IL105327A

IL105327A - Bi-energy vehicle

Info

Publication number: IL105327A
Application number: IL10532793A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Hoyeck Ralph Haber
Priority date: 1992-04-09
Filing date: 1993-04-07
Publication date: 1999-05-09
Also published as: IN178754B; CA2065624C; CN1078696A; EG20017A; IL105327A0; AU3885293A; WO1993021054A1; CN1042815C; BR9306166A; JPH08500305A

Description

BI-ENERGY VEHICLE rQ-'lIDD .131 Eitan, Pearl, Latzer & Cohen-Zedek Advocates, Notaries and Patent Attorneys P-62335-IL ABSTRACT: The present inveriLion called Blind Folks Mobile, BFM, deals with bi-energy vehicles, mainly human powered and mobilized by the folks riding them, using: (A) three wheel lightweight, portable vehicles, foldable and convertible to other utilities, with built in standby motors, accommodating five passengers or more, all contributing individually to mobilize said vehicles, (B) four wheel vehicles adapted for a group of riders where each of the riders operates hand cranks and foot pedals at the same time with the possibility of rolling on rail tracks as well as on paved roads, with a built-in standby motor and with an additional mechanism used to pull the vehicles along a track fastened in the ground and used at the same time to guide the said vehicles.

:BFM 1 1- The present invention deals with bi-energy vehicles, mainly human powered 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 proceeds oriented for medical eye research, the. full title of the invention would then be, The Blind Folks Mobile, abbreviated as EFM. 2- · Comparison with the Prior Art revealed no substantial prior art in that field that could replace the present invention. 3- Field of the invention.

The present invention deals with bi-energy vehicles, mainly powered by the individuals riding them, comprising: (A) Lightweight, portable, convertible, basically 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 number of disadvantages; Their dead weight is usually ten times the live load they carry, they are inefficient, unsafe, costly to maintain, consume a nonrenewable energy and are the main pollutant of the atmosphere.

Such are the problems that the present invention tries to solve . 5 - SUMMARY The present invention deals with a variety of bi-energy vehicles partly or fully powered and mobilized by the people 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 fastened cables and a special mechanism engaging them. d) V7agon 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. 1A - shows a plan view of a basic three wheel vehicle. Fig. IB - shows a longitudinal section 1-1 of the three wheel vehicle shown on fig. 1A.

Fig. 1C - shows a transversal section 2-2 of the 3 wheel vehicle shown on fig. 1A.

Fig. ID - shows a plan view with additional wheel to the basic 3 wheel vehicle shown on fig. 1A.

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 vehicle 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 • 5 view of the ' traction system using a fixed ground 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 10 vehicles, mainly human powered by the folks riding them, as illustrated in the drawings and described hereinafter: 7-l-(See fig.lA, IB, 1C and ID) 7-1-1-Figs .1A to ID show a light weight, basically three wheel vehicle powered normally with a dual source of 15 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 forming the main chassis. The second part forming a right carrying wheel, pedals and riders' 20 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 '25 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 30 f orementioned 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 generally multiple hinges between the right half 303 and the left half 304 of the front panel, 35 309 shows 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 generally multiple hinges between the right half 305 and the left half 306 of the rear panel, 312 shpws a hinge between the left panel 302 and the left half of the rear panel 306.

Apart from the hinges the frame has typical generally solid ties to hold the hinged sections in a fixed position, namely: 313 represents a tie connecting the right half 305 and the left half 306 of the rear panel, 314 shows a solid tie connecting the right half 303 and the left half 304 of the front panel, 314A shows a tie connecting the right panel 301 to the right half of the front panel 303, 314B shows a tie connecting the left panel 302 to the left half of the front panel 304. 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 said right panel and the said left panel are made telescopic to be extended or reduced as the necessity requires.

The resulting chassis is also provided with foldable posts 341 supporting the vehicle's roof.

Said second part comprises: a) a mobile right frame 323 supporting a. right wheel, pedals, with seats assembly and supported by the right panel 301, with possibilities to slide forward and backward along the right panel, or to be fastened in place, b)a right conventional 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) ties 318 connecting the arms of the right hands' cranks to the arms of the right front foot pedals, f.) rear right foot pedals 319 operated by the right rear rider, with detachable solid ties 320 connecting the right rear foot pedals to the right front foot pedals, g) a right front rider seat 321, h) a 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 mobile left frame 324 supporting the left wheel, pedals, with seats assembly and supported by the left panel 302, with possibilities to slide forward and backward along the left panel, or to be fastened in place, (B) a left conventional 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 ties 328 connecting the arms of the left hands' cranks to the arms of the left front foot pedals, (F) rear left foot pedals 329 operated by the left rear rider, 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) a 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 carrying wheel, riding driver, pedal, chain and sprocket assembly, and supported by the front panel assembly 303, 304, 308.

The rotatable front wheel frame is provided with a vertical shaft 324 rotating through the hinging joint 308.

