CA2084665A1 - Automatic derailleur shifter - Google Patents
Automatic derailleur shifterInfo
- Publication number
- CA2084665A1 CA2084665A1 CA 2084665 CA2084665A CA2084665A1 CA 2084665 A1 CA2084665 A1 CA 2084665A1 CA 2084665 CA2084665 CA 2084665 CA 2084665 A CA2084665 A CA 2084665A CA 2084665 A1 CA2084665 A1 CA 2084665A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- hub
- invention according
- movement
- sleeve
- chain
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 29
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 8
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 235000019987 cider Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 210000002445 nipple Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 101150065105 Cidec gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 101150086029 SUB5 gene Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- CEJLBZWIKQJOAT-UHFFFAOYSA-N dichloroisocyanuric acid Chemical compound ClN1C(=O)NC(=O)N(Cl)C1=O CEJLBZWIKQJOAT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000007373 indentation Methods 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Transmissions By Endless Flexible Members (AREA)
Abstract
An automatic derailleur shifter system for example for a bicycle includes a hub (11) to which is attached a chain wheel (16) set and a derailleur system for moving the chain associated therewith from chain wheel to chain wheel for a gear changing system.
Within the hub associated with the chain wheels is provided an automatic changing system including a member coupled to the chain wheel set which carries a helical screw (47) cooperating with the screw so that rotation of the screw relative to the sleeve (34) causes the sleeve to move axially. Axial movement of the sleeve is inhibited by a spring (78) and rotational movement of the sleeve is prevented by engagement with the hub. Thus variations in the torque applied from the chain set to the hub through the screw in the sleeve cause axial movement of the sleeve which actuates change of the gears by moving to the derailleur set. The spring can be internal to the hub or can be provided outside of the hub. In addition movement of the sleeve can cause rotational movement of a second screw member (60, 70) at an opposed end of the hub which can be used to change a front chain wheel set at the pedals.
Within the hub associated with the chain wheels is provided an automatic changing system including a member coupled to the chain wheel set which carries a helical screw (47) cooperating with the screw so that rotation of the screw relative to the sleeve (34) causes the sleeve to move axially. Axial movement of the sleeve is inhibited by a spring (78) and rotational movement of the sleeve is prevented by engagement with the hub. Thus variations in the torque applied from the chain set to the hub through the screw in the sleeve cause axial movement of the sleeve which actuates change of the gears by moving to the derailleur set. The spring can be internal to the hub or can be provided outside of the hub. In addition movement of the sleeve can cause rotational movement of a second screw member (60, 70) at an opposed end of the hub which can be used to change a front chain wheel set at the pedals.
Description
WO 91/1g638 PCr/CA91/00196 208~
AUTOMATIC DE~:RAILLEUR SHIFTER
This invention relates to an automatic derailleur shifter system for a vehicle which is a bicycle which includes a pedal powered chain wheel which drives through a chain one of a set of driven sprockets attached to a drive wheel of the vehicle.
Most bicycle gear systems now use a derailleur system which includes an idler gear mounted upon a spring system which tensions the chain and acts to move the chain to a selected one of a set of driven spcockets. The derailleur system has become over the years very finely tuned and now generally includes also a locator arcangement which ensures that the changing mechanism is properly positioned at one of the driven sprockets of the set in preference to intermediate positions. In addition the gear chain system often includes two or even three chain wheels at the drive end which are attached to the pedal arrangement together with a changer system which moves the chain across between the drive sprockets. Some systems have now reached the complexity of having twenty one pos ible change c~mbinations provided by three drive sprockets at the forward end and seven driven sprockts at the rear hub. The systems are changed by a simple lever arrangement which pulls upon a cable to move the front SUBS~I~UTE S~ ET
.
~ .
.
.
~ ~ - 2 -chain system or the derailleur system at the option of the rider. The cidec is therefoce faced with a wide variety of possibilities and only the most experienced and enthusiastic of ciders can control the geac system sufficiently to màintain the pedal pressure or torque within the celatively narrow cange which is preferred.
Attempts have been made ovec many yea~s to - - provide an automatic change system which detects the amount of torque or presqure applied to the pedals and then changes the gear catio automatically to attempt to maintain the tocque wit~in relatively narrow band.
Various arrangements are shown in U.S. Patents 3,929,025 (Prry); 4,599,079 (Chappell); 3,831,978 (Dunder);
4,781,663 tReswick); 4,061,046 tLang); 4,343,613 tLeiter) and 3,769,848 (McGuire).
Most of these arcangements provide highly complex detection systems including additional elements mounted on the bicycle for detecting the tension in the chain or additional elements for detecting the pressure at the pedals.
The McGuire paten~ provides a relatively simple device in which the sprocket set is caused to move axially of the rear axle by a screw thcead coupling on an innec surface of the sprocket set and outer surface of the axle~ On the face of SUBSTITUTE SHEET
, ~ . . . ~ .
.
~ ~ . . . - . .
;. . . - : :
, 2 ~ ~. .r., ~
it this arcangement is relatively simple but it cequires a signiicant modification of the structure of the bicycle so that the sproc~et set is ac~anged on the outside of the forks rather than on the inside as is the conventional arcangement.
