The present invention first and foremost relates to a double freewheel clutch for a go-kart or skelter.

More specifically the present invention relates to a double freewheel clutch for a go-kart or skelter, intended for both the forward and rearward drive with freewheel of the wheels of an axle of the go-kart or skelter

The double freewheel clutch hereby has an entrance member that is meant to be driven by a drive of the go-kart or skelter and an exit member that is intended to drive the wheels in question of the go-kart or skelter.

Go-karts or skelters are already known that are provided with said double freewheel clutch.

In these known go-karts a fixed sprocket is mounted on the rear axle whereby this rear axle is in turn connected with the entrance member of the double freewheel clutch in a fixed way to drive a wheel, at least to the extent that the axle is not in a freewheel condition, in other words does not turn around slower than the wheel to be driven.

Furthermore, the parts of the double freewheel clutch of these known go-karts are essentially mounted in or near a wheel to be driven of the go-kart. A big disadvantage of such known double freewheel clutches is therefore that they are rather difficult to mount.

Because the double freewheel clutch in these known go-karts is located in a rather difficult to access location in or near a wheel, the maintenance thereof is also far from practical .

Another disadvantage of such known freewheel clutch is that it has many parts that form an integral part of the drive of the rear axle of the go-kart such that it is difficult or even impossible to replace or change separate parts of the drive with other types of parts, e.g. to replace worn parts or, for example, to make adjustments as a function of the user's size or muscle power.

The purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide a solution for one or several of the aforesaid or possible other disadvantages.

More specifically the purpose of the invention is to offer the most compact possible double freewheel clutch, which can also be very solidly executed and can be easily mounted, replaced or even adjusted in a go-kart or skelter.

Another purpose of the invention is a very maintenance- friendly double freewheel clutch.

Yet another purpose of the invention consists in providing a double freewheel clutch which is designed such that its installation and operation in a go-kart or skelter has little influence on or is as independent as possible from the operation and installation of other parts of the go- kart or skelter in question.

To this end, the invention relates to a double freewheel clutch for a go-kart or skelter, as already described above and whereby the double freewheel clutch according to the invention at least also contains the following elements:

- a mounting component that is intended to suspend or mount the double freewheel clutch in a fixed way onto a frame of the go-kart or skelter;

- a housing that is mounted rotatably in relation to the mounting component;

- a freewheel that at least partially extends into the housing and that is mounted rotatably both in relation to the mounting component and in relation to the housing;

- coupling means that allow a rotating movement with which the entrance member is driven to be transmitted to the exit member for a rotating movement thereof and this according to the drive direction in question to the extent that the drive speed of the entrance member does not exceed the circulation speed of the exit member;

and whereby the exit member is intended to be connected in a fixed way with the axle of the go-kart or skelter. A huge advantage of such double freewheel clutch according to the invention is that the exit member thereof is intended to be connected in a fixed way with the axle of the go-kart or skelter in which it is applied. Indeed, as already described in the introduction, in the known double freewheel clutches the intention is to connect the driven axle of the go-kart in a fixed way with the entrance member of such double freewheel clutch.

From this it automatically follows that the core of such double freewheel clutch is located between this axle and the wheel and therefore is normally near or in the wheel.

In a double freewheel clutch according to the invention the intention is to connect the axle of the go-kart in a fixed way with the exit member of the double freewheel clutch which is exactly the other way around.

A major advantage of this is that the double freewheel clutch can practically be fitted in any location on this axle.

Preferably such double freewheel clutch according to the invention is therefore preferably mounted centrally in the axle of the go-kart, close to the chain drive which is also always provided centrally as this is the most logical position for a drive with pedals.

Another big advantage of such design of a double freewheel clutch according to the invention is that the axle can be separately mounted in the frame of the go-kart, while the wheels of the go-kart can be mounted on this axle in a fixed way, which is a lot simpler and stronger than what is known from prior art. Yet another advantage of a double freewheel clutch according to the invention is that with a mounting component it can be directly mounted on the frame of a go- kart, whereby all the other parts of the double freewheel clutch are suspended from this mounting component or mounted rotatably around it. Again, this implies a strong simplification.

In a preferred embodiment of a double freewheel clutch according to the invention the entrance member of the double freewheel clutch is formed by the freewheel.

