wheel 104 in a forward direction. The movement of the
power transmitter 110 in the second
direction engages the second rotatable driver 308 to drive the rear wheel 104
in a forward direction. Further, each of
the pedals are linked such that the movement of one of the pedals 105A, 1058
in one direction causes the other pedal
to move in an opposite direction.
Referring now to Figure 5, a scooter using the linear tracks 107 of the
present invention is illustrated. The
linear tracks 107 are mounted on the frame 102 in an approximately vertical
position in relation to the ground plane.
For purposes of simplicity, only the differences between Figure 5 and Figure 1
are noted. The vehicle 100 of Figure 5
does not include a seat since the rider propels the vehicle 100 from a
standing position. Similar to the embodiment of
the invention disclosed in Figure 1, each of the ends 138, 140 of the power
transmitter 110 are connected to one of
the pedals 105A, 1058.
Still referring to Figure 5, from the pedal t05A, the power transmitter 110
extends to the pulley 142. The
pulley 142 guides the power transmitter 110 in a downward direction to a first
rotatable driver 302 mounted on a
bottom end of the rear wheel support member 404. From the first rotatable
driver 302, the power transmitter 110
extends upward and around the pulley 306 which is mounted on a front side of
the rear wheel support member 404.
CA 02305550 2000-04-03
WO 99/19202 PCT/US98/21726
.7.
The power transmitter 110 then extends downward to a second rotatable driver
308, the second rotatable driver 308
being mounted on the bottom end of the rear wheel support member 404. From the
second rotatable driver 308, the
power transmitter 110 extends around a pulley 148 and finally connects to the
right pedal 1058.
in one embodiment of the invention, the handlebars 126 may be configured to be
adjustable to a height which
is comfortable to a rider which is standing on the left and right pedals 105A,
1058. It is noted that in other
embodiments of the invention, the linear tracks 107 may be mounted at an angle
between 0 and 90 degrees in
reference to the ground plane.
Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention which employs
a front wheel drive. Similar to
the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the vehicle 100 has linear tracks 107
mounted on the frame 102 in an
approximately horizontal position. For purposes of simplicity, only the
differences between the embodiment of the
invention shown in Figure 1 are described.
Similar to the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figure 1, each of the
ends 138, 140 of the power
transmitter 110 is connected to one of the pedals 105A, 1058. From the pedal
105A, the power transmitter 110
extends to the pulley 142. The pulley 142 guides the power transmitter 110 in
a downward direction to a first
rotatable driver 302 mounted on a bottom end of the front fork assembly 120.
From the first rotatable driver 302, the
power transmitter 110 extends upward and around the pulley 306 which is
mounted on a front side of the fork tube
118. The power transmitter 110 then extends downward to a second rotatable
driver 308, the second rotatable driver
308 being mounted on the bottom end of the front fork assembly 120. From the
second rotatable driver 308, the
power transmitter 110 extends around a pulley 148 and finally connects to the
right pedal 1058.
In one embodiment of the invention, the first rotatable driver 302 driver and
the second rotatable driver 308
each include a one way clutch. The one way clutch may be implemented by using
a roller clutch, a pawl and ratchet, a
freewheel, or any other conventional drive mechanism that engages in one
rotational direction but not the other.
Similar in operation to the embodiment which is shown in Figure 1, the
movement of the power transmitter
110 in the first direction engages the first rotatable driver 302 to drive the
front wheel 122 in a forward direction.
The movement of the power transmitter 110 in the second direction engages the
second rotatable driver 308 to drive
the front wheel 122 in a forward direction. Further, each of the pedals 105A,
1058 are linked such that the
movement of one of the pedals 105A,105B in one direction causes the other
pedal to move in an opposite direction.
Figure 7 is a front elevations) view of the spring loaded pulley 306 which is
shown in Figure 6. The spring
loaded pulley 306 generally includes a pulley 702, a pulley base 704 having an
elongated aperture, and a spring 706.
The spring 706 is connected at an upper end to the fork tube 118 by a
fastening device 708, such as a screw.
Opposite to the connection to the fork tube 118, the spring 706 attaches to
the pulley base 704. The pulley 702 is
slidingly engaged to the pulley base 704 via a slot 705 which is centrally
positioned on the pulley base 704 so as to
allow the pulley 702 to move in a vertical direction. The spring loaded pulley
306 provides slack to the power
transmitter 110 when the front fork assembly 120 is turned to the left or to
the right. The pulley base 704 is
fastened to the fork tube by a second fastening device 710.
