FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] Embodiments of the present invention, generally relate to rickshaws, and in particular relate to a braking system for the cycle rickshaws.

BACKGROUND

[002] Human powered vehicles such as cycle rickshaws are typically used to carry passengers for a short distance, usually from a train/metro station to nearby market or home. The cycle rickshaws are provided with two brakes, one on left side of handle and another on right side of handle of the rickshaw. Upon application of the brake, rickshaw loses momentum and stops.

[003] However, kinetic energy of rickshaw is lost in friction and heat by application of conventional brakes and is thus wasted. Further, when the rickshaw driver needs to move the rickshaw again, initial force required to get the rickshaw moving is quite large. Hence, rickshaw driver does not wish to apply brakes sometimes and relies on handle manipulation to navigate in close distances. This may result in overturning of rickshaw due to collision with nearby objects, putting safety of passengers in risk.

[004] Therefore, there is a need for an improved braking system for the cycle rickshaws which solve above disadvantages associated with the conventional brakes of the rickshaw.

SUMMARY [005] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a regenerative braking system (50) for a cycle rickshaw (100) is provided herein. The regenerative braking system (50) includes a central hollow shaft (20) provided on a rickshaw main shaft (30), the central hollow shaft (20) configured to move with the main shaft (30) during movement of the rickshaw (100). The regenerative braking system (50) further includes a gear section (25) provided in a housing (21), the gear section (25) having a first bevel gear (19), a second bevel gear (10), a third bevel gear (13), and a fourth bevel gear (15), the first bevel gear (19) configured to rotate with the central hollow shaft (20) and the main shaft (30), the third bevel gear (13) and the fourth bevel gear (15) are configured to engage or disengage the first bevel gear (19) and the second bevel gear (10). The regenerative braking system (50) further includes a spring section (26) coupled with the second bevel gear (10), the spring section (26) configured to store energy of the second bevel gear (10) in a spring (1), based on engagement of the first bevel gear (19) and the second bevel gear (10) during rotation of the central hollow shaft (20), the spring section (26) further configured to release energy based on disengagement of the first bevel gear (19) and the second bevel gear (10) to effect the movement of the rickshaw (100) in a forward direction. The regenerative braking system (50) further includes a handle section (24) coupled with the housing (21) through the third bevel gear (13) and the fourth bevel gear (15), the handle section (24) configured to move from a first position to a second position based on a driver input.

[006] During operation, based on movement of the handle section (24) from the first position to the second position, the third bevel gear (13) and the fourth bevel gear (15) are configured to move closer to each other and engage the first bevel gear (19) and the second bevel gear (10) thereby transferring energy of the first bevel gear (19) to the second bevel gear (10) during rotation of the central hollow shaft (20), and the spring (1) storing energy received from the second bevel gear (10). wherein based on movement of the handle section (24) from the second position to the first position, the third bevel gear (13) and the fourth bevel gear (15) are configured to move away from each other and disengage the first bevel gear (19) and the second bevel gear (10), and the spring (1) releasing stored energy to effect movement of the rickshaw (100) in the forward direction.

[007] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some aspects of embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [008] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein: [009] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of cycle rickshaw having a regenerative braking system, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates a backside view of the cycle rickshaw having regenerative braking system, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of regenerative braking system, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram of regenerative braking system provided on main shaft of the rickshaw, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of regenerative braking system fixed on the main shaft, according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0014] FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of the regenerative braking system, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0015] FIG. 7 illustrates an exploded view of the regenerative braking system along the main shaft of the rickshaw, according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the regenerative braking system, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0017] FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded view of cross section of the regenerative braking system, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0019] As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words "include", "including", and "includes" mean including but not limited to.

[0020] The phrases "at least one", "one or more", and "and/or" are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions "at least one of A, B and C", "at least one of A, B, or C", "one or more of A, B, and C", "one or more of A, B, or C" and "A, B, and/or C" means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.

[0021] The term "a" or "an" entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms "a" (or "an"), "one or more" and "at least one" can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms "comprising", "including", and "having" can be used interchangeably.

[0022] The term "automatic" and variations thereof, as used herein, refers to any process or operation done without material human input when the process or operation is performed. However, a process or operation can be automatic, even though performance of the process or operation uses material or immaterial human input, if the input is received before performance of the process or operation. Human input is deemed to be material if such input influences how the process or operation will be performed. Human input that consents to the performance of the process or operation is not deemed to be "material".

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a cycle rickshaw 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates a backside view of the cycle rickshaw 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the cycle rickshaw 100 includes a regenerative braking system 50. FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of regenerative braking system 50. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the regenerative braking system 50 is configured to stop (or slow down) the rickshaw 100, store kinetic energy of moving rickshaw 100, and release the stored energy later (when rickshaw driver needs) to push the rickshaw 100 forward.

[0024] FIG. 4 and 5 illustrate a schematic diagram of regenerative braking system 50 provided on main shaft of the rickshaw 100. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cycle rickshaw 100 includes a main shaft 30 that drives wheels of the rickshaw 100. The regenerative braking system 50 includes a central hollow shaft 20 that is located on the main shaft 30. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that whenever main shaft 30 is rotated (for example, by a driver, rickshaw puller), the central hollow shaft 20 also rotates with the main shaft 30.

[0025] FIG. 6 and 7 illustrate exploded view of the regenerative braking system 50. FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the regenerative braking system 50. FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded view of the cross section of the regenerative braking system 50. In an embodiment, the braking system 50 includes a housing 21. The housing 21 includes the central hollow shaft 20 provided on the rickshaw main shaft 30. In an embodiment, the central hollow shaft 20 is configured to move with the main shaft 30 during movement of the rickshaw 100.

