JP3135968U - Bicycle chain - Google Patents

Abstract

A bicycle chain having sufficient flexibility and high durability is provided.
A plurality of inner plates 13 and outer plates 14 are alternately arranged so that the end portions overlap each other, and the end portions of the inner plate 13 and the outer plate 14 are pivotally attached by chain pins 11. A short tubular roller 12 is loosely fitted on the outer periphery, and the axial end of the inner peripheral surface of the roller 12 is a tapered surface 124 that increases in diameter toward the opening end surface.
[Selection] Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a bicycle chain.

Bicycles can travel long distances and are environmentally friendly, and today, with an emphasis on leisure, riding a bicycle is ideal for doing leisure activities outdoors and feeling the comfort of nature. .
By using the light mobility of a bicycle and stepping on the pedals, you can enjoy mental and physical satisfaction and health by running in the mountains, countryside, and forests along the valley.
For this reason, in recent years, it has been required to functionally improve the structure of each part of the bicycle so as to meet the user's physical conditions and riding habits.

In general, in a bicycle transmission mechanism, a chain is connected to a transmission gear provided with a pedal, and power is transmitted to wheels by this chain to advance the bicycle.
Recently, many bicycles are equipped with a transmission, and the gear is switched according to the road surface conditions. However, in order to smoothly change the position of the chain at the time of shifting, the flexibility of the chain is required. is important. A chain with excellent flexibility can be greatly bent, and it is easy to change speed, and the pedal rotates smoothly.

Conventionally, a bicycle chain with improved chain flexibility is known (see Patent Document 1). This chain is provided with a bulging portion in the radial direction outside the chain pin, or is raised in a slope shape, and this bulging portion or the slope keeps an appropriate gap between the chain pin and the roller, so that a non-full surface is obtained. The close contact state is maintained, and the flexibility when the chain is bent is increased so that a larger bending width can be obtained.
However, the conventional chain cannot be sufficiently bent because both ends of the inner periphery of the roller come into contact with the surface of the chain pin and the inclination is restricted.
Also, since the inner peripheral surface of the roller is linearly formed in the axial direction, when the chain is curved, the roller inner peripheral surface and the chain pin surface are in point contact, and the chain rotates on the sprocket or shifts. When changing the position according to the operation, the frictional force between the inner surface of the roller and the chain pin surface increases, and wears during long-term use, resulting in the loss of smoothness of gear shifting and the risk of breaking the chain There was also.

Taiwan Utility Model Registration No. M289139 Specification

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a bicycle chain having sufficient flexibility and high durability.

In the bicycle chain of the present invention, a large number of outer plates and inner plates are alternately arranged so that the end portions overlap each other, the end portions of the outer plate and the end portions of the inner plate are pivotally attached by chain pins. A short tubular roller is loosely fitted on the outer periphery, and the axial end of the inner peripheral surface of the roller is a tapered surface that increases in diameter toward the opening end surface.
An annular recess along the circumferential direction may be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the roller.
In this case, a bulging portion that is slidably engaged with the concave portion of the roller in the circumferential direction may be formed on the outer periphery of the chain pin, and the cross section of the concave portion and the bulging portion may be curved gently.
It is desirable to form a chamfered portion at the edge of the inner peripheral surface of the roller.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the roller and the chain pin can be relatively inclined to the angle at which the tapered surface of the roller is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the chain pin, the roller and the chain pin can be greatly bent, and the gear Changes and pedal rotation can be performed smoothly.
Also, even if the roller is tilted, the taper surface comes into surface contact with the outer peripheral surface of the chain pin, so that stress is dispersed and strong frictional force is prevented from being generated locally. .
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the roller inner peripheral surface and the chain pin outer peripheral surface from interfering with each other to inhibit the roller from being inclined.

According to the third aspect of the invention, although the contact area between the roller and the chain pin is widened, the inner peripheral surface of the recess and the outer peripheral surface of the bulging portion can move while sliding, so that a high degree of flexibility is achieved. It is possible to maintain.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the roller is tilted with respect to the chain pin, the roller edge does not make a line contact with the outer periphery of the chain pin, but comes into contact with a relatively wide area. Can be further reduced.

1 to 7 show Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the bicycle chain 1 of the present invention has two parallel arrangements in which a large number of inner plates 13 and outer plates 14 are alternately arranged so that the end portions overlap each other. A pin 11 is erected, the end of the inner plate 13 and the end of the outer plate 14 are pivotally attached by the chain pin 11, and a short tubular roller 12 is loosely fitted on the outer periphery of the chain pin 11.
The inner plate 13 and the outer plate 14 are formed in an approximately eight shape with both ends being discoid. Further, inner shaft holes 131 for engaging the ends of the rollers 12 are formed in the disk-shaped portions at both ends of the inner plate 13, and chain pins are formed at the disk-shaped portions at both ends of the outer plate 14. An outer shaft hole 141 for engaging the end of 11 is formed.

