Pedal generator electric bicycle

Abstract

A chainless electric cycle design that allows a rider / user to pedal a pedal generator to create an electric transmission energy source that either charges the battery or partially powers a hub motor, discharges the battery to the hub motor contained within one of the wheels, allows the user to set a desired level of resistance from the pedal generator using controls oriented about the handlebars, allows the user to activate the hub motor using a speed controlling device oriented about the handlebars, and allows the user to charge the battery by connecting to a standard 110V / 220V AC power supply. A chainless cycle is a cycle where the input power from a rider is not converted into output power by the rear wheel through a gear and chain system connecting the pedals to the rear wheel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This is application is related to provisional application 61 / 440,000 filed on Feb. 7, 2011 entitled Concept Electric Bicycle and hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention is in the technical field of transportation. More particularly, the present invention is in the technical field of electric bicycle transportation.[0003]Existing electric bicycles typically fall into one of two categories. The first category includes electric bicycles that require the user to pedal before electric assistance is provided. These bicycles typically measure the amount of force the user is providing, through a conventional gear-and-chain system connecting the user's pedaling force with the rear wheel of the bicycle, and produce a multiple of that amount of force from an electric motor. The second category includes electric bicycles that do not require the user to pedal at all. These bicycles typically allow...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]The present invention is a chainless electric cycle design that allows the user to pedal a pedal generator to create an electric transmission energy source that either charges the battery or partially powers a hub motor, discharges the battery to the hub motor contained within one of the wheels, allows the user to set a desired level of resistance from the pedal generator using controls oriented about the handlebars, allows the user to activate the hub motor using a speed controlling device oriented about the handlebars, and allows the user to charge the battery by connecting to a standard 110V / 220V AC power supply. A chainless cycle is a cycle where the input power from a rider is not converted into output power by the rear wheel through a gear and chain system connecting the pedals to the rear wheel. Further, a chainless cycle is a cycle that does not utilize a mechanical system to convert rider / user human input power into propulsive output power on the driven wheel, where the mechanical system is typically comprised of a gear driven by turning the pedals, a gear that drives the rear wheel of the cycle, and a chain that connects the two gears.

Problems solved by technology

Both of these categories of electric bicycles allow the user to power the bicycle solely by human power, although the weight of additional components typically makes this an undesirable condition.

Additionally, both of these categories of electric bicycles typically do not permit charging of the battery by means of pedaling.

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