Rear hub drive engagement mechanism

A method of transmitting drive motion to a bike wheel comprising:

• providing an input shaft rotatably attached to an axle, the axle having a length and an axis being defined by a centerline running the length of the axle rotating the input shaft in a first direction;
• transmitting the rotation of the input shaft through first and second engaging gears, the first gear operably attached to the input shaft, the second gear operably attached to a hub member, the first and second engaging gears including at least 40 teeth;
• rotating the hub member;
• providing a spring, and applying a force axially against one of the first or second gears to engage both the first and second gears;
• rotating the input shaft in a second direction which is reverse to the first direction;
• and
• disengaging the first and second engaging gears.

A drive engagement assembly for a bicycle comprising:

• an input shaft rotatably attached to an axle, the axle having a length, an axis being defined by a centerline running through the length of the axle, the input shaft including an outer section having a helical spline;
• first and second rings having a plurality of engaging teeth, each of the engaging teeth having a drive face the first ring having a helical spline matching and aligned with the helical spline of the input shaft to allow the first ring to move axially and engage and disengage from the second ring, the second ring operably attached to a hub member;
• and
• a spring for applying an axial force against the first ring.

A method of operating a drive engagement assembly for a bicycle comprising:

• providing an input shaft rotatably attached to an axle, the axle having a length, an axis being defined by a centerline running through the length of the axle, the input shaft including an outer section having a helical spline, first and second rings having a plurality of engaging teeth, each of the engaging teeth having a drive face, the first ring having a helical spline matching and aligned with the helical spline of the input shaft, the second ring operably attached to a hub member;
• applying a siring force axially against the first ring;
• axially moving the first ring along the helical spline;
• engaging the teeth of the first ring with the teeth of the second ring;
• rotating the input shaft in a first direction to engage the drive faces of the teeth of the first and second rings;
• and
• transmitting the rotation of the input shaft through the first and second rings to the hub member.

A drive engagement assembly for a bicycle comprising:

• an input shaft rotatably attached to an axle;
• a drive ring attached to the input shaft;
• a driven ring engaged with the drive ring, the driven ring including a helical spline formed on an outer surface of the driven ring;
• and
• a hubshell including a helical spline matching and aligned with the helical spline of the driven ring;
• wherein the drive ring is moved axially along the helical spline to partially engage a ramp face of the drive ring with a ramp face of the driven ring, a gap provided between a driving face of the drive ring and a driving face of the driven ring.

A method of operating a drive engagement assembly for a bicycle comprising:

• providing an input shaft rotatably attached to an axle, a drive ring attached to the input shaft, a driven ring engaged with the drive ring, and including a helical spline formed on an outer surface of the driven ring, and a hubshell including a helical spline matching the helical spline of the driven ring;
• rotating the input shaft in a first direction;
• transmitting the rotation through the drive ring and driven ring;
• and
• axially moving the driven ring along the helical spline of the hubshell to clamp the drive ring and driven ring together.

A method of operating a drive engagement assembly for a bicycle comprising:

• rotating an input shaft in a first direction;
• transmitting the rotation through a first ring to a second ring;
• transmitting the rotation from the second, ring to a hub member;
• axially moving one of the rings along a helical path to engage with the other ring and create a clamping force;
• and
• providing a spring and applying a force axially against one of the rings along the helical path.