Auxiliary power driven unit for a bicycle
OwnerMichael Dale Duignaninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An auxiliary, removable, modular power drive unit has a pivot point that can be attached to any bicycle or vehicle by way of a quick release clamp system. The power for the drive system may be derived from an internal combustion engine or electric motor. The power developed by the engine or motor is delivered to the rear wheel of a bicycle by a friction drive wheel that presses directly onto the tire of the bicycle. The power unit may utilize a clamp joined to an integrated fuel cell by a pivot point, causing the fuel cell to act as a swing arm and a motor mount. This enables the fuel cell to move up and down to compensate for different tire sizes, variations in road conditions, or movement of a suspension system of the bicycle due to imperfections in terrain.
Claims15
A power unit for a bicycle having a seat post and a wheel with an axis, the power unit comprising:
- a motor having an output shaft configured to drive the wheel;
- a clamp dimensioned to clamp to the seat post of the bicycle;
- a pivotal joint coupled to the clamp;
- a swing arm coupling the pivotal joint to the motor, the swing arm including a power supply selected from the group consisting of a fuel tank, a fuel cell, and a battery, the joint being pivotable about a horizontal axis parallel with the axis of the wheel, for movement of the motor with respect to the clamp.
A bicycle system having a power unit for driving the bicycle, comprising:
- a bicycle including a frame, a wheel coupled to the frame, a seat tube coupled to the frame, and a seat post received by the seat tube, wherein the wheel is configured to rotate about a wheel axis;
- and
- a power unit removably attached to the bicycle, the power unit comprising:
- a motor operatively coupled to the wheel to rotate the wheel;
- a clamp coupled to the seat post;
- a joint coupled to the clamp;
- a swing arm coupling the joint to the motor, wherein the swing arm and the motor are configured to pivot about the joint;
- a spindle operatively coupled to the motor for rotation by the motor, the spindle configured to frictionally engage a tire on the bicycle;
- and
- a bearing coupled to the swing arm, wherein an inboard end of the spindle is coupled to an output shaft of the motor and an outboard end of the spindle is rotatably supported by the bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.