SIMPLE AS A BIKE…

Besides simplicity, the main advantages of Cycling, this is a pleasure velokolyaska before its progenitor and advantages, the main of which — good stability in motion and at stops and comfortable as in the car fit the driver. The prototype was recumbent, published in the “Modeller-designer” № 9’2000 But it’s a pretty complex space frame, two-wheel drive and steering made me think about how to simplify these nodes and make the car easier. I think that the goal was achieved and even receive a copyright certificate for the prototype.

Offer readers the description and drawings of an improved veloceleste.

 

Such a “reduction” of the velomobile prototype led, in fact, to create new machine — it remains the only layout: two front steering wheels and one driving the rear. Therefore, before proceeding to the description of the nodes of Volokolamsky, it is worth noting those who are affected the most radical changes.

 

First, light weight 4.5 kg frame is spatial, it became planar. Second, two-stage drive countershaft (reduction gear) is simplified to single-stage with a long chain, which increased the efficiency of the transmission. Thirdly, the multi-speed drive wheel bushing replaced on the single speed, this eliminated the need for manual brake. Fourth, the handlebar from the seat moved to the usual place on the column in front of the driver that eliminated the extra step in steering. Finally, fifth, “setlanguage” seat replaced by a more simple but rigid with laid back back which has led to a better focus when you press your foot on the pedal, which is especially important when driving uphill.

As a result of such alterations total weight of the car was reduced to 20 kg (in the prototype it was 26 kg), providing almost the same quality as the prototype with a multi-speed drive.

 

Velokolyaska:

 

1 — pedal drive (folding Bicycle); 2 — drive chain (t = 12,7) a casing; 3 — frame; 4 — steering; 5 — seat; 6 — left steering wheel (with tire 40-406 or 30-445); 7 — wing; 8 — driving wheel (with a tire 37-622 40-622 or)

 

Frame:

 

1 — the case of the carriage (folding Bicycle); 2 — rails (steel, rough. 25×1. 5); 3 — pivot bushing (steel, pipe 18×1,5, 2 PCs); 4 —cross member (steel, pipe 28×1,5); 5 — steering column (steel, rough 28х 1,5); 6 — eyelet Graciosa wing (steel, sheet 1.5); 7 — spacer (steel, pipe 20x 1,5); 8 — lugs (off road bike); 9 — gusset plate securing the steering column (steel, sheet s2); 10 — transition coupling (steel, pipe 20×1,5, 2 PCs.)

 

Veloceleste frame consists of two longitudinal side members with a length of 1200 mm, made of steel pipe with a diameter of 25 mm. in Front the longerons converge, and here it is welded to the body of the carriage a pedal of a drive from the old folding Bicycle. At a distance of 420 mm from the axis of the carriage to the side members welded to the bottom cross member — cross member with a length of 640 mm from the pivot bushings on the ends. Cross member made of steel pipe with a diameter of 28 mm, sleeve diameter tubing 18 mGy? At the junction of the bar and rails have a slight bend and then run parallel to each other. Their ends flattened in a vertical plane and provided with lugs of the rear fork road bike. At a distance of 395 mm from the axis of the lugs between the side members welded strut with eyelet for attachment of a mud wing.

 

To traverse the front welded to the steering column with a length of 330 mm from the pipe with a diameter of 28 mm. it ensure the stability of the two curly scarves.

 

Base (distance between axes of wheels) veloceleste, in comparison with the prototype, slightly reduced (decreased turning radius) and track (distance between the front wheels) is increased.

Suspension, wheel suspension and steering is pretty straightforward. Rear sprocket, like a Bicycle, is mounted in the lugs of the fork spars. Suspension is front steering wheels, although different from conventional Cycling and is more similar to automobile pivot, but too simple — camber angles and toe is not adjustable.

 

The pins are freely inserted in the bronze bearings (you can use Teflon) sleeves on the ends of the beam, castellated nuts tightened from above and zaspirtovanny through holes drilled in the threaded ends of the pins. Pins have heads in the shape of a cube with a through lateral openings with a diameter of 12 mm, these holes fixed axis (axle) of the front steering wheels.

 

 

Shaft in a bronze (or PTFE) sliding bearings are placed in the steering column, top it is inserted in the front steering and all details in place of the slot tightened clamps. Two more clamps on the same shaft above and below the steering column to prevent its longitudinal displacement.

 

Drive (transmission) is no different from drive a normal road bike, just a little longer chain. Its tension can be adjusted by moving the axle sleeve rear wheel in the slots of the lugs of the fork. When the chain stretches enough to remove one or two links, so that-*the second adjustment is possible again.

 

Seat veloceleste normal — type chair, only his back is rejected at a significant angle for a more comfortable fit driver. Seat base is an arc of thin-wall steel tube diameter 16 mm with four crossbars of a steel U-shaped profile of 55×10 mm. attached To the crossbars cushion of the seat and backrest. The pillow is simple: on the plywood base glued foam and covered with leatherette top.

 

The location of the seat on the frame was selected due to the optimal distribution of the load from the weight of the driver on the wheel. Were taken into account and the fact that the height of the driver should provide it with the necessary visibility when driving in traffic. Therefore, the seat is mounted on two stand-Kah-brackets made of the same profile as the cross member, only the size of the shelves he had 15 mm. Brackets fastened to the side members of the frame by a pair of brackets using four M5 bolts each. This mount allows you to move the seat (back or forward) to adjust distance to the pedals on the growth of the driver.

 

The simplification of the construction of Volokolamsky, in comparison with the prototype, does not entail the eventual elimination of the previous elements, creates a (albeit minor) comfortable drive. If you want, without changing the frame and steering, can be set multi-speed drive, fairing with windshield and roof and the headrest of the seat, thereby making Volokolamskoe back to the recumbent.

D. SHAVEYKO, M and n s K, Belarus