The device cannot these~oce be ~imply attached to an existing bicycle and major modifications to the bicycle or a special bicycle are necessary.
- In any event none of the devices proposed has had any significant impact on the marketplace and basically no automatic shifting acrangement is curcently available.
Figure l is a side elevational view of a portion of a bicycle showing the dcive system.
Figure 2 is a cros~-sectional view through the hub of the reac wheel of the bicycle of Figure l.
Figure 3 ia a cross-sectional view along the lines 3-3 of Figuce 2.
Figure 4 is an exploded view of the parts of the hub of Figuce 2.
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the opposed side of the bicycle showing only the area adjacent the reac hub and on an enlarged scale.
The bicycle of Figure l comprises a reac wheel lO
including a hub generally indicated at ll. The hub is mounted SUBST~TlJ~lE S3HEET
W091/19638 PCT/CAgl/00196 ~ - 4 -in r~ar forks 12 including an upwacdly inclined portion 13 and a downwardly inclined portion 14 of a conventional frame arrangement. The hub is clamped in a C-shaped bcacket lS at the apex between the por~ions 13 and 14.
A ~cont chain wheel foc driving the reac wheel is indicated at 16 and is connected to a conventional pedal system indicated at 17. The chain wheel system includes a plurality of sprockets 18 and 19 which ace acranged coaxially around the axis of the pedals 17 and axially spaced in conventional mannec. A chain 20 cooperates with the chain wheel system and is movable by a conventional gear changing system indicated at 21 which can transec the chain from the largest chain wheel as shown to one o~ more of the smaller chain wheels (only pastly visible).
The hub carries a sproc~et set 22 again of conventional con~truction with the sprockets of the set acranged coaxia~ly and axially spaced 90 that the chain can move from one to the next undec actuation by a decailleur system schematically indicated at 23.
The p~rts illustrated in Figure 1 ace generally of conventional nature and are modified by the device as desccibed heceinaftec particularly in celation to Figuce 2.
The hub genecally indicated at 11 includes an SUB5~ITU ~ ~ SHEET
.
: :
.
WO91/196~ PCT/CA91/00196 21~ 6~i outec hub poetion 24 in the form of a sleeve having a hollow interior 25. On an outer surface of the hub is provided a pair of axially spaced annular flanges 26 and 27 which include holes 28 as best shown in Figure 3 foc connection to spokes which suppoct the outec cim of the wheel 10.
The inner surace defining the hollow intecior includes a lacgec portion 29 adjacent the left hand end of ~he outer hub portion and a larger countecboard poction 30 towacd ~
the right hand end of the hub portion. A single boce 31 extends axially of the hub portion at a position outside the smaller poction 30. The smallec portion 30 includes a paic of keyways 32 and 33 extending axially of the hub poction at 180 spacing as best shown in Figure 3.
Inside the smaller portion 30 is mounted a sleeve membec 34 having lengths substantially equal to the length of the smallec portion 30. The sleeve 34 has on its outer surface a pair of ribs extending axially and arranged foc cooperation with the keyways 32 and 33, the ribs being indicated at 35.
This allows the sleeve to ~ove axially relative to the hub poction but it is constrained to rotate with the hub portion by the cooperation with the ribs and the keyways. An inner surface of the sleeve 34 includes a female screw thcead 36 defined by celatively wide bands of rectangular shape.
S~BS~ T~ SI~EET
~? ~ 6 -Inside the sleeve is mounted an axially extending sxtension poetion 37 of the sprocket set suppoct member 38.
The sprocket set suppoct member includes an annular support surface 39 on which the sprocket set (not shown) is mounted together with a free wheel arrangement which allows the sprocket set to drive forward motion of the support ~ember bu~
to freewheel in the reverse direction. ~ocwardly of the suppoet surface 39 is a flange member 40 -which carries on a inwardly facing surace 41 theeeof, a bearing support portion 42 for receiving balls 43 of a bearing element cooperating between an outer surface of the hub portion as indicated at 44 and the inner sucface of the support member 38. The bearings 43 thus allow limited rotation be~ween the support member 38 and the hub portion 24. This movement is to some extent controlled by a ball 45 biased forwardly of the boce 31 by a spring 46 which cooperates with a plurality of indentations on '!
the inner surface of the flange 40. Thu-~ the support member is constrained to rotate through a limited amount relative to the hub portion through disccete steps defined by the location of the ball 45 within the recesses.
The axially extended portion 37 includes an outer male screw thread 47 shaped to cooperate with the f~male screw thread on the sleeve 34. The screw thrsad has a relatively SIJ~S ~ ~TU~ SHEET
2~g~ 6~
large helix angle so that rotation of the support member 38 relative to the hub portion through an angle less than 180 causes movement of the sleeve 34 in an axial direction to its fullest extent.
Inside the support member 34 is provided the axle 48 including a hollow continuous boce 49 along the length thereof. The outer surface of the axle 48 includes a screw threaded sec~ion 50 at each end for cooperation with a nut 51.
Inside the screw threaded portion 50 is a first cylindcical poction 52 followed by a second cylindrical poction 53 and followed by a square portion 54. A slot 55 is found in the squace portion and extends through the square portion to cooperate with the channel 49.
