IMPROVED VEHICLE FOR PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION.

The present patent application for industrial invention relates to an improved vehicle for passenger transportation.

Pedal vehicles are known, called "cycle buses", which comprise a main chassis with a longitudinal axle parallel to the direction of motion. Seats for passengers are fixed to the main chassis. The seat in the front is the driver seat, which is used by the driver. The remaining seats are used by the passengers.

A steering device is disposed in front of the driver seat. The cycle bus usually comprises two front steering wheels that are connected to the steering device, and two rear idle wheels.

The cycle bus comprises pedals associated with each seat, in such a way that the driver and every passenger can contribute to the motion of the cycle bus.

Transmission means transmit the motion from the pedals to the wheels.

This type of cycle buses is impaired by the fact that they are difficult to maneuver. In fact, the distance between the front steering wheels and the rear idle wheels is very long. Consequently, maneuvering spaces are considerable, making the circulation of the cycle bus difficult in crowded areas.

Moreover, when the steering angle is not sufficient to make a sharp bend, it is impossible for the cycle bus to move in reverse motion. In such a case, a complicated maneuver is necessary, which consists in repeatedly making short back and forth movements of the vehicle, inverting the steering at every movement.

When a small reverse movement is to be made, some of the passengers have to get off the bus in order to reduce the total weight of the cycle bus, and move the vehicle in reverse motion. W099/12794 discloses a vehicle comprising steering means for revolving wheels, wherein the steering means are suitable for driving the revolving wheels around a vertical axis in such a way that the vehicle rotates around a rotation point. The vehicle disclosed in W099/12794 comprises transmission means associated with the steering means and with the wheels, in such a way to rotate all wheels simultaneously according to the rotation of the steering column. However, the vehicle disclosed in W099/12794 is not provided with non polluting propulsion means that are based on the physical force of one or more passengers. Moreover, in the vehicle disclosed in W099/12794, the passengers cannot contribute to the propulsion of the vehicle.

The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by disclosing a vehicle that is easy to maneuver, is environmental friendly and can be moved by one or more passengers by means of physical force.

These purposes are achieved according to the invention with the characteristics of the appended independent claim 1 .

Advantageous embodiments appear from the dependent claims.

The vehicle of the invention is defined by claim 1 .

The advantages of the vehicle according to the invention are manifest, wherein because of the provision of pedals and of a passenger seat that rotates integrally with the support assembly and with the wheels, the vehicle can be moved and maneuvered easily by means of the passenger's physical force.

For the sake of clarity, the description of the vehicle according to the invention continues with reference to the attached drawings, which have a merely illustrative, not limiting value, wherein:

- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic top view of the interior of the vehicle according to the invention with the wheels in steering position to make a curve to the left;

- Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the vehicle according to the invention with the wheels in linear traveling position; Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a side and a front view of the vehicle of the invention;

- Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic top view of transmission means of the vehicle according to the invention, which connect the steering device to each support assembly.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a vehicle for passenger transportation according to the invention is disclosed, comprising a main chassis (1 ) with a longitudinal axle (X) parallel to the direction of motion.

The vehicle is provided with a plurality of seats (23) that comprise a front driver-seat (23') for the driver and passenger-seats (23") for the passengers. The seats (23) are disposed in two parallel longitudinal rows.

The vehicle comprises two longitudinal rows of wheels (3), where each row comprises more than two wheels (3).

The vehicle comprises two longitudinal rows (F1 , F2) of support assemblies (2) of the wheels (3) and of the seats (23). Each support assembly (2) supports a wheel (3) in lower position and a seat (23) in upper position. The support assemblies (2) are revolvingly mounted around a vertical axis relative to the main chassis (1 ), in such a way that both the wheels (3) and the seats (23) revolve integrally with the support assembly around a vertical axis relative to the main chassis (1 ).

It must be noted that the driver-seat (23') is associated with a driver-support assembly (2a). Each row (F1 , F2) of support assemblies (2) is formed of a first support assembly (2A) and a plurality of support assemblies (2B) disposed behind the first support assembly (2A). The driver-support assembly (2a) is a first support assembly (2A).

Optionally, the vehicle can also comprise fixed support assemblies (2Β') relative to the main chassis (1 ).

The vehicle comprises a steering device (4) disposed in front of the driver-seat (23'). The steering device (4) comprises a flywheel (4a) and a steering column (4b).

The vehicle comprises propulsion means to move the vehicle. The propulsion means comprise a plurality of pairs of pedals (24). Each pair of pedals is associated with one or more support assemblies (2), in such a way that one or more passengers and/or driver can contribute to the motion of the vehicle.

With the exception of the driver-support assembly (2a), each support assembly (2) comprises a fixed non-steering handlebar (25) that is integral with the support assembly (2), so that the seat (23) and the fixed handlebar (25) rotate integrally with the support assembly (2). In view of the above, the individual passengers that are sitting on the seats (23) can pedal safely, comfortably holding the handlebar (25) and pedaling in the correct position also when making a curve.

A backpack holder (23a) supported by the support means (22) is provided on the back of each seat (23).

The vehicle comprises two transmission means (M1 , M2), each of them being associated with one of the two rows (F1 , F2) of support assemblies to connect the steering device (4) to each support assembly (2).

The transmission means (M1 , M2) are configured in such a way to determine the simultaneous rotation of the support assemblies (2) and of the wheels (3) by a different angle following to the actuation of the steering device (4).

