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US 10,941,857 B2Granted
Self-shifting bicycle that shifts as a function of power output
OwnerAvraham Sonenthalinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-shifting bicycle that shifts intelligently as a function of power output. The bicycle uses a computer control system mounted to the handlebar, a power meter attached to the front gearwheel, and an actuator module for adjusting the transmission. The computer control system software changes output gear ratio in accordance with load encountered as the cyclist rides. This allows the rider to set a preferred power output and to maintain that preferred power output very closely.
Claims26
A self-shifting bicycle, comprising:
- a bicycle frame;
- a handlebar mounted to said bicycle frame;
- a wheel attached to said bicycle frame;
- a transmission attached to said wheel;
- a chain attached to said transmission;
- a power sensor mounted on said bicycle and configured for outputting an indication of power output of a rider of said bicycle;
- a computer control system mounted to said handlebar or frame and in communication with said power sensor, said computer control system including a touchscreen LCD display, and software comprising a series of computer-readable instructions for inputting and displaying a desired power level to/on said touchscreen display, for receiving said indication of power output, calculating there from an adjustment for maintaining a constant power output from the rider of said bicycle, and outputting a control signal calculated for adjustment of said transmission to maintain a constant power output from the rider despite changes in slope.
4 more elements
A self-shifting bicycle, comprising:
- a bicycle frame;
- a handlebar mounted to said bicycle frame;
- a wheel attached to said bicycle frame;
- a transmission attached to said wheel;
- a chain attached to said transmission;
- a power sensor mounted on said bicycle and configured for outputting an indication of power output of a rider of said bicycle;
- a computer control system mounted to said handlebar or frame and in communication with said power sensor for calculating a running average of said indication of power output from said rider, comparing said calculated running average to a desired power level inputted by a rider, and calculating there from an adjustment for maintaining a constant power output from the rider of said bicycle, and outputting a control signal calculated for adjustment of said transmission to maintain a constant power output from the rider despite changes in slope;
- and
- a main actuator module in communication with said computer control system and in connection with said transmission for receiving said control signal from said computer control system and automatically varying said transmission to maintain said constant power output from the rider.
6 more elements
A transmission for a vehicle, comprising:
- a front chain wheel;
- a rear wheel mounted by a rear wheel hub that is connected by chain to said front chain wheel, said rear wheel hub comprising a mechanism for translating each rotation of said front chain wheel into a variable number of rotations of said rear wheel, and a control member for controlling said mechanism;
- a power meter configured for outputting an indication of power applied to said front chain wheel;
- and
- a computer control system comprising a processor and non-transitory computer-readable storage device storing a software module comprising a series of computer-readable instructions configured for carrying out the steps of,
- inputting a desired power level;
- inputting said indication of power applied to said front chain wheel,
- comparing said indication of power applied to said front chain wheel to the inputted desired power level, and
- outputting a control signal calculated for adjustment of said translation mechanism to maintain a constant power applied to said front chain wheel despite changes in slope.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.