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The combination of a hydraulic torque converter and planetary gear system in a wheel hub characterized in that the selective speed control of an individual wheel is achieved through the hydraulic torque converter, thereby obviating the need of gear shifting as in the anterior combinations. This hydr

The combination of a hydraulic torque converter and planetary gear system in a wheel hub characterized in that the selective speed control of an individual wheel is achieved through the hydraulic torque converter, thereby obviating the need of gear shifting as in the anterior combinations. This hydraulic torque converting wheel includes a spindle, a tight casing rotating on the spindle and sealed relative to the latter, a rim surrounding the casing and forming a wheel hub therewith, a planetary gear system including an input gear, a planet carrier, planet gears and a first and a second output gears, torque converting blades and fins mounted inside the rotatable casing, the input gear drives the planet carrier and the planet gears which drive the blades through the first output gear and the casing through the second output gear; the blades drive the casing by torque converting cooperation with the fins, and a selective speed control is connected to the blades to rotate the latter relative to the fins and thus change the torque converting relationship therewith.

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A hydraulic torque converting wheel comprising a liquid-tight casing operatively containing a hydraulic torque converter liquid, a planetary gear system including a rotary input drive, a planet carrier, planet gears rotatably carried by the latter, a sUn gear and a ring gear directly meshing with ea

A hydraulic torque converting wheel comprising a liquid-tight casing operatively containing a hydraulic torque converter liquid, a planetary gear system including a rotary input drive, a planet carrier, planet gears rotatably carried by the latter, a sUn gear and a ring gear directly meshing with each of the planet gears independently of each other, said ring gear being secured to said casing, the rotary input drive being secured to the planet carrier for bodily rotation thereof, said planet gears having a greater diameter than that of said sun gear, fins rigidly secured to and inside the liquid-tight casing for bodily rotation with the latter, blades rotatably mounted inside said casing and radially projecting toward operative edgewise registry with the fins, a carrier for said blades rigidly secured to said sun gear for bodily rotation therewith and having said blades angularly adjustable thereon relative to said fins to vary the torque converting relationship with the latter, and a manually-operated remote control system connected to said blades and constructed and arranged to selectively angularly adjust the latter to any desired torque converting relationship of the blades relative to the fins, and to positively maintain said blades in angularly adjusted position despite the action of centrifugal force and/or fluid pressure exerted on said blades, said casing including a peripheral rim and cooperatively forming with the latter a hollow hub, a spindle rotatably carrying said hollow hub, and said liquid-tight casing having axially opposite annular sides centrifugally sealed around the spindle, and wherein said fins include each a main portion extending axially of said spindle and radially relative to the axis of rotation of said casing, shafts are carried by the blade carrier, and said blades are mounted on said shafts respectively and angularly adjustable around the axes defined by the latter for selective angular adjustment relative to said main portion of the fins. A transmission for a bicycle and the like having a power-actuated wheel, comprising a liquid-tight casing forming a hub for said wheel and operatively containing a hydraulic torque converter liquid, a planetary gear system including a rotary input drive, a planet carrier, planet gears rotatably carried by the latter, a sun gear and a ring gear directly meshing with each of the planet gears independently of each other, said ring gear being secured to said casing, the rotary input drive being secured to the planet carrier for bodily rotation thereof, said planet gears having a greater diameter than that of said sun gear, fins rigidly secured to and inside the liquid-tight casing for bodily rotation with the latter, blades rotatable mounted inside said casing and radially projecting toward operative edgewise registry with the fins, a carrier for said blades rigidly secured to said sun gear for bodily rotation therewith and having said blades angularly adjustable thereon relative to said fins to vary the torque converting relationship with the latter, and a manually-operated remote control system connected to said blades and constructed and arranged to selectively adjust the latter to any desired torque converting relationship of the blades relative to the fins and to positively maintain said blades in angularly adjusted position despite the action of centrifugal force and/or fluid pressure exerted on said blades.