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CA2065624C - Blind folks mobile (bfm) - Google Patents

Blind folks mobile (bfm)

Info

Publication number
CA2065624C
CA2065624C CA002065624A CA2065624A CA2065624C CA 2065624 C CA2065624 C CA 2065624C CA 002065624 A CA002065624 A CA 002065624A CA 2065624 A CA2065624 A CA 2065624A CA 2065624 C CA2065624 C CA 2065624C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
vehicle
wheel
panel
wheels
pedals
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
CA002065624A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Ralph Haber Hoyeck
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA002065624A priority Critical patent/CA2065624C/en
Priority to IN186CA1993 priority patent/IN178754B/en
Priority to AU38852/93A priority patent/AU3885293A/en
Priority to PCT/CA1993/000151 priority patent/WO1993021054A1/en
Priority to CN93104196A priority patent/CN1042815C/en
Priority to IL10532793A priority patent/IL105327A/en
Priority to JP5517878A priority patent/JPH08500305A/en
Priority to BR9306166A priority patent/BR9306166A/en
Priority to EG21693A priority patent/EG20017A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2065624C publication Critical patent/CA2065624C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62KCYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
    • B62K13/00Cycles convertible to, or transformable into, other types of cycles or land vehicle
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62KCYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDE-CARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
    • B62K5/00Cycles with handlebars, equipped with three or more main road wheels

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Motorcycle And Bicycle Frame (AREA)
  • Organic Low-Molecular-Weight Compounds And Preparation Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention called Blind Folks Mobile, BFM, deals with bi-energy vehicles, mainly human propelled and mobilized by the folks riding them, using; A) minimum three wheel lightweight, portable vehicles, foldable and convertible to other utilities, with a standby motor, accommodating three to ten passengers or more, all contributing individually to mobilize said vehicles, B) minimum four wheel vehicles adapted for groups of riders where each of the riders operates hand cranks and foot pedals at the same time with the possibility to roll on roads and railroads, with a standby motor and with an additional mechanism engaging a ground supported track, used in different ways to pull the vehicles along said track while guiding the vehicles at the same time.

Description

B ~ I N D F O ~ ~C S ~O B I ~ E5 B F M

1- The present invention deals with bi-energy vehicles, mainly human propelled and mobilized by the folks riding them, titled Folks Mobile and abbreviated as FM, and being here developed by a legally blind man with part of the rroceeds oriented for medical eye research, the full title of the invention would then be, The Blind Folks Mobile, abbreviated as BFM.
2- Comparison with the Prior Art revealed no substantial prior art in that field that could replace the present nvent1on.
Prior art FR-A-2513959 published 8 April 1983 deals with a tricycle with a certain system of transmission allowing one rear wheel to be disengaged and to become idle during the turning point while the other rear wheel keeps rotating.
This subject is outside the scope of the present BFM
application.
BE-A-419811 deals with a tricycle with one shaft in the back having at the opposite ends two mobilized wheels and an independent front wheel for the orientation of the vehicle by means of a long arm operated by the rear riders.
The present BFM application deals with a minimum three wheel vehicle, each wheel mobilized independently and with a pivoting front wheel carrying a pedalling driver steering the vehicle.
The prior art that is using three wheel vehicles, deals with vehicles using two wheels in the back on the same shaft sFM-2065624 with a pivoting front wheel having a long steering arm operated by the rear riders. They describe a permanently fixed shape, non foldable, with one assembly transmission to the rear wheels and with no pedals nor riders on the front wheels.
The present BFM application calls for vehicles:
a) with a minimum three wheels that could be extended to four wheels, six wheels or more, b) with wheels mobilized independently from each other, c) with front wheel or wheels independently operated by the front rider riding it, d) with a flexible, foldable, portable bi-energy vehicle, etc.
At the same time BFM calls for minimum four wheel vehicles:
a) combining the action of the foot pedals and the hand lS cranks at the same time, b) making use alternatively of roads and railroads at choice, c) using mono ground tracks comprising fixed or mobile cables, chains, toothed tracks, etc.
It is believed that the species of the art disclosed in the present BFM application are new species to the prior art.
3- Field of the invention.
The present invention deals with bi-energy vehicles, mainly powered by the individuals riding them, comprising:
(A) Lightweight, foldable, portable, convertible, minimum three wheel, bi-energy, multi passenger vehicles.
(B) Four wheel, bi-energy bus vehicles mainly powered by a large group of riders, adapted to roll on rail tracks as well as on paved roads.
(C) Four wheel bus vehicles as in (B) using ground cable tracks as traction means and guiding means at the same time.
4- Prior Art The prior art uses:
a) For short distances, light weight, two wheel bicycles that are generally used for recreation, they are unstable, require special skill and they are a traffic hazard.
b) For short and long distances, four wheel, heavy vehicles or cars that present a numher of disadvantages;

