LPR Bike Origin and Description
All text by Lee Richards. Copyright 2012. Linear Pedal Reactor Bicycles, LPR Bicycles, and LPR TM
All text by Lee Richards. Copyright 2012. Linear Pedal Reactor Bicycles, LPR Bicycles, and LPR TM
"I thought of it while riding my bike". -- Albert Einstein on his Theory of Relativity
-- Begin at the beginning --
-- Begin at the beginning --
Where does one begin when designing an optimum performance human powered vehicle (HPV)? The inventor/designer of the Linear Pedal Reactor Bicycle believes the standard bicycle design of today is deeply flawed. Efficient HPV operation requires the teaming of a well designed and executed machine to the average, to fairly athletic, human body. It is absolutely vital that this machine be designed with the peculiarities of the human body in mind.
In the quest for this perfection of design, the man behind the LPR believed he needed to look first to the human, and not to the machine. The human is the only factor, the only component, that cannot be altered. Some of us are bigger. Some of us are smaller. But generally speaking we all share the same basic biological composition. Our physical design is not going to change any time soon. Our design is fixed.
Try this: Simply observe a modern bicyclist pedaling by on any good quality bicycle. Now notice the extreme angularity of their knee and hip joint at the top of the pedal stroke. As the knee is forced up towards the bicycle's handle bars (with performance road bikes, the knee and upper leg both are pushed up close to the rider's chest), an exagerated angle is created between the rider's femur and pelvis, and femur and tibia. When repeated hundreds (or thousands) of times in a single day, these displayed angles are potentially harmful to both joints. This is especially true if the bicyclist is attempting to apply power to the pedals when his knees and hips are in this extreme bent position. Fittingly, knee and hip pain is amongst the most common complaint of the bicyclist -- this is true from the casual recreational rider, on up to the professional racer. Also, The biological geometry and composition of the human knee joint, when bent just a few degrees past straight, is not capable of producing foot thrust in an efficient manor -- and the hip joint is not much better. Very important.
So, what type of locomotion apparatus would perform most efficiently and effectively when teamed with the human body? That is the single most important question to be put before the Linear Pedal Reactor team. Design to the fixed, and the flexible will mold accordingly. The designer of this invention has faith in its success partially because of the strict implementation of this vital rule.
At this time, the invention lives only in the minds and computers of LPR Bicycles' designers. A material prototype of the most recent variant does not yet exist. A few wooden models of mechanical movements have been created, just as proofs of concepts.
The team got somewhat burned-out earlier in the year, and took a few months off. They are now back to work, and they're trying to complete a rideable prototype before the end of 2013.
Lee Richards has been working on this invention for several years, part time. He built his first rideable prototype back in 1997. That design was a disaster. However, it taught Lee volumes about the evils of parasitic friction, pedal stroke dimensions and angles, and a lot more. Since then, breakthrough after breakthrough has taken the current design to where no one has gone before.
While the designers of the LPR Bike are anxious to reveal details of the latest revision, those details must remain private until intellectual property rights have been secured. Patent proceedings have begun.
That having been said, there are some factors that may be disclosed at this time. Following is a short list of some things the Linear Pedal Reactor does and does not include:
The LPR does not include a circular pedal crank, as does a standard bicycle. Instead, the pedals move in a linear or straight line motion, and operate in a reciprocal or up-and-down (on a recumbent bicycle, forward-and-back) manor.
The first linear, or near linear, bicycle (it had more of an arc shaped pedal course) was manufactured by H. B. Smith Machine Company in Smithville, New Jersey. The year was 1880, and the bicycle, The American Star was invented by G. W. Pressey. It had a rear wheel as high as 60 inches, and was quite successful in its day.
There have been many different bicycle pedal mechanisms presented in the past, and the linear system is but one of them. However, every example of a linear system that the inventor has uncovered incorporates numerous high friction elements or other qualities that renders the design terminal. For any HPV, high friction is the kiss-of-death, the fatal flaw. To the designers of the LPR, friction is the plague, the nemesis, and is to be avoided at all costs -- even if it necessitates increased complexity and weight.
