Abstract: A wheel hub capable of being coupled to an axle of a wheel such that the wheel hub is rotatable around the axle. The wheel hub includes a hub housing adapted to be rotatably supported on the axle, and a motor including a stator and a rotor. The stator is adapted to be fixedly connected to the axle. The rotor is configured to be rotatable with respect to the stator. The rotor includes a circular rotor housing inside which a gear reduction module is located. The output of the gear reduction module is connected to a one-way transmission module which in turn is adapted to drive the hub housing to rotate. As the gear reduction module and the one-way transmission module are contained within the rotor, the size of the power wheel can be reduced without sacrificing the performance.

Abstract: A wheel hub capable of being coupled to an axle of a wheel such that the wheel hub is rotatable around the axle. The wheel hub includes a housing adapted to be rotatably supported on the axle, a motor including a stator and a rotor, and a battery module. The stator is adapted to be fixedly connected to the axle. The rotor is connected to the housing via a transmission mechanism. Both the battery module and the motor are located inside the housing, but the battery module is placed external of the motor. Since the battery cells are located outside of the motor in the wheel hub, there is provided great flexibility to the number of battery cells installed in the power wheel.

Abstract: A brushless motor controller system includes a brushless motor (201) which further contains a rotor (24) and a stator (22), a plurality of independent motor controllers (203), a plurality of batteries (204), and a plurality of battery chargers (205). The stator (22) of the brushless motor (201) has a plurality of salient poles (32). A plurality of coils are wound on the salient poles (32) such that on each of the salient poles (32) there is wound different groups of windings electrically isolated from each other. The plurality of independent motor controllers (203) each corresponds and is electrically connected to one of the groups of windings on one of the salient poles (32) of the brushless motor (201). The plurality of batteries (204) each is connected to a corresponding one of the independent motor controllers (203) to provide electrical power thereto. The plurality of battery chargers (205) each is connected to el a corresponding one of the batteries (204).

Abstract: A pedal driven apparatus for a hybrid bicycle can be manually propelled, but also includes a motor unit for forward propulsion of the bicycle. The apparatus comprises manually operable pedals fixed for rotation with a pedal spindle for receiving a manually provided driving force, and a motor having a shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force. A first torque transmission path transfers the manually provided driving force to a sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus, and a second torque transmission path transfers the motor provided driving force to the sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus. A first one way drive means is provided in the first torque transmission path and second one way drive means is provided in the second torque transmission path. The manual driving force and motor driving force may be used separately or combined.

Abstract: A motor unit comprises a housing for containing a motor, a motor shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force, a torque sensor mechanism for detecting torque, and a controller for controlling power to the motor in response to a detected amount of torque. An actuator couples the torque sensor to a sensor of the controller. The actuator is configured to move relative to the controller sensor thereby causing the sensor to produce a signal indicative of the detected level of torque. The controller is contained within the housing of the motor. The motor unit may also have an auxiliary shaft for receiving an externally provided driving force with a first torque transmission path for transferring the externally provided driving force to a drive mechanism and a second torque transmission path for transferring the motor provided driving force to said drive mechanism.

Abstract: A hybrid bicycle is provided which can be manually propelled, but which includes a motor unit for also causing forward propulsion of the bicycle. The bicycle comprises manually operable pedals fixed for rotation with a pedal spindle for receiving a manually provided driving force and a motor having a shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force. A first torque transmission path is provided for transferring the manually provided driving force to a sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus and a second torque transmission path is provided for transferring the motor provided driving force to said sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus. A first one way drive means is also provided. This is provided in the first torque transmission path between the pedal spindle and the sprocket such that when the sprocket is being driven by the motor provided driving force through the second torque transmission path, the pedal spindle is able to freewheel.

Abstract: A pedal driven apparatus for a hybrid bicycle can be manually propelled, but also includes a motor unit for forward propulsion of the bicycle. The apparatus comprises manually operable pedals fixed for rotation with a pedal spindle for receiving a manually provided driving force, and a motor having a shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force. A first torque transmission path transfers the manually provided driving force to a sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus, and a second torque transmission path transfers the motor provided driving force to the sprocket of the pedal driven apparatus. A first one way drive means is provided in the first torque transmission path and second one way drive means is provided in the second torque transmission path. The manual driving force and motor driving force may be used separately or combined.

Abstract: A hybrid bicycle includes a control system for providing a control input for a motor component or a gearing adjustment mechanism of the bicycle. The motor component, if employed, assists in forward propulsion of the bicycle and the control system, when providing a control input for the motor increases drive power applied by the motor to the bicycle. The gearing adjustment mechanism, if employed, effects a change in a gearing ratio applied to a wheel of the bicycle, and the control system, when providing a control input for the gearing adjustment mechanism continuously varies the gearing ratio.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to a camera with double cassette system (DCS) film. The camera and DCS film are configured to allow only a specific type of DCS film to be used in the camera and to prevent reuse of the secondary cassette of the DCS film. To such end, the second chamber of the camera can include one or more protrusions therein. The protrusions can extend from the upper and lower end walls of the second chamber. In one embodiment, there is a first protrusion associated with the upper end wall and a second protrusion associated with the lower end wall. In order to properly set in the second chamber, a secondary cassette of a DCS film system includes recesses that can receive at least a portion of a respective protrusion. To prevent reuse of the secondary cassette, it constituent shells can be welded together.