(B) a guiding front conventional 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 steering handle 339 with brakes and speed control, (G) a left hand steering handle 340 with brakes and speed control.

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, the front right rider 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 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 installing a flexible tie connected to the right panel 301 at one end, rolled at the left side of a pulley located below the driver's seat and extended forward and rolled around a second pulley mounted on a rotatable vertical, cental shaft connected at its upper end to a steering wheel (not shown) .

A second flexible tie is connected to the left panel 302 at one end and rolled around the right side of the f orementioned pulleys in the same way as described for the first tie, and by rotating the said steering wheel, one of the strings is rolled around the front pulley, while . the other string is unwinding, pulling the front wheel assembly closer to one panel or the other so changing the direction of the vehicle.

The fourth part could be made of two spaced front wheels (not shown) with a separate rider each, and connected with a solid horizontal rod, hinged at both ends, keeping- the steering wheel with either one of the front riders.

All the wheels of the vehicle are provided with a separate standby motor, engaging the carrying wheel through speed variation and forward backward system to be used when n cessar .

On an uphill drive the front wheel assembly and the two rear wheel assemblies of the vehicle 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 rear wheels of the vehicle are slid on their supports far apart from each other to give the vehicle a better stability on its downhill drive.

An 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 provisional ties to the right panel and to the left panel, to accommodate two additional riders, raising the total number of riders to seven riders, ( ee f ig . ID) .

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 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 dual steering mechanism.

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 said left panel, keeping a parallel alignment with the said second part and the said third part.

When not in use, the so described 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 lightweight metal weighing altogether about 30 to 50 kilos.

The folded three wheel 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 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 vehicle, before setting the ties 313, 314.

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.

When required, the side panels are provided with telescopic extensions at the front and the back 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.

In certain cases, the right and left panels are made longer to accommodate additional seats in between for passengers unable to pedal.

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 engaging wheels The interconnection of these pedals 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 with detachable flexible ties provided with a short spring as means of connection tolerance.

(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 using separate gear system for the rear foot pedals combined with the front foot pedals using conventional known methods . 7-2 (See figs.2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E) 7-2-1 Figs. 2Λ to 2E show the details of a bi-energy BFM 9 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 support in turn: A) A series of foot pedal systems like the assembly 405, 406, 407.

E) 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. The hand crank left arm 410 is connected to the corresponding foot pedal left arm 407.

The series of the foot pedals are connected to each other by means of solid rods 403, 404, which solid rods transmit the action of each group of foot pedals, together with the action of the hand cranks, to front and rear gears 416, 416B.

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 caused them to roll forward or backward as the case may be. A similar transmission system activates the rear wheels of the vehicle.

The inner rims of the wheels 420 are provided with steel rings with slightly smaller diameter than the rubber wheels, protruding 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 4Ϊ7Α, 417B connected to gears 418A, 418B.

Said gears 418A, 418B are combined with grooved pulleys-pressing around cable 422.

Said cable 422 is fastened to ground supports and is BFM - used in combination with the said grooved pulleys as traction means for the vehicle while guiding the said . vehicle at the same time. The. traction means could be: (A) A flexible, inextensible cable, a chain, a solid track with teeth to engage a rotating gear is fastened to ground ■ supports at a short distance above ground.

(B) A cable, a chain or a solid track as in (A), fastened to a ground support sunk below the level of the road paving, with enough opening to allow the passage of the engaging pulleys and the cleaning handle.

The chains 417A, 417B together with the gears 418A, 418B, and the traction means 22 represent an optional assembly added to the vehicle.

The orientation of the vehicle is carried on by conventional methods used for four wheel drive. vehicl es or the like.

The resultant 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

BFM 11 S-Cl aims What I claim is:

1. - A bi-energy basically three wheel vehicle, partly or fully powered 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 enough distance apart to prevent the overturning of the vehicle when loaded on one side without the other, said second part comprises a mainly human powered conventional wheel with a rider's seat, pedals with chain and sprocket assembly, said second part is combined with the said right panel, Lsaid third part comprises a mainly human powered conventional wheel with a rider's seat, pedals with chain and sprocket assembly said third part is combined with the said left panel, said fourth part comprises a mainly human powered conventional wheel with a driver's seat, pedals and chain and sprocket assembly, said fourth part is rotatabl connected to the said front panel through a hinging system, with means to rotate said fourth part with respect to the other parts of the vehicle, said second part, said third part and said fourth part are provided with individual motors used when necessary to mobilize the ground engaging wheels.

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 the. adjacent 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) a second rider's seat behind the said first seat with a hand bar and with 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 BFM 12 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 the adjacent carrying wheel and a pedals system operated by the driver of the vehicle, with gears and chain assembly, transmitting the pedals movement to the carrying front wheel, (II) generally vertical hinging means in combination with the said front panel, allowing the said fourth part to turn left or right, to direct the said vehicle in one direction or the other, said front panel is provided with steering handles, at opposite sides with command devices; 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 is in between the center lines of the ground engaging carrying wheel s .