Concerning the linear pedal system of the invention, professional patent searches have not revealed examples of prior art in the field of bicycles or HPVs general.
From the pedal mechanism, energy efficiently transfers directly to the transmission. The Linear Pedal Reactor transmission is a major component of the entire Reactor package. It provides several features that are quite unique. The LPR does include a multi-speed transmission, and it is not a friction type drive.
Concerning this aspect of the invention, professional patent searches have not revealed examples of prior art in any field.
From the transmission, energy is again efficiently moved to a component labeled the Compensator/Multiplier (Com-plier). This important link simultaneously performs four distinct and separate functions. First, it reduces effects of an induced geometric sine to a minimum. Next, it modifies specific motions within the drive train (trading torque for velocity). Third, it transfers drivetrain force laterally, addressing assembly clearance issues. And last, it serves as a variable force vectoring point.
Once again, no prior art anywhere.
There exists within the Linear Pedal Reactor composite an element of an undisclosed nature. This specific isolated assembly may be the single most important component that makes or breaks the entire effort. Naturally, the team is not able to discuss details at this time. But, they can say that this part of the design is among the most basic and simplest facets of the invention.
No prior art.
Those are some of the things the Linear Pedal Reactor includes. Next, a short list of some things the LPR does not include:
As mentioned, the LPR has no rotating pedal crank and no bottom bracket. It also has no derailleur at the pedal crank and bottom bracket -- that do not exist -- nor at the rear of the frame. It has no derailleurs because it has no chain. No derailleurs and no chain means it has no cassette. Not only does the LPR have no chain, derailleurs, or cassette... it has no sprockets at all. It also has no gears. None.
And that means no more dirty greasy chain, jammed between the sprockets and frame, that now has to be dug out of its hole and re-mounted to a gritty oily sprocket. No more bent stiff derailleurs that only down-shift. Never. Ever.
Two more things the LPR does not have much need for are regularly scheduled adjustments or a need for lubrication. Ride it hard, and put it away wet. No problem.
Sound too good to be true? Well... maybe it is. Won't know for sure until the second prototype is complete.
Stay tuned...
In the quest for this perfection of design, the man behind the LPR believed he needed to look first to the human, and not to the machine. The human is the only factor, the only component, that cannot be altered. Some of us are bigger. Some of us are smaller. But generally speaking we all share the same basic biological composition. Our physical design is not going to change any time soon. Our design is fixed.
Try this: Simply observe a modern bicyclist pedaling by on any good quality bicycle. Now notice the extreme angularity of their knee and hip joint at the top of the pedal stroke. As the knee is forced up towards the bicycle's handle bars (with performance road bikes, the knee and upper leg both are pushed up close to the rider's chest), an exagerated angle is created between the rider's femur and pelvis, and femur and tibia. When repeated hundreds (or thousands) of times in a single day, these displayed angles are potentially harmful to both joints. This is especially true if the bicyclist is attempting to apply power to the pedals when his knees and hips are in this extreme bent position. Fittingly, knee and hip pain is amongst the most common complaint of the bicyclist -- this is true from the casual recreational rider, on up to the professional racer. Also, The biological geometry and composition of the human knee joint, when bent just a few degrees past straight, is not capable of producing foot thrust in an efficient manor -- and the hip joint is not much better. Very important.
So, what type of locomotion apparatus would perform most efficiently and effectively when teamed with the human body? That is the single most important question to be put before the Linear Pedal Reactor team. Design to the fixed, and the flexible will mold accordingly. The designer of this invention has faith in its success partially because of the strict implementation of this vital rule.
At this time, the invention lives only in the minds and computers of LPR Bicycles' designers. A material prototype of the most recent variant does not yet exist. A few wooden models of mechanical movements have been created, just as proofs of concepts.
The team got somewhat burned-out earlier in the year, and took a few months off. They are now back to work, and they're trying to complete a rideable prototype before the end of 2013.
