Device for converting a reciprocating rectilinear movement into rotational movement

Abstract

A device for converting a reciprocating rectilinear movement into rotational movement, comprising two bearing points, a left one (5 G ) and a right one (5 D ), a support mechanism for these bearing points (5) comprising two secured racks (1) each supported by a movable part (11) sliding linearly in a direction XX' along a slide (3) and each bearing a bearing point (5), said slides (3) being arranged and fixed on a support frame (14) supporting all the axles of the device, a drive chain (6) capable of rotating at least one pinion (15) secured to a drive axle (A), and at least one circular toothed transmission plate (14) around which said chain (6) passes and which is itself rotated by a drive system, associated with the support mechanism for the bearing points (5), comprising two toothed driving plate elements (2), each cooperating with a rack (1) and each driving, by means of the one same free wheel (13), the rotation axle of which is also fixed on the support frame (14), the at least one transmission plate (14).

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Title of the invention: DEVICE FOR TRANSFORMING A RECTILINEAR ALTERNATING MOVEMENT INTO A ROTARY MOVEMENT

[0003] Technical field of the invention

[0004] [1] The present invention relates to a device for transforming a rectilinear alternating movement into a rotary movement.

[0005] [2] The technical sector of the invention is that of the manufacture of devices transforming the energy of a linear rectilinear alternating movement into continuous rotational movement energy distributed on a drive shaft of any mechanical assembly, as a crankshaft allows in most piston engines to ensure, for example, the drive of the shaft of a generator set or that of the wheels of a vehicle from the combustion energy of the fuel which pushes and moves pistons in cylinders.

[0006] [3] The main application of the invention is the production of linear rectilinear cranksets for cycles with at least two wheels capable of replacing the conventional circular cranksets known to date and an example of an embodiment of the invention mounted precisely on a bicycle or cycle will be described below.

[0007] Technical background of the invention

[0008] [4] In the field of the main application of the invention, which is the production of linear rectilinear pedals for cycles with at least two wheels, such devices are already known, such as that described in patent application CN203780727 by Mr.Yang Yu of 2014 which teaches a bicycle drive mechanism comprising a left pedal arm, a right pedal arm, a drive chain capable of rotating a sprocket of a set of sprockets secured to the rear wheel drive shaft, a toothed transmission plate around which said drive chain passes and rotated by a drive system associated with two mechanisms supporting the two pedal arms each comprising a transmission chain and a structure of linear guide rails and up-down inversion of the pedal arms: a cyclist can then exert a vertical linear force alternately with each of his two feet to continuously move a bicycle forward, so that the action efficiency is high and the arrangement of the drive mechanism on the bicycle is in accordance with the structure and usage habits of the conventional bicycle.

[0009] [5] One could also cite the patent US5236211 of M.Oeguerditchian Ohannes from 1993 which teaches a drive system comprising a frame on which are mounted pedals moved along rectilinear paths and connected by a cable connection: this cable connection is wound several times around double-wound coils which rotate when the pedals are moved linearly and a one-way clutch mechanism rotates an axle unidirectionally when these coils rotate and this axle can be connected to a drive sprocket and chain assembly to provide propulsion force, for example, to a bicycle wheel.

[0010] [6] Also noted is US patent 6412802 by Marion Kugel issued and published on 02 / 07 / 2002 and which describes a rectilinear propulsion device intended to propel a bicycle and comprising

[0011] - a rectilinear drive part comprising two sets of rack gears coupled by a cord connecting their upper part, and fixed on either side to the sides of the middle part of the bicycle frame, each of them comprising a pedal intended to actuate the sets of rack gears by the cyclist,

[0012] - a quadrant drive portion comprising quadrant pinion elements each coupled to a main drive gear element which drives a drive wheel of the bicycle,

[0013] - and the quadrant pinion elements are designed to engage alternately with the rack and pinion gear sets, thereby propelling the bicycle,

[0014] - and a clutch element coupled to the main drive gear element allows, by means of the cord connecting them, one of the rack gear sets to be driven upwards while the opposite gear set is urged downwards by a foot of the cyclist, thereby enabling the cyclist to propel the bicycle alternatively.

[0015] [7] Numerous other patent applications have been published to protect various embodiments of devices in which rectilinear drive energy is converted into rotational energy, but in the field of the main application of the invention, which is the production of linear rectilinear pedals for cycles with at least two wheels, all the known devices, most of which are quite complex, do not, however, allow all the available power provided by the rectilinear thrust of each cyclist's foot on such linear motion pedals to be transmitted to the rear wheel.

[0016] [8] It will certainly be noted, and the prior art underlines this, that this power is in any case greater than that transmitted by a conventional circular pedal set with which the thrust is only maximum when the pedal arms are horizontal and this thrust then decreases with their rotation, whereas in a linear pedal set, the thrust is maximum over the entire linear travel of each pedal.

[0017] Summary of the invention

[0018] [9] The objective of the present invention is therefore not only to obtain the greatest possible available power transmitted to the motor shaft for the same linear support force, i.e. approximately at least double the power obtained with a circular pedal set, but also to go even further than the known devices to obtain the best possible efficiency and simplify the mechanisms ensuring this transmission.

[0019]

[0010] The invention proposes for this purpose, taking as the closest prior art the patent application US 6412802 cited above, a device for transforming a rectilinear alternating movement into a rotary movement comprising two support points, one called left and the other called right such as the pedals of a bicycle, a support mechanism for these support points guiding them linearly in the same direction, a drive chain capable of rotating a pinion of a set of pinions secured to a motor axle, such as that of the rear wheel of a bicycle, and at least one circular toothed transmission plate around which said chain passes and itself set in rotation by a drive system associated with the support mechanism of the support points or pedals;the support mechanism for the support points comprises two integral racks each supported by a moving part sliding in the said same direction along a slide and each carrying a support point or pedals, which slides are arranged and fixed on a frame carrying all the axes of the device, and the drive system associated with this support mechanism for the support points or pedals comprises two elements of toothed motor plates, each cooperating with a rack and each driving, by the same free wheel whose axis of rotation is also fixed on the supporting frame, the at least one transmission plate;

[0020]

[0011] And according to the invention the slides guide the moving parts, which are each independent of one another without being connected to one another, and which are driven independently of one another with their rack and their fulcrum (or pedal), and the radius of the motor toothed plates is at least 20 cm, and at best 24 or even 25 cm: it could be even larger to have a greater lever arm effect, providing a higher motor torque and therefore greater power for the same speed of movement of the force resting on the fulcrum (such as the cyclist's foot on his pedal) but this diameter is also a function, in the case of application to bicycles, of the length of the cyclist's legs.

[0021]

[0012] According to other characteristics of the invention, the toothed motor plate elements are plate sectors whose developed length of the periphery is at least equal to the length of the racks, which makes it possible to lighten the device, and according to an optional embodiment, the drive chain drives an intermediate toothed pinion, the axis of which is fixed on an offset part (i.e. not located in the alignment defined by the motor axis and that of the transmission plate) of the carrier frame, and secured to another toothed pinion fixed on the same axis, of larger diameter and around which passes a second drive chain of the set of pinions secured to the motor axis: such an offset intermediate pinion allows, for the same speed of movement of the force resting on the support point,either to obtain a higher rotation speed of the motor shaft (than in an embodiment with a single drive chain without intermediate pinion), or to reduce the diameter of the transmission plate, or both at the same time.,

[0022]

[0013] The device according to the invention is thus capable of driving any mechanical assembly using the source energy of a linear alternating movement and requiring rotation from a power take-off axis which is the driving motor axis of this mechanical assembly, the support points being the linear thrust supports of the source alternating movement, and according to the main application of the invention the device according to the invention is mounted on a cycle with at least two wheels of which the rear wheel axis is the motor axis of propulsion of the cycle, the pedals, each equipped with a system capable of fixing a foot of a cyclist thereto, are the support points and the frame of the cycle is the frame carrying all the axes, such as those of the rear wheel, called the motor axis, and of the freewheel, and of the slides.

