Multiple piece planet gear carrier for a bicycle hub transmission

A planet gear carrier for a bicycle hub transmission comprising:

• a first carrier member including a first carrier member axle opening for receiving an axle therethrough, wherein the first carrier member includes:
• a plurality of first planet gear openings on a first side thereof for receiving a plurality of first planet gears;
• a plurality of second planet gear openings on a second side thereof for receiving a plurality of second planet gears;
• wherein the first carrier member axle opening is structured to allow the first carrier member to rotate relative to the axle;
• a separate second carrier member having a second carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• wherein the second carrier member axle opening is structured to allow the second carrier member to rotate relative to the axle;
• wherein the second carrier member is fastened to the first side of the first carrier member;
• a separate third carrier member having a third carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• wherein the third carrier member axle opening is structured to allow the third carrier member to rotate relative to the axle;
• and
• wherein the third carrier member is fastened to the second side of the first carrier member.

A planet gear carrier for a bicycle hub transmission comprising:

• a first carrier member including a first carrier member axle opening for receiving an axle therethrough, wherein the first carrier member includes:
• a plurality of first planet gear openings disposed on a first side of the first carrier member for receiving a plurality of first planet gears;
• and
• a plurality of second planet gear openings disposed on a second side of the first carrier member for receiving a plurality of second planet gears;
• a separate second carrier member having a second carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• a separate third carrier member having a third carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• and
• wherein the first carrier member includes a radially inwardly extending wall for axially retaining a sun gear.

A planet gear carrier for a bicycle hub transmission comprising:

• a first carrier member including a first carrier member axle opening for receiving an axle therethrough, wherein the first carrier member includes:
• a plurality of first planet gear openings disposed on a first side of the first carrier member for receiving a plurality of first planet gears;
• and
• a plurality of second planet gear openings disposed on a second side of the first carrier member for receiving a plurality of second planet gears;
• a separate second carrier member having a second carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• a separate third carrier member having a third carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• and
• wherein each of the plurality of first planet gear openings is larger than each of the plurality of second planet gear openings.

A planet gear carrier for a bicycle hub transmission comprising:

• a first carrier member including a first carrier member axle opening for receiving an axle therethrough and including a plurality of first planet gear openings for receiving a plurality of first planet gears;
• a separate second carrier member having a second carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• a carrier pin that extends from a side of one of the first carrier member and the second carrier member into a side of the other one of the first carrier member and the second carrier member to fasten the first carrier member to the second carrier member;
• and
• wherein a debris space is formed between the first carrier member and the second carrier member surrounding the carrier pin.

A planet gear carrier for a bicycle hub transmission comprising:

• a first carrier member including a first carrier member axle opening for receiving an axle therethrough, wherein the first carrier member includes:
• a plurality of first planet gear openings disposed on a first side of the first carrier member for receiving a plurality of first planet gears;
• and
• a plurality of second planet gear openings disposed on a second side of the first carrier member for receiving a plurality of second planet gears;
• a separate second carrier member having a second carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• and
• a separate third carrier member having a third carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• wherein the first carrier member includes a first guide rib that engages the second carrier member, and wherein the third carrier member includes a second guide rib that engages the first carrier member.

A planet gear carrier for a bicycle hub transmission comprising:

• a first carrier member including a first carrier member axle opening for receiving an axle therethrough and including a plurality of first planet gear openings for receiving a plurality of first planet gears;
• a separate second carrier member having a second carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• wherein the first carrier member is fastened to the second carrier member;
• and
• wherein the first carrier member includes a radially inwardly extending wall for axially retaining a sun gear.

