Pedal rotation force intensifier

Abstract

The present invention provides a pedal rotation force intensifier for efficiently transmitting leg force at low cost. A pinion is installed on a pedal shaft, a movable pedal is provided at the front end of the pedal in a manner that the shaft is opened to the rear after installation, and a rack gear is provided in advance at the lower front of the movable pedal in a manner that it is energized by engaging with the pinion via a rack shaft. The opening and closing movement of the movable pedal during pedaling generates an action by the ratchet mechanism formed between the rack gear and the pinion. During the engagement of the rack gear and the pinion, the rotation of the shaft of the pedal at the front is locked, and the force point of the pedal moves from the shaft center to the front end, thereby intensifying the rotation force. If the pedal rotation force intensifier is used for a bicycle, a brisk and powerful ride can be achieved by simply replacing the pedal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a pedal for an article powered by leg force, and more particularly to a technique for a device that enhances the rotational force of the pedal in a bicycle. Background Technology

[0002] A bicycle is a simple unit of movement that uses leg strength to pedal to turn the wheels and thus move. It is arguably the most environmentally friendly mode of transportation in all aspects. However, because it uses physical strength, it is sometimes affected by uphill, headwind, and other factors when riding. There is a desire for a technology that can ride more efficiently. Summary of the Invention

[0003] [The technical problem the invention aims to solve]

[0004] In the past, there was a method of equipping bicycles with internal or external gears, adjusting the gears according to muscle strength to ride comfortably. In situations such as going uphill or against the wind, the burden on the legs could be reduced by lowering the gear ratio. On the other hand, if you want to maintain speed, you have to increase the rotation of the pedals. As a result, in order to achieve a certain amount of movement, speed must be sacrificed significantly.

[0005] In addition, there is a method to make the chain loop into an elliptical shape to efficiently transmit pedaling force to the chain, but it has disadvantages such as discomfort caused by changes in the angle due to the position of the pedal during constant speed riding, and difficulty in shifting gears on the crank side.

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to address these problems by changing the perspective and focusing on the pedal that initially transmits leg force. By simply replacing the pedal, the rotational force can be enhanced, providing a pedal rotational force enhancement device that is simple in structure, efficient, and durable at low cost.

[0007] [Solutions for solving technical problems]

[0008] To achieve the above objective, in one aspect of the present invention, in a pedal that uses leg force as power, a pinion (3) is installed on the pedal shaft (2), and a movable pedal shaft (5) is provided at the front end of the pedal so as to power a movable pedal (4) that opens from the rear. A rack gear (7) is pre-suspended at the lower front of the movable pedal (4) so ​​as to power the pedal by meshing with the pinion (3) via a rack shaft (9). Thus, the opening and closing action of the movable pedal (4) when pedaling generates the effect of the ratchet mechanism formed between the rack gear (7) and the pinion (3). During the meshing of the rack gear (7) and the pinion (3), the rotation of the front pedal shaft is locked, so that the force point of the pedal moves from the axis to the front end, thereby strengthening the rotational force.

[0009] This adds a rotation tracking function to the ratchet mechanism. In a typical ratchet mechanism, the pedal shaft shifts and rotates along with the crank's circular motion. Therefore, if the ankle is not forced to keep up with the rotation, the pawl will instantly disengage from the gear and lose its function. However, in this invention, during the process of using the pedal to move the movable pedal from the open state to the fully closed state, the linked rack and pinion gear maintains its meshing with the pinion gear in the form of tracking rotation and pushing back. The ratchet mechanism can follow the crank's rotation within approximately half a revolution of the pedal force and thus function.

[0010] In another aspect of the invention, in a pedal that uses leg force as power, a pinion (3) is installed on the pedal shaft (2), and a movable pedal shaft (5) is provided at the rear end of the pedal to mount a movable pedal (4) that is powered by opening in the front. A rack gear (8) is pre-suspended in front of the lower part of the movable pedal (4) to be powered by meshing with the pinion (3) via a rack shaft (9). Thus, the opening and closing action of the movable pedal (4) when pedaling produces the effect of the ratchet mechanism formed between the rack gear (8) and the pinion (3). During the meshing of the rack gear (8) and the pinion (3), the rotation of the front pedal shaft is locked, so that the force point of the pedal moves from the axis to the front end, thereby strengthening the rotational force.

[0011] This is a pedal-pressing action in the opposite direction to the pedal's forward and backward movement, but the ratchet mechanism functions in the same way, achieving almost the same effect. Furthermore, in this case, since the front end of the movable pedal is released, extending this portion can easily increase the rotational force.