[0023]

[0014] Thus the device according to the invention achieves the first objective thereof which is to obtain the greatest possible power transmitted to the motor shaft or axis for the same continuous linear support force, because the latter, being directly transmitted tangentially and continuously to motor plates, provides them with a constant maximum torque whose power obtained, also a function of the speed of the linear movement of the support points, is then fully transmitted, apart from friction losses, to the motor shaft;and in the main application of the invention, the cyclist, who uses a bicycle or cycle equipped with a device according to the invention, can propel his bicycle or cycle with less effort than if, for the same speed of movement of his bicycle or cycle, it were equipped with a conventional circular crankset, since the rectilinear linear thrust is then always made on the most productive part of the engine plate, i.e. tangentially to it, i.e. always perpendicular to a radius, thus always with a maximum lever arm.;

[0024]

[0015] In addition, the distance traveled by the cyclist's feet in rectilinear linear thrust is much less than that traveled with a conventional circular pedal set, which allows a saving of time in the movement of the feet and thus greater speed.

[0025]

[0016] Another advantage is, as the pedals can be used independently of each other, unlike prior art devices such as those mentioned above, such as in the same direction and at the same time both, or alternately, or one without the other, the cyclist can, when taking a bend, position the inside pedal at this bend more or less high and no longer use it, while the outside pedal can independently continue its linear movement of motor.

[0026]

[0017] The device according to the invention is also composed of elements of simple structure, easy to produce and practical to assemble, so that the present device meets the second objective of the invention with significant efficiency, knowing moreover that its arrangement on a bicycle is in accordance with the structure and habits of use of a conventional bicycle, even if certainly the frame of the latter must be adapted to the device of the invention.

[0027]

[0018] Indeed, according to the invention, if the cranks of a conventional circular crankset of a bicycle are removed like the crankset itself, all the other elements which make up the entire transmission system, such as chainrings, rear sprocket cassette and derailleurs are retained and will not be described below.

[0028]

[0019] With a device according to the invention, it is then possible to estimate, with the same pressure force on each pedal, a gain in power on the motor shaft of the rear wheel of the bicycle (or of any other mechanical assembly using the source energy of a linear alternating movement and requiring rotation of a power take-off axis which is the axis or motor shaft driving this mechanical assembly) of at least twice as high as that obtained with a bicycle with a conventional circular crankset.

[0029]

[0020] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the reading of the detailed description which follows for the understanding of which reference will be made to the attached figures which show an example of embodiment of a device according to the invention in the main application thereof with an implementation on a bicycle or a bicycle, but other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention.

[0030] Brief description of the Figures

[0031]

[0021] [Fig. 1] - Figure 1 is a schematic side view of the right side of a cycle or bicycle according to the invention (without its front part which has been cut off because it is of any known type) equipped with an example of a device according to the invention.

[0032]

[0022] [Fig. 2] - Figure 2 is a partial sectional view (without the rear wheel assembly) along II II' of the bicycle of Figure 1.

[0033] Detailed Description of Figures

[0034]

[0023] For the description of the invention and the understanding of the claims, without reference to Earth's gravity and as a non-limiting example, the vertical, longitudinal and transverse orientations will be adopted according to the reference V, L, T indicated in the figures whose longitudinal L and transverse T axes extend in a horizontal plane: the vertical axis V thus defines so-called high and low references, the longitudinal axis L the front and rear references (relative to the direction of advancement of the cycle), and the transverse axis the left and right references (relative to this same direction of advancement of the cycle).

[0035]

[0024] In the following description, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numbers.

[0036]

[0025] It is recalled that the present description describes an exemplary embodiment of the device of the invention mounted on a bicycle or bike, but that this device could be adapted and mounted on any mechanical assembly using the source energy of a linear alternating movement and requiring rotation of a power take-off axis or shaft which is the drive motor axis or shaft of this mechanical assembly, the support points then being the linear thrust supports of the source alternating movement.

[0037]

[0026] In a known manner such as by the previously cited American patent application US 6412802, the device for transforming a rectilinear alternating movement into rotary movement, comprises two support points (here and as in this prior patent, two pedals in the application to the crankset of a bicycle 18) one called left 5G and the other called right 5D, a support mechanism for these support points or pedals 5 guiding them linearly in the same direction XX', a drive chain 6 capable of rotating at least one pinion 15 secured to a motor axle A, which is here the axle of the rear wheel of the bicycle 18 and at least one circular toothed transmission chainring 4 around which said chain 6 passes and itself set in rotation by a drive system associated with the support mechanism of the support points or pedals 5.

