Cardan Joint Steering Titanium Bicycle for One-Legged Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bicycles require alternating pedaling with two legs, leading to transient force imbalances and inefficiencies, making it difficult for individuals with one leg or foot injuries to ride and limiting the ability of able-bodied individuals to continuously apply force effectively.
Innovation Solution
A cardan joint steering titanium alloy hand and foot cooperatively operated bicycle, featuring a cardan joint steering mechanism combined with a sliding sleeve system, allows for continuous driving force application by coordinating hands and feet, enabling one-legged operation and improved riding efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional alternating pedaling mechanism is used, then the bicycle can be operated with two legs, but transient force imbalance occurs and one-legged operation is impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal drive system is segmented into two independent pedal cranks that can operate independently or cooperatively. Each pedal crank has its own chain wheel and chain drive, allowing one leg to operate one pedal while the other pedal remains idle or operates separately, thus enabling one-legged operation without force imbalance
Solution Approach 2:
The bicycle drive system is designed with universal functionality to accommodate both two-legged alternating pedaling and one-legged continuous pedaling. The dual pedal cranks with independent chain drives allow the system to adapt to different operating conditions, making the bicycle versatile for users with varying physical capabilities
2Productivity
If rotary pedaling mechanism is used, then the driving structure is simple, but upper and lower dead points are produced causing low efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The pedal cranks are designed with adjustable positions and angles, allowing dynamic optimization of the driving mechanism. The pedal cranks can be positioned to eliminate dead points during rotation, ensuring continuous driving force application. This dynamic adjustability improves driving efficiency without requiring overly complex fixed mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The dual pedal crank system with independent chain drives enables continuous useful action by eliminating dead points. When one pedal crank passes through its dead point, the other pedal crank can maintain driving force, ensuring continuous power transmission to the chain wheels and rear wheel, thus improving overall driving efficiency
3Power
If hand-held mechanism is added to allow hands to assist feet, then propulsion capability is improved, but left and right instability occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The hand-held mechanism is merged with the existing pedal drive system through shared chain wheels and chain drives. The hands and feet operate on the same driving plane, with hand levers connected to the same chain wheels as the pedal cranks. This merging ensures that forces from hands and feet are combined efficiently without creating opposing forces that would cause instability
4Productivity
If buckle type pedal is used to allow rider to cling to pedals at any position, then continuous force application is enabled, but difficult to separate rider and bicycle in case of accident
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of fully restraining the rider with a buckle type pedal, the system uses partial action through adjustable pedal positions and optional foot straps. The rider can apply force at any position on the pedal crank, but can easily release the foot from the pedal if needed. This partial restraint enables continuous force application while maintaining the ability to quickly separate in case of accident
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The bicycle enables high-speed riding by allowing one-legged operation, eliminating the need for alternating pedaling, reducing friction, and enhancing the participation of hands in propulsion, thus improving efficiency and accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the upper end of the front fork rotating shaft and the lower end of the assisting stem are connected through a cardan joint component
Implementation Method 2
a sliding sleeve through hole and a pair of sliding sleeve swinging seats are provided on an assisting sliding sleeve, the sliding sleeve through hole and the assisting stem are in sliding fit
Implementation Method 3
a single dual ratchet wheel is provided on at least one side of the bicycle rear wheel
Data Source
AI summary
A cardan joint steering titanium alloy hand and foot cooperatively operated bicycle capable of being ridden with one leg comprises a bicycle front wheel, a front wheel fork frame, a bicycle rear wheel, a frame body, a seat cushion assembly, a steering handlebar, paired chain wheels and a rear wheel fork frame. The upper end of a front fork rotating shaft and the lower end of an assisting stem are connected through a cardan joint component, symmetric ratchet wheels are provided on the two sides of the bicycle rear wheel, the paired chain wheels are fixed to the two sides of a frame middle shaft, pedal shaft pins are symmetrically provided on the outer sides of the paired chain wheels, and the paired chain wheels and the symmetric ratchet wheels are connected through symmetric chains.