US 5,399,128 AGranted

Multi-speed drive hub with a separate mounting ring for the planetary gearset for bicycles

AssigneeFichtel & Sachs AG

InventorGunter Nurnberger

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Abstract

A multi-speed drive hub for bicycles includes a hub shaft (1), a driver (7), a hub sleeve (9), as well as a planetary gear train (21) as part of the hub speed-changing transmission. The planetary gear train in turn has a planet gear carrier (17); at least one multistep planet gear (23); sun gears (25) meshing with the steps of the planet gear (23), which sun gears are selectively capable of being linked with the hub shaft (1) against rotation and an internal gear (11). Also provided are a coupling or clutching mechanism for coupling the driver with the planet gear carrier or with the internal gear as well as a speed-changing mechanism for the hub speed-changing transmission. In order to achieve quiet, low-wear running, the planet gear carrier (17) is mounted in a manner capable of rotation at the hub shaft on both sides of the planet gears (23).

Claims20

Dependent claims

A multi-speed drive hub for bicycles comprising:

a hub shaft adapted to be affixed to a bicycle frame;
a driver mounted on the hub shaft for rotation about an axis of rotation;
a wheel hub sleeve mounted on the hub shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation;
a hub speed-changing transmission received on the hub shaft within the wheel hub sleeve and including a planetary gear train, the planetary gear train including
an axially elongated planet gear carrier having a first axial end and a second axial end, a first mounting portion proximate to the first axial end and received on the hub shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation, a second mounting portion proximate to the second end and received on the hub shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation, the second mounting portion being mounted on the hub shaft by means of a separate mounting ring arranged concentrically with the axis of rotation, and at least one multi-step planet gear mounted on the planet gear carrier for rotation,
a sun gear corresponding to and meshing with each of the steps the planet gear, each sun gear being mounted on the hub shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation and being adapted to be selectively coupled to the hub shaft against rotation about the axis of rotation in a respective axial speed-engagement position, and
an internal gear mounted within the wheel hub sleeve for rotation about the axis of rotation, which internal gear meshes with one step of the planet gear;
coupling means for selectively coupling the driver with the planet-gear carrier or with the internal gear;
and
a speed-changing mechanism for the hub speed-changing transmission, the speed-changing mechanism being mounted for movement relative to the hub shaft.

7 more elements

A multi-speed drive hub for bicycles comprising:

a hub shaft adapted to be affixed to a bicycle frame;
a driver mounted on the hub shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation;
a wheel hub sleeve mounted on the hub shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation;
a hub speed-changing transmission received on the hub shaft within the wheel hub sleeve and including a planetary gear train, the planetary gear train including
an axially elongated planet gear carrier having a first axial end and a second axial end, a first mounting portion proximate to the first axial end and received on the hub shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation, a second mounting portion proximate to the second end and received on the hub shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation, the second mounting portion being mounted on the hub shaft by means of a separate mounting ring arranged concentrically with the axis of rotation, and at least one multi-step planet gear mounted on the planet gear carrier for rotation,
a sun gear corresponding to and meshing with each of the steps the planet gear, each sun gear being mounted on the hub shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation and being adapted to be selectively coupled to the hub shaft against rotation about the axis of rotation in a respective axial speed-engagement position, one of the sun gears being biased by a compression spring in a first direction parallel to the axis of rotation, and the remaining sun gears following the one sun gear and having on sides that face the compression spring guard bevels which operate conjointly with the thrust block, and
an internal gear mounted within the wheel hub sleeve for rotation about the axis of rotation, which internal gear meshes with one step of the planet gear;
coupling means for selectively coupling the driver with the planet-gear carrier or with the internal gear;
and
a speed-changing mechanism for the hub speed-changing transmission, the speed-changing mechanism being mounted for movement relative to the hub shaft.

7 more elements

A method of assembling a multi-speed drive hub, the drive hub having

a hub shaft adapted to be affixed to a bicycle frame;
a driver mounted on the hub shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation;
a wheel hub sleeve mounted on the hub shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation;
a hub speed-changing transmission received on the hub shaft within the wheel hub sleeve and including a planetary gear train, the planetary gear train including
an axially elongated planet gear carrier having a first axial end and a second axial end, a first mounting portion proximate to the first axial end and received on the hub shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation, a second mounting portion proximate to the second end and received on the hub shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation, the second mounting portion being mounted on the hub shaft by means of a separate mounting ring arranged concentrically with the axis of rotation, and at least one multi-step planet gear mounted on the planet gear carrier for rotation,
a sun gear corresponding to and meshing with each of the steps the planet gear, each sun gear being mounted on the hub shaft for rotation about the axis of rotation and being adapted to be selectively coupled to the hub shaft against rotation about the axis of rotation in a respective axial speed-engagement position, and
an internal gear mounted within the wheel hub sleeve for rotation about the axis of rotation, which internal gear meshes with one step of the planet gear;
coupling means for selectively coupling the driver with the planet-gear carrier or with the internal gear;
and
a speed-changing mechanism for the hub speed-changing transmission, the speed-changing mechanism being mounted for movement relative to the hub shaft, the method comprising the following steps:
pushing the mounting ring onto the hub shaft;
pushing the sun gears onto the hub shaft until they stop against the mounting ring;
and
pushing the planet gear carrier with said at least one planet gear installed thereon onto the hub shaft.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.