1211results about "Frictional rollers based transmission" patented technology

A tilting, preferably three-wheeled, vehicle is disclosed that has a tilting mechanism that allows the vehicle to have leaning characteristics substantially similar to those offered by an in-line two-wheeled vehicle, but that does not require complex linkages and/or control systems to operate effectively. A tilting linkage is operably secured to a frame to allow a pair of spaced apart wheels to remain substantially aligned with the plane of the vehicle throughout its range of movement while still allowing the steering axes of each wheel to intersect the substantially vertical centerline of each wheel. The linkage also allows the caster angle of each wheel's pivot axis can be optimized independently of the angle of the vehicle's handlebar steering shaft.

A material transportation system includes one or more material transportation vehicles, each having magnetic wheels coupled to a magnetically attractive surface that can include a ceiling, a wall, a floor, and/or a transition region. The material transportation vehicles are adapted to carry material from place to place. Each material transportation vehicle has sensors and motor controls that reduce swing motion of the material transportation vehicle and the material coupled thereto. A collision avoidance and traffic control system prevents collisions between the one or more material transportation vehicles.

An adjustable assembly for a bicycle includes a first support having an interior surface and a second support slidably positioned within at least a portion of the first support. One of the first support and the second support is adapted to attach to a first bicycle portion, and the other of the first support and the second support is adapted to attach to a second bicycle portion. Further, the second support comprises an expansion portion configured to be moved between an expanded position and a retracted position. The expansion portion is configured to engage the interior surface of the first support when the expansion portion is in an expanded position. In addition, the first support is configured to be selectively moved relative to the second support when the expansion portion is permitted to assume a retracted position. In some embodiments, the first bicycle portion comprises a bicycle frame and the second bicycle portion comprises a bicycle saddle. In other arrangements, the first bicycle portion comprises a fork assembly and the second bicycle portion comprises a handlebar assembly.

An adjustable coil spring system placed within a leg of a vehicle such as a mountain bicycle fork. The spring system comprises an adjustable first soft spring seated on top of a second firm spring having greater length than the first soft spring. A coupler assembly is positioned between two springs comprised of a threaded bolt threadedly received within a coupler. A spring adjustment means may comprise a knob connected to the threaded bolt through a non-round shaped shaft, wherein the threaded bolt is disposed within the first soft spring. As the knob rotates, the coupler is moved up along the threaded bolt, decreasing the length of the first soft spring, thereby increasing firm spring characteristics of the spring system. As the knob rotates in an opposite direction, the coupler moves down, increasing the length of the first soft spring, thereby increasing soft spring characteristics of the spring system.

An adjustable-height bicycle seat post assembly comprises a hollow seat post for supporting a bicycle seat slidably on plastic guides or shims inside a hollow tube. The hollow tube clamps into the frame of a bicycle. A mainspring forces the post upward, but a locking mechanism interconnects the post with the tube in various fixed positions relative to the tube. The locking mechanism includes a housing, which supports a plunger for reciprocating movement into and out of engagement with holes on the post. The locking mechanism is affixed to the outside of the tube to bear shearing forces on the plunger. An endcap on the locking mechanism and a topcap on the tube protect the assembly from foreign debris. The locking mechanism may be manipulated remotely using a magnetic switch assembly or manually using a mechanical assembly. A lost motion coupling is integrated into the locking mechanism and/or actuator assembly to enable the remote actuator to be moved or deployed while the latch remains trapped under the influence of a dominant shear load. The lost motion coupling is also effective to allow an operator to deploy the remote actuator at any convenient time prior to a desired change in seat height.

A suspension system that includes a simplified lockout mechanism and an adjustable blow-off mechanism. The system includes a valve mechanism and a valve actuating assembly, a valve mechanism housing and a resilient member disposed between the valve mechanism and the valve mechanism housing. The valve mechanism is slidably mounted along the valve mechanism housing and it separates a first chamber from a second chamber. The valve actuating assembly operates the valve mechanism between open and closed positions. The resilient member is configured to be deformable by the valve mechanism as the valve mechanism is slidably displaced by an increasing pressure in the first fluid chamber. The sliding valve mechanism is configured to collide against the valve actuating assembly when a blow-off pressure is reached in the first fluid chamber switching the valve mechanism from the closed position to the open position.

