8/20/2019 Us Patent 3913947
1/10
United
S t a t e s Patent [ 1 9 ]
H a r r i s
[ i n 3,913,947
[ 4 5 1
O c t . 2 1 , 1975
[ 5 4 1
VEHICLE WITH VARIABLE
SPEED
TRANSMISSION
[ 7 5 ]
I n v e n t o r : T r e v o r
L .
H a r r i s ,
C o s t a
M e s a ,
C a l i f .
[ 7 3 ] A s s i g n e e : H a r r i s
D y n a m i c s , C o s t a
M e s a ,
C a l i f .
[ 2 2 ] F i l e d :
J u n e
1 7 ,
1 9 7 4
[ 2 ] ]
A p p l .
N o . :
4 7 9 , 7 9 7
[52]
1 1 . 8 . C 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280/236; 74/217
B ;
280/261
[51 ]
I n t . C l . 2
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 862M
1 / 0 4 ; 1 3 6 2M
1/06
[58]
Field o f Search . . . . . . . . . 2 80/2 36,
261;
7 4 / 2 1 7 B
[ 5 6 ] R e f e r e n c e s C i t e d
FOREIGN
PATENTS OR
APPLICATIONS
3 2 4 , 8 9 6 1 0 / 1 9 0 2 F r a n c e
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
280/236
9 8 1 , 6 2 5 1/ 1 9 51 Fr ance
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7 4 / 2 1 7
B
4 3 9 , 5 4 0
1 2 / 1 9 3 5 U n i t e d
K i n g d o m . . . . .
7 4 / 2 1 7
B
4 1 7 , 1 8 3
1 / 1 9 4 7 l t a l y
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H 7 4 / 2 1 7 8
6 346 9/1895
weden
. . . .
I
. . .
, .
..
280/236
2 5 3 , 3 48
6/ 1 9 2 6
1 t a l y
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
7 4/ 2 1 7 B
P r i m a r y Examiner—Leo
F r i a g l i a
A t t o r n ey , A g e n t , o r F i r m — G o r d o n L . P e t e r s o n
[ 5 7 ]
ABSTRACT
A e h i c l e adapted
t o m o v e
a l o n g
a s u p p o r t i n g s u r f a c e
c o m p r i s i n g a f r a m e , a
wheel
h a v i n g a
c e n t r a l l y
l o c a t e d
hub
m ounted
o n
t h e frame
f o r r o t a t i o n a l
m ove ment
about
a
f i r s t r o t a t i o n a l
a x i s
r e l a t i v e t o
t h e
f r a m e , and
a n
i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
me mb er
a t l e a s t p a r t i a l l y w i t h i n t h e
h u b . The i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
m e m b e r
i s mounted
f o r
r o t a
t i o n a l
m o v e m e n t about a second r o t a t i o n a l a x i s . The
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e m e m b e r
and t h e hub a r e
movable
r e l a
t i v e
t o each
o t h e r
a l o n g a p a t h h a v i n g a r a d i a l c o m p o
n e n t
t o
p e r m i t a d j u s t m e n t i n t h e
r e l a t i v e
r a d i a l
p o s i
t i o n
of
t h e ? r s t
and
second
r o t a t i o n a l a x e s .
The hub
and t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
m e m b e r
a r e
d r i v i n g l y
i n t e r c o n
nected by a
m echanis m
which
i n c l u d e s a
one-way
c l u t c h .
The
o p e r a t o r
o f
t h e v e h i c l e
can
a d j u s t t h e r e l a
t i v e
r a d i a l
p o s i t i o n
o f
t h e r o t a t i o n a l a x e s
t o
t h e r e b y
a d j u s t
t h e
d r i v e
r a t i o
between
t h e
hub
and
t h e i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e member.
2 2
C l a i m s ,
8 D r a w i n g F i g u r e s
8/20/2019 Us Patent 3913947
2/10
8/20/2019 Us Patent 3913947
3/10
U.S.
Patent 0 6 : . 2 1 ,
1 9 7 5 S h e e t 2 o f 3 3 , 9 1 3 , 9 4 7
8/20/2019 Us Patent 3913947
4/10
US. Patent O c t . 2 1 ,
1 9 7 5
S h e e t 3 o f 3 3 , 9 1 3 , 9 4 7
/ 5 5
2 7 a
/ 3 5 Ma
/ 4 5
8/20/2019 Us Patent 3913947
5/10
3 , 9 1 3 , 9 4 7
VEHICLE
WITH
VARIABLE SPEED
TRANSMISSION
BACKGROUND
OF
THE INVENTION
l f
a
b i c y c l e i s t o be used f o r
t o u r i n g o r
over
h i l l y
t e r
r a i n ,
a
v a r i a b l e
s p e e d t r a n s m i s s i o n
i s e s s e n t i a l .
U n f o r t u
n a t e l y ,
n o n e o f
t h e p r i o r a r t s y s t e m s p e r f o r m s s a t i s f a c
t o r i l y
For example, one o f
t h e most
common a r i a b l e speed
t r a n s m i s s i o n s employs a c h a i n
and
a s e r i e s o f s p r o c k e t s
o f d i f f e r e n t d i a m e t e r s . The
c h a i n
can be m ov e d by t h e
r i d e r
from
one s p r o c k e t
t o a n o t h e r t o
change t h e
d r i v e
r a t i o .
With
t h i s
s y s t e m , d r i v e r a t i o s e l e c t i o n
i s
d i f f i c u l t
t o a c c u r a t e l y s e l e c t b e c a u s e t h e c h a i n m a y s k i p o v e r
t h e d e s i r e d s p r o c k e t .
M o r e o v e r ,
t h e c h a i n
m a y
be
“ t h r o w n ” .
At t h e v e r y b e s t
t h i s
r e q u i r e s
manual
p l a c e
ment o f t h e
c h a i n over one
o f
t h e s p r o c k e t s , and under
c e r t a i n
c i r c u m s t a n c e s ,
t h e back
wheel
may l o c k and
c a u s e
damage
t o t h e b i c y c l e and i n j u r y t o t h e
r i d e r .
Numerous
attempts
have been
m a d e
t o
overcome
t h e s e
d i s a d v a n t a g e s .
F o r e x a m p l e , a n o t h e r s y s te m u s e s
a c o m p l e x p l a n e t a r y g e a r s y s t e m
t o
p r o v i d e
o n l y
t h r e e
d i f f e r e n t
d r i v e
r a t i o s . G e n e r a l l y
none o f
t h e s e
o t h e r
s y s t e m s
p r o v i d e s a n
i n e x p e n s i v e a n d
r e l i a b l e v a r i a b l e
s p e e d t r a n s m i s s i o n w h i c h i s c a p a b l e o f p r o v i d i n g many
d i f f e r e n t
d r i v e
r a t i o s .
SUMMARY
OF THE
INVENTION
The p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n p r o v i d e s a v a r i a b l e
s p e e d
t r a n s m i s s i o n
w h i c h g e n e r a l l y s o l v e s
t h e
p r o b l e m s
n o t e d
a b o v e .
l n
a d d i t i o n , t h e
p r e s e n t
i n v e n t i o n p r o v i d e s
i n f i
n i t e
d r i v e
r a t i o a d j u s t m e n t
r a t h e r t h a n p r o p o r t i o n a t e
d r i v e r a t i o a d j u s t m e n t . A
h i g h
r a t i o c h a n g e i s a l s o
o b
t a i n a b l e .
One
f e a t u r e o f t h e
i n v e n t i o n i s
t h e i n c o r p o r a t i o n
o f
a
t r a n s m i s s i o n
o f
t h e
t y p e d e s c r i b e d
i n
m y c o p e n d i n g
a p p l i c a t i o n
S e r . N o . 4 6 8 , 4 1 2 , ? l e d o n May 1 9 , 1 9 7 4 ,
and e n t i t l e d
V a r i a b l e
Speed T r a n s m i s s i o n ”
i n t o a v e
h i c l e
s u c h
a s a b i c y c l e .
T h i s
v a r i a b l e s p e e d t r a n s m i s s i o n
p r o v i d e s i n ? n i t e
r a t i o
a d j u s t m e n t a n d d o e s n o t r e q u i r e
s h i f t i n g of a c h a i n from
one s p r o c k e t t o
a n o t h e r .
A
u b s t a n t i a l p o r t i o n
o f
t h e v a r i a b l e s p e e d
t r a n s m i s
s i o n can be l o c a t e d w i t h i n
t h e hub o f
one
o f
t h e wheels
o f t h e v e h i c l e ,
s u c h
a s
t h e
r e a r w h e e l . The hub
p r o t e c t s
t h e
t r a n s m i s s i o n a g a i n s t
damage
a n d
t e n d s t o e x c l u d e
d i r t
a n d
o t h e r
c o n t a m i n a n t s
f r o m t h e
w o r k i n g
p o r t i o n s
o f t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n . l n a d d i t i o n ,
t h e
p o r t i o n o f t h e
t r a n s m i s s i o n w i t h i n t h e
hub d o e s n o t
i n t r o d u c e any im
b a l a n c e
i n t o t h e
wheel o r
t h e v e h i c l e .
With
a
p o r t i o n
o f t h e
t r a n s m i s s io n w i t h i n
t h e h u b , t h e
hub
may
b e u s e d a s p a r t o f t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n . By u s i n g
t h e hub
a s
a
p a r t
o f
t h e v a r i a b l e s p e e d
t r a n s m i s s i o n ,
t h e
number o f t r a n s m i s s i o n p a r t s i s r e d u c e d . T h u s , t h e hub
i n
a d d i t i o n
t o p e r f o r m i n g
i t s
u s u a l f u n c t i o n s , a l s o s e r v e s
a s
a working
t r a n s m i s s i o n
p a r t
a s
w e l l a s a housing f o r
a t l e a s t a p o r t i o n o f
t h e
v a r i a b l e s p e e d
t r a n s m i s s i o n .
More
s p e c i f i c a l l y ,
t h e v a r i a b l e s p e e d
t r a n s m i s s i o n
m a y i n c l u d e ,
i n a d d i t i o n
t o
t h e
h u b , an
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
me mb er a t l e a s t p a r t i a l l y w i t h i n t h e h u b .
