A bicycle includes a frame having a seat tube, a rear wheel including a drive plate, and a drive system configured to drive rotation of the rear wheel. The drive system includes at least one shaft operably extending in a direction between the seat tube and the rear wheel and arranged to interact with the drive plate. A pair of drive assemblies are located near or at least in part inside the seat tube and are arranged to operably interact with the drive shaft. The at least one drive shaft converts linear motion of the drive assemblies into rotation of the rear wheel without a chain or chainring.

A variable speed drive (37) is described, comprising: a ring (60) adapted to rotate about a first rotation axis; two coaxial disks (73), rigidly connected to each other, adapted to rotate about a second rotation axis (B-B) parallel to the first rotation axis; wherein the ring (60) is at least partially housed between the two coaxial disks (73); a plurality of driving members (75), carried by the ring (60) and arranged according to a circular arrangement coaxial to the ring (60); said driving members are arranged and configured to cooperate with opposite surfaces (73A) of the two coaxial disks (73), transmitting a rotation motion from the ring (60) to the two coaxial disks (73); a device for adjusting the distance between the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis. A drive device (17) of an assisted-pedal human-powered vehicle (10) which includes such a drive is also described.

A gear shifting system includes a drive shaft, a face gear, and at least one power transmission component(s). The gear system also includes a pinion gear assembly, which is coupled to the first end of the drive shaft. The pinion gear assembly is configured to mesh with one of the concentric gear-rings on the face gear, so that the rotational movement of the gear-ring is transmitted to the shaft. The gear shifting system is easy to operate, mechanically simple, can smoothly shift between gears under any gear shifting conditions, and exhibits decreased component wear.

A sequential gear shift system for two-way operated speed change gear units of manually propelled vehicles. Mirrored, spaced-apart lever operators, are provided with increasing lever stroke ratio, and actuate sequentially with twin mirrored one-way multi-tooth rack-clutch mechanisms, that rapidly engage with a shift element and convert linear torque to rotate the shift element in diametrically opposite directions. The rack-clutch mechanisms may be disengaged from the shift element when returning to normal. The actuating may occur via independent hydraulic operation of an actuator. The actuator housing and load bearing axle of the speed change gear hub are selectively, releasably, and coaxially interconnected into a rigid gear system load bearing axle, and may be combined at any angle, and a shift direction is selectively reversible.

Disclosed is a continuous variable transmission drive system for providing automatic continuously variable transmission for driving wheels of a vehicle. The vehicle includes wheels and either pedals or a motor. The continuous variable transmission drive system includes a drive shaft, a drive wheel, a drive disk, a sensor, a jack mechanism and a transmission unit. The drive shaft having a first end to receive a rotational force and a second end is connected to the drive wheel and moves along the drive shaft. The drive disk receives the power of the drive shaft from the drive wheel. The sensor for measuring compression force between the drive disk and the drive wheel. The jack mechanism applies variable compression force to control friction between the drive disk and the drive wheel. The transmission unit moves the drive wheel along the drive shaft, and changes ratio of angular velocity between the drive wheel and the drive disk to provide continuously variable transmission.

A bicycle drive system includes a front face gear, a rear face gear, a drive shaft, and a front roller-toothed gear assembly coupled to the first end of the drive shaft, and a rear roller-toothed gear assembly coupled to the second end of the drive shaft. Both the front roller-toothed gear assembly and the rear roller-toothed gear assembly include one or more roller elements. The roller-toothed gear assemblies are advantageous in ensuring the bicycle drive system is highly efficient, and is only minimally or not at all affected by dirt, water, contaminants, or other foreign matter typically experienced in un-clean riding conditions.

A gear shifting system includes a drive shaft, a face gear, and at least one power transmission component(s). The gear system also includes a pinion gear assembly, which is coupled to the first end of the drive shaft. The pinion gear assembly is configured to mesh with one of the concentric gear-rings on the face gear, so that the rotational movement of the gear-ring is transmitted to the shaft. The gear shifting system is easy to operate, mechanically simple, can smoothly shift between gears under any gear shifting conditions, and exhibits decreased component wear.

A variable speed drive (37) is described, comprising: a ring (60) adapted to rotate about a first rotation axis; two coaxial disks (73), rigidly connected to each other, adapted to rotate about a second rotation axis (B-B) parallel to the first rotation axis; wherein the ring (60) is at least partially housed between the two coaxial disks (73); a plurality of driving members (75), carried by the ring (60) and arranged according to a circular arrangement coaxial to the ring (60); said driving members are arranged and configured to cooperate with opposite surfaces (73A) of the two coaxial disks (73), transmitting a rotation motion from the ring (60) to the two coaxial disks (73); a device for adjusting the distance between the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis. A drive device (17) of an assisted-pedal human-powered vehicle (10) which includes such a drive is also described.

The transmission (10) comprises a support (40) where an input central shaft (1) is rotatably supported. A central wheel (11) is integral with the central shaft (1) and rotates therewith. The transmission further comprises an output wheel (18) and a rotary unit (100) rotatably supported by the support (40) around a rotation axis (100) to take a plurality of angular positions. Selectable gear pairs (101-109) are rotatably supported on the rotary unit (100). A rotation mechanism of the rotary unit (100) brings the rotary unit (100) into one of said angular position selectively. In each angular position of the rotary unit (100) a selectable gear pair (101-109) transmits motion from the central wheel (11) to the output wheel (18);

A bicycle drive system includes a front face gear, a rear face gear, a drive shaft, and a front roller-toothed gear assembly coupled to the first end of the drive shaft, and a rear roller-toothed gear assembly coupled to the second end of the drive shaft. Both the front roller-toothed gear assembly and the rear roller-toothed gear assembly include one or more roller elements. The roller-toothed gear assemblies are advantageous in ensuring the bicycle drive system is highly efficient, and is only minimally or not at all affected by dirt, water, contaminants, or other foreign matter typically experienced in un-clean riding conditions.