MUSCULAR-PROPELLED VEHICLE Russian patent published in 1995 - IPC

FIELD: transport; vehicles with muscular drive. SUBSTANCE: vehicle has frame, steerable wheels with steering gear, two crank mechanisms, two pedals hinge-mounted on free ends of connecting rods, drive cable secured on pedals, tension cable reeved through sheave and spring-loaded relative to frame, drive sheave, central bevel gear for meshing with two gears furnished with overrunning clutches, two driving wheels connected by axle and force converter. Each crank mechanism has flexible tie and two sheaves. First sheave is secured on frame coaxially to fixed hinge of crank. Second sheave is secured on connecting rod coaxially to common hinge of crank and connecting rod. Flexible tie wraps around both sheaves, and drive cable is made for winding 2.5-3.5 turns over middle saddle-shaped part of drive sheave. Ends of tension cable are fastened on cranks. Cranks and connecting rods are of equal length, and first and second sheaves are of equal diameter. EFFECT: enlarged operating capabilities. 3 cl, 4 dwg, 1 tbl