A cone member 56 ~ucrounds the poction 52 of the axle and defines a bearing receiving sec~ion 57 which pre~ses kearing assembly 58 against a surface 59 of the support member 38. Thus the main bearings defined by the bearing 58 allow the support member to rotate freely relative to the cone and thus celative to the axle to which the cone is clamped by the lock nut 51. In conventional mannec the bracket portion of the focks of the frame of the bicycle is clamped between the loc~ -nut 51 and an outec wheel nut (no~ shown).
In ide the lacger portion of the hollow intecior :`
SUBSTi~ Si~ E ET
WO 91/19638 PCr/CA91/00196 .
. ~. .~j,,.i of the hub portion is provided a sleeve member 60 which is free ~o rotate relative to the hub portion on bearing 61 defined between su~faces 62 and 63 of the sleeve member and the hub portion reapec~ively. The bearing 61 again defines the main bearing foc cotation of the hub celative to the axle. The sleeve member 60 is free to cotate celative to the axle on subsidiary bearings 64 defined between an end surface of the sleeve member indicated at 65 and a~ cone membec 66 clamped to the axle by a nut 67 applied on the threaded portion 50. The sleeve member 60 has a female screw thcead 68 on the internal sucface thereof which cooperates with a male screw thcead on the outer surface 69 of a second membec 70. The second member as best shown in ~igure 4 cooperates with a square portion 54 of the axle so that it can move axially along the axle but is pcevented from cotation of the axle by the square section and also by a transverse pin 72 which passes into the slot 5~ and engages a cable 73 extending along the hollow channel 49 of the axle. The cable 73 is thus moved axially along the channel as the second member 70 is ~orced axially. The cable includes a cable casing 73A inserted into the axle and stabilized by an indent 73B. The cable further includes a cable head 73D
ceceived within an indent 73C in the pin 72. A replacement cable can be threaded axially sf the axle from the left hand SU~ E ~I IEET
WO 91t14638 PCTICA91/00196 2V~f~j g end.
An end face of the qecond member 70 ca~ries a thrust bearing 75 which engages an end face of the sleeve 34.
The sleeve 34 rotates with the hub whereas the second member 70 is held stationacy relative to the axle and thus the th~ust bearing takes up the cotation and communicates focce between the second member 70 and the sleeve 34. Axial movement of the - - -sleeve 34 thus forces the second membec 70 axially. The ... . . . , _ , . _ . . _ . _ . .
cooperation between the outside screw thread 69 and the inside screw thread 68 on the sleeve member 60 cau~es the sleeve member to rotate in a clockwi e direction a-~ best hown in Figure 5. In this figure an annular end flange portion 60A of the sleeve 60 is exposed at the end of the hub opposite to the sprocket set and this acts as a control member for the automatic changing system.
In particular the flange 60A is attached to a nipple 76 carried on the end of a wire 77 attached to a spring 78. The spcing 78 i~ mounted within a sleeve 79 connected onto the upw~rdly inclined ~ork portion 13 by a bracket 80. The tension on the spring can be adjusted by a nut 81 which causes the sleeve 79 to be moYed longitudinally of the wire 77. The spring 78 thus provides a resi~ting force to the cotation of the flange 60A and thus to the axial movement of the second SUE~STITUTE SHEET
, membec 70.
In operation of this portion of the device, the torque applied to the spcocket set by the chain causes a movement of the support member in a drive direction relative to the hub thus forcing the sleeve 34 in an axial direction toward the left as shown in Figure 2. This movement is resisted by the spring 78 so that a balance is obtained in which the amount of torque applied is maintained within limits controlled by the spcing. As the tocque tends to increase, the sleeve 34 moves to the left and this acts to move the wire cable 73 to the left thus pulling the cable 73 to actuate the gear change mechanism of the decailleur 23. Automatically thecefoce the geac chan~e is actuated towacd a lower gear as the torque increases.
The amount of ~orque necassary to change gear can be vacied by adjusting the effect of the spcing 78 in accordance with the weight of the cider.
The front change mechanism 21 of the chain wheel set 16 is actuated by a cable 83 shown in Figure 5. The cable is contcolled by a V-shaped camtrack 84 defined in a plate 85 carried by the annulac flange 60A. The plate is attached to the flange 60A by rivets 86 ~o as to stand outwardly to one side and lying in a plane of the front face of the flange 60A.
The v-shaped camtrack 84 has a bottom end 87, a base of the SUBSTIFU ~ E SHET
-- .
- , . ~ . - . .
2 0 ~ ~ r~ ~ t?
V-shape indicated at 88 at an opposed end 89. The device is constrained by the ratio of the helix angle of the screw threads so that the plate moves through an angle of the order of 90. A- the plate thus moves in a cloc~wise dicection through 45 , a cigid wice connector 9O mounted at the end of the wire 83 and including a right angle arm 90B and head 90A
slides along the cam track 84 to the base position 88 allowing - the spring action (not shown) at the front change mechanism 21 to cause the chain mechanism to allow the chain to move into position on an intermediate one of the three chain wheels at the chain wheel set. The head 90A of the wire connector run-c against a rear face of the cam plate 85. The extended state of the front deeailleur is arranged such that it positions the chain on the largest spcocket for high gsar opecation.