[0038]

[0027] The support mechanism for the support points or pedals 5 comprises two integral racks 1 each supported by a moving part 11 sliding in said direction XX' along a slide 3 and each carrying a support point or pedal 5, which slides 3 are arranged and fixed on a supporting frame 14 (which is here the frame of the bicycle 18) of all the axes of the device; the drive system associated with this support mechanism for the support points 5 comprises two toothed plate elements 2 motors, each cooperating with a rack 1 and each driving by the same freewheel 13, the axis of rotation of which is also fixed on the supporting frame 14, the at least one transmission plate 4.

[0039]

[0028] According to the invention, the slides 3 guide, each independently of the other, the moving parts 11, which are not connected to each other and are driven independently of each other with their rack 1 and their fulcrum 5, and the radius R2 of the toothed motor plates 2 is at least 20 cm, and at best 24 or even 25 cm and even beyond this value (within the limit, however, for a bicycle, of what the ergonomics of the latter and the comfort of the cyclist allow) to be as large as possible and thus provide the largest possible lever arm, and therefore the highest possible engine torque and thus the most possible power for the same speed of movement of the force resting on the fulcrum 5 (such as the cyclist's foot on his pedal 5).

[0040]

[0029] In the embodiment shown in the figures, these slides 3 are of hollow cylindrical shape in which the moving parts 11 can slide and these are therefore also of cylindrical shape in the form of a pipe whose external diameter is compatible with guidance inside the slides 3; the cylinders of these each comprise a longitudinal slot capable of allowing the racks 1 to pass on which the pedals 5 can be fixed.

[0041]

[0030] In another embodiment, these slides 3 may be of the drawer slide type, either of U-shaped section comprising edges along the ends of this U-shaped profile and which, thus closing a part of the opening thereof, make it possible to hold there the moving part 11 which is then of rectangular section slightly smaller than that of the interior of the U and which can slide there: such slides are thus flatter than those of cylindrical shape, which makes it possible to have, for application to bicycles, pedals 5 closer to each other and thus to obtain better pedaling comfort.

[0042]

[0031] Such slides 3 can be fixed (by tabs on either side of a vertical bar 21, preferably of rectangular section, which they sandwich: this bar 21 connects elements of the support frame of the device, on which it is itself fixed; in the application to cycles, these elements are the bars 14i and 12 of the frame 14 of the bicycle as shown in FIG. 1.

[0043]

[0032] And the drive system associated with this support mechanism for the support points or pedals 5 comprises two toothed motor plate elements 2, each cooperating with a rack 1 and each driving by the same freewheel 13, the axis of rotation of which is also fixed on the supporting frame 14, the at least one transmission plate 4: thus, due to this mounting of motor plates 2 and transmission 4 on the same freewheel 13, when each motor plate element 2G and 2D is driven in rotation in a given motor direction by the corresponding rack, respectively 1 G and 1 D, (i.e. in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in a clockwise direction when each rack 1 G and 1 D descends vertically under the downward thrust of the cyclist's feet on each pedal 5), said motor plate element 2G OR 2D drives for its part the at least one transmission plate 4 in the same direction of rotation,then when the rack 1 G or 1 D is moved linearly in the opposite direction it drives the corresponding motor plate element 2 G or 2 D (i.e. in the embodiment shown in Figure 1 in the opposite direction to the hands of a clock when each rack 1 G and 1 D rises vertically under the upward traction of the cyclist's feet on each pedal respectively 5 G or 5 D) and this, due to its mounting on the freewheel 13, no longer drives the at least one transmission plate 4.,

[0044]

[0033] And if the two support points or pedals 5 are then actuated alternately, either linearly in an opposite direction to each other (that is to say in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, when one pedal descends by pushing the corresponding rack downwards, the other pedal can be raised at the same time by driving the corresponding rack upwards, and vice versa during the following cycle), the at least one transmission plate 4 is always driven by one or other of the motor plates 2G or 2D.

