Bicycle's power train

Details Bicycle's power train Bicycle's power train

2000-01-25

2002-03-05

Boehler, Anne Marie (Department: 3618)

Motor vehicles

Special wheel base

Rider propulsion with additional source of power, e.g.,...

C180S220000, C280S231000, C280S260000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06352131

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to bicycles and more specifically relates to bicycle power train improvements.
2. Background Art
Most standard bicycles use a chain to convert pedaling power from the crank arm to the rear cluster, also known as a freewheel or cassette. Pedaling force converted to the rear cluster and thereafter to the ground is determined by the ratio of the gear number between the front chainring and the rear sprocket of the cluster that are currently selected. The ratio between these two determines the target output (either higher torque or faster speed). When the ratio is small, bicycles have a larger torque (from rear wheel to the ground) and a slower speed, which is especially good for going uphill. Most standard bicycles have a gear changing device known as the derailleur. On most bikes, there are multiple front chainrings and rear sprockets, so there will be two derailleurs—a front and a rear. When the gear ratio is changed, by changing the front chainring and/or the rear sprocket (by shifting with the front or real shifters, respectively), it allows the bicycle to significantly gain speed or gain torque. The derailleur of a bicycle is convenient and comfortable; however, people have begun to affix powering devices to increase the enjoyment of riding a bicycle. This arrangement has certain drawbacks.
Furthermore, when a bicycle has more than one crank and crankset, such that the bike can hold more than one person, one of the riders might not want to turn his or her crank while the bike is moving and the other rider or riders are turning their cranks. To solve this problem, most multiple person bikes have several chains and cog systems or have other complicated systems. These systems are complex.
Without a device to allow power to more easily be transferred from a powering device to the wheels of the bike or from one rider to the wheels of the bike while another rider does not pedal, the current complexity in the bicycle's power train will not be reduced.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION
A unidirectional rotating assembly, a bicycle powering mechanism, and a bicycle using the same are disclosed. The unidirectional rotating assembly allows a chainring to rotate while a crank and an axle remain still. The bicycling powering mechanism combines the unidirectional rotating assembly with a powering device. The powering device is coupled to the unidirectional rotating assembly through a drive ring. This allows the powering device to drive the unidirectional assembly, thereby driving the chainring. When the bicycling power mechanism is part of a bike, the chainring is connected to the rear wheel of the bike through a chain and rear sprockets. Because of this, the bicycling powering mechanism can propel the bike while the cranks are stationary. Additionally, a person using a bike having this configuration is still able to shift gears. Thus, the bicycling power mechanism need not be designed with gearing. Moreover, the rider can select the appropriate gear such that the bicycling power mechanism will not drive the bike too slowly (such as if a hill is encountered) or too fast (such as if a downhill is encountered).
This invention has the benefits of being much less complicated while giving the rider appropriate control over speed through gearing selection. Moreover, the rider need not apply any force to move the bike. However, should the rider decide to add force and thus go faster, the present invention allows the rider to do so.
The unidirectional rotating assembly can also be applied to a multi-passenger bicycle for two or more individuals riding a bicycle together. This allows one or more of the riders to provide no power input to the bike while the other rider or riders provides all the power input. The present invention has a benefit of being much less complicated than past systems. By using the unidirectional rotating assembly, the involved and complex multiple chains, cogs, and other complicated systems are not needed.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1094558 (1914-04-01), Harley
patent: 2242272 (1941-05-01), Swan
patent: 5209507 (1993-05-01), Domenge
patent: 5740694 (1998-04-01), Nagao et al.
patent: 5810379 (1998-09-01), Shusterman
patent: 5845727 (1998-12-01), Miyazawa et al.
patent: 5915493 (1999-06-01), Nakayama
patent: 704585 (1941-02-01), None
patent: 358234 (1906-02-01), None

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