CA 02305550 2000-04-03
WO 99/19202 PCT/US98/21726
.8.
Now referring to Figure 8, another alternative embodiment of the invention
which uses a rotatable driver 800
to drive a wheel in a forward motion upon the movement of the power
transmitter 110 is disclosed. Similar to the
embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, the vehicle 100 has linear tracks 107
mounted on the frame 102 in an
approximately horizontal position. (As discussed above, positions other than
horizontal are also contemplated.) For
purposes of simplicity, only the differences between the embodiment of the
invention shown in Figure 1 are described.
Extending from the pulley 142, the power transmitter 110 extends over a pulley
802 which is situated in a
horizontal position proximate to the rear of the seat 132. From the pulley
802, the power transmitter 110 extends
around the rotatable driver 800 which is rotatably mounted on the wheel mount
130. The power transmitter 110 then
extends over a pulley 804 which is mounted to the frame 102 proximate to the
underside of the seat 132. From the
pulley 804, the power transmitter 110 continues to extend to pulley i48.
The operation of the left and right pedals 105A, 1058 in relation to the
linear tracks 106 are identical to the
embodiment of the invention described in reference to Figure 1. The movement
of the power transmitter 110 in each
of the first and second directions causes the rotatable driver 800 to drive
the rear wheel 104 in a forward direction.
It should be appreciated that the rotatable driver 800 may be implemented
using various engaging
mechanisms, such as by using multiple roller clutches, conventional
freewheels, or by using a pawl and ratchet system.
Figures 9 and 10 describe in further detail one such embodiment that
implements the rotatable driver to include two
one way roller clutches.
Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, detailed views of the rotatable driver 800
are disclosed. Figure 9 shows
a rear cut-away elevational view of the rotatable driver 800, and Figure 10
shows a cutaway side elevational view of
the rotatable driver 800.
The rotatable driver 800 includes a pulley 902 which is engaged by the power
transmitter 110. The rotatable
driver 800 includes two driving mechanisms to drive the wheel 104 (Figure 8)
upon the movement of the power
transmitter 110 in a first direction 908 and a second direction 910. To be
noted, the first direction 908 is generally
directed toward a rear portion of the vehicle 100, and the second direction
910 is generally directed toward a forward
portion of the vehicle 100.
An outer side of the pulley 902 is coupled to a first one way roller clutch
912. When the pulley 902 rotates
in the second direction 910, the first one way roller clutch 912 is disengaged
from powering the wheel 104 (Figure 8).
However, when the pulley 902 rotates in the first direction 908, the pulley
902 engages or activates the first one way
roller clutch 912. When activated, the first one way roller clutch 912 engages
a ring gear 914 having a plurality of
teeth on an inner perimeter, the ring gear 914 being located proximate to an
inner surface of the first one way roller
clutch 912, the inner surface being opposite to the pulley 902. The ring gear
914 is coupled with three large planet
gears 916A, 9168, 916C. Each of the large planet gears 916A, 9168, 916C are
spaced an equal distance apart from
each other on an inner surface of the ring gear 914 which is opposite to the
pulley 902.
Each of the large planet gears 916A, 9168, 916C are fixedly coaxially attached
to one of three small planet
gears 918A, 9188, and 918C. The large planet gear 916A and the small planet
gear 918A are each rotationally
CA 02305550 2000-04-03
WO 99/19202 PCT/US98/21726
-9-
engaged to a planet gear axle 920A. Similarly, the large planet gear 9168 and
the small planet gear 9188 are
rotationally engaged to a planet gear axle 9208. Further, the large planet
gear 916C and the small planet gear 918C
are rotationally engaged to a planet gear axle 920C. Although only three large
planet gears 916A, 9168, 916C and
three small planet gears 918A, 9188, 918C are disclosed, the rotatable driver
800 may be adapted to include mare or
S less large and small planet gears.
The planet gear axles 920A, 9208 and 920C each extend at a ninety degree angle
from a surface of a
support disc 922. The support disc 922 is fixed to an axle 926 or frame 102
and is non-rotational.
Each of the three small planets gears 918A, 9188, 918C engage a sun gear 928.
The sun gear 928 is
fixedly attached to a rotating member 929 which drives the wheel 104 (Figure
8). On an inner surface of the rotating
member 929, the inner surface being opposite the sun gear 928, a plurality of
ball bearings 930 are used to facilitate
the movement of the rotating member 929.
