JPS61257386A - Controller of transmission for bicycle - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a bicycle transmission, and more particularly to a control device for a bicycle military transmission using a microprocessor.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally used bicycle transmissions include an internal type that has a thicker hub axle for the rear wheel and a planetary gear mechanism built into it.
There are two types of external type sprockets that have multiple sprockets with different numbers of teeth, for example 2 to 6, arranged so that the chain can be changed. Among these, the internal type is also called the hub gear type, has one set of planetary gears built inside, and usually has about 3 speeds. It is easy to handle, can be switched even when stopped, and is easy to maintain, so it is often used by light troops. Also, the external type is a type also called a derailleur, and the gear ratio is changed by changing the chain between multiple small gears with different numbers of teeth, for example 2 to 6. This type is often seen in sports troops.

These rotating military transmissions generally change gear ratios by operating a lever, but since this operation requires considerable force, we have also proposed a system that incorporates a motor and uses that force to perform gear shifting operations. has been done.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

There is a general misconception that bicycle transmissions are intended to increase the speed of the bicycle, but they were originally intended to help even weaker riders ride uphill or over long distances with ease. It was invented. However, in the conventional military multi-speed transmissions as described above, in any case, except for those who regularly use multi-speed transmissions such as amateur athletes, it is difficult to determine the crank rotation speed at which the user can run most comfortably and easily. It is also extremely difficult to constantly be aware of this and drive accordingly. This situation does not change at all whether the transmission is by lever operation or a motor, and whether it is a multi-stage transmission or a continuously variable transmission.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances,
The purpose of this system is to maintain the crank rotation speed at a nearly constant value by automatically changing gears, making it easier for people who are not familiar with bicycles with transmissions to operate the bicycle efficiently in terms of human energy use. The object of the present invention is to provide a control device for a rotating military transmission that can perform the following operations.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a crank rotational speed detector for detecting the rotational speed of the crank of a bicycle having a transmission, and a gear position detector for detecting the gear position of the transmission when the transmission is in use. , performs a predetermined shift calculation to determine whether the current crank rotation speed is a predetermined optimum speed, and if it is higher or lower than this speed, changes the required gear to restore the optimum speed. A microprocessor for determining the position and issuing a shift command to the transmission operating motor for switching to the gear position based on the output of the gear position detector. The present invention provides a control device for a transmission.

[Effect]

In the bicycle transmission control device of the present invention having the above configuration, a predetermined optimum crank rotation speed is set in the microprocessor by, for example, a program, and the crank rotation is inputted from a crank rotation speed detector while riding. If the speed is higher than this optimum rotational speed due to slopes, etc.
If the speed increases or decreases, the microprocessor uses calculations to determine which gear position should be used to restore the optimum speed and uses the output of the gear position detector to switch to that gear position. A gear change command is supplied to a transmission operating motor to select its gear position.

Furthermore, according to a series of experiments that investigated the relationship between crank rotation speed and oxygen consumption, for example, in the case of a general type bicycle, oxygen consumption is lowest at approximately 66 rpm. Therefore, in such a case, the optimum rotation speed should be set to 66 rpm.

〔Example〕

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the control device for a rotating military transmission according to the present invention shown in the drawings will be described in detail below.

The control device of the illustrated embodiment includes a microprocessor 1, a Hall element 3 as a crank speed detector fixed near the crank 2 of the bicycle body, and a permanent sensor fixed on the crank 2 at a position corresponding to the Hall element 3. Five freewheels (gears) 7 driven via a chain 6 by a chain wheel 5 that rotates together with the magnet piece 4 and the crank 2.
□~75 and chain 6 between these free foils
a multi-stage transmission 9 consisting of a shifter 8 that changes gears, a DC reversible motor 11 as a transmission operating motor that operates the shifter 8 of the transmission 9 via a wire 10 in response to a gear change command from the microprocessor 1; It has a rotary switch 12 as a gear position detection means which rotates in response to gear position switching and supplies a signal indicating the gear position to the microprocessor 1, and is further attached to the handlebar (not shown) of the bicycle. It is equipped with a switch box 13 having two switches "HI" and "LO" that indicate top speed and fifth speed, respectively, and a buzzer 14 that generates an audio signal indicating gear position switching.

The optimum rotation speed of the crank zI is set in the microprocessor 1 by a program. During spinning, each time the magnet piece 4 passes near the Hall element 3 as the crank 2 rotates, a non-maskable interrupt is generated from the Hall element 3 to the microprocessor 1. The microprocessor 1 calculates the number of rotations of the crank 2 from this interrupt, determines whether to change gears up or down based on the preset optimal number of rotations, and based on the result of that determination, changes the speed of the motor. 11 to select a required gear position. At the same time, the buzzer 14 issues an alarm indicating that a gear change is to be performed.

Further, since the rotation of the motor 11 is transmitted via the wire 15 so as to change the switch position of the rotary switch 12, the microprocessor 1
The gear position can be checked at all times by output No.2.

For example, if the bicycle is running at the optimal rotation speed with the chain 6 hanging on the freewheel 73, and the bicycle approaches an uphill slope and the crank rotation speed decreases, the microprocessor 1 will also change the output of the Hall element 3. Then, the motor 1 issues a speed change command to select the gear position necessary to restore the optimum rotational speed, that is, either the freewheel 74 or 75, which has a larger diameter than the freewheel 73.
1, and the motor 11 outputs the wire 10 according to the command.
The shifter 8 is operated by winding or unwinding the chain 6 to hang the chain 6 on the selected freewheel. In this way, the rotation speed of the crank 2 is automatically maintained at the preset optimum rotation speed.

When encountering sudden changes in the road or road surface, press the "HiJ" or "LO" switch on the switch box 13 to set the top speed [freewheel 7 □] regardless of the output of the Hall element 3. ] or the fifth gear (freewheel 75) gear position is selected. Further, although the above embodiment has been described with respect to a five-speed transmission, it is clear that embodiments with multi-stage transmissions other than five-speed transmissions and continuously variable transmissions are possible.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the control device for a rotating military multi-speed transmission according to the present invention, the rotation speed of the crank can be automatically maintained at the optimal rotation speed from the perspective of human energy utilization, and even those who are not familiar with multi-speed transmissions can operate efficiently. This allows for smooth driving.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figure is a block diagram of an embodiment of a control device for a rotary military multi-speed transmission according to the present invention. Free hole (gear), 9...Multi-stage transmission, 11...
・Transmission operation motor, 12...rotary switch (
gear position detector)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A crank rotational speed detector that detects the rotational speed of the crank of a bicycle equipped with a transmission, a gear position detector that detects the gear position of the transmission when it is in use, and a gear shifter that changes the gear position of the transmission. Performing a predetermined calculation based on the output of the machine operation motor and the crank rotation speed detector,
Determines whether the current crank rotation speed is a predetermined optimum speed, and if it is higher or lower than this speed, determines the required gear position to restore the optimum speed, and detects the gear position. 1. A control device for a rotating military transmission, comprising: a microprocessor that issues a gear change command to the transmission operating motor to switch to the gear position based on the output of the gear. (2) When the microprocessor issues a speed change command,
A patent claim characterized in that the microprocessor is connected to an alarm means that responds to this and notifies the user of this fact, and a gear position forced selection means that forces the rider to select a desired gear position by operating a switch. A control device for a rotating military transmission according to item 1.