Bicycle drive assembly

Claim 2

A drive assembly for a physically propelled vehicle comprising: a. a drive member rotatively mounted on a drive axis, b. a crank arm operatively connected to the drive member on the same drive axis for rotating the drive member, c. a power arm rotatively mounted on the same drive axis for relative angular movement between the power arm and crank arm, d. a pedal means operatively connected to the power arm for rotating the power arm, and e. control means interconnecting the power arm and crank arm for rotating the crank arm and drive member, and for accelerating the power arm ahead of the crank arm during one portion of the crank arm cycle and decelerating the power arm behind the crank arm during another portion of the crank arm cycle, and f. the control means including: 1. a cam surface provided on one of the arms, and 2. a cam follower carried by the other of the arms and engaging the cam surface.

Claim 3

A drive assembly for a physically propelled vehicle comprising: a. a drive member rotatively mounted on a drive axis, b. a crank arm operatively connected to the drive member for rotating the drive member, c. a power arm rotatively mounted for relative angular movement between the power arm and crank arm, d. a pedal means operatively connected to the power arm for rotating the power arm, e. control means interconnecting the power arm and crank arm for rotating the crank arm and drive member, and for accelerating the power arm ahead of the crank arm during one portion of the crank arm cycle and decelerating the power arm behind the crank arm during another portion of the crank arm cycle, and f. the control means including: 1. a cam slot in one of the arms, and 2. a cam element having a shaft rotatively mounted in the other of the arms, a cam follower spaced from the shaft and received in the cam slot, and a link between the shaft and cam follower.

Claim 4

A drive assembly for a physically propelled vehicle comprising: a. a drive member rotatively mounted on a drive axis, b. a crank arm operatively connected to the drive member for rotating the drive member, c. a power arm rotatively mounted for relative angular movement between the power arm and crank arm, d. a pedal means operatively connected to the power arm for rotating the power arm, e. control means interconnecting the power arm and crank arm for rotating the crank arm and drive member, and for accelerating the power arm ahead of the crank arm during one portion of the crank arm cycle and decelerating the power arm behind the crank arm during another portion of the crank arm cycle, and f. the control means including: 1. a cam slot in one of the arms, and 2. a cam element having a shaft rotatively mounted in the other of the arms, a cam follower spaced from the shaft and received in the cam slot, and a link between the shaft and cam follower.

Claim 5

A drive assembly for a physically propelled vehicle comprising: a. a drive member rotatively mounted on a drive axis, b. a crank arm operatively connected to the drive member for rotating the drive member, c. a power arm rotatively mounted on the drive axis for relative angular movement between the power arm and crank arm, d. a pedal means operatively connected to the power arm for rotating the power arm, e. control means interconnecting the power arm and crank arm for rotating the crank arm and drive member, and for accelerating the power arm ahead of the crank arm during one portion of the crank arm cycle and decelerating the power arm behind the crank arm during another portion of the crank arm cycle, the control means including: 1. a cam slot in the crank arm, and 2. a cam element having a shaft rotatively mounted in the power arm, a cam follower spaced from the shaft and received in the cam slot, and a link between the cam shaft and cam follower, f. the pedal means including a reciprocating connector pivotally connected to the power arm for rotating the power arm, the connector being attached to the cam shaft of the cam element to cause relative rotation of the cam element and power arm during rotation of the crank arm and power arm for selectively moving the power arm ahead of and behind the crank arm as the cam follower rides in the cam slot, the angular position of the cam element between the crank arm and power arm determining the position during the crank arm cycle at which the maximum angular distance occurs between the crank arm and power arm.

Claim 6

A drive assembly for a physically propelled vehicle comprising: a. a drive member rotatively mounted on a drive axis, b. a crank arm operatively connected to the drive member for rotating the drive member, c. a power arm rotatively mounted on the drive axis for relative angular movement between the power arm and crank arm, d. a pedal means operatively connected to the power arm for rotating the power arm, e. control means interconnecting the power arm and crank arm for rotating the crank arm and drive member, and for accelerating the power arm ahead of the crank arm during one portion of the crank arm cycle and decelerating the power arm behind the crank arm during another portion of the crank arm cycle, the control means including: 1. a cam slot in the crank arm, and 2. a cam element having a shaft rotatively mounted in the power arm, a cam follower spaced from the shaft and received in the cam slot, and a link between the cam shaft and cam follower, f. the pedal means including a reciprocating connector pivotally connected to the power arm for rotating the power arm, the connector being attached to the cam shaft of the cam element to cause relative rotation of the cam element and power arm during rotation of the crank arm and power arm for selectively moving the power arm ahead of and behind the crank arm as the cam follower rides in the cam slot, the angular position of the cam element between the crank arm and power arm determining the position during the crank arm cycle at which the maximum angular distance occurs between the crank arm and power arm.

Claim 7

A drive assembly for a physically propelled vehicle comprising: a. a drive member rotatively mounted on a drive axis, b. a crank arm operatively connected to the drive member for rotating the drive member, c. a power arm rotatively mounted for relative angular movement between the power arm and crank arm, d. a pedal means operatively connected to the power arm for rotating the power arm, e. control means interconnecting the power arm and crank arm for rotating the crank arm and drive member, and for accelerating the power arm ahead of the crank arm during one portion of the crank arm cycle and decelerating the power arm behind the crank arm during another portion of the crank arm cycle, and f. the control means including: 1. a cam surface provided on one of the arms, and 2. a cam element having a shaft rotatively mounted on the other of the arms and having a cam follower spaced from the shaft and engaging the cam surface.

