Patent ID: 7967718

Claim:
A bicycle hub transmission comprising: a hub axle; a driver rotatably supported relative to the hub axle; a hub shell rotatably supported relative to the driver, a power transmission mechanism including a first planetary gear mechanism, a second planetary gear mechanism, a third planetary gear mechanism and a fourth planetary gear mechanism, the first, second, third and fourth planetary gear mechanisms being operatively disposed between the driver and the hub shell to selectively transmit rotational power from the driver to the hub shell through one a plurality of power transmission paths, the first planetary gear mechanism being downstream from the driver and the second, third and fourth planetary gear mechanisms; and a shift mechanism operatively coupled to the power transmission mechanism to select one of the power transmission paths, the first planetary gear mechanism including at least a first planetary gear carrier and a plurality of first planetary gears rotatably supported on a plurality of first gear shafts, the second planetary gear mechanism including a plurality of second planetary gears rotatably supported by a plurality of second gear shafts, with the first planetary gears having a non-contacting relationship with the second planetary gears, the third planetary gear mechanism having third planetary gears that mesh with the first planetary gear carrier, the second planetary gears being located between the first planetary gears and the third planetary gears, and adjacent to each of the first and third planetary gears, and the fourth planetary gear mechanism including a plurality of fourth planetary gears rotatably supported by a plurality of third gear shafts, the third planetary gears being located between the second planetary gears and the fourth planetary gears and adjacent to each of the second and fourth planetary gears, the third planetary gears having a non-contacting relationship with the fourth planetary gears.