Treadle drive system with positive engagement clutch
US5451070A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 26, 1993 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 26, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/1556
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A treadle drive system operates comfortably in a standing or seated position with two toe or heel end pivoting treadles. A flexible drive line (chain, cable, belt, etc.) from each treadle drives a pair of forward biased driving rings (having sprockets, pulleys, belt wheels, etc.) concentrically encircling and driving a hollow drive cylinder. Concentrically encircling the cylinder, a driven ring in turn drives a rotating device. A positive engagement clutch between the hollow cylindrical hub and the driven ring allows the driven ring to be engaged or disengaged from the drive cylinder. Opposing holes transversely through the hollow drive cylinder engage pins on outer ends of a V-shaped spring. The pins are normally engaged in mating openings on an interior surface of the driven ring. A push-pull shaft with a cup having a rigid rim pushes against the sloping sides of the spring to disengage the pins from the driven shaft only. Pulling the shaft releases the spring reengaging the pins in the driven shaft. The treadle drive system may be positioned in any desired orientation to provide a human power source producing a variable rotary output for transportation, exercise, tools and instr…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.