US 2002/0157916 A1 · Wheel hub with clutch

Abstract

A wheel hub with clutch for a bicycle, other transport vehicle or machine where power is transferred through a drive, such as a chain that is linked between a peddle arrangement and a gear or gears splined onto the hub. The hub provides free-wheeling when a torque is not applied thereto, and will instantly engage, transferring an applied torque therethrough and into a wheel connected to the hub. To provide which torque transfer the hub is free-rolling in a clock-wise or forward turning direction, but will lock to transfer torque therethrough, and turns also in a clock-wise direction when torque is applied as through a peddle arrangement. For locking, the hub includes, as a radial load bearing component, a sleeve whereon a gear or gears are splined, with the splined gear sleeve mounting a thick ring for fitting into an end of a wheel sleeve. The thick ring contains spaced apart counter clockwise sloping pockets, each for containing a ball bearing, and the wheel sleeve includes an annular ring that receives the thick ring fitted there and has spaced steps, or the like, formed therein to engage the ball bearing surfaces, transferring torque. With the hub preferably further including a thrust bearing arranged between the thick ring and center sleeve.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A hub with clutch comprising, a hub body consisting of a first sleeve that includes a means for mounting a driven gear thereon, and a second sleeve that includes means for arrangement as a wheel hub;

a hub clutch arranged between said first and second sleeves consisting of a ring section fitted onto an end of said first sleeve and includes identical spaced pockets formed at equal spaced intervals around and into said ring section outer surface, with each said pocket including a deep forward section formed to accommodate a ball bearing fitted therein and each said pocket includes an outwardly sloping surface extending from said forward section to, or near to, said ring section surface, and an end of said second sleeve includes an annular ring section that is adjacent to a cavity wherein said ring section is fitted such that, when said hub is assembled, said spaced pockets oppose an outer surface of said annular ring section, and including ball bearings contained in said pockets to roll from said pocket along said pocket outwardly sloping surface to engage and bind against said annular ring section surface, and with said first and second sleeves including center passages that align to receive bearings for fitting therein that receive an axle fitted through center openings of said bearings;
and a straight axle for fitting through said bearings center openings and including coupling means for fitting onto ends of said straight axle for mounting to a frame.

A hub with clutch comprising, a hub body consisting of a first sleeve that includes a means for mounting a driven gear thereon, and a second sleeve that includes means for arrangement as a wheel hub;

a hub clutch arranged between said first and second sleeves consisting of a ring section fitted onto an end of said first sleeve and includes identical spaced pockets formed at equal intervals around and into said ring section outer surface, with each said pocket including a forward section formed to have a size and shape to accommodate a ball bearing fitted therein and each said pocket includes an outwardly sloping trough type surface extending from said forward section to, or near to, said ring section surface, and an end of said second sleeve includes an annular ring section located adjacent to a cavity wherein said ring section is fitted such that, when said hub is assembled, said spaced pockets oppose an outer surface of said annular ring section that includes means for providing a friction surface thereto whereby ball bearings contained in said pockets can roll along said pocket outwardly sloping trough type surface to engage said annular ring section friction surface, and said first and second sleeves include center passages that align to receive bearings fitted therein that receive an axle fitted through center openings that are formed through said bearings;
and a straight axle for fitting through said bearings center openings and including coupling means for fitting onto ends of said straight axle for mounting to a frame.

A hub with clutch comprising, a hub body consisting of a first sleeve that includes a means for mounting a driven gear thereon, and a second sleeve that includes means for arrangement as a wheel hub;

a hub clutch arranged between said first and second sleeves consisting of a ring section fitted onto an end of said first sleeve and includes identical spaced pockets formed at equal spaced intervals around and into said ring section outer surface, with each said pocket including a deep forward section formed to accommodate a ball bearing fitted therein and each said pocket includes an outwardly sloping surface extending from said forward section to, or near to, said ring section surface, and an end of said second sleeve includes an annular ring section adjacent to a cavity wherein said ring section is fitted such that, when said hub is assembled, said spaced pockets oppose an outer surface of said annular ring section whereby ball bearings contained in said pockets can roll along said pocket outwardly sloping surface and engage, to bind against, said annular ring section surface, and said first and second sleeves include center passages that align to receive bearings fitted therein that receive an axle fitted through center openings of said bearings;
a bearing means fitted between said first and second sleeves for minimizing load forces directed across said first and second sleeves;
and a straight axle for fitting through said bearings center openings and includes coupling means for fitting onto ends of said straight axle for mounting to a frame.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wheel hub with clutch

Life of this patent

Wheel hub with clutch

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18