EP3227172A1

EP3227172A1 - Connected pedal

Info

Publication number: EP3227172A1
Application number: EP15804176.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Marie DEBBASCH
Original assignee: Connected Cycle
Current assignee: Connected Cycle
Priority date: 2014-12-01
Filing date: 2015-11-20
Publication date: 2017-10-11
Also published as: FR3029167A1; FR3029167B1; WO2016087740A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a pedal (10, 110) for mounting on a crank of a rotating crankset. It comprises: a computing device (20) for geolocating the pedal (10, 110), counting the number of rotations of the pedal (10, 110) about a main axis (X) of the pedal (10, 110), and delivering a message comprising said information; a transmitter for transmitting said message from the pedal (10, 110); and means (22, 24, 30, 34) for supplying the computing device (20) and the transmitter with electrical energy.

Description

Connected pedal

The invention relates to vehicles, for example a bicycle, comprising at least one pedal whose rotation about a bottom bracket axis provides the vehicle with the energy necessary for its displacement.

A bicycle pedal sometimes includes an electronic device for measuring the effort provided by a user of the bicycle. Document EP-1 661 606 discloses an example of a pedal comprising such a device for measuring the force. The pedal described in this document includes a memory card recording the information produced by the measuring device. The user must then extract the memory card from the pedal, introduce it into a suitable reading tool to finally be able to access the data.

The management of the data produced during the use of the bicycle is therefore relatively tedious. In addition, the measuring device is relatively large scale pedal.

An object of the invention is to provide a connected pedal.

To do this, the invention provides a pedal intended to be mounted on a crank of a crankset revolution, characterized in that it comprises:

a calculator (20) capable of geolocating the pedal (10, 110), counting the number of pedal rotations (10, 110) about a main axis (X) of the pedal (10, 110) and deliver a message containing this information,

a transmitter for transmitting this message outside the pedal (10, 110), and

- Supply means (22, 24, 30, 34) in electrical energy of the computer (20) and the transmitter.

Thus, the pedal transmits in real time the information it generates. It is therefore possible to use immediately, for example on a mobile phone called "smartphone" information produced by the pedal computer. In addition, thanks to the power of the latest computers, it is possible to make him complete several functions and therefore including the geolocation of the pedal to communicate the position after a theft of the bicycle.

According to one embodiment, the electrical power supply means of the computer comprise an accumulator battery and / or at least one electric battery.

The user can then simply replace the battery when the batteries are discharged.

Advantageously, the electrical power supply means of the computer comprise an electricity generator, for example a generator of the dynamoelectric type, arranged such that the rotation of the pedal about its axis principal (X) generates an electric current.

The user then generates during the use of the bicycle, by pedaling, the energy necessary for the operation of the connected pedal. It is then not necessary to proceed to the step of replacing the storage battery and / or the battery.

Preferably, the electrical power supply means of the computer comprise a gear reducer gearing preferably having a transmission ratio substantially equal to 100.

The electricity generation is thus more efficient because the speed of rotation of the generator is multiplied compared to the speed of rotation of the pedal on its own axis.

According to one embodiment, the gear reducer is an epicyclic gear train preferably having a transmission ratio substantially equal to 100.

The reliability and strength of the electricity generator is then improved. The inventors have indeed found that the planetary gear train was particularly reliable in use for less space.

Advantageously, the transmitter is able to transmit the message in the form of a radio wave according to the GSM standard (Global System for Mobile Communications) and / or according to the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standard and / or according to the LTE standard. (Long Term Evolution).

This standard is suitable for mobile phones.

Preferably, the transmitter is capable of transmitting the message in the form of a radio wave according to the CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) standard.

According to one embodiment, the transmitter is able to transmit the message in the form of a radio wave according to the VHF (Very High Frequency) and / or UHF (Ultra High Frequency) frequency band.

Advantageously, the transmitter is able to send the message on the Internet network.

Data processing is therefore possible using a large number of devices.

Preferably, the pedal comprises a receiver capable of receiving a message, advantageously from the Internet network.

One can then easily proceed to operations such as updates of the calculator.

It is also provided according to the invention a vehicle equipped with a pedal as previously described.

It is also provided according to the invention a program comprising code instructions able to geolocate a pedal as described above, to count the number of pedal rotations about its main axis (X) and to transmit and / or receive a message including this information, when it is executed on a computer.

