Abstract: A bicycle drive system includes a front face gear, a rear face gear, a drive shaft, and a front roller-toothed gear assembly coupled to the first end of the drive shaft, and a rear roller-toothed gear assembly coupled to the second end of the drive shaft. Both the front roller-toothed gear assembly and the rear roller-toothed gear assembly include one or more roller elements. The roller-toothed gear assemblies are advantageous in ensuring the bicycle drive system is highly efficient, and is only minimally or not at all affected by dirt, water, contaminants, or other foreign matter typically experienced in un-clean riding conditions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transmission unit for a vehicle driven by muscle force, comprising an input shaft which can be connected to cranks on opposite sides for driving the vehicle, comprising a first partial transmission. The first partial transmission comprises a countershaft, wherein a plurality of driving gear wheels is mounted on the input shaft, and wherein a corresponding plurality of driven gear wheels of the first partial transmission is mounted on the partial transmission shaft. The driven gear wheels of the first partial transmission are designed as idler gears that can be connected to the countershaft by means of shifting means in a rotationally rigid manner. The countershaft forms an input shaft of a second partial transmission. A plurality of second drive wheels are mounted on the output shaft, wherein the second partial transmission comprises an output shaft, on which a corresponding plurality of second driven gear wheels are mounted.

Abstract: A transmission device between a primary drive shaft and an output shaft includes a housing inside of which is housed at least partially a reduction gear mechanism that consists of an engine-driving element, meshed with a driven element, adapted to be coupled to or uncoupled from the output shaft by a clutch mechanism that is activated/deactivated by axial movement of the gearwheel on the shaft. The clutch mechanism, retracted to the disengaged position, assumes the shape of a plate that is integral in rotation with the output shaft. The plate has on its face opposite the gearwheel, ramps designed to work during the engagement phase with ramps that are supported by the gearwheel.

Abstract: A non-slip continuously variable speed transmission which includes a circular pin carrier in a housing having input and output drive shafts in which multiple pins extend from the inner hub to the outer rim of the pin carrier and the pins are positioned adjacent each other so as to create a substantially solid body of pins moveable vertically relative to each other and engageable with the gear mechanism by means of a pin lifter.

Abstract: A bicycle drive system includes a front gear face, a rear gear face, a front guide assembly, a rear guide assembly, and a drive shaft coupled to a rear-suspension frame via a rear hub and a crank spindle. The bicycle drive system operates independently of the frame. Shifting from one gear to another is controlled by a shift controller. Each shift of the shift controller shifts both the front and rear guide assemblies at the same time. The shift controller is preferably coupled to the front and rear guide assemblies via a cable system.

Abstract: A power transmission system for a cycle type vehicle having at least a pair of wheels, such as a bicycle, for providing multiple speeds thereto. The system comprises a housing mounting a planar, circular pinion gear plate, mounted for rotation on a pedal powered rotary shaft, wherein the pinion gear plate has a series of recesses arranged in plural concentric rings about the rotary shaft. Within the housing is a pinion gear and clutch cluster assembly, and a shifting mechanism, where the latter mounts plural pinion gear and clutch assemblies, one for each of the circular rings of recesses on the pinion gear plate, where a selected pinion gear and clutch assembly engages a set of recesses within the rotating pinion shaft and transmits power via an attached drive shaft to a wheel of the vehicle, which incorporates a similar power transmission system for receiving rotating power from the above mentioned power transmission system to produce forward motion of the cycle type vehicle.

Abstract: A transmission (1) comprising a gear assembly for transmitting a rotary motion from a driving shaft (2) to a driven shaft (3), with variable gear ratio, the two shafts (2 and 3) not being coaxial. This transmission consists in: a gear-wheel (4) axially split into two half-gear-wheels (5 and 6) one (5) axially mobile relative to the other (6) and also relative to one of the shafts (3) supporting them, the two half-gear-wheels (5 and 6) being fixed in rotation relative to this shaft (3); a plate (7), integral with the other shaft (2), comprising, on at least one of its surfaces, several gear teeth, concentric (8 to 11) with this shaft (2), cooperating with the gear-wheel (4); and elements for axially displacing the two half-gear-wheels (5 and 6) to alter the geared concentric tooth (8 to 11), thereby shifting the gear ratio. The invention is preferably applicable to land vehicles.

Abstract: A gear arrangement 10 which comprises a first disc member 12 rotatable about a first axis 14 and carrying rings 16 of teeth 18, the rings 16 being centered on the axis 14 and at respective distances therefrom. A second member 20 is rotatable about a second axis 22 and carries further teeth 24. The second member can move toward and away from the first axis 14. The teeth 18, 24 are so formed as to allow the second teeth 24 to mesh in driving manner with each ring of teeth 18 as the second member 20 moves toward and away from the first axis 14. In this way, the transmission ratio of the gear arrangement can be changed.

Abstract: A variable torque transmission includes at least one disc-shaped gear 30 having a circular toothed surface 36 with flat beveled teeth 32 that mate along radius 38 with the cone-shaped teeth of pinion gear 10 to produce an infinitely variable lever arm and thus infinitely variable torque while allowing a constant rotation ratio between the drive shafts of the flat beveled gear 30 and pinion gear 10. The result is that the drive shaft energy input may be constant and thus energy efficiency may be maximized while torque may be selectively varied.

