Electric bike powertrain with dual planetary gear sets and ring gear pedal reaction torque measurement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9802673-B2
Application number	US-201514714495-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 18, 2015
Priority date	May 18, 2015
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A number of variations may include an electric cycle powertrain having a first planetary gear set and a second planetary gear set, wherein the second planetary gear set is constructed and arranged to selectively overdrive a pedal cadence and wherein the first planetary gear set is constructed and arranged to selectively provide additional gear ratio for a motor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electric cycle powertrain having a motor, a first planetary gear set and a second planetary gear set, wherein the second planetary gear set is operatively attached to a crank assembly and is constructed and arranged to selectively overdrive a pedal cadence and wherein the first planetary gear set is operatively attached to the motor and is constructed and arranged to selectively provide additional gear ratio for the motor, and wherein the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set are located within the motor.

2. The electric cycle powertrain of claim 1 further comprising the motor, and wherein the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set are located within the motor allowing for the motor to be efficiently cooled.

3. The electric cycle powertrain of claim 2 further comprising a battery assembly located adjacent to the motor and which is operatively connected to the motor to send energy to the motor de-coupling heat transfer between the motor and the battery assembly and allowing for the battery assembly to be efficiently cooled.

4. The electric cycle powertrain of claim 1 further comprising a strain gage operatively connected to the second planetary gear set and which is constructed and arranged to measure a reaction torque from a pedal input at a grounded element of the second planetary gear set.

5. The electric cycle powertrain of claim 4 wherein the strain gage is constructed and arranged to control operation of at least one of the motor or a regenerative braking system.

6. The electric cycle powertrain of claim 1 further comprising a first pedal assembly and a second pedal assembly operatively connected to a crankshaft and the second planetary gear set; the motor, wherein the motor is operatively connected to the first planetary gear set to selectively rotate the crankshaft; a chain ring operatively connected to the crankshaft; a chain operatively connected to the chain ring; a rear sprocket operatively connected to the chain and a rear hub; and a rear wheel operatively connected to the rear hub.

7. The electric cycle powertrain of claim 6 further comprising at least one of a first mechanical mechanism operatively connected to the first pedal assembly and the second pedal assembly, a second mechanical mechanism operatively connected to the second planetary gear set, a third mechanical mechanism operatively connected to the chain ring, and a fourth mechanical mechanism operatively connected to the rear hub.

8. The electric cycle powertrain of claim 7 wherein at least one of the first mechanical mechanism, the second mechanical mechanism, the third mechanical mechanism, and the fourth mechanical mechanism is a one-way clutch.

9. The electric cycle powertrain of claim 7 wherein the first mechanical mechanism is constructed and arranged so that when the first mechanical mechanism is closed, torque to the rear hub is generated by rotation of at least one of the first pedal assembly or the second pedal assembly and when the first mechanical mechanism is opened, the torque to the rear hub comes from the motor.

10. The electric cycle powertrain of claim 7 wherein the second mechanical mechanism is constructed and arranged to allow for at least one of free rotation of the first pedal assembly and the second pedal assembly in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction; preventing of rotation of the first pedal assembly and the second pedal assembly in both the clockwise and the counterclockwise direction; preventing of rotation of the first pedal assembly and the second pedal assembly in the clockwise direction and allowing of rotation in the counterclockwise direction; or preventing of rotation of the first pedal assembly and the second pedal assembly in the counterclockwise direction and allowing of rotation in the clockwise direction.

11. The electric cycle powertrain of claim 7 wherein the third mechanical mechanism is constructed and arranged so that when the third mechanical mechanism is closed, torque from the crankshaft and the motor are transferred to the chain ring, and when the third mechanical mechanism is open, the chain ring is disconnected from the crankshaft and the motor.

12. The electric cycle powertrain of claim 7 wherein the fourth mechanical mechanism is constructed and arranged so that when the fourth mechanical mechanism is closed, the rear hub is operatively connected to the rear sprocket to receive torque from the rear sprocket and when the fourth mechanical mechanism is open, the rear hub is disconnected from the rear sprocket allowing the rear hub to coast freely.

13. The electric cycle powertrain of claim 1 further comprising a spring operatively connected to the second planetary gear set.

14. The electric cycle powertrain of claim 7 wherein the electric cycle powertrain is constructed and arranged to selectively operate in at least one of a pedal assist mode, a coast with spinning motor synchronized with a road mode, a coast without spinning motor synchronized with the road mode, an electronic coaster/regeneration mode, a regeneration mode, a pedal throttle mode, a pedal mode without back drive lockup mode, or a security lock mode.

15. An electric cycle comprising:
a crankshaft;
a first pedal assembly and a second pedal assembly operatively connected to the crankshaft;
a chain ring operatively connected to the crankshaft;
a chain operatively connected to the chain ring;
a rear sprocket operatively connected to the chain and a rear hub;
a motor comprising a stator and a rotor operatively connected to the crankshaft;
a battery pack adjacent to and operatively connected to the motor;
a first planetary gear set operatively connected to the motor and positioned within the motor, wherein the first planetary gear set is constructed and arranged to selectively provide additional gear ratio for the motor; and
a second planetary gear set operatively connected to the first pedal assembly and the second pedal assembly and positioned within the motor, and wherein the second planetary gear set is constructed and arranged to selectively overdrive a pedal cadence.

16. The electric cycle of claim 15 wherein the first planetary gear set comprises a grounded first ring gear, a first sun gear operatively attached to one or more first planetary gears to rotate the first planetary gears within the first ring gear, a first carrier operatively connected to the one or more planetary gears which rotates with the planetary gears and wherein the carrier is operatively connected to the chain ring and wherein the first sun gear is operatively attached to the rotor and is driven by the motor; and wherein the second planetary gear set comprises a second grounded ring gear, a second carrier operatively attached to one or more second planetary gears to rotate the one or more second planetary gears within the second ring gear, a second sun gear operatively connected to the one or more second planetary gears which rotates with the second planetary gears, and wherein the second carrier is operatively connected to the crankshaft.

17. The electric cycle of claim 16 further comprising at least one of:
a first mechanical mechanism operatively attached to the first and the second pedal assemblies constructed and arranged so that when the first mechanical mechanism is closed, torque to the rear sprocket is provided by at least one of the motor or the first and second pedal assemblies, and when the first mechanical mechanism is open, torque to the rear sprocket is provided by the motor;
a second mechanical mechanism operati

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Hayslett Steven L
• Swales Shawn H
• Lannen Richard J
• Timonen Jussi A

Classifications

• B62M11/18

  with a plurality of planetary gear units · CPC title

• B62M11/145

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

• B62M6/40 Primary

  Rider propelled cycles with auxiliary electric motor · CPC title

• B62M7/02

  with engine between front and rear wheels · CPC title

• B62M6/55 Primary

  power-driven at crank shafts parts · CPC title