Electric bicycle

Abstract

An electric bicycle assembly provided with a lightweight, high performance DC electric motor and a tuned centrifugal slip clutch assembly in combination therewith. This bicycle assembly includes a two-stage start-run electric control circuitry which prevents high motor zero rpm in-rush currents which may damage the motor. Another embodiment of this invention utilizes a variable ratio V-belt drive assembly having a centrifugal clutch capability so as to engage and disengage at a predetermined RPM. Another embodiment of this invention is provided with a front wheel mounted regenerating wheel rotor assembly which is adapted to recharge batteries as needed. Another embodiment of this invention utilizes a mechanically actuated multi-stage power control switch so as to selectively provide a start circuit and two or more power control levels in the operational use thereof.

I claim:  
     
         1 . In an electric bicycle assembly comprising: 
 a bicycle frame, said frame having a front wheel and a rear wheel rotatably mounted thereon;    a steering assembly provided on said frame in operative engagement with said front wheel;    a standard multi-speed rear wheel hub assembly provided on said rear wheel;    a tuned centrifugal slip clutch provided in operative engagement with said rear wheel hub assembly;    a lightweight, high performance DC electric drive motor provided on said frame in operative engagement with said tuned centrifugal slip clutch so as to selectively drive said rear wheel;    a DC battery assembly provided on said frame in operative engagement with said DC electric drive motor so as to power said electric bicycle assembly;    a two-stage start-run control circuitry assembly in operative engagement with said DC battery assembly; and    a start-run control button provided on said steering assembly in operative engagement with said two-stage start-run control circuitry assembly so as to selectively drive said electric bicycle assembly.    
     
     
         2 . In the electric bicycle assembly of    claim 1    wherein the said battery assembly comprises a 24-volt system.  
     
     
         3 . In the electric bicycle assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the said battery assembly comprises a 36-volt system.  
     
     
         4 . In the electric bicycle assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the said battery assembly is provided with a battery charger assembly adapted to be plugged into a 110-volt outlet.  
     
     
         5 . In the electric bicycle assembly of    claim 1   , wherein the said battery assembly is provided with a solar panel battery charger assembly.  
     
     
         6 . In the electric bicycle assembly of    claim 1    wherein said steering assembly is provided with an aerodynamic fairing assembly in operative engagement therewith, said aerodynamic fairing assembly comprising: 
 a flexible semi-rigid plastic sheet which is fixedly mounted on a support frame assembly, said support frame assembly selectively mounted on said steering assembly so as to aerodynamically protect said front wheel provided on said bicycle frame.  
 
     
     
         7 . In an electric bicycle assembly comprising: 
 a bicycle frame, said frame having a front wheel and a rear wheel rotatably mounted thereon;    a steering assembly provided on said frame in operative engagement with said front wheel;    a standard multi-speed front wheel hub assembly provided on said front wheel;    a tuned centrifugal slip clutch provided in operative engagement with said front wheel hub assembly;    a lightweight, high performance DC electric drive motor provided on said frame in operative engagement with said tuned centrifugal slip clutch so as to selectively drive said front wheel;    a DC battery assembly provided on said frame in operative engagement with said DC electric drive motor so as to selectively power said electric bicycle assembly;    a two-stage start-run control circuitry assembly in operative engagement in said DC battery assembly; and    a start-run control button provided on said steering assembly in operative engagement with said two-stage start-run control circuitry assembly so as to selectively drive said electric bicycle assembly.    
     
     
         8 . In the electric bicycle assembly of    claim 7    wherein the said battery assembly comprises a 24-volt system.  
     
     
         9 . In the electric bicycle assembly of    claim 7   , wherein the said battery assembly comprises a 36-volt system.  
     
     
         10 . In the electric bicycle assembly of    claim 7   , wherein the said battery assembly is provided with a battery charger assembly adapted to be plugged into a 110-volt outlet.  
     
     
         11 . In the electric bicycle assembly of    claim 7   , wherein the said battery assembly is provided with a solar panel battery charger assembly.  
     
     
         12 . In a tuned centrifugal slip clutch assembly for use with an electric vehicle provided with a battery powered D.C. drive motor having a motor drive shaft and at lest one wheel provided with a multi-speed drive hub, the combination comprising: 
 an outer clutch shell housing concentrically freely mounted on a motor drive shaft, said clutch shell in fixed operative engagement with a drive chain adapted to selectively actuate a wheel multi-speed hub operatively connected thereto;    an internal tuned centrifugal slip clutch housing assembly provided within said outer clutch shell housing, said tuned centrifugal slip clutch housing assembly fixedly keyed to the motor drive shaft so as to selectively rotatably spin therewith, said internal tuned centrifugal slip clutch assembly housing provided with internally mounted co-acting weights mounted on an adjustable retainer tension spring which can be selectively tuned so as to vary the tension exerted on said weights, said weights adapted to respond outwardly to the centrifugal force exerted by the spinning of the rotating motor shaft so as to selectively overcome the tension spring to engage the inner surface of the clutch shell to create a direct drive between drive motor and the drive chain.    
     
