Transmission for a human powered vehicle (HPV) and such vehicle

A transmission for a human powered vehicle (HPV), for transmitting a reciprocating pedal movement into a rotational movement, comprising:

• a pair of pedals suspended for reciprocating movement between respective retracted and extended positions;
• a rotating element mounted for rotation around an axis of rotation;
• two rotating cam members rotating around respective cam axes, each rotating cam member having a peripheral cam surface;
• the rotating cam members being coupled to the rotating member through a respective one-way clutch for the rotating cam members to drive the rotating element in a single rotational direction;
• flexible tension members connecting either pedal to a respective one of the rotating cam members, each flexible tension member being fastened relative to the respective rotating cam member and being wound onto the peripheral cam surface of the respective cam member;
• an unwound part of the flexible tension member extending towards the respective pedal to be connected thereto to be pulled thereby;
• whereby the unwound part disengages the peripheral cam surface at a point of tangency having a radial distance from the respective cam axis, thereby providing a gearing ratio between angular movement of the rotating cam member and translational movement of the respective pedal;
• wherein said radial distance varies in accordance with the position of the respective pedal between the respective pedal's extended position and the respective pedal's retracted position;
• whereby said gearing ratio has a minimum value when the respective pedal is in an intermediate position between the respective pedal's extended position and the respective pedal's retracted position;
• a first major value when the respective pedal is in the respective pedal's retracted position, and a second major value, when the respective pedal is in the respective pedal's extended position;
• whereby the minimum value is smaller than either of the first and the second major value;
• and
• wherein said radial distance varies in accordance with the position of the respective pedal between the respective pedal's extended position and the respective pedal's retracted position, whereby said radial distance has:
• a maximum value when the respective pedal is in an intermediate position between the respective pedal's extended position and the respective pedal's retracted position;
• a first minor value when the respective pedal is in the respective pedal's retracted position;
• and
• a second minor value, when the respective pedal is in the respective pedal's extended position.

A human powered vehicle comprising a transmission for transmitting a reciprocating pedal movement into a rotational movement, comprising:

• a pair of pedals suspended for reciprocating movement between respective retracted and extended positions;
• a rotating element mounted for rotation around an axis of rotation;
• two rotating cam members rotating around respective cam axes, each rotating cam member having a peripheral cam surface, the rotating cam members being coupled to the rotating member through a respective one-way clutch for the rotating cam members to drive the rotating element in a single rotational direction;
• flexible tension members connecting either pedal to a respective one of the rotating cam members, each flexible tension member being fastened relative to the respective rotating cam member and being wound onto the peripheral cam surface of the respective cam member;
• an unwound part of the flexible tension member extending towards the respective pedal to be connected thereto to be pulled thereby, whereby the unwound part disengages the peripheral cam surface at a point of tangency having a radial distance from the respective cam axis, thereby providing a gearing ratio between angular movement of the rotating cam member and translational movement of the respective pedal;
• wherein said radial distance varies in accordance with the position of the respective pedal between the respective pedal's extended position and the respective pedal's retracted position, whereby said gearing ratio has;
• a minimum value when the respective pedal is in an intermediate position between the respective pedal's extended position and the respective pedal's retracted position;
• a first major value when the respective pedal is in the respective pedal's retracted position;
• and
• a second major value, when the respective pedal is in the respective pedal's extended position, whereby the minimum value is smaller than either of the first and the second major value.