Each transmission means (M1 , M2) comprises a support shaft that is actuated by the steering device (4) and connected to the support assembly (2) of the same row.

The transmission means (M1 , M2) of each row (F1 , F2) comprise a first set of pinions (5) for actuating the support assemblies (2) of the first row (F1 ), and a second set of pinions (5a) for actuating the support assemblies (2) of the second row (F2). The pinions of each set (5, 5a) have a different number of teeth and are all coaxially mounted on the same support shaft. More precisely, the number of teeth of each pinion increases when going towards the back of the vehicle.

Each transmission means (M1 , M2) comprises: - a plurality of primary chains (6), each chain being connected to one of the support assemblies (2B) disposed behind the first support assembly (2A) and engaging with one of the pinions (5, 5a) of the first set or the second set, and

- a secondary chain (7) that engages with one of the pinions (5, 5a) and is connected to the first support assembly (2A) of each row.

With reference to Figs. 1 , 2 and 4, the main chassis (1 ) comprises a horizontal thrust block (1 1 ) for each support assembly (2); more precisely, each support assembly (2) comprises support means (22) that slidingly support it with respect to said thrust block (1 1 ) fixed on the main chassis (1 ).

The support means (22) of each support assembly comprise a fork (22a) for supporting the wheel (3) and at least one diverged pair of legs (22b) ending at the base with slides (22c) that are slidingly fixed to said horizontal thrust block (1 1 ) .

The slides (22c) are connected, either directly or by means of extension cables, to the opposite ends of each primary chain (6) in such a way that, when the steering device (4) is actuated, all support assemblies (2B) disposed behind the first support assembly (2A) are simultaneously driven in an equiverse rotation by the primary chains (6), each of them by an angle with different width compared to the other support assemblies (2B) of the same row because of the fact that the primary chains (6) engage with pinions (5, 5a) that have a different number of teeth.

The rotation of each support assembly (2B) disposed behind the first support assembly (2A) corresponds to a similar rotation of the wheel (3), of the seat (23) and of the fixed handlebar (25) associated with said support assembly (2B).

The coupling between the pinions of each set of pinions (5, 5a) and the support assemblies (2B) disposed behind the first support assembly (2A) is preferably made in such a way that the angle of rotation of the support assemblies (2) disposed behind the first support assembly (2A) increases going towards the back of the vehicle, as shown in Fig. 1 . In view of the above, the primary chain (6) associated with the last support assembly (2B) of each row (F1 , F2) engages with the last pinion (5, 5a) of the set, which has the highest number of teeth.

The secondary chain (7) engages with the pinion in opposite direction compared to the engagement of the primary chains (6), meaning that, with the same direction of rotation of all the pinions of the set of pinions (5, 5a), the first support assembly (2A) is driven in a rotation with opposite direction compared to the one of the support assemblies (2B) disposed behind the first support assembly (2A), as shown in Fig. 1 .

Otherwise said, the slides (22c) of the support means of the first support assembly (2A) are connected to the opposite ends of the secondary chain (7) in such a way that, when the steering device (4) is actuated, the first support assembly (2A), connected to said secondary chain (7) is driven into a rotation with opposite direction compared to the one of the following support assemblies (2B).

Advantageously, the secondary chain (7) does not engage with a specific pinion (5, 5a), but with the same pinion (5, 5a) that is engaged with the primary chain (6) associated with the last support assembly (2B) of the row. Therefore, the pinion (5, 5a) associated with the last support assembly (2B) of the row and provided with the highest number of teeth is engaged for a first sector of circle with the primary chain (6) and for a second sector of circle, opposite to the first one, with the secondary chain (7), as shown in Fig. 1 .

Moreover, the vehicle comprises return pinions (50) suitable for deviating the trajectory of the chains (6, 7).

The opposite ends of the chains (6, 7) are fixed to the slides (22c) by means of pulling cables (6a, 7a), the trajectory of which is conditioned by return pulleys (6b, 7b).

Advantageously, the first set of pinions (5) is directly mounted at the base of the steering column (4b) and the second set of pinions (5a) is moved by the first set of pinions (5) by means of a return chain (9) that engages with a pinion of the first set of pinions (5) and with a pinion of the second set of pinions (5a), in such a way as to transmit the motion from the first set of pinions (5) to the second set of pinions (5a).

Although it supports a seat (23), a handlebar (25) and a wheel (3), the fixed support assembly (2Β') is not fixed to any primary chain (6) and is not revolvingly supported by a horizontal thrust block (1 1 ), and therefore the actuation of the steering device (4) does not cause the movement of the fixed support assembly (2Β').

With reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the main chassis (1 ) comprises a structure formed of lateral uprights (30) and upper crosspieces (31 ), which acts as support for multiple panels (32) used to close the structure on the sides and on top, protecting the passengers against rain, wind, sunshine, dust, and the like.

The panels (32) are preferably large pieces of waterproof material provided with transparent inserts (33), which are suitable to create a sort of windows through which the passengers and the driver can see outside.

The advantages of the vehicle according to the invention are manifest, wherein because of the provision of a plurality of pedals that are associated with each revolving seat integrally with the wheels, each passenger can contribute to the motion of the vehicle and, at the same time, because of the provision of the transmission means, the vehicle can be maneuvered easily.

Although not shown in the figures, the number of seats, rows, wheels, support assemblies and moving means can vary. Moreover, in order to move the vehicle by means of the physical force of one passenger, it is sufficient to associate only one support assembly (2) to a pair of pedals

(24) and to a seat (23).