Abstract: A camera assembly includes an endcap assembly for closing off the bottom end of a second film chamber, which is sized to selectively receive a roll of film or a secondary film cartridge housing a roll of film. The endcap assembly can include a movable shutter blade enclosed between two plates. The endcap assembly can be removably secured to the camera assembly. At least a portion of the endcap assembly can be formed with the camera assembly. Embodiments further relate to a method of loading such cameras, especially in the daylight. The method involves bringing a sleeve into light-tight engagement with the endcap assembly and then inserting a winding rod through the sleeve and the endcap assembly and into a second film chamber of the camera. The winding rod can then be used to wind film out of a cassette in the first chamber and into a roll in the second chamber.

Abstract: A method of loading a film assembly comprising a first film container (13) which may be a conventional film cassette and an additional film container (15, 102, 202, 302, 402, 502) having a length of film wound in one of the containers and extending to the other, comprises the steps of: (a) providing a coiled length of film which may be a bulk roll (52) and attaching a free end to a film winding tool (34); (b) rotating the film winding tool (34) to wind the film into a coil about the tool (34); (c) before or after step (b), enclosing the coil in the additional film container (15, 102, 202, 302, 402, 502) so that the film extends through a film slot thereof, and removing the film winding tool (34). The invention also resides in a film container for use in the method, and in an assembly so formed.

Abstract: A camera assembly includes an endcap assembly for closing off the bottom end of a second film chamber, which is sized to selectively receive a roll of film or a secondary film cartridge housing a roll of film. The endcap assembly can include a movable shutter blade enclosed between two plates. The endcap assembly can be removably secured to the camera assembly. At least a portion of the endcap assembly can be formed with the camera assembly. Embodiments further relate to a method of loading such cameras, especially in the daylight. The method involves bringing a sleeve into light-tight engagement with the endcap assembly and then inserting a winding rod through the sleeve and the endcap assembly and into a second film chamber of the camera. The winding rod can then be used to wind film out of a cassette in the first chamber and into a roll in the second chamber.

Abstract: A valve assembly for use in fluid-containing vessels for controlling the filling thereof comprises a main body having an inlet opening (20) and an outlet opening or openings (22) into the vessel and defining a fluid flow path therebetween; a movable valve member (40) movable from an open position to a closed position against a valve seat (34) defined in the fluid flow path; and control means including a float assembly comprising a float (54) mounted on a pivotably mounted float arm (52), and a retaining member (64) mounted on the body for pivotal movement and driven by the float arm, and having a retaining position at which the valve member (40) is maintained in an open position and out of which the retaining member is driven as the float arm (52) pivots from a lower position to a predetermined angle associated with a predetermined fluid level with an actuating cam surface on the float arm acting on the valve member (40) to move this to an open position as the float arm pivots towards its lower position.

Abstract: A camera (2) has a main body (4) defining a pair of film chambers on opposite sides of an exposure opening (18) comprising a first chamber (14) for receiving a film cassette having a central spool to which film is secured and a second chamber (16) for receiving a second film container into which film is pre-wound prior to use, a drive shaft having an end which extends into the first chamber (14) for engaging the spool, an electric motor (30) disposed between the chambers operably connected to the drive shaft to drive the shaft in one direction, and a shutter mechanism with a shutter release assembly operably connected to the motor control.

Abstract: Valve Assembly for Pressurized Fluid Vessel A valve assembly for a pressurized fluid vessel such as a propane tank has a housing defining a main fluid passageway therebetween with a valve seat (734) defined in the main passageway, a main valve member (742) movable against the valve seat (734) to block the passageway, an insert (738) defining an internal chamber within the interior of the housing within which the main valve member (742) is disposed, a secondary fluid flow passageway through the insert (738), through a conduit (748) connected to the main valve body, and through openings (751) in an end of the conduit (748) facing second ports opening into the vessel, and a secondary valve member (760) movable to block the openings (751) under the action of a float (721) on a predetermined fluid level being reached, thereby exposing the main valve member (742) to a pressure differential to close the valve.

Abstract: A camera (2) has a main body (4) defining a pair of film chambers on opposite sides of an exposure opening (18) comprising a first chamber (14) for receiving a film cassette having a central spool to which film is secured and a second chamber (16) for receiving a second film container into which film is pre-wound prior to use, a drive shaft having an end which extends into the first chamber (14) for engaging the spool, an electric motor (30) disposed between the chambers operably connected to the drive shaft to drive the shaft in one direction, and a shutter mechanism with a shutter release assembly operably connected to the motor control.

Abstract: A film assembly comprises a pair of film containers (13, 15) with a length of film extending therebetween with a major part of the film wound in one of the containers, with a backing sheet (17) of flexible material secured to each container to extend therebetween.

Abstract: A camera for use with film bearing a series of latent pre-exposed images for subsequent user-exposure, comprises a film sprocket wheel (34) extending into a film passageway, the sprocket wheel comprising a wheel having a plurality of equidistantly-spaced teeth one (42) of which is visually distinguishable from other teeth, for example being formed of a contrasting color.