Rim Drive (e.g., Bicycle Generator Drive By Wheel, Rim, Or Tire) Patents (Class 310/75C)
  • Patent number: 6140723
    Abstract: An oral hygiene device comprises a rotating body 22 mounted to a rotating shaft 21 of an electric motor 14, an output shaft 11 resiliently supported via a resonance pin 25 to be swingable finely, a drive magnetic body 23 provided on the rotating body 22, and a driven magnetic body 31 provided on the output shaft 11 to face the drive magnetic body 23 so as to be out of contact therewith. The drive magnetic body 23 and the driven magnetic body 31 are composed of permanent magnets, and as the rotating body 22 revolves, a varying magnetic field is generated between the both magnetic bodies 23, 31 to cause vibration of the output shaft 11 at high speed. In this manner, there are provided a vibration generating device, which can be manufactured at low cost and efficiently transmits vibration, and an oral hygiene device using the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Sunstar Inc.
    Inventors: Tsuguo Matsui, Michihisa Sugimoto, Masaharu Kita
  • Patent number: 6116763
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for illuminating rotating wheels are described. The device requires no external power and relies on the rotation of the wheeled power generator located in the hub cap or other mounting area of the wheel. Construction comprises a coil having an axis of rotation, the coil being substantially on the axis of the wheel so that when the wheel rotates, the coil rotates similarly. A magnet is mounted around the coil in such a manner that it is self orienting. This is achieved by means of an asymmetric weight which is of sufficient dimensions and weight so as to counteract the rotational tendencies of the structure to which it is rotatably mounted. In a preferred embodiment, the weight is attached to the magnet by one or more elongated members incorporating compression means which absorb transitory vibrations experienced by the weight during the vehicle's movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Inventor: Richard John King
  • Patent number: 6118196
    Abstract: A bicycle dynamo having enhanced power dynamics by having a large number of magnets 63 in alternate polarity lined up at a fixed interval along the inner circumference of the rotating mechanism 60. A circular lining 70 is outfitted and anchored around the perimeter of the main axle 20 with a transformer strapped to it. The transformer container a coil unit 81 and tow core parts; with the two core units sandwiching the coil unit 81 at its two sides. Each of the core unit is a stack having two or more core discs 82a, 82b. At an even interval around the circumference of the core disks 82a, 82b, fixed number of raised anchors 821a, 821b are formed that interconnect with different core disk anchors 821a, 821b to form a fixed set of the claw unit. Furthermore, each of the claw unit from the two core components 82 are extended out between the coil unit 81 and the magnets 63.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Shing Chyoo Attend Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tang Cheng-Yon
  • Patent number: 6100615
    Abstract: A motorized wheel hub assembly includes a sealed motor section having first and second coaxial shafts extending from the motor section, the second shaft being a rotary shaft and a gear reduction section adjacent to the motor section, the gear reduction section including a pinion at the end of the rotary shaft, a plurality of planet gears rotatably mounted to the housing in meshing engagement with the pinion and a third shaft connected to the motor housing, all of the shafts being separate but coaxial. A hub having an interior surface closely surrounds the motor and gear reduction sections and is rotatably coupled to the first and third shafts. A ring gear formed in the interior surface of the hub is in meshing engagement with the planet gears so that when the second shaft rotates at a selected speed, the hub rotates relative to the first and third shafts at a lesser speed. Preferably, the hub is partially filled with oil to conduct heat from the motor section to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventor: Orville J. Birkestrand
  • Patent number: 6057617
    Abstract: A drive device for an electrically operated vehicle, in particular a wheelchair, having at least one rim with rim well and actual shaft wherein a brake is located in a brake space defined in part by a gap between a pair of spaced part bearings on the axle shaft of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Inventor: Egon Schmid
  • Patent number: 6016022
    Abstract: An electricity generating system for driving one dynamo or several dynamos on a bicycle, the electricity generating system comprising: a driving wheel, concentric with one of the bicycle wheels, surrounding the hub thereof and performing a rotating movement along with the bicycle wheel; a support, mounted on the frame and carrying the dynamos, with a holding plate holding the dynamos; and a conveyor belt for driving drive wheels on the dynamos by the rotating movement of the driving wheel, so as to generate electricity. The driving mechanism reduces the mechanical force necessary to drive the dynamos and allows to install additional lamps or devices, thus increasing safety and making cycling more convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Inventor: Kunlin Cho
  • Patent number: 5949168
