Motorcycle Reverse Gear Assembly With Planetary Sprocket Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motorcycles lack a reverse gear mechanism, limiting their maneuverability, especially as designs become more complex and heavy, necessitating a solution for reverse direction control.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a drive sprocket assembly with a fixed gear, ring gear, intermediate gear, and planetary gears, controlled by a vehicle control module that engages reverse gear based on user input and sensor signals, allowing the motorcycle to change direction by displacing the intermediate gear and engaging planetary gears to reverse the rotation of the rear wheel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a reverse gear mechanism is added to a motorcycle, then the maneuverability and direction control capability is improved, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a planetary gear set where planet gears are nested around a sun gear, with the ring gear forming the outer boundary. This nested configuration allows multiple gears to occupy a compact space, enabling reverse gear functionality without significantly increasing the overall size or complexity of the transmission system. The planet gears engage with both the sun gear and ring gear to provide gear ratio changes for reverse operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes axial movement of the intermediate gear along the transmission output shaft to switch between forward and reverse modes. By moving the intermediate gear in the axial direction, the planetary gears are engaged or disengaged from the ring gear, thereby changing the power transmission path. This dimensional approach allows mode switching without adding complex shifting mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a reverse gear mechanism is added to a motorcycle, then the maneuverability is improved, but the weight of the vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The planetary gear set serves multiple functions: it provides forward gear ratios, reverse gear ratios, and can potentially offer intermediate gear ratios. The same planet gears and ring gear structure are used for both forward and reverse operation, eliminating the need for separate dedicated reverse gear components and reducing overall weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The compact nested arrangement of planet gears within the ring gear allows the reverse mechanism to be integrated into the existing transmission housing without requiring additional space or heavy structural support, thereby minimizing weight addition.
3Manufacturing precision
If planetary gears are used to engage and disengage the intermediate gear, then the reverse gear engagement precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The planetary gears automatically engage and disengage the intermediate gear with the ring gear through their own rotational movement and axial positioning. The inherent geometry of the planetary gear set ensures proper meshing and alignment, eliminating the need for additional actuators or complex control mechanisms to achieve precise engagement.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for operating the same includes a drive sprocket assembly, a clutch lever, a user interface generating a reverse signal at a user interface, a wheel speed sensor generating a wheel speed signal, a transmission position sensor generating a transmission position signal and a vehicle control module receiving the reverse signal, the wheel speed signal and the transmission position signal. The vehicle control module engages a reverse gear at a drive sprocket in response to the reverse signal, the wheel speed and transmission gear position and controls the drive sprocket assembly in response to the clutch lever.