[0026] The regenerative braking system 50 further includes a gear section 25 provided in the housing 21. In an embodiment, the gear section 25 includes a first bevel gear 19, a second bevel gear 10, a third bevel gear 13, and a fourth bevel gear 15. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first bevel gear 19 is configured to rotate with the central hollow shaft 20 and the main shaft 30 during motion of the rickshaw 100. Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the third bevel gear 13 and the fourth bevel gear 15 are configured to engage or disengage the first bevel gear 19 and the second bevel gear 10.

[0027] Further, the regenerative braking system includes a spring section 26. In an embodiment, the spring section 26 is coupled with the second bevel gear 10. The spring section 26 is configured to store energy of the rotating second bevel gear 10 in a spring 1, based on engagement of the first bevel gear 19 and the second bevel gear 10 during rotation of the central hollow shaft 20. The spring 1 is further coupled with a sprocket 4 and a sprocket 6 through a plate 2, a spacer 3, and a spacer 5.

[0028] The spring 1 is further coupled with the bevel gear 10 through the plate 2, the spacer 3, the sprocket 4, a spacer 5, the sprocket 6, a spacer 7, a plate 8 and a plate 9. In an embodiment, the plate 2, plate 8, and plate 9 are mild steel (MS) plates. The central hollow shaft 20 is further coupled with the sprocket 4 and the sprocket 6. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the spring section 26 is further configured to release energy based on disengagement of the first bevel gear 19 and the second bevel gear 10 to effect the movement of the rickshaw 100 in a forward direction. [0029] Further, the regenerative braking system 50 includes a handle section 24, as shown in FIG. 6. The handle section 24 is configured to move from a first position to a second position based on user input (for example, rickshaw driver input). The handle 24 is located in front of a driver of a rickshaw near main handle of the rickshaw (as shown in FIG. 1). In an embodiment, the handle section 24 is coupled with the housing 21 through the third bevel gear 13 and the fourth bevel gear 15.

[0030] Further, the handle section 24 includes a connecting rod 23 and a fork 22. In an embodiment, the fork 22 is attached with the third bevel gear 13 through a first pin 11, a second pin 14, and a plate 12. The fork 22 is attached with the fourth bevel gear 15 through a third pin 17, a fourth pin 18, and plate 16, as shown in FIG. 6 and 7. In an embodiment, the plate 12 and plate 16 are mild steel (MS) round plates.

[0031] During operation, when the cycle rickshaw 100 is in motion and is required to be stopped by a driver of the rickshaw 100, the driver may move the handle 24 from a first position to a second position. In an embodiment, when the handle 24 is moved forward from the first position to the second position, the fork 22 attached with the handle 24 also moves forward in a second position of the fork 22 from a first position of the fork 22. The fork 22 is further configured to move the pin 14 and 18 also in the forward position.

[0032] In an embodiment, the pin 14 and the pin 18 are attached to the plate 12 and the plate 16. Further, the plate 12 and the plate 16 are configured to move/control bevel gear 13 and the bevel gear 15 closer/farther. According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the bevel gears 13 and 15 moves closer, the bevel gear 19 gets engaged with the bevel gear 10, thereby transferring rotational energy of the first bevel gear 19 (that is rotating with the hollow shaft 20) to the second bevel gear 10. The second bevel gear 10 transfers the energy to the spring 1, and the spring 1 stores the energy of the rotating second bevel gear 10. In an embodiment, when bevel gear 19 moves clockwise, the bevel gear 10 moves anti-clockwise. Further, the bevel gear 10 is attached to the plate 9, and the spring 1 is configured to store energy received from the bevel gear 10.

[0033] Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the rickshaw 100 is required to start again, the driver may push the handle 24 backward (second position). When the handle 24 is moved backward, the fork 22 attached with the handle 24 also moves backward. The fork 22 further moves the pin 14 and 18, which moves the plate 12 and 16 away.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the away movement of the plates 12 and 16 moves the bevel gears 13 and 15 away. Hence, the bevel gear 19 gets disengaged with bevel gear 10. When the bevel gear 10 gets disengaged, the spring 1 restores its original position by releasing the stored energy to effect movement of the rickshaw 100 in the forward direction. Further, the free wheels (i.e., sprocket 4 and 6) attached on the hollow shaft 20, pushes the hollow shaft 20. The hollow shaft 20 pushes the main shaft 30 of the rickshaw 100, and hence drives the rickshaw 100 in the forward direction. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that this movement of the rickshaw 100 happens in the forward direction, without pedaling by the user/driver.

[0035] The regenerative braking system 100 advantageously provides storing the kinetic/rotational energy of rickshaw in the spring and utilizing the stored energy to ease movement of the rickshaw in the forward direction when the rickshaw driver needs. Hence, wastage of energy is minimized, and simultaneously, effort of the user (such as rickshaw driver) gets reduced. For example, when the rickshaw is required to start again or when rickshaw is moving towards elevated road, the rickshaw driver may use the stored energy in the spring to push the rickshaw forward.

[0036] The foregoing discussion of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to limit the present invention to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description, for example, various features of the present invention are grouped together in one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the embodiments, configurations, or aspects may be combined in alternate embodiments, configurations, or aspects other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention the present invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment, configuration, or aspect. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Moreover, though the description of the present invention has included description of one or more embodiments, configurations, or aspects and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications are within the scope of the present invention, e.g. , as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative embodiments, configurations, or aspects to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.