In this embodiment a sprocket of a chain drive of the go- kart or skelter in question can easily be mounted on the freewheel in order to drive the freewheel. Replacing or changing such sprocket is also very simple in this embodiment.

In another preferred embodiment of a double freewheel clutch according to the invention the exit member of the double freewheel clutch is formed by the housing, whereby this housing therefore needs to be connected in a fixed way with the axle of the go-kart.

As will be shown in more detail below, such embodiment of a double freewheel clutch according to the invention, is very compact and robust.

However, according to the invention it is not excluded to turn around the roles, whereby the housing of the double freewheel clutch forms the entrance member on which a gearwheel or sprocket can be provided and whereby the freewheel forms the exit member that needs to be connected with the axle of the go-kart.

Any other embodiments are not excluded from the invention either.

The invention also relates to a mechanism for a go-kart or skelter that contains a double freewheel clutch according to the invention as described above, as well as an axle.

Characteristic of such mechanism according to the invention is the fact that the double freewheel clutch is centrally mounted on the axle for the go-kart or skelter, whereby the exit member of the double freewheel clutch is connected in a fixed way with the axle.

This central position of the double freewheel clutch is very advantageous for mounting, replacing and maintaining it.

Furthermore, this is only possible with a fundamentally different approach whereby the axle of the go-kart is connected in a fixed way to the exit member of the double freewheel clutch, such that mounting near a wheel of the go-kart is no longer necessary.

In a preferred embodiment of a mechanism according to the invention a sprocket is mounted in a fixed way on the entrance member of the double freewheel clutch in question.

Coupling or uncoupling, respectively to drive the axle or to let the axle run in a freewheel condition, obviously occurs between the entrance member and the exit member of the double freewheel clutch, regardless of forward or reverse drive. Consequently, in this embodiment of a mechanism according to the invention this coupling or uncoupling occurs between the axle and the driving sprocket, whereas in the known mechanisms for go-karts this functionality takes place between the axle and a wheel that is mounted on this axle with all disadvantages related to this, for example concerning mounting, maintenance and replacement of the double freewheel clutch and other parts of the go-kart.

With a mechanism according to the invention as described above, it is relatively simple to replace the sprocket, as well as the entire double freewheel clutch and the like.

In another preferred embodiment of a mechanism according to the invention the housing of the double freewheel clutch forms the exit member thereof and this housing is executed as a bush on which a cover is provided, whereby the bush has a cylindrical wall and a base, whereby the cover covers the cylindrical wall on the side opposite the base, whereby the axle extends centrally through the housing, whereby the axle is connected in a fixed way with the base and whereby the cover is provided with an opening through which the axle extends.

In another preferred embodiment of a mechanism according to the invention the freewheel of the double freewheel clutch forms the entrance member thereof and the freewheel is provided with a tubular part that extends through the mounting component and whereby the sprocket is mounted on the free end of the tubular part that is located outside the housing. As will be illustrated hereinafter by means of figures, said embodiments are very compact and practical in use.

The invention also relates to a go-kart or skelter that is provided with a mechanism according to the invention as described above.

Typically, such go-kart or skelter is not really intended as means of transport, but is used more as a toy for children or youngsters, whereby the intention is not to cover long distances with the go-kart or the skelter.

Moreover, such go-kart or skelter is typically driven by muscle power, e.g. using pedals in a chain drive or by pushing the feet off from the ground.

Nevertheless, it is not excluded to also apply the invention to go-karts or skelters that are used as a real means of transport and/or go-karts or skelters provided with drive means, such as an electric engine or combustion engine.

A go-kart or skelter according to the invention is characteristic in that the axle of the mechanism is the rear axle of the go-kart or skelter that is driven by means of pedals via a chain drive, whereby the double freewheel clutch is mounted in the central part of the axle, whereby a sprocket is mounted on the freewheel of the double freewheel clutch and whereby the housing of the double freewheel clutch is connected in a fixed way with the rear axle of the go-kart or skelter.

The advantages of such go-kart or skelter are trivial in light of what was already written before relating to the double freewheel clutch and the mechanism according to the invention.

