Mid drive electric bicycle powerflow with planetary gear overdrive and stepped pinion planetary

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10059399-B2
Application number	US-201514815268-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2015
Priority date	Jul 31, 2015
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

Abstract

A product may include a gear set that may have a first gear, a second gear that may be engaged with the first gear and a third gear. The third gear may be held from rotation and may be engaged with the second gear. A carrier may carry the second gear for rotation. A crank may be continuously connected with the carrier to provide input thereto. A torque measurement device may be connected to the third gear.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A product comprising a gear set that has a first gear, a second gear engaged with the first gear, and a third gear that is held from rotation and that is engaged with the second gear, a carrier carrying the second gear for rotation, a crank continuously connected with the carrier to provide input thereto, a torque measurement device connected to the third gear, a linking member, a linked element drivingly engaged with the linking member, a torque transfer element connected with the linked element, and a mechanical mechanism disposed between the first gear and the torque transfer element, the first gear selectively connected with the linked element through the mechanical mechanism and the torque transfer element.

2. The product according to claim 1 wherein the mechanical mechanism is a clutch.

3. The product according to claim 1 further comprising a second gear set that has a fourth gear shaped like a ring, a fifth gear engaged with the fourth gear and a sixth gear engaged with the fifth gear, a second carrier carrying the fifth gear for rotation, a motor that has a rotor directly engaged with the sixth gear, the linked element selectively driven by the second gear set, and a second mechanical mechanism connected between the fifth gear and the linked element.

4. The product according to claim 3 wherein the torque transfer element is tubular, and wherein the mechanical mechanism is connected to the linked element through the torque transfer element.

5. The product according to claim 3 wherein the second mechanical mechanism comprises a clutch.

6. The product according to claim 3 further comprising a seventh gear, wherein the fifth gear includes a first pinion and a second pinion smaller than the first pinion, the first pinion directly engaged with the fourth gear and the second pinion engaged with the linked element through the seventh gear and the second mechanical mechanism.

7. The product according to claim 6 further comprising a second torque transfer element connected between the seventh gear and the second mechanical mechanism.

8. The product according to claim 1 wherein the torque transfer element is tubular, and wherein the crank includes a shaft that extends through the torque transfer element.

9. The product according to claim 8 further comprising a rear hub engaged with the linking member.

10. A product comprising a first gear set that has a first gear, a second gear meshing with the first gear, a third gear meshing with the second gear, and a first carrier carrying the second gear, a second gear set that has a fourth gear, a fifth gear meshing with the fourth gear, a sixth gear meshing with the fifth gear, and a second carrier carrying the fifth gear, a crank assembly engaged with the first carrier to provide input to the first gear set, a torque transfer element, a first mechanical mechanism connected between the third gear and the torque transfer element, a motor engaged with the sixth gear to provide input to the second gear set, and a second mechanical mechanism, the fifth gear connected to the torque transfer element through the second mechanical mechanism.

11. The product according to claim 10 wherein the first gear is held from rotating.

12. The product according to claim 11 further comprising a torque device connected to the first gear that measures torque applied to the first gear.

13. The product according to claim 12 further comprising a case housing the first and second gear sets, the torque device connected between the first gear and the case.

14. The product according to claim 10 further comprising a seventh gear, wherein the fifth gear includes a first pinion and a second pinion smaller than the first pinion, the first pinion directly engaged with the fourth gear and the second pinion engaged with the mechanical second mechanism through the seventh gear.

15. The product according to claim 10 wherein the fourth gear is held from rotating.

16. The product according to claim 10 further comprising a linking member and a sprocket drivingly engaged with the linking member, the sprocket fixed to the torque transfer element.

17. An electric cycle powertrain comprising a wheel with a hub, a linked element, a linking element connecting the hub with the linked element, a torque transfer element connected with the hub through the linked element and the linking element, first and second gear sets connected with the torque transfer element through first and second mechanical mechanisms, the first gear set has a first gear that is held from rotation, a second gear engaged with the first gear and a third gear engaged with the second gear, the third gear configured to provide output from the first gear set through the first mechanical mechanism to the torque transfer element and the linked element, the second gear set has a fourth gear, a fifth gear engaged with the fourth gear, and a sixth gear engaged with the fifth gear, the fifth gear connected with the torque transfer element through the second mechanical mechanism and the fifth gear configured to provide output from the second gear set to the linked element.

18. The electric cycle powertrain according to claim 17 further comprising a case, housing the first and second gearsets, and a torque measurement device engaged between the first gear and the case.

19. The electric cycle powertrain according to claim 17 further comprising a crankshaft extending through the torque transfer element, and pedals connected to the crankshaft.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Hayslett Steven L
• Swales Shawn H

Classifications

• B62M11/18

  with a plurality of planetary gear units · CPC title

• F16H3/66

  composed of a number of gear trains without drive passing from one train to another · CPC title

• B62M6/55 Primary

  power-driven at crank shafts parts · CPC title

• B62M6/50

  characterised by detectors or sensors, or arrangement thereof · CPC title

• B62M11/145

  built in, or adjacent to, the bottom bracket · CPC title