Freewheel hub

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a bicycle hub that provides improved drive line efficiency and bike-to-rider torque feedback. The drive line efficiencies are due to lower rolling resistance resulting from a novel bearing and sprag clutch configuration, a lightweight design, and immediate torque transfer from the cassette drive to the hub body. The bike-to-rider feedback has been improved as the torque transfer is smooth, predictable, and immediate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bicycle hub comprising:
 a hub body including an annular internal cavity that extends from a first hub end portion terminating in a first end of the hub body to a second hub end portion terminating in a second end of the hub body, the second end having a larger diameter than the first end, the second end including a radially extending flange;   a driver including a first end portion terminating in a first end and a second end portion terminating in a second end, the first end portion being received within the second hub end portion of the hub body and stopping short of the first end of the hub body, the first end portion including a stepped outer profile, the first end portion including:
 a first bearing interfacing cylindrical surface located adjacent a distal end of the first end of the driver having a first diameter; 
 a first sprag interfacing cylindrical surface that is coaxially arranged with the annular internal cavity of the hub body located adjacent the first bearing interfacing cylindrical surface and including a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter; and 
 a second bearing interfacing cylindrical surface located adjacent the first sprag interfacing cylindrical surface; 
   a support assembly configured to enable relative rotation between the hub body and the driver;   a cylindrical sprag sleeve positioned within that is press fitted into the annular internal cavity of the hub body, the sprag sleeve defining a second sprag interfacing cylindrical surface; and   a plurality of sprags located between the first sprag interfacing cylindrical surface and the second sprag interfacing cylindrical surface.