F

sFM-2065624 2 0 6 5 62 4 Their dead weight is usually ten times the live load they carry, they are inefficient, unsafe, costly to maintain, cons~lme a nonrenewable energy and are the main pollutant of the atmosphere.
Such are the problems that the present invention tries to solve to a certain extent.
The present invention deals with a variety of bi-energy vehicles partly or fully powered and mobilized by the people n riding them, using:
a) Lightweight, foldable, minimum three wheel vehicles powered by one to five riders or more.
b) Four wheel bus vehicles partly or fully powered by a group of 5, 10, 15 passengers or more riding them.
c) Four wheel vehicles as in (b) guided and pulled forward by means of ground supported cables and a special mechanism engaging them.
d) Wagon vehicles with plurality of wheels partly or fully powered by their riders, designed to roll on roads and railroads.
e) Vehicles with plurality of wheels in different functions, resulting in a variety of lightweight, durable, clean, economical, short distance vehicles for everybody.
6- Brief description of the drawings:
Fig. lA - shows a plan view of a minimum three wheel vehicle.
Fig. lB - shows a longitudinal section 1-1 of the three wheel vehicle shown on fig. lA.
Fig. lC - shows a transversal section 2-2 of the 3 wheel vehicle shown on fig. lA.
Fig. lD - shows a plan view with additional wheel added to the minimum 3 wheel vehicle shown on fig. lA.
Fig. lE - shows plan view with details of brakes and shock absorbers.
Fig lE Sect. 1-1 - shows longitudinal section and details of the hrakes and the shock absorbers.
Fig lE Sect.?-2 - shows rear view of the brakes.
Fig. 2A - shows a front view of a four wheel vehicle with a plurality of propelling riders.
Fig. 2B - Plan view along section 2-2 of the four wheel vehiclé shown on fig. 2A.
Fig. 2C - Plan view along line 3-3 of the four wheel vehicle shown on fig. 2A.
Fig. 2D - Side view along the line 4-4 of the four wheel vehicle shown on fig. 2A.
Fig. 2E - .shows the plan view, front view 5-5 and the side view of the traction system using a ground supported cable/track for the four wheel vehicle shown on fig. 2A.
7- Preferred Embodiments The present invention called Blind Folks Mobile and abbreviated as BFM, deals with a variety of bi-energy vehicles, mainly human powered by the folks riding them, as illustrated in the drawings and described hereinafter:
7-1-(See fig.lA, lB, lC, lD, lE, lE sect.l-l, lE sect.2-2.) 7-1-1-Figs.lA to lE show a light weight, minimum three wheel vehicle powered normally with a dual source of energy, partly or fully mobilized by the rider or riders riding it, made convertible and foldable to a reduced size vehicle.
Said three wheel vehicle comprises mainly four parts; The first part fnrming the main chassis. The second part forming a right carrying wheel, pedals and riders' seats assembly. The third part comprising a left carrying wheel, pedals and riders' seats assembly. The fourth part comprises a rotatable front carrying wheel, foot pedals and riding driver's seat assembly etc.
The front wheel assembly is hinged generally around a vertical shaft hinging on the joints of the front panel.
The said first part represents a chassis comprising a right panel 301, a left panel 302, a front panel divided into a right half 303 and a left half 304, a rear panel divided into a right half 305 and a left half 306. The forementioned panels and sections of panels are provided with hinges in between each other; 307 represents a hinge between the right panel 301 and the right half of the front panel 303, 308 shows a front central hinge between the right half 303 and the left half 304 of the front panel, 309 shows sFM-2065624 2 0 6 S 6 2 4 a hinge between the left panel 302 and the left half of the front panel 304, 310 shows a hinge between the right panel 301 and the right half of the rear panel 305, 311 shows as well a rear central hinge in between the right half 305 and the left half 306 of the rear panel, 312 shows a hinge between the left panel 302 and the left half of the rear panel 306.
The front panel and the rear panel result being of two sections each; a narrower section folding inside its opposite wider section.
Both sections of the front and rear panels are higher at the center of the assembly to accommodate the front and the rear wheels below them and are inclined downward to the opposite sides of the vehicle to join the right panel and the left panel, so reducing the leaver arm thrust mainly of the front wheel, acting on the central joint while changing the direction of the vehicle to the right or to the left.
Apart from the hinges, the frame has adjustable ties to hold the hinged sections in a fixed position, namely: 313 represents a tie connecting the upper right half 305 and the upper left half 306 of the rear panel, 314 shows a tie connecting the upper right half 303 and the upper left half 304 of the front panel, 314A shows a tie connecting the right panel 301 to the lower right half of the front panel 303, 314B shows a tie connecting the left panel 302 to the lower left half of the front panel 304. Similar ties connect the lower right and left halves of the rear panel to the adjacent right and left panels, with additional diagonal ties used where it is possible. The said right panel and the said left panel are spaced from each other enough distance, to prevent the vehicle from overturning when loaded on one side without the other.
For vehicles expected to be frequently folded and transported, the assembly is provided with means allowing it to be extended or reduced as the necessity re~uires.
The resulting chassis is also provided: a) with means preventing it from overturning, b) with extendable posts 341 supporting the vehicle's roof.

