EP0060268A1 - Transmission de bicyclette - Google Patents
Transmission de bicycletteInfo
- Publication number
- EP0060268A1 EP0060268A1 EP19810902544 EP81902544A EP0060268A1 EP 0060268 A1 EP0060268 A1 EP 0060268A1 EP 19810902544 EP19810902544 EP 19810902544 EP 81902544 A EP81902544 A EP 81902544A EP 0060268 A1 EP0060268 A1 EP 0060268A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- chain
- sprocket
- crank
- sprockets
- transmission system
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
- B62M25/00—Actuators for gearing speed-change mechanisms specially adapted for cycles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
- B62M9/00—Transmissions characterised by use of an endless chain, belt, or the like
- B62M9/04—Transmissions characterised by use of an endless chain, belt, or the like of changeable ratio
- B62M9/06—Transmissions characterised by use of an endless chain, belt, or the like of changeable ratio using a single chain, belt, or the like
- B62M9/10—Transmissions characterised by use of an endless chain, belt, or the like of changeable ratio using a single chain, belt, or the like involving different-sized wheels, e.g. rear sprocket chain wheels selectively engaged by the chain, belt, or the like
- B62M9/12—Transmissions characterised by use of an endless chain, belt, or the like of changeable ratio using a single chain, belt, or the like involving different-sized wheels, e.g. rear sprocket chain wheels selectively engaged by the chain, belt, or the like the chain, belt, or the like being laterally shiftable, e.g. using a rear derailleur
- B62M9/121—Rear derailleurs
- B62M9/123—Rear derailleurs changing gears automatically
Definitions
- the present invention relates to bicycle transmissions and, more particularly, to automatic transmissions for bicycles.
- An automatic variable-speed bicycle transmission system in which a front sprocket driven by the pedal crank is connected to a multi-sprocket assembly associated with the rear axle by a continuous chain.
- the sprocket assembly is actuated by an actuator weight mounted on the rear wheel responsive to the speed of the bicycle to move laterally relative to the chain to determine the sprocket which engages the chain.
- the pedal crank In order to permit the bicycle to coast, the pedal crank is connected or linked to the front sprocket by a one-way clutch which transfers driving torque from the pedal to the sprocket when the rider pedals in a forwardly-moving direction, but disengages when the rider holds the crank against turning with the chain and the crank-driven sprocket.
- FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a bicycle with an automatic transmission system embodying various features of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is an elevation view, partially cut away, of the rear axle and associated transmission apparatus in the high gear position of the bicycle shown in FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 showing the transmission apparatus in the low gear position
- FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevation view of the rear wheel of the bicycle shown in FIG. 1 illustrating an actuator which responds to the speed of the bicycle and shifts the engagement of the chain with the respective sprockets of the assembly with the chain;
- FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the rear sprocket assembly and associated pivoted pulleys for maintaining tension of the chain;
- FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the pivoted pulleys of FIG. 5;
- FIG. 7 is an elevation view, partially cut away, of a pedal crank-sprocket assembly including a one-direction clutch which connects the pedal crank to the front sprocket.
- an automatic variable-speed transmission is provided for a bicycle 10 (FIG. 1) or similar vehicle in which a crank-driven front sprocket 12 is connected by a drive chain 14 to a driven multi-sprocketed assembly 16 carried by the rear drive wheels axle with selective engagement of the chain with the various diameter sprockets 18 of the sprocket assembly being accomplished automatically with substantial variations in the speed of the vehicle.
- This is achieved by weighted speed actuators 20 responsive to the centrifugal force of the rotating bicycle wheel 22 to actuate the sprocket assembly 16 laterall relative to the chain 14 when the centrifugal force increases.
- the sprocket assembly 16 is biased in the opposite direction by a spring 24 (FIG. 2) so that, for example, when the centrifugal force decreases, the spring shifts the sprocket assembly 16 relative to the chain 14.
- a one-direction clutch is used at the pedal crank 26 with the clutch 28 (FIG. 7) being disengaged while the bicycle 10 is coasting.
- the clutch 28 is engaged.
- the rear axle assembly shown in FIG. 2 includes a hub shaft 30 attachable to the bicycle frame as by a nut 32 at either end thereof and a hub shell 34 which rotates therearound.
- a hub shaft 30 attachable to the bicycle frame as by a nut 32 at either end thereof and a hub shell 34 which rotates therearound.