[0012] [The effects of the invention]

[0013] This invention focuses on the crank's axial force and torque, which equals the pedal force multiplied by the crank's length, aiming for highly efficient pedaling. Assuming a pedal force of 200N, a crank length of 0.17m, and a distance of 0.04m between the pedal axle and the movable pedal axle, the typical torque is 200N × 0.17m = 34N·m. In contrast, the torque of this invention is 200N × (0.17m + 0.04m) = 42N·m, thus effectively increasing the torque by approximately 24% in terms of calculation.

[0014] This calculation was performed at the point where pedaling force is most easily transmitted, approximately 90 degrees forward from the top dead center. However, this alone is insufficient to determine the extent of the effect. By having the ratchet mechanism follow the rotation of the pedal shaft, it continuously exerts this effect within a range of about half a revolution. This sustained torque enhancement is the root cause of reducing the effect of pedal rotation. Therefore, in the case of conventional low-speed gears, the distance a bicycle travels per revolution of the crank is shorter compared to normal riding. However, in this device, the distance traveled per revolution of the crank remains constant while achieving a reduced effect. Thus, it is possible to maintain a constant pedaling frequency while suppressing physical fatigue during riding.

[0015] In addition, for all mechanisms that use leg power, the effect can be easily obtained by simply changing the pedals. This is another advantage and purpose. If used in a bicycle, it can be driven lightly and powerfully. If used in a geared bicycle, the frequency of gear changes is reduced. If used in an electric bicycle, the driving distance per charge can be extended by adjusting the assist ratio. If used in a human-powered aircraft, the flight distance can also be extended. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a perspective view illustrating the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view showing the shaft portion of the pedal in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view showing the movable pedal portion in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 This is an exploded perspective view showing the main body of the pedal in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a front view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a left-side view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 7 This is a bottom view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view (AA) showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 9 This is a left-side view showing the trajectory of the pedal in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 10This is a left-side view representing the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0027] 1. Pedal Body

[0028] 1a Pedal shaft insertion hole

[0029] 1b Large Bearing

[0030] 1c small bearing

[0031] 1d Pedal Shaft Hole

[0032] 1e Counterweight fixing hole

[0033] 1f Adjusting threaded hole

[0034] 1g pedal sliding contact groove

[0035] 1h meshing opening

[0036] 1i shaft cover

[0037] 2. Pedal Shaft

[0038] 2a Pedal mounting threaded part

[0039] 2b spline convex part

[0040] 2c retaining ring groove

[0041] 2d shaft fixed thread part

[0042] 2e Shaft fixing nut

[0043] 3 small gears

[0044] 3a spline recess

[0045] 3b retaining ring

[0046] 4. Movable pedals

[0047] 4a Reinforcing plate shaft hole

[0048] 4b Reinforcing plate rack shaft hole

[0049] 4c anti-slip holes

[0050] 5. Movable pedal shaft

[0051] 5a retaining ring groove

[0052] 5b retaining ring

[0053] 6. Pedal Spring

[0054] 6a Adjusting screw

[0055] 7. Rack and pinion gear

[0056] 7a Arm

[0057] 7b Arm shaft hole

[0058] 8. Arc-shaped rack and pinion gear

[0059] 9. Rack and pinion shaft

[0060] 9a retaining ring groove

[0061] 9b retaining ring

[0062] 10. Rack and pinion springs

[0063] 11 Stop components

[0064] 12 counterweights

[0065] 13 Fixed threaded hole

[0066] 14 Fixing screws

[0067] 15. Reflector position

[0068] 16 Cranks

[0069] 17. Pedal Axle Track

[0070] 18. The trajectory of the force point on the pedal Detailed Implementation

[0071] In this invention, the pedals are symmetrical and form a group of left and right pedals. Therefore, the implementation of the right pedal will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0072] [Example 1]

[0073] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention. The device generally consists of a pedal body 1 and a stepped movable pedal 4. A pinion 3 is mounted at the center of the pedal shaft 2 of the pedal body 1, and a counterweight 12 is mounted behind the pinion. A rack gear 7, which is powered rearward by a rack spring 10 via a rack shaft 9, is suspended in front of the lower part of the movable pedal 4. Furthermore, the front ends of the movable pedal shaft 5 and the pedal spring 6 are powered towards the open side and mounted on a shaft, thereby meshing the gears and allowing the movable pedal 4 to open and close in the direction of the dashed arrow.

