| Abstract: | A new and systematic approach for the analysis and simulation of a non-circular chainwheel in a bicycle drive system is presented. The proposed leg-bicycle model is based on a five-bar linkage and explicit expressions for the kinematics and kinetics are derived. The generated shape of the chainwheel is smoothed to an ellipse, for practical reasons. The performance of this elliptical chainwheel is assessed by comparing the joint moments, leg angular accelerations, crank angular velocities, crank angular accelerations and output forces with those of a conventional circular chainwheel. The results suggest combining the elliptical and circular chainwheels into a single unit, in order to accommodate a wide range of pedalling speeds. At low speeds, the elliptical chainwheel is engaged, but as the speed increases, a switch over to the circular chainwheel is recommended. |