On a side of the rotatable driver 800 proximate to the wheel 104, a second one
way roller clutch 940 is
coupled to the inner side of the pulley 902. The second one way roller clutch
940 is adapted to be engaged by the
movement of the pulley 902 when the pulley is moved in the second direction
910. The second one way roller clutch
940 is engaged to an outer edge of an annular connecting member 942. At an
inner surface of the connecting
member 942 opposite to the connection to the second one way roller clutch 940,
the connecting member 942 is fixedly
attached to the rotating member 929.
As can be seen most clearly in reference to Figure 10, when the power
transmitter 110 is moving in a first
direction 908, the power transmitter 110 drives the pulley 902 in a similar
direction, and thereby causes a counter
clockwise movement of the pulley 902. The movement of the pulley in a counter-
clockwise movement engages the
first roller clutch 912 to similarly move in a counter-clockwise direction.
Further, the movement of the first one way
roller clutch 912 in the counter-clockwise direction engages the large planet
gears 916A, 9168, 916C and the small
planet gears 918A, 9188, and 918C to rotate in a counter-clockwise direction.
The rotation of each of the small
planet gears 918A, 9188, and 918C engages the sun gear 928 to rotate in a
clock-wise direction. Finally, the sun
gear 928 engages the rotating member 929 to drive the wheel 104 (Figure 8) in
a forward motion.
Still referring to Figure 10, when the power transmitter 110 is moving in a
second direction 910, the second
one way roller clutch 940 is engaged and rotates in a clockwise direction. The
second one way roller clutch 940
engages the connecting member 942 to similarly rotate in a clockwise
direction. The rotation of the connecting
member 942 in a clockwise direction also causes the rotating member 929 to
drive in a clockwise direction. Thus, the
wheel 104 (Figure 8) is driven in a forward motion upon the movement of the
power transmitter 110 in the first and
second directions 908, 910.
Figure 11 illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention using a front
wheel drive. The power
transmitter 110 extends from the first end 138 to a pulley 1100 which is
connected to the first side of the vehicle 100
proximate to the fork tube 118. From the pulley 1100, the power transmitter
110 extends to a pulley 1102 which is
situated on a back side of the front fork assembly 120. The pulley 1102 guides
the power transmitter 110 to a
CA 02305550 2000-04-03
WO 99/19202 PCTNS98/21726
-10-
rotatable driver 1104 which is mounted on the bottom end of the front fork
assembly 120. The rotatable driver i i 04
may be configured similarly to the rotatable driver described in reference to
Figures 9 and 10, or may alternatively
employ a different driving mechanism. From the rotatable driver 1104, the
power transmitter 110 extends to a pulley
1106 which is situated on the forward portion 109 of the frame 102 proximate
to the fork tube 118. From the pulley
1106, the power transmitter 110 extends to connect to the right pedal 1058.
The rotatable driver 1104 engages the front wheel 122 in a forward direction
upon the motion of the power
transmitter 110 in the first and second direction. Similar to the rotatable
driver 800 of Figure 8, the rotating member
1104 may be implemented by using two one way roller clutches, such as is
described in reference to Figures 9 and 10.
It is noted, the pulleys 1102 and 1106 may each be configured as a spring
loaded pulley such as is shown in Figure 7.
As can be seen by the foregoing discussion, the linear drive system of the
invention solves several problems
which are commonly associated with traditional drive solutions. First, the
linear drive system of the invention provides
a rider with the ability to power the vehicle upon the forward and backward
stroke of the vehicle. Furthermore, the
stroke of a rider is almost 100% efficient. This is to be contrasted with many
rotary drive systems in which only a 30-
50% efficiency is achieved. Further. using the linear drive mechanism of the
invention, an adjustable length stroke is
1 S possible. For example, a rider may want to shorten and quicken the stroke
when ascending a hill, and may want to
lengthen the stroke when traveling downhill. The great leverage the rider is
able to generate in all embodiments
produces a faster vehicle with quicker acceleration. The linear drive system
utilizes more large leg muscles than rotary
drives, activating the hamstrings and gluteals, further increasing speed and
acceleration. Finally, the linear drive action
is more comfortable and less fatiguing than rotary powered systems.
While the above detailed description has shown, described, and pointed out
novel features of the invention as
applied to various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions,
substitutions, and changes in the form
and details of the device or process illustrated may be made by those skilled
in the art without departing from the
spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated by the
appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of
equivalency of the claims are to be embraced
within their scope.