- ball holders 36 with bearding surfaces 40 cooperating with bearing surfaces 41 of complementary cylindrical end portions 44 of the hub shell 34 to hold standard bicycle bearings
- the bicycle wheel rim 22 is attached by spokes
- a sprocket assembly is secured to the hub shell to rotate therewith and is laterally fixed thereto, and the chain is laterally moved to selectively engage with the various sprockets of the sprocket system.
- the chain 14 connecting the front sprocket 12 to the rear sprocket assembly 16 is laterally fixed in a single plane, and the sprocket assembly 16 is movable inward and outward to reposition itself relative to the chain, whereby engagement of the chain with the various sprockets is selected.
- the respective sprockets 44a-44e are carried and shifted laterally by a sleeve or shell 42 which is telescoped over one end of the hub shell 34 outwardly of the hub flange 40b to which the spokes 38 are attached.
- the sleeve 42 has a first or large diameter portion 46 carrying the large diameter sprockets 44a, 44b and 44c which are keyed by a key (not shown) to the sleeve 42 to turn the sleeve and the hub shell.
- the smaller diameter sprockets 44d and 44e are drivingly secured to the sleeve 42 to turn the same by being screw- threaded onto a threaded small diameter portion 48 of the sleeve 42.
- spacer rings 50 Mounted on the sleeve's larger smaller diameter portions between adjacent sprockets are spacer rings 50 which provide the desired separation between the sprockets 44 which is sufficient that the chain 14 does not rub against adjacent sprockets but small enough so that the chain does not become caught between sprockets. It will be appreciated that to slide the sprocket assembly automatically in a lateral direction while the bicycle rider is applying a driving force to the chain 14 and a driving torque to one of the sprockets 44 requires a good sliding friction and drive mechanism between the hub shell 34 and the sprocket assembly.
- a bearing means is provided between the sprocket assembly and the hub and also acts to transfer the driving torque from the sprocket assembly to the rear wheel hub.
- the bearing means comprises ball bearings 56 slideable longitudinally in races defined by aligned grooves in respectively facing portions of the hub shell 34 and the sleeve 42. More specifically, at various evenly-spaced circumferential positions, complementary arcuate grooves 52 and 54 (FIG. 3) are provided in the inside parameter of the sprocket shell 42 and in the complementary outside diameter of the hub shell 34 which define cylindrical keyways therebetween which are parallel to the hub shaft axis.
- the cylindrical keyways each carry a plurality of ball bearings 56 with diameters slightly less than the keyway diameter.
- the bearings 56 key the hub shell 34 to the sprocket shell 42 at about three to four locations about the hub.
- An annular ring 58 is secured around the end of the lesser diameter portion 48 of the sprocket shell to close off the end of the keyway races and retain the ball bearings 56 in the cylindrical keyway races from their outer ends.
- the biasing spring 24 which shifts the sprocket assembly in one lateral direction which is to increase the size of the driving sprocket 44, in this instance, is carried in an encircling cup-like portion 60 of the hub shell 34.
- the cup portion 60 has a closed end 62 generally midway between the hub shell flanges 40a and 40b and extends through the right-hand hub shell flange 40b where its open end 64 overlies the inner open end 66 of a protective cup 68 extending inward from the inner end 70 of the sprocket shell.
- the closed 70 of the sprocket shell 42 closes off the inner end of the sprocket shell grooves 54 to retain the ball bearings 56 in the keyways.
- the hub shaft- encircling compressed coil spring 24 is enclosed within the interengaging cup portions 60 and 68 of the hub shell 34 and sprocket shell 70 and extends between the closed ends 62 and 72 thereof to bias the sprocket shell 72 outward.
- the centrifugal actuators 20 are disposed at diametrically opposed locations, on the rear drive wheel assembly are each operably connected to the sprocket assembly 16 by a connecting means in the form of a chain 78.
- the chain is connected to a guide in the hub by hollow tubes 88 with ends of the chains fastened to the sprocket sleeve 42.
- each bead chain 78 has an end extending through a reduced-in-diameter bore portion 82 to an enlarged spherical stop 84 in an enlarged diameter bore 80.
- the stop 84 on the end of the chain abuts the end of the bore 80 to transfer the pulling force of the bead chain to the sprocket assembly 16.