Means
a r e
p r o v i d e d f o r
m o u n t i n g
t h e i n n e r
r o t a t i o n a l
member f o r
r o t a t i o n
a b o u t a
r o t a t i o n a l
a x i s . The
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
me mb e r
and
t h e hub
a r e movable r e l a t i v e t o each
o t h e r
a l o n g
a p a t h h av i n g a r a d i a l component
t o
p e r m i t
a d
j u s t m e n t i n
t h e
r e l a t i v e r a d i a l p o s i t i o n
o f
t h e
r o t a t i o n a l
a x e s o f t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e me mb er and
t h e
h u b .
‘ T h e
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e m e mber and t h e
hub a r e
d r i v i n g l y i n t e r
connected
b y
means which m a y i n c l u d e
a t l e a s t
one
5
20
2 5
30
3 5
4 0
4 5
50
5 5
60
2
o n e - w a y c l u t c h . Means
o p e r a b l e b y t h e
o p e r a t o r
o f t h e
v e h i c l e a r e
p r o v i d e d f o r
a d j u s t i n g
t h e r e l a t i v e r a d i a l
po
s i t i o n o f t h e
r o t a t i o n a l
a x e s s o t h a t
t h e d r i v e r a t i o
be
tween
t h e
hub
and
t h e
i n n e r r o t a t a b l e m e m b e r can
be
v a r i e d b y t h e
o p e r a t o r .
E i t h e r
t h e hub o r t h e
i n n e r r o t a t a b l e m e m b e r m a y
s e r v e
a s
a
d r i v i n g
member
o f
t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n .
How
e v e r , i f
t h e
hub i s
t o s e r v e
i t s
u s u a l
p u r p o s e s ,
t h e n
t h e
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e member
s h o u l d b e t h e
d r i v i n g m e mber
and
t h e
hub s h o u l d b e
t h e d r i v e n member.
The
i n n e r r o t a t a b l e m e m b e r
can be
mounted i n d i f
f e r e n t w a y s , and i n a ‘ p r e f e r r e d
c o n s t r u c t i o n
i t
i s
mounted
f o r r o t a t i o n o n
a
mounting
arm
l y i n g a t l e a s t
s u b s t a n t i a l l y o u t s i d e
o f t h e h u b . The
mounting
arm i s
m o v a b l e ,
a s
by p i v o t in g , t o
t h e r e b y
move t h e a x i s
o f
t h e
i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
me mb er r a d i a l l y r e l a t i v e t o t h e a x i s
o f
t h e
h u b .
The
mounting
arm m a y
mount
t h e
i n n e r r o t a t
a b l e me mb er a t two s p a c e d
l o c a t i o n s
t o
p r o v i d e
s u b
s t a n t i a l s u p p o r t
f o r t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
member.
A r i v
i n g element such a s a
sprocket
can be m ounted o n t h e
i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
m e m ber between t h e two s p a c e d l o c a
t i o n s .
The
hub h a s a n
end
w a l l w i t h a n opening t h e r e i n
t h r o u g h w h i c h t h e
i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
member p r o j e c t s .
The
o p e n i n g
i s
s u f f i c i e n t l y
l a r g e t o accommodate
t h e
r a d i a l
movement
o f
t h e
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e member.
To
p r o t e c t t h e p o r t i o n s o f t h e v a r i a b l e s p e e d t r a n s m i s s i o n
h o u s e d b y t h e h u b ,
? e x i b l e s e a l means
a r e
p r o v i d e d
b e
tween t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e m e m ber and t h e hub f o r s e a l
i n g t h i s o p e n i n g .
The e x i b i l i t y
o f t h e
s e a l means a l l o w s
i t t o a c c o m m o d a te t h e
r a d i a l m o v e m e n t
o f t h e i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
member.
The
p r e s e n t
i n v e n t i o n a l s o
p r o v i d e s
means f o r r e t a i n
i n g
t h e i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
member n
a n y
s e l e c t e d p o s i t i o n
a l o n g
i t s
p a t h . A l t h o u g h
s u c h
means may t a k e d i f f e r e n t
f o r m s ,
i t may
a d v a n t a g e o u s l y i n c l u d e
a n
e l o n g a t e d
member d r i v i n g l y c o u p l e d t o t h e v a r i a b l e s p e e d
t r a n s
m i s s i o n means
and extending t o
a
l o c a t i o n a c c e s s i b l e t o
t h e o p e r a t o r ,
a s u b s t a n t i a l l y f i x e d me mb er mounted
on
t h e f r a m e , a n d
a
l o c k i n g e l e m e n t a d a p t e d t o b e wedged
between
a t
l e a s t p o r t i o n s o f t h e
members
t o
h o l d
t h e
e l o n g a t e d member
n
p o s i t i o n . T h i s m a i n t a i n s t h e d r i v e
r a t i o e s t a b l i s h e d b y t h e
t r a n s m i s s i o n s u b s t a n t i a l l y
con
s t a n t . The o p e r a t o r c a n
s e l e c t i v e l y r e l e a s e
t h e l o c k i n g
e l e m e n t
f r o m w e d g i n g
e n g a g e m e n t w i t h t h e members
t o
t h e r e b y
p e r m i t
t h e o p e r a t o r t o a d j u s t t h e d r i v e
r a t i o
e s t a b l i s h e d b y
t h e
t r a n s m i s s i o n .
A l t h o u g h
t h e p r e s e n t i n v e n t i o n
can be
u s e d
w i t h
many
d i f f e r e n t k i n d s o f
v e h i c l e s ,
i t
i s p a r t i c u l a r l y
adapted f o r
u s e w i t h two o r t h r e e
wheeled
l a n d
v e h i
c l e s , s u c h a s
b i c y c l e s
a n d m o t o r c y c l e s . The
p r e s e n t
i n
v e n t i o n
i s h i g h l y v e r s a t i l e i n t h a t i t c a n
b e
i n c o r p o r a t e d
i n t o a s t a n d a r d c r a n k p e d a l l e d b i c y c l e and i n t o a v e r t i
c a l l y
p e d a l l e d
b i c y c l e .
I n a
v e r t i c a l l y
p e d a l l e d b i c y c l e ,
t h e p e d a l s a r e
m ounted
o n l e v e r s which i n t u r n a r e
mounted on
t h e
frame f o r o s c i l l a t o r y
movement.
W h e n
t h e
p r e s e n t in v e n t i o n i s i n c o r p o r a t e d
i n t o
a
v e r t i c a l l y p e d a l l e d b i c y c l e , t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n means may
i n c l u d e
mea ns d r i v e n by one o r
both
o f t h e o s c i l l a t o r y
l e v e r s f o r
v a r y i n g t h e
d r i v e r a t i o
between s u c h
l e v e r s
and t h e
wheel o f
t h e
b i c y c l e
a s
a
f u n c t i o n
o f t h e a n g u l a r
p o s i t i o n
o f
s u c h l e v e r
a b o u t i t s
p i v o t
a x i s . Such means
may
i n c l u d e a
cam
having
an appropriate
c o n t o u r .
Thus, t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n mea ns i n c l u d e s a t r a n s m i s s i o n
u n i t
o r p o r t i o n v a r i a b l e b y t h e r i d e r a n d a n o t h e r p o r
t i o n v a r i a b l e
a s a
f u n c t i o n
o f l e v e r a n g l e .
Another f e a
t u r e
o f
t h i s
i n v e n t i o n i s t h a t t h e p o r t i o n
c o n t r o l l e d
b y
8/20/2019 Us Patent 3913947
6/10
3 , 9 1 3 , 9 4 7
3
t h e r i d e r i s d r i v e n
b y
t h e p o r t i o n r e s p o n s i v e
t o
l e v e r
an
g l e . With
t h i s a r r a n g e m e n t ,
manual
s h i f t i n g o f t h e
t r a n s m i s s i o n does n o t u p s e t o r change
t h e
c a m func
t i o n .
The
i n v e n t i o n
c a n b e s t b e understood
b y
r e f e r e n c e t o
t h e f o l l o w i n g d e s c r ip t i o n t a k e n i n
c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e
a c c o m p a n y i n g
i l l u s t r a t i v e
d r a w i n g s .
BRIEF
DESCRIPTION
OF
THE DRAWINGS
F I G .
1 i s
a
fragmentary s i d e e l e v a t i o n a l view
o f
a b i
c y c l e c o n s t r u c t e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h
t h e t e a c h i n g s
o f
t h i s
i n v e n t i o n .
F I G .
2
i s
a r e a r e l e v a t i o n a l view
o f
t h e hub and a d j a
c e n t
s t r u c t u r e
w i t h
t h e wheel spokes
removed
f o r
c l a r
i t y
F I G . 3
i s a n e n l a r g e d , f r a g m e n t a r y , s i d e
e l e v a t i o n a l
v i e w
p a r t l y
i n s e c t i o n o f t h e hub a n d a d j a c e n t
s t r u c t u r e .
F I G .
4
i s
a n
e n l a r g e d , f r a g m e n t a r y ,
s e c t i o n a l v i e w
o f
one
p r e f e r r e d mechanism
f o r r e t ai n i n g t h e i n n e r r o t a t ~
a b l e
m e mber
i n p o s i t i o n .
F I G . 5
i s
a n e n l a r g e d s e c t i o n a l v i e w t a k e n
g e n e r a l l y
a l o n g l i n e 5—5 f F I G . 1 .
F I G .
6 s a
fragmentary
s i d e e l e v a t i o n a l
view o f a
v e r
t i c a l l y p e d a l l e d b i c y c l e
c o n s t r u c t e d
i n
a c c o r d a n c e
w i t h
t h e t e a c h i n g s o f t h i s i n v e n t i o n .
F I G . 7
i s
a
r e a r e l e v a t i o n a l
view o f
t h e b i c y c l e
of I G .
6 .
F I G .
8
i s a n e n l a r g e d s e c t i o n a l v i e w t a k e n g e n e r a l l y
a l o n g l i n e 8-8 f F I G . 6 .
