Abstract: A bicycle gear hub includes an axle, planetary gear modules, one-way clutches and a shift mechanism. The planetary gear modules are connected in series at the axle. The shift mechanism includes a shift actuator and control pawls movably disposed at different positions of the axle. The shift actuator includes recess portions to control opening and closing of a control protrusion of one control pawl, and further to control a sun gear of the corresponding planetary gear module to the axle. When a high gear is shifted to a low gear, a rotational direction of the shift actuator is identical to a rotational direction for closing the control pawl.

Abstract: A cable clamping mechanism for a bicycle comprises a linkage member, a fixing screw, a nut and a linkage cable. The linkage member includes a first surface and a second surface. A through hole on the linkage member passes through the first surface and the second surface. The fixing screw is provided in the through hole and includes a cable hole passing through a radial direction of the fixing screw, where in the cable hole is on a side of the second surface. The nut joints a bottom end of the fixing screw. The linkage cable passes through the cable hole. The nut presses against the linkage cable so as to clamp the linkage cable in the cable hole. the fixing screw is rotatable within the through hole relative to the linkage member so that the linkage cable can also simultaneously rotate relative to the linkage member.

Abstract: A multi-speed hub gear includes an axle, a planetary gear set, a clutch, a transmission member, a guide wheel, a compressed clutch spring, a shift mechanism and a torsional spring. While in switching a low gear to a high gear, the shift mechanism transforms a rotational motion into a linear motion for twisting the torsional spring. The compressed clutch spring pushes the clutch to displace from the transmission member toward the planetary gear set. While in switching the high gear to the low gear, the torsional spring drives the shift mechanism to transform the rotational motion into the linear motion, such that the clutch can displace from the planetary gear set toward the transmission member, and compress the compressed clutch spring.

Abstract: A cable clamping mechanism for a bicycle comprises a linkage member, a fixing screw, a nut and a linkage cable. The linkage member includes a first surface and a second surface. A through hole on the linkage member passes through the first surface and the second surface. The fixing screw is provided in the through hole and includes a cable hole passing through a radial direction of the fixing screw, where in the cable hole is on a side of the second surface. The nut joints a bottom end of the fixing screw. The linkage cable passes through the cable hole. The nut presses against the linkage cable so as to clamp the linkage cable in the cable hole. the fixing screw is rotatable within the through hole relative to the linkage member so that the linkage cable can also simultaneously rotate relative to the linkage member.

Abstract: A bicycle derailleur includes a lower link member including a position-limiting structure, an external chain-guiding member, a damping shaft, a connection member and a C-shape spring. The external chain-guiding member, connected pivotally with the lower link member, controls a tension of a chain. The connection member is connected with the lower link member. The damping shaft, mounted at one side of the lower link member, is connected pivotally with the external chain-guiding member. The C-shape spring, sleeving the damping shaft, includes a C-clip portion and a first plate portion disposed between the connection member and the position-limiting structure. The first plate portion is extended outward from one end of the C-clip portion in a direction leaving the damping shaft. A friction force upon the external chain-guiding member in the direction to relax the chain is greater than that in the direction to relax the chain.

Abstract: A derailleur apparatus for bicycles includes a housing on a handle and a gearshift control assembly inside the housing. The gearshift control assembly has a first lever for cable-pulling, a ratchet assembly having a ratchet plate further having teeth, a second lever for cable-releasing, and an index claw. The first lever has a first pawl to keep the ratchet assembly at an initial position. The derailleur apparatus is characterized on that: the index claw further has a matching member and a second pawl, the second lever and the matching member form a first specific contact and a specific actuation relationship, and the second lever can move arbitrarily. While the second lever moves to form a second specific contact with the matching member, the index claw rotates to mesh the second pawl with the ratchet plate, such that the down-shift movement toward a second direction can be performed.

Abstract: A speed changing apparatus includes a planet gear set having a sun gear, planet pinions, a planet pinion carrier and a ring gear mounted inside a rotary sleeve. The sun gear is driven by a D.C. motor to rotate in either of two opposed rotary directions. Clutch arrangements are operative to lock one of either the carrier arm or the ring gear to a rotationally fixed component and to drivingly couple the other of the carrier arm and the ring gear to the sleeve ring depending on the direction of rotation of the motor. Different gear ratios are selected by reversing the direction of rotation of the motor whilst the sleeve ring is always driven in same direction. The speed change apparatus may be part of a hub of an electric vehicle in which the sleeve ring is a hub shell and the apparatus is mounted about an axle.