[0045]

[0034] Due to the independence of the moving parts 3, it is also possible to press at the same time with the same force on the two support points or pedals 5 in order to obtain punctually and theoretically double the driving power, which can be useful for a cyclist who wants to overcome a difficult one-off obstacle.

[0046]

[0035] To obtain the greatest possible engine torque for a given force pressing on the support points or pedals 5, the radius R2 of the toothed motor plates 2 must be as large as possible in order to have the greatest lever arm effect, i.e. a radius R2 of at least 20 cm, and at best 24 or even 25 cm;and the transmission plate 4 can have this same radius of at least 20cm in the case of an embodiment, like that described above, with a single drive chain 6 without intermediate sprocket, but in the embodiment described below with two drive chains, the first 61 of which passes over an offset intermediate toothed sprocket 10i (that is to say which is not in the alignment defined by the engine axis and that of the transmission plate of the carrying frame 14, i.e. fixed above the highest bar at the rear of the frame 14 of the bicycle, and therefore above this alignment) which it drives and which is secured to another toothed sprocket 102 fixed to the same axis, of larger diameter and around which passes the second drive chain 16 of the at least sprocket 15 secured to the engine axis or shaft A, the radius of the transmission plate 4 can be smaller than the radius R2 of the motor toothed plates 1.;

[0047]

[0036] In order to be able to change the rotation speed of the motor shaft A with the same force and the same linear support speed, either, in the case of descent for example, to increase this rotation speed and thus go faster, or on the contrary, in the case of ascent, to reduce this rotation speed and therefore not have to increase the effort to be provided on the pedals (in addition to the possibility of moving the drive chain 6 from one sprocket 15 to another of a different diameter from a set of several sprockets, forming what is called a cassette, driving the rear wheel shaft A as exists on current conventional bicycles using a derailleur (not shown)), the transmission chainring 4 can be at least double, i.e. two transmission chainrings 4 a and 4b, with one 4b chainring of smaller diameter than the other 4 chainring a , as shown in Figure 2; and this large plate 4 atransmission then having the same radius as that R2 of the toothed motor plates 2, i.e. a minimum of 24 cm in the case of an embodiment, like that described above, with a single drive chain 6 without an intermediate offset sprocket.

[0048]

[0037] In the embodiment of figures 1 and 2 therefore representing a cycle 18 with at least two wheels (here two wheels but it could be a cycle with three or even four wheels), this cycle 18 thus comprises a device for transforming a rectilinear alternating movement into rotary movement according to the invention as described above: the rear wheel axle 17 of the cycle 18 is the motor axle A for propulsion of the cycle 18, the pedals are the support points 5 and the frame 14 of the cycle 18 is the frame carrying all the axles, such as the motor axle A of the rear wheel 17 and that of the free wheel 13, and the slides 3.

[0049]

[0038] Preferably, to lighten the device, the elements of the 2 toothed motor plates are sectors of 2D and 2G plates of the same diameter and whose developed length of their toothed periphery is at least equal to the length L D and LG of the racks respectively 1 D and 1 G, these being a function, for the bicycle application, of the possible amplitude of movement of the cyclist's legs: it is certain for example that a child having less amplitude than an adult, the length L of the racks 1 of his bicycle (and therefore the minimum developed length of the toothed periphery of the sectors of the engine plates, this length giving the angle at the center of its sectors according to their diameter) will be shorter than that of an adult, and bicycle manufacturers will thus be able to define several dimensions and types of bicycles according to a few reference cyclist sizes.

[0050]

[0039] The slides 3, which can be cylindrical and hollow or of the drawer slide type, or of flat U-shaped section, guide, each independently of the other, the moving parts 11, which thus slide inside these hollow slides in the manner of the pistons of an internal combustion engine: thus these moving parts 11, with their rack 1 and their support point or pedal 5, can be driven independently of each other, and such that alternately one in one direction along the direction XX' and the other in the opposite direction, as in particular by the feet of a cyclist using the bicycle 18.

[0051]

[0040] In the example shown in the figures, the slides 3 are arranged vertically along the direction XX', which is here vertical V, and the pedals 5 thus have an alternating linear movement upwards and downwards, driven by the cyclist's feet.