Furthermore as the plate a5 is moved from the 45 position to the 90 position, the nipple 9O moves to the outec end 89 of the V-shaped camtrack which at this time has moved in the clockwise direction so ~hat the cable is furthec released allowing the spring at the change mechanism to cau~e the chain to move the smallest of the chain wheels.
The device is thus set up qo that in ope~ation the change mechanism at the sprocket set causes the change first~y from the first to the third of the drive sprockets SVBSTITUl'E SHEET
' .
WO91/19638 PCT~CA91~00196 'l,.~ C
following which a change occurs at the front chain wheel from the first to the second chain wheel. The device then causes, as the torque further increases, a change from the third to the fifth of the drive sprockets. Subsequently the front change mechanism cauYes a change from the second to the third of the chain wheels. ~inally the device is arranged to cause a change from the ~ifth to the seventh of the drive sprockets.
- - The device there~ore provides an automatic change system which can act both on the rear ~nd the front change systems and i~ mounted substantially wholly at or wi~hin the hub enabling the device to be replaced into a conventional bicycle using the conventional chain system 21 and a conventional derailleur sy~tem 23.
SUBST!~U~E SHEET
:. .
AUTOMATIC DE~:RAILLEUR SHIFTER
This invention relates to an automatic derailleur shifter system for a vehicle which is a bicycle which includes a pedal powered chain wheel which drives through a chain one of a set of driven sprockets attached to a drive wheel of the vehicle.
Most bicycle gear systems now use a derailleur system which includes an idler gear mounted upon a spring system which tensions the chain and acts to move the chain to a selected one of a set of driven spcockets. The derailleur system has become over the years very finely tuned and now generally includes also a locator arcangement which ensures that the changing mechanism is properly positioned at one of the driven sprockets of the set in preference to intermediate positions. In addition the gear chain system often includes two or even three chain wheels at the drive end which are attached to the pedal arrangement together with a changer system which moves the chain across between the drive sprockets. Some systems have now reached the complexity of having twenty one pos ible change c~mbinations provided by three drive sprockets at the forward end and seven driven sprockts at the rear hub. The systems are changed by a simple lever arrangement which pulls upon a cable to move the front SUBS~I~UTE S~ ET
.
~ .
.
.
~ ~ - 2 -chain system or the derailleur system at the option of the rider. The cidec is therefoce faced with a wide variety of possibilities and only the most experienced and enthusiastic of ciders can control the geac system sufficiently to màintain the pedal pressure or torque within the celatively narrow cange which is preferred.
Attempts have been made ovec many yea~s to - - provide an automatic change system which detects the amount of torque or presqure applied to the pedals and then changes the gear catio automatically to attempt to maintain the tocque wit~in relatively narrow band.
Various arrangements are shown in U.S. Patents 3,929,025 (Prry); 4,599,079 (Chappell); 3,831,978 (Dunder);
4,781,663 tReswick); 4,061,046 tLang); 4,343,613 tLeiter) and 3,769,848 (McGuire).
Most of these arcangements provide highly complex detection systems including additional elements mounted on the bicycle for detecting the tension in the chain or additional elements for detecting the pressure at the pedals.
The McGuire paten~ provides a relatively simple device in which the sprocket set is caused to move axially of the rear axle by a screw thcead coupling on an innec surface of the sprocket set and outer surface of the axle~ On the face of SUBSTITUTE SHEET
, ~ . . . ~ .
.
~ ~ . . . - . .
;. . . - : :
, 2 ~ ~. .r., ~
it this arcangement is relatively simple but it cequires a signiicant modification of the structure of the bicycle so that the sproc~et set is ac~anged on the outside of the forks rather than on the inside as is the conventional arcangement.
The device cannot these~oce be ~imply attached to an existing bicycle and major modifications to the bicycle or a special bicycle are necessary.
- In any event none of the devices proposed has had any significant impact on the marketplace and basically no automatic shifting acrangement is curcently available.
Figure l is a side elevational view of a portion of a bicycle showing the dcive system.
Figure 2 is a cros~-sectional view through the hub of the reac wheel of the bicycle of Figure l.
Figure 3 ia a cross-sectional view along the lines 3-3 of Figuce 2.
Figure 4 is an exploded view of the parts of the hub of Figuce 2.
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the opposed side of the bicycle showing only the area adjacent the reac hub and on an enlarged scale.
The bicycle of Figure l comprises a reac wheel lO
including a hub generally indicated at ll. The hub is mounted SUBST~TlJ~lE S3HEET
W091/19638 PCT/CAgl/00196 ~ - 4 -in r~ar forks 12 including an upwacdly inclined portion 13 and a downwardly inclined portion 14 of a conventional frame arrangement. The hub is clamped in a C-shaped bcacket lS at the apex between the por~ions 13 and 14.
A ~cont chain wheel foc driving the reac wheel is indicated at 16 and is connected to a conventional pedal system indicated at 17. The chain wheel system includes a plurality of sprockets 18 and 19 which ace acranged coaxially around the axis of the pedals 17 and axially spaced in conventional mannec. A chain 20 cooperates with the chain wheel system and is movable by a conventional gear changing system indicated at 21 which can transec the chain from the largest chain wheel as shown to one o~ more of the smaller chain wheels (only pastly visible).