3. - A bi-energy three wheel vehicle as in claim 2, provided with interlocking hinges joining the four panels forming the chassis of the said vehicle and with additional hinges at the center of the said front panel and- at the center of the said rear panel, dividing the front panel and the rear panel into two equal foldable sections each, allowing the said front panel and the said rear panel to fold outward or inward and bring the right panel and the left panel close to each other, reducing the overall width of the vehicle to the minimum, resulting in a foldable, portable vehicle, convertible into other household units, said vehicle is provided with means to keep the said panels and sections of panels at the required spacing in between each other when in use, the said second part, the said third part and the said fourth part are provided with means allowing them to slide forward or backward, further apart or closer to each other along their respective supports, and for vehicles destined to be frequently folded and shipped, the said right panel and the said left panel are BFM 13 made telescopic to be extended or reduced as the necessity requires, a fifth part assembly similar to the said second part and to the said third part, is added, to the three wheel vehicle, at the center of the vehicle, rotatabl connected to the hinging joint provided at the center of the said rear panel , when the rear carrying 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, then the said fifth part could be left free to pivot around its hinges so given a dual steering mechanism to the vehicle, when the said rear wheel is under powered, said fifth part is provided with means to keep the said rear wheel in parallel alignment with the similar wheels on the said second part and the said third part.

4. A. minimum three wheel vehicle as in claim 3, wherein, the said right panel and the said left panel are provided with extensions a their opposite ends, joined with flexible lining used as luggage compartments, said vehicle is provided as well with foldable telescopic posts usually mounted around the extreme corners of the said vehicle, said posts are raised when needed and joined all around with flexible ties supporting a flexible roof covering the vehicle.

5. - A basically three wheel vehicle as in claim 3, wherein, the said panels forming the first part are provided with hinging solid ties in between the different panels and sections of panels, keeping the said panels and sections of panels at the required spacing in between each other, wherein, the said front panel comprises an additional joint at a certain distance from the existing joint with an additional straight panel in between the right half and the left half of the said front panel, duplicated at the said rear panel, a sixth part similar to the said fourth part, is rotatably connected to the front additional joint, the fourth part and the sixth part are interconnected with a solid spacer pivoting, at both ends, allowing them to rotate together to the left or to the right, a seventh part similar to the said fifth part is BFM 14 rotatably connected to the additional rear joint, and operated in the same way as described for the said fifth part, the orientation of the resulting vehicle is carried on by means of a set of pulleys and strings; A) a flexible. string connected at one end to the. said right panel and wound at the left side of a pulley usually located below the left driver seat and extended forward, rolled around a second pulley fixed on a rotatable vertical shaft, located on the frame of the original fourth part assembly with a steering wheel fastened at the upper edge of said rotatable shaft, B) another flexible string fastened to the said left panel at one end and wound at the right side of a second pulley located below the left driver seat and equally extended forward to an additional pulley fixed on the said rotatable vertical shaft and by rotating the said steering wheel mounted at the top of the said rotatable shaft, one string would be winding around a pulley fastened on the said rotatable shaft while the opposite string would be unwinding, pulling the said fourth part and the said sixth part with their ground engaging wheels towards the right panel or the left panel and consequently changing the direction of the vehicle, and wherein each of the said rear pedals on the said second part and on the said third part, are provided with separate conventional gear and chain assemblies combined by. known methods to the said front pedal and gear system.

6. - A bi-energy four wheel vehicle adapted for a group of riders, mainly human powered 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 in between the first part and the second part, said first par(t 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 the said platform, said second part, comprising a plurality of longitudinal BFM 15 supports, each of the 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 the said foot pedals, the 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 actio from the said longitudinal bars, through conventional 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 conventional methods used for four wheel drive vehicles or the like, the said vehicle is provided with means allowing the vehicle to roll on rail tracks as well as on paved roads, said vehicle is provided as well with a conventional standby motor with transmission links to the ground engaging wheels, keeping a standby energy ,to be used when needed, to activate the said vehicle, said vehicle is also provided with a cabin, control system and conventional accessories used for four wheel vehicles.

7. - A four wheel vehicle as in claim 5, wherein the said longitudinal supports, supporting the 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 the said longitudinal bars to the said front and rear gears, said front and rear gears transmit their action to the said front and rear shafts and in turn to the supporting wheels through conventional mechanisms, together with speed variation mechanisms in between the activating and the activated gears, the resultant vehicle is generally supported on rubber wheels, said rubber wheels are provided with steel rings with a-diameter slightly smaller than the rubber wheels, allowing the said vehicle to roll on steel rail tracks as well as BFM 16 on paved roads as the necessity may be.

8. - A bi-energy four wheel vehicle as in claim 6, using ground fastened tracks comprising: flexible cables, chains or a continuous toothed track adaptable to be engaged with a gear system, and means, mounted on the said four wheel vehicle, adapted to engage the said ground tracks, said tracks are used as traction means and guiding means for the said four wheel vehicle.