Lee Richards has been working on this invention for several years, part time. He built his first rideable prototype back in 1997. That design was a disaster. However, it taught Lee volumes about the evils of parasitic friction, pedal stroke dimensions and angles, and a lot more. Since then, breakthrough after breakthrough has taken the current design to where no one has gone before.
While the designers of the LPR Bike are anxious to reveal details of the latest revision, those details must remain private until intellectual property rights have been secured. Patent proceedings have begun.
That having been said, there are some factors that may be disclosed at this time. Following is a short list of some things the Linear Pedal Reactor does and does not include:
The LPR does not include a circular pedal crank, as does a standard bicycle. Instead, the pedals move in a linear or straight line motion, and operate in a reciprocal or up-and-down (on a recumbent bicycle, forward-and-back) manor.
The first linear, or near linear, bicycle (it had more of an arc shaped pedal course) was manufactured by H. B. Smith Machine Company in Smithville, New Jersey. The year was 1880, and the bicycle, The American Star was invented by G. W. Pressey. It had a rear wheel as high as 60 inches, and was quite successful in its day.
There have been many different bicycle pedal mechanisms presented in the past, and the linear system is but one of them. However, every example of a linear system that the inventor has uncovered incorporates numerous high friction elements or other qualities that renders the design terminal. For any HPV, high friction is the kiss-of-death, the fatal flaw. To the designers of the LPR, friction is the plague, the nemesis, and is to be avoided at all costs -- even if it necessitates increased complexity and weight.
Concerning the linear pedal system of the invention, professional patent searches have not revealed examples of prior art in the field of bicycles or HPVs general.
From the pedal mechanism, energy efficiently transfers directly to the transmission. The Linear Pedal Reactor transmission is a major component of the entire Reactor package. It provides several features that are quite unique. The LPR does include a multi-speed transmission, and it is not a friction type drive.
Concerning this aspect of the invention, professional patent searches have not revealed examples of prior art in any field.
From the transmission, energy is again efficiently moved to a component labeled the Compensator/Multiplier (Com-plier). This important link simultaneously performs four distinct and separate functions. First, it reduces effects of an induced geometric sine to a minimum. Next, it modifies specific motions within the drive train (trading torque for velocity). Third, it transfers drivetrain force laterally, addressing assembly clearance issues. And last, it serves as a variable force vectoring point.
Once again, no prior art anywhere.
There exists within the Linear Pedal Reactor composite an element of an undisclosed nature. This specific isolated assembly may be the single most important component that makes or breaks the entire effort. Naturally, the team is not able to discuss details at this time. But, they can say that this part of the design is among the most basic and simplest facets of the invention.
No prior art.
Those are some of the things the Linear Pedal Reactor includes. Next, a short list of some things the LPR does not include:
As mentioned, the LPR has no rotating pedal crank and no bottom bracket. It also has no derailleur at the pedal crank and bottom bracket -- that do not exist -- nor at the rear of the frame. It has no derailleurs because it has no chain. No derailleurs and no chain means it has no cassette. Not only does the LPR have no chain, derailleurs, or cassette... it has no sprockets at all. It also has no gears. None.
And that means no more dirty greasy chain, jammed between the sprockets and frame, that now has to be dug out of its hole and re-mounted to a gritty oily sprocket. No more bent stiff derailleurs that only down-shift. Never. Ever.
Two more things the LPR does not have much need for are regularly scheduled adjustments or a need for lubrication. Ride it hard, and put it away wet. No problem.
Sound too good to be true? Well... maybe it is. Won't know for sure until the second prototype is complete.
Stay tuned...
LPR Design
“A tool is but the extension of a man's hand, and a machine is but a complex tool.
He that invents a machine augments the power of a man, and the well-being of mankind". -- Henry Ward Beecher
“A tool is but the extension of a man's hand, and a machine is but a complex tool.
He that invents a machine augments the power of a man, and the well-being of mankind". -- Henry Ward Beecher