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENTS
F I G . 1 shows a b i c y c l e 1 1 which
i n c l u d e s
a
frame
1 3
and
a
r e a r
w h e e l
1 5 .
The
b i c y c l e
1 1
i s o f
t h e
c r a n k
ped
a l l i n g
t y p e a n d
i n c l u d e s
a
p a i r o f
c r a n k s 1 7 r o t a t a b l y
m o u nted on t h e
fra me
1 3 i n
a
conventional
m anner and
c a r r y i n g
p e d a l s 1 9 ,
r e s p e c t i v e l y .
P o w e r i s
t r a n s m i t t e d
f r o m
t h e p e d a l s 1 9 b y
way o f
a v a r i a b l e
s p e e d t r a n s m i s
s i o n
21 t o
t h e
r e a r wheel 1 5 . The
t r a n s m i s s i o n
21 i n
c l u d e s a t r a n s m i s s i o n u n i t
22
which e n a b l e s t h e r i d e r
t o
c h a n g e
d r i v e
r a t i o s .
E x c e p t
f o r
t h e
t r a n s m i s s i o n 2 1 , i t s
c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e r e m a i n d e r o f t h e
b i c y c l e
1 1 , a n d
t h e c o n t r o l
means
f o r
t h e
t r a n s m i s s i o n , t h e
b i c y c l e 1 1
m a y
b e
o f s t a n d a r d
c o n s t r u c t i o n
and
i n c l u d e s t h e u s u al
n o n i l l u s t r a t e d
components, such
a s a f r o n t
wheel, a
s e a t , and handle
b a r s .
The f r a m e 1 3
i n c l u d e s
l o n g i t u d i n a l f r a m e members
2 3
a n d
d i a g o n a l
f r a m e
members
25
( F I G S .
1 ,
2 ,
a n d
5 .
The
r e a r wheel
15 i s mounted
on and between t h e
frame members 23 and
2 5
f o r r o t a t i o n about
a r o t a
t i o n a l a x i s .
More
s p e c i ? c a l l y ,
t h e
w h e e l 1 5
i n c l u d e s a
c e n t r a l l y
l o c a t e d hub 27
which
a l s o forms a p o r t i o n o f t h e
t r a n s
m i s s i o n u n i t 2 2 . The hub 27
i n c l u d e s
a
p e r i p h e r a l
w a l l
29
( F I G .
5 ) and o p p o s i t e end
w a l l s
31
a n d
3 3 .
The end
w a l l 33 h a s
a n
o p e n i n g
3 5 . The hub
27
i s
r o t a t a b l y
mounted
a t
one end by b e a r i n g s
37
mounted
i n t h e end
w a l l 31 and a b o l t
39
mounted i n t h e b e a r i n g s 37 and
a t t a c h e d
t o t h e f r a m e
members
23 and 25 by any s u i t
a b l e
m eans such a s
nuts 41.
The hub 27
i s
mounted a t t h e o t h e r
end
b y a
b e a r i n g
43
and
a n
open ended
h o u s i n g
4 5 .
The
h o u s i n g
45
h a s
a c o l l a r 4 7
o n
which t h e b e a r i n g s
4 3
i s mounted. When
s o
m o unted the hub
2 7
r o t a t e s about
a c e n t r a l r o t a
t i o n a l a x i s
4 6 . The
h o u s i n g 4 5
i s
mounted on
t h e
frame
members
2 3 and 2 5 by a s u i t a b l e f a s t e n e r
such
a s a b o l t
4 9 and a n u t 5 1 . The housing 4 5 i s
prevented
from
r o
25
30
35
4 0
4 5
50
55
60
65
4
t a t i n g by
an arm
5 3
which i s s u i t a b l y
a t t a c h e d a t
one
end t o t h e housing and
a t
t h e
o t h e r
end t o one
of
t h e
frame members 23 b y a clamp 5 5 .
The t r a n s m i s s i o n u n i t
2 2 i n c l u d e s
a
mounting ar m 5 7
mounted on
t h e h o u s i n g 4 5 f o r m ovement
a l o n g
a
p a t h
by any s u i t a b l e
means
such
a s
a f a s t e n e r 5 9 .
Although
t h e mounting arm 57 c o u l d undergo o t h e r k i n d s o f mo
t i o n r e l a t i v e
t o t h e h o u s i n g
4 5 ,
i n t h e
embodiment l l u s
t r a t e d ,
t h e mounting arm
s
mounted f o r p i v o t a l move
ment about
a p i v o t
a x i s
6 0 .
Although
v a r i o u s
c o n s t r u c t i o n s c a n b e e m p l o y e d , i n
t h e
embodiment i l l u s t r a t e d ,
t h e mounting
arm
57 i n
c l u d e s
two s p a c e d mounting s e c t i o n s
6 1
and 6 3 .
The
t r a n s m i s s i o n
u n i t
2 2 i n c l u d e s
an
i n n e r r o t a t a b l e mem
b e r 65
mounted
on b e a r i n g s
67
and 69
c a r r i e d
b y
t h e
m o u n t i n g s e c t i o n s 6 1 a n d 6 3 , r e s p e c t i v e l y . The b e a r
i n g s
67 and 69
mount
t h e i n n e r r o t a ta b l e m e m ber 65
f o r r o t a t i o n about a c e n t r a l r o t a t i o n a l
a x i s
70 l y i n g p a r
a l l e l
t o t h e r o t a t i o n a l a x i s
4 6 and t o t h e
p i v o t
a x i s 6 0 .
By
m o v i n g
t h e
m o u n t i n g
arm
5 7
a b o u t i t s
p i v o t a x i s
6 0 ,
t h e a x i s 70 i s
m oved
r a d i a l l y r e l a ti v e t o t h e a x i s 4 6 .
I n
one a n g u l a r p o s i t i o n o f t h e mounting
arm
57
a b o u t i t s
p i v o t
a x i s
6 0 , t h e
r o t a t i o n a l
a x e s 4 6 and 7 0 a r e c o i n c i
d e n t .
The
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e me mb e r 65 i s d r i v e n
i n
any
s u i t ~
a b l e m a nner
by
a d r i v e m e m b e r
such
a s
by
a
s p r o c k e t
7 1 which i s ? x e d l y mounted on
t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
m e mber
65 i n t e r m e d i a t e t h e mounting
s e c t i o n s
6 1 and
6 3 . The
s p r o c k e t
7 1
i s
d r i v e n b y t h e c r a n k s 1 7 b y way
o f a l a r g e r d i a m e t e r s p r o c k e t
73
( F I G . 1 ) and a c h a i n
7 5 .
One
end
o f
t h e
h o u s i n g
45 i s
opened
t o a c c o m m o
d a t e t h e c h a i n 7 5 .
The opening 3 5
i s
of s u ? i c i e n t area
s o a s
t o a cc o m
modate
t h e
m ovement
o f
t h e i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
m e m b e r
65
w i t h
t h e
mounting
arm 57 a l o n g
t h e
p a t h . A e x i b l e
s e a l
77
s a t t a c h e d
t o t h e c o l l a r 47 and t o t h e
mounting
s e c t i o n 63 so
a s t o s e a l t h e
opening
3 5 . I n order t o ac
c o m m o d a t e r a d i a l m ovement
o f t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
me mb er 5 , t h e
s e a l
77 s
? e x i b l e
and m a y b e o f g e n e r
a l l y b e l l o w s - l i k e c o n s t r u c t i o n . I n t h e embodiment l l u s
t r a t e d t h e s e a l 77 i n c l u d e s a t
l e a s t
one f o l d 7 9 .
Means
a re p r o v i d e d f o r
d r i v i n g l y
i n t e r c o n n e c t i n g t h e
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
me mb e r
65
and t h e
hub 2 7 .
Such
means
i n t h e
embodiment i l l u s t r a t e d i n c l u d e s a p l u r a l i t y o f
one-way c l u t c h e s 81 and
a p l u r a l i t y o f
d r i v e
e l e m e n t s
8 3 . One o f t h e
d r i v e
e l e m e n t s 83
i s
p r o v i d e d
f o r
each
o f t h e one-way c l u t c h e s 8 1 . Any
number
o f
t h e
c l u t c h e s
81 can
b e p r o v i d e d
i n
t h e
s i x
c l u t c h e s
i l l u s
t r a t e d i n F I G . 5 a r e
p u r e l y
i l l u s t r a t i v e . However, t h e
l i n e a r i t y
o f t h e
o u t p u t w i l l g e n e r a l l y
i m p r o v e
a s t h e
number o f
t h e
c l u t c h e s 8 1 i s i n c r e a s e d .
The
one-way c l u t c h e s
8 1 a r e a r r a n g e d i n a n a x i a l l y
extending ro w on
t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e m e m b e r
6 5 . The
c l u t c h e s 81 a r e c o n c e n t r i c w i t h t h e i n n e r r o t a t ab l e
m e m b e r
65
and
m a y
be
o f i d e n t i c a l , c o n v e n t i o n a l
con
s t r u c t i o n .
Each o f
t h e
one-way c l u t c h e s 81 i s a r r a n g e d
t o d r i v e
i n
one d i r e c t i o n and f r e e wheel i n t h e o t h e r d i
r e c t i o n .
The one-way c l u t c h e s 81 a r e
arranged
o n
t h e
i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
m e m b e r
65 s o
t h a t
a l l of them d r i v e
i n
t h e
same d i r e c t i o n . Each o f t h e one-way c l u t c h e s 81
m a y b e
o f
any c o n s t r u c t i o n which d r i v e s
i n
one d i r e c
t i o n
and a l l o w s
r e l a t i v e
motion
i n
t h e o p p o s i t e d i r e c
t i o n .
