REAR DERAILLEUR

• US 20140087901A1
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SRAM LLC (SRAM International Corp.)
• Original Assignee: SRAM LLC (SRAM International Corp.)
• Inventors: Shipman, Christopher, Jordan, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 9,394,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 474/82
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/30 for providing power to equipment other than for propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/121 Rear derailleurs
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/122 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/1242 characterised by the linkage mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/131 Front derailleurs
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/132 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/16 comprising worm and worm-wheel

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention provides an electromechanical rear derailleur for a bicycle including a base member that is configured to be coupled to a frame member of a bicycle. The derailleur includes a movable member and a link mechanism that movably couples the movable member to the base member. A motor is positioned at the movable member to move the movable member.

Claims

1. ) An electronic rear derailleur for a bicycle, comprising:

a base member for attachment to a frame member of the bicycle;

a movable member having a cage assembly attached thereto;

a linkage coupling the movable member to the base member and operative to permit movement of the movable member relative to the base member;

a power source connected to one of the base member and the movable member;

a motor positioned at the other of the base member and the movable member; and

an electrical conductor connecting the power source to the motor.

2. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 1, wherein the power source is removably connected to the base member and the motor is positioned at the movable member.

3. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 2, wherein the linkage includes an outer link and an inner link.

4. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 3, further comprising a first pin that pivotally connects the outer link to the base member, a second pin that pivotally connects the inner link to the base member, a third pin that pivotally connects the outer link to the movable member, and a fourth pin that pivotally connects the inner link to the movable member.

5. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 4, wherein the movable member includes a gear housing.

6. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 5, further comprising a transmission positioned in the gear housing, the transmission operated by the motor.

7. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 6, wherein the motor is positioned in the gear housing.

8. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 7, wherein the motor includes an output shaft with a worm disposed thereon.

9. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 8, wherein the worm operates the transmission to operate an output gear of the transmission.

10. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 9, wherein the output gear is coupled to the inner link to move the movable member.

11. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 9, wherein the transmission includes at least one gear connecting the worm to the output gear.

12. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 9, wherein the output gear is arranged on the fourth pin.

13. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 9, wherein the output gear is arranged about the fourth pin.

14. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 13, wherein the output gear is rotatably arranged about the fourth pin.

15. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 9, further comprising a drive arm coupled to the output gear, the drive arm acting on the inner link to move the moveable member.

16. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 15, wherein the drive arm contacts a projection of the inner link on a first side of the drive arm.

17. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 16, further comprising a clutch spring disposed on the second pin, the clutch spring biasably contacting the drive arm.

18. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 17, wherein the clutch spring includes a free end extending toward the movable member and contacting the drive arm on a second side of the drive arm, wherein the second side is opposite the first side of the drive arm.

19. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 9, further comprising an encoder gear meshed with the output gear.

20. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 19, further comprising a magnet holder disposed within the gear housing, the magnet holder provided with a magnet responsive to motion of the encoder gear, and a sensor, positioned to sense the angular position of the encoder gear by way of the position of the magnet.

21. ) A power supply for a bicycle derailleur, comprising;

a housing sized and shaped to be removably mounted to a bicycle derailleur;

a battery disposed in the housing;

a terminal on the outside of the housing and in electrical communication with the battery; and

a securing mechanism on the bicycle derailleur for releasably retaining the housing thereon.

22. ) The power supply of claim 21, which is configured to be interchangeably mountable to a rear derailleur and a front derailleur.

23. ) The power supply of claim 21, further comprising a mounting plate connected to a base member of each of the rear and front derailleurs, the mounting plate sized and shaped to receive the power supply.

24. ) The power supply of claim 23, wherein the mounting plate includes a pair of contacts positioned to align with the terminal when the power supply is connected to the mounting plate.

25. ) The power supply of claim 24, wherein the mounting plate includes a seal disposed about at least one of the pair of contacts and positioned to seal with the housing when the power supply is connected thereto.

26. ) The power supply of claim 21, further comprising an engagement member positioned on a base member of each of the rear and'"'"'front derailleurs and movable between an engaged position to thereby secure the housing to the base member and an unengaged position for removal of the housing from the base member.