BFM-2065624 6 2 ~ 6 5 624 Said second part comprises: a) a right frame 323 supporting a right wheel, pedals, with seats assembly and supported by the right panel 301, with means to approach the center line of the front wheel to the center lines of the side wheels or to put them farther apart, b) a right pedalled ground engaging wheel 315 of the vehicle, c) a chain and sprockets assembly with foot pedals 316, operated by the right front rider, d) right hands' cranks 317 operated by the right front rider, e) solid ties 318 connecting the arms of the right hands' crank to the arms of the right front foot pedals, f) at least one set of rear right foot pedals 319 operated by the right rear rider, generally with det.achable solid ties 320 connecting the right rear foot pedals to the right front foot pedals, g) a right front rider seat 321, h) at least one right rear rider seat 322, with a T shape hand bar (not shown) for the rear rider to hold on to.
Said third part comprises: (A) a left frame 324 supporting the left wheel, pedals, with seats assembly and supported by the left panel 302, with means to approach the center line of the front wheel to the center lines of the side wheels, or to put them farther apart, (B) a left pedalled ground engaging wheel 325 of the vehicle, (C) chain and sprocket assembly with foot pedals 326, operated by the left front rider and powering the left wheel, (D) left hands' cranks 327 operated by the left front rider, (E) with solid ties 328 connecting th~ arms o the left hands' cranks to the arm.s of the left front foot pedals, (F) at least one set of rear left foot pedals 329 operated by the left rear rider, generally with detachable, solid ties 330 connecting the left rear foot pedals to the left front foot pedals, (G) a left front rider seat 331 (H) at least one left rear rider seat 332, with a T shape hand bar (not shown) for the rear rider to hold on to.
The fourth part comprises: (A) rotatable front wheel frame 333, supporting a front pedalled ground engaging wheel, riding driver's seat, pedal, chain and sprocket assembly, and supported by the front panel assembly 303, sFM-2065624 2 o 6 5 6 2 ~

304, 308. The rotatable front wheel frame is provided generally with a vertical shaft 324 rotating through the hinging joint 308.
(B) a guiding front pedalled ground engaging wheel 335, (C) a chain and sprocket assembly with foot pedals 336, operated by the riding driver, (D) a riding driver's seat 337,(E) a removable upper hinge 338 fastened to front wheel frame 333, used to allow the assembling and the dismantling of the fourth part assembly, (F) a right hand fixed steering handle 339 with brakes and speed control, (G) a left hand fixed steering handle 340 with brakes and speed control. Said steering handles 339, 340 are joined together with a reversed arch 340A made in sections to allow folding the vehicle.
The so described three wheel vehicle is operated by one to five riders; two riders occupying the two seats on the right wheel, two riders occupying the two seats on the left wheel in addition to the driver riding on the front wheel, the front right rideK and the front left rider operate each; foot pedals and hand cranks at the same time.
The front driving rider commands the control devices of the vehicle, namely: the speed, the brakes, the forward backward system, the motors control, the lights etc., of the whole vehicle and orient the vehicle by pulling on the right steering handle 339 or the left steering handle 340, which fact pulls the driver and rotates with him the whole front wheel assembly so orienting the vehicle in one direction or the other. The center of gravity of the said three wheels vehicle with its loads is always maintained in between the central lines of the three carrying pedalled ground engaging wheels.
The orientation of the vehicle could also be made as follows:
(A) By providing the vertical shaft forming part of the joint 334 on the fourth part, with a gear system in combination with a set of gears (not shown) combined with a steering wheel operated by the riding driver.
(B) By me~n.s of strings and pulleys; by installing a first F

BFM-2065624 2 ~ 6 s 6 2 1 flexible tie connected to the right panel 301 at one end, rolled at the left side of a first pulley located behind~h~
driver's seat and extended forward and rolled around one end of a drum fastened to an upright shaft carrying at its upper end a steering wheel located in front of the driver's seat, and by installing a second flexible tie connected at one end to the left panel 302 and rolled around the right side of a second pulley equally located behind the driver's seat extended forward and rolled around the opposite end of the said drum fastened to the said upright shaft so that by rotating the said steering wheel one of the said flexible strings rolls around the said drum and pulls with it the whole fourth part together with the driver and the front carrying wheel so changing the direction of the vehicle, while the opposite string would be unrolling from the said drum.
c) At the same time by installing a steering bar connected to the free carrying wheel mounted below the driver's seat, as described further on (p.ll), and by turning the steering bar towards the left, it turns wi.th it the said free carrying wheel to the left which fact pushes the whole fourth part to the left including the driver and the front pedalled wheel resulting in orienting the vehicle to the right, opposite the direction of the said free carrying wheel.
The second part could be duplicated using a parallel right skeleton comprising: a chassis, a ground engaging wheel with pedals, chains and sprockets assembly, with a rider seat located behind the center of the ground engaging wheel, as described for the said fourth part, the center line of the ground engaging wheel of the said right skeleton could be positi.oned; a) parallel to the center line of the ground engaging wheel of the said second part, b) along the center line of the ground engaging wheel of the said second part, said right skeleton is fixed to the said right panel, parallel to and behind said second part, said second part is adjusted to accommodate said right skeleton.
At the same time, the third part could be duplicated F