The hub carries a sproc~et set 22 again of conventional con~truction with the sprockets of the set acranged coaxia~ly and axially spaced 90 that the chain can move from one to the next undec actuation by a decailleur system schematically indicated at 23.
The p~rts illustrated in Figure 1 ace generally of conventional nature and are modified by the device as desccibed heceinaftec particularly in celation to Figuce 2.
The hub genecally indicated at 11 includes an SUB5~ITU ~ ~ SHEET
.
: :
.
WO91/196~ PCT/CA91/00196 21~ 6~i outec hub poetion 24 in the form of a sleeve having a hollow interior 25. On an outer surface of the hub is provided a pair of axially spaced annular flanges 26 and 27 which include holes 28 as best shown in Figure 3 foc connection to spokes which suppoct the outec cim of the wheel 10.
The inner surace defining the hollow intecior includes a lacgec portion 29 adjacent the left hand end of ~he outer hub portion and a larger countecboard poction 30 towacd ~
the right hand end of the hub portion. A single boce 31 extends axially of the hub portion at a position outside the smaller poction 30. The smallec portion 30 includes a paic of keyways 32 and 33 extending axially of the hub poction at 180 spacing as best shown in Figure 3.
Inside the smaller portion 30 is mounted a sleeve membec 34 having lengths substantially equal to the length of the smallec portion 30. The sleeve 34 has on its outer surface a pair of ribs extending axially and arranged foc cooperation with the keyways 32 and 33, the ribs being indicated at 35.
This allows the sleeve to ~ove axially relative to the hub poction but it is constrained to rotate with the hub portion by the cooperation with the ribs and the keyways. An inner surface of the sleeve 34 includes a female screw thcead 36 defined by celatively wide bands of rectangular shape.
S~BS~ T~ SI~EET
~? ~ 6 -Inside the sleeve is mounted an axially extending sxtension poetion 37 of the sprocket set suppoct member 38.
The sprocket set suppoct member includes an annular support surface 39 on which the sprocket set (not shown) is mounted together with a free wheel arrangement which allows the sprocket set to drive forward motion of the support ~ember bu~
to freewheel in the reverse direction. ~ocwardly of the suppoet surface 39 is a flange member 40 -which carries on a inwardly facing surace 41 theeeof, a bearing support portion 42 for receiving balls 43 of a bearing element cooperating between an outer surface of the hub portion as indicated at 44 and the inner sucface of the support member 38. The bearings 43 thus allow limited rotation be~ween the support member 38 and the hub portion 24. This movement is to some extent controlled by a ball 45 biased forwardly of the boce 31 by a spring 46 which cooperates with a plurality of indentations on '!
the inner surface of the flange 40. Thu-~ the support member is constrained to rotate through a limited amount relative to the hub portion through disccete steps defined by the location of the ball 45 within the recesses.
The axially extended portion 37 includes an outer male screw thread 47 shaped to cooperate with the f~male screw thread on the sleeve 34. The screw thrsad has a relatively SIJ~S ~ ~TU~ SHEET
2~g~ 6~
large helix angle so that rotation of the support member 38 relative to the hub portion through an angle less than 180 causes movement of the sleeve 34 in an axial direction to its fullest extent.
Inside the support member 34 is provided the axle 48 including a hollow continuous boce 49 along the length thereof. The outer surface of the axle 48 includes a screw threaded sec~ion 50 at each end for cooperation with a nut 51.
Inside the screw threaded portion 50 is a first cylindcical poction 52 followed by a second cylindrical poction 53 and followed by a square portion 54. A slot 55 is found in the squace portion and extends through the square portion to cooperate with the channel 49.
A cone member 56 ~ucrounds the poction 52 of the axle and defines a bearing receiving sec~ion 57 which pre~ses kearing assembly 58 against a surface 59 of the support member 38. Thus the main bearings defined by the bearing 58 allow the support member to rotate freely relative to the cone and thus celative to the axle to which the cone is clamped by the lock nut 51. In conventional mannec the bracket portion of the focks of the frame of the bicycle is clamped between the loc~ -nut 51 and an outec wheel nut (no~ shown).
In ide the lacger portion of the hollow intecior :`
SUBSTi~ Si~ E ET
WO 91/19638 PCr/CA91/00196 .
. ~. .~j,,.i of the hub portion is provided a sleeve member 60 which is free ~o rotate relative to the hub portion on bearing 61 defined between su~faces 62 and 63 of the sleeve member and the hub portion reapec~ively. The bearing 61 again defines the main bearing foc cotation of the hub celative to the axle. The sleeve member 60 is free to cotate celative to the axle on subsidiary bearings 64 defined between an end surface of the sleeve member indicated at 65 and a~ cone membec 66 clamped to the axle by a nut 67 applied on the threaded portion 50. The sleeve member 60 has a female screw thcead 68 on the internal sucface thereof which cooperates with a male screw thcead on the outer surface 69 of a second membec 70. The second member as best shown in ~igure 4 cooperates with a square portion 54 of the axle so that it can move axially along the axle but is pcevented from cotation of the axle by the square section and also by a transverse pin 72 which passes into the slot 5~ and engages a cable 73 extending along the hollow channel 49 of the axle. The cable 73 is thus moved axially along the channel as the second member 70 is ~orced axially. The cable includes a cable casing 73A inserted into the axle and stabilized by an indent 73B. The cable further includes a cable head 73D
ceceived within an indent 73C in the pin 72. A replacement cable can be threaded axially sf the axle from the left hand SU~ E ~I IEET
WO 91t14638 PCTICA91/00196 2V~f~j g end.