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electric motor having a locking device and a brake actuator for an electric system which includes such an electric motor. The locking brake has a simple configuration and includes a conical ring which is mounted so as to be axially displaceable on the motor shaft of the electric motor of the brake actuator. In a first axial position, the conical ring (26) permits a rotation of the motor shaft (12) in both directions and, in a second axial position, the conical ring is in engagement with the motor shaft (12) and rotates with the latter. In the second axial position of the conical ring (26), a rotation of the motor shaft (12) in one rotational direction leads to the situation that the conical ring (26) is in engagement with the lock ring (24) of the brake actuator (2). The lock ring (24) is fixed so that it cannot rotate relative to the motor shaft (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Continental Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Dieckmann, Wulf Leitermann, Immanuel Henken
  • Patent number: 5920136
    Abstract: A drive device for an electrically operated vehicle, in particular a wheelchair, having at least one rim with rim well and an axle shaft wherein a brake is integrated into an annular channel formed between the rim and the axle shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Inventor: Egon Schmid
  • Patent number: 5895991
    Abstract: An electric generator assembly for supplying power to electrical devices on a bicycle. The electrical generator assembly includes a gearwheel fixedly secured and rotatively coupled to a bicycle wheel proximate a hub axis of the bicycle wheel, a rotor housing, an annular stator disposed within the rotor housing, and a rotor disposed concentrically within the annular stator. The electric generator assembly further includes an arm extending from the rotor housing and configured for detachable attachment with a portion of the bicycle frame proximate the hub axis of the bicycle wheel. The rotor is driven by a rotor-driving gear disposed outside the rotor housing. The rotor-driving gear is configured to mesh with an output gear of a gear train for transmitting power from the bicycle wheel. An input pinion, configured to mesh with the gearwheel, is rotatively coupled to the input gear of the gear train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: SRAM Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Butz
  • Patent number: 5874792
    Abstract: A bicycle generator including a coil stator and a magnetic rotor. The coil stator includes a planar support, and an induction coil portion formed by a plurality of series-connected coil units which are evenly spaced along the circumference of the planar support. The magnetic rotor is rotatable relative to and substantially parallel to the coil stator, and includes a permanent magnet having a plurality of magnetic pole pairs formed on its circumference. The number of coil units in the induction coil portion is equal to the number of magnetic pole pairs in the magnetic rotor, and the coil units is winded into trapezoid or sector shape, and the span angle of each of the magnetic pole in the magnetic rotor is substantially equal to the span angle of each of the coil units in the coil stator. Alternatively, the bicycle generator may comprises a cylindrical coil stator and a cylindrical magnetic rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Shih-Chou Chen, Tung-Chuan Wu, Chen-Sheng Weng, Ray-Ten Chen
  • Patent number: 5796192
    Abstract: An electric drive for small vehicles, especially wheelchairs, includes a d.c. motor, which is arranged as a wheelhub motor in the running wheel of the small vehicle. Efficiency and manufacturing costs are improved, while ensuring simple assembly, wherein the possibility of automatically locking the running wheels is provided, along with a short and lightweight design. The d.c. motor is an external rotor motor, whose external rotor forms the wheelhub or the wheel rim of the running wheel. The stator of the d.c. motor is stationarily connected to the small vehicle via a brake housing (3). A central spring pressure brake is provided which can be released electromagnetically and manually and brakes the external rotor of the d.c. motor in the case of a power failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Inventor: Gerhard Riepl
  • Patent number: 5461269
    Abstract: An electrical generator system is provided for use with a wheel, for example, a bicycle wheel. A bracket rotating with the wheel carried generator units each having a friction wheel to drive it. A fixed circular disc which is non-rotatable with the wheel is symmetrically arranged in the plane of the wheel. The friction wheels rotate to drive the generator units, the output of which is combined and directed to an appliance such as a lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Inventor: Jean-Claude de Raucourt
  • Patent number: 5208501
    Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for rotationally controlling a circular structure, such as a dome, from the outer circumference of the dome. The system uses a linear stepping motor having a circular fixed section and a movable section. The movable section is attached to the rim of the dome and is in magnetic coupled contact with the fixed section. Controllable magnetic fields induced between the movable and stationary sections cause the movable section, and hence the dome, to drive around the circular fixed section. The dome speed is controlled by the magnetic fields and the position of the dome is monitored by monitoring the position of the active magnetic fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Tommy D. Wright
  • Patent number: 4950971
    Abstract: A device for powering a number of different electrical loads, especially on bicycles with or without auxiliary motors. The device includes a generator, a drive means for the generator (on a bicycle to cooperate with a wheel of the bicycle), transmission gear means connected in advance of the generator, an accumulator, and switching means for switching between powering of the loads by the generator and accumulator and for constant charging of the accumulator by the generator. The generator, transmission gear means, accumulator and switching means are arranged in a common closed housing. The transmission gear means is connected to the drive means by a flexible shaft. An adaptor is provided by which the rotary motion of a wheel is taken up and transferred by the flexible shaft to the transmission gear means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Enform Ag