Claim 8

A drive assembly for a physically propelled vehicle comprising: a. a drive member rotatively mounted on a drive axis, b. a crank arm operatively connected to the drive member for rotating the drive member, c. a power arm rotatively mounted for relative angular movement between the power arm and crank arm, d. a pedal means operatively connected to the power arm for rotating the power arm, e. control means interconnecting the power arm and crank arm for rotating the crank arm and drive member, and for accelerating the power arm ahead of the crank arm during one portion of the crank arm cycle and decelerating the power arm behind the crank arm during another portion of the crank arm cycle, and f. the control means including: 1. a cam surface provided on one of the arms, and 2. a cam element having a shaft rotatively mounted on the other of the arms and having a cam follower spaced from the shaft and engaging the cam surface.

Claim 9

A drive assembly as defined in claim 4, in which: g. means is fixed to the cam element to cause relative rotation of the cam element and the arm to which the shaft is rotatively mounted to regulate movement of the cam follower on the cam surface during rotation of the cam arm and power arm for selectively moving the power arm ahead of and behind the crank arm.

Claim 10

A drive assembly as defined in claim 4, in which: g. the pedal means includes means fixed to the rotatively mounted shaft of the cam element to cause relative rotation of the cam element and arm to which the shaft is rotatively mounted to regulate movement of the cam follower on the cam surface during rotation of the crank arm and power arm for selectively moving the power arm ahead of and behind the crank arm.

Claim 11

A drive assembly as defined in claim 4, in which: g. the cam surface is provided on the crank arm, and h. the cam shaft is rotatively mounted in the power arm.

Claim 12

A drive assembly as defined in claim 7, in which: i. the pedal means includes a reciprocating connector pivotally connected to the power arm for rotating the power arm, the connector being attached to the cam shaft of the cam element to cause relative rotation of the cam element and the power arm during rotation of the crank arm and the power arm for selectively moving the power arm ahead of and behind the crank arm, the angular position of the cam element between the crank arm and power arm determining the position during the crank arm cycle at which the maximum angular distance occurs between the crank arm and power arm.

Claim 13

A drive assembly as defined in claim 8, in which: j. the cam shaft of the cam element is adjustably attached to the connector to vary the relative angular relation of the cam element between the crank arm and power arm so as to select the position during the crank arm cycle at which the maximum angular distance occurs between the crank arm and power arm.

Claim 14

A drive assembly as defined in claim 4, in which: g. the cam surface is provided on the power arm, and h. the cam shaft is rotatively mounted in the crank arm.

Claim 15

A drive assembly as defined in claim 10, in which: i. the pedal means includes: 1. a first gear mounted on the drive axis of the crank arm, and 2. a second gear meshing with and rotatable about the first gear, the second gear being attached to the cam shaft to cause relative rotation of the cam element and crank arm during rotating of the crank arm and power arm for selectively moving the power arm ahead of and behind the crank arm.

Claim 16

A drive assembly as defined in claim 11, in which: j. the first gear is adjustably mounted to vary the relative angular position of the cam element between the crank arm and power arm so as to select the position during the crank arm cycle at which the maximum angular distance occurs between the crank arm and power arm.

Claim 17

A drive assembly for physically propelled vehicle comprising: a. a drive member rotatively mounted on a drive axis, b. a crank arm operatively connected to the drive member for rotating the drive member, c. a power arm rotatively mounted on the drive axis for relative angular movement between the power arm and crank arm, d. a pedal means operatively connected to the power arm for rotating the power arm, e. control means interconnecting the power arm and crank arm for rotating the crank arm and drive member, the control means including: 1. a cam slot in the power arm, and 2. a cam element having a shaft rotatively mounted in the crank arm, a cam follower spaced from the shaft and received in the cam slot, and a link between the shaft and cam follower, f. the pedal means includes: 1. a sun gear fixedly mounted on the drive axis, and a planet gear meshing with and rotatable about the sun gear and connected to the cam shaft of the cam element to cause relative rotation of the cam element and crank arm during rotation of the crank arm and power arm for selectively moving the power arm ahead of and behind the crank arm as the cam follower rides on the cam surface.

Claim 18

A drive assembly for physically propelled vehicle comprising: a. a drive member rotatively mounted on a drive axis, b. a crank arm operatively connected to the drive member for rotating the drive member, c. a power arm rotatively mounted on the drive axis for relative angular movement between the power arm and crank arm, d. a pedal means operatively connected to the power arm for rotating the power arm, e. control means interconnecting the power arm and crank arm for rotating the crank arm and drive member, the control means including: 1. a cam slot in the power arm, and 2. a cam element having a shaft rotatively mounted in the crank arm, a cam follower spaced from the shaft and received in the cam slot, and a link between the shaft and cam follower, f. the pedal means includes: 1. a sun gear fixedly mounted on the drive axis, and a planet gear meshing with and rotatable about the sun gear and connected to the cam shaft of the cam element to cause relative rotation of the cam element and crank arm during rotation of the crank arm and power arm for selectively moving the power arm ahead of and behind the crank arm as the cam follower rides on the cam surface.