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US 2015/0276042 A1Published application
Bicycle drive unit
AssigneeShimano Inc.
InventorYusuke NISHIKAWA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle drive unit includes a housing, a motor, a crank axle, and at least one fin member. The motor is disposed within the housing. The crank axle is rotatably supported relative to the housing about a first rotational axis. The fin member is rotatably arranged relative to the housing. The fin member is operatively coupled to the crank axle to rotate and to generate an air flow within the housing in response to rotation of the crank axle.
Claims16
A bicycle drive unit comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor disposed within the housing;
- a crank axle rotatably supported relative to the housing about a first rotational axis, axially opposite end portions of the crank axle protruding out from opposite sides of the housing, each of the end portions of the crank axle being configured to detachably and non-rotatably support a crank arm;
- and
- at least one fin member rotatably arranged relative to the housing, the fin member operatively coupled to the crank axle to rotate and to generate an air flow within the housing in response to rotation of the crank axle.
2 more elements
A bicycle drive unit comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor disposed within the housing;
- a crank axle rotatably supported relative to the housing about a first rotational axis;
- at least one fin member rotatably arranged relative to the housing about a second rotational axis different from the first rotational axis, the fin member being operatively coupled to the crank axle to rotate and to generate an air flow within the housing in response to rotation of the crank axle;
- and
- a transmission mechanism including a plurality of selectable gear ratios, the transmission mechanism being disposed within the housing, the transmission mechanism being operatively coupled to the crank axle, the transmission mechanism having a rotation output member that is rotatable relative to the housing about the second rotational axis in response to the rotation of the crank axle.
3 more elements
A bicycle drive unit comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor disposed within the housing;
- a crank axle rotatably supported relative to the housing about a first rotational axis;
- and
- at least one fin member rotatably arranged relative to the housing, the fin member operatively coupled to the crank axle to rotate and to generate an air flow within the housing in response to rotation of the crank axle, the fin member being disposed radially outward relative to an outermost portion of the motor in a radial direction with respect to the first rotational axis.
2 more elements
A bicycle drive unit comprising:
- a housing;
- a motor disposed within the housing;
- a crank axle rotatably supported relative to the housing about a first rotational axis;
- at least one fin member rotatably arranged relative to the housing, the fin member operatively coupled to the crank axle to rotate and to generate an air flow within the housing in response to rotation of the crank axle;
- and
- a transmission mechanism including a plurality of selectable gear ratios, the transmission mechanism being disposed within the housing, the transmission mechanism being operatively coupled to the crank axle, the transmission mechanism having a rotation output member that, is rotatable relative to the housing about a second rotational axis in response to the rotation of the crank axle,
- the first and second rotational axes being parallel with respect to each other.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.