Abstract: A transmission particularly for bicycles, which is capable of multi-speed gear-shifting by means of reverse rotation and comprises: a transmission axle rotatable in both positive and reverse directions, a speed-changing gear set, a speed-changing cam set, and a transmission seat. The speed-changing gear set comprises a plurality of transmission gears and speed-changing gears which are respectively engaging with the transmission gears. When the transmission axle rotates reversely, the speed-changing cam set can be driven in order to control and decide which transmission gear of the speed-changing gear set is to be engaged and driven by the transmission axle during positive rotation, so as to achieve the feature of multi-speed gear-shifting by means of reverse rotation.

Abstract: A speed change mechanism 1 includes first and second planetary gear sets 11, 12 enclosed within a sleeve ring 14. A first one-way clutch 141 transmits drive from an output 114 of the first gear set to the sleeve ring and second one-way clutch 142 transmits drive from an output 124 of the second gear set to the sleeve ring, both clutches operating in the same direction. A DC electric motor 2 is coupled to an input 111 of the first gear set to drive its output 114 in the opposite rotary direction to the input. The output 114 of the first gear set is coupled to an input 121 of the second gear set to drive an output 124 of the second gear set in the opposite rotary direction from the output 114 of the first gear set. Drive is transmitted to the sleeve ring 14 either through the first gear set 11 only or through a combination of the first and second gear sets 11, 12 depending on the direction of rotation of the power input to provide two different gear ratios.

Abstract: A transmission particularly for bicycles, which is capable of multi-speed gear-shifting by means of reverse rotation and comprises: a transmission axle rotatable in both positive and reverse directions, a speed-changing gear set, a speed-changing cam set, and a transmission seat. The speed-changing gear set comprises a plurality of transmission gears and speed-changing gears which are respectively engaging with the transmission gears. When the transmission axle rotates reversely, the speed-changing cam set can be driven in order to control and decide which transmission gear of the speed-changing gear set is to be engaged and driven by the transmission axle during positive rotation, so as to achieve the feature of multi-speed gear-shifting by means of reverse rotation.

Abstract: A fixed internal gear hub comprising a fixed axle, an input member and an output member each rotatably mounted about the axle, an epicyclic gear system comprising at least one sun gear, rotatably mounted about the axle, planet pinions disposed in a planet cage and a gear ring. The gear ring is connected non-rotatably to the input member. The planet cage is connected non-rotatably to the output member. A clutch enables the input member to be selectively non-rotatably connected to the planet cage and a selector key enables the sun gear to be selectively locked rotationally to the axle. The hub provides two fixed gear ratios and further fixed gear ratios may be provided by adding an additional sun gear or gears.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments described herein, a method for transferring a substrate is provided. The method includes loading one or more substrates into a respective mobile chamber of one or more mobile chambers. The mobile chambers are movable on a first rail positioned adjacent to two or more process modules. Each mobile chamber is configured to maintain a specified gas condition. The respective mobile chamber is moved along the first rail. The respective mobile chamber is docked to a respective process module of the two or more process modules. At least one of the one or more substrates is conveyed from the respective mobile chamber to the respective process module.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments described herein, a method for transferring a substrate to two or more process modules is provided, comprising loading at least one substrate into one or more mobile transverse chambers, the mobile transverse chambers being carried on a rail positioned adjacent to the two or more process modules, and wherein each mobile transverse chamber is configured to maintain a specified gas condition during conveyance of the substrate. One or more drive systems are actuated to propel at least one of the one or more mobile transverse chambers along the rail. The at least one mobile transfer chamber docks to at least one of the process modules, and the substrate is conveyed from the mobile transverse chamber to the at least one process modules.

Abstract: A speed change mechanism in which the gear ratio is selected by changing the direction of rotation of the power input includes first and second planetary gear sets enclosed within a hub shell. A DC electric motor is coupled to the sun gears of both gear sets and drives them simultaneously in the same rotary direction. In one of the gear sets the carrier arm is fixed and the ring gear is the output and in the other gear set the ring gear is fixed and the carrier arm is the output. A first one-way clutch transmits drive from an output of the first gear set to the hub shell and second one-way clutch transmits drive from an output of the second gear set to the hub shell, both clutches operating in the same direction. The outputs of the gear sets are driven in opposite rotary directions so that drive is transmitted to the hub shell either through the first gear set or the second gear set depending on the direction of rotation of the power input to provide two different gear ratios.