For e x a m p l e , e a c h
o f
t h e c l u t c h e s 8 1 may b e o f
t h e Sprag o r r o l l e r t y p e , each
o f
which h a s i n t e r n a l
members 85
which
g r i p t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e me mb er 65
i n t h e d r i v i n g d i r e ct i o n
t o
form a d r i v i n g
c o n n e c t i o n
between t h e
c l u t c h
and t h e i n n e r r o t a t ab l e me mb e r and
8/20/2019 Us Patent 3913947
7/10
3 , 9 1 3 , 9 4 7
5
which a l l o w s f r e e w h e e l i n g
i n
t h e o t h e r d i r e c t i o n t o
p e r m i t r e l a t i v e a n g u l a r
m o t i o n b e t w e e n t h e c l u t c h a n d
t h e i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
me mb er i n
t h e
o p p o s i t e
d i r e c t i o n .
Although t h e d r i v e
e l e m e n t s
83
c o u l d be o f v a r i o u s
d i f f e r e n t
c o n s t r u c t i o n s , i n t h e embodiment
i l l u s t r a t e d ,
each
o f t h e
d r i v e e l e m e n t s i s
i n
t h e form
o f
a r i g i d l i n k
p i v o t a l l y
c o u p l e d
b y a
p i n
87 t o ? a n g e s
on
t h e
a s s o c i
a t e d c l u t c h 8 1 .
The
?anges on t h e one-way c l u t c h e s 81
a r e s p a c e d c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l l y , and i n t h e embodiment
i l l u s t r a t e d a r e
e q u a l l y s p a c e d c i r c u m f e r e n t i a l l y
when
t h e
r o t a t i o n a l
a x e s 4 6 and
70
c o i n c i d e .
S i m i l a r l y , t h e
o u t e r
ends of t h e d r i v e elements 83 a r e
p i v o t a l l y
c o u p l e d t o
t h e p e r i p h e r a l
w a l l 29 o f
t h e
hub
2 7 b y
p i n s 8 9 w h i c h e x t e n d t h r o u g h
p a i r s
o f ? a n g e s 9 1
s u i t a b l y mounted
on
t h e p e r i p h e r a l w a l l . The l o c a t i o n
o f t h e attachments o f t h e
d r i v e elements
83 t o t h e pe
r i p h e r a l w a l l
2 9 ,
i . e . , t h e
c e n t e r l i n e s o f t h e p i n s
89 a r e
s p a c e d
a p a r t c i r c u m f e r e n t i al l y
e q u a l
d i s t a n c e s w h i c h
i s
6 0 ° i n t h e
embodiment i l l u s t r a t e d . I n
t h e
embodiment
i l l u s t r a t e d ,
t h e a x e s o f t h e
p i v o t a l
a t t a c h m e n t s
between
t h e d r i v e e l e m e n t s 83
and
t h e c l u t c h e s
8 1
and t h e
p e
r i p h e r a l w a l l 29
a r e
p a r a l l e l t o t h e r o t a t i o n a l a x e s
4 6
and
7 0 .
Thus, the hub 27 s e r v e s a s
an
outer
r o t a t a b l e member
f o r t h e
t r a n s m i s s i o n
2 1 . The u s e o f t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
member 6 5 , t h e
one-way c l u t c h e s 8 1 , t h e
d r i v e
e l e
ments 8 3 , and
an
outer r o t a t a b l e member may
be
c a r
r i e d o u t
s u b s t a n t i a l l y
i n
a c c o r d a n c e w i t h m y c o p e n d i n g
a p p l i c a t i o n S e r . N o . 4 6 8 , 4 1 2 r e f e r r e d t o
a b o v e .
The r a d i a l s p a c i n g between t h e r o t a t i o n a l a x e s 4 6
and 7 0 o f
t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
m e m ber 65
and
t h e hub
27 c a n b e v a r i e d b y p i v o t i n g t h e mounting arm 57
a b o u t
i t s
p i v o t
a x i s .
T h i s a l s o moves t h e i n n e r r o t at a b l e
m e mber
65
a l o n g a n
a r c u a t e
p a t h
t o b r i n g
a b o u t
a d j u s t
ment i n t h e
r e l a t i v e
r a d i a l p o s i t i o n s o f t h e
r o t a t i o n a l
a x e s o f t h e i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
m e m ber and t h e h u b . V a r i
ous control means, such
a s t h e
control m e a n s 9 3
can
be
p r o v i d e d f o r s e l e c t i v e l y
m o v i n g
a n d r e l e a s a b l y ? x i n g
t h e mounting
arm 57
and t h e
i n n e r r o t a t a b l e me mb er
65 n a n y one
o f a
p l u r a l i t y
o f p o s i t i o n s
a l o n g
s u c h p a t h .
Although
t h e c o n t r o l
means
93
m a y t a k e
d i f f e r e n t
f o r m s ,
i n t h e
embodiment
i l l u s t r a t e d i t i n c l u d e s e l o n
g a t e d
means o r
a n e l o n g a t e d
me mb er
95 e x t e n d i n g
from t h e
o u t e r end o f t h e
mounting
arm 57 t o a
s u i t a b l e
l o c a t i o n a c c e s s i b l e t o t h e r i d e r o f t h e b i c y c l e
1 1 ,
a sub
s t a n t i a l l y ?xed
m e m ber i n
t h e
form o f
a h o u s i n g mem
b e r 9 7 , a n d
a p l u r a l i t y o f l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s
99
( F I G . 4 ) .
A l t h o u g h t h e
h o u s i n g
9 7
c o u l d
b e
o f
v a r i o u s d i f f e r e n t
c o n s t r u c t i o n s , i n t h e embodiment
l l u s t r a t e d ,
i t i s i n t h e
f o r m o f a n e l o n g a t e d t u b e
h a v i n g
a p e r i p h e r a l w a l l 1 0 1 ,
a n
end w a l l
1 0 3 ,
and
an
open end 1 0 5 .
The h o u s i n g 9 7
e x t e n d s t h r o u g h a n o p e n i n g
i n
t h e
h o u s i n g
45
and s
r e
t a i n e d
t h e r e i n by
any
s u i t a b l e m eans
such a s a s e t
screw
1 0 7 ( F I G . 3 .
The e l o n g a t e d
me mb er 95 i n c l u d e s a
p l u n g e r 109
s l i d a b l e
w i t h i n t h e
h o u s i n g
97 and a ? e x i b l e c a b l e 111
p i v o t a l l y c o u p l e d
a t
one
end t o
t h e p l u n g e r and a t
t h e
o t h e r
end
t o t h e o u t e r
end
o f t h e
mounting
ar m 57
i n
any s u i t a b l e
manner such
a s
by a p i n 1 1 3 . The
m ount
i n g
arm
57 i s b i a s e d c l o c k w i s e a s
viewed i n F I G .
3 by
a
s p r i n g
115
which
s
a t t a c h e d
a t
one end
t o
t h e
p i n
113
and a t t h e
o t h e r
end
t o t h e
h o u s i n g
4 5 .
The e l o n g a t e d
member 9 5
a l s o
i n c l u d e s a s t e r n 1 1 7
attached
t o , and
c o a x i a l w i t h , t h e
p l u n g e r 109
a n d h a v i n g a
f r u s t o c o n i
c a l
ramp s u r f a c e 1 1 9
w h i c h
e x t e n d s
r a d i a l l y
o u t w a r d l y
a s
i t extends
a w a y fro m t h e c a b l e 1 1 1 . A
e l e a s e
mem
b e r 1 2 1
o f g e n e r a l l y a n n u l a r
c o n ? g u r a t i o n
i n p l a n i s
a t
1 5
2 0
2 5
4 5
5 5
60
6
tached
t o an
extension 1 2 3
of t h e stem
1 1 7 f o r l i m i t e d
a x i a l
s l i d i n g m ovement
on
t h e s t e m . The
e l o n g a t e d
m e m ber 9 5 a l s o i n c l u d e s
a
push p u l l
c a b l e
125 a t
tached
a t one end by
a
threaded
p l u g
127 t o t h e r e l e a s e
m e m b e r
121
and extending t o a l o c a t i o n a c c e s si b l e t o
t h e
r i d e r
o f t h e
b i c y c l e
1 1 .
I n
t h e
embodiment
i l l u s t r a t e d ,
t h e l o c k i n g
e l e m e n t s
9 9 a r e i n t h e
form
o f
b a l l s .
Any
number
o f
t h e
l o c k i n g
e l e m e n t s 99 may b e
p r o v i d e d .
The
l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s
99
a r e
r e s i l i e n t l y
u r g e d u p w a r d l y
a l o n g t h e
ramp s u r f a c e
119 b y a c o i l c o m p r e s s i o n s p r i n g 1 2 9 w h i c h
b e a r s
a t
one end
o n
t h e plunger
1 0 9
and a t t h e
other end
o n a
washer 1 3 1 which i s s l i d a b l y mounted on t h e p l u n g e r
1 1 7 .
The
h o u s i n g 97
and
t h e
e l e m e n t s
w i t h i n t h e h o u s i n g
c o n s t i t u t e r e l e a s a b l e
l o c k i n g
m e a n s .
The
r e l e a s i n g
l o c k i n g
means i s , i n
e f f e c t ,
a
l i n e a r one-way
c l u t c h
which l o c k s t h e mounting arm 57 a g a i n s t c l o c k w i s e
movement.
S p e c i ? c al l y , t h e s p r i n g 1 2 9
u r g e s
t h e
l o c k
i n g
e l e m e n t s
99
u p w a r d l y a l o n g
t h e ramp s u r f a c e 1 1 9
t o wedge t h e l o c k i n g
e l e m e n t s
b e t w e e n t h e
p e r i p h e r a l
w a l l 1 0 1
and t h e
ramp s u r f a c e .
Any downwardly d i
r e c t e d
f o r c e
o n t h e c a b l e 111 t e n d s t o wedge t h e l o c k
i n g e l e m e n t s 99
more t i g h t l y between t h e
ra mp
s u r f a c e
1 1 9 and t h e p e r i p h e r a l w a l l 1 0 1 . C o n s e q u e n t l y ,
down
ward movement o f t he c a b l e
1 1 1
and
c l o c k w i s e
p i v o t a l
movement
( a s v i e w e d i n
F I G .
3 )
o f t h e mounting
arm
57
a r e
p r e v e n t e d . Any upward
f o r c e
on
t h e
c a b l e 1 1 1
w i l l
n o t be
t r a n s m i t t e d
t o
t h e p l u n g e r 109
because t h e
c a b l e 1 1 1 i s ? e x i b l e .
counterclockwise movement o f t h e
mounting
arm 57
a s viewed i n
F I G .
