Muscle powered drive mechanism - has energy store to allow muscle exertion and return movements to vary in speed

摘要

A pair of pedals (3) rotates a chain wheel (2). The wheel is returned by a spring (4) after full depression of the pedal. The wheel is coupled through a free-wheel mechanism to a larger wheel (1), which carries a continuous chain which runs over loose rollers (5,6). Each roller is connected to a spring or hydraulic energy storing buffer (8,9). When the wheel is turned the rollers are moved axially and energy is absorbed by the buffers. On the free cycle of the wheel the energy is returned through the chain to the wheel. Spring-loaded idlers (10,11) keep the chain tensioned.