Process for controlling gear shifting in a cycle, and corresponding systems and components

• US 20070155553A1
• Filed: 03/01/2007
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Campagnolo S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Campagnolo S.R.L.
• Inventors: Campagnolo, Valentino, Guderzo, Gianfranco
• Application Number:
  US11/712,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155553A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 474/106
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/04 hand actuated
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/045 having single actuating means operating both front and rear derailleur
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/122 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/126 Chain guides; Mounting thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/128 Accessories, e.g. protectors
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/16 Tensioning or adjusting equipment for chains, belts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 59/68 Inputs being a function of gearing status
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/165 by relative movement of a point of contact or actuation and a resistive track

Abstract

A system for controlling gear shifting in a transmission of a cycle, includes at least one gear wheel or sprocket on which a transmission element is engaged to perform transmission of motion as a result of movement in a predetermined direction. The gear shifting is carried out by changing the position of engagement of the transmission member with respect to the at least one gear wheel or sprocket. The system further includes at least one sensor for detecting the movement in corresponding direction of movement of the motion transmitting element for generating a signal and a control unit for controlling the change of the position of the element for transmitting motion with respect to the at least one gear wheel or sprocket when the signal indicates that the element for transmitting motion is moving in the given direction.

Claims

1. A bicycle chain tensioner comprising a sensor that detects motion of a bicycle transmission chain.

2. A bicycle chain tensioner comprising a sensor that detects a bicycle'"'"'s motion.

3. A bicycle chain tensioner comprising a sensor that detects a bicycle wheel'"'"'s motion.

4. A process for controlling when gear shifting occurs in a transmission of a cycle having at least one sprocket coaxially mounted to hub of a rear wheel of the cycle and a transmission chain engaged with said sprocket, the process comprising the steps of:

providing a sensor at a transmission chain tensioner, said sensor detecting a marker having angular positions corresponding movement of the transmission chain; and

selectively activating said sensor according to a command request to initiate a shift.

5. The process according to claim 4, further comprising the steps of preventing a shift when said sensor detects no movement or rearward movement in the transmission chain and allowing a shift when said sensor detects forward movement in the transmission chain.

6. A system for controlling when gear shifting occurs in the transmission of a cycle, the system comprising:

at least one sensor located on a chain tensioner, said sensor detecting a marker that rotates about an axis parallel to an axis of a sprocket coaxial with a rear hub of a cycle wheel, said marker having angular positions that correspond to movement of a transmission chain engaged to the sprocket; and

a control unit for activating said sensor according to a command request.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said control unit is configured for preventing, in response to the corresponding signal, a gear shift when the sensor detects no or rearward movement of the transmission chain, and allowing, in response to the corresponding signal, a gear shift when the sensor detects forward movement of the transmission chain.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one sensor is associated with a crank axle of the cycle, and rotation of the crank axle corresponds to the forward and rearward movement of the chain.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein said at least one sensor is associated to one of a crank axle of said cycle and a tensioning element.

10. A system for controlling gear shifting in a transmission of a cycle comprising at least one gear wheel on which is engaged a transmission element that performs transmission of motion as a result of its advance in a pre-determined direction;

the gear shifting being carried out by changing the position of engagement of said transmission element with respect to said at least one gear wheel, wherein said at least one gear wheel has at least one given angular position in which the shifting of said element for transmitting motion is facilitated, said system comprising;

at least one sensor located proximate to the chain tensioner, said sensor detecting a marker that rotates about an axis parallel to an axis of a rear wheel hub, said marker having an angular position corresponding to the position of said at least one gear wheel for generating a respective signal;

a control unit for controlling, starting from said respective signal, the change of the position of said element for transmitting motion;

at least one switch for selective activation of said at least one sensor according to a command for changing the position of said element for transmitting motion with respect to said at least one gear wheel; and

said control unit being configured for preventing shifting of said at least one gear wheel when the gear wheel is not in an angular position corresponding to said at least one given angular position, and then allowing change of position of said transmission element when said at least one gear wheel is rotated to a next angular position corresponding to said at least one given angular position.

11. A process for controlling gear shifting in the transmission of a cycle comprising at least one gear that engages a transmission element that performs transmission of motion only during the transmission element'"'"'s advancement in a forwardly direction;

the gear shifting being carried out by changing the position of engagement of said transmission element with respect to said at least one gear, the process comprising the steps of;

detecting the angular position of said at least one gear;

controlling change of position of said element for transmitting motion with respect to said at least one gear depending on the detected angular position;

providing sensor means for detecting the angular position of said at least one gear; and

selectively activating said sensor means according to a command request for changing the position of said element for transmitting motion with respect to said at least one gear.

12. A process for controlling when gear shifting occurs in a transmission of a cycle having at least one gear, the process comprising the steps of:

assigning said at least one gear at least one given angular position in which shifting is facilitated only during forward movement of a transmission chain engaged to the at least one gear;

providing a sensor that detects a marker located coaxial to a crank axle that drives the transmission, the sensor detecting an angular position of the marker corresponding to the angular position of the at least one gear in which shifting is facilitated; and

selectively activating said sensor according to a command request to initiate a shift.

13. A process for controlling when gear shifting occurs in a transmission of a cycle having transmission elements comprising:

at least one sprocket coaxially mounted to hub of a rear wheel of the cycle, a gear attached to a pedal crank, and a transmission chain engaged with said sprocket and said gear, the process comprising the steps of;

providing a sensor that detects a marker on at least one of the transmission elements, and has angular positions corresponding to no, forward, and rearward movement at least one of the transmission elements;

selectively activating said sensor according to a command request to initiate a shift;

only allowing a shift when the sensor detects forward movement of at least one of the transmission elements.

14. The process of claim 13 wherein the transmission elements further comprise a chain tensioning element.