ELECTRO MECHANICAL BICYCLE DERAILLEUR ACTUATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20120035011A1
• Filed: 08/09/2010
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Guy Peretz, Haim Menachem
• Original Assignee: Guy Peretz, Haim Menachem
• Inventors: MENACHEM, Haim, PERETZ, Guy
• Application Number:
  US12/852,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20120035011A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 474/126
• 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: Y10T 29/49716 Converting

Abstract

An electro mechanical bicycle derailleur actuator system, retrofittable to a bicycle having gearing and at least one derailleur, the derailleur having a cable, the system comprising: at least one derailleur actuator module (DAM) connectable to the bicycle and to the cable; a cyclist interface module (CIM) connectable to the bicycle for cyclist interface with the system; and a control and power module (CPM) connectable to the bicycle serving to control and power the system, wherein the bicycle gearing is shiftable by the system without derailleur cable modification.

Claims

1. An electro mechanical bicycle derailleur actuator system, retrofittable to a bicycle having gearing and at least one derailleur, the derailleur having a cable, the system comprising:

at least one derailleur actuator module (DAM) connectable to the bicycle and to the cable;

a cyclist interface module (CIM) connectable to the bicycle for cyclist interface with the system; and

a control and power module (CPM) connectable to the bicycle serving to control and power the system,

wherein the bicycle gearing is shiftable by the system without derailleur cable modification.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein derailleur cable modification includes one chosen from the list including:

cutting;

shortening;

rerouting;

lengthening, removing; and

replacing of the cable.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one DAM further comprises:

a mounting connectable to a stay of the bicycle and having positional adjustment in two degrees of freedom and a cable displacement unit (CDU) connectable to the mounting and the cable, the CDU having positional adjustment in a third degree of freedom.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the CDU includes a motor having an axis, the motor adapted to drive a lead screw on which a rider is configured and wherein the rider is attachable to the cable, the rider adaptable to displace the cable to effect gear changes.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the CDU further includes an encoder attachable to the axis, the encoder adapted to provide feedback regarding cable displacement by the rider.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the CDU additionally includes means to:

receive commands from the CPM;

transfer information regarding cable displacement to the CPM; and

receive power from the CPM.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the CIM includes on board power and a means to transfer commands to the CPM including one chosen from the list including:

wireless and wired.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the CPM includes on-board power and wiring to transfer the power to the CDU and means to transfer commands to and receive information from the CDU.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein means to transfer commands and receive information to and receive information from the CDU includes one chosen from list including:

wireless and wired.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein system is commandable to allow bicycle gear shifting not by the system.

11. A method of retrofitting an electro mechanical bicycle derailleur actuator system to a bicycle having gearing and at least one derailleur the derailleur having a cable, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting at least one derailleur actuator module (DAM) to the bicycle and to the cable;

connecting a cyclist interface module (CIM) to the bicycle for cyclist interface with the system; and

connecting a power module (CPM) to the bicycle serving to control and power the system,

wherein the bicycle gearing is shifted by the system without derailleur cable modification.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein derailleur cable modification includes one chosen from the list including:

cutting;

shortening;

rerouting;

lengthening, removing; and

replacing of the cable.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one DAM further comprises:

a mounting connected to a stay of the bicycle and having positional adjustment in two degrees of freedom and a cable displacement unit (CDU) connected to the mounting and the cable, the CDU having positional adjustment in a third degree of freedom.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the CDU includes a motor having an axis, the motor driving a lead screw on which a rider is configured and wherein the rider is attached to the cable, the rider displacing the cable to effect gear changes.

15. An electro mechanical bicycle derailleur actuator system connected to a bicycle having gearing and at least one derailleur, the derailleur having a cable, the system comprising:

at least one derailleur actuator module (DAM) connectable to the bicycle and to the cable, the DAM comprising a rider to which the cable is attachable, the rider configurable onto a lead screw, the lead screw rotatable to displace the rider and the cable to effect gear changes,

wherein the bicycle gearing is shiftable by the system.