An improved structure of a bicycle for children is disclosed. The bicycle comprises a front and a rear frame and a flexural mechanism is used to connect the front and the rear frame such that the tricycle can be folded. The upper section of the front frame is extended with a foldable handle and the front frame is provided with a rotating shaft. The rotating shaft is connected to a control shaft disposed at the rear frame by means of a cable such that the tricycle can be control the front wheel to move left or right by controlling the left and right movement of the control shaft.

A shock absorber having a valve controlling the flow rate of fluid between a compression chamber and a rebound chamber in a housing and separated by a piston. The valve has an orifice component and a blocker component, one of which has a permanent magnet, and the other of which has a magnetically permeable material. Upon the application of sufficient fluid pressure, the blocker component is forced away from the orifice component, despite the magnetic bias that tends to attract the two structures. Because the magnetic force decreases as the two components are spaced farther apart, the shock absorber has excellent performance characteristics. Alternatively, a mechanical spring urges the blocker closed, and magnetic attraction between the blocker and a spaced opener mitigates the increased force of the compressed spring tending to close the valve.

Various methods, apparatuses, and systems in which a single-track vehicle has a retractable auxiliary-support wheel assembly and a computer control system. In an embodiment, the single-track vehicle has an elongated body. The retractable auxiliary-support wheel assembly mounts on both sides of the elongated body. The computer control system analyzes signals from one or more sensors to dynamically balance the single-track vehicle.

A folding bicycle comprises a frame including a front part whereon is mounted pivoting a steering rod having a lower end provided with a first wheel and an upper end provided with a handlebar, a rear part whereon is mounted a second wheel, and a central part whereon are mounted a saddle and a crankset connected to the rear wheel by transmission elements, such that the saddle, the crankset, the steering rod, the front wheel and the rear wheel are substantially contained in a common plane when the bicycle is unfolded. The frame includes elements articulating the front part and the rear part to the central part to reduce the bicycle wheelbase associated with elements for maintaining at least the front wheel and the rear wheel in the plane.

Provided is a folding electric bicycle comprising a front frame section; a rear frame section comprising two bent arms individually having one end pivotably coupled to an axle passed rear wheel, and two auxiliary wheels rotatably mounted in open ends of the bent arms; a crossbar comprising a front end and a rear end pivotably coupled to the front and rear frame sections respectively; a latch detachably interconnected the crossbar and the rear frame section; and a down tube interconnected the front and rear frame sections. The rear frame section can either retract toward the front frame section about the unfastened latch for folding or extend from the front frame section about the unfastened latch for extending. The auxiliary wheels are either disposed above the ground when the bicycle is ready or rotatable and contact with the ground when the bicycle is folded for facilitating moving.

According to the invention, a human-propellable luggage which converts motion of the luggage into conditioned electrical power is provided. The luggage may have a body, chassis, wheel, generator and power supply circuit. The body may be configured to support an object and to be moved by a force exerted by a user. The wheel may define an axis of rotation and be coupled with the body. The wheel may be configured to be in contact with a surface and rotate about the axis of rotation when the body is moved relative to the surface. The generator may be coupled with the wheel and may be configured to convert the rotation of the wheel about the axis of rotation into electrical power. The power supply circuit may be coupled with the generator and be configured to receive the electrical power from the generator and condition the electrical power for use externally.

The invention is directed to a foldable electric bicycle with power assist having a front portion attached to a rear portion via a central pivot post. The front portion maintains a steering column, handle bar system and a front wheel assembly having a front wheel and an electric power train. The rear portion includes a rear connecting arm to maintain the rear wheel. The central pivot post includes a first end that connects with the front portion and a second end which connects with the rear portion. A peddle assembly connects below the central pivot post and communicates with the rear wheel through a drive chain. A rechargeable battery capable of providing electricity to the electric power train is shaped to fit within a cavity and is located within the central pivot post. The rechargeable battery is positioned proximate the user so as to vertically align with the user's girth.

A height adjustable seatpost assembly is provided with first and second tubes that are telescopically arranged to change an overall length of the height adjustable seatpost assembly using first and second ratchet arrangements. The first ratchet arrangement includes a set of first ratchet teeth having a first pitch and a first stop pawl member being movably coupled with respect to the first ratchet teeth between a first lock position and a first free position. The second ratchet arrangement includes a set of second ratchet teeth having a second pitch that is smaller than the first pitch and a second stop pawl member being movably coupled with respect to the second ratchet teeth between a second lock position and a second free position. The stop pawl members engage the ratchet teeth in the lock positions to prevent expansion of the first and second tubes.