[0074] Furthermore, this empowerment method is a mechanism used to reset the gear when the pedal force is removed. It can also be a method where an elastic body such as rubber or a leaf spring is present in the narrow angle space where the movable pedal 4 intersects with the pedal body 1. Moreover, it can be like a fixed pedal, where the sole of the shoe can be attached and detached from the movable pedal 4, or it can be replaced by installing a magnet on the movable pedal 4 to magnetically attract the sole with an iron plate attached, and resetting the gear by lifting the leg.

[0075] The key feature of this device is that the ratchet mechanism follows the rotation of the pedal shaft. The opening and closing of the movable pedal 4 is linked to the rotation of the crank 16, which rotates around the pedal under pressure. During the pedal's movement from top dead center to bottom dead center, the rack and pinion 7 is pressed down, tracking the displacement of the pinion 3 and rotating backward, thus locking the rotation of the pedal shaft at the ankle angle during normal pedaling. Then, during the movement from bottom dead center to top dead center, the rack and pinion 7, having lost pressure, is springed back by the rotation of the pinion 3, spinning freely and returning to its original state. Repeating this series of actions continuously achieves a weakening effect.

[0076] Furthermore, as a method for continuously producing this effect, it is sufficient to make the period from the reset state to the complete closure of the movable pedal 4 consistent with the effective range of pedal force. Therefore, the effective range of pedal force can be set to approximately half the rotation of the crank 16, so the number of teeth of the rack and pinion 7 can be set to any number of teeth less than half the number of teeth of the pinion 3.

[0077] Furthermore, the rack and pinion 7 engages automatically with the pinion 3 when subjected to pedal force, and disengages instantly when the pedal force is lost. This structure is achieved by shifting the fulcrum of the rack and pinion 7, which is suspended from the movable pedal 4, away from the tooth row side. Therefore, the rack and pinion 7 is L-shaped with an arm 7a. However, if the fulcrum of the rack and pinion 7 is not shifted away from the tooth row side and is formed in a straight line, the rack and pinion spring 10 needs to be reinforced to prevent disengagement. Conversely, this results in difficulty in disengaging during reset. In addition, the tooth row of the rack and pinion 7 can be formed in a straight line or in a gently curved arc.

[0078] Figure 2 This is an exploded perspective view showing the shaft portion of the pedal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. From the perspective of strength and assembly, the pedal shaft 2 tapers progressively from the pedal mounting thread 2a side towards the end. The assembly steps are as follows: During the insertion process between the large bearing 1b and the small bearing 1c (indicated by dashed lines) disposed on the pedal body 1 side, the spline recess 3a of the pinion 3 is temporarily inserted into the spline protrusion 2b at the center of the shaft at the meshing opening 1h. After the retaining ring 3b is inserted and fixed in the retaining ring groove 2c, the shaft fixing thread 2d passes through the small bearing 1c and is then mounted using two shaft fixing nuts 2e.

[0079] Furthermore, the material for the pedal shaft 2 or the pinion 3 is suitable to be an alloy steel with strength and corrosion resistance, such as chromium-molybdenum steel or stainless steel. Additionally, if the outer diameter of the pinion 3 is made smaller than the inner diameter of the large bearing 1b, and the pinion 3 is integrally machined into the pedal shaft 2, then the shaft can be easily assembled from one side. This reduces the size of the meshing opening 1h, increases the overall strength, miniaturizes the rack and pinion 7, and reduces the opening angle of the movable pedal 4. These improvements in balance, including the counterweight 12, enable lightweight miniaturization.

[0080] Figure 3 This is an exploded perspective view showing the movable pedal portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A row of reinforcing plate shaft holes 4a or reinforcing plate rack shaft holes 4b and a pair of pedal springs 6 are arranged at the lower front of the movable pedal 4. These are fitted with a row of pedal sliding contact grooves 1g provided at the front of the pedal body 1, allowing the movable pedal shaft 5 (indicated by dashed lines) to pass through, thereby embedding the retaining ring 5b into the retaining ring groove 5a and mounting it on the shaft. This allows for assembly in an openable / closable manner. Furthermore, the rack gear 7 has an inclined front end to allow free rotation during the reverse rotation of the pedal. A rack shaft 9 passes through the arm shaft hole 7b of the rack spring 10 between the pair of reinforcing plate rack shaft holes 4b, embedding the retaining ring 9b into the retaining ring groove 9a and mounting it on the shaft. This allows the rack gear 7 to be suspended in a rearward-energized state, thus completing the assembly. Additionally, the bearings of each small-diameter shaft hole are omitted in the figure; sliding bearings or the like can be installed as needed.

