Gear mechanism, pedal-powered vehicle comprising the same, and method for forming the same

A method for forming a gear mechanism for a pedal-powered vehicle, the method comprising:

• supporting a centrally mounted concentric gear arrangement on a spindle arrangement, comprising:
• mounting a first set of gears of the gear arrangement on a first spindle of the spindle arrangement and a fourth spindle of the spindle arrangement, the first set of gears being arranged to be driven via a first pedal of the pedal-powered vehicle;
• mounting a second set of gears of the gear arrangement on a second spindle of the spindle arrangement and the fourth spindle, the second set of gears being arranged to be driven via a second pedal of the pedal-powered vehicle;
• and
• mounting a third set of gears of the gear arrangement on a third spindle of the spindle arrangement and the fourth spindle,
• wherein, for each of the first and second sets of gears, the set of gears is configured to be alternately driven, via the corresponding pedal being rotated through less than 180°, in a power stroke to drive the third set of gears for propelling the pedal-powered vehicle, and, advanced, via the corresponding pedal being rotated through more than 180°, in a return stroke to commence a subsequent power stroke, and
• wherein the first set of gears comprises:
• a first pair of partial gears comprising a first partial gear that has teeth on the circumference subtending an angle of less than 180° and a second partial gear;
• and
• a second pair of partial gears comprising a third partial gear, that has teeth on the circumference subtending an angle of more than 180° and a fourth partial gear,
• wherein mounting the first set of gears comprises:
• mounting the first partial gear on the first spindle, and mounting the second partial gear on the fourth spindle, wherein the first and second partial gears are arranged to engage each other in the power stroke associated with the first set of gears;
• and
• mounting the third partial gear on the first spindle, and mounting the fourth partial gear on the fourth spindle, wherein the third and fourth partial gears are arranged to engage each other in the return stroke associated with the first set of gears, and
• wherein the second set of gears comprises:
• a first pair of partial gears comprising a first partial gear that has teeth on the circumference subtending an angle of less than 180° and a second partial gear;
• and
• a second pair of partial gears comprising a third partial gear, that has teeth on the circumference subtending an angle of more than 180° and a fourth partial gear,
• wherein mounting the second set of gears comprises:
• mounting the first partial gear on the second spindle, and mounting the second partial gear on the fourth spindle, wherein the first and second partial gears are arranged to engage each other in the power stroke associated with the second set of gears;
• and
• mounting the third partial gear on the second spindle, and mounting the fourth partial gear on the fourth spindle, wherein the third and fourth partial gears are arranged to engage each other in the return stroke associated with the second set of gears.