BFM-2065624 2 o 6 s 6 2 ~

using a parallel left skeleton comprising: a chassis, a ground engaging wheel with pedals, chains and sprockets assembly, with a rider seat located behind the center line of the ground engaging wheel as described for the said fourth part, the center line of the ground engaging wheel on the said left skeleton could be positioned; a) parallel to the center line of the ground engaging wheel of the said third part, b) along the center line of the ground engaging wheel of the said third part, said left skeleton is fixed to the said left panel parallel to and behind said third part, said third part is adjusted to accommodate said left skeleton.
The fourth part could be made to accommodate two parallel pedalled ground engaging wheels, side by side.
At least one wheel of the vehicle is provided with a separate standby motor, mobilizing said wheel with speed variation and forward backward system, to be used when necessary.
On an uphill drive, the front wheel assembly and the two opposite rear wheel assemblies of the vehicle could be slid along their supports to get closer to each other to give the vehicle a better strength in its uphill drive, and on a downhill drive, the front wheel and the opposite rear wheels of the vehicle could be slid on their supports far apart from each other to give the vehicle a better stability on its downhill drive.
~ n additional wheel and pedals assembly similar to the right and left wheel assemblies, is added in the back at the center of the vehicle, rotatably connected to the rear central hinges 311 with equal tying spacers to the right panel and to the left panel, to accommodate two additional riders, raising the total number of riders to seven riders, (see fig.lD).
Usually the ground engaging wheel on the said fifth part is equally or more powered than the similar wheels on the said second part and the said third part, where the said fifth part could be left free to pivot around its hinges.
When the front ground engaging wheel on the said fourth F

BFM-2065624 2 0 65 62 ~

part is turning to the right for example, the rear ground engaging wheel on the said fifth part would be pushing the back of the vehicle towards the left, so giving the vehicle a du~l ste~ring mechanism.
Similarly, connecting the rear of the fourth part to the front of the fifth part with an adequate free connection, would e~ually give the vehicle a double steering effect.
When the rear ground engaging wheel on the said fifth part is under powered, the said fifth part would be equally spaced from, and connected to the said right panel and to the said left panel, keeping a parallel alignment with the said second part and the said third part.
When not in use, the so described minimum three wheel vehicle could be folded by releasing the ties and pulling the front and the rear panels inwardly towards the center of the vehicle bringing the right and left panels flat closer to each other spaced only by the thickness of the folded front and rear panels, reducing the overall size of the vehicle to less than five feet in length, about one foot in width, and about three feet in height, made usually of light weight metal weighing altogether about 30 to 50 kilos.
The inner pedals are made foldable so that they do not interfere with the folding of the said vehicle.
The folded vehicle could be pulled to the elevator, taken up to the office, partly open and used as a side table.
Going on a picnic, the vehicle could be kept open, fitted with a canvas cover and used as a bed.
In rainy seasons, the four border posts 341 would be raised, joined with a rope all around and covered with a foldable light weight cover forming a roof over the said vehicle.
To put in service, the vehicle is unfolded by pulling the side panels apart, the front panels forward, the rear panels backward, resulting in a boat shape v~hicle, before setting the ties 313, 314, etc. One or two crossbars could be added to join the second, third and fifth part so giving 206s6z~
the vehicle additional .solidity.
The side panels are pulled far apart, enough to have a stable vehicle that would not lean when loaded on one side without the other.
The two sections of the front panel and the similar sections of the rear panel are inclined downward towards the right panel and the left panel so transferring the thrust from the fourth part and the fifth part to the lower sections of the right panel and the left panel, and reducing the lever arm effect of the fourth part and the fifth part acting simultaneously on the right and left panels, and consequently giving the vehicle a better stability against overturnlng .
Two small additional wheels, commonly known as training wheels, are installed, usually in front and outside of the right panel and the left panel, (not shown) and kept slightly above ground so that, if the front of the vehicle leans towards the right or the left, one of the said training wheels would touch the ground and prevent the vehicle from overturning to the right or to the left.
Similarly, installing a supporting free wheel under the driver's seat, would absorb the unbalancing effect of the driver's weight when turning to the extreme right or to the extreme left an~ prevents the vehicle from swaying one way or the other.
When required, the side panels are provided with telescopic extensions at the front and the rear of the vehicle, lined with a canvas all around in the shape of a pick-up truck to be used for luggage and the like.
The hand cranks, the front foot pedals and the rear foot pedals on each of the 2nd and 3rd part, are interconnected, transmitting their actions together to the ground engagingwheels. Theinterconnection ofthesepedals and cranks is made by:
(A) Tying the extreme ends of the arms of the hand cranks to the extreme ends of the arms of the front foot pedals usually with detachable ties provided with a short spring as means of connection tolerance.

F
.