[0052]

[0041] In another embodiment not shown, the slides can be arranged in a quasi-horizontal direction XX', i.e. in the plane LT, and the pedals 5 then have a linear movement, which can be alternating, forwards L and backwards relative to the direction of advancement of the cycle 18 propelled by said device.

[0053]

[0042] To allow the cyclist's feet to return the pedals in the opposite direction to that in which each foot produced its thrust, each pedal is equipped with any known system capable of fixing a foot of the latter thereto, such as a toe clip or a fastening system called "automatic pedal", and to give flexibility to the cyclist's ankles, each pedal 5 can pivot, or otherwise they are fixed, up to 30° on their axis (either vertically in the example of figures 1 and 2 or horizontally when the slides are arranged in a quasi-horizontal direction XX', or in the plane LT, and the cyclist is then almost lying on his back).

[0043] As shown in Figure 2, the slides 3, as well as the pedals 5, the racks 1 and the associated moving parts 11, are arranged and fixed by any fixing system (such as tabs 19G, 19D integral with the slides 3 screwed or bolted through orifices) each on either side of an inclined central part 12 of the frame 14 carrying the cycle 18, which can be advantageously thinned in this zone to reduce the total width (in the transverse direction T) of the cycle 18 and the connection between these tabs 19G.19D and the central part 12 of the frame 14 can include windows 20 for lightening and cooling.

[0054]

[0044] For good fixing and maintenance at a constant given distance over their entire length, the slides 3 can also be fixed, by welding and / or screwing, on either side of a vertical bar 21 of rectangular section (preferably hollow) itself fixed (with a cut of its ends ensuring continuous docking with the bars of the frame 14 on which it is fixed by welding) on ​​the central inclined bar 12 and upper bar 14i of the frame 14 of the cycle 18 (as shown in figures 1 and 2) and this vertical bar 21 extends under the central inclined bar 12 to ensure the maintenance of the two slides 3 at a constant distance from each other.

[0055]

[0045] Similarly, the two elements or sectors of toothed motor plates 2 are arranged on either side of this central part 12 of the supporting frame 14, and behind the slides 3.

[0056]

[0046] To limit the amplitude of the alternating movement of the support points or pedals 5 and the racks 1, each slide 3 comprises, at each of their two ends, a stop 7, 8 capable of stopping the linear movement, in one direction and in the other, of the moving parts 11 supporting the racks 1 and the support points or pedals 5 and preferably these stops 7, 8 are made of elastic material capable of damping the end of travel of the moving parts 11.

[0057]

[0047] According to a particular embodiment, if it is desired to obtain a higher rotation speed of the motor shaft A as already explained previously, and therefore a higher forward speed of the bicycle, than in the embodiment with a single drive chain 6 without intermediate sprocket, this drive chain 61 is doubled with a second chain 16, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1: the first chain 61 then passes over an intermediate toothed sprocket 10i which it drives and whose axis is fixed on an offset part (i.e. which is not in the alignment defined by the motor axis and that of the transmission plate of the carrying frame 14); this intermediate sprocket 10i is integral with another toothed sprocket 102 fixed on the same axis, of larger diameter and around which passes the second drive chain 16 of the at least sprocket 15 integral with the motor axis or shaft A.

[0058]

[0048] To complete the few dimensional characteristics already given previously, even if the radii of the different chainrings can vary according to the different types of bicycles and according to the desire of the users, we can however give, by way of example, an order of magnitude of the size of the different chainrings and sprockets: thus in the example of embodiment shown in the figures with a single drive chain 6, we can use sectors of motor chainrings 2 of 24cm and even 25cm radius (i.e. more than the minimum 20cm indicated previously) and whose number of teeth is a function of the pitch separating the teeth of the racks 1, with transmission chainrings 4 of which the largest 4 ahas the same radius as the engine chainrings, either 25cm or 24cm, and in this case has 123 teeth, and the smallest 4b can have a radius of 22cm and has 106 teeth, while the smallest rear sprocket 15 can have only 9 or 12 teeth (in a 9-speed cassette) as for current classic bikes with circular cranksets.