Finally, the invention provides a program comprising code instructions able to process and analyze the message when it is executed on a computer.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of nonlimiting example, with the aid of the following figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pedal according to a first embodiment of the invention from which the cover has been removed,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pedal according to a second embodiment of the invention from which the cover has also been removed, and

- Figure 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III of the pedal according to the second embodiment of the invention in which some parts are omitted.

FIG. 1 shows a pedal 10 according to the invention for a vehicle of the bicycle type. The pedal 10 comprises a protective envelope 12, shaped box, delimiting the pedal and intended to conceal and protect the objects disposed in its interior of the pedal. The envelope 12 comprises a lid, not shown, allowing a user to support him to pedal.

The pedal 10 also comprises connecting means 14 to a crank, not shown, crankset. Here, these means 14 comprise a shaft 16 connected on the one hand to the crank and extending on the other hand in the casing 12. The shaft 16 carries a member 18 having a smooth surface and not threaded and not offering thus no socket for an assembly tool such as a wrench or wrench. This last feature makes it possible to prevent a third party from being able to easily steal the pedal 10.

When a user pedal, the envelope 12 of the pedal 10 rotates on itself about a main axis of the pedal (X) which coincides with a main axis of the shaft 16.

In the casing 12, a casing 20 is disposed. The housing 20 comprises inside a calculator comprising code instructions suitable, when executed by the computer, firstly to geolocate the pedal and secondly to count the number of rotations of the pedal about its axis principal (X). Geolocation is done for example by GPS (Global Positioning System). The counting of the number of rotations takes place in this embodiment thanks to an accelerometer integrated into the computer. Thus, the computer can estimate the effort provided by the user while pedaling. According to a variant of the present embodiment, the housing 10 also comprises inside a pressure sensor electrically connected to the computer allowing it to calculate the effort provided by the user from the pressure measurements. exercised by the user.

The computer is capable of delivering a message comprising the calculated information. In addition, the housing 20 comprises inside a transmitter, electrically connected to the computer, capable of transmitting the message delivered by the computer out of the pedal. The transmitter sends the message on the Internet, optionally sending on a radio network giving access to the internet. The housing 20 also comprises a receiver electrically connected to the computer and to the transmitter and adapted to receive information from the Internet network by Wi-Fi waves. According to one variant, the transmitter is able to receive this information from the Internet network by Bluetooth waves. According to a third variant, the transmitter is able to receive this information by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth waves. According to another variant, the receiver is able to receive messages according to the GSM and / or UMTS and / or CDMA standard and / or on the VHF, UHF and ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) frequency bands.

According to a variant of this embodiment, the transmitter is able to transmit the message in the form of a radio wave according to the GSM standard. According to another variant, the message is transmitted in the form of a radio wave according to the CDMA standard. According to a third variant, the message is transmitted in the form of a frequency wave belonging to the VHF or UHF bands. According to a fourth variant, the transmitter is able to transmit according to all these standards simultaneously. The transmitter is also capable of transmitting according to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards.

The pedal 10 also comprises power supply means of the computer, the transmitter and the receiver. In this embodiment, these means comprise a battery 22 powered by a plurality of electric batteries. According to a variant, the battery 22 is a storage battery. When the batteries are discharged, the user must replace these items. When the battery is discharged, the user can recharge it. The battery 22 is connected to the computer, to the transmitter and to the receiver by means of a link 22 with the housing 20 which is here a copper wire.

The pedal 10 also comprises a casing 26 intended firstly to wedge the casing 20 inside the casing 12 and secondly to protect the shaft 16, around which the casing 12 rotates when the casing pedal user, vis-à-vis the housing 20 and the battery 22. Furthermore, the housing 20 and the battery 22 are integral in rotation with the casing 12.

The housing 20 has the particular function of protecting the computer, the transmitter and the receiver it contains.

A second embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Elements unchanged from the first embodiment will retain the same numerical reference.

As seen in Figure 3, the shaft 16 carries on one end 19 connected to the crank a recess 21 whose contour has a shape complementary to a non-standard specific key. Thus, each pedal 110 is delivered with a specific key allowing the disassembly of the pedal 110. According to one variant, the contour of the recess 21 is complementary to a key of known type such as an Allen key or a torx key also known as the screw-star key. The obvious may have in its center a complementary protrusion of a Security torx type key also known as Torx screw core. According to a third variant, the contour of the recess 21 is complementary to a key of known type but has a specific diameter.