[0081] Furthermore, the movable pedal 4 is suitable for lightweight and high-rigidity materials such as aluminum alloy and fiber-reinforced resin, but if the shape is slender, iron or stainless steel can also be used. Additionally, the rack and pinion 7, rack shaft 9, and movable pedal shaft 5 are suitable for alloy steels with strength and corrosion resistance such as chromium-molybdenum steel and stainless steel. Furthermore, the pedal spring 6 and the torsion coil spring of the rack and pinion spring 10 are suitable for stainless steel springs or spring materials that have undergone rust-proofing treatment. Moreover, the stop 11, which is a rack locking component and shock absorber fixed above the rack and pinion 7, is suitable for using elastomers such as hard rubber or metal with rubber sandwiched in it, but springs or resin can also be used.

[0082] Figure 4This is an exploded perspective view showing the main body of the pedal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A pedal sliding contact groove 1g is formed at the front end of the pedal body 1, connecting to the pedal shaft hole 1d and matching the row of the reinforcing plate shaft hole portion 4a, etc., to resist lateral torsional bending of the movable pedal 4. Furthermore, a large bearing 1b and a small bearing 1c, formed by bearings or sliding bearings, are arranged at both ends of the pedal shaft insertion hole 1a. An adjusting screw 6a is installed in the adjusting threaded hole 1f provided in front of the large bearing 1b and the small bearing 1c. By hooking the pedal spring 6 into the hole and recess at the front end of the screw, a structure is formed that prevents the screw from loosening. A reflector position 15 is provided behind the central engagement opening portion 1h, and a counterweight 12 is installed at the end of the reflector position 15. In addition, the material of the pedal body 1 is suitable to be a lightweight and rigid material such as aluminum alloy or fiber-reinforced resin.

[0083] The counterweight 12 is a device designed to easily support the feet when starting to pedal, thus ensuring safe pedaling. It functions as a balancer to keep the movable pedal 4 level. Furthermore, the counterweight 12 is eccentrically positioned with a fixing threaded hole 13 around which small radial protrusions are provided. When the fixing screw 14 passes through the counterweight fixing hole 1e and is installed, a slight rotation can be made to change the center of gravity and adjust the balance.

[0084] In the diagram, counterweight 12 is an independent cylinder, but it can be any shape as long as weight balance is achieved. Furthermore, the material can be common metals such as stainless steel, iron, and copper; however, if a heavier and softer metal like lead is used, it needs to be protected with a cylindrical cover or similar device. Additionally, this equipment is only needed at the start of riding; its absence during pedaling will not affect the reduction of weight. If you are already accustomed to it, you may not need this equipment at times.

[0085] Figure 5 This is a front view showing the first embodiment of the present invention, depicting the free state where the movable pedal 4 is fully open and horizontally balanced after the reset is complete. The mounting portion of the rearmost counterweight 12 is angled and narrowed, which is a safety measure to ensure the pedal touches the ground when the bicycle is tilted.

[0086] Figure 6 This is a left-side view showing the first embodiment of the present invention, and... Figure 5 The diagram shows the free state after the reset is complete. If pedal force is applied from this state, the pedal travels in the direction of the arrow. The rack and pinion 7 and the movable pedal 4 move in tandem, lowering to a state where the pinion 3, which rotates in the direction of the dotted arrow, is pushed back, and the ratchet mechanism is engaged. Furthermore, the weakening effect produced by the enhanced rotational force of the pedal can be continuously obtained through natural movements that do not put strain on the ankle, until the movable pedal 4 is completely closed.

[0087] Normally, this device always powers the movable pedal 4 toward the open side through the rebound force of the pedal spring 6, which always strengthens the rotational force of the pedal and allows for driving. On the other hand, it can also be set as follows: by replacing the pedal spring 6 or adjusting the rebound force of the adjusting screw 6a, the weight of the single leg when sitting on the seat is balanced with the rebound force of the spring. This results in the previous pedal state where the movable pedal 4 is closed by the load of the leg during normal driving, and the function is only used as needed when applying load uphill or against the wind.