Abstract: A speed changing apparatus includes a planet gear set having a sun gear, planet pinions, a planet pinion carrier and a ring gear mounted inside a rotary sleeve. The sun gear is driven by a D.C. motor to rotate in either of two opposed rotary directions. Clutch arrangements are operative to lock one of either the carrier arm or the ring gear to a rotationally fixed component and to drivingly couple the other of the carrier arm and the ring gear to the sleeve ring depending on the direction of rotation of the motor. Different gear ratios are selected by reversing the direction of rotation of the motor whilst the sleeve ring is always driven in same direction. The speed change apparatus may be part of a hub of an electric vehicle in which the sleeve ring is a hub shell and the apparatus is mounted about an axle.

Abstract: A method of transferring one or more substrates between process modules or load lock stations while minimizing heat loss is provided. In some embodiments the method comprising the steps of: identifying a destination location D1 for a substrate S1 present at an initial processing location P1; if the destination location D1 is occupied with a substrate S2, maintaining the substrate S1 at the initial processing location P1; and if the destination location D1 is available, transferring the substrate S1 to the destination location D1. In accordance with additional embodiments, the method is carried out on a system for processing substrates which includes two or more process modules, a substrate handling robot, a load lock chamber, and a transverse substrate handler. The transverse substrate handler includes mobile transverse chambers configured to convey substrates to process modules, wherein each mobile transverse chamber is configured to maintain a specified gas condition during the conveyance of the substrates.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments described herein, a method for transferring a substrate to two or more process modules is provided, comprising loading at least one substrate into one or more mobile transverse chambers, the mobile transverse chambers being carried on a rail positioned adjacent to the two or more process modules, and wherein each mobile transverse chamber is configured to maintain a specified gas condition during conveyance of the substrate. One or more drive systems are actuated to propel at least one of the one or more mobile transverse chambers along the rail. The at least one mobile transfer chamber docks to at least one of the process modules, and the substrate is conveyed from the mobile transverse chamber to the at least one process modules.

Abstract: A speed change mechanism in which the gear ratio is selected by changing the direction of rotation of the power input includes first and second planetary gear sets enclosed within a hub shell. A DC electric motor is coupled to the sun gears of both gear sets and drives them simultaneously in the same rotary direction. In one of the gear sets the carrier arm is fixed and the ring gear is the output and in the other gear set the ring gear is fixed and the carrier arm is the output. A first one-way clutch transmits drive from an output of the first gear set to the hub shell and second one-way clutch transmits drive from an output of the second gear set to the hub shell, both clutches operating in the same direction. The outputs of the gear sets are driven in opposite rotary directions so that drive is transmitted to the hub shell either through the first gear set or the second gear set depending on the direction of rotation of the power input to provide two different gear ratios.

Abstract: A speed change mechanism 1 includes first and second planetary gear sets 11, 12 enclosed within a sleeve ring 14. A first one-way clutch 141 transmits drive from an output 114 of the first gear set to the sleeve ring and second one-way clutch 142 transmits drive from an output 124 of the second gear set to the sleeve ring, both clutches operating in the same direction. A DC electric motor 2 is coupled to an input 111 of the first gear set to drive its output 114 in the opposite rotary direction to the input. The output 114 of the first gear set is coupled to an input 121 of the second gear set to drive an output 124 of the second gear set in the opposite rotary direction from the output 114 of the first gear set. Drive is transmitted to the sleeve ring 14 either through the first gear set 11 only or through a combination of the first and second gear sets 11, 12 depending on the direction of rotation of the power input to provide two different gear ratios.

Abstract: A fixed internal gear hub comprising a fixed axle, an input member and an output member each rotatably mounted about the axle, an epicyclic gear system comprising at least one sun gear, rotatably mounted about the axle, planet pinions disposed in a planet cage and a gear ring. The gear ring is connected non-rotatably to the input member. The planet cage is connected non-rotatably to the output member. A clutch enables the input member to be selectively non-rotatably connected to the planet cage and a selector key enables the sun gear to be selectively locked rotationally to the axle. The hub provides two fixed gear ratios and further fixed gear ratios may be provided by adding an additional sun gear or gears.