With the intention of better showing the characteristics of the invention, hereinafter by way of an example without any limiting nature, a preferred embodiment is described of a double freewheel clutch according to the invention, a mechanism according to the invention, as well as a go-kart or skelter according to the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 shows a perspective view of a part of a go- kart or skelter according to the invention in disassembled condition;

figure 2 shows a bottom view according to arrow F2 in figure 1, whereby, however, the part in question of the go-kart or shelter according to the invention is in an assembled condition;

figure 3 is a cross-section according to the section III-III shown in figure 2;

figure 4 shows a perspective view on a larger scale of the parts indicated in figure 1 with F4 and which represent a double freewheel clutch according to the invention in disassembled condition;

figures 5 to 8 show a perspective view and on an even larger scale of the parts of the double freewheel clutch, respectively indicated with F5 to F8 in figure 4;

figure 9 shows a perspective view on a larger scale of the part of the go-kart which in the figure; is indicated with F9 and which represents a mechanism according to the invention;

figure 10 is a frontal view according to arrow F10 on the mechanism in figure 9;

figure 11 is a cross-section of the mechanism according to the line XI-XI shown in figure 10;

figure 12 shows a perspective view on a larger scale of the part that in figure 9 is indicated with F12 and which represents a double freewheel clutch according to the invention; and,

figure 13 in cross-section shows the part in a magnified view indicated in figure 11 with F13 and that represents the same double freewheel clutch according to the invention.

The part 1 of a go-kart or skelter according to the invention shown in the figures 1 to 3 comprises a frame or chassis 2, a mechanism according to the invention 3 and a pair of rear wheels 4 of the go-kart or skelter. The frame or chassis 2 is in this case essentially formed by a pair of round metal pipes 5, folded and welded to each other, on which other metal elements 6 are provided for mounting parts of the go-kart or skelter not shown in the figure, such as a seat, a steering wheel, a chain drive and pedals, front wheels, etc. The mechanism 3 according to the invention of the go-kart or skelter chiefly consists of a rear axle 7 on which the rear wheels 4 need to be mounted and of a double freewheel clutch 8 according to the invention.

This double freewheel clutch 8 according to the invention is shown in figure 1 in disassembled condition and in more detail in figure 4, while the parts thereof are shown on an even larger scale in the figures 5 to 8.

The rear axle 7 is not executed round over its entire length L but is flattened over a part 9 with length L' with the intention to easily mount in a fixed way parts of the double freewheel clutch 8 on it.

Double freewheel clutch 8 is double m the sense that it allows the go-kart or skelter to be driven both in a forward and rearward direction via a chain drive not shown in the figures.

The double freewheel clutch 8 is hereby such that, regardless of the direction in which the chain drive tries to drive the rear axle 7 and the rear wheels 4, a freewheel of the rear axle 7 and the rear wheels 4 is always possible in case the chain drive is unable to follow the driven parts, for example when a user of the go-cart keeps the legs still on the pedals or. drives it slower than the rear axle 7 and the rear wheels 4 are already turning. In the terminology applied in this text, the double freewheel clutch 8 has an entrance member 10 to this end that is intended to be driven by a drive of the go-kart or skelter and an exit member 11 that is intended to drive the rear wheels 4 of the go-kart or skelter.

As shown in more detail in the figures 4 to 8 and in particular in the cross-section of figure 13, the entrance member 10 of the double freewheel clutch 8 in the embodiment discussed here is formed by a freewheel 12 and the exit member 11 by a housing 13. Moreover, the double freewheel clutch 8 contains a mounting component 14 that is intended to suspend or mount the double freewheel clutch 8 in a fixed way to the frame 2 of the go-kart or skelter. More specifically, the mounting component 14 is executed as an end member 15 for the freewheel 12.

In this case the intention is that the mounting component 14 is suspended on and connected in a fixed way with a suspending part 16 that is provided on the chassis or frame 2.

In the embodiment of the figures this suspending part 16 is executed as a metal plate 17 which in the normal condition of the go-kart extends vertically from the frame 2.

In the metal plate 15 in this case a U-shaped cut-away 18 is provided in which one end 19 of the mounting component 14 can be inserted fittingly and which to this end is executed in a flattened way in order to block it in the U- shaped cut-away 18 against the rotation. All this is shown more clearly in the figures 1 and 3 for example .

Naturally, totally different embodiments are not excluded from the invention.

The housing 13 of the double freewheel clutch 8 is executed as a bush 20 on which a cover 21 is provided. This bush 21 has a cylindrical wall 22 and a base 23.