3 i s r e s i s t e d b y
t h e s p r i n g
1 1 5 . I n t h e
e m b o d i m e n t i l l u s t r a t e d , c o u n t e r c l o c k w i s e p i v o t a l
m ove ment
of
t h e
mounting
ar m
57
a s
viewed
i n
FIG.
3
i s
a l s o r e s i s t e d b y
t h e
i n h e r e n t t e n d e n c y o f t h e i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
m e m ber 65
t o s e e k a p o s i t i o n
c o a x i a l w i t h t h e
hub
27 a n d b y
t h e c h a i n 7 5
when
t h e
b i c y c l e i s
b e i n g
d r i v e n b y t h e c h a i n . An a d j u s t a b l e s t o p i n t h e f o r m o f
a
screw 1 3 3 ( F I G . 3 ) i s a t t a c h e d t o t h e lower w a l l o f t h e
h o u s i n g 45 a n d p r o j e c t s
u p w a r d l y
s o
t h a t
i t w i l l
e n g a g e
t h e
l o w e r edge o f t h e
mounting
arm
57
when t h e
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
m e m ber
65
i s c o a x i a l w i t h
t h e
hub
2 7 .
T h u s ,
i n
t h e embodiment
i l l u s t r a t e d ,
a l l o f t h e d r i v e r a t i o s
o t h e r t h a n I
t o
l a r e
p r o v i d e d
b y r a i s i n g t h e a x i s 70 o f
t h e
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e m e m b e r
65
above
t h e
a x i s
4 6 o f t h e
hub 2 7 . Of c o u r s e , t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n u n i t 2 2 m a y
be
c o n s t r u c t e d
s o t h a t s h i f t i n g m a y b e a c c o m p l i s h e d b y
moving
t h e i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
member
65 downwardly
f r o m
i t s
c o a x i a l p o s i t i o n
w i t h t h e
hub 2 7 , i f
d e s i r e d .
To p i v o t t h e mounting
arm
5 7 c o u n t e r c l o c k w i s e , t h e
r i d e r m a n i p u l a t e s a l e v e r ( n o t shown
i n
a
c o n v e n t i o n a l
m a n n e r so a s
to e x e r t
a p u l l i n g force
o n
the cable 1 25.
T h i s f o r c e
i s
t r a n s m i t t e d t h r o u g h t h e r e l e a s e
m e mber
12 1
t o
t h e stem 117 and plunger 109 t o m o v e t h e stem
and p l u n g e r u p w a r d l y
a s
v i e w e d
i n
F I G .
4 .
The l o c k i n g
e l e m e n t s
9 9 a l l o w
such
upward movement n t h a t
such
upward m o v e m e n t
of t h e r a m p
s u r f a c e 1 1 9 t e n d s t o r e
d u c e t h e w e d g i n g e f f e c t
a g a i n s t
t h e l o c k i n g e l e m e n t s .
The
upward movement
o f
t h e p l u n g e r
1 0 9
i s t r a n s m i t
t e d through t h e c a b l e 1 1 1 t o t h e mounting arm 57
t o
p i v o t t h e l a t t e r c o u n t e r c l o c k w i s e a s viewed i n F I G . 3
a g a i n s t t h e
b i a s i n g
a c t i o n
o f
t h e s p r i n g 1 1 5 . W h e n t h e
d e s i r e d
p o s i t i o n
o f
t h e mounting arm 57 s r e a c h e d , up
ward
m o v e m e n t
o f t h e
c a b l e 125 s
t e r m i n a t e d
and
t h i s
a l l o w s t h e
s p r i n g 1 2 9
t o a g a i n t i g h t l y wedge
t h e
l o c k i n g
elements 99 between t h e r a m p s u r f a c e
119 and t h e
pe
r i p h e r a l w a l l 1 0 1 .
8/20/2019 Us Patent 3913947
8/10
3 , 9 1 3 , 9 4 7
7
Although o t h e r arrangem ents can b e u s e d ,
i n
t h e em
b o d i m e n t i l l u s t r a t e d ,
t h e
s p r i n g 1 1 5
i s o p e r a t i v e t o
p i v o t t h e
mounting arm 57 c l o c k w i s e when
t h e
r i d e r
o f
t h e b i c y c l e 1 1
r e l e a s e s
t h e r e l e a s a b l e
means 9 3 . T h i s
i s
a c c o m p l i s h e d b y
t h e
r i d e r
e x e r t i n g
a p u s h i n g
f o r c e on
t h e p u s h p u l l c a b l e 1 2 5 . T h i s
p u s h i n g
f o r c e
p u s h e s
t h e
r e l e a s e
m e m ber
1 2 1
downwardly
a
l i m i t e d
d i s t a n c e
a l o n g t h e e x t e n t i o n 123 and i n t o c o n t a c t
w i t h
t h e l o c k
i n g
e l e m e n t s 9 9
t o
u r g e them
d o w n t h e
ramp
s u r f a c e
1 1 9 .
T h i s r e l e a s e s t h e s t e m
1 1 7 ,
t h e
p l u n g e r 1 0 9 , a n d
t h e c a b l e 1 1 1 f o r down ward movement. A c c o r d i n g l y ,
t h e s p r i n g 1 1 5 p i v o t s t h e m o u n t i n g
arm 57 c l o c k w i s e
a s viewed
i n FIG. 3
t o
t h e extent
t h a t
t h e r i d e r m ov es
t h e p l u n g e r
1 1 7 d o w n w a r d l y .
I n o p e r a t i o n o f t h e b i c y c l e
l l ,
r o t a t i o n
o f
t h e c r a n k s
l 7 d r i v e s
t h e
s p r o c k e t 7 1 t h r o u g h t h e s p r o c k e t
7 3
and
t h e c h a i n 7 5 . T h i s i n t u r n r o t a t e s t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
m e m b e r 65 which d r i v e s t h e hub
27
through
t h e
one
w a y c l u t c h e s 81 and t h e d r i v e elements 8 3 . The r a t i o
o f an g u l a r d i s p l a c e m e n t o f t h e
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e member
65
t o
a n g u l a r d i s p l a c e m e n t o f
t h e
hub
27
can b e
v a r i e d
b y a d j u s t i n g t h e
r e l a t i v e
r a d i a l p o s i t i o n o f t h e a x e s 46
and 7 0 . When t h e
a x e s 4 6
and 70 a r e
c o i n c i d e n t ,
t h e
d r i v e r a t i o i s l t o l and a s t h e
r o t a t i o n a l
a x i s 7 0 i s d i s
p l a c e d r a d i a l l y f r o m t h e r o t a t i o n a l a x i s 4 6 ,
t h e d r i v e
r a t i o
i n c r e a s e s .
As
t h e mounting
arm
57 and
hence
t h e
inner rotatable member 6 5 can assume an i n f i n i t e num
b e r o f
d i f f e r e n t
p o s i t i o n s r e l a t i v e
t o
t h e
hub
2 7 , a n i n ?
n i t e number
o f d r i v e
r a t i o s
i s
o b t a i n a b l e .
The r e l a t iv e r a d i a l p o s i t i o n s
o f
t h e
a x e s
46 and 70
can b e
e s t a b l i s h e d
by
t h e
r i d e r
a s d i s c u s s e d
above
by
u t i l i z i n g
t h e
r e l e a s a b l e
means
9 3 o r b y any o t h e r s u i t
a b l e
means f o r a d j u s t i n g
t h e a n g u l a r
p o s i t i o n
o f
t h e
mounting
arm
5 7 .
The
d e t a i l s
of t h e
manner
i n
which
t h e
i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
me mb er 6 5 , t h e
one-way c l u t c h e s
8 1 , t h e d r i v e
e l e m e n t s
8 3 , and t h e
hub 27 c o o p e r a t e
t o
p r o v i d e a n i n ? n i t e
number
o f d r i v e r a t i o s i s e x p l a i n e d
i n m y
c o p e n d i n g
a p p l i c a t i o n S e r .
N o . 4 6 8 , 4 l 2
r e f e r r e d
t o above.
P i v o t a l
m o v e m e n t of t h e mounting
arm
5 7
w i l l
have
a
minimal e f f e c t on t h e
r e q u i r e d l e n g t h o f c h a i n
7 5 .
However, a n i d l e r 134 ( F I G . 1 ) may
b e p r o v i d e d ,
i f d e
s i r e d ,
t o t e n s i o n t h e c h a i n 7 5 .
F I G S . 6-8
show
a v e r t i c a l l y p e d a l l e d b i c y c l e 1 l a
con
s t r u c t e d
i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e t e a c h i n g s o f t h i s i n v e n
t i o n .
E x c e p t a s n o t e d
s p e c i ? c a l l y
h e r e i n , t h e b i c y c l e
1 1 a i s i d e n t i c a l
t o
t h e b i c y c l e l 1 a n d c o r r e s p o n d i n g
p o r t i o n s
a r e
d e s i g n a t e d
b y c o r r e s p o n d i n g
r e f e r e n c e
n u
m e r a l s f o l l o w e d b y
t h e
l e t t e r a .
The
b i c y c l e
11a
h a s a
frame 13a
which
m a y
be of
t h e
t y p e shown i n m y c o p e n d i n g a p p l i c a t i o n S e r . N o .
3 l 5 , 4 9 7 ,
f i l e d D e c .
I 5 ,
1 9 7 2 , a n d
e n t i t l e d “ V e l o c i
p e d e . The
f r a m e 1 3 0
h a s
f r a m e
members
23a
and 25a
t o which t h e
r e a r wheel 15a
i s attached
i n
t h e s a m e
m anner sh o w n i n FIGS. 1 - 5 .
The
b i c y c l e 1 1 a
i s
m a n u a l l y p o w e r e d b y l e v e r s 1 3 5
which a r e mounted o n t h e frame 13a by
p i n s
137 f o r
o s c i l l a t o r y movement a b o u t s u c h
p i n s
w i t h t h e a x i s
o f
t h e
o s c i l l a t o r y
movement b e i n g
p a r a l l e l
t o ,
a n d c l o s e l y
a d j a c e n t
t h e
a x i s o f
t h e w h e e l 1 5 a .
