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US 9,677,416 B2Granted
Reciprocating drive train
AssigneeMarc Weber
InventorMarc Weber
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A drive mechanism for a vehicle is disclosed, said drive mechanism converting the reciprocating clockwise-counterclockwise motion of an input shaft into continuous rotation of an output shaft by means of two one-way clutches mechanically coupled to the input shaft and the output shaft, said one-way clutches having their power stroke in opposite directions of rotation. In an embodiment, said drive mechanism can be contained in a wheel hub and used for human-powered vehicles such as scooters, bicycles, wheelchairs, rollerskates, or other vehicles.
Claims9
A drive assembly, comprising:
- an output shaft;
- a first one-way clutch, said first one-way clutch mechanically coupled with the output shaft along a common axis, said first one-way clutch having a power stroke along a forward direction of rotation and having a free spin along a backward direction of rotation;
- a second one-way clutch, said second one-way clutch coplanar with the first one-way clutch, said second one-way clutch having the power stroke along the forward direction of rotation and having the free spin along the backward direction of rotation;
- a transfer gear, said transfer gear mechanically engaged with the first one-way clutch and the second one-way clutch, wherein the transfer gear is configured to engage the power stroke of the first one-way clutch and the free spin of the second one-way clutch in a rotational direction, and wherein the transfer gear is configured to engage the power stroke of the second one-way clutch and the free spin of the first one-way clutch in an opposite rotational direction;
- an inside gear mechanically coupled with the transfer gear;
- an input mechanism mechanically coupled with the inside gear, the input mechanism configured for transferring a mechanical force from a power source to the transfer gear;
- and
- a scissor mechanism slidingly coupled along a rail of the inside gear, the scissor mechanism including a screw, that when tightened, operates to change an effective gearing of the vehicle.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.