- each bead chain 78 is threaded through a J tube 88 which guides the head chain around a right angle bend, the J tube having a horizontal leg 90 along the outside of the cup portion 60 of the hub shell
- each bead chain 78 is connected to the corresponding actuator 20 to be pulled thereby with a force proportional to the speed of the rear drive wheel to exert a pull on the sprocket assembly 16 in opposition to the biasing force of the spring 24.
- Each centrifugal weight actuator 20 includes a rod 94 having a weight 96 at one end and pivotally mounted at its other end 98 on a bracket 99 secured by a screwed clamping plate to a pair of the wheel spokes 38.
- the rod 94 and weight are mounted generally in the plane of the bicycle wheel between the left-hand and right-hand spokes.
- a plurality of radially-spaced holes 100 are provided in rod 94 which extends about one-half the distance from the pivot end 98 to the weight 96, and the end of the bead chain 78 is connected through one of the holes.
- each actuator 20 will have a six-inch long rod 94 with a disc-shaped weight at the end thereof which is about two-inches in diameter and 1/4-inch thick.
- the weight 96 will typically travel about three inches between its rest (low gear) position and its high gear position.
- gear ratio is adjusted according to pedal pressure
- a system in which the gear ratio is adjusted according to bicycle speed more appropriately determines the correct gear ratio.
- the transmission shifts to its lower gear position which is most appropriate for startup.
- the bicycle 10 is moving rapidly, e.g., coasting down a steep hill, the transmission remains in a high gear despite the fact that no pressure at all is being exerted on the pedal.
- the speed range in which the transmission goes through its full range of gear changes may be adjusted.
- a protecting bellows 104 is secured to the outer end of the hub shell 34 and to the outer end of the sprocket shell 42 by annular rings 106 to keep dirt out of the transmission mechanism, particularly the hub shell grooves 52 which are open at their outer ends.
- a close interfit of the hub shell cup portion 60 and the sprocket shell protective cup portion 68 keeps dirt from entering.
- the present invention utilizes a chain tension mechanism indicated generally at 110 in FIG. 5.
- An arm 112 is pivotally mounted at its upper end 114 from the frame closely adjacent the outer end of the hub shaft 30 and an adjustable torsion spring 116 (FIG. 6) at the pivot point biases the arm so that its lower end 118 tends to swing backwards.
- a cross-arm 120 Pivotally mounted at the lower end of the arm 112 is a cross-arm 120 having sprockets 122a and 122b rotatably mounted at either end thereof.
- a torsion spring 124 at the pivot point of the cross-arm 120 tends to bias the cross-arm to a horizontal position.
- a one-direction clutch is incorporated in the rear axle assembly which engages to transfer torque from the sprocket assembly to the hub shaft.
- the rear sprocket assembly is not clutched by a one-way clutch to the hub.
- the one-direction clutch 28 is provided which connects the pedal crank 26 to the associated sprocket 28.
- a freewheel assembly 128 in which the horizontal segment 130 of the pedal crank 26 is mounted for rotation through the drum portion 132 at the lower end of the bicycle frame.
- Ball holders 134 are secured to the pedal crank 26 by locknut 136 at either end of the drum 132 to rotate therewith and maintain standard bicycle beardLngs 138 between the ball holder bearing surfaces 140 and complementary bearing surfaces 142 of the drum 132.
- the clutch-sprocket free wheel assembly 128 is spaced by a spacer 144 from the right-hand end of the drum 132 to align the front sprocket 12 with the sprocket assembly 16.
- a crank shell 146 is secured to the crank 26 to rotate therewith and include an inner annular bearing race 153 for outer bearings 151.
- An outer sprocket sleeve 154 is disposed about the crank shell and has outer bearing surfaces engaging the respective ball bearings 148 and 151 to permit independent rotation of the sprocket shell relative to the crank.
- the front sprocket 12 is keyed to the sprocket sleeve 154 to rotate the sleeve.
- the clutch mechanism for clutching the pedal crank 26 and crank shell 146 to the sprocket sleeve 154 and the sprocket 12 comprises a clutch similar to that used conventionally for the rear wheels.
- Such know one-way clutches comprise a ring of ratchet teeth 156 disposed on the interior surface of the sprocket sleeve 154 between its bearing surfaces 152, and a plurality of pawls
- the pawls 158 are biased outward by individual springs 160 to engage the ratchet teeth 156 in a single direction only, i.e., when the crank 26 is providing forward torque to transfer torque from the crank 26 to the sprocket 12.