206~624 (B) By connecting the rear foot pedals to the front foot pedals with detachable solid ties in the same way as described for the hand cranks.
(C) By usi.ng separate gear system for the rear foot pedals combined with the front foot pedals using conventional known methods.
The present vehicle is provided with a braking system, joining the individual brakes on the wheels to a common mechanism located in front of the driver, comprising:
A- Parallel spaced bars 342, 343 located above the individual brakes of the wheels, the lower bar 342 being fixed while the upper bar 343 is left mobile sliding along the pins 344 with the direct hrake cables 345 connecte~ to said upper bar 343.
B- A solid TEE 346 with a slanted oval head 347 is placed in between the said parallel bars 342, 343 and made rotatable arollnd a shaft 348, joini.ng the said parallel bars.
The ~rms of the TEE 346 are connected through cables 349, 350 to spring loaded winding pulley 351, located in the front of the driver and connected to a large diameter braking wheel 352, operated by the driver.
By rotati.ng said braking wheel 352, the cables 349, 350 get wound around the said winding pulley 351, pulling with them the arms of the TEES 346 located at opposite sides of the vehicle, rotating with them the slanted oval TEE head 347, which fast causes the upp~r hars 343 to lift up further away from the lower bars 342 and stretch the direct brake cables 345 connected to sai~ upper hars causing the brake pads to press against the wheels and reduce or stop their rotation.
sy releasing the braking wheel 352, the springs 353 pull back the arms of the TEES 346 to release the brakes.
The brake cables of the front wheels are rolled aroun~
idle pulleys and wound around an extension of the shaft joining the.spring loaded winding pulley 351 and the braking wheel 352.
A cable 354 is rolled at one end around the braking F

sFM-206s624 wheel 352 and connected at the other end to a sleeve 355 sliding along the steering arch 340A so that the driver can activate the brakes by pulling on the s~eeve 355 which fact rotates the braking wheel 352 and the pulley 351 to activate the braking pads and reduce or stop the rotation of the wheels.
The vehicle is provided as well with shock absnrbers 356 installed below the riders' seats with a separate shock absorber 357 installed below the motor support.
7-2 (See figs.2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E) 7-2-1 Figs. 2A to 2E show the details of a bi-energy four wheel vehicle partly or fully powered by the folks riding it, adapted to roll on rail tracks as well as on paved roads, comprising a chassis supported on a minimum of 4 wheels and supporting a platform 401, said platform in turn supports a plurality of longitudinal supports 402 by means of typical saddles 423. Each of the said continuous supports 402 supports in turn:
A) A series of foot pedal systems like the assembly 40~, ~0 406, 407.
B) A series of hand crank systems like the assembly 408, 409, 410, mounted on the posts 415.
C) A rider seat 413 supported by the posts 414.
The hand crank right arm 409 is connected to the corresponding foot pedal right arm 406 with a solid tie.
The hand crank left arm 410 is connected to the corresponding foot pedal left arm 407 with a solid tie.
The series of the foot pedals are connected to each other by mean.s of solid rods 403, 404, which solid ro~s transmit the action of each group of foot pedals, together with the action of the hand cranks, to front and rear gears 416, 416~.
The typical front gear 416 transmits its rotation with speed variation through a chain 417 or other conventional means to a gear 418 fastened on a front shaft 419 and in turn to the front wheels 420 and cause~ them to roll forward or backward as the case may be. A similar transmission system activates the rear wheels of the vehicle.

' BFM-2065624 14 ~ o 6 5 6~ 4 The inner rims of the wheels 420 are provided with steel rings with slightly smaller diameter than the rubber wheels, protrudi.ng inwardly to enable the vehicle to roll on rail tracks while the outer rubber wheels would enable the vehicle to roll on normal paved roads.
The central gear 416A is provided with two chains 417A, 417B connected to gears 418A, 418B.
Said gears 418A, 418B are combined with grooved pulleys pressing around cable 422.
Said cable 422 is lifted on ground supports and is used in combination with the grooved pulleys or the like as traction means for the vehicle while guiding the said vehicle at the same time.
Said traction means could be a flexible, inextensible cable, a chain or the like, mounted at a short distance above OK helow the ground level, adaptable to engage a rotating gear, or pairs of opposite rough pulleys or the like.
Said cable/chain traction means are used:
a) as mobile cable, pulling with it the vehicle in question by means of opposite pulleys or the like pressing and holding to that cable.
b) as a fixed cable tra~k where the opposite pulleys pressing on the said cable are themselves mobilized by the genera] mechanism mobilizing the vehicle, and forcing them to roll and progress along sai.d track, pulling with them the vehicle in question.
The chains 417A, 417B together with the gears 418~, 418B and the traction means 422 represent a parallel alternative assembly disengageable from the said tracks, generally with an electric power line along the track, overhead or underground, depending on the nature and climate of the region, operating an electric motor mounted on the said vehicle to mobilize said vehicle, in conjunction with a standby li.ghtweight battery, gasoline motor or the like to mobilize said vehicle independantly from the aforementioned tracks, on roads unequipped with the said rail tracks.

sFM-2065624 2 0 6 5 6 2 4 The orientation of the vehicle is carried on by conventlonal methods used for four wheel drive vehicles or the like.
The resulting four wheel vehicle is provided with a separate standby motor connected through speed variation and forward backward system, to the front and the rear shafts (not shown) to be used when necessary.
The said four wheel vehicle is provided as well with a cabin and conventional, additional accessories used for normal passenger vehicles.

.