    Inventors: Robert Hegi, Ernst Fluckiger
  • Patent number: 4761577
    Abstract: A wheel mounted hub containing an electrical generator which is pivotally supported in arms of a yoke. The yoke and generator have an offset center of gravity, tending to give the yoke and generator a pendulum-like behavior within the housing. During wheel rotation, the generator tends to remain along a gravitational line of force, forcing a small wheel associated with the generator to turn against the hub. Around the outer periphery of the yoke, yet within the hub housing, is a circuit board which carries a power utilization circuit, so that the electrical path between the generator and the utilization circuit is very short. The circuit board may carry auxiliary circuits such as a current limiter, a generator disengaging circuit, a daylight deactivating circuit and a circuit for allowing operation regardless of direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Inventors: Stephen E. Thomas, Mark S. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4613129
    Abstract: An attachment which converts a stationary exercise bicycle into an electronic exercise machine. A base tube of the bicycle frame can be strapped to a floor plate to which an alternator is hinged. The alternator can be raised about the hinge axis so that a drive wheel on the alternator drive shaft is applied to the driven bicycle wheel. The alternator is maintained in its operating position by a rope and cooperating springs. By electrically controlling the field coil of the alternator, the load applied to the bicycle wheel can be varied. Electronic features include programmed exercise routines and visual displays of time, load, speed and pulse rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1986
    Inventors: Charles H. Schroeder, Larry Farnham
  • Patent number: 4504756
    Abstract: In an electrical speed sensor for generating an electrical signal proportional to the rotational speed of a vehicle wheel, a first shaft is rotatably mounted and is adapted to be operatively interconnected with an output shaft of the vehicle transmission. The first shaft carries a rotor of magnetic material which is cooperable with a stationary rotor of magnetic material to provide an output signal indicative of the rotational speed. A second shaft is rotatably mounted at a fixed angle relative to the first shaft in operative driven engagement therewith. The rotatable core of a speedometer cable is coupled to one end of the second shaft for rotation therewith to operate the vehicle speedometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Amano, Naoji Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 4466303
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transmission arrangement in which the transmission includes a friction-cone member which can be arranged with its hub on the motor shaft of a motor, whereby the end of the hub directed towards the motor includes at least one slot, and at this end of the hub there is arranged a clamping collar for clamping the hub to the motor shaft. An anti-friction bearing, arranged on the hub at the portion thereof which is closest to the friction-cone, adapted to resist radial and axial loads, and supported by a housing-flange of the motor, is radially and axially rigidly journalled in the housing-flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: Gebr. Stober
    Inventor: Bernd Stober
  • Patent number: 4327300
    Abstract: A helical sliding drive starter with a freewheel unit having a multiple disc clutch configured to drivingly engage and disengage a starter motor shaft and a pinion shaft. Certain ones of the discs have outer teeth that engage toothed channels in the motor shaft and certain other ones of the discs have inner teeth that engage toothed ribs on the pinion shaft. The discs, toothed channels and toothed ribs cooperate to cause axial engagement and disengagement of the freewheel unit with the motor shaft and pinion shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Inventor: Wilhelm Hoven
  • Patent number: 4220907
    Abstract: An electromagnetic power generator for installation in the interior of a vehicular tire, working on the principle of deriving energy from the fact that a portion of the tire becomes flattened once every revolution, causing a change in the length of the corresponding chord. A small closed magnetic circuit is alternately opened and closed by this movement, by means of a flexible strap coupled between the tire interior and the magnetic circuit. The circuit is reclosed by magnetic attraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1980
    Assignee: Dennis G. Pappas
    Inventors: Dennis G. Pappas, Matthew C. Baum, Samuel N. Small, Robert T. Adams, Robert P. Freedman
  • Patent number: 4109171
    Abstract: In a device for emitting signal in driving vehicle, in which a miniature power generator is employed to produce an electric power for emitting said signal in such a manner, that the rotor of said miniature generator is rotated under the utilization of the rotation of the wheel of the vehicle by manipulating the miniature generator to tilt to the position, at which the rotary head of the miniature generator will contact with at least a portion of the wheel, the improvement, wherein the rotary head of the miniature generator is contacted onto a strip of rubber-like substance fixed on the side surface of tire of the wheel made of rubber-like substance, said strip covering at least a segment of the circle of the tire and projecting aside to permit contact with said rotary head of the miniature power generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1978
    Inventor: Yoshikatsu Furusawa