IP Library › Granted Patent US 12679499
Granted Patent B2
US 12679499 · App. 17/894,152 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Electric drive device for a bicycle

Inventors: Christian Koetz (Dresden, DE); Matthias Koop (Neufahrn, DE); Christian Wirth (Mossinning, DE)
Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
B62M6/55
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12679499
App. No.
17/894,152
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drive device for a bicycle is disclosed. The drive device includes an electric motor comprising a motor shaft, a driven shaft, and a planetary gear set that drive-connects the motor shaft with the drive shaft. The planetary gear set includes a sun gear, at least two planetary gears, an internal gear, and a planet gear carrier, on which the at least two planet gears are rotatably mounted. The sun gear, the internal gear, and the planet gear carrier are rotatably mounted in the planetary gear set about a common axis of rotation.

Claims (85)

1 . A drive device for a bicycle, comprising:

an electric motor comprising a motor shaft,

a driven shaft for coupling to a traction mechanism drive,

a planetary gear set that drive-connects the motor shaft with the driven shaft,

the planetary gear set including a sun gear that is drive-connected with the motor shaft, at least two planet gears that are in engagement with the sun gear, and an internal gear that is in engagement with the at least two planet gears,

the planetary gear set further including a planet gear carrier, on which the at least two planet gears are rotatably mounted,

wherein the sun gear, the internal gear and the planet gear carrier are rotatably mounted in the planetary gear set about a common axis of rotation,

the planetary gear set further including a first drive shaft that is provided with a non-rotatable first output gear wheel,

the first output gear wheel is drive-connected with the driven shaft,

the first drive shaft is rotatably mounted about the common axis of rotation via a first output gear wheel bearing arranged radially between a fixed axle pin that extends coaxially to the common axis of rotation and the first output gear wheel, so that the first output gear wheel bearing rotatably mounts the first drive shaft directly on the fixed axle pin,

the first drive shaft includes the planet gear carrier, so that the planet gear carrier is non-rotatably connected to the first output gear wheel, and

a carrier bearing rotatably mounts the first drive shaft via the planet gear carrier about the common axis of rotation on the sun gear.

2 . The drive device according to claim 1 ,

wherein the sun gear, the internal gear and the planet gear carrier are at least indirectly rotatably mounted about the common axis of rotation on the fixed axle pin.

3 . The drive device according to claim 2 , wherein:

the sun gear is rotatably mounted about the common axis of rotation on the fixed axle pin via at least one sun gear bearing, and

the at least one sun gear bearing mounts the sun gear directly on the fixed axle pin.

4 . The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the planetary gear set further comprises a second drive shaft that is provided with a second output gear wheel that is non-rotatable and axially offset from the first output gear wheel,

the second output gear wheel is drive-connected with the driven shaft, and

the second drive shaft is rotatably mounted about the common axis of rotation via a second output gear wheel bearing arranged radially between the first drive shaft and the second output gear wheel, so that the second drive shaft is rotatably mounted about the common axis of rotation on the first drive shaft.

5 . The drive device according to claim 4 , wherein the second drive shaft includes the internal gear, so that the internal gear is non-rotatably connected to the second output gear wheel.

6 . The drive device according to claim 5 , wherein:

the internal gear and the second output gear wheel are structured integrally, and

the second output gear wheel is case-hardened and the internal gear is injection-moulded to the case-hardened second output gear wheel.

7 . The drive device according to claim 4 , wherein:

the second output gear wheel comprises a shoulder directed radially to an inside,

the second output gear wheel bearing is received in the second output gear wheel and axially butts up against the shoulder.

8 . A bicycle, comprising:

a pedal crank,

a traction mechanism drive, and

a drive device, the drive device including:

an electric motor comprising a motor shaft,

a driven shaft for coupling to the traction mechanism drive,

a planetary gear set that drive-connects the motor shaft with the driven shaft,

the planetary gear set including a sun gear that is drive-connected with the motor shaft, at least two planet gears that are in engagement with the sun gear, and an internal gear that is in engagement with the at least two planet gears,

the planetary gear set further including a planet gear carrier, on which the at least two planet gears are rotatably mounted,

wherein the sun gear, the internal gear and the planet gear carrier are rotatably mounted in the planetary gear set about a common axis of rotation, and

the planet gear set further includes a first drive shaft that is provided with a non-rotatable first output gear wheel,

the first output gear wheel is drive-connected with the driven shaft,

the first drive shaft is rotatably mounted about the common axis of rotation via a first output gear wheel bearing arranged radially between a fixed axle pin that extends coaxially to and defines the common axis of rotation and the first output gear wheel, so that the first output gear wheel bearing rotatably mounts the first drive shaft directly on the fixed axle pin,

the first drive shaft includes the planet gear carrier, so that the planet gear carrier is non-rotatably connected to the first output gear wheel, and

a carrier bearing rotatably mounts the first drive shaft via the planet gear carrier about the common axis of rotation on the sun gear, and

wherein the drive device is couplable to the traction mechanism drive.

