Power unit attachable to a bicycle
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsPaul James Bachman, Dustin Robert Williams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power unit includes a drive unit and a power sprocket for engaging the transmission band of a bicycle. The power unit includes a first free-wheeling sprocket arranged on a first side of the power sprocket and a second free-wheeling sprocket arranged on a second side of the power sprocket. The power sprocket receives the transmission band from the first free-wheeling sprocket on the first side and passes the transmission band to the second free-wheeling sprocket.
Claims18
A power unit for engaging a transmission band on a bicycle comprising:
- a drive unit including a fuel cell;
- a casing forming an opening for receiving a hydrogen fuel canister;
- a power sprocket that is mounted on the casing wherein the casing is mounted behind a portion of a frame of the bicycle supporting a seat and engageable by the transmission band and drivable by the drive unit;
- a first free-wheeling sprocket mounted on the casing behind the portion of the frame of the bicycle supporting the seat and arranged on a first side of the power sprocket;
- and a second free-wheeling sprocket mounted on the casing behind the portion of the frame of the bicycle supporting the seat on a second side of the power sprocket, the second side being opposite the first side;
- wherein the power sprocket is configured to receive the transmission band from the first free-wheeling sprocket on the first side and pass the transmission band to the second free-wheeling sprocket on the second side.
A bicycle comprising:
- a frame having a rear portion, a portion supporting a seat, and a middle portion;
- a pedal sprocket drivable by a pedal assembly, the pedal sprocket being rotatably mounted on the middle portion of the frame;
- a rear wheel sprocket configured to drive a rear wheel, the rear-wheel sprocket being spaced from the pedal sprocket and rotatably mounted on the rear portion of the frame;
- a transmission band configured to transmit power from the pedal sprocket to the rear-wheel sprocket;
- a power unit including:
- a fuel cell;
- a casing forming an opening for receiving a hydrogen canister;
- a power sprocket mounted on the casing wherein the casing is mounted behind the portion of the frame supporting the seat and configured to engage the transmission band;
- a drive unit configured to drive the power sprocket;
- a first free-wheeling sprocket mounted on the casing behind the portion of the frame supporting the seat and arranged on a first side of the power sprocket;
- and a second free-wheeling sprocket mounted on the casing behind the portion of the frame supporting the seat on a second side of the power sprocket, the second side being opposite the first side;
- wherein the power sprocket is configured to receive the transmission band from the first free-wheeling sprocket on the first side and pass the transmission band to the second free-wheeling sprocket on the second side.
The bicycle of 11, wherein the pedal sprocket, the rear wheel sprocket, and the power sprocket engage a common surface of the transmission band.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.