WO2002074219A2

WO2002074219A2 - Manual driving mechanism for a three- or more wheel vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2002074219A2
Application number: PCT/SI2002/000008
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mitja Cebulj
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-20
Filing date: 2002-03-20
Publication date: 2002-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2003-09-20
Also published as: DE60234321D1; AU2002239217A1; SI20467B; WO2002074219A3; SI20467A; EP1372564B1; EP1372564A2; ATE447919T1

Abstract

The invention involves the manual driving mechanism for a three- or more wheel vehicle, such as to enable transmission of circular hand-driven movement through gear connection of the main gear (1) and the intermediate gears (2, 2'), as well as via friction wheels (2a, 2b, 2a', 2b') to the driven wheel (4) of the vehicle with appropriate shift ratio and simple driving control forwards or backwards along with the possibility of braking and sudden stopping and/or blocking of the driven wheel (4). The mechanism is constructed in the way that it can be mounted and/or built on to the existing vehicle, e.g. a wheelchair following a simple intervention.

Description

MANUAL DRIVING MECHANISM FOR A THREE- OR MORE WHEEL

VEHICLE

The invention refers to the manual driving mechanism for a three- or more wheel vehicle. The mechanism referred to in this invention enables, by means of a circular hand-driven movement through detachable friction wheels and the corresponding construction elements, the driving wheel friction driving of three- or more-wheel vehicles, e.g. a tricycle, a wheelchair and similar vehicles, their forwards-backwards movement, stopping and blocking on the spot. The invention has been classified as class B 62 M 1/14 of the International Patent Classification. The technical problem successfully solved by the mechanism referred to in this invention involves such construction of the driving mechanism for a three- or more wheel vehicle that will provide for efficient manual driving of the vehicle forwards and backwards along with the possibility of its stopping. The constructional solution of the new mechanism referred to in this invention shall also be simple to manufacture and suitable for subsequent mounting on any or on the already existing three or more-wheel vehicle. The mechanism referred to in this invention will be shown on the example of a wheelchair, although the manual driving mechanism referred to in this invention is not limited to such vehicles.

The driving mechanisms of hand-driven wheelchairs have been based on several principles.

Thus the user can drive the wheelchair by directly pushing the rims that are fixed to the driving wheels. In this way the user can turn the wheelchair on the spot by turning one wheel with one hand in one direction and the other wheel into the opposite direction. The bad side of such driving is bad yield because upon the push-off of the driving rim the user must leave the rim and return his hand into previous position, which means that during one half of the whole hand movement the user does not perform any driving. Another bad side of such driving is an inconvenient angle of the user's wrist and of his whole arm because at the maximum physical strain it only allows for the development of a small portion of the force that the arm could develop at a more favourable angle from the physiological point of view. Even the two subsequent versions of such driven vehicle, shown in the patent document US 5.988.661 and/or

US 6.047.980, with another rim added and enabling two driving speeds, do not eliminate the above described deficiencies.

Another type of wheelchairs are double-hand lever-driven wheelchairs, driven by the user through alternate pushing and pulling of high mounted driving levers that transform linear movements into the driving wheel rotation through an eccentrically fixed and longitudinally mounted girder with rigid and movable bearings. A positive feature of such driving mechanism lies in greater yield when driven on a flat surface; on the other hand, such wheelchair shows worse maneuvering properties and driving up a hill and on a worse ground is difficult. Besides, the mechanically defined length of the driving lever movement can become tiresome for the user after longer use.

The driving mechanism where the user pushes, with his hands stretched forwards, the two driving levers similar to those of a bicycle, connected via a chain, strap or similar medium to the lower driving & steering wheel of the wheelchair (e.g. after DE 198 48 634), is of very complicated construction and driving up the hill is practically impossible.

The invention involves the manual driving mechanism for a three- or more wheel vehicle, such as to enable transmission of circular handdriven movement through gear connection of the main gear and the intermediate gears, as well as via friction wheels to the driven wheel of the vehicle with appropriate shift ratio and simple driving control forwards or backwards along with the possibility of braking and sudden stopping and/or blocking of the driven wheel. The mechanism is constructed in the way that it can be mounted and/or built on to the existing vehicle, e.g. a wheelchair following a simple intervention.

