Bicycle drive unit
AssigneeShimano Inc.
InventorYusuke Nishikawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle drive unit is basically provided with a crankshaft and a housing. The housing includes a synthetic resin first portion, a synthetic resin second portion and a metallic third portion. The synthetic resin first portion supports a first end of the crankshaft. The synthetic resin second portion supports a second end of the crankshaft. The metallic third portion is disposed in between the synthetic resin first portion and the synthetic resin second portion. The metallic third portion defines an internal space of the housing along with the synthetic resin first portion and the synthetic resin second portion.
Claims11
A bicycle drive unit comprising:
- a crankshaft;
- a housing includes a synthetic resin first portion, a synthetic resin second portion and a metallic third portion, the synthetic resin first portion including a first axle bearing portion that rotatably supports a first end of the crankshaft, the synthetic resin second portion including a second axle bearing portion that rotatably supports a second end of the crankshaft, the metallic third portion disposed in between the synthetic resin first portion and the synthetic resin second portion, the metallic third portion defining an internal space of the housing along with the synthetic resin first portion and the synthetic resin second portion;
- an output unit coaxially disposed on the second end of the crankshaft and operatively coupled to the crankshaft to receive rotation of the crankshaft;
- an electric motor disposed in the internal space of the housing and being in contact with the metallic third portion, the electric motor further being operatively coupled to the output unit to transmit rotation of the electric motor to the output unit;
- and
- a control board disposed in the internal space of the housing and electrically coupled to the electric motor, the control board being mounted on the metallic third portion.
A bicycle drive unit comprising:
- a crankshaft;
- a housing includes a synthetic resin first portion, a synthetic resin second portion and a metallic third portion, the synthetic resin first portion including a first axle bearing portion that rotatably supports a first end of the crankshaft, the synthetic resin second portion including a second axle bearing portion that rotatably supports a second end of the crankshaft, the metallic third portion disposed in between the synthetic resin first portion and the synthetic resin second portion, the metallic third portion defining an internal space of the housing along with the synthetic resin first portion and the synthetic resin second portion;
- an output unit coaxially disposed on the second end of the crankshaft and operatively coupled to the crankshaft to receive rotation of the crankshaft;
- and
- a control board disposed in the internal space of the housing and electrically coupled to an electric motor, the control board being mounted on the metallic third portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.