The cover 21 covers the cylindrical wall 22 on the side 24 of the housing 13 opposite the base 23. The rear axle 7 extends from a first rear wheel 4 centrally through the base 23 and through the entire housing 13.

The rear axle 7 is hereby connected in a fixed way with the base 23.

The cover 21 is provided with an opening 25 through which the rear axle 7 extends further on the side 24 of the housing 13 to the other rear wheel 4. It is very characteristic for the invention that the double freewheel clutch 8 is centrally mounted on the rear axle 7 of the go-kart or skelter.

This can only be realised because the exit member 11, which in this case is formed by the housing 13, is connected in a fixed way with the rear axle 7. The cover 21 is in this case attached on the sleeve 20 with four bolts or screws 26. The mounting component 14 partially extends into the housing 13 and is mounted in this housing 13 by means of a ball bearing 27.

Or in other words which perhaps captures the imagination more, the housing 13 is mounted rotatably in relation to the mounting component 14, as the mounting component 14 needs to be considered as a part of the double freewheel clutch 8 that is mounted in a fixed way on the frame 2 of the go-kart.

To this end, the mounting component 14, in this case, is executed as a sleeve 28 with a tubular part 29 that has an internal part 30 that is located in- the housing and an external part 31 that protrudes from the housing 13 through the opening 25 in the cover 21 of the housing 13.

Moreover, on the internal part 30 of the tubular part 29 of the sleeve 28 a flange 32 is provided which forms a stop with which the sleeve 28 supports against the aforementioned ball bearing 27..

Thus, the sleeve 28 is mounted in the cover 21 of the housing 13. The freewheel 12 extends at least partially into the housing 13 and is mounted rotatably both in relation to the mounting component 14 and in relation to the housing 13. The freewheel 12 is hereby provided with a tubular part 33 that protrudes through the mounting component 14 to outside the housing 13.

In this case, the freewheel 12 forms the entrance member 10 of the double freewheel clutch 8, whereby a sprocket 34 is mounted in a fixed way on the free end 35 of the tubular part 33.

It is clear that the sprocket 34 must be seen as a part of the chain drive of the go-kart, which is not shown in detail, whereby this part (just as the rear axle 7) is not really part of the actual double freewheel clutch 8.

Such sprocket 34 can be easily replaced, for. example with a sprocket 34 with other dimensions .to adjust the transmission ratio of the chain drive. The freewheel 12 has a part 36 in the housing 13 that is executed in a disk-shaped way whereby on this disk-shaped part 36 coupling means 37 are provided in the form of spring activated and compressible coupling elements 38 which can co-operate with the housing 13, more specifically with grooves 39 and tongues 40 provided on the inside of the cylindrical wall 22 thereof.

These coupling means 37 allow a drive power built up at the sprocket 34 to be transmitted via the freewheel 12 to the housing 13 and this according to the drive direction of the sprocket 34 and thus of the freewheel 12, at least to the extent that the coupling elements 37 are not activated in the freewheel condition as is the case when the sprocket 34 is behind on the housing 13.

The freewheel 12 is mounted in the base 23 of the housing 13 by means of a ball bearing 41.

Moreover, in the embodiment discussed here the freewheel 12 is fitted over a bearing bush 42. Preferably, for the proper operation of the freewheel mechanism of the double freewheel clutch, a freewheel switch 43 is also provided between the mounting component 14 and the freewheel 12. It is useful to mount the freewheel 12 in relation to the mounting component 14 by means of a ball bearing 44, which is shown by way of example in figures 1, 4 and 6.

To this end, the side 45 of the flange 32 of the mounting component 14 opposite the ball bearing 27 can serve as a stop 46

However, all this does not necessarily have to be the case, as is illustrated by means of the cross-section of figure 13, in which such ball bearing 44 is not provided.

However, in both cases the stop 46 of the mounting component 14 holds the freewheel 12 in place and in this sense the mounting component 14 is a real end member 15 for the freewheel 12. The present invention is by no means limited to the embodiments described as an example and shown in the figures, of a double freewheel clutch 8, a mechanism 3 and go-kart or skelter according to the invention, but such double freewheel clutch 8, such mechanism 3, and such go- kart or skelter can be realised in all kinds of forms and dimensions without departing from the scope of the invention .