A three wheel recumbent vehicle having the steering pivot point of the front axle tilted forwardly about 8.degree. from perpendicular, causing the vehicle from the pivot point back to lean into a turn, and also having the front axle bar constructed with a low center section and end members which radiate upwardly and backwardly to provide room for the user's feet and to add stability on turns by increasing the distance between the center line of the vehicle and the point where the outboard tire touches the road.
A two-wheel drive cycle comprises a frame, a front fork assembly mounted on the frame through a pivotal connection to steer the cycle, a front wheel rotating on the fork assembly about a first axis, and a rear wheel rotating on the frame about a second axis. A front sprocket is mounted on the front wheel and centered on the first axis to drive the front wheel, while a rear sprocket is mounted on the rear wheel, is centered on the second axis and driven through the pedals or motor. A chain is meshed with both the front and rear sprockets and guided between these front and rear sprockets through a plurality of gears and pulleys, including a set of gear and pulley engaging the chain and rotatively mounted on the frame close to the pivotal connection. A spring mechanism lengthens and shortens the chain loop as the front fork assembly is turned. In operation, the front wheel is driven through the pedals or motor, the rear sprocket, the chain meshed with both the front and rear sprockets, and the front sprocket.
A four wheel velocipede includes a single front to rear frame member connected to front and rear axle assemblies. The steering mechanism is coupled to the front axle assembly by a pipe braced to the frame member. In one embodiment, the frame member is bent over to one side and contains a drive linkage driven by a pedal operated crank assembly connected to a central cantilevered pipe for driving a rear wheel. In a second embodiment, a front wheel drive includes universal joints connecting the front axles to a pedal driven crank for permitting the front wheels to be driven while simultaneously steered. A horizontally extending cross member crank pivots about a vertical axis on the frame member for driving the pedal driven crank via a pair of reach arms connected to the cross member crank.
An improved human powered recumbent vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a frame that comprises a central keel. The keel comprises four tubes that are spaced equidistant from a central longitudinal axis. Outrigger arms are disposed approximately halfway along the longitudinal axis of the keel and extend forwardly and outwardly therefrom. The angle that each outrigger arm forms with the keel, provides an access area that allows a rider access to the seat without having to step over any portion of the invented vehicle, for easy mounting and dismounting. Outboard ends of the arms terminate in pivotable connectors that may be provided for wheel bearing yokes. A rear section of the keel is wide enough to accommodate a wheel. The keel has a prow that terminates in a single plane, so that the vehicle can be placed on its prow for storage in an upright position, to minimize storage space. In a tricycle embodiment, a seat is secured to the top two tubes of the keel, adjacent the juncture of the arms with the keel. This improves the vehicle's balance control. The frame is fabricated using straight tubes, to provide ease of manufacture. In the tricycle embodiment, wheels are spring mounted to yokes provided at the ends of the outrigger arms. The frame is lightweight, easily adaptable to different size riders, and easy to manufacture.
A short wheel base, three wheel recumbent vehicle comprising a main frame including a plurality of tubular members assembled in truss like fashion. A single rear drive wheel driven by a multi-speed chain drive pedal crank assembly mounted on extended front frame to provide clearance for riders feet. Two front steerable wheels positioned with foreshortened wheel base are rotably mounted to the main frame and actuated by tie rods from a center pivot plate connected to a steering bar to provide short turning radius vehicle with improved steering for reduced rolling friction. Adjustable mounting location for steering push rod provides steering sensitivity adjustability. A seat mounted to the frame in front of rear drive wheel midway between the wheel base.
A road luge includes an elongated frame having a front end and a back end, a strut extending rearwardly and upwardly from the back end of the frame, a back axle supported on the strut and fixed in orientation relative to the frame, and a single back wheel rotationally mounted on the back axle along the centerline axis of elongation of the frame. The road luge has a front assembly attached to the frame at a location adjacent to the front end of the frame. The front assembly includes two rotationally mounted and steerable front wheels, with one front on either side of the frame. The road luge has a reclining body rest supported on the frame, so that a rider may recline on the body rest with the rider's torso in a substantially horizontal position, and with the rider's feet extending toward the front end of the frame, and the rider's head angled upwardly so as to permit vision toward the front end of the frame.