An end face of the qecond member 70 ca~ries a thrust bearing 75 which engages an end face of the sleeve 34.
The sleeve 34 rotates with the hub whereas the second member 70 is held stationacy relative to the axle and thus the th~ust bearing takes up the cotation and communicates focce between the second member 70 and the sleeve 34. Axial movement of the - - -sleeve 34 thus forces the second membec 70 axially. The ... . . . , _ , . _ . . _ . _ . .
cooperation between the outside screw thread 69 and the inside screw thread 68 on the sleeve member 60 cau~es the sleeve member to rotate in a clockwi e direction a-~ best hown in Figure 5. In this figure an annular end flange portion 60A of the sleeve 60 is exposed at the end of the hub opposite to the sprocket set and this acts as a control member for the automatic changing system.
In particular the flange 60A is attached to a nipple 76 carried on the end of a wire 77 attached to a spring 78. The spcing 78 i~ mounted within a sleeve 79 connected onto the upw~rdly inclined ~ork portion 13 by a bracket 80. The tension on the spring can be adjusted by a nut 81 which causes the sleeve 79 to be moYed longitudinally of the wire 77. The spring 78 thus provides a resi~ting force to the cotation of the flange 60A and thus to the axial movement of the second SUE~STITUTE SHEET
, membec 70.
In operation of this portion of the device, the torque applied to the spcocket set by the chain causes a movement of the support member in a drive direction relative to the hub thus forcing the sleeve 34 in an axial direction toward the left as shown in Figure 2. This movement is resisted by the spring 78 so that a balance is obtained in which the amount of torque applied is maintained within limits controlled by the spcing. As the tocque tends to increase, the sleeve 34 moves to the left and this acts to move the wire cable 73 to the left thus pulling the cable 73 to actuate the gear change mechanism of the decailleur 23. Automatically thecefoce the geac chan~e is actuated towacd a lower gear as the torque increases.
The amount of ~orque necassary to change gear can be vacied by adjusting the effect of the spcing 78 in accordance with the weight of the cider.
The front change mechanism 21 of the chain wheel set 16 is actuated by a cable 83 shown in Figure 5. The cable is contcolled by a V-shaped camtrack 84 defined in a plate 85 carried by the annulac flange 60A. The plate is attached to the flange 60A by rivets 86 ~o as to stand outwardly to one side and lying in a plane of the front face of the flange 60A.
The v-shaped camtrack 84 has a bottom end 87, a base of the SUBSTIFU ~ E SHET
-- .
- , . ~ . - . .
2 0 ~ ~ r~ ~ t?
V-shape indicated at 88 at an opposed end 89. The device is constrained by the ratio of the helix angle of the screw threads so that the plate moves through an angle of the order of 90. A- the plate thus moves in a cloc~wise dicection through 45 , a cigid wice connector 9O mounted at the end of the wire 83 and including a right angle arm 90B and head 90A
slides along the cam track 84 to the base position 88 allowing - the spring action (not shown) at the front change mechanism 21 to cause the chain mechanism to allow the chain to move into position on an intermediate one of the three chain wheels at the chain wheel set. The head 90A of the wire connector run-c against a rear face of the cam plate 85. The extended state of the front deeailleur is arranged such that it positions the chain on the largest spcocket for high gsar opecation.
Furthermore as the plate a5 is moved from the 45 position to the 90 position, the nipple 9O moves to the outec end 89 of the V-shaped camtrack which at this time has moved in the clockwise direction so ~hat the cable is furthec released allowing the spring at the change mechanism to cau~e the chain to move the smallest of the chain wheels.
The device is thus set up qo that in ope~ation the change mechanism at the sprocket set causes the change first~y from the first to the third of the drive sprockets SVBSTITUl'E SHEET
' .
WO91/19638 PCT~CA91~00196 'l,.~ C
following which a change occurs at the front chain wheel from the first to the second chain wheel. The device then causes, as the torque further increases, a change from the third to the fifth of the drive sprockets. Subsequently the front change mechanism cauYes a change from the second to the third of the chain wheels. ~inally the device is arranged to cause a change from the ~ifth to the seventh of the drive sprockets.
- - The device there~ore provides an automatic change system which can act both on the rear ~nd the front change systems and i~ mounted substantially wholly at or wi~hin the hub enabling the device to be replaced into a conventional bicycle using the conventional chain system 21 and a conventional derailleur sy~tem 23.
SUBST!~U~E SHEET
:. .