9 . The bicycle according to claim 8 ,

wherein the sun gear, the internal gear, and the planet gear carrier are at least indirectly rotatably mounted about the common axis of rotation on the fixed axle pin.

10 . The bicycle according to claim 9 , wherein:

the sun gear is rotatably mounted about the common axis of rotation on the fixed axle pin via at least one sun gear bearing, and

the at least one sun gear bearing mounts the sun gear directly on the fixed axle pin.

11 . The bicycle according to claim 8 , wherein:

the planetary gear set further includes a second drive shaft that is provided with a second output gear wheel that is non-rotatable and axially offset from the first output gear wheel,

the second output gear wheel is drive-connected with the driven shaft, and

the second drive shaft is rotatably mounted about the common axis of rotation via a second output gear wheel bearing arranged between the first drive shaft and the second output gear wheel, so that the second drive shaft is rotatably mounted about the common axis of rotation on the first drive shaft.

12 . The bicycle according to claim 11 , wherein the second drive shaft includes the internal gear, so that the internal gear is non-rotatably connected to the second output gear wheel.

13 . The bicycle according to claim 12 , wherein:

the internal gear and the second output gear wheel are structured integrally, and

the second output gear wheel is case-hardened and the internal gear is injection-moulded to the case-hardened second output gear wheel.

14 . The bicycle according to claim 12 , wherein:

the second output gear wheel comprises a shoulder directed radially inwards, and

the second output gear wheel bearing is received in the second output gear wheel and axially abuts against the shoulder.

15 . The bicycle according to claim 11 , wherein:

the second output gear wheel comprises a shoulder directed radially inwards, and

the second output gear wheel bearing is received in the second output gear wheel and axially abuts against the shoulder.

16 . The bicycle according to claim 11 , wherein:

the sun gear is rotatably mounted about the common axis of rotation on the fixed axle pin via at least one sun gear bearing, and

the at least one sun gear bearing mounts the sun gear directly on the fixed axle pin.

17 . A drive device for a bicycle, comprising:

an electric motor comprising a motor shaft,

a driven shaft for coupling to a traction mechanism drive,

a planetary gear set that drive-connects the motor shaft with the driven shaft,

the planetary gear set including a sun gear that is drive-connected with the motor shaft, at least two planet gears that are in engagement with the sun gear, and an internal gear that is in engagement with the at least two planet gears,

the planetary gear set further including a planet gear carrier, on which the at least two planet gears are rotatably mounted,

wherein the sun gear, the internal gear and the planet gear carrier are rotatably mounted in the planetary gear set about a common axis of rotation the planetary gear set further comprises a first drive shaft that is provided with a non-rotatable first output gear wheel,

the first output gear wheel is drive-connected with the driven shaft,

the first drive shaft is rotatably mounted about the common axis of rotation via a first output gear wheel bearing arranged radially between a fixed axle pin that extends coaxially to the common axis of rotation and the first output gear wheel, so that the first output gear wheel bearing rotatably mounts the first drive shaft directly on the fixed axle pin,

the planetary gear set further including a second drive shaft that is provided with a second output gear wheel that is non-rotatable and axially offset from the first output gear wheel,

the second output gear wheel is drive-connected with the driven shaft, and

the second drive shaft is rotatably mounted about the common axis of rotation via a second output gear wheel bearing arranged radially between the first drive shaft and the second output gear wheel, so that the second drive shaft is rotatably mounted about the common axis of rotation on the first drive shaft.

18 . The drive device according to claim 17 , wherein the second drive shaft includes the internal gear, so that the internal gear is non-rotatably connected to the second output gear wheel.

19 . The drive device according to claim 18 , wherein:

the internal gear and the second output gear wheel are structured integrally, and

the second output gear wheel is case-hardened and the internal gear is injection-moulded to the case-hardened second output gear wheel.

20 . The drive device according to claim 17 , wherein:

the second output gear wheel comprises a shoulder directed radially to an inside, and

the second output gear wheel bearing is received in the second output gear wheel and axially butts up against the shoulder.