Sunstar Suisse S.a.

Sunstar Giken Kabushiki Kaisha

Sony Corporation

Kyosuke Kokatsu

Akihito Yoshiie

Fumihito Nigara

Satoshi Maruyama

Takehiko Ito

To realize a unit sales system of an electromotive power assisted bicycle that provides a broad range of flexibility in conformity with requirements of a user, a server computer-for distributing an electromotive power assisted bicycle according to the present invention comprises a control section-for providing a general control and management of the computer, a hard disk-for storing a set of a variety of information for providing the electromotive power assisted bicycle, and a modem-enabling the connection to a variety of different terminals via a communication network. The hard disk-stores bicycle information, electromotive power assisting information, user information, physical strength/health information, a variety of different control programs to be downloaded, information about a supplier to which an order is issued, and information about an assembly station and so on. The server computer-, in response to an order from the user via the communication network-, creates design information for assembling an electromotive power assisting kit-with an ordinary bicycle unit having a traveling function basically provided by a pedal effort, and sends it to the suppliers and the assembler so that a tailored electromotive power assisted bicycle-can be delivered to a user.

Server system for distributing an electromotive power assisted bicycle

An electromotive power assisted bicycle includes a drive shaft rotated by a pedal effort a primary sprocket fixed to the drive shaft for transmitting the pedal effort to a drive wheel; a secondary sprocket fixed to the drive shaft coaxially with the primary sprocket; a pedal effort detection sensor; an electromotive power output unit box detachably attached to the body for outputting electromotive power in response to the detected pedal effort; a power sprocket coupled to a rotating output shaft of the electromotive power output unit box; an auxiliary chain stretched between the secondary sprocket and the power sprocket; a supporting section for rotatably supporting the drive shaft; and a unit mounting bracket on which the electromotive power output unit box is mounted, the unit mounting bracket being fixed to the supporting section with the drive shaft penetrating through the unit mounting bracket.

Electromotive power assisted bicycle

To provide an electromotive power assisted bicycle enabling an aerobic exercise with a light weight and simple mechanism, an electromotive power assisted bicyclecomprises a pedal effort detection means for detecting a pedal effort (), a drive unit, a force combining mechanism for transmitting a rotational torque of a speed reducing unit to a drive shaft, and a heart rate detection sensor. The drive unitcomprises an electric motorand a speed reducing unithaving an electromagnetic clutch. In a mode enabling the aerobic exercise, if the detected pedal effort is higher than the pedal effort level enabling the aerobic exercise, the drive unitdrives the electric motorunder the condition of the electromagnetic clutchbeing engaged and thus assists the pedal effort with the electric force. If the detected pedal effort is lower than said pedal effort level, the electric motor is turned off under the condition of the electromagnetic clutchbeing engaged, and thus applies a loading force to the pedal effort by the rotational resistance of the motor. The pedal effort level can be adjusted in response to the detected heart rate of the rider.

Electrically assisted bicycle which enables aerobic exercise

A power-assisted bicycle is provided with a one-way clutch that can also be used as a torque detection apparatus. The one-way clutch has a tooth part () mounted on a driven means and a piece part () mounted slidably yet non-rotatably on a drive shaft (). The tooth part has a first engagement face () formed with a plurality of teeth () and the piece part has a second engagement face () formed with a plurality of pieces (). The first engagement face and the second engagement face are disposed facing each other generally perpendicularly to the axial direction. A disc spring () is disposed on the rear face of the piece part. As the piece part rotates in the direction of running forward, the piece is engaged with a sharply sloping face of the tooth to engage with the tooth and the angle of the piece with respect to the second engagement face increases, whereby the piece slides so as to increase the distance from the tooth part in resistance to the disc spring. As the piece rotates in the opposite direction, the piece abuts with the gently sloping face of the tooth and the angle of the piece with respect to the second engagement face is made smaller to decrease the distance from the tooth part by means of the elasticity of the disc spring.

One-way clutch and torque detection apparatus using same

A power-assisted bicycle includes a torque detection mechanism system that is simple in structure, saves space, and is lightweight. A one-way clutch () for transmitting only rotation of the drive shaft () to the sprocket () in the direction in which the bicycle proceeds is disposed inside a hollow cylindrical portion () of the sprocket (). On the sprocket face opposite thereto, a bearing () is engaged with an outer periphery of the cylindrical portion (), and an elastic disc spring () holds the sprocket () with the aid of the bearing. The disc spring () is fixed to the bicycle body and a strain gauge () for detecting a stress deformation of the disc spring () is mounted on the surface thereof. As the drive shaft () is rotated by the aid of the pedaling torque, the one-way clutch () exerts an axially pressing force onto the sprocket () to deform the disc spring (), and the strain gauge () detects the stress deformation of the disc spring () (that is, a physical parameter associated with the pedaling torque).

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Osaka, Japan

Kyosuke Kokatsu