655results about "Vehicle transmission" patented technology

A device and method for equalizing the charge among a plurality of batteries redundantly driving a motor. The batteries are coupled to the motor through isolated windings and to each other through the drive shaft. The device senses the charge of the batteries and then controls the current from each of the batteries to its respective winding to equalize the charge. Related methods are provided to maximize the speed limit of a balancing transporter.

A bicycle configured for communication with other bicycles, a centralized server, client computing devices and third party servers allows the rider to be connected with friends, coaches/trainers, and third party vendors including vendors associated with lodging, food, and other conveniences, vendors associated with bike servicing, equipment, warranties, and other bike related products and services, and vendors associated with routes, areas or destinations. Information may be communicated in real time or stored in memory and communicated to servers, client devices, other riders, etc., at a later date. Information may be communicated to the bike controller for route planning, service scheduling, training purposes and the like. Information communicated to or from the bicycle may be performed as indicated by the rider or there may be predetermined rules or guidelines for what information is collected and to whom the information may be sent to or received from.

An electrically assisted vehicle includes a vehicle body having a driving wheel driven by human driving power and electric driving power, a driving power applying section for applying the human driving power to drive the driving wheel, a torque detection section to detect the human driving power applied to the driving power applying section, a motor to auxiliarily drive the driving wheel by the electric driving power, a battery to supply power for the motor, and a control section to control the motor according to a result detected by the torque detection section, wherein the control section has a plurality of switchable assist modes relating to an assist ratio of the electric driving power to the human driving power.

A tricycle is driven by an electric motor supplied by batteries recharged by solar panels. Electric braking is used. The batteries and a battery charger are enclosed in a thermally insulated compartment and the batteries are kept warm in cold weather by the heat produced by the battery charger and by electric braking. The solar panels are mounted on the roof of the passenger cabin and/or on the insulated compartment and are oriented towards the sun by a stepper motor.

The present invention is a fully functioning two-wheel drive bicycle with a shock-absorbing front fork. The drive train which supplies power to the front wheel is incorporated into a modified frame and comprises a rear wheel driven by the traditional chain or shaft mechanism and the front wheel driven by a series of rigid shafts transferring power from the driven rear wheel to the front wheel. The drive train lengthens and shortens in parallel with the shock-absorbing front fork.

A hybrid bicycle is provided which can be manually propelled, but which includes a motor unit for also causing forward propulsion of the bicycle. The bicycle comprises manually operable pedals fixed for rotation with a pedal spindle for receiving a manually provided driving force and a motor having a shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force. A first torque transmission path is provided for transferring the manually provided driving force to a sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus and a second torque transmission path is provided for transferring the motor provided driving force to said sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus. A first one way drive means is also provided. This is provided in the first torque transmission path between the pedal spindle and the sprocket such that when the sprocket is being driven by the motor provided driving force through the second torque transmission path, the pedal spindle is able to freewheel. The second torque transmission path may include a gear mechanism mechanically coupling the motor shaft to the sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus. The gear mechanism has a reduction gear ratio and operates to transfer the motor provided driving force from the motor shaft to the sprocket at said reduction gear ratio. The motor may be arranged concentrically around a pedal spindle of the pedal driven apparatus such that the pedal spindle is freely accommodated through a hollow bore of the motor shaft and such that their axes of rotation are parallel and preferably co-incident.

A folding type bicycle capable of allowing the user to conveniently fold the bicycle, and having a minimal volume in a folded state is disclosed. The folding type bicycle includes a frame including a front frame, to which a front wheel and a handle are mounted, a center frame, to which pedals are mounted, and a rear frame, to which a rear wheel is mounted. At least one of the front, center, and rear frames includes a hinge plate bent from one end of the at least one frame. The front, center, and rear frames are pivotally coupled through the hinge plate.

A power supply system that supplies high-voltage power to a vehicle drive motor is provided to achieve reduction in size, weight and cost of power supply. The power supply system includes a plurality of battery modules connected in series. With the intermediate connection point of the battery modules as an electrical neutral point, power is supplied to a three-level inverter via a three-level-potential high-voltage power supply line having potentials of +150V and −150V relative to this neutral point. In the three-level inverter, direct-current electric power is converted into three-phase alternating-current electric power to drive an electric motor. Accordingly, the withstand-voltage performance required of control units or control elements connected to the high-voltage power supply line can be halved as compared with the related art, thereby allowing a reduction in the size, weight, and cost of the power supply system. Further, the electric power generated by a generator is converted into direct-current electric power by a three-level converter and supplied to the high-voltage power supply line to charge the battery modules.