[0088] This is because if the pedaling leg feels a load during pedaling, it will reflexively lift its leg. Utilizing this reflexive motion, the load on the movable pedal 4 disappears during the return from the bottom dead center to the top dead center, thus the spring's rebound force is stronger, achieving a reset. This allows for a mode of travel where rotational force is strengthened only when necessary. To use a car as an example, if a bicycle with gears is a manual transmission vehicle, then a bicycle with this device is equivalent to an automatic transmission vehicle, achieving smooth and powerful travel without gear changes.

[0089] Figure 7 This is a bottom view showing the first embodiment of the present invention, indicating the state where the movable pedal 4 is fully closed. Considering friction with the shoe sole and weight reduction, anti-slip holes 4c are provided on the top plate of the movable pedal 4; however, other anti-slip treatments or the application of friction pads are also possible.

[0090] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view (AA) showing the first embodiment of the present invention, and... Figure 7 Similarly, this indicates the state near the bottom dead center when the movable pedal 4 is fully closed. At this time, the stop 11 functions as follows: it forcibly presses down the arm 7a of the L-shaped rack and pinion 7, fully utilizing all the teeth of the rack and pinion 7, and moves the rack and pinion 7 to a position where it can easily disengage from the pinion 3.

[0091] Therefore, even if the meshing part deteriorates over the years, resulting in some deterioration in tooth contact, the ratchet mechanism can still be used to the maximum extent to follow and function, thus continuing to achieve a mitigation effect. Furthermore, the rack and pinion 7 in the diagram represents its state before reset. By rotating the pinion 3 in the direction of the dashed arrow in the next instant, the rack and pinion 7 is bounced back to the position indicated by the dashed line, and the reset is completed before the next top dead center.

[0092] Figure 9This is a left-side view showing the pedal trajectory in the first embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the state of the device at each rotation angle of the crank 16 during pedaling in the direction of the arrow. The pedal axle trajectory 17, with the length of the crank 16 as its radius, corresponds to the force point trajectory of a conventional pedal. However, the force point trajectory 18 of this pedal, indicated by solid lines, represents the point through which the movable pedal axle 5 passes within the range of action of the ratchet mechanism, and is equivalent to an extended trajectory of the crank within the range from top dead center to bottom dead center. Furthermore, when the crank is extended to achieve almost the same effect as conventional pedals, problems arise such as an excessively large rotation area, placing a burden on leg strength, and the pedal touching the ground when the bicycle is tilted.

[0093] [Example 2]

[0094] Figure 10 This is a left-side view showing the second embodiment of the invention, depicting a position 90 degrees forward from the top dead center during pedaling in the direction of the arrow. This is the opposite type to Embodiment 1. A pinion 3 is mounted on the pedal shaft 2 of the pedal body 1, and a movable pedal shaft 5 is provided at the rear end of the pedal body 1 to mount a movable pedal 4 that is powered by a pedal spring 6 to open forward. An arc-shaped rack and pinion 8 is pre-suspended at the lower front of the movable pedal 4 and powered by a rack and pinion spring 10 by meshing with the pinion 3 via a rack and pinion shaft 9. Thus, as in the embodiment, the ratchet mechanism operates following the rotation of the pedal shaft 2, achieving almost the same effect.

Claims

1. A pedal rotation force intensifying device characterized by, In a pedal in which leg force is used as a power, a pinion is installed in a pedal shaft, a movable pedal in which a pedal shaft is installed in a manner that is energized in a way that opens rearward after the shaft is installed is provided in a front end of the pedal, a rack gear in which a rack shaft is engaged with the pinion in a manner that is energized in advance is hung in a front of a lower portion of the movable pedal, a ratchet action by a ratchet mechanism constituted between the rack gear and the pinion is generated by an opening and closing action of the movable pedal at the time of pedaling, a rotation of the pedal shaft in the front is locked in the process of engagement of the rack gear and the pinion so that a force point of the pedal is moved from a shaft center to a front end, and thus a rotation force can be intensified.

2. A pedal rotation force intensifying device characterized by, In a pedal in which leg force is used as a power, a pinion is installed in a pedal shaft, a movable pedal in which a pedal shaft is installed in a manner that is energized in a way that opens frontward after the shaft is installed is provided in a rear end of the pedal, a rack gear in which a rack shaft is engaged with the pinion in a manner that is energized in advance is hung in a front of a lower portion of the movable pedal, a ratchet action by a ratchet mechanism constituted between the rack gear and the pinion is generated by an opening and closing action of the movable pedal at the time of pedaling, a rotation of the pedal shaft in the front is locked in the process of engagement of the rack gear and the pinion so that a force point of the pedal is moved from a shaft center to a front end, and thus a rotation force can be intensified.

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