INSTRUMENT-EQUIPPED BICYCLE COMPONENT AND DETECTION UNIT FOR EQUIPPING SUCH A COMPONENT

• US 20080236293A1
• Filed: 03/28/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Campagnolo S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Campagnolo S.R.L.
• Inventors: Meggiolan, Mario
• Granted Patent: US 7,861,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/794
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/411 Torque sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 45/421 at the pedal crank
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 3/003 Combination of crank axles and bearings housed in the bottom bracket bottom bracket frame details B62K19/34
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 3/108 involving resistance strain gauges

Abstract

An instrument-equipped bicycle component has a detection unit for detecting at least one parameter representative of a stress exerted upon the component. The component may have a single piece or multiple parts that do not move relative to one another. The component may be mobile with respect to the bicycle frame while the bicycle is traveling, and the detection unit moves as a single piece with the component with respect to the bicycle frame. The detected parameter may be the torque applied by the cyclist to the aforementioned component through the bicycle pedals.

Claims

1. An instrument-equipped bicycle component comprising a detection unit for detecting at least one parameter representative of a stress exerted upon the component, the component being a single piece or comprising at least two parts that do not move relative to one another.

2. The component of claim 1, wherein the component is mobile with respect to the bicycle frame while the bicycle is traveling, and the detection unit can move as a single piece with the component with respect to the bicycle frame.

3. The component of claim 2, further comprising a main body that can rotate about a rotation axis, wherein the detection unit rotates as a single piece with the main body.

4. The component of claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises at least one generator of at least one signal representative of the stress.

5. The component of claim 4, wherein the detection unit comprises at least one power supply device associated with the at least one generator of a signal representative of the stress.

6. The component of claim 4, wherein the detection unit comprises at least one transmission device for transmission of the signal generated by the at least one generator.

7. The component of claim 4, wherein the detection unit further comprises at least one processing unit for processing of the signal generated by the at least one generator of a signal representative of the stress.

8. The component of claim 1, wherein the component is made from composite material and the detection unit is incorporated into the composite material.

9. The component of claim 1, wherein the component defines at least one cavity, and the detection unit is at least partially housed in the at least one cavity.

10. The component of claim 9, wherein the detection unit comprises at least one power supply device associated with the at least one generator, wherein the at least one power supply device is housed in the at least one cavity.

11. The component of claim 9, wherein the detection unit further comprises:

at least one generator of at least one signal representative of the stress; and

at least one transmission device for transmission of the signal generated by the at least one generator of a signal representative of the stress;

wherein the at least one transmission device is housed in the at least one cavity.

12. The component of claim 9, wherein:

the detection unit comprises at least one generator of at least one signal representative of the stress;

the detection unit comprises at least one power supply device associated with the at least one generator;

the at least one generator of a signal representative of the stress is housed in the at least one cavity.

13. The component of claim 9, wherein the detection unit is entirely housed in the at least one cavity.

14. The component of claim 9, wherein the component further comprises an outer surface and the at least one generator is associated with the outer surface.

15. The component of claim 1, wherein the parameter is representative of the tension exerted on the component.

16. The component of claim 15, wherein:

the detection unit further comprises at least one generator of at least one signal representative of the stress, and at least one processing unit for processing of the signal generated by the at least one generator;

the processing unit compares the signal representative of the tensional state of the component (1) with a reference signal.

17. The component of claim 16, wherein the signal is representative of the torque exerted upon the component by a cyclist while pedaling.

18. The component of claim 1, wherein the component is any one chosen from the group consisting of:

a shaft of a bottom bracket assembly;

a crank arm;

a bottom bracket assembly;

a threaded element of a bottom bracket assembly;

a hub of a wheel;

a rim of a wheel;

a bicycle frame;

a seat post; and

a handlebar.

19. The component of claim 18, wherein:

the detection unit comprises;

at least one generator of at least one signal representative of the stress;

at least one power supply device associated with the at least one generator; and

at least one transmission device for transmission of the signal generated by the at least one generator;

the component is a bottom bracket assembly comprising a shaft and at least one crank arm associated with a free end portion of the shaft;

the at least one power supply device and the at least one transmission device are associated with the shaft; and

the at least one generator is associated with the at least one crank arm.

20. The component of claim 18, wherein:

the detection unit comprises;

at least one generator of at least one signal representative of the stress;

at least one power supply device associated with the at least one generator; and

at least one transmission device for transmission of the signal generated by the at least one generator;

the component is a bottom bracket assembly comprising a shaft and at least one threaded element capable of being threaded with said shaft;

the at least one power supply device and the at least one transmission device are associated with the shaft; and

the at least one generator is associated with the at least one threaded element.

21. The component of claim 20, wherein the at least one generator is associated with an intermediate support element associated with the at least one threaded element.

22. The component of claim 19, wherein the at least one power supply device and the at least one transmission device are connected together through electrical connectors.

23. The component of claim 6, wherein the at least one generator and the at least one transmission device are connected together through electrical cables.

