PEDAL DRIVE FOR VELOVEHICLES Russian patent published in 1994 - IPC

FIELD: bicycles, velomobiles, velotrainers. SUBSTANCE: drive has pedal 2, two levers of equal length connected by ends by means of cylindrical joint and lever coupling resilient member 5 and levers relative position limiters 11 and 12. In initial position levers are arranged in plane of their rotation square to each other. Second end of driving lever 1 is coupled with pedal, second end of driven lever 3, with bottom bracket shaft 4. With pressure applied to pedal, driving lever turns relative to driven lever through angle this within 0 and 90 deg. Value of arm of driving force is proportional to force and, consequently, torque on shaft is proportional to square of force which enhances adaptability of vehicle to road conditions. Resilient member of one of the following types can be used in vehicle: coil spring, spiral spring, cantilever-cam resilient pair, torsion bar, leaf spring. EFFECT: enlarged operating capabilities. 6 cl, 5 dwg