- the teeth slide over the pawls without engaging them when the crank 26 is held stationary and the sprocket 12 and sprocket sleeve 154 continue to turn with the chain 14.
- the bicycle continues to travel during coasting without the crank being turned by the sprocket 12 which is continuing to turn with the front sprocket 12 and the engaged rear sprocket 44.
- the pivoted speed actuator described in conjunction with the invention might be replaced with a radially-moving weight on the order of the weight adjusters described in U.S. Patent No. 3,885,814.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Transmissions By Endless Flexible Members (AREA)
- Transmission Devices (AREA)
Abstract
Transmission automatique de bicyclette dans laquelle des dispositifs d'actionnement (20) sensibles a la vitesse de la bicyclette re-positionnent un ensemble de pignons multiples (16) montes sur la roue d'entrainement pour assurer l'engagement selectif de chacun des pignons de l'ensemble de pignons avec la chaine d'entrainement. Un embrayage a une direction (28) connecte de maniere rotative l'axe pedalier et un pignon anterieur associe de maniere a permettre le debrayage lorsque le cycliste empeche l'axe pedalier de tourner avec la chaine.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US18708380A | 1980-09-15 | 1980-09-15 | |
US187083 | 1988-04-28 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0060268A1 true EP0060268A1 (fr) | 1982-09-22 |
Family
ID=22687545
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19810902544 Withdrawn EP0060268A1 (fr) | 1980-09-15 | 1981-09-08 | Transmission de bicyclette |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0060268A1 (fr) |
WO (1) | WO1982000984A1 (fr) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4599079A (en) * | 1985-03-04 | 1986-07-08 | Chappell Gilmore H | Automatic derailleur shifter |
Family Cites Families (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2246191A (en) * | 1939-11-25 | 1941-06-17 | Joseph P Schmitz | Vehicle drive |
US2286154A (en) * | 1941-11-10 | 1942-06-09 | Norred John | Bicycle |
GB603786A (en) * | 1945-04-26 | 1948-06-23 | Smart And Brown Engineers Ltd | Improvements in or relating to speed changing mechanism for vehicles |
US2956443A (en) * | 1959-03-17 | 1960-10-18 | William O Nelson | Automatic variable speed transmission |
DE1206749B (de) * | 1962-12-08 | 1965-12-09 | Fichtel & Sachs Ag | Mehrgang-UEbersetzungsnabe mit selbsttaetiger in Abhaengigkeit von der Fahrgeschwindigkeit erfolgender Gangumschaltung fuer Fahrraeder und motorisierte Zweiradfahrzeuge |
US3613466A (en) * | 1970-06-22 | 1971-10-19 | George F Houghton | Automatic gearshift for bicycle |
US3830524A (en) * | 1971-05-10 | 1974-08-20 | Velo Bind Inc | Book bound by ultrasonic means |
BE793542A (fr) * | 1971-06-30 | 1973-04-16 | Tokheim Corp | Mecanisme d'entrainement a rapport variable pour bicyclettes |
US3920263A (en) * | 1973-03-06 | 1975-11-18 | Martin Lionel C | Occupant-propelled vehicle |
US3885814A (en) * | 1974-07-08 | 1975-05-27 | Robert Rizzo | Centrifugal bicycle wheel |
US3929025A (en) * | 1974-12-13 | 1975-12-30 | Robert E Perry | Automatic shift control for bicycles and the like |
US4183262A (en) * | 1975-08-01 | 1980-01-15 | Shimano Industrial Company Limited | Gear crank for a bicycle |
US4154123A (en) * | 1975-09-03 | 1979-05-15 | Shimano Industrial Company, Limited | Drive for a bicycle |
US4198876A (en) * | 1977-11-14 | 1980-04-22 | Shimano Industrial Company Limited | Multi-stage sprocket assembly for a bicycle |
US4201094A (en) * | 1977-11-28 | 1980-05-06 | Rathmell Richard K | Automatic speed shift for bicycles and the like |
-
1981
- 1981-09-08 WO PCT/US1981/001192 patent/WO1982000984A1/fr unknown
- 1981-09-08 EP EP19810902544 patent/EP0060268A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO8200984A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO1982000984A1 (fr) | 1982-04-01 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Designated state(s): AT CH DE FR GB LU NL SE |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19821115 |
|
RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: DANIELCZYK, ZYGMUNT Inventor name: BREDEN, CHARLES R. |