A
s u i t a b l e l i n k a g e
1 3 9
i s
coupled
t o both of t h e
l e v e r s
135
and t o t h e
frame
m e m ber
25a
t o
p o s i t i v e l y
i n t e r c o n n e c t t h e
l e
v e r s .
This
a s s u r e s
t h a t w h e n one of
t h e
l e v e r s 1 3 5
i s
moving on
t s down ward
s t r o k e , t h e
o t h e r l e v e r
135
i l l
b e moving
o n i t s
upward
s t r o k e . The l i n k a g e 139 may
b e s u b s t a n t i a l l y a s d i s c l o s e d i n m y c o p e n d i n g
a p p l i c a
t i o n
S e r . No.
315,497 r e f e r r e d t o
a b o v e .
0
20
2 5
35
55
60
65
8
A r a n s m i s s i o n 21a t r a n s m i t s
power
f r o m t h e p e d a l s
19a
t o t h e r e a r
wheel
1 5 a . The
t r a n s m i s s i o n
21a i n
c l u d e s
c a b l e s
141 a t t a c h e d a t
t h e i r
lower ends
t o t h e
l e v e r s
1 3 5 ,
r e s p e c t i v e l y ,
and
at t h e i r u p p e r e n d s t o
cams
1 4 3 ,
r e s p e c t i v e l y .
Each
o f t h e
c a b l e s
1 4 ]
i s
wrapped p a r t l y
around t h e a s s o c i a t e d
c a m
1 4 3 .
Each
o f
t h e
ca ms
1 4 3
has
a
p e r i p h e r y
144 which
i s a p p r o p r i
a t e l y c o n f i g u r e d s o t h a t
t h e d r i v e r a t i o
between
t h e a s
s o c i a t e d
l e v e r 135
and
t h e
t r a n s m i s s i o n
u n i t 22a v a r i e s
a s
a f u n c t i o n
o f
t h e
a n g u l a r
p o s i t i o n
o f
s u c h l e v e r . The
contour
o f
t h e
p e r i p h e r i e s
1 4 4 can
be
s e l e c t e d t o
t a i l o r
t h i s d r i v e
r a t i o
t o t h e p a r t i c u l a r
r e s u l t s d e s i r e d . The
cams
1 4 3 a r e
r e t u r n e d by r e t u r n
s p r i n g s 1 4 2
( o n l y
one
b e i n g
shown i n
F I G .
6 ) a t t a c h e d t o
t h e c a m s ,
r e s p e c
t i v e l y ,
and t o
t h e
f r a m e 1 3 a .
Each
o f t h e cams
143 s
r o t a t a b l y mounted by a b e a r
i n g 1 4 5 i n
a
s h a f t 1 4 7
h a v i n g
an
a x i a l
stepped
b o r e
ex
t e n d i n g
t h r o u g h
i t
The
s h a f t 1 4 7
i s
i n t u r n r o t a t ab l y
mounted by
b e a r i n g s
149 f o r r o t a t i o n w i t h i n a b l o c k
151
which i s a t t a c h e d t o t h e
frame
1 3 a i n
any
s u i t a b l e
m a n n e r
such
a s
by
screws 153.
The
cams
143 a r e d r i v i n g l y coupled t o t h e s h a f t
147
b y one-way
c l u t c h e s 1 5 5 ,
r e s p e c t i v e l y , a n d a r e
h e l d
t h e r e i n b y
a
b o l t
1 5 6 .
Each o f t h e one-way
c l u t c h e s
155
i s arranged
s o t h a t i t i s
i n a
d r i v i n g m o d e when t h e a s s o
c i a t e d l e v e r
135 i s
o n i t s
d o w n w a r d
s t r o k e
and
i s i n a
f r e e - w h e e l i n g
m o d e when t h e a s s o c i a t e d l e v e r i s
o n
i t s
upward s t r o k e . A c c o r d i n g l y ,
t h e
s h a f t 1 4 7 i s
d r i v e n
u n i d i r e c t i o n a l l y
a n d
a l t e r n a t e l y b y
t h e
l e v e r s 1 3 5 .
To
t r a n s m i t t h e
r o t a t i o n a l m ovement of t h e s h a f t 147
t o t h e r e a r w h e e l 1 5 a ,
a
s p r o c k e t 157 s s u i t a b l y a f ? x e d
t o t h e s h a f t 147 and an e n d l e s s c h a i n 75a
cooperates
w i t h t h e s p r o c k e t
157 and
a
t r a n s m i s s i o n
u n i t
22a
which
m a y
b e
s u b s t a n t i a l l y i d e n t i c a l
t o t h e
t r a n s m i s s i o n
u n i t 2 2
shown
i n F I G . 5 .
The c h a i n
75a d r i v e s a
s p r o c k e t ( n o t
s h o w n ) c o r r e s p o n d i n g
w i t h t h e s p r o c k e t
7 1
shown i n
F I G . 5 . A c c o r d i n g l y , r o t a t i o n a l i n p u t
i s
p r o v i d e d
t o
t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n
u n i t
22a
which
f u n c t i o n s
i n t h e m anner described
above
t o d r i v e
t h e
r e a r
wheel
1 5 a .
The t r a n s m i s s i o n
u n i t
2 2 0
i s p r e v e n t e d
f r o m r o t a t i n g
by
an arm 530
which
i s a t t a c h e d
t o
t h e
frame
m e m b e r
2 5 a .
The
t r a n s m i s s i o n u n i t 220 i s r o t a t e d
a p p r o x i
m a t e l y 7 0 °
c o u n t e r c l o c k w i s e from t h e p o s i t i o n occu
p i e d
b y t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n u n i t
2 2 .
I n o p e r a t i o n o f t h e b i c y c l e 1 1 a , o s c i l l a t i o n o f
t h e l e
v e r s 135 d r i v e s t h e c a m s 1 4 3 .
Each
of
t h e l e v e r s
1 3 5
d r i v e s t h e a s s o c i a t e d
c a m
1 4 3 o n
i t s
d o w n w a r d
s t r o k e
and
t h e
c a m i s
r e t u r n by t h e
a s s o c i a t e d
r e t u r n
s p r i n g
1 4 2 d u r i n g
t h e
upward
s t r o k e
o f
t h e a s s o c i a t e d l e v e r .
The s h a f t
1 4 7
i s d r i v e n u n i d i r e c t i o n a l l y a n d a l t e r n a t e l y
b y
t h e cams 1 4 3 t h r o u g h t h e a s s o c i a t e d one-way
c l u t c h e s
1 5 5 .
The r o t a t i o n a l motion
o f
t h e s h a f t 147 i s
t r a n s m i t t e d
t o t h e
t r a n s m i s s i o n
u n i t 22a b y way o f
t h e
s p r o c k e t
157
and
t h e
c h a i n
7 5 0 .
With
t h e
b i c y c l e
1 1 0 ,
t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n
u n i t 220 p e r
mits t h e
r i d e r
t o s e l e c t a d r i v e
r a t i o
and t h e ca ms
1 4 3
p r o v i d e d r i v e r a t i o v a r i a t i o n a s a f u n c t i o n o f
a n g u l a r
p o s i t i o n
o f
t h e l e v e r s 1 3 5 . One f e a t u r e o f t h e i n v e n t i o n
i s
t h a t t h e cam s
1 4 3
d r i v e
t h e
t r a n s m i s s i o n
u n i t 2 2 a s o
t h a t t h e
c a m f u n c t i o n i s n o t
a l t e r e d by
t h e d r i v e
r a t i o
c h a n g e s
i n
t h e
t r a n s m i s s i o n
u n i t .
A l t h o u g h
e x e m p l a r y e m b o d i m e n t s o f t h i s i n v e n t i o n
h a v e b e e n shown a n d d e s c r i b e d , many c h a n g e s , modi?
c a t i o n s
and s u b s t i t u t i o n s my be m a d e by t h o s e w i t h o r
d i n a r y
s k i l l
i n t h e a r t w i t h o u t
n e c e s s a r i l y
d e p a r t i n g ‘
from
t h e
s p i r i t and s c o p e o f
t h i s
i n v e n t i o n .
8/20/2019 Us Patent 3913947
9/10
3 , 9 1 3 , 9 4 7
9
I c l a i m :
1 .
A e h i c l e
adapted
t o
m o v e
a l o n g a s u p p o r t i n g s u r
f a c e c o m p r i s i n g :
a frame;
a t l e a s t one w h e e l , s a i d wheel
h a v i n g a c e n t r a l l y l o
c a t e d
h u b ;
? r s t means c o o p e r a b l e w i t h
t h e
hub
f o r mounting t h e
wheel
o n
t h e frame f o r
r o t a t i o n a l
m o v e m e n t r e l a ‘
t i v e t o t h e frame about a ? r s t r o t a t i o n a l
a x i s ,
s a i d
w h e e l b e i n g
a d a p t e d
t o
r o l l
a l o n g
t h e s u p p o r t i n g
s u r f a c e ;
an
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
m e m b e r
a t l e a s t p a r t i a l l y
w i t h i n
s a i d
h u b ;
second
means
f o r mounting
s a i d i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
member
f o r
r o t a t i o n a l m o v e m e n t about
a
second
r o t a t i o n a l
a x i s ,
s a i d
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e member
and
s a i d hub
b e i n g r e l a t i v e l y
m o v a b l e a l o n g
a p a t h
h a v
i n g a r a d i a l component t o p e r m i t a d j u s t m e n t i n t h e
r e l a t i v e r a d i a l p o s i t i o n o f t h e f i r s t and second r o t a
t i o n a l a x e s ;
d r i v e
means
i n c l u d i n g
a t
l e a s t one
one-way
c l u t c h
and
a t l e a s t
one d r i v e
element f o r d r i v i n g l y
cou
p l i n g s a i d
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e member t o s a i d h u b , s a i d
one-way
c l u t c h a n d
s a i d
d r i v e
e l e m e n t b e i n g
w i t h i n
s a i d h u b , s a i d
d r i v e
e l e m e n t
b e i n g
d r i v a b l e
a i o n g a
p a t h
which c i r c u m s c r i b e s t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e mem
b e r ;
means f o r i m p a r t i n g i n p u t
motion
t o
a t l e a s t one of
s a i d
hub
a n d s a i d
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
member; and
means o p e r a b l e
b y t h e
o p e r a t o r o f t h e
v e h i c l e
f o r
a d
j u s t i n g
t h e r e l a t i v e
r a d i a l p o s i t i o n o f s a i d
r o t a t i o n a l
a x e s whereby t h e d r i v e
r a t i o
between
s a i d hub
and
s a i d
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
me mb er
can
b e
v a r i e d
by
t h e
o p e r a t o r .