The pedal 110 comprises a dynamoelectric type electricity generator 28. The dynamoelectric generator 28 is arranged such that the relative rotation of the shaft 16 relative to the envelope 12 generates an electric current. To do this, the generator is connected to the shaft 16 via a gear reducer 30 having a toothed wheel 32 connected to a toothed wheel 34 of the dynamoelectric generator 28 and also a shaft 36 connected to the end 38 of the tree 16.

The dynamoelectric generator 28 is integral with the casing 12 of the pedal 10. Thus, when a user pedal, the shaft 16 rotates relative to the dynamoelectric generator 28. By means of the gear reducer 30 which has a transmission ratio substantially equal to 100, the toothed wheel 34 of the dynamoelectric generator 28 rotates at a speed one hundred times greater than that of the envelope 12. For example, a user in town pedal at such a speed that The envelope rotates at a speed of between 30 and 40 rpm. Thus, in this case, the toothed wheel 34 of the dynamoelectric generator 28 rotates at a speed of between 3000 and 4000 revolutions per minute, which is the optimum operating range of the dynamoelectric generator 28 used here.

The electrical energy thus generated feeds, via a charging circuit, a rechargeable battery 40 connected to the housing 20 enclosing the computer, the transmitter and the receiver by means similar to those previously described. In this embodiment, the user does not have to worry about the charge of the battery 40 since it charges automatically. Thus, the dynamoelectric generator 28 is part of the electrical power supply means of the computer, the transmitter and the receiver.

According to a variant of this embodiment, the gear reducer is of the epicyclic gear type, preferably having a transmission ratio substantially equal to 100, possibly associated with the gear reducer 30 as shown in FIG. 3.

Here, the dynamoelectric generator 28 delivers a direct current, but according to a variant, it delivers an alternating current by being equipped with an AC / DC converter.

In this embodiment, the counting of the number of rotations of the envelope 12 can be made by measuring, by the computer, the electrical cycles of the dynamoelectric generator 28 which are directly related to the number of rotations of the envelope 12. Thus, the calculator can estimate the effort produced by the user.

In addition, the computer controls, by means of a limitation function of the consumed current, the electrical power demanded from the dynamoelectric generator 28 so that, especially during start-up, the power demanded is low so as not to solicit from the operator. the user too much effort when the rotational speed of the casing 12 relative to the shaft 16 is still low.

Conversely, when the rotational speed of the casing 12 relative to the shaft 16 is large, the computer controls the electrical power produced by the dynamoelectric generator 28. In the absence of this control, the dynamoelectric generator 28 would produce a significant voltage that could damage the battery 40 or the computer itself.

The coupling between the shaft 16 and the gear reducer 30 by means of the shaft 36 and the end 38 of the shaft 16 is made with some flexibility because in use, the rotation of the shaft 16 relative to the envelope 12 is not a perfect rotation. If the coupling was performed too strictly, the gear reducer 30 could deteriorate because such a reducer poorly supports non-perfect rotations. According to one variant, this coupling is rigid.

The mechanical bearing between the shaft 16 and the casing 12 is made by a plurality of flat bearings 17 of polymer with a low coefficient of friction. These bearings 17 operate without the need for lubrication, which avoids any risk of contact between a lubricant and the electronic components carried by the pedal 110.

According to a variant, the mechanical bearing between the shaft 16 and the casing 12 is made by means of a ball bearing mechanism.

Of course, we can bring to the invention many changes without departing from the scope thereof.

It will be possible to associate the means of generating electricity, namely the rechargeable battery 40 with the storage battery or battery 22 and combine them redundantly so that one of the batteries can provide the other in case of failure .

It will also be possible to use different types of calculators capable of generating information of different natures. It will also be possible to associate the modes of transmission of the information generated by the computer.

According to another version of the device, the bicycle comprises a set of sensors including the measurement of heartbeats of the user, the measurement of the effort provided by the user on the handlebars, and tire pressure. The sensors transmit this information to the computer in the pedal, by short-range radio waves. The calculator uses this data and transmits it over the Internet according to previously disclosed standards.

The electricity generator supplying electrical energy to the computer and / or the transmitter may also be a three-phase current generator of the "brushless" type.

According to a variant of the device, the computer is able to measure the acceleration of the pedal (10, 110) in three directions (A1, A2, A3), visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, forming an orthonormal base of the space and / or to measure the angle between an axis (Y) transverse to the main axis (X) of the pedal (10, 110) and the direction connecting the pedal (10, 110) to the terrestrial magnetic north pole and / or detecting and measuring the intensity of a shock on the pedal (10, 110) and / or measuring the vibrations of the pedals (10, 110).

In this case, the program is able to measure the acceleration of the pedal (10, 110) in three directions (A1, A2, A3) forming an orthonormal basis of the space and / or to measure the angle between an axis (Y) transverse to the main axis (X) of the pedal (10, 110) and the direction connecting the pedal (10, 110) to the terrestrial magnetic north pole and / or detecting and measuring the intensity of a shock on the pedal (10, 110) and / or measuring the vibrations of the pedals (10, 110) when it is executed on a computer.

Advantageously, the transmitter is capable of transmitting the message on a private network capable of transmitting the message on the Internet network.

Preferably, the pedal (10, 110) comprises an alarm connected to the receiver and able to emit an audible signal when it is activated remotely by a user.

Advantageously, the transmitter is able to transmit the message in the form of a radio wave on the ISM frequency band (Industrial, Scientific and Medical).

Preferably, the transmitter is able to communicate with a smartphone of the user by generating a local area network, also known by the acronym LAN (Local Area Network), according to all the aforementioned standards or frequency bands, in particular ISM and or over a wide area network, also known as WAN (Wide Area Network).

Claims

1. Pedal (10, 110) intended to be mounted on a crank of a revolution pedal, characterized in that it comprises:

a transmitter for transmitting this message outside the pedal (10, 110), and

power supply means (22, 24, 30, 34) for electrical energy of the computer and the transmitter.

2. Pedal (10, 110) according to the preceding claim, wherein the computer is able to measure the acceleration of the pedal (10, 110) in three directions (A1, A2, A3) forming an orthonormal basis of space and / or measuring the angle between an axis (Y) transverse to the main axis (X) of the pedal (10, 110) and the direction connecting the pedal (10, 110) to the terrestrial magnetic north pole and / or detecting and measuring the intensity of a shock on the pedal (10, 110) and / or measuring the vibrations of the pedals (10, 110).

3. Pedal (10, 110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the power supply means (22, 24, 30, 34) in electrical energy of the computer and / or the transmitter comprises a battery of accumulators (22) and / or at least one battery.

4. Pedal (10, 110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the power supply means (22, 24, 28, 34) in electrical energy of the computer and / or the transmitter comprises a generator of electricity (28), for example a generator of the dynamoelectric type (28), arranged in such a way that the rotation of the pedal (10, 110) around its main axis (X) generates an electric current.

5. Pedal (10, 110) according to the preceding claim, wherein the power supply means (22, 24, 28, 30, 34) of the computer and / or the transmitter comprises a gear reducer (30). ), the gear reducer (30) preferably having a transmission ratio substantially equal to 100.

6. Pedal (10, 110) according to the preceding claim, wherein the gear reducer (30) is an epicyclic gear preferably having a transmission ratio substantially equal to 100.

7. Pedal (10, 110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit the message in the form of a radio wave according to the GSM standard (Global System for Mobile Communications) and / or according to the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) standard and / or according to the LTE (Long Term Evolution) standard and / or according to the CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) standard and / or the VHF (Very High Frequency) frequency band and / or on the UHF (Ultra High Frequency) frequency band and / or on the ISM frequency band (Industrial, Scientific and Medical).

8. Pedal (10, 110) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitter is able to transmit the message on the Internet.

9. Pedal (10, 110) according to any preceding claim, wherein the transmitter is adapted to transmit the message on a private network capable of transmitting the message on the Internet.

10. Pedal (10, 110) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a receiver adapted to receive a message, preferably on the Internet, optionally via a radio network.

11. Pedal (10, 110) according to claim, comprising an alarm connected to the receiver capable of emitting an audible signal when remotely activated by a user.

12. Vehicle equipped with a pedal (10, 110) according to at least one of the preceding claims.

13. Program comprising code instructions able to geolocate a pedal (10, 110) according to any one of the preceding claims, to count the number of rotations of the pedal (10, 110) around its main axis (X) and to transmit and / or receive a message including this information, when it is executed on a computer.

14. Program according to the preceding claim, able to measure the acceleration of the pedal (10, 110) in three directions (A1, A2, A3) forming an orthonormal basis of the space and / or to measure the angle between a axis (Y) transverse to the main axis (X) of the pedal (10, 110) and the direction connecting the pedal (10, 110) to the earth's magnetic north pole and / or detecting and measuring the intensity of a pedal shock (10, 110) and / or measuring the vibrations of the pedals (10, 110) when executed on a computer.

15. Program comprising code instructions able to process and analyze the message when it is executed on a computer.