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 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.

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 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.