A vehicle having multiple-wheel drive, wherein power is supplied by compact, lightweight hub motors located in each wheel hub, and wherein the hub motors are selectively controlled by a single throttle, and wherein the vehicle can operate between motorized, manually pedal-driven, and motor-assisted propulsion; and further has a multitude of operational modes such as hill-climbing, fuel efficient, and stealth modes.

An engine produces power, which is distributed by a power distribution device to an electric generator and a rear wheel. A motor produces power other than that produced by the engine to drive the rear wheel, and also functions as an electric generator. A control unit drives the electric generator and the motor using electricity from a battery to start up the engine. When starting up the engine, the control unit drives a decompression device provided in the engine to reduce the compression pressure inside a cylinder from the moment when cranking of the engine is started.

An integrated supplemental motor system for e-bikes incorporates a motor stator carried by a fixed axle with a torroidal cavity surrounding the axle. A motor rotor for interaction with the stator is supported by a motor casing rotatable on a plurality of bearings carried by the fixed axle. A torque member is concentrically carried within the torroidal cavity and has a first attachment engaged to a gear cluster for force input and a second resilient attachment for engagement to the motor casing. The torque member is urged by the gear cluster from a first no force position resiliently through a range of motion to a second maximum force position. A first element connected to the torque member has a set of first signal generation interfaces and a second element connected to the motor case has an equal set of second signal generation interfaces. The first and second signal generation interfaces are spaced in relation to the range of motion of the torque member. A sensor detects the consecutive first and second signal generation interfaces. A controller connected to the sensor receives a speed input and an effort input and provides a stator actuation current proportional to the spacing of the detected first and second signal generation interfaces.

A bicycle power supply apparatus comprises a battery unit; a bicycle condition detecting unit that detects when a bicycle is in a selected condition that ordinarily does not require drawing current from the battery unit for powering a current drawing element; and a current drawing unit that causes current to be drawn from the battery unit when the bicycle condition detecting unit detects the selected condition.

An engine produces power, which is distributed by a power distribution device to an electric generator and a rear wheel. A motor produces power other than that produced by the engine to drive the rear wheel. A battery stores electricity generated by the electric generator and supplies electricity to the electric generator and the motor. A hybrid control unit (HCU) controls the engine, the electric generator and the motor. The HCU drives a decompression device provided in the engine to reduce the pressure inside an engine cylinder created while cranking the engine, in order to stop the engine.

A unidirectional rotating assembly, a bicycle powering mechanism, and a bicycle using the same are disclosed. The unidirectional rotating assembly allows a chainring to rotate while the crank and axle remains still. The bicycling powering mechanism combines the unidirectional rotating assembly with a powering device. The powering device is coupled to the unidirectional rotating assembly through a drive ring. This allows the powering device to drive the unidirectional assembly, thereby driving the chainring. When the bicycling power mechanism is part of a bike, the chainring is connected to the rear wheel of the bike through a chain and rear sprockets. Because of this, the bicycling powering mechanism can propel the bike while the cranks are stationary. Additionally, a person using a bike having this configuration is still able to shift gears. Thus, the bicycling power mechanism need not be designed with gearing. The unidirectional rotating assembly can also be applied to a multi-passenger bicycle for two or more individuals riding a bicycle together.

A power assist apparatus which includes a battery pack that connects with a motor housing with the battery pack being removably mounted on the frame of the bicycle and the motor housing being mounting on a mounting plate which is carried by one of the support wheels of the bicycle. The power assist apparatus is designed to not only assist in the manual operation of the bicycle but also as a sole source of power for the bicycle. The mounting plate is to be affixed to the frame of the bicycle upon the desired location being selected for the mounting plate. The motor assembly operates a drive gear, pulley or sprocket which connects to a driven gear, pulley or sprocket which is mounted in conjunction with one of the support wheels of the bicycle. The motor housing may be disconnectable from the mounting plate as also the battery pack is capable of being disengaged from the frame of the bicycle permitting the bicycle to be used as a conventional bicycle without the power assist apparatus. The motor assembly is indexed to the axle of the support wheel maintaining accurate alignment in all operating conditions and upon repeated engagements and disengagements of the support wheel from the bicycle frame.

A personal vehicle for transporting a user over a surface including an external combustion engine. The vehicle includes a generator for converting the mechanical energy produced by the external combustion engine to electrical energy and an energy storage device for storing power provided by the generator and for providing power to the external combustion engine and the assembly. The personal vehicle includes a controller for controlling a total power load placed on the external combustion engine providing short term regulation of external combustion engine parameters.