Continuously variable transmission for bicycles

摘要

The invention provides a continuously variable transmission (T) for bicycles which provides better bicycle maneuverability, suffers almost no danger of contacting the ground, and can be reduced in cost. In the invention, a continuously variable transmission (T) for bicycles has a transmission mechanism having a plurality of link units (U1-U4) for converting rotary motion of an input shaft rotated by a pedal-operated crankshaft (12) into swinging motion, and a one-way clutch (36) for converting the swinging motion into rotary motion of an output shaft (16). The link units have drive links pivotally mounted on an eccentric ring which rotates in unison with the input shaft. The continuously variable transmission (T) is disposed between a front wheel (WF) and a rear wheel (WR) of a bicycle (B) in the longitudinal direction thereof and disposed either upwardly of a hypothetical plane (H2) which contains the axes of rotation of the front wheel (WF) and the rear wheel (WR) or upwardly of a position below and near the hypothetical plane (H2).