Claims (10)

1- A bi-energy minimum three wheel vehicle, partly or fully propelled by the individual or the individuals riding it, comprising; a first part, a second part, a third part and a fourth part, said first part comprises a chassis, having; a right panel, a left panel, a front panel and a rear panel, said front panel is provided with means to accommodate a rotatable fourth part, said right panel and said left panel are spaced apart enough to prevent overturning of the vehicle when unequally loaded, said second part comprises a pedalled ground engaging wheel with a rider's seat, pedals with chain and sprocket assembly, said second part is combined with said right panel, said third part comprises a pedalled ground engaging wheel with a rider's seat, pedals with chain and sprocket assembly, said third part is combined with said left panel, said fourth part comprises a pedalled ground engaging wheel with a driver's seat, pedals, chain and sprocket assembly, said fourth part is rotatably connected to said front panel through a hinging system, with means to rotate said fourth part with respect to the other parts of the vehicle, the resulting vehicle being provided with at least one stand-by motor mobilizing said vehicle.
2- A bi-energy minimum three wheel vehicle as in claim 1, with the second part and the third part using each, a) a first rider's seat located in front of the center line of its carrying wheel, with a first feet operated pedals system, operated by the front rider, with gears and chain assembly, transmitting the pedals movement to the carrying wheel, b) at least one second rider's seat behind the said first seat with a hand bar and with at least one second feet operated pedals system, operated by the rear rider, combining its action with the first feet operated pedals system, c) a first hand operated cranks system activated by the front rider riding on the said first seat, combining its action with the first feet operated pedal systems, through conventional means, and with the fourth part using; (I) a rider's seat located behind the center line of its carrying wheel and a pedals system operated by the driver of the vehicle, with gears and chain assembly, transmitting the pedals movement to the front carrying wheel, (II) generally vertical hinging means in combination with said front panel, allowing said fourth part to turn left or right, to direct said vehicle in one direction or the other, said front panel being provided with steering handles at opposite sides curved towards the center of the vehicle, giving the driver comfortable armrest and accommodating all the control systems; forward backward, speed control, motors control, light control with any additional control systems, at an easy access to the driver's hands, wherein, the driver pulls himself towards one steering handle, rotating with him the whole fourth part, so changing the direction of the vehicle to the right or to the left, the center of gravity of the vehicle being in between the center lines of the ground engaging carrying wheels.
3- A bi-energy minimum three wheel vehicle as in claim 2, provided with interlocking hinges joining the four panels forming the chassis of said vehicle, through adequate connections and with additional hinges at the center of said front panel and at the center of said rear panel, dividing the front panel and the rear panel into two equal foldable sections each, one narrower section folding inside its opposite wider section, allowing said front panel and said rear panel to fold outward or inward and bring the right panel and the left panel close to each other, while using foldable inner pedals, so reducing the overall width of the vehicle to the minimum, resulting in a foldable, portable vehicle, convertible into other household units, said vehicle being provided with means to keep said panels and sections of panels at the required spacing in between each other when in use, the resulting assembly being provided;
a) with means preventing it from overturning one way or the other, b) with means allowing the carrying wheels to be brought forward or backward, closer or further from each other, and for vehicles destined to be frequently folded and shipped, said assembly is provided with means allowing it to be reduced or extended as required, a fifth part assembly similar to said second part and to said third part, being added to the three wheel vehicle, at the center of the vehicle, rotatably connected to the hinging joint provided at the center of said rear panel, when the rear carrying wheel on said fifth part is equally or more powered than the similar wheels on said second part and said third part, then said fifth part could be left free to pivot around its hinges thereby giving a dual steering mechanism to the vehicle, similarly, connecting the front of the fifth part to the rear of the fourth part, would result in giving the vehicle a double steering effect, when said rear wheel is under powered, said fifth part is provided with means to keep said rear wheel in parallel alignment with the similar wheels on said second part and said third part.
4- A bi-energy minimum three wheel vehicle as in claim 3, wherein, the two sections of said front panel and the similar sections of said rear panel are made inclined downward towards the right panel and the left panel so transferring the loads from the fourth part and the fifth part to the lower sections of the right panel and the left panel, and reducing the lever arm effect of said fourth part and fifth part acting simultaneously on said right panel and said left panel, the resulting vehicle being fitted; a) with two small wheels, known as training wheels, installed usually in front and to the outside of the right panel and the left panel, and kept slightly above ground, preventing the vehicle from overturning to the right or to the left, b) with a small swivelling wheel below the driver's seat, absorbing the driver's unbalancing effect on the vehicle, c) with a parallel wheel installed beside the front ground engaging wheel giving wider front support to the vehicle and easing the rotation of the front fourth part with respect to the other parts of the vehicle, said right panel and said left panel being provided with extensions at their opposite ends, joined with flexible lining useable as luggage compartments, said vehicle is provided as well with foldable telescopic posts usually mounted around the extreme corners of said vehicle, said posts being raised when needed and joined all around with flexible ties supporting a flexible roof covering the vehicle.
5- A bi-energy minimum three wheel vehicle as in claim 4, wherein, said panels forming the first part are provided with adjustable ties between the different panels and sections of panels, keeping said panels and sections of panels at required spacing between each other, with one or more removable crossbars, the orientation of the resulting vehicle being carried on: A) by means of a set of pulleys and strings, by using a first flexible tie connected to the said right panel at one end, rolled at the left side of a first pulley located behind the driver's seat and extended forward and rolled around one end of a drum fastened to an upright shaft carrying at its upper end a steering wheel located in front of the driver's seat, and by installing a second flexible tie, connected at one end to the said left panel and rolled around the right side of a second pulley equally located behind the driver's seat extended forward and rolled around the opposite end of the said drum fastened to the said upright shaft, so that by rotating the said steering wheel one of the said flexible strings rolls around the said drum and pulls with it the whole fourth part together with the driver and the front carrying wheel in one direction or the other, so changing the orientation of the vehicle, while the opposite string would be unrolling from the said drum, B) By installing a steering bar connected to the said free carrying wheel added below the driver's seat, wherein by turning the said steering bar, the said free carrying wheel will turn with it and push the whole fourth part including the front pedalled wheel and change the direction of the vehicle, and wherein each of said rear pedals on said second part and on said third part, are provided with a separate standard gear and chain assemblies combined to said front pedal and gear system.
