IP Library Granted Patent US 12,687,206
Granted Patent B2
US 12,687,206 · App. 18/844,949 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Drive device for a drive unit of an electric bike, drive unit and electric bike

Inventors: Heiko Roehm (Stuttgart, DE); Julian Binder (Wannweil, DE); Dietmar Saur (Moessingen, DE); Christoph Zimmermann (Nehren, DE); Lukas Mueller (Stuttgart, DE); Wolfgang Hau (Metzingen, DE); Sigmund Braun (Kusterdingen, DE); Joachim Klima (Kusterdingen, DE); Stefan Holst (Reutlingen, DE); Alexander Nau (Eningen Unter Achalm, DE)
Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
F16D41/26B62M6/55F16D41/28
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,687,206
App. No.
18/844,949
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drive device for a drive unit of an electric bicycle has a bidirectional freewheeling assembly. The freewheeling assembly includes at least one clamping element unit.

Claims (52)

1 . A drive device for a drive unit of an electric bicycle, comprising:

a bidirectional freewheeling assembly including at least one clamping element unit,

wherein the at least one clamping element unit includes (i) a mechanical control unit having a friction unit, and (ii) a clamping element holding member,

wherein the friction unit is configured to generate an actuating force, and

wherein the friction unit includes (i) at least one spring unit, and (ii) at least two friction elements configured to generate the actuating force.

2 . The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one clamping element unit is configured to decouple vibrations of a wrapping mechanism.

3 . The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one clamping element unit comprises at least one rolling member.

4 . The drive device according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a force transmission element configured to transmit a driving force of the drive unit,

wherein a value of a maximum diameter of the at least one rolling member is between 6% and 20% of a value of a maximum internal diameter of the force transmission element.

5 . The drive device according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a shaft,

wherein a value of a maximum diameter of the at least one rolling member is between 8% and 25% of a value of a maximum diameter of the shaft.

6 . The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring unit has at least one spring element with at least one assembly ramp.

7 . The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring unit has at least one spring element configured separately from the clamping element holding member.

8 . The drive device according to claim 1 , the at least one spring unit has at least one spring element overmoulded by the clamping element holding member.

9 . The drive device according to claim 1 , the at least one spring unit has at least one spring element configured so as to be integral to the clamping element holding member.

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

the friction unit has a friction face extending in an axial direction, and the friction face, when viewed in the axial direction, is disposed on a side that faces the clamping element holding member.

11 . The drive device according to claim 10 , wherein the friction face, when viewed in a radial direction, is aligned towards an inside.

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

the friction unit has a friction face extending in an axial direction, and

the friction face, when viewed in the axial direction, is disposed on a side that faces away from the clamping element holding member.

13 . The drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two friction elements are disposed uniformly in a circumferential direction of the clamping element holding member.

14 . The drive device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a force transmission element configured to generate a driving force of the drive unit, the force transmission element configured as a spur gear.

15 . The drive device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a force transmission element configured to transmit a driving force of the drive unit,

wherein the at least one clamping element unit and the force transmission element have a common section plane which runs so as to be at least substantially perpendicular to a rotation axis of the bidirectional freewheeling assembly.

16 . A drive unit for an electric bicycle, comprising:

the drive device of claim 1 .

17 . An electric bicycle, comprising:

the drive unit of claim 16 .

18 . A drive device for a drive unit of an electric bicycle, comprising:

a bidirectional freewheeling assembly including at least one clamping element unit,

wherein the at least one clamping element unit includes a mechanical control unit having a friction unit,

wherein the friction unit has at least one spring unit,

wherein the friction unit is configured to generate an actuating force,

wherein the at least one clamping element unit comprises a clamping element holding member, and

wherein the at least one spring unit has at least one spring element fastened to a member that is separate from the clamping element holding member.

19 . A drive device for a drive unit of an electric bicycle, comprising:

a bidirectional freewheeling assembly including at least one clamping element unit,

wherein the at least one clamping element unit includes a mechanical control unit having a friction unit,

wherein the friction unit has at least one spring unit,

wherein the friction unit is configured to generate an actuating force,

wherein the at least one clamping element unit comprises a clamping element holding member, and

wherein the at least one spring unit has at least one spring element which is fastened to the clamping element holding member.

20 . A drive device for a drive unit of an electric bicycle, comprising:

a bidirectional freewheeling assembly including at least one clamping element unit; and

a force transmission element configured to transmit a driving force of the drive unit, the force transmission element including at least one lead through slot,

wherein the at least one clamping element unit comprises (i) a clamping element holding member defining a circular periphery and a plurality of spaces configured to receive a plurality of rolling members, and (ii) at least one spring support structure extending radially outward from the clamping element holding member, and

wherein the at least one spring support structure is (i) fixedly positioned relative to the clamping element holding member, and (ii) is positioned in the at least one lead through slot.