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: The present invention discloses a motorized driving device for mounting on a frame of a bicycle. The bicycle includes a pedal drive mechanism coupled to a chain for transferring a drive force to at least one chainwheel. The drive device includes a power source of rotary power and a power transmission mechanism for coupling between the pedal drive mechanism and the chain. The power transmission mechanism further includes a first unidirectional power transmission module and a second unidirectional power transmission module, such that an auxiliary power transmitted by the power transmission mechanism from the power source to the chain is independent from an pedal power transmitted by the power transmission mechanism from the pedal drive mechanism to the chain. A method of installing a motorized driving device on a standard bicycle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A motor unit includes a motor shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force and an auxiliary shaft for receiving an externally provided driving force. A first torque transmission path transfers the externally provided driving force to a drive mechanism and a second torque transmission path transfers the motor provided driving force also to the drive mechanism. A first one way drive is provided in the first torque transmission path between the auxiliary shaft and the drive mechanism such that when the drive mechanism is being driven by the motor provided driving force through the second torque transmission path, the auxiliary shaft is able to freewheel. The motor unit can drive any apparatus where the externally provided driving force is provided by manually operable pedals fixed for rotation with the auxiliary shaft.

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: The present invention discloses a motorized driving device for mounting on a frame of a bicycle. The bicycle includes a pedal drive mechanism coupled to a chain for transferring a drive force to at least one chainwheel. The drive device includes a power source of rotary power and a power transmission mechanism for coupling between the pedal drive mechanism and the chain. The power transmission mechanism further includes a first unidirectional power transmission module and a second unidirectional power transmission module, such that an auxiliary power transmitted by the power transmission mechanism from the power source to the chain is independent from an pedal power transmitted by the power transmission mechanism from the pedal drive mechanism to the chain. A method of installing a motorized driving device on a standard bicycle is also disclosed.

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: The present invention discloses a battery cell support consisted of a first supporting member and a second supporting member, which are assembled by a first fitting mechanism and a second fitting mechanism on the supporting member that can be snap-fit in each other. Battery cells are inserted in the space formed by the first supporting member and the second supporting member with exposed surface such that proper heat dissipation of the battery cells is ensured. An assembly of multiple battery cell supports is also disclosed which uses different fitting mechanisms to combine the separate battery cell supports, and also a metal strap is used to electrically connect the separate battery cell supports.

Abstract: A motor unit comprises a motor shaft for receiving a motor provided driving force and an auxiliary shaft for receiving an externally provided driving force. A first torque transmission path transfers the externally provided driving force to a drive mechanism and a second torque transmission path transfers the motor provided driving force also to said drive mechanism. A first one way drive means is provided in the first torque transmission path between the auxiliary shaft and the drive mechanism such that when the drive mechanism is being driven by the motor provided driving force through the second torque transmission path, the auxiliary shaft is able to freewheel. The motor unit can drive any apparatus, but may be used in a pedal driven apparatus such as a bicycle where the externally provided driving force is provided by manually operable pedals of said apparatus which are fixed for rotation with the auxiliary shaft.

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 hybrid bicycle is provided which is manually propelled, but may include a motor unit for assisting forward propulsion of the bicycle. The bicycle has a control system for providing a control input for another component of the bicycle. Where that component comprises the motor, the control input is for increasing drive power applied by the motor unit to said bicycle. Where the component is a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for the bicycle, the control input is for continuously varying the gearing ratio of the CVT. Located adjacent a drive sprocket is a moveable plate member. The plate member and the drive sprocket are mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation of a pedal spindle, although the sprocket is not fixed for rotation with the pedal spindle. The drive sprocket is loosely coupled to the plate member with the plate member being moveable relative to the sprocket by a limited distance in a rotational direction.

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 is manually propelled, but may include a motor unit for assisting forward propulsion of the bicycle. The bicycle has a control system for providing a control input for another component of the bicycle. Where that component comprises the motor, the control input is for increasing drive power applied by the motor unit to said bicycle. Where the component is a continuously variable transmission (CVT) for the bicycle, the control input is for continuously varying the gearing ratio of the CVT. Located adjacent a drive sprocket is a moveable plate member. The plate member and the drive sprocket are mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation of a pedal spindle, although the sprocket is not fixed for rotation with the pedal spindle. The drive sprocket is loosely coupled to the plate member with the plate member being moveable relative to the sprocket by a limited distance in a rotational direction.

Abstract: A valve assembly for controlling the filling of a fluid containing vessel is provided having a valve body having a fluid inlet regulated by a valve member movable between an open and closed position within the valve body. A valve controller is provided regulating the valve position having a float pivotally mounted on a float arm and a retaining member pivotally mounted for rotation with the float arm through a limited portion of the float arm range. The retainer member engages the valve member urging it to the open position when the float reaches a predetermined low fill angle and the float arm engages and releases the retainer member when a predetermined high fill level is reached.

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.