6- A bi-energy four wheel vehicle adapted for a group of riders, mainly human propelled by the folks riding it, having a first part forming a chassis and wheels assembly, a second part forming a powering system, and a third part forming the power transmission links between the first part and the second part, said first part comprises a chassis resting on four spaced wheels; two front wheels joined by a front shaft, and two rear wheels joined by a rear shaft, the resulting chassis supports a platform, said platform in turn, supports the different components of the second part through saddles resting on said platform, said second part, comprising a plurality of longitudinal supports, each of said longitudinal supports, in turn, supports a series of foot operated pedal systems, together with a series of riders' seats, a right longitudinal bar joins the far ends of the right arms of the said foot pedals, and a left longitudinal bar joins the far ends of the left arms of said foot pedals, said longitudinal bars transmit the action of the group of pedals to front and rear gears forming the third part, said third part comprising a series of front gears and a series of rear gears transmitting the action from said longitudinal bars, through standard power transmission means to the front and rear shafts and in turn to the wheels supporting the vehicle, causing them to roll in one way or the other, the orientation of the vehicle is carried on by standard methods used for four wheel drive vehicles, said vehicle is provided with means allowing the vehicle to roll on rail tracks as well as on paved roads, said vehicle being provided as well with a standard standby motor with transmission links to the ground engaging wheels, said vehicle is also provided with a cabin, control system and standard accessories used for four wheel vehicles.
7- A bi-energy four wheel vehicle as in claim 6, wherein said longitudinal supports, supporting said foot pedals, support also by means of upright posts, series of hand operated cranks, the action of said hand operated cranks is linked to the action of the corresponding foot pedals and in turn transmitted through said longitudinal bars to said front and rear gears, said front and rear gears transmit their action to said front and rear shafts and in turn to the supporting wheels through standard mechanisms, together with speed variation mechanisms in between the activating and the activated gears, the resulting vehicle being generally supported on rubber wheels, said rubber wheels are provided with steel rings with a diameter slightly smaller than the rubber wheels, allowing said vehicle to roll on steel rail tracks as well as on paved roads as the necessity may be.
8- A bi-energy four wheel vehicle as in claim 7, using ground supported tracks comprising: flexible cables, chains or the like, used as traction means and guiding means at the same time, adaptable to be engaged with a disengageable roller system, mounted on the said vehicle, said traction means being; a) mobile cable means pulling with them the said vehicle through opposite rollers holding on said cable, b) stationary cable means with mobilized rollers mounted on the said vehicle, powered by the general mechanism mobilizing the vehicle, forcing the opposite rollers to progress along the said cable track, pulling with them the said vehicle, said general mechanism being assisted with a standby motor, generally powered with an electric power line installed along the line of the said track, in conjunction with a standby lightweight battery, gasoline motor or the like, helping to mobilize the said vehicle while being in use outside the said tracks.
9- A bi-energy minimum three wheel vehicle as in claim 4, with an additional right part comprising: a chassis, a ground engaging wheel with pedals, chains and sprockets assembly, with a rider seat located behind the center line of the ground engaging wheel, the center line of the ground engaging wheel on the said additional right part being positioned; a) parallel to the center line of the ground engaging wheel of the said second part, b) along the center line of the ground engaging wheel of the said second part, said additional right part is fixed to the said right panel parallel to and behind said second part and with an additional left part comprising: a chassis, a ground engaging wheel with pedals, chains and sprockets assembly, with a rider seat located behind the center line of the ground engaging wheel, the center line of the ground engaging wheel on the said additional left part being positioned; a) parallel to the center line of the ground engaging wheel of the said third part, b) along the center line of the ground engaging wheel of the said third part, said additional left part is fixed to the said left panel parallel to and behind said third part, said second part is adjusted to accommodate said additional right part and said third part is adjusted to accommodate said additional left part.
10- A bi-energy minimum three wheel vehicle as in claim 4, using a plurality of ground engaging wheels with their mobilizing chains, sprocket and pedals assembly, together with riders' seats, said ground engaging wheels with their assemblies are positioned in different positions in relation with each others, resulting in a variety of bi-energy vehicles assembled in different ways to be adapted to different services as the necessity calls for, the resulting vehicle is provided with a braking system, joining the individual brakes to a common mechanism located in front of the driver, comprising: a) pairs of parallel bars located over the individual brakes, the lower bar being fixed while the upper bar being mobile, the individual brakes systems are connected to the said mobile bars, said pairs of bars are separated with rotatable oval tubes cut at an angle at opposite ends, the center of each oval tube is connected to a lever arm, in turn said lever arm is connected on one side to a spring pulling it backward and at the opposite side to a cable spread along the vehicle, rolled around an idle pulley and continues to be wound around a winding pulley located in front of the driver, said winding pulley is fixed to a larger diameter braking wheel, said braking wheel is provided with a cable rolled at one end around said braking wheel and connected at the other end to a sleeve sliding along a fixed steering arch located in front of the driver so that the driver could operate the brakes in one hand by pulling on the said sleeve which pulls the cord attached to it, causing the said braking wheel to rotate, together with the said winding pulley so winding the cables around it, causing the lever arms to turn forward rotating with them the slanted oval tubes which lift the said mobile bars that pull with them the short cables leading to the braking pads which fact causes the braking pads to clamp on the wheels and reduce or stop their rotations, the front wheels brake cables are rolled around idle pulleys and wound around an extension of a fixed shaft joining the said braking wheel to the said winding pulley, the so described vehicle is provided with shock absorbers under the riders' seats and under the standby motor mounted on said vehicle.
CA002065624A 1992-04-09 1992-04-09 Blind folks mobile (bfm) Expired - Fee Related CA2065624C (en)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002065624A CA2065624C (en) 1992-04-09 1992-04-09 Blind folks mobile (bfm)
IN186CA1993 IN178754B (en) 1992-04-09 1993-03-31
PCT/CA1993/000151 WO1993021054A1 (en) 1992-04-09 1993-04-07 Multicyclist vehicle
CN93104196A CN1042815C (en) 1992-04-09 1993-04-07 Dual-purpose vehicle
AU38852/93A AU3885293A (en) 1992-04-09 1993-04-07 Multicyclist vehicle
IL10532793A IL105327A (en) 1992-04-09 1993-04-07 Bi-energy vehicle
JP5517878A JPH08500305A (en) 1992-04-09 1993-04-07 Vehicles that can accommodate multiple riders
BR9306166A BR9306166A (en) 1992-04-09 1993-04-07 Vehicle for the blind
EG21693A EG20017A (en) 1992-04-09 1993-04-08 Blind folks mobils (BFM)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002065624A CA2065624C (en) 1992-04-09 1992-04-09 Blind folks mobile (bfm)

