Foster Assets Corporation

Achiever Industries Ltd.

Other

Foster Wheeler Corporation

Fester Assets Corporation

Foster Assets Group

Ever Perfect Holdings, Ltd.

Yet Chan

Electric bicycle

A pedal driven apparatus for a hybrid bicycle can be manually propelled, but also includes a motor unit for forward propulsion of the bicycle. The apparatus 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 transfers the manually provided driving force to a sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus, and a second torque transmission path transfers the motor provided driving force to the sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus. A first one way drive means is provided in the first torque transmission path and second one way drive means is provided in the second torque transmission path. The manual driving force and motor driving force may be used separately or combined.

Pedal driven apparatus having a motor

The present invention discloses a motorized driving device for mounting on a frame of a bicycle. The bicycle includes a pedal drive mechanism coupled to a chain for transferring a drive force to at least one chainwheel. The drive device includes a power source of rotary power and a power transmission mechanism for coupling between the pedal drive mechanism and the chain. The power transmission mechanism further includes a first unidirectional power transmission module and a second unidirectional power transmission module, such that an auxiliary power transmitted by the power transmission mechanism from the power source to the chain is independent from an pedal power transmitted by the power transmission mechanism from the pedal drive mechanism to the chain. A method of installing a motorized driving device on a standard bicycle is also disclosed. The motorized driving device in the present invention is suitable for installing on the frame of any ordinary bicycle, without having to alter the frame structure of the bicycle.

Motorized driving device

A motor unit includes a motor shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force and an auxiliary shaft for receiving an externally provided driving force. A first torque transmission path transfers the externally provided driving force to a drive mechanism and a second torque transmission path transfers the motor provided driving force also to the drive mechanism. A first one way drive is provided in the first torque transmission path between the auxiliary shaft and the drive mechanism such that when the drive mechanism is being driven by the motor provided driving force through the second torque transmission path, the auxiliary shaft is able to freewheel. The motor unit can drive any apparatus where the externally provided driving force is provided by manually operable pedals fixed for rotation with the auxiliary shaft.

Motor having an auxiliary driven shaft

A motor unit comprises a housing for containing a motor, a motor shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force, a torque sensor mechanism for detecting torque, and a controller for controlling power to the motor in response to a detected amount of torque. An actuator couples the torque sensor to a sensor of the controller. The actuator is configured to move relative to the controller sensor thereby causing the sensor to produce a signal indicative of the detected level of torque. The controller is contained within the housing of the motor. The motor unit may also have an auxiliary shaft for receiving an externally provided driving force with a first torque transmission path for transferring the externally provided driving force to a drive mechanism and a second torque transmission path for transferring the motor provided driving force to said drive mechanism. A first one way drive means is provided in the first torque transmission path between the auxiliary shaft and the drive mechanism such that when the drive mechanism is being driven by the motor provided driving force through the second torque transmission path, the auxiliary shaft is able to freewheel. The motor unit can drive any apparatus, but may be used in a pedal driven apparatus such as a bicycle where an externally provided driving force is provided by manually operable pedals of said apparatus which are fixed for rotation with the auxiliary shaft. In this case, the auxiliary shaft comprises a pedal spindle of the bicycle and the drive mechanism comprises a sprocket or belt drive.

Motor having an integrated torque sensor

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 hybrid bicycle includes a control system for providing a control input for a motor component or a gearing adjustment mechanism of the bicycle. The motor component, if employed, assists in forward propulsion of the bicycle and the control system, when providing a control input for the motor increases drive power applied by the motor to the bicycle. The gearing adjustment mechanism, if employed, effects a change in a gearing ratio applied to a wheel of the bicycle, and the control system, when providing a control input for the gearing adjustment mechanism continuously varies the gearing ratio.

A valve assembly for controlling the filling of a fluid containing vessel is provided having a valve body having a fluid inlet regulated by a valve member movable between an open and closed position within the valve body. A valve controller is provided regulating the valve position having a float pivotally mounted on a float arm and a retaining member pivotally mounted for rotation with the float arm through a limited portion of the float arm range. The retainer member engages the valve member urging it to the open position when the float reaches a predetermined low fill angle and the float arm engages and releases the retainer member when a predetermined high fill level is reached.

Valve assembly

Film-loading shutter assembly for camera

A camera assembly includes an endcap assembly for closing off the bottom end of a second film chamber, which is sized to selectively receive a roll of film or a secondary film cartridge housing a roll of film. The endcap assembly can include a movable shutter blade enclosed between two plates. The endcap assembly can be removably secured to the camera assembly. At least a portion of the endcap assembly can be formed with the camera assembly. Embodiments further relate to a method of loading such cameras, especially in the daylight. The method involves bringing a sleeve into light-tight engagement with the endcap assembly and then inserting a winding rod through the sleeve and the endcap assembly and into a second film chamber of the camera. The winding rod can then be used to wind film out of a cassette in the first chamber and into a roll in the second chamber.

Camera with film chamber for selective loading of film roll or cartridge and method of selective loading

A method of loading a film assembly comprising a first film container () which may be a conventional film cassette and an additional film container () having a length of film wound in one of the containers and extending to the other, comprises the steps of: (a) providing a coiled length of film which may be a bulk roll () and attaching a free end to a film winding tool (); (b) rotating the film winding tool () to wind the film into a coil about the tool (); (c) before or after step (b), enclosing the coil in the additional film container () so that the film extends through a film slot thereof, and removing the film winding tool (). The invention also resides in a film container for use in the method, and in an assembly so formed.

Photographic film container, film assembly and loading method

A camera () has a main body () defining a pair of film chambers on opposite sides of an exposure opening () comprising a first chamber () for receiving a film cassette having a central spool to which film is secured and a second chamber () for receiving a second film container into which film is pre-wound prior to use, a drive shaft having an end which extends into the first chamber () for engaging the spool, an electric motor () disposed between the chambers operably connected to the drive shaft to drive the shaft in one direction, and a shutter mechanism with a shutter release assembly operably connected to the motor control.

Camera with motorized film advancement

Motorized bicycle

A valve assembly for a pressurized fluid vessel such as a propane tank has a housing defining a main fluid passageway therebetween with a valve seat () defined in the main passageway, a main valve member () movable against the valve seat () to block the passageway, an insert () defining an internal chamber within the interior of the housing within which the main valve member () is disposed, a secondary fluid flow passageway through the insert (), through a conduit () connected to the main valve body, and through openings () in an end of the conduit () facing second ports opening into the vessel, and a secondary valve member () movable to block the openings () under the action of a float () on a predetermined fluid level being reached, thereby exposing the main valve member () to a pressure differential to close the valve.

Growing community of inventors

Hong Kong, China

Yet Chan