Other

Matthew Hendey

John E Waters

Stephen W Moore

Andrew Westrick

A pawls-type one-way clutch selectably connects and disconnects an electric motor and drive system with the front sprocket of a bicycle. Laterally-extending pivotable pawls on a first rotatable member engage cam surfaces on a frictionally rotatable plate and cause the pawls to either engage with or disengage from corresponding teeth in a ratchet wheel attached to a second rotatable member. Sensors and a controller determine whether a rider is pedaling the bicycle and applying rotational power in the first rotational direction, and if so, the motor applies power in the forward rotational direction, causing the clutch to engage and power to be transmitted to the front sprocket. Otherwise, the motor applies power in the rearward rotational direction, causing the clutch to disengage the front sprocket from the electric motor, which allows the bicycle to be rolled backwards freely without attempting to back-drive the electric motor and drive system in reverse.

Selectable motor clutch, system, and method

A system and bicycle incorporating same mounts a heat-generating component such as a motor, motor controller, or battery pack, inside a frame tube using a thermally conductive and compliant elastomeric device comprising a base portion having a relatively smooth first side and regularly-repeating protrusions extending away from a second side, wherein the relatively smooth side of the elastomeric device is wrapped around the heat-generating component such that the regularly-repeating protrusions will be in an interference fit with the interior surface of the tubular frame when the heat-generating component is mounted in the frame tube, thereby conducting heat to the frame to exhaust to the environment, providing compliance that allows for dimensional variation of assembled parts, and muting noise and vibration.

Thermally conductive and compliant elastomeric devices, systems, and methods for mounting heat generating components inside a tubular frame

A unitary system for an electric-assist bicycle generates signals indicative of power input to a drive system of the bicycle when a rider pedals the bicycle, considering torque applied by the rider, as well as the cadence or speed of the rider's pedaling. Direction of pedaling is also measured using the system. The system utilizes fixed, hard-wired, contactless electronics, namely first and second inductance coils that are non-equally-spaced circumferentially around a first axis, and which generate a first electrical signal indicative of torque based on lateral movement of a conductive or otherwise magnetically permeable rotatable member relative to the coils, and which generate second and third electrical signals indicative of pedaling cadence and direction based on eccentric relative rotational movement of the conductive or otherwise magnetically permeable rotatable member relative to the first and second inductance coils.

Combined torque, direction, and cadence sensing system for electric bicycles

An apparatus, system, and method is provided for preventing the communication of contaminants between connected hollow interiors of tubes of a frame, such as a bicycle frame, for example. A hollow insert may be positioned inside a first tube of a frame such that seals on bottom and top portions of the insert are radially sealed against an interior surface of the first tube on either side of an open intersection between the first tube and other tubes of the frame, so that the interior of the first tube is not open to the interiors of the other tubes of the frame. Contaminants that then enter the first tube, such as through the headset of a bicycle head tube, for example, pass through the interior of the insert and out the bottom of the first tube, instead of passing into the interior of the frame.

Apparatus, systems, and methods for preventing migration of contaminants within tubing of a frame

An integrated high-performance and light-weight electric drive system for a bicycle is disclosed comprising an integrated unitary motor-controller-drive system that can be inserted into and removed from a first tube portion of a bicycle frame through an open bottom bracket shell portion of the bicycle frame. A longitudinally-extending battery pack configured to be electrically connected with and to provide electrical power to the electric motor and the controller may be configured to be inserted into and removed from a second tube portion of the bicycle frame through the open bottom bracket shell portion of the bicycle frame. Some or all of the electrical components may not be visible from the exterior of the bicycle. A unique digital torque sensing and control system is described along with regenerative braking and other unique features.

Growing community of inventors

Indianapolis, IN, United States of America

Matthew Hendey