Publications (1)

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CA2065624C true CA2065624C (en) 1995-04-25

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002065624A Expired - Fee Related CA2065624C (en) 1992-04-09 1992-04-09 Blind folks mobile (bfm)

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Country Link
JP (1) JPH08500305A (en)
CN (1) CN1042815C (en)
AU (1) AU3885293A (en)
BR (1) BR9306166A (en)
CA (1) CA2065624C (en)
EG (1) EG20017A (en)
IL (1) IL105327A (en)
IN (1) IN178754B (en)
WO (1) WO1993021054A1 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU2413801A (en) * 1999-12-24 2001-07-09 Jiggernaut Limited A game or event
CN103274002B (en) * 2012-05-10 2015-11-18 柳州铁道职业技术学院 Campus Tandem Bicycle
CN102963228B (en) * 2012-11-23 2015-02-04 富美科技集团有限公司 Multipurpose electric car
US9943759B2 (en) * 2014-06-16 2018-04-17 Universal City Studios Llc Interactive game floor system and method
CN109131685B (en) * 2015-05-06 2020-10-23 诸暨厚启股权投资有限公司 Multi-person pedal-driven vehicle
CN107374843B (en) * 2017-08-18 2023-07-28 常州摩本智能科技有限公司 Manned intelligent robot
CN109367548B (en) * 2018-09-07 2020-06-02 奈克斯科技股份有限公司 Movable cabin, track and three-dimensional track traffic system

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DE52401C (en) * C. JAHN in Düsseldorf, Königsplatz 22 Three-wheeled bicycle with crank drive devices for one or more people
BE419811A (en) *
DE20394C (en) * H. HERBST und G. A. LENNING in Hamburg Five-wheeled velocipede
BE438935A (en) *
FR408140A (en) * 1909-10-21 1910-03-18 Seraphin Laurent Cart
DE424399C (en) * 1925-06-28 1926-01-27 Leonhard Schmidt Rottenschiene Bicycle
FR952354A (en) * 1947-08-14 1949-11-16 Pedal-operated public transport vehicle
FR2513959B1 (en) * 1981-10-02 1986-12-05 Gateau Int TRICYCLE OR OTHER PEDAL VEHICLE HAVING TWO REAR WHEELS
FR2525172A1 (en) * 1982-04-16 1983-10-21 Richard Robert Bicycle adapted for road or rail - is held by adjustable cross bar and with roller running on rail inside
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CN2095155U (en) * 1991-05-06 1992-02-05 刘清周 Double-driving sitting type tricycle

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EG20017A (en) 1997-08-31
AU3885293A (en) 1993-11-18
IL105327A (en) 1999-05-09
IL105327A0 (en) 1993-08-18
IN178754B (en) 1997-06-21
CN1078696A (en) 1993-11-24
BR9306166A (en) 1998-01-13
WO1993021054A1 (en) 1993-10-28
CN1042815C (en) 1999-04-07
JPH08500305A (en) 1996-01-16

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