2 . A
e h i c l e a s
de?ned
i n c l a i m
1
wherein s a i d
one
one-way
c l u t c h i s a
? r s t one-way
c l u t c h ,
s a i d d r i v e
means i n c l u d i n g
a second one-way
c l u t c h ,
s a i d ? r s t and
second one-way c l u t c h e s b e i n g mounted on s a i d
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
member.
3 . A
e h i c l e a s
de?ned i n
c l a i m
1 wherein s a i d
s e c
ond means i n c l u d e s a
mounting
ar m l y i n g
a t l e a s t
sub
s t a n t i a l l y o u t s i d e o f
s a i d
h u b , s a i d
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e mem
b e r b e i n g
r o t a t a b l y
mounted on s a i d mounting arm
f o r
r o t a t i o n a l
movement
about
s a i d
second
r o t a t i o n a l a x i s ,
s a i d
m o u n t i n g arm
b e i n g
movable t o
c h a n g e t h e r e l a
t i v e r a d i a l p o s i t i o n o f
s a i d
? r s t a n d s e c o n d r o t a t a b l e
a x e s , s a i d
i m p a r t i n g
means
d r i v i n g
s a i d
i n n e r r o t at a b l e
member.
4 . A e h i c l e a s de?ned i n c l a i m 3
i n c l u d i n g
means f o r
p i v o t a l l y m o u n t i n g
s a i d
m o u n t i n g
a r m .
5 .
A v e h i c l e
a s de?ned i n
c l a i m 3
wherein
s a i d
m o u n t i n g
arm r o t a t a b l y
s u p p o r t s t h e
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
me mb er a t l e a s t
a t
? r s t and second s p a c e d l o c a t i o n s
a l o n g t h e i n n e r r o t at a b l e member,
s a i d
i m p a r t i n g
m e a ns includes
a
member m ou nted on s a i d inner r o t a t
a b l e me mb er between s a i d ? r s t and second l o c a t i o n s .
6 . A e h i c l e a s
de?ned
i n
c l a i m 1
wherein s a i d hub
h a s an end w a l l w i t h
an
opening
t h e r e in , s a i d
i n n e r r o
t a t a b l e member
p r o j e c t s
t h r o u g h
s a i d
o p e n i n g a n d i s
m o v a b l e
a l o n g
s a i d p a t h , s a i d
o p e n i n g
b e i n g s u f ?
c i e n t l y l a r g e
t o
accommodate
t h e
movement
o f
s a i d
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
member a l o n g s a i d p a t h , a n d ? e x i b l e
s e a l
means
between
t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
m e m b e r
and
t h e hub
f o r
s e a l i n g s a i d o p e n i n g
and
f o r
accommodat
i n g t h e movement o f s a i d i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
me mb er a l o n g
s a i d p a t h .
20
25
30
3 5
40
4 5
5 0
5 5
60
10
7 .
A e h i c l e a s
de?ned i n c l a i m
1 wherein s a i d im
p a r t i n g means i n c l u d e s
a l e v e r
mounted f o r
o s c i l l a t o r y
m o v e m e n t about
a p i v o t
a x i s and having m eans t o co
o p e r a t e w i t h
t h e f o o t o f
t h e o p e r a t o r t o p e r m i t
t h e l e v e r
t o b e p i v o t e d a b o u t s u c h
p i v o t a l
a x i s ,
t h i r d means f o r
v a r y i n g
t h e
d r i v e
r a t i o
between s a i d l e v e r and
s a i d
one
of s a i d
i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
member
and
s a i d
hub a s a
func
t i o n
o f t h e
a n g u l a r
p o s i t i o n
o f s a i d
l e v e r a b o u t
s a i d
p i v o t
a x i s ,
a n d
means
f o r d r i v i n g l y
i n t e r c o n n e c t i n g
s a i d
t h i r d
m e a n s
and
s a i d one of
s a i d
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e mem
ber and s a i d
hub
whereby s a i d t h i r d mea ns can d r i v e
s a i d one o f s a i d i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
m e m b e r and s a i d h u b .
8 .
A e h i c l e a s de?ned i n claim 1
wherein
s a i d
s e c
ond
mea ns mounts s a i d
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e m e m b e r f o r
movement a l o n g
s a i d p a t h ,
s a i d
a d j u s t i n g
means i n
c l u d e s
a
?xed member, a n e l o n g a t e d me mb er d r i v i n g l y
c o u p l e d
t o
s a i d i n n e r r o t a t ab l e me mb er and e x t e n d i n g
t h r o u g h
s a i d ?xed member, and a t l e a s t one
l o c k i n g e l
ement
a d a p t e d t o b e
wedged
between
a t l e a s t p o r t i o n s
o f
s a i d
members
whereby
s a i d
e l o n g a t e d
member
a n d
s a i d
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
m e m b e r
can
be
h e l d i n a s e l e c t e d
p o s i t i o n ,
and
means
f o r
p e r m i t t i n g t h e o p e r a t o r t o s e
l e c t i v e l y
r e l e a s e t h e l o c k i n g
e l e m e n t
t o a l l o w move
ment o f
s a i d
e l o n g a t e d
member
t o
a d j u s t t h e
r a d i a l po
s i t i o n o f t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e m e m b e r e l a t i v e t o
t h e
h u b .
9 . A e h i c l e adapted t o m o v e a l o n g a s u p p o r t i n g s u r
f a c e
c o m p r i s i n g :
a frame;
a t l e a s t one w h e e l , s a i d
w h e e l h a v i n g
a
c e n t r a l l y
l o
c a t e d h u b ;
? r s t means
c o o p e r a b l e w i t h
t h e
hub
f o r mounting t h e
wheel o n t h e frame
f o r
r o t a t i o n a l m o v e m e n t r e l a
t i v e t o
t h e frame about
a ? r s t
r o t a t i o n a l a x i s , s a i d
w h e e l b e i n g a d a p t e d t o r o l l
a l o n g t h e
s u p p o r t i n g
s u r f a c e ;
s a i d hub h a v i n g a n end w a l l w i t h a n o p e n i n g t h e r e i n ;
a n i n n e r r o t a t a b l e member
e x t e n d i n g
t h r o u g h s a i d
o p e n i n g
a n d
i n t o s a i d
h u b ;
means f o r mounting s a i d i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
m e m ber f o r
r o t a t i o n a l m ovement about a
second
r o t a t i o n a l
a x i s
a n d
f o r movement a l o n g a p a t h t o p e r m i t
a d j u s t
ment n
t h e
r e l a t i v e r a d i a l p o s i t i o n o f t h e r o t a t i o n a l
axes;
d r i v e
means f o r d r i v i n g l y
c o u p l i n g
t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
m e m ber
t o
t h e h u b ;
s a i d
o p e n i n g
i n
t h e
end
w a l l
o f
s a i d
hub b e i n g s u f ?
c i e n t l y
l a r g e
t o
accommodate
t h e
movement
o f
t h e
i n n e r r o t a t a b l e member
a l o n g s a i d p a t h ;
f l e x i b l e
s e a l
m eans between t h e
i n n e r r o t a t a b l e mem
b e r
and
t h e
hub
f o r s e a l i n g
s a i d
opening
and f o r
a c
commodating
t h e movement
o f s a i d
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
member
a l o n g s a i d
p a t h ;
means
f o r
d r i v i n g t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e
member;
and
means o p e r a b l e b y
t h e
o p e r a t o r o f t h e v e h i c l e f o r
m o v i n g t h e i n n e r r o t a t a b l e member a l o n g s a i d p a t h
whereby
t h e d r i v e
r a t i o
between t h e
hub
and t h e
i n n e r
member can be v a r i e d .
1 0 .
A heeled v e h i c l e a d a p t e d t o b e
p r o p e l l e d
b y
a
r i d e r c o m p r i s i n g :
a
frame;
a
f r o n t wheel r o t a t a b l y
mounted
o n s a i d
f r a m e ;
a r e a r
wheel r o t a t a b l y
mounted o n s a i d f r a m e ;
a
? r s t l e v e r m ounted
o n
s a i d frame f o r o s c i l l a t o r y
m o v e m e n t about
a
? r s t p i v o t a l a x i s ;
a second
l e v e r
m ounted o n s a i d frame
f o r
o s c i l l a t o r y
m o v e m e n t about
a
second p i v o t a l
a x i s ;
8/20/2019 Us Patent 3913947
10/10
3 , 9 1 3 , 9 4 7
1 1
each
o f
s a i d
l e v e r s having
mea ns
adapted
t o cooper
a t e w i t h a f o o t
of
t h e r i d e r t o p i v o t such l e v e r about
i t s p i v o t a l
a x i s ;
t r a n s m i s s i o n means f o r d r i v i n g l y c o u p l i n g s a i d l e v e r s
t o one o f s a i d
wheels
whereby t h e o s c i l l a t o r y mo
t i o n o f t h e l e v e r s d r i v e s s a i d one
w h e e l ;
s a i d
t r a n s m i s s i o n
mea ns
i n c l u d i n g
? r s t
m eans
d r i v e n
b y s a i d
? r s t l e v e r
f o r v a r y i n g
t h e d r i v e r a t i o b e
tween t h e
? r s t
l e v e r and s a i d
o n e wheel
a s
a func
t i o n o f t h e
a n g u l a r
p o s i t i o n
o f s a i d ? r s t l e v e r a b o u t
s a i d
? r s t p i v o t a l
a x i s ; a n d
s a i d t r a n s m i s s i o n m eans including second
m e a ns
d r i v e n
b y
s a i d ? r s t
means f o r
v a r y i n g t h e d r i v e
r a t i o
between t h e second m eans and s a i d one wheel and
c o n t r o l means o p e r a b l e b y t h e r i d e r f o r c o n t r o l l i n g
s a i d second mea ns whereby
t h e
r i d e r
can s e l e c
t i v e l y
a d j u s t t h e
d r i v e r a t i o .
