Power-assisting device for a bicycle and a bicycle equipped with the same
First Claim
1. A power-assisting device adapted for use with a bicycle, said power-assisting device comprising:
- a hollow shaft which is adapted to be rotatably supported in a hanger lug of the bicycle, said hollow shaft being restricted to movement along a rotation center line thereof, and said hollow shaft having (i) a first end portion adapted to be projected out of the hanger lug and detachably attached to a rear wheel drive gear, and (ii) a second end portion adapted to be projected out of the hanger lug and detachably attached to an input gear;
a crank shaft which is rotatably supported in a center hole of the hollow shaft, said crank shaft being restricted to movement along a rotation center line thereof, and said crank shaft having (i) a first end portion extending out of the hollow shaft and adapted to be detachably attached to a first one of a pair of pedal-equipped crank arms and (ii) a second end portion extending out of the hollow shaft and adapted to be detachably attached to a second one of the pair of pedal-equipped crank arms;
a power-assisting unit which is adapted to be detachably attached to a body of the bicycle, said power-assisting unit having a motor and a rotation force transmission mechanism adapted to transmit a motor rotation force from the motor to the input gear, and said rotation force transmission mechanism having a one-way clutch for transmitting the motor rotation force to the input gear only in a direction for driving the bicycle forward; and
a rotation force control unit which is interposed between the crank shaft and the hollow shaft outside the hanger lug, said rotation force control unit transmitting a rotation force of the crank shaft to the hollow shaft and controlling the motor to generate the motor rotation force when a value of the rotation force of the crank shaft becomes larger than a predetermined value.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power-assisting device for use with a bicycle includes a hollow shaft which is adapted to be rotatably supported in a hanger lug of the bicycle. The hollow shaft is restricted to movement along a rotation center line thereof, and has (i) a first end portion adapted to be projected out of the hanger lug and detachably attached to a rear wheel drive gear, and (ii) a second end portion adapted to be projected out of the hanger lug and detachably attached to an input gear. A crank shaft is rotatably supported in a center hole of the hollow shaft. The crank shaft is restricted to movement along a rotation center line thereof, and has first and second end portions extending out of the hollow shaft and adapted to be detachably attached to a first and second ones of a pair of pedal-equipped crank arms. A power-assisting unit is adapted to be detachably attached to a body of the bicycle, and includes a motor and a rotation force transmission mechanism adapted to transmit a motor rotation force from the motor to the input gear. The rotation force transmission mechanism has a one-way clutch for transmitting the motor rotation force to the input gear only in a direction for driving the bicycle forward. A rotation force control unit, interposed between the crank shaft and the hollow shaft outside the hanger lug, transmits a rotation force of the crank shaft to the hollow shaft and controls the motor to generate the motor rotation force when a value of the rotation force of the crank shaft becomes larger than a predetermined value.
40 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. A power-assisting device adapted for use with a bicycle, said power-assisting device comprising:
-
a hollow shaft which is adapted to be rotatably supported in a hanger lug of the bicycle, said hollow shaft being restricted to movement along a rotation center line thereof, and said hollow shaft having (i) a first end portion adapted to be projected out of the hanger lug and detachably attached to a rear wheel drive gear, and (ii) a second end portion adapted to be projected out of the hanger lug and detachably attached to an input gear; a crank shaft which is rotatably supported in a center hole of the hollow shaft, said crank shaft being restricted to movement along a rotation center line thereof, and said crank shaft having (i) a first end portion extending out of the hollow shaft and adapted to be detachably attached to a first one of a pair of pedal-equipped crank arms and (ii) a second end portion extending out of the hollow shaft and adapted to be detachably attached to a second one of the pair of pedal-equipped crank arms; a power-assisting unit which is adapted to be detachably attached to a body of the bicycle, said power-assisting unit having a motor and a rotation force transmission mechanism adapted to transmit a motor rotation force from the motor to the input gear, and said rotation force transmission mechanism having a one-way clutch for transmitting the motor rotation force to the input gear only in a direction for driving the bicycle forward; and a rotation force control unit which is interposed between the crank shaft and the hollow shaft outside the hanger lug, said rotation force control unit transmitting a rotation force of the crank shaft to the hollow shaft and controlling the motor to generate the motor rotation force when a value of the rotation force of the crank shaft becomes larger than a predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A bicycle equipped with a power-assisting device, comprising:
-
a body including a seat and a hanger lug having a center hole through which a crank shaft is rotatably inserted; a rear wheel rotatably supported on the body at a position located behind the seat; a handle provided on the body at a position located in front of the seat; a front wheel rotatably supported on the handle; a hollow shaft which is rotatably supported in the hanger lug and which is restricted to movement along a rotation center line thereof, said hollow shaft having (i) a first end portion projecting out of the hanger lug and detachably attached to a rear wheel drive gear, and (ii) a second end portion projecting out of the hanger lug and detachably attached to an input gear; a crank shaft which is rotatably supported in a center hole of the hollow shaft, said crank shaft being restricted to movement along a rotation center line thereof, and said crank shaft having (i) a first end portion extending out of the hollow shaft and adapted to be detachably attached to a first one of a pair of pedal-equipped crank arms and (ii) a second end portion extending out of the hollow shaft and adapted to be detachably attached to a second one of the pair of pedal-equipped crank arms; a power-assisting unit which is detachably attached to the body of the bicycle, said power-assisting unit having a motor and a rotation force transmission mechanism adapted to transmit a motor rotation force from the motor to the input gear, and said rotation force transmission mechanism having a one-way clutch for transmitting the motor rotation force to the input gear only in a direction for driving the bicycle forward; a rotation force control unit which is interposed between the crank shaft and the hollow shaft outside the hanger lug, said rotation force control unit transmitting a rotation force of the crank shaft to the hollow shaft and controlling the motor to generate the motor rotation force when a value of the rotation force of the crank shaft becomes larger than a predetermined value; and a rear wheel drive rotation force transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotation force from the rear wheel drive gear of the hollow shaft to the rear wheel of the bicycle. - View Dependent Claims (7)
-
Specification