Abstract
A slider-crank mechanism whose coupler curve is the approximate ellipse is designed so that the human may perform the pedaling of the elliptical motion of the foot. Because the thigh, the shank, the foot of the human constitute the three link chain, the system of the human and the bicycle with the slider-crank pedal mechanism may be considered as the seven planar link mechanism of two degree freedom. On the other hand, the system of the human and the ordinary bicycle may be considered as the five planar link mechanism of two degree freedom. Kinematic characteristics of these systems are analyzed with the given pattern of the pedal angle curve during a crank rotation. Then, the crank moment and the pin joint forces of these systems are calculated for given patterns of the hip moment, the knee moment and the ankle moment during a crank rotation and the average crank moment is estimated. The results of the pedal angle, the pedal force and the crank moment are verified experimentally.