Abstract: A multiple speed shaft drive for a bicycle, including: a forward disk having a plurality of concentrically disposed ring gears, wherein the forward disk is connected with the pedal crank of the bicycle; a rearward disk having a plurality of concentrically disposed ring gears, wherein the rearward disk is connected to the rear wheel hub; a forward drive shaft; a rearward drive shaft; a free wheel mechanism connecting the forward drive shaft to the rearward drive shaft; a forward pinion gear slidably mounted to the forward drive shaft; a rearward pinion gear slidably mounted to the rearward drive shaft; a forward gear shift mechanism for moving the forward pinion gear into gearing engagement with a selected ring gear of the forward disk; a rearward gear shift mechanism for moving the rearward pinion gear into gearing engagement with a selected ring gear of the rearward disk; and a clutch mechanism which automatically disengages the rearward hub from gearing engagement with the rearward pinion gear whenever a ge

Abstract: A drive mechanism for a cycle vehicle is disclosed herein for selectively importing a driving force from a pedal operated front gear drive section to a rear gear driven section via a variable transmission. The drive section and the driven section include a plurality of concentric circular rows of gear teeth selectively engageable by front and rear intermediate gears positionable on linear guide rods by a variable combination of manually settable transmission gears. The drive and driven section gears constitute shift gears adapted to achieve gear speed change and provide a driving force to the rear wheel via rotating shafts.

Abstract: A variable-speed gear mechanism comprises a pinion with spring-biased radial pins and a face gear with an operative face that meshes with the pinion at various meshing radii. The gear has a central part which defines a radially innermost set of part-cylindrical sockets. Each socket has an axial opening which faces outwardly from the gear face and a lateral opening which faces radially outwardly and through which a pin is received laterally into the socket during meshed operation. A recess extends radially outwardly and in both circumferential direction from the bottom of the lateral opening of each socket, permitting unobstructed movement of a pin to and from the socket. A circular groove may define the required recesses. Its depth at a particular radius may be sufficient to avoid contact between the pins and the face gear thereby providing a neutral function. Meshing structure at a next larger meshing radius may consist of another set of sockets with lateral openings facing radially inwardly.

Abstract: A transmission including at least two shafts and a cylindrical member supported by a frame for rotation relative thereto about axes of rotation utilizes a pair of gears and a plurality of speed-adjusting teeth for altering the relative speed of rotation between the shafts and the cylindrical member. Each of the gears is connected to a corresponding one of the shafts for rotation therewith, and the shafts are appropriately coupled to one another so that rotation of one shaft effects a rotation of the other shafts. The speed-adjusting teeth are disposed about the cylindrical member and cooperatively mesh with the gears for transmitting rotary motion between the shafts and cylindrical member and so that at any rotational position of the cylindrical member about its axis of rotation, the speed-adjusting teeth are in meshed relationship with at least one of the gears.

Abstract: A variable ratio transmission comprises a pinion with spring loaded pins mounted on a face gear which is a disc with one of the plate-like surfaces containing a plurality of grooves separated by crowns extending from the periphery of the disc. At intermittent radii on the face gear, the pins of the pinion mesh with every other groove of the face gear and missed grooves at one intermittent radius are the meshing grooves of an adjacent radius so that the number of meshing radii are increased compared with dimensioning the face gear so that the pins of the pinion mesh with every groove of the face gear at intermittent radii. The tops of the crowns, at least between meshing radii, are tapered to provide bearing surfaces which reduce wear and friction.

Abstract: A speed changing mechanism operable during both kinetic and static conditions. A gear 28 driven by bicycle pedals 30 in turn drives gear 32. Holes 38 in the face of the latter gear are engaged by gear 64 which is integral with output shaft 42. One end 72 of the output shaft is loosely supported in cup 78 whereby the shaft may be laterally shifted, then axially shifted so that gear 64 is withdrawn from one set of the holes 38, then reengaged with another set of the holes 38.

Abstract: An improved bicycle drive assembly characterized by an elongated, rotary drive shaft, a front gear assembly coupling the forward end of the drive shaft to the bicycle's crank-and-pedal assembly, a disk gear provided with a plurality of radial grooves on its outer face, a torque-shift gear assembly slidingly engaged to the drive shaft and keyed for mutual rotation therewith, and an adjustable spring assembly for biasing the torque-shift gear assembly towards the center of the disk gear. As the torque on the drive shaft is increased the torque-shift gear assembly is forced laterally out across the face of the disk gear to cause a down-shift in gear ratios. As the torque on the drive shaft decreases the spring assembly forces the torque-shift gear back towards the center of the disk gear to up-shift the gearing ratio.

Abstract: A gearing has on its driving shaft a drive means carrier member carrying drive means in the form of pins protruding towards a driven means carrier member fixed to the driven shaft and carrying divergently arranged driven means. The driven shaft is offset relative to the driving shaft so that the circular orbital path of movement of the driven means surrounds the circular orbital path of movement of the driven means. From the drive means always only one single drive means contacts a driven means and only in a portion of the orbital path thereof which portion is more remote from the axis of the driven shaft than that portion of this orbital path arranged nearer to the driven shaft. In the other portions of their orbital path, the drive means pass within the orbital path of the driven means but do not contact these. This results in an increased torque of the driven shaft.

Abstract: A mechanical apparatus for moving a swimmer ahead in the water, including a frame secured behind the swimmer by shoulder straps and a waist belt, a pair of bicycle type foot operated pedals rotating a propeller and a hand-cranked winch on the belt buckle controlling a change speed mechanism for faster or slower travel.