4105results about "Chain/belt transmission" patented technology

A sprocket assembly for a bicycle is provides with at least one large sprocket and at least one small sprocket. The large sprocket is modified to allow a bicycle chain to move smoothly from the large sprocket to the small sprocket during an up shift operation. The large sprocket basically has a sprocket body with a first axial side and a second axial side, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth extending radially and outwardly from an outer periphery of the sprocket body. The teeth of the sprocket include a plurality of up shift teeth. The up shift teeth has at least a first up shift tooth, a second up shift tooth located adjacent the first up shift tooth and a third up shift tooth located adjacent the second up shift tooth. The first, second and third up shift teeth are dimensioned to maintain alignment of a bicycle chain to prevent an up shift of the chain when an outer link plate of the bicycle chain meshes with the second up shift tooth, and to permit an up shift the bicycle chain when an inner link plate meshes with the second up shift tooth along a first up shift path.

A tilting, preferably three-wheeled, vehicle is disclosed that has a tilting mechanism that allows the vehicle to have leaning characteristics substantially similar to those offered by an in-line two-wheeled vehicle, but that does not require complex linkages and/or control systems to operate effectively. A tilting linkage is operably secured to a frame to allow a pair of spaced apart wheels to remain substantially aligned with the plane of the vehicle throughout its range of movement while still allowing the steering axes of each wheel to intersect the substantially vertical centerline of each wheel. The linkage also allows the caster angle of each wheel's pivot axis can be optimized independently of the angle of the vehicle's handlebar steering shaft.

Traction planets and traction rings can be operationally coupled to a planetary gearset to provide a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The CVT can be used in a bicycle. In one embodiment, the CVT is mounted on the frame of the bicycle at a location forward of the rear wheel hub of the bicycle. In one embodiment, the CVT is mounted on and supported by members of the bicycle frame such that the CVT is coaxial with the crankshaft of the bicycle. The crankshaft is configured to drive elements of the planetary gearset, which are configured to operationally drive the traction rings and the traction planets. Inventive component and subassemblies for such a CVT are disclosed. A shifting mechanism includes a plurality of pivot arms arranged to pivot about the centers of the traction planets as a shift pin hub moves axially.

The invention provides a wireless control system for a bicycle, including at least one shift actuator generating an input signal when actuated and a master control unit transmitting a shift signal responsive to the input signal. At least one electromechanical gear changer is provided and includes a gear changer control unit. The gear changer control unit receives the shift signal from the master control unit and controls the at least one electromechanical gear changer corresponding to the received shift signal. The gear changer control unit listens for the shift signal during a part of an awake mode cycle time, the master control unit transmitting the shift signal for a message duration time which is greater than the awake mode cycle time.

An adjustable assembly for a bicycle includes a first support having an interior surface and a second support slidably positioned within at least a portion of the first support. One of the first support and the second support is adapted to attach to a first bicycle portion, and the other of the first support and the second support is adapted to attach to a second bicycle portion. Further, the second support comprises an expansion portion configured to be moved between an expanded position and a retracted position. The expansion portion is configured to engage the interior surface of the first support when the expansion portion is in an expanded position. In addition, the first support is configured to be selectively moved relative to the second support when the expansion portion is permitted to assume a retracted position. In some embodiments, the first bicycle portion comprises a bicycle frame and the second bicycle portion comprises a bicycle saddle. In other arrangements, the first bicycle portion comprises a fork assembly and the second bicycle portion comprises a handlebar assembly.

An off-road bicycle suspension fork includes a pair of fork leg assemblies, each of the leg assemblies having an upper leg telescopingly engaged with a lower leg. A damping assembly is provided in at least one of the legs and includes a cartridge tube connected to the lower leg and a piston connected to the upper tube by a shaft. The piston is telescopingly engaged with the cartridge tube to define a compression chamber below the piston. A control assembly is located at a top portion of the upper leg and is in communication with the compression chamber via a central passage of the shaft. A reservoir is defined between at least a portion of the lower tube and the cartridge. During compression of the suspension fork, fluid flows from the compression chamber, upward through the central passage of the shaft, through the control assembly and to the reservoir.

Gelled organic compositions and methods for using same. The gelled compositions may be liquid organic fluids, such as gelled liquid hydrocarbons, formed from a mixture of an organic-base fluid, a carboxylic acid, and one or more metal source compounds, such as a metal salt of carboxylic acid. The gelled compositions may be used in variety of applications including, but not limited to, oil field, pipeline and processing facility applications.

An adjustable coil spring system placed within a leg of a vehicle such as a mountain bicycle fork. The spring system comprises an adjustable first soft spring seated on top of a second firm spring having greater length than the first soft spring. A coupler assembly is positioned between two springs comprised of a threaded bolt threadedly received within a coupler. A spring adjustment means may comprise a knob connected to the threaded bolt through a non-round shaped shaft, wherein the threaded bolt is disposed within the first soft spring. As the knob rotates, the coupler is moved up along the threaded bolt, decreasing the length of the first soft spring, thereby increasing firm spring characteristics of the spring system. As the knob rotates in an opposite direction, the coupler moves down, increasing the length of the first soft spring, thereby increasing soft spring characteristics of the spring system.