A planet gear carrier for a bicycle hub transmission comprising:

• a first carrier member including a first carrier member axle opening for receiving an axle therethrough, wherein the first carrier member includes:
• a plurality of first planet gear openings disposed on a first side of the first carrier member for receiving a plurality of first planet gears;
• and
• a plurality of second planet gear openings disposed on a second side of the first carrier member for receiving a plurality of second planet gears;
• a separate second carrier member having a second carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• a separate third carrier member having a third carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• a first carrier pin extending from the first side of the first carrier member into a side of the second carrier member to nonrotatably couple the first carrier member to the second carrier member;
• a second carrier pin extending from the second side of the first carrier member into a side of the third carrier member to nonrotatably couple the first carrier member to the third carrier member;
• wherein a first debris space is formed between the first carrier member and the second carrier member surrounding the first carrier pin, and wherein a second debris space is formed between the first carrier member and the third carrier member surrounding the second carrier pin.

A planet gear carrier for a bicycle hub transmission comprising:

• a first carrier member including a first carrier member axle opening for receiving an axle therethrough, wherein the first carrier member includes:
• a plurality of first planet gear openings disposed on a first side of the first carrier member for receiving a plurality of first planet gears;
• and
• a plurality of second planet gear openings disposed on a second side of the first carrier member for receiving a plurality of second planet gears;
• a separate second carrier member having a second carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• a separate third carrier member having a third carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• a first pinion pin disposed in each of the plurality of first planet gear openings and supported by at least one of the first carrier member and the second carrier member;
• a first planet gear rotatably supported on each first pinion pin;
• a second pinion pin disposed in each of the plurality of second planet gear openings and supported by at least one of the first carrier member and the third carrier member;
• a second planet gear rotatably supported on each second pinion pin;
• wherein the first pinion pin is one piece with the second pinion pin to form a master pinion pin;
• and
• a stopper ring groove disposed on at least one of the first carrier member and the third carrier member for axially fixing the first pinion pin and the second pinion pin.

A planet gear carrier for a bicycle hub transmission comprising:

• a first carrier member including a first carrier member axle opening for receiving an axle therethrough, wherein the first carrier member includes:
• a plurality of first planet gear openings disposed on a first side of the first carrier member for receiving a plurality of first planet gears;
• and
• a plurality of second planet gear openings disposed on a second side of the first carrier member for receiving a plurality of second planet gears;
• a separate second carrier member having a second carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• a separate third carrier member having a third carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• and
• wherein the third carrier member includes a plurality of pawl receiving recesses.

A planet gear carrier for a bicycle hub transmission comprising:

• a first carrier member including a first carrier member axle opening for receiving an axle therethrough and including a plurality of first planet gear openings for receiving a plurality of first planet gears and a first pinion pin opening at each of the plurality of first planet gear openings for mounting a first pinion pin that rotatably supports a first planet gear;
• wherein the first carrier member axle opening is structured to allow the first carrier member to rotate relative to the axle;
• a separate second carrier member having a second carrier member axle opening for receiving the axle therethrough;
• wherein the second carrier member axle opening is structured to allow the second carrier member to rotate relative to the axle;
• wherein the first carrier member is fastened to the second carrier member;
• a first pinion pin disposed in each first pinion pin opening;
• and
• a bushing disposed in each first pinion pin opening and surrounding a corresponding first pinion pin.

A hub transmission comprising:

• a hub axle;
• a driver rotatably supported to the hub axle;
• a hub shell rotatably supported to the hub axle;
• a planetary gear mechanism disposed between the driver and the hub shell for communicating rotational power from the driver to the hub shell through a plurality of power transmission paths, wherein the planetary gear mechanism comprises:
• a first carrier member including;
• a first carrier member axle opening receiving the hub axle therethrough;
• a plurality of first planet gear openings for receiving a plurality of first planet gears therein and dimensioned such that each first planet gear is entirely exposed radially;
• a plurality of second planet near openings for receiving a plurality of second planet gears and dimensioned such that each second planet gear is entirely exposed radially;
• and
• a pinion pin opening at each of the plurality of first planet gear openings for mounting a pinion pin;
• wherein the first carrier member axle opening is structured to allow the first carrier member to rotate relative to the hub axle;
• a separate second carrier member having a second carrier member axle opening receiving the hub axle therethrough;
• wherein the second carrier member axle opening is structured to allow the second carrier member to rotate relative to the hub axle;
• and
• wherein the first carrier member is fastened to the second carrier member.