Claims
CLAIMS:
(1) A pedal powered vehicle comprising a driven wheel having a wheel hub and an axle on which the hub is mounted for rotation about an axis defined by the axle, a sprocket set including a plurality of coaxial axially spaced driven chain sprockets mounted on the hub for communicating drive thereto, drive sprocket means, pedal means for providing rotational movement to the drive sprocket means, a chain for communicating rotational movement of the drive sprocket means to a selected one of the driven chain sprockets for driving the hub, a derailleur device mounted adjacent the chain sprockets for tensioning the chain and for effecting a gear change by movement of the chain axially of the hub so as to cooperate with each of the chain sprockets when selected, an automatic gear shifting means comprising means defining a hollow interior of the hub, sprocket support means supporting the sprocket set arranged for rotation therewith about the axis in a drive direction and for limited rotation relative to the hub in both the drive direction and in a direction opposed to said drive direction, said sprocket set support means including a projecting portion thereof projecting into aid hollow interior, torque communicating means mounted within said hollow interior for communicating torque from the projecting portion of the sprocket support means in a drive direction to the hub, said torque communicating means including spring means arranged to resist said limited rotation of the sprocket support means relative to the hub such that the amount of said movement is proportional to the value of the torque, and gear change means responsive to said movement arranged to move said derailleur device to effect said gear change.
_ (2) The invention according to Claim 1 including a member movable axially in response to said movement, said member being operable to cause movement of said gear change means.
(3) The invention according to Claim 2 wherein the member includes screw thread means thereon cooperating with screw thread means on the projecting portion for causing said axial movement of said member.
(4) The invention according to Claim 3 wherein the member comprises a sleeve surrounding the axially projecting portion of the sprocket set support means, said screw thread means comprising a male screw thread on an exterior surface of the projecting portion and a female screw thread on an interior surface of the sleeve.
(5) The invention according to Claim 4 wherein the sleeve includes on an outer surface thereof means for communicating torque from the axially projecting portion to a surface of the hub defining said hollow interior, said means on the exterior surface allowing said axial movement of the sleeve relative to said hollow interior of the hub.
(6) The invention according to Claim 5 including main rotational bearing means provided between the sprocket set support means and a bearing support member on the axle and supplementary bearing means between said sprocket set support means and said hub.
(7) The invention according to Claim 2 wherein the axle includes a hollow interior with an opening through one side portion thereof and wherein there is provided means for communicating axial movement of said member to a member extending axially of said axle within the hollow interior thereof.
(8) The invention according to Claim 3 wherein said axial movement of said member causes movement of a second member axially movable along the axle but held against rotational movement relative to the axle.
(9) The invention according to Claim 8 including a third member movable angularly around the axle in response to said axial movement of the second member, said spring means being arranged to resist said angular movement of said third member.
(10) The invention according to Claim 9 including second screw set means between said second member and said third member causing angular movement of said third member, the second screw thread means having a different helix angle from the screw thread means so as to vary the ratio of movement between said members.
(11) The invention according to Claim 9 wherein the spring means is adjustable so as to vary the amount of torque necessary to move said first member to a predetermined position.
(12) The invention according to Claim 9 wherein the third member includes a portion projecting outwardly from an end of the hollow interior of the hub, which end is opposite to said sprocket set.
(13) The invention according to Claim 12 wherein the spring means is mounted exteriorally of the hub and is connected to said outwardly projecting portion.
(14) The invention according to Claim 12 wherein the third member comprises a sleeve inside the hollow interior of the hub with an end face of the sleeve exposed at said opposed end of the hollow interior.
(15) The invention according to Claim 14 including main rotation bearings between said sleeve and said hub and subsidiary bearings between said sleeve and a bearing support member on the axle.
(16) The invention according to Claim 1 wherein the drive sprocket means includes a plurality of drive sprockets coaxially mounted and axially spaced and drive sprocket change means for moving the chain from one drive sprocket to each of the other drive sprockets, and means communicating force from said gear change means to said drive sprocket change means arranged so as to move the chain from a first drive sprocket to a next adjacent drive sprocket subsequent to a change from a first chain sprocket to at least one of the further change sprockets.
(17) The invention according to Claim 16 including a member movable axially in response to said movement, said member being operable to cause movement of said gear change means, wherein the member includes screw thread means thereon cooperating with screw thread means on the projecting portion for causing said axial movement of said member, including a third member movable angularly around the axle in response to said axial movement of the second member, said spring means being arranged to resist said angular movement of said third member.
(18) The invention according to Claim 17 including a connector member mounted on said outwardly projecting portion and rotatable therewith through an angle less than 360°, the connecting member having said spring means attached thereto and including a cam-track thereon for connection to a cable for communicating force from said connecting member to said drive sprocket change means.
(19) The invention according to Claim 18 wherein the connecting member is rotatable through 90° and wherein the camtrack is rotatable with the connecting member around the axle to cause movement of the chain from one drive sprocket to another of the drive sprockets.
(20) The invention according to Claim 19 wherein the camtrack is V shaped defining three points along its length each cooperating with a respective one of three drive sprockets.