A bicycle features an automatically shifting transmission. The shifting is controlled by a controller. The controller has a number of ranges that comprise a subset of the available gear steps. The operator of the bicycle can select an appropriate range and the controller shifts gears within the range depending upon a preset map of bicycle speeds and gear steps. The operator can select other ranges as desired by upshifting or downshifting. The controller also has at least one cruising mode that decreases the likelihood of inadvertent shifting during operation of the bicycle at speeds within a preset range of speeds. In addition, the controller has an elapse mode that further reduces the number of available gear steps in a range during resumed operation after slowing below a preset speed or stopping.

An adjustable-height bicycle seat post assembly comprises a hollow seat post for supporting a bicycle seat slidably on plastic guides or shims inside a hollow tube. The hollow tube clamps into the frame of a bicycle. A mainspring forces the post upward, but a locking mechanism interconnects the post with the tube in various fixed positions relative to the tube. The locking mechanism includes a housing, which supports a plunger for reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with holes on the post. The locking mechanism is affixed to the outside of the tube to bear shearing forces on the plunger. An endcap on the locking mechanism and a topcap on the tube protect the assembly from foreign debris. The locking mechanism may be manipulated remotely using a magnetic switch assembly or manually using a mechanical assembly. A lost motion coupling is integrated into the locking mechanism and/or actuator assembly to enable the remote actuator to be moved or deployed while the latch remains trapped under the influence of a dominant shear load. The lost motion coupling is also effective to allow an operator to deploy the remote actuator at any convenient time prior to a desired change in seat height.

A freewheel is provided for mounting a plurality of sprockets on an axle of a bicycle. The freewheel basically includes an inner tubular body, an outer tubular body coaxially mounted on the inner tubular body with a bearing assembly rotatably coupling the inner tubular body to the outer tubular body. A one-way clutch is coupled between the inner tubular body and the outer tubular body to allow one-way rotation between the inner and outer tubular bodies. In the preferred embodiment, seven sprockets are mounted on the exterior of the outer tubular body. The bearing assembly has a pair of ball bearing races of the same diameter located at one end. An outer ball race or housing and a side plate are utilized in conjunction with the inner tubular body to fixedly secure the first and second ball bearings on the exterior surface of the inner tubular body. The inner tubular body with the bearings is then fixedly coupled to the outer tubular body so that the outer tubular body can rotate relative to the inner tubular body. The one-way clutch includes a pair of pawls attached to the inner tubular body and a set of ratchet teeth formed on the inner tubular body. The ratchet teeth are rotated between splines that are formed on the exterior surface of the outer body so as to maximize strength and minimize material. The outer tubular body has a step-shaped configuration with a plurality of abutment stoppers formed on the splines of the largest section such that some of the sprockets are installed from one direction and the other sprockets are installed in a second direction.

A first sprocket is capable of engaging with a chain. The first sprocket has a first sprocket main body, a plurality of teeth disposed along a circumferential direction on the radially outer side of the first sprocket main body, and at least one shifting area. The teeth include at least one first tooth having a first maximum axial width and at least one second tooth having a second maximum axial width. The first maximum axial width is greater than the second maximum axial width. The first tooth is formed to be capable of engaging with an outer link plate of the chain. The second tooth is formed to be capable of engaging with an inner link plate of the chain.

A bicycle derailleur comprises a base member, a movable member movably coupled to the base member, and a chain guide coupled to the movable member for rotation around a rotational axis. A resistance applying element applies resistance to rotational movement of the chain guide. A resistance control element moves between at least different first and second positions, wherein the resistance control element is disposed so that the resistance control element can be directly manipulated by a user without using a tool. The resistance control element is operatively coupled to the resistance applying element so that the resistance applying element applies different first and second resistances to rotational movement of the chain guide when the resistance control element is disposed in the respective first and second positions.

A suspension system that includes a simplified lockout mechanism and an adjustable blow-off mechanism. The system includes a valve mechanism and a valve actuating assembly, a valve mechanism housing and a resilient member disposed between the valve mechanism and the valve mechanism housing. The valve mechanism is slidably mounted along the valve mechanism housing and it separates a first chamber from a second chamber. The valve actuating assembly operates the valve mechanism between open and closed positions. The resilient member is configured to be deformable by the valve mechanism as the valve mechanism is slidably displaced by an increasing pressure in the first fluid chamber. The sliding valve mechanism is configured to collide against the valve actuating assembly when a blow-off pressure is reached in the first fluid chamber switching the valve mechanism from the closed position to the open position.