# US 11,440,346 B2 · Hub assembly and drive train > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,346 B2 - Document ID: US11440346B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/245,256 - Filed: 2019-01-11 - Published: 2020-07-16 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2019-01-11 - Assignees: Shimano Inc. - Applicants: Shimano Inc. - Inventors: Kenji Kamada - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440346B2 ## CPC - B60B 27/023: {specially adapted for bicycles} - B60B 27/04: housing driving means, e.g. sprockets - B62M 1/36: with rotary cranks, e.g. with pedal cranks (B62M1/34 takes precedence; combined with reciprocating levers B62M1/26; cranks which can be immobilised as foot rests B62M5/00) - B62M 6/55: power-driven at crank shafts parts - B62M 9/123: changing gears automatically - B62M 11/16: built in, or adjacent to, the ground-wheel hub - B62M 11/18: with a plurality of planetary gear units - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) ## Abstract A hub assembly for a human-powered vehicle comprises a hub axle, a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, and a rotation control structure. The rotation control structure couples the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member to transmit a first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at a first ratio of a first output rotation of the second rotatable member to the first input rotation of the first rotatable member. The rotation control structure couples the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member to transmit a second input rotation of the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member at a second ratio of a second output rotation of the first rotatable member to the second input rotation of the second rotatable member. The second ratio is different from the first ratio. The second ratio is larger than 0. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A hub assembly for a human-powered vehicle, comprising: a hub axle; a first rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle about a rotational center axis, the first rotatable member including a sprocket engagement structure configured to engage with a plurality of sprockets; a second rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle and the first rotatable member about the rotational center axis; and a rotation control structure coupling the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member to transmit a first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at a first ratio of a first output rotation of the second rotatable member to the first input rotation of the first rotatable member, the rotation control structure coupling the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member to transmit a second input rotation of the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member at a second ratio of a second output rotation of the first rotatable member to the second input rotation of the second rotatable member, the second ratio during coasting being different from the first ratio, the second ratio being larger than 0. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The hub assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second ratio is smaller than 1. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The hub assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotation control structure includes a first one-way clutch provided between the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member to transmit the first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at the first ratio. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The hub assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rotation control structure includes a ring gear, a sun gear, and at least one planetary gear engaged with the ring gear and the sun gear to transmit the second input rotation of the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member at the second ratio. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The hub assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first input rotation of the first rotatable member includes a rotation of the first rotatable member relative to the hub axle about the rotational center axis in a first rotational direction, and the first output rotation of the second rotatable member includes a rotation of the second rotatable member relative to the hub axle about the rotational center axis in the first rotational direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The hub assembly according to claim 5, wherein the second input rotation of the second rotatable member includes a rotation of the second rotatable member relative to the hub axle about the rotational center axis in the first rotational direction, and the second output rotation of the first rotatable member includes a rotation of the second rotatable member relative to the hub axle about the rotational center axis in the first rotational direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A drive train for a human-powered vehicle, comprising: the hub assembly according to claim 1; a plurality of sprockets mounted to the first rotatable member; a crank assembly comprising: a crank; an additional sprocket rotatable relative to the crank; and an additional one-way clutch provided between the crank and the additional sprocket to restrict the crank from rotating relative to the additional sprocket in a first crank-rotational direction and to allow the crank to rotate relative to the additional sprocket in a second crank-rotational direction which is an opposite direction of the first crank-rotational direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The drive train according to claim 7, further comprising a gear shifting device configured to shift a chain relative to the plurality of sprockets, the gear shifting device including a chain guide configured to support the chain, an actuator configured to move the chain guide relative to the plurality of sprockets, and a controller configured to control the actuator to move the chain guide based on vehicle information relating to the human-powered vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The drive train according to claim 8, wherein the vehicle information includes a cadence indicating a rotational speed of the crank, and the controller is configured to control the actuator to move the chain guide based on the cadence. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The drive train according to claim 7, further comprising a drive unit configured to generate an assist force to rotate the hub assembly. ### Claim 11 A hub assembly for a human-powered vehicle, comprising: a hub axle; a first rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle about a rotational center axis; a second rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle and the first rotatable member about the rotational center axis; and a rotation control structure coupling the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member to transmit a first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at a first ratio of a first output rotation of the second rotatable member to the first input rotation of the first rotatable member, the rotation control structure coupling the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member to transmit a second input rotation of the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member at a second ratio of a second output rotation of the first rotatable member to the second input rotation of the second rotatable member, the second ratio being larger than 0, the second ratio being smaller than 1. ### Claim 12 A hub assembly for a human-powered vehicle, comprising: a hub axle; a first rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle about a rotational center axis, the first rotatable member including a sprocket engagement structure configured to engage with a plurality of sprockets; a second rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle and the first rotatable member about the rotational center axis; and a rotation control structure coupling the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member to transmit a first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at a first ratio of a first output rotation of the second rotatable member to the first input rotation of the first rotatable member, the rotation control structure coupling the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member to transmit a second input rotation of the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member at a second ratio of a second output rotation of the first rotatable member to the second input rotation of the second rotatable member, the second ratio being different from the first ratio, the second ratio being larger than 0, wherein the first ratio is 1. ### Claim 13 A hub assembly for a human-powered vehicle, comprising: a hub axle; a first rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle about a rotational center axis, the first rotatable member including a sprocket engagement structure configured to engage with a plurality of sprockets; a second rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle and the first rotatable member about the rotational center axis; and a rotation control structure coupling the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member to transmit a first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at a first ratio of a first output rotation of the second rotatable member to the first input rotation of the first rotatable member, the rotation control structure coupling the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member to transmit a second input rotation of the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member at a second ratio of a second output rotation of the first rotatable member to the second input rotation of the second rotatable member, the second ratio being different from the first ratio, the second ratio being larger than 0, wherein the rotation control structure includes a first one-way clutch provided between the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member to transmit the first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at the first ratio, the first one-way clutch is provided between the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member to restrict the first rotatable member to rotate relative to the second rotatable member about the rotational center axis in a first rotational direction, and the first one-way clutch is provided between the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member to allow the first rotatable member to rotate relative to the second rotatable member about the rotational center axis in a second rotational direction which is an opposite direction of the first rotational direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The hub assembly according to claim 13, wherein the second ratio during coasting is different from the first ratio. ### Claim 15 A hub assembly for a human-powered vehicle, comprising: a hub axle; a first rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle about a rotational center axis, the first rotatable member including a sprocket engagement structure configured to engage with a plurality of sprockets; a second rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle and the first rotatable member about the rotational center axis; and a rotation control structure coupling the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member to transmit a first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at a first ratio of a first output rotation of the second rotatable member to the first input rotation of the first rotatable member, the rotation control structure coupling the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member to transmit a second input rotation of the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member at a second ratio of a second output rotation of the first rotatable member to the second input rotation of the second rotatable member, the second ratio being different from the first ratio, the second ratio being larger than 0, wherein the rotation control structure includes a first one-way clutch provided between the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member to transmit the first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at the first ratio, and the first one-way clutch includes a first receiving surface provided at one of the first rotatable member and the second rotatable member, and a first contactable surface configured to contact the first receiving surface to transmit the first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at the first ratio. ### Claim 16 A hub assembly for a human-powered vehicle, comprising: a hub axle; a first rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle about a rotational center axis, the first rotatable member including a sprocket engagement structure configured to engage with a plurality of sprockets; a second rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle and the first rotatable member about the rotational center axis; and a rotation control structure coupling the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member to transmit a first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at a first ratio of a first output rotation of the second rotatable member to the first input rotation of the first rotatable member, the rotation control structure coupling the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member to transmit a second input rotation of the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member at a second ratio of a second output rotation of the first rotatable member to the second input rotation of the second rotatable member, the second ratio being different from the first ratio, the second ratio being larger than 0, wherein the rotation control structure includes a ring gear, a sun gear, and at least one planetary gear engaged with the ring gear and the sun gear to transmit the second input rotation of the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member at the second ratio, the ring gear is rotatable relative to the hub axle, the first rotatable member, and the second rotatable member about the rotational center axis, the sun gear is coupled to the second rotatable member to rotate along with the second rotatable member relative to the hub axle and the first rotatable member, the at least one planetary gear is provided between the sun gear and the ring gear to transmit a rotation of the ring gear to the sun gear at the second ratio. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The hub assembly according to claim 16, wherein the rotation control structure includes a second one-way clutch provided between the hub axle and the ring gear to allow the ring gear to rotate relative to the hub axle in a first rotational direction and to restrict the ring gear from rotating relative to the hub axle about the rotational center axis in a second rotational direction which is an opposite direction of the first rotational direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The hub assembly according to claim 17, wherein the second one-way clutch includes a second receiving surface provided at one of the hub axle and the ring gear, and a second contactable surface configured to contact the second receiving surface to restrict the ring gear from rotating relative to the hub axle about the rotational center axis in the second rotational direction. ### Claim 19 A hub assembly for a human-powered vehicle, comprising: a hub axle; a first rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle about a rotational center axis, the first rotatable member including a sprocket engagement structure configured to engage with a plurality of sprockets; a second rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle and the first rotatable member about the rotational center axis; and a rotation control structure coupling the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member to transmit a first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at a first ratio of a first output rotation of the second rotatable member to the first input rotation of the first rotatable member, the rotation control structure coupling the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member to transmit a second input rotation of the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member at a second ratio of a second output rotation of the first rotatable member to the second input rotation of the second rotatable member, the second ratio being different from the first ratio, the second ratio being larger than 0, wherein the rotation control structure includes a ring gear, a sun gear, and at least one planetary gear engaged with the ring gear and the sun gear to transmit the second input rotation of the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member at the second ratio, and the at least one planetary gear is rotatably coupled to the first rotatable member. ### Claim 20 A hub assembly for a human-powered vehicle, a hub axle; a first rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle about a rotational center axis, the first rotatable member including a sprocket engagement structure configured to engage with a plurality of sprockets; a second rotatable member rotatable relative to the hub axle and the first rotatable member about the rotational center axis; and a rotation control structure coupling the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member to transmit a first input rotation of the first rotatable member to the second rotatable member at a first ratio of a first output rotation of the second rotatable member to the first input rotation of the first rotatable member, the rotation control structure coupling the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member to transmit a second input rotation of the second rotatable member to the first rotatable member at a second ratio of a second output rotation of the first rotatable member to the second input rotation of the second rotatable member, the second ratio being different from the first ratio, the second ratio being larger than 0, wherein the second ratio is smaller than 0.5.