(1) A pedal powered vehicle comprising a driven wheel having a wheel hub and an axle on which the hub is mounted for rotation about an axis defined by the axle, a sprocket set including a plurality of coaxial axially spaced driven chain sprockets mounted on the hub for communicating drive thereto, drive sprocket means, pedal means for providing rotational movement to the drive sprocket means, a chain for communicating rotational movement of the drive sprocket means to a selected one of the driven chain sprockets for driving the hub, a derailleur device mounted adjacent the chain sprockets for tensioning the chain and for effecting a gear change by movement of the chain axially of the hub so as to cooperate with each of the chain sprockets when selected, an automatic gear shifting means comprising means defining a hollow interior of the hub, sprocket support means supporting the sprocket set arranged for rotation therewith about the axis in a drive direction and for limited rotation relative to the hub in both the drive direction and in a direction opposed to said drive direction, said sprocket set support means including a projecting portion thereof projecting into aid hollow interior, torque communicating means mounted within said hollow interior for communicating torque from the projecting portion of the sprocket support means in a drive direction to the hub, said torque communicating means including spring means arranged to resist said limited rotation of the sprocket support means relative to the hub such that the amount of said movement is proportional to the value of the torque, and gear change means responsive to said movement arranged to move said derailleur device to effect said gear change.
_ (2) The invention according to Claim 1 including a member movable axially in response to said movement, said member being operable to cause movement of said gear change means.
(3) The invention according to Claim 2 wherein the member includes screw thread means thereon cooperating with screw thread means on the projecting portion for causing said axial movement of said member.
(4) The invention according to Claim 3 wherein the member comprises a sleeve surrounding the axially projecting portion of the sprocket set support means, said screw thread means comprising a male screw thread on an exterior surface of the projecting portion and a female screw thread on an interior surface of the sleeve.
(5) The invention according to Claim 4 wherein the sleeve includes on an outer surface thereof means for communicating torque from the axially projecting portion to a surface of the hub defining said hollow interior, said means on the exterior surface allowing said axial movement of the sleeve relative to said hollow interior of the hub.
(6) The invention according to Claim 5 including main rotational bearing means provided between the sprocket set support means and a bearing support member on the axle and supplementary bearing means between said sprocket set support means and said hub.
(7) The invention according to Claim 2 wherein the axle includes a hollow interior with an opening through one side portion thereof and wherein there is provided means for communicating axial movement of said member to a member extending axially of said axle within the hollow interior thereof.
(8) The invention according to Claim 3 wherein said axial movement of said member causes movement of a second member axially movable along the axle but held against rotational movement relative to the axle.
(9) The invention according to Claim 8 including a third member movable angularly around the axle in response to said axial movement of the second member, said spring means being arranged to resist said angular movement of said third member.
(10) The invention according to Claim 9 including second screw set means between said second member and said third member causing angular movement of said third member, the second screw thread means having a different helix angle from the screw thread means so as to vary the ratio of movement between said members.
(11) The invention according to Claim 9 wherein the spring means is adjustable so as to vary the amount of torque necessary to move said first member to a predetermined position.
(12) The invention according to Claim 9 wherein the third member includes a portion projecting outwardly from an end of the hollow interior of the hub, which end is opposite to said sprocket set.
(13) The invention according to Claim 12 wherein the spring means is mounted exteriorally of the hub and is connected to said outwardly projecting portion.
(14) The invention according to Claim 12 wherein the third member comprises a sleeve inside the hollow interior of the hub with an end face of the sleeve exposed at said opposed end of the hollow interior.
(15) The invention according to Claim 14 including main rotation bearings between said sleeve and said hub and subsidiary bearings between said sleeve and a bearing support member on the axle.
(16) The invention according to Claim 1 wherein the drive sprocket means includes a plurality of drive sprockets coaxially mounted and axially spaced and drive sprocket change means for moving the chain from one drive sprocket to each of the other drive sprockets, and means communicating force from said gear change means to said drive sprocket change means arranged so as to move the chain from a first drive sprocket to a next adjacent drive sprocket subsequent to a change from a first chain sprocket to at least one of the further change sprockets.
(17) The invention according to Claim 16 including a member movable axially in response to said movement, said member being operable to cause movement of said gear change means, wherein the member includes screw thread means thereon cooperating with screw thread means on the projecting portion for causing said axial movement of said member, including a third member movable angularly around the axle in response to said axial movement of the second member, said spring means being arranged to resist said angular movement of said third member.
(18) The invention according to Claim 17 including a connector member mounted on said outwardly projecting portion and rotatable therewith through an angle less than 360°, the connecting member having said spring means attached thereto and including a cam-track thereon for connection to a cable for communicating force from said connecting member to said drive sprocket change means.
(19) The invention according to Claim 18 wherein the connecting member is rotatable through 90° and wherein the camtrack is rotatable with the connecting member around the axle to cause movement of the chain from one drive sprocket to another of the drive sprockets.
(20) The invention according to Claim 19 wherein the camtrack is V shaped defining three points along its length each cooperating with a respective one of three drive sprockets.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE3916906A DE3916906C1 (en) | 1989-05-24 | 1989-05-24 | |
| US07/525,602 US5052746A (en) | 1989-05-24 | 1990-05-21 | Vehicle roof with wind deflector |
| US525,602 | 1990-06-10 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2084665A1 true CA2084665A1 (en) | 1991-12-11 |
Family
ID=25881231
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2084665 Abandoned CA2084665A1 (en) | 1989-05-24 | 1991-06-10 | Automatic derailleur shifter |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2084665A1 (en) |
-
1991
- 1991-06-10 CA CA 2084665 patent/CA2084665A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |