1. A bicycle comprising:
a main frame;
a front wheel mounted for rotation relative to the main frame;
a rear dropout;
a rear wheel mounted for rotation relative to the rear dropout about an axis, the rear wheel defining a center plane of the bicycle, wherein the rear wheel is driven by a chain; and
a seat stay coupling the rear dropout to the main frame, the seat stay having an inner surface facing the rear wheel and an outer surface facing away from the rear wheel, the seat stay including a steep portion having an outer surface disposed at a steep angle of between about 25 degrees and about 75 degrees relative to the center plane, and
wherein at least a portion of the steep portion is disposed outboard of the chain.
2. The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the steep angle is between about 35 degrees and about 65 degrees relative to the center plane.
3. The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the steep angle is about 50 degrees relative to the center plane.
4. The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the steep portion includes a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end is closer to the dropout then the front end, and wherein the seat stay further includes a front portion coupled to the front end of the steep portion, the front portion having an outer surface at a front angle of between about 0 degrees and about 50 degrees relative to the center plane.
5. The bicycle of claim 4, wherein the front angle is between about 5 degrees and about 25 degrees relative to the center plane.
6. The bicycle of claim 4, wherein the front angle is about 10 degrees relative to the center plane.
7. The bicycle of claim 4, wherein a length of the steep portion is between about 5 percent and about 30 percent of a length of the front portion.
8. The bicycle of claim 1, wherein a length of the steep portion is between about 5 percent and about 30 percent of a length of the front portion.
9. The bicycle of claim 1, wherein a length of the steep portion is about 15 percent of a length of the front portion.
10. The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the rear wheel has an outer circumference, and wherein the steep portion is located on the rear stay closer to the axis than to the outer circumference.
11. A bicycle comprising:
a main frame;
a front wheel mounted for rotation relative to the main frame;
a rear dropout;
a rear wheel mounted for rotation relative to the rear dropout about an axis, the rear wheel defining a center plane of the bicycle and having an outer circumference, and wherein the rear wheel has an outer circumference;
a seat stay coupling the rear dropout to the main frame, the seat stay having an inner surface facing the rear wheel and an outer surface facing away from the rear wheel, the seat stay including a first steep portion disposed at a steep angle of between about 25 degrees and about 75 degrees relative to the center plane; and
a chain stay coupling the rear dropout to the main frame, the chain stay having an inner surface facing the rear wheel and an outer surface facing away from the rear wheel, the chain stay including a second steep portion disposed at a steep angle of between about 25 degrees and about 75 degrees relative to the center plane.
12. The bicycle of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first steep portion and the second steep portion is located on the corresponding stay closer to the axis than to the outer circumference.
13. The bicycle of claim 11, wherein the steep angle for each of the first and second steep portions is between about 35 degrees and about 65 degrees relative to the center plane.
14. The bicycle of claim 11, wherein the steep angle for each of the first and second steep portions is about 50 degrees relative to the center plane.
15. The bicycle of claim 11, wherein the first steep portion includes a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end is closer to the dropout then the front end, and wherein the seat stay further includes a front portion coupled to the front end of the steep portion, the front portion having an outer surface disposed at a front angle of between about 0 degrees and about 50 degrees relative to the center plane.
16. The bicycle of claim 15, wherein the front angle is between about 5 degrees and about 25 degrees relative to the center plane.
17. The bicycle of claim 15, wherein the front angle is about 10 degrees relative to the center plane.
18. The bicycle of claim 15, wherein a length of the first steep portion is between about 5 percent and about 30 percent of a length of the front portion.
19. The bicycle of claim 11, wherein the second steep portion includes a front end and a rear end, wherein the rear end is closer to the dropout then the front end, and wherein the chain stay further includes a front portion coupled to the front end of the steep portion, the front portion having an outer surface disposed at a front angle of between about 0 degrees and about 50 degrees relative to the center plane.