24. The component of claim 5, wherein the at least one power supply device comprises at least one battery.

25. The component of claim 24, wherein the at least one battery is rechargeable.

26. The component of claim 25, wherein the at least one battery is rechargeable by induction.

27. The component of claim 5, wherein the at least one power supply device comprises at least one piezoelectric element.

28. The component of claim 24, wherein the at least one generator comprises at least one strain-gauge connected to the at least one battery.

29. The component of claim 28, wherein the at least one generator comprises two strain-gauges arranged according to perpendicular directions.

30. The component of claim 29, wherein the two strain-gauges are placed one above the other.

31. The component of claim 29, wherein the two strain-gauges are arranged in axially opposite areas of the component.

32. The component of claim 28, wherein the at least one generator comprises two pairs of strain-gauges.

33. The component of claim 28, wherein the at least one generator comprises four strain-gauges connected so as to define a strain-gauge bridge.

34. The component of claim 6, wherein the at least one transmission device comprises sliding contacts.

35. The component of claim 6, wherein the at least one transmission device comprises a radio frequency transmitter.

36. The component of claim 35, wherein:

the component defines at least one cavity; and

the radio frequency transmitter comprises an antenna, a portion of the antenna being housed in the at least one cavity of the component and a portion of the antenna extending out from the at least one cavity.

37. The component of claim 6, wherein the at least one transmission device comprises a pair of solenoids.

38. The component of claim 6, wherein the detection unit comprises a first power supply device for supplying power to the at least one transmission device.

39. The component of claim 38, wherein the first power supply device comprises a battery.

40. The component of claim 38, further comprising a second power supply device for supplying power to the at least one transmission device.

41. The component of claim 6, wherein the detection unit comprises at least one signal amplifier arranged between the at least one generator and the at least one transmission device.

42. The component of claim 41, wherein the detection unit comprises a first power supply device for supplying power to the at least one generator and a second power supply device for supplying power to the at least one signal amplifier.

43. The component of claim 42, wherein the second power supply device comprises a battery.

44. The component of claim 5, wherein the detection unit comprises a switch for actuating the at least one power supply device.

45. The component of claim 44, wherein the switch comprises a movement sensor.

46. The component of claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises an operation indicator LED.

47. The component of claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises a calibration or diagnosis switch.

48. The component of claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises a cadence sensor.

49. The component of claim 27, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element constitutes the at least one generator of a signal representative of the stress.

85. A bicycle comprising the instrument-equipped component of claim 1.

50. A detection unit capable of detecting at least one parameter representative of a stress exerted upon a bicycle component, and configured so to be inserted into at least one cavity of the component.

51. The detection unit of claim 50, wherein the detection unit comprises an outer housing case.

52. The detection unit of claim 50, wherein the detection unit can be fixedly associated with a threaded element that can be inserted into the at least one cavity.

53. The detection unit of claim 50, wherein the detection unit, comprises at least one generator of at least one signal representative of said stress.

54. The detection unit of claim 53, further comprising a first power supply device associated with the at least one generator.

55. The detection unit of claim 54, further comprising at least one transmission device for transmission of the signal generated by the at least one generator.

56. The detection unit of claim 53, further comprising at least one processing unit for processing of the signal generated by the at least one generator.

57. The detection unit of claim 55, wherein the power supply device and the at least one transmission device are connected through electrical connectors.

58. The detection unit of claim 55, wherein the at least one generator and the at least one transmission device are connected together through electrical cables.

59. The detection unit of claim 54, wherein the power supply device comprises at least one battery.

60. The detection unit of claim 59, wherein the at least one battery is rechargeable.

61. The detection unit of claim 60, wherein the at least one battery is rechargeable by induction.

62. The detection unit of claim 54, wherein the power supply device comprises at least one piezoelectric element.

63. The detection unit of claim 59, wherein the at least one generator comprises at least one strain-gauge connected to the at least one battery.

64. The detection unit of claim 63, wherein the at least one generator comprises two strain-gauges.

65. The detection unit of claim 64, wherein the two strain-gauges are placed one above the other.

66. The detection unit of claim 63, wherein the at least one generator of a signal representative of the stress comprises two pairs of strain-gauges.

67. The detection unit of claim 63, wherein the at least one generator comprises four strain-gauges connected so as to define a strain-gauge bridge.

68. The detection unit of claim 55, wherein the at least one transmission device comprises sliding contacts.

69. The detection unit of claim 55, wherein the at least one transmission device comprises a radio frequency transmitter.

70. The detection unit of claim 69, wherein the radio frequency transmitter comprises an antenna.

71. The detection unit of claim 55, wherein the at least one transmission device comprises a pair of solenoids.

72. The detection unit of claim 54, wherein the first power supply device supplies power to the at least one transmission device.

73. The detection unit of claim 72, wherein the first power supply device comprises a battery.

74. The detection unit of claim 72, further comprising a second power supply device.

75. The detection unit of claim 55 wherein the detection unit comprises at least one signal amplifier arranged between the at least one generator and the at least one transmission device.

76. The detection unit of claim 75, wherein the detection unit comprises a second power supply device for supplying power to the at least one signal amplifier.

77. The detection unit of claim 76, wherein the first power supply device supplies power to the signal amplifier.

78. The detection unit of claim 76, wherein the second power supply device comprises a battery.

79. The detection unit of claim 54, comprising a switch for actuating the first power supply device.

80. The detection unit of claim 79, wherein the switch comprises a movement sensor.

81. The detection unit of claim 50, comprising an operation indicator LED.

82. The detection unit of claim 50, comprising at least one of a calibration or diagnosis switch.

83. The detection unit of claim 50, comprising a cadence sensor.

84. The detection unit of claim 62, wherein the at least one piezoelectric element constitutes the at least one signal generator.

86. An instrument-equipped bicycle component comprising a detection unit that detects at least one parameter representative of a stress exerted upon the component, the detection unit located at least partially within a cavity within the component, the component comprising at least two parts that do not move relative to one another.

87. An instrument-equipped bicycle component comprising a detection unit that detects at least one parameter representative of a stress exerted upon the component, the component comprising at least two parts that do not move relative to one another;

wherein the detection unit further comprises at least one generator of at least one signal representative of the stress, and at least one processing unit that processes of the signal generated by the at least one generator and compares the signal representative of the stress to a predetermined reference signal.

88. A detection unit that detects at least one parameter representative of a stress exerted upon a bicycle component, and configured so to be inserted into at least one cavity of the component;

wherein the detection unit comprises at least one generator of at least one signal representative of said stress and the at least one generator comprises at least one strain-gauge insertable within the cavity.

89. An instrument-equipped bicycle component comprising a detection unit for detecting at least one parameter representative of a stress exerted upon the component, the component comprising at least two parts that do not move relative to one another, wherein the detection unit comprises at least one power supply device associated with the at least one generator of a signal representative of the stress;

wherein the at least one power supply device comprises at least one battery;

wherein the at least one generator comprises at least one strain-gauge connected to the at least one battery, and the at least one generator comprises two pairs of strain-gauges connected so as to comprise a strain-gauge Wheatstone bridge.

90. An instrument-equipped bicycle component comprising a detection unit that detects at least one parameter representative of a stress exerted upon the component, the component comprising a bottom bracket assembly comprising a shaft and at least one threaded element to be threaded to the shaft,

wherein the detection unit comprises:

at least one generator of at least one signal representative of the stress;

wherein the at least one generator is associated with the at least one threaded element.

91. An instrument-equipped bicycle component comprising a detection unit that detects at least one parameter representative of a stress exerted upon the component, the component comprising a bottom bracket assembly comprising a shaft and at least one threaded element to be threaded to the shaft,

wherein the detection unit comprises:

at least one generator of at least one signal representative of the stress;

at least one power supply device associated with the at least one generator; and

at least one transmission device for transmission of the signal generated by the at least one generator

wherein the at least one generator is associated with the at least one threaded element, and

the at least one power supply device and the at least one transmission device are associated with the shaft.

92. An instrument-equipped bicycle component comprising a detection unit that detects at least one parameter representative of a stress exerted upon the component, the component comprising a bottom bracket assembly comprising a shaft and at least one threaded element to be threaded to the shaft,

wherein the detection unit comprises:

at least one generator of at least one signal representative of the stress;

at least one power supply device associated with the at least one generator;

at least one transmission device for transmission of the signal generated by the at least one generator

at least one processing unit that processes of the signal generated by the at least one generator and compares the signal representative of the stress to a predetermined reference signal; and

wherein the at least one generator is associated with the at least one threaded element, and

the at least one power supply device, the at least one transmission device and the at least one processing unit are associated with the shaft.

93. An instrument-equipped bicycle component comprising a detection unit that detects at least one parameter representative of a stress exerted upon the component,

wherein the detection unit comprises:

at least one generator of at least one signal representative of the stress;

at least one cadence sensor to generate a cadence signal

at least one processor that analyzes the signal representative of stress and the cadence signal to process them into a signal proportional to the power exerted by the cyclist.

94. The instrument-equipped bicycle component of claim 93 wherein the cadence sensor acts as a switch for the cadence unit.

95. An instrument-equipped bicycle component comprising a detection unit that detects at least one parameter representative of a stress exerted upon the component,

wherein the detection unit comprises:

at least one generator of at least one signal representative of the stress;

at least one processor that analyzes the signal to calculate the pedalling cadence and processes the signal and the pedalling cadence into a signal proportional to the power exerted by the cyclist.

96. A detection unit capable of detecting at least one parameter representative of a stress exerted upon a bicycle component, and configured so to be inserted into at least one cavity of the component,

wherein

the detection unit comprises at least one generator of at least one signal representative of the stress, and

at least an elastic support of the at least one generator configured so to be inserted into at least one cavity of the component.