The chain pin 11 has a generally round bar shape, and both end portions thereof have slightly small diameters. The chain pin 11 protrudes from the roller 12 and is inserted into the outer shaft hole 141 of the outer plate 14.
Both ends of the roller 12 have a slightly smaller outer diameter, and a storage space 121 for inserting the chain pin 11 is formed inside the roller 12. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, corner portions 122 are formed at both end edges in the axial direction of the storage space 121.
An annular recess 123 is formed along the circumferential direction at the axially central portion of the inner peripheral surface of the roller 12, and the diameter increases from both sides of the recess 123 to the axial end toward the opening end. Tapered surfaces 124 are respectively formed.
The concave portion 123 is smoothly curved in cross section, and the tapered surface 124 is inclined at an angle of 3.55 degrees with respect to the central axis of the roller.

To assemble the bicycle chain 1, as shown in FIG. 5, the bicycle chain 1 is inserted into the storage space 121 of the roller 12, the end of the inner plate 13 and the end of the outer plate 14 are overlapped, and the end of the roller 12 is While inserting into the inner shaft hole 131 of the inner plate 13, the end of the chain pin 11 is inserted into the outer shaft hole 141 of the outer plate 14, and the inner plate 13 and the outer plate 14 are pivotally attached.
And this process is repeated and the ring-shaped bicycle chain 1 is formed as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7B, when the bicycle chain 1 extends straight, the tapered surface 124 of the roller 12 does not contact the outer peripheral surface of the chain pin 11 as shown in FIG. 123 and the tapered surface 124 form an appropriate gap between the inner peripheral surface of the roller 12 and the outer peripheral surface of the chain pin 11.
On the other hand, when a force is applied to shift the roller 12 when the gear change or the bicycle is run, the tapered surface 124 of the roller 12 comes into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the chain pin 11, as shown in FIG. Since the inclination of the roller 12 is allowed, the bicycle chain 1 can be greatly bent as shown in FIG.
Further, since the chamfered portion 122 is formed at the edge of the inner peripheral surface of the roller 12, even if the roller 12 is inclined, the edge of the roller 12 and the chain pin 11 do not come into line contact, and excessively To prevent the wear of.

8 to 10 show another embodiment of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, an annular bulging portion 111 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the chain pin 11 along the circumferential direction as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the bulging portion 111 has a gently curved cross section, and when the chain pin 11 is inserted into the storage space 121 of the roller 12, the bulging portion 111 slides in the circumferential direction in the recess 123. Engage freely.
In addition, the concave portion 123 of the roller 12 and the bulging portion 111 of the chain pin 12 are in close contact with each other, but can move so as to slide with each other. Sex can be secured.
Since the other structure of the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, the same portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a bicycle chain showing Embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a roller according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roller according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle chain showing Example 1. FIG. Sectional drawing of the chain for bicycles which shows Example 1. FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a bicycle chain showing Example 1. FIG. FIG. 2A is a plan view when the first embodiment is bent, and FIG. Sectional drawing of the chain for bicycles which shows Example 2. FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a chain pin according to a second embodiment. The expanded sectional view of the chain for bicycles which shows Example 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bicycle chain 11 Chain pin 111 Swelling part 12 Roller 121 Storage space 122 Chamfering part 123 Recessed part 124 Tapered surface 13 Inner plate 131 Inner shaft hole 14 Outer plate 141 Outer shaft hole

Claims (4)

  A large number of inner plates and outer plates are alternately arranged so that the end portions overlap each other, and the end portions of the inner plate and the outer plate are pivotally attached by a chain pin, and a short tubular roller is allowed to play around the outer periphery of the chain pin. A bicycle chain characterized in that the end portion in the axial direction of the inner peripheral surface of the roller is a tapered surface that increases in diameter toward the opening end surface.   The bicycle chain according to claim 1, wherein an annular recess along the circumferential direction is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the roller.   The bulge part which slidably engages with the recessed part of the said roller in the outer periphery of the said chain pin is formed in the outer periphery of the said chain pin, The cross section of the said recessed part and the bulged part was made into the shape which curves gently. Bicycle chain.   The bicycle chain according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a chamfered portion is formed at an axial end edge of the inner peripheral surface of the roller.

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