20. The bicycle of claim 19, wherein the front angle is between about 5 degrees and about 25 degrees relative to the center plane.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claims which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A system for blending fluids, comprising:
a fluid motor housing having a fluid motor rotatable element positioned within a fluid motor open chamber on an interior of the fluid motor housing, a fluid motor inlet channel and a fluid motor outlet channel in fluid communication with the fluid motor open chamber, and a drive axle connected to the fluid motor rotatable element and extending through the fluid motor housing;
a first fluid pump housing having a first fluid pump rotatable element positioned within a first fluid pump open chamber on an interior of the first fluid pump housing and isolated from fluid flow with the fluid motor open chamber, and a first fluid pump inlet channel and a first fluid pump outlet channel in fluid communication with the first fluid pump open chamber; and
an intermediate drive assembly between and engaging said drive axle and said first fluid pump rotatable element such that torque generated by the fluid motor rotatable element is transferred to the first fluid pump rotatable element through said drive axle and said intermediate drive assembly.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first fluid pump housing is pivotally attached to said fluid motor housing.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein said first fluid pump housing is removable from said fluid motor housing.
4. The system of claim 2, further comprising a pivot screw extending through said first fluid pump housing and into said fluid motor housing, said pivot screw maintaining a pivoting connection between said fluid motor housing and said first fluid pump housing when loosened, and said pivot screw further maintaining a fixed connection between said fluid motor housing and said first fluid pump housing when tightened.
5. The system of claim 1, said intermediate drive assembly further comprising a drive train having a first gear fixed to said drive axle and a second gear fixed to said first fluid pump rotatable element, wherein said first gear and said second gear drivingly engage one another.
6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second fluid pump housing having a second fluid pump rotatable element positioned within a second fluid pump open chamber on an interior of the second fluid pump housing, and a second fluid pump inlet channel and a second fluid pump outlet channel in fluid communication with the second fluid pump open chamber, said second fluid pump housing being configured for removable and pivoting attachment to said fluid motor body to replace said first fluid pump housing, wherein replacing said first fluid pump housing with said second fluid pump housing results in change in proportional flow of fluids through said system.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein said second fluid pump rotatable element is configured to provide a different volumetric flow through said second fluid pump housing for a single revolution of said second fluid pump rotatable element from a volumetric flow through said first fluid pump housing for a single revolution of said first fluid pump rotatable element.
8. A blending pump comprising:
a fluid motor housing having a plurality of fluid motor gears positioned within a fluid motor open chamber on an interior of the fluid motor housing, a fluid motor inlet channel and a fluid motor outlet channel in fluid communication with the fluid motor open chamber, and a drive axle connected to one of said fluid motor gears and extending through the fluid motor housing;
a first fluid pump housing having a first plurality of fluid pump gears positioned within a first fluid pump open chamber on an interior of the first fluid pump housing and isolated from fluid flow with the fluid motor open chamber and a first fluid pump inlet channel and a first fluid pump outlet channel in fluid communication with the first fluid pump open chamber; and
an intermediate drive assembly between and engaging said drive axle and one of said first fluid pump gears such that torque generated by the fluid motor gears is transferred to the fluid pump gears through said drive axle and said intermediate drive assembly.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein said first fluid pump housing is pivotally attached to said fluid motor housing.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein said first fluid pump housing is removable from said fluid motor housing.
11. The system of claim 9, further comprising a pivot screw extending through said first fluid pump housing and into said fluid motor housing, said pivot screw maintaining a pivoting connection between said fluid motor housing and said first fluid pump housing when loosened, and said pivot screw further maintaining a fixed connection between said fluid motor housing and said first fluid pump housing when tightened.
12. The system of claim 8, said intermediate drive assembly further comprising a drive train having a first gear fixed to said drive axle and a second gear fixed to one of said first fluid pump gears, wherein said first gear and said second gear of said drive train drivingly engage one another.
13. The system of claim 8, further comprising a second fluid pump housing having a second plurality of fluid pump gears positioned within a second fluid pump open chamber on an interior of the second fluid pump housing, and a second fluid pump inlet channel and a second fluid pump outlet channel in fluid communication with the second fluid pump open chamber, said second fluid pump housing being configured for removable and pivoting attachment to said fluid motor body to replace said first fluid pump housing, wherein replacing said first fluid pump housing with said second fluid pump housing results in change in proportional flow of fluids through said system.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein said second plurality of fluid pump gears is configured to provide a different volumetric flow through said second fluid pump housing for a single revolution of said second pair of fluid pump gears from a volumetric flow through said first fluid pump housing for a single revolution of said first plurality of fluid pump gears.