Bicycle wireless electronic derailleur

• US 10,668,985 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2017
• Issued: 06/02/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Campagnolo S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Campagnolo S.R.L.
• Inventors: Miglioranza, Federico
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Henry Y
• Application Number:
  US15/854,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20180178881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 474 80, 474 82
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/122 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/127 Mounting or guiding of cables
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/132 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/137 Mounting or guiding of cables
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00

Abstract

A bicycle wireless electronic derailleur, comprising a support body, a movable body, comprising a chain guide, actuation means configured to move the movable body with respect to the support body, comprising an electric motor, a controller of the electric motor, a wireless communication device, part of or in communication with the controller, configured to receive gearshifting request signals from a wireless transmitter and housed in a first casing, and a bicycle movement detector configured to emit a wake signal for the wireless communication device. The movement detector is at least partially housed in at least one second casing different from the first casing, and is in communication through at least one cable with the wireless communication device.

Claims

1. Bicycle wireless electronic derailleur, comprising:

a support body configured to be mounted on a frame of a bicycle at an assembly of coaxial toothed wheels of the bicycle,

a movable body, comprising a chain guide,

actuation means configured to move the movable body with respect to the support body, comprising an electric motor,

a controller of the electric motor,

a wireless communication device, part of or in communication with the controller, configured to receive gearshifting request signals from a wireless transmitter, the wireless communication device being housed in a first casing,

a bicycle movement detector configured to emit a wake signal for the wireless communication device,

wherein the movement detector is at least partially housed in at least one second casing different from the first casing, and is in communication through at least one cable with the wireless communication device.

2. The derailleur according to claim 1, wherein the communication through at least one cable between the wireless communication device and the movement detector is provided with at least one pair of matching removable connectors.

3. The derailleur according to claim 1, wherein the movement detector comprises at least one magnet that generates a magnetic field and at least one magnetic field sensor, the magnetic field detected by the sensor differs according to whether the bicycle is moving or stationary.

4. The derailleur according to claim 3, wherein both the magnet and the sensor are attached to the chain guide, at least the sensor is housed in the at least one second casing and being in communication through the at least one cable with the wireless communication device.

5. The derailleur according to claim 3, wherein the sensor is fixed to a first plate of the chain guide.

6. The derailleur according to claim 5, wherein the derailleur is a front derailleur and the sensor is fixed to an inner plate of the chain guide.

7. The derailleur according to claim 5, wherein the derailleur is a rear derailleur and the sensor is fixed to an outer plate of the chain guide.

8. The derailleur according to claim 5, wherein the sensor is fixed in one of a respective recessed seat and a notch in the first plate of the chain guide.

9. The derailleur according to claim 5, wherein the magnet is fixed to a second plate of the chain guide, wherein a mutual position of the magnet and of the sensor is fixed, and the sensor is immersed in the magnetic field generated by the magnet, and wherein a length of a closed loop path followed by a motion transmission chain of the bicycle, at least at a predetermined gear ratio, is immersed in the magnetic field generated by the magnet, so that, if in said path length there is at least one actual chain portion, the sensor detects the magnetic field perturbed by said actual chain portion.

10. The derailleur according to claim 9, wherein the path length passes through a space between the magnet and the sensor.

11. The derailleur according to claim 4, wherein the magnet and the sensor are fixed at corresponding positions of opposite plates of the chain guide.

12. The derailleur according to claim 9, wherein the derailleur is a rear derailleur and the chain guide comprises two pulley-carrying plates, wherein the magnet and the sensor are fixed to said pulley-carrying plates at corresponding positions at the toothing of a pulley, preferably of the upper pulley of the chain tensioner.

13. The derailleur according to claim 9, wherein the derailleur is a front derailleur.

14. The derailleur according to claim 1, wherein the derailleur is a rear derailleur and the chain guide comprises two pulley-carrying plates and two pulleys pivotally supported between the pulley-carrying plates, the magnet is fixed to a first pulley of the chain guide, and the sensor is fixed to a pulley-carrying plate in such a position as to be periodically immersed in the magnetic field generated by the magnet during the rotation of the first pulley.

15. The derailleur according to claim 1, wherein the first casing is fixed to the support body.