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A hub comprises a cylindrical, hollow hub member (2), which is mounted to rotate about its axis and in whose interior is a transmission system having an input (10), which is mounted to rotate about the axis, and an output connected to rotate with the hub member. The transmission system comprises fir

A hub comprises a cylindrical, hollow hub member (2), which is mounted to rotate about its axis and in whose interior is a transmission system having an input (10), which is mounted to rotate about the axis, and an output connected to rotate with the hub member. The transmission system comprises first and second epicyclic gearsets (14, 16). The first gearset (14) comprises a first sun gear (18), which is mounted to rotate about the axis and is in mesh with a plurality of first planet gears (20) mounted to rotate about respective planet shafts (22) carried by a first common carrier (24), which is mounted to rotate about the first axis. The second gearset (16) comprises a second sun gear (28), which is mounted to rotate about the axis and is in mesh with a plurality of second planet gears (30) mounted to rotate about respective planet shafts (32) carried by a second common carrier (34). The first and second sun gears (18, 28) are connected to the rotors (38, 40) of first and second electric motor/generators, respectively. The power connections of the two stators (42, 46) are connected via a controller (50) arranged to control the transmission of power from one motor/generator to the other.

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1. A hub comprising a substantially cylindrical, hollow hub member, which is mounted to rotate about its axis and accommodated in whose interior is a transmission system having an input, which is mounted to rotate about the axis, and an output connected to rotate with the hub member, the transmissio

1. A hub comprising a substantially cylindrical, hollow hub member, which is mounted to rotate about its axis and accommodated in whose interior is a transmission system having an input, which is mounted to rotate about the axis, and an output connected to rotate with the hub member, the transmission system comprising first and second epicyclic gearsets, the first gearset comprising a first sun gear which is mounted to rotate about the axis and is in mesh with a plurality of first planet gears mounted to rotate about respective planet shafts carried by a first common carrier, which is mounted to rotate about the axis, the first planet gears being in mesh with a further gear element, the second gearset comprising a second sun gear, which is mounted to rotate about the axis and is in mesh with a plurality of second planet gears mounted to rotate about respective planets shafts carried by a second common carrier, the second planet gears being in mesh with a second annulus gear, the first planet gears or the first common carrier being connected to rotate in synchronism with the second planet gears or the second common carrier, the first and second sun gears being connected to the rotors of first and second reversible machines, respectively, arranged to produce power or to act as motors, the power connections of the two stators being connected via a controller arranged to control the transmission of power from one machine to the other. 2. A hub as claimed in claim 1 including a stationary axle and the input comprises a hollow shaft extending around the axle. 3. A hub as claimed in claim 2, in which the input is connected to rotate with the first common carrier. 4. A hub as claimed in claim 1 including a stationary axle comprising a hollow shaft extending around the input, the axle being connected at one end only to a support member by which the hub may be supported. 5. A hub as claimed in claim 4, in which the input is connected to rotate with the first common carrier. 6. A hub as claimed in claim 1, in which the input is connected to rotate with the first common carrier. 7. A hub as claimed in claim 6, in which the further gear element is a first annulus gear connected to rotate with the hub member. 8. A hub as claimed in claim 7, in which the second common carrier is connected to rotate with the hub member. 9. A hub as claimed in claim 7, in which the second annulus gear is connected to rotate with the hub member. 10. A hub as claimed in claim 6, in which the first and second common carriers are connected to rotate together. 11. A hub as claimed in claim 6, in which the second annulus gear is stationary. 12. A hub as claimed in claim 1, in which the further gear element is a third sun gear, which is mounted to rotate about the axis and is connected to rotate with the input. 13. A hub as claimed in claim 12, in which the second annulus gear is connected to rotate with the hub member. 14. A hub as claimed in claim 1, in which the gears of at least one of the pluralities of the planet gears are stepped gears consisting of two connected portions of different diameter, both of which carry teeth and one which is in mesh with the associated sun gear and the other of which is in mesh with the associated annulus gear or third sun gear. 15. A hub as claimed in claim 1, in which the reversible machines are electric motor/generators. 16. A hub as claimed in claim 15, in which the stators of the two motor/generators are integrated to form a single stator unit. 17. A hub as claimed in claim 1 which is a hub for a vehicle wheel. 18. A hub as claimed in claim 17, in which the controller is also connected to a battery and is arranged to control the flow of electric power between the two motor/generators and the battery.