27. ) The power supply of claim 26, comprising a biasing member arranged to bias the engagement member to the engaged position.

28. ) The power supply of claim 27, wherein the housing includes a catch shaped to be engaged by the engagement member.

29. ) The power supply of claim 27, wherein the engagement member is a latch.

30. ) The power supply of claim 28, wherein the housing includes one or more protrusions that are captured in corresponding receiving features formed in the base member.

31. ) The power supply of claim 30, wherein the catch and the one or more protrusions are positioned at opposite ends of the housing.

32. ) The power supply of claim 21, wherein the housing is laterally compressed.

33. ) An electronic rear derailleur for a bicycle, comprising:

a base member for attachment to a frame member of the bicycle;

a movable member having a cage assembly attached thereto;

a linkage coupling the movable member to the base member and operative to permit movement of the movable member relative to the base member;

a motor positioned at the movable member, the motor operative to move the movable member relative to the base member, the motor being wirelessly controllable, and

a button positioned on the movable member for accessing one or more operating parameter of the derailleur.

34. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 33, wherein the power source is removably connected to the base member.

35. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 34, wherein the linkage includes an outer link and an inner link.

36. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 35, further comprising a first pin that pivotally connects the outer link to the base member, a second pin that pivotally connects the inner link to the base member, a third pin that pivotally connects the outer link to the movable member, and a fourth pin that pivotally connects the inner link to the movable member.

37. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 36, wherein the movable member includes a gear housing.

38. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 37, further comprising a transmission positioned in the gear housing, the transmission operated by the motor.

39. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 38, wherein the motor is positioned in the gear housing.

40. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 39, wherein the motor includes an output shaft with a worm disposed thereon.

41. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 40, wherein the worm operates the transmission to operate an output gear of the transmission.

42. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 41, wherein the output gear is coupled to the inner link to move the movable member.

43. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 41, wherein the transmission includes at least one gear connecting the worm to the output gear.

44. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 41, wherein the output gear is arranged on the fourth pin.

45. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 41, wherein the output gear is arranged about the fourth pin.

46. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 45, wherein the output gear is rotatably arranged about the fourth pin.

47. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 41, further comprising a drive arm coupled to the output gear, the drive arm acting on the inner link to move the moveable member.

48. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 43, wherein the drive arm contacts a projection of the inner link on a first side of the drive arm.

49. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 48, further comprising a clutch spring disposed on the second pin, the clutch spring contacting the drive arm.

50. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 49, wherein the clutch spring includes a free end extending toward the movable member and contacting the drive arm on a second side of the drive arm, wherein the second side is opposite the first side of the drive arm.

51. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 41, further comprising an encoder gear meshed with the output gear.

52. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 51, further comprising a magnet holder disposed within the gear housing, the magnet holder provided with a magnet responsive to motion of the encoder gear, and a sensor positioned to sense the angular position of the encoder gear by way of the position of the magnet.

53. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 33, wherein the function is a pairing function.

54. ) An electronic rear derailleur for a bicycle, comprising:

a base member for attachment to a frame member of the bicycle;

a movable member having a cage assembly attached thereto;

a linkage coupling the movable member to the base member and operative to permit movement of the movable member relative to the base member;

a transmission operative to move the movable member relative to the base member, the transmission including a plurality of gears in a load path and an encoder gear independent of the load path and receiving rotational input from one of the plurality of gears of the transmission; and

a motor to operate the transmission.

55. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 54, further comprising an absolute encoder positioned to sense the position of the encoder gear.

56. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 54, wherein the transmission includes an output gear and the encoder gear is meshed with the output gear.

57. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 56, wherein the output gear operates over an angular range.

58. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 57, wherein the encoder gear is sized to rotate an amount approaching but not exceeding 360 degrees over the operating range of the output gear.

59. ) The electronic rear derailleur of claim 58, wherein the output gear operates over a range of about 90 degrees and the encoder gear is about ¼

the diameter of the output gear.

60. ) A power supply arrangement for a bicycle electronic gear changing system, comprising:

a front derailleur including a base member mounted to the bicycle;

a first power supply removably mounted on the base member of the front derailleur;

a rear derailleur including a base member mounted to the bicycle; and

a second power supply removably mounted on the base member of the rear derailleur.