     
         13 . In a variable ratio V-belt drive assembly for use with an electric vehicle provided with a battery powered DC drive motor having a motor drive shaft in operative engagement therewith, the combination comprising: 
 a forward driving pulley assembly having an inner pulley wall half adapted for fixed attachment to an electric motor drive shaft so as to be selectively rotatable therewith but not laterally movable with respect thereto, said forward driving pulley assembly having an outer pulley wall half adapted to be keyed to an electric motor drive shaft so as to be rotatable therewith, said outer pulley wall half in operative register with said inner pulley wall half so as to be selectively movable toward and away therefrom;    an outer driving pulley clutch cover adapted for fixed engagement with an electric motor drive shaft so as to be rotatable therewith, said outer driving pulley clutch cover having a plurality of cover clutch weight receiving slots in operative register with corresponding outer pulley wall half clutch weight receiving slots provided on the outer surface of the outer pulley wall half;    centrifugal clutch weights provided in operative engagement with said cover weight receiving slots and said corresponding outer pulley wall half weight receiving slots, said centrifugal clutch weight selectively movable outwardly within said corresponding slots so as to selectively move said outward pulley wall half toward and away from said fixed driving inner pulley wall half in response to the centrifugal force exerted on the centrifugal clutch weights;    a rear driven pulley assembly adapted for selective operational engagement with a rear wheel axle and hub assembly, said rear driven pulley assembly positioned in spaced-apart aligned operational longitudinal registry with said forward driving pulley assembly, said rear-driven pulley having an inner-driven pulley wall half adapted for fixed engagement with a rear wheel hub, said rear-driven pulley assembly having a spring biased outer-driven pulley wall half in operative register with said inner-driven pulley wall half so as to be selectively rotatable therewith, said spring biased outer-driven pulley wall half adapted to be selectively movable laterally away from said inner-driven pulley wall half when actuated by said forward driving pulley wall assembly; and    a V-belt in selective operative engagement with said forward driving pulley assembly and said rear-driven pulley assembly so as to selectively vary the driving ratio when the electric vehicle is actuated.    
     
     
         14 . In a battery regenerating wheel rotor assembly for use with electric battery powered wheeled vehicles so as to selectively re-charge the vehicle batteries while the vehicle is in operational motion while braking, the combination comprising: 
 a circular wheel rotor fixedly mounted on a selected wheel of an electrical battery powered wheeled vehicle so as to rotate therewith when the vehicle is in motion, said circular wheel rotor provided with a plurality of spaced-apart permanent magnets along the outer peripheral edge thereof;    a U-shaped arcuate generating coil holder having a plurality of spaced-apart generating coils provided on each leg of said coil holder, said generating coil holder selectively positioned relative to said rotor so as to bracket the outer peripheral edge of said rotor so as to position said generating coils in operational spaced-apart register with said permanent magnets so as to selectively create an electrical current when said rotor is rotating while the electric vehicle is braking; and    electrical conveying cable means selectively connected to said generating coils so as to convey the generated electricity to the vehicle batteries so as to charge the batteries while the electrical vehicle is in motion.    
     
     
         15 . In the electric bicycle assembly of    claim 1    wherein said two-stage start-run control circuitry assembly comprises a start circuit, a low power circuit and a high power circuit adapted to selectively deliver variable power from said battery source means to said drive motor; and 
 a selectively adjustable variable time delay relay adapted to sequentially close said start circuit, said low power circuit and said high power circuit so as to deliver power to said drive motor as required.  
 
     
     
         16 . In a mechanically actuated multi-stage power control switch assembly for use with electric battery powered vehicle so as to provide selective variable power to the vehicle drive motor, the combination comprising: 
 a drive motor, said drive motor operatively connected by circuitry means to a battery power source means so as to selectively drive said drive motor, said circuitry means comprising a start circuit, a low power circuit and a high power circuit adapted to selectively deliver variable power from said battery source means to said drive motor; and    a mechanically actuated multi stage power control switch assembly, said control switch assembly provided with a spring biased contact member, said contact member actuated by a throttle cable so as to selectively sequentially close said start circuit, said low power circuit and said high power circuit so as to deliver power to said drive motor as required.