Driving unit and electric assist bicycle
First Claim
1. A driving unit for use in an electric assist bicycle, the driving unit comprising:
- a housing;
a crankshaft extending through the housing;
a magnetostrictive torque detection device located in the housing to detect a torque generated in the crankshaft;
a rotating member including the magnetostrictive torque detection device, and positioned to be concentric with the crankshaft and rotatable together with the crankshaft; and
a magnetic rotation detection device located in the housing to detect rotation of the crankshaft;
whereinthe rotating member includes;
a connecting shaft located at a first end along an axis of the rotating member and coupled with the crankshaft within the housing; and
an output shaft located at a second end along the axis of the rotating member, a driving sprocket attached to the output shaft;
the magnetic rotation detection device includes;
a detected portion provided on the rotating member and located around a central axis of the crankshaft within the housing; and
a detector configured to detect that the detected portion rotates together with the rotating member;
the detected portion is provided at a position different from that of the torque detection device in an axial direction of the crankshaft;
the driving unit includes a support having the detector mounted thereon; and
the support and the detector are located completely inside the housing.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A driving unit for use in an electric assist bicycle includes a rotation detection device in addition to a torque detection device such that the detection resolution of the rotation detection device is increased. The driving unit includes a housing, a crankshaft, a torque detection device, a rotating member, and a rotation detection device. The rotating member includes a connecting shaft and an output shaft. The connecting shaft is located at one of the ends of the rotating member disposed along its axis, and is coupled with the crankshaft in the housing. The output shaft is located at the other one of the ends of the rotating member disposed along its axis. The rotation detection device includes a detected portion and a detector. The detected portion is provided on the rotating member, and located around the central axis of the crankshaft in the housing.
9 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A driving unit for use in an electric assist bicycle, the driving unit comprising:
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a housing; a crankshaft extending through the housing; a magnetostrictive torque detection device located in the housing to detect a torque generated in the crankshaft; a rotating member including the magnetostrictive torque detection device, and positioned to be concentric with the crankshaft and rotatable together with the crankshaft; and a magnetic rotation detection device located in the housing to detect rotation of the crankshaft;
whereinthe rotating member includes; a connecting shaft located at a first end along an axis of the rotating member and coupled with the crankshaft within the housing; and an output shaft located at a second end along the axis of the rotating member, a driving sprocket attached to the output shaft; the magnetic rotation detection device includes; a detected portion provided on the rotating member and located around a central axis of the crankshaft within the housing; and a detector configured to detect that the detected portion rotates together with the rotating member; the detected portion is provided at a position different from that of the torque detection device in an axial direction of the crankshaft; the driving unit includes a support having the detector mounted thereon; and the support and the detector are located completely inside the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification