Electrically assisted bicycle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10189541-B2
Application number	US-201615364373-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2016
Priority date	Dec 1, 2015
Publication date	Jan 29, 2019
Grant date	Jan 29, 2019

Abstract

An electrically assisted bicycle includes an electric motor which applies a walk-push assisting torque to a rear wheel of the bicycle when a rider propels the bicycle by pushing it while walking, and a motor controller configured or programmed to execute a first mode in which the electric motor applies no torque to the rear wheel, a second mode in which the electric motor applies to the rear wheel a stay assisting torque which causes the electrically assisted bicycle to stay in a position where the rider wants to stay, and a third mode in which the electric motor applies the walk-push assisting torque to the rear wheel, wherein the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode are able to be selected by using an operator able to be operated by the rider.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electrically assisted bicycle comprising:
an electric motor that applies a walk-push assisting torque to a wheel of the bicycle when a rider pushes the bicycle;
a controller configured or programmed to execute a first mode in which the electric motor applies no torque to the wheel, a second mode in which the electric motor applies a stay assisting torque to the wheel which allows the electrically assisted bicycle to stay in a position, and a third mode in which the electric motor applies the walk-push assisting torque to the wheel; and
an operator operable by the rider to select the first mode, the second mode, or the third mode; wherein
the operator includes a first operator and a second operator which differs from the first operator, the first operator and the second operator are operable by the rider to select the first mode, the second mode, or the third mode by switching on/off the first operator and the second operator, or
the operator is a single operator, and the controller executes shifting of the modes in an order of the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode or in an order of the first mode, the third mode, and the second mode in response to reception of an ON signal from the single operator.

2. The electrically assisted bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein
the operator includes the first operator and the second operator which differs from the first operator;
the controller is configured or programmed to execute the first mode when the first operator and the second operator are not operated;
the controller is configured or programmed to execute the second mode when the first operator or the second operator is operated; and
the controller is configured or programmed to execute the third mode when the first operator and the second operator are operated.

3. The electrically assisted bicycle according to claim 1 , wherein
the operator includes the first operator and the second operator which differs from the first operator;
the first operator is a stay operator and the second operator is a walk-push operator;
the controller is configured or programmed to execute the first mode when the stay operator and the walk-push operator are not operated;
the controller is configured or programmed to execute the second mode when the walk-push operator is not operated and the stay operator is operated; and
the controller is configured or programmed to execute the third mode when the walk-push operator is operated irrespective of the operation of the stay operator.

Assignees

• Yamaha Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kinpara Yuki

Classifications

• B62M3/08

  Pedals · CPC title

• B62K11/04

  characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels · CPC title

• B62K21/26

  Handlebar grips (twist grips B62K23/04) · CPC title

• B62M6/70

  power-driven at single endless flexible member, e.g. chain, between cycle crankshaft and wheel axle, the motor engaging the endless flexible member · CPC title

• B62M6/50 Primary

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