The invention will be explained in detail on the concrete example and with reference to the corresponding pictures whereof Figure 1 shows the manual driving mechanism, such as referred to in this invention, as a side view with non-shown driving lever and in the position ready for driving forwards;

Figure 2 shows the manual driving mechanism, such as referred to in this invention, as a front view;

Figure 3 shows the manual driving mechanism, such as referred to in this invention, in the position for driving backwards;

Figures 4-6 show the manual driving mechanism, such as referred to in this invention, as a side view of the positions relevant for braking and/or blocking of the driving wheel.

The manual driving mechanism for a three- or more wheel vehicle, such as referred to in this invention and shown in the above figures, is contained in the housing A and essentially consists of the main gear 1 in the grip with two intermediate gears 2,2', whereby each of the intermediate gears 2,2' is provided with friction wheels 2a, 2b and 2a', 2b', fixed on both sides. Outside the housing A, the lever B with the handle is fixed to the main gear axle 1 , such as shown for clarity reasons in Fig. 2. The intermediate gears 2,2' connect with the friction wheels 2a, 2b and 2a', 2b' the supports 3,3' that enable, on one hand, the position of both intermediate gears 2,2' in the grip with the main gear 1 , whereas on the other hand by moving the support 3,3' in the axle x it is possible to determine the pair of the friction wheels 2a, 2b or 2a', 2b' that is currently approached to the driven wheel 4. Furthermore, this determines the direction of the driven wheel 4 rotation and in its turn the direction of the movement of the vehicle. The main gear 1 and the intermediate gears 2,2' with the friction wheels 2a, 2b and 2a', 2b' are stiffly fixed by means of the main support 5 to the carrier plate 6 of the mechanism referred to in this invention.

The support 3 and the main support 5 also bear the construction elements determining the direction of rotation and blocking the driven wheels 4. Thus the main support 5 bears the lever 7 for retroactive movement, provided with a limiting button 8, while the lever itself has an extension 7a and the support 3 is provided with a pointer 9 and with a shutter 10. The brake rail 11 is on one end provided with a bearing in the axle 14 on the carrier plate 6 and is fitted with the tooth 11a. On the brake rail, there is also clamped on one end the snap element 12, provided with the tooth 12a.

Figure 1 shows the position of the hand-operated mechanism, such as referred to in this invention, as a side view at the movement forwards. Due to the rotation of the driving lever B, the main gear 1 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow a. At the rotation of the lever B in the direction of the arrow a and in the lever position 7, such as shown in Fig. 1 , the two pairs of friction wheels 2a, 2b and lean against the driven wheel 4 due to the supports 3,3', clamped into the axle in a rotating manner. Due to the gear grip the intermediate gears 2, 2' and in turn the pair of friction wheels 2a,2b and 2a',2b' turn in the direction indicated by the arrows b and c. The lever 7 is in such position that the limiting button 8 makes contact with the pointer 9, the shutter 10 makes contact with the tooth 11a of the brake rail 11 , on one end provided with a bearing in the axle 14. Therefore, in spite of the operation of the spring 13, the tooth 12a of the snap element 12 does not fit into the indentation of the main gear 1. The pairs of friction wheels 2a, 2b and 2a',2b' are pressed against the driven wheel 4, which results in the movement of the driven wheel 4 in the direction indicated by the arrow d and marked as the forward direction. In the event that the vehicle is supposed to move in the opposite direction, i.e. backwards, it is necessary to move the lever 7 into the reverse ride position. Such position is shown in Fig. 3 that shows the position of the manual driving mechanism referred to in this invention as a side view at reverse ride. Due to the rotation of the driving lever B. Due to the rotation of the driving lever B, the main gear 1 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow e. At the rotation of the lever B in the direction of the arrow e and in the lever position 7 for reverse ride, such as shown in Fig. 3, the two pairs of friction wheels 2a',2b' lean against the driven wheel 4 due to the supports 3,3', clamped into the axle in a rotating manner. Due to the gear grip the intermediate gears 2, 2' and in turn the pair of friction wheels 2a, 2b and 2a', 2b' turn in the direction indicated by the arrows f and g. The lever 7 is in such position that the limiting button 8 makes no contact with the pointer 9, the shutter 10 makes no contact with the tooth 11a of the brake rail 11 , on one end provided with a bearing in the axle 14. In this case the tooth 11a of the brake rail 11 makes contact with the extension piece 7a of the lever 7. Therefore, in spite of the operation of the spring 13, the tooth 12a of the snap element 12 does not fit into the indentation of the main gear 1. In this case the pairs of friction wheels 2a',2b' are pressed against the driven wheel 4, which results in the movement of the driven wheel 4 in the direction indicated by the arrow h and marked as the backward direction.

The operation of the mechanism referred to in this invention and the position of individual parts at braking are shown in Figures 4 through 6, indicating the momentary positions of the manual driving mechanism referred to in this invention, as a side view at braking and/or blocking of the driving wheel.

If in the ride forwards one wishes to brake, it is necessary to move the driving lever B in the direction for reverse ride, while the lever 7 shall remain in the forwards ride position. Such position is shown in Fig. 4. In the respective moment, due to the momentary rotation of the driving lever B, the main gear 1 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow e. During the rotation of the lever B in the direction of the arrow e and with the lever 7 in the position for driving forwards, due to the supports 3,3' flexibly clamped in the axle, the two pairs of friction wheels 2a, 2b move away from the driven wheel 4, while the two pairs of the friction wheels 2a', 2b' do not lean against the driven wheel 4 because prevented to do so by the position of the shutter 10. By moving the lever B in the direction of the arrow e, the support 3, bearing the stiffly fixed shutter 10, moves as well. Due to the movement of the support 3, the tooth 11a of the brake rail 11 , on one end provided with a bearing in the axle 14, slips from the position on the support 3, while due to the operation of the spring 13 the tooth 12a of the snap element 12 gets caught between the teeth of the gear 1.

At further movement of the lever B in the direction of the arrow e (position shown in Fig. 5), due to the rotation of the gear 1 in the direction e, the free end of the brake rail 11 , due to the pressure of the snap element 12 via the tooth 12a approaches the driven wheel and starts gliding on it. At further movement of the lever B in the direction of the arrow e (Fig. 6), the free end of brake rail gets impressed into the usually rubber surface of the driven wheel 4, whereby the wheel gets blocked and the vehicle stops. In the above operation, e.g. both driven wheels of a vehicle, like a wheelchair, can be successfully steered during the ride forwards and backwards; they also allow for braking and/or stopping on the spot and/or braking while riding downhill.

In addition to the above advantages, the manual driving mechanism of a three-or more-wheel vehicle referred to in this invention allows for simple mounting and removal, without any additional connections or transformation of the vehicle.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. The manual driving mechanism for a three- or more wheel vehicle, characterized in that the housing (A) contains the main gear (1) in the grip with two intermediate gears (2,2'), whereby the intermediate gear (2) is provided with laterally fixed friction wheels (2a,2b) and (2a',2b'), fixed on both sides; that the intermediate gears (2,2') reciprocally connect the supports (3,3') that are flexibly clamped in the axle (x) of the main gear (1), whereby the main gear (1), the supports (3,3') with the intermediate gears (2,2') and with the friction wheels (2a,2b,2a',2b') are stiffly fixed by means of the main support (5) to the carrier plate (6) and that the driving lever (B) with the handle lying outside the housing (A) is stiffly connected with the axle of the main gear (1).

2. The manual driving mechanism for a three- or more wheel vehicle, in accordance with claim 1 , characterized in that the main support (5) bears the lever (7) for retroactive movement, provided with a limiting button (8), while the lever itself has an extension

(7a); that the support (3) is provided with a pointer (9) and with a shutter

(10), while the brake rail (11) is on one end provided with a bearing in the axle (14) on the carrier plate (6) and is fitted with the tooth (11a) and with the snap element (12), provided with the tooth (12a).

3. The manual driving mechanism for a three- or more wheel vehicle, in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that the limiting button (8) and the pointer (9) are mounted in the way to allow for their contacts, depending on the position of the lever (7) and that the shutter (10) is mounted in the way that in a specific position of the lever (7) it makes a grip with the tooth (11 a) of the brake rail (11 ).