1 l .
A
heeled v e h i c l e
a s de?ned i n c l a i m
10
wherein
s a i d
one
wheel i n c l u d e s a c e n t r a l l y l o c a t e d hub, a t l e a s t
a s u b s t a n t i a l
p o r t i o n
o f s a i d second
means b e i n g
h o u s e d b y
s a i d
h u b .
1 2 .
A wheeled v e h i c l e
a s de?ned i n
c l a i m
10 wherein
s a i d f i r s t m e a ns includes a
c a m ,
a s h a f t r o t a t a b l y
m o unted
o n s a i d frame, and
m eans i n c l u d i n g
a
one-way
c l u t c h
f o r
r o t a t a b l y mounting
s a i d c a m
on
s a i d
s h a f t ,
and s a i d t r a n s m i s s i o n
mea ns
i n c l u d e s m eans f o r d r i v
i n g l y c o u p l i n g s a i d s h a f t
t o s a i d
second m e a n s .
1 3 . A v e h i c l e adapted t o m ove
a l o n g
a
s u p p o r t i n g
s u r f a c e
c o m p r i s i n g :
a frame;
a t l e a s t one wheel;
m eans
f o r mounting
t h e
wheel o n t h e
frame
f o r
r o t a
t i o n a l movement e l a t i v e t o s a i d frame
about
a f i r s t
r o t a t i o n a l a x i s ,
s a i d w h e e l
b e i n g a d a p t e d t o r o l l
a l o n g
t h e
s u p p o r t i n g
s u r f a c e ;
a n
i n p u t member;
means f o r
mounting
t h e
i n p u t
m e m b e r
on t h e
frame
f o r m ovement r e l a t i v e
t o
t h e
f r a m e ;
t r a n s m i s s i o n means
f o r d r i v i n g l y
i n t e r c o n n e c t i n g
t h e
i n p u t m e m ber and
s a i d
wheel s o t h a t
movement
o f
t h e i n p u t member d r i v e s s a i d w h e e l ;
s a i d
t r a n s m i s s i o n
means
i n c l u d i n g means f o r
v a r y i n g
t h e
d r i v e
r a t i o between
s a i d
i n p u t member and s a i d
w h e e l ;
c o n t r o l
means o p e r a b l e
b y t h e o p e r a t o r
o f
t h e v e h i
c l e f o r ad j u s t i n g s a i d t r a n s m i s s i o n
means t o t h e r e b y
a d j u s t s a i d
d r i v e
r a t i o ;
s a i d c o n t r o l means i n c l u d i n g an e l o n g a t e d
m e m ber
d r i v i n g l y
coupled
t o
t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n
means and
extending t o a l o c a t i o n a c c e s si b l e t o t h e o p e r a t o r ,
a
s u b s t a n t i a l l y ?xed
member mounted
o n s a i d
f r a m e , a n d a
l o c k i n g
e l e m e n t
a d a p t e d
t o b e
wedged
between a t l e a s t p o r t i o n s o f
s a i d
members
t o
t h e r e b y
h o l d t h e
e l o n g a t e d member i n p o s i t i o n t o
m a i n t a i n t h e d r i v e r a t i o
e s t a b l i s h e d
by
t h e t r a n s
m i s s i o n
means s u b s t a n t i a l l y c o n s t a n t ;
and
s a i d c o n t r o l means i n c l u d i n g
means
o p e r a b l e b y t h e
o p e r a t o r f o r r e l e a s i n g t h e l o c k i n g
e l e m e n t
f r o m
w e d g i n g
e n g a g e m e n t
w i t h s a i d members
t o
t h e r e b y
p e r m i t t h e o p e r a t o r t o
a d j u s t
t h e d r i v e r a t i o e s t a b
l i s h e d by
t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n
means.
1 4 . A
e h i c l e a s
de?ned i n claim
13
wherein s a i d r e
l e a s i n g means i n c l u d e s a t l e a s t
a
p o r t i o n o f t h e
e l o n
g a t e d
me mb er between t h e ?xed me mb er and s a i d l o
c a t i o n .
20
25
30
3 5
40
45
50
55
60
65
12
1 5 . A
v e h i c l e
a s de?ned i n claim 13 wherein s a i d
?xed m e m ber
i n c l u d e s
a h o u s i n g member, s a i d
e l o n
g a t e d
member
e x t en d i n g t h r o u g h s a i d h o u s i n g
m e m
b e r ,
a t l e a s t
one
o f s a i d h o u s i n g
member
and e l o n g a t e d
m e m b e r h a v i n g a
r a m p
s u r f a c e t h e r e o n , and
means
f o r
d r i v i n g
s a i d
l o c k i n g
e l e m e n t
up s a i d
ramp s u r f a c e
t o
t h e r e b y
l o c k
t h e
e l o n g a t e d
me mb e r
t o
t h e
?xed
mem
b e r .
1 6 .
A
v e h i c l e a s de?ned i n
c l a i m 13 wherein
s a i d
wheel
i n c l u d e s
a
c e n t r a l l y l o c a t e d
hub and a t l e a s t a
s u b s t a n t i a l
p o r t i o n o f s a i d t r a n s m i s s i o n
means
i s
housed i n
s a i d
h u b .
1 7 .
A
e h i c l e a s de?ned n c l a i m 1 wherein
s a i d
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
m e m ber i n c l u d e s
a s h a f t e x t e n d i n g i n t o s a i d
hub,
s a i d i m p a r t i n g means i n c l u d e s
a
d r i v e me mb e r
mounted
o n and
d r i v i n g l y c o u p l e d
t o s a i d
s h a f t , and
s a i d
a d j u s t i n g means a d j u s t s t h e
r a d i a l
p o s i t i o n
o f s a i d
s h a f t .
1 8 . A
e h i c l e
a s de?ned n c l a i m 17 wherein
s a i d
hub
h a s o p p o s i t e e n d s , s a i d ? r s t
means
i n c l u d e s t h i r d
means
f o r r o t a t a b l y
mounting
one end o f
s a i d
hub
o n s a i d
frame and f o u r t h
means f o r
mounting
t h e
o t h e r end
o f
s a i d
hub o n s a i d frame, s a i d f o u r t h mea ns i n c l u d i n g a
n o n r o t a t a b l e
m e m ber o u t s i d e
o f
s a i d s h a f t .
1 9 . A v e h i c l e a s de?ned i n
c l a i m
18
wherein
s a i d
n o n r o t a t a b l e me mb e r
a t l e a s t
p a r t i a l l y
houses
s a i d s e c
ond m eans.
2 0 .
A
e h i c l e a s
de?ned
i n claim 1
wherein s a i d
o n e
w a y
c l u t c h i s
mounted
o n t h e i n n e r r o t a t ab l e
member
a n d
s a i d
d r i v e
e l e m e n t d r i v i n g l y c o u p l e s
t h e o n e - w a y
c l u t c h
t o
t h e
h u b .
2 1 .
A e h i c l e a s de?ned i n claim 1
wherein
s a i d hub
has
a
p e r i p h e r a l w a l l
and
s a i d
d r i v e
m eans extends
gen
e r a l l y
r a d i a l l y
o u t w a r d l y
f r o m
s a i d
i n n e r
r o t a t a b l e
m e mber
t o
s a i d p e r i p h e r a l
w a l l .
2 2 .
A
e h i c l e a d a p t e d t o move
a l o n g
a s u p p o r t i n g
s u r f a c e
c o m p r i s i n g :
a
frame;
a t l e a s t
one
w h e e l ,
s a i d
wheel h a v i n g a c e n t r a l l y l o
c a t e d h u b ;
? r s t
means
c o o p e r a b l e w i t h t h e
hub
f o r mounting t h e
wheel
o n
t h e frame
f o r r o t a t i o n a l
m ove ment
r e l a
t i v e t o t h e frame about a ? r s t r o t a t i o n a l a x i s , s a i d
w h e e l
b e i n g
a d a p t e d
t o
r o l l a l o n g t h e s u p p o r t i n g
s u r f a c e ;
a s h a f t at l e a s t p a r t i a l l y
w i t h i n
s a i d h u b , s a i d s h a f t
h a v i n g a c e n t r a l a x i s ;
second
means
f o r
mounting
s a i d s h a f t f o r r o t a t i o n a l
m o v e m e n t
about a second r o t a t i o n a l a x i s ,
s a i d
sec
ond
r o t a t i o n a l a x i s and s a i d
c e n t r a l a x i s b e i n g
s u b
s t a n t i a l l y
c o i n c i d e n t ,
s a i d
s h a f t a n d s a i d hub
b e i n g
r e l a t i v e l y
m o v a b l e
a l o n g a p a t h h a v i n g a
r a d i a l
component
t o p e r m i t a d j u s t m e n t i n
t h e
r e l a t i v e
r a
d i a l p o s i t i o n
o f
s a i d ? r s t
and second
r o t a t i o n a l
axes;
d r i v e means i n c l u d i n g a t l e a s t
one
one-way c l u t c h
f o r
d r i v i n g l y c o u p l i n g s a i d i n n e r r o t a t a b l e member t o
s a i d h u b ;
a
d r i v e m e m b e r
m ounted on t h e
s h a f t f o r
d r i v i n g
s a i d
s h a f t ;
a n d
means f o r
a d j u s t i n g t h e
r a d i a l
p o s i t i o n
o f s a i d
s h a f t
t o
a d j u s t
t h e
d r i v e r a t i o between s a i d hub
and
s a i d
s h a f t .
1 k