[0059]

[0049] And, in the case of two drive chains, with a second chain 16 in series with the first 6, it is possible to use motor plate sectors 2 of the same dimension as for a single drive chain, i.e. 25 cm radius (i.e. more than the 20 cm minimum fixed) but on the other hand, as indicated previously, it is possible to use transmission plates

[0060] 4 smaller ones, for example for the largest 4a a radius of 12.94cm with 64 teeth and the smallest 4b can have a radius of 10.92cm and have 54 teeth; and the offset sprocket 10i can have a radius of 2.43 cm with 12 teeth, driving a 2nd offset sprocket IO2 with a radius of 8.9 cm with 44 teeth.

Claims

Claims

1. Device for transforming a rectilinear alternating movement into a rotary movement, comprising two left (5G) and right (5D) support points, a support mechanism for these support points (5) guiding them linearly in the same direction XX', a drive chain (6) capable of rotating at least one pinion (15) secured to a motor shaft (A) and at least one circular toothed transmission plate (14) around which said chain (6) passes and itself rotated by a drive system associated with the support mechanism for the support points (5), such that: - the support mechanism for the support points (5) comprises two racks (1) which are integral and each supported by a moving part (11) sliding in said direction XX' along a slide (3) and each carrying a support point (5), which slides (3) are arranged and fixed on a frame (14) carrying all the axes of the device, - the drive system associated with this support mechanism for the support points (5) comprises two toothed plate elements (2) motors, each cooperating with a rack (1) and each driving by the same free wheel (13), the axis of rotation of which is also fixed on the supporting frame (14), the at least one transmission plate (4), characterized in that - the slides (3) guide the moving parts (11), which are each independent of each other, and which are driven independently of each other with their rack (1) and their support point (5), - the radius R2 of the motor toothed plates (2) is at least 20 cm.

2. Device for transforming a rectilinear alternating movement into a rotary movement according to claim 1 characterized in that the toothed motor plate elements (2) are plate sectors whose developed length of the periphery is at least equal to the length of the racks (1).

3. Device for transforming a rectilinear alternating movement into a rotary movement according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each slide (3) comprises at each of their ends a stop (7, 8) capable of stopping the linear movement, in one direction and in the other, of the moving parts (11) supporting the racks (1) and the support points (5).

4. Device for transforming a rectilinear alternating movement into a rotary movement according to claim 3 characterized in that the stops (7, 8) are elastic capable of damping the end of travel of the moving parts (11).

5. Device for transforming a rectilinear alternating movement into a rotary movement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the drive chain (6) drives an intermediate toothed pinion (10i), the axis of which is fixed on an offset part of the supporting frame (14), and integral with another toothed pinion (IO2) fixed on the same axis, of larger diameter and around which passes a second drive chain (16) of the at least pinion (15) integral with the motor axis (A).

6. Device for transforming a rectilinear alternating movement into a rotary movement according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it drives any mechanical assembly using the source energy of a linear alternating movement and requiring rotation from a power take-off axis which is the axis motor (A) for driving this mechanical assembly, the support points (5) being the linear thrust supports of the source alternating movement.

7. Cycle (18) with at least two wheels characterized in that it comprises a device for transforming a rectilinear alternating movement into a rotary movement according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and the rear wheel axle (17) of the cycle (18) is the motor axle (A) for propelling the cycle (18), the pedals, each equipped with a system capable of fixing the foot of a cyclist there, are the support points (5) and the frame (14) of the cycle (18) is the frame carrying all the axles, such as the motor axle (A) and the freewheel axle (13), and the slides (3). [Claim s] Cycle (18) with at least two wheels according to claim 7 characterized in that the slides (3), as well as the pedals (5), the racks (1) and the associated moving parts (11), are arranged and fixed each on either side of a central part (12) of the frame (14) carrying the cycle (18) and the two motor toothed plate elements (2) are also arranged on either side of this central part (12) of the carrying frame (14).

9. Cycle (18) with at least two wheels according to any one of claims 7 and 8 characterized in that the slides (3) are arranged vertically in a vertical direction XX' and the pedals (5) have an alternating linear movement upwards and downwards.

10. Cycle (18) with at least two wheels according to any one of claims 7 and 8 characterized in that the slides (3) are arranged in a quasi-horizontal direction XX' and the pedals (5) have an alternating linear movement forwards and backwards relative to the direction of advancement of the cycle (18) propelled by said device.