BICYCLE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

• US 20160347411A1
• Filed: 05/25/2015
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: YAMAMOTO, Tomohisa, SHAHANA, Satoshi, USUI, Makoto
• Granted Patent: US 9,896,152 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 2025/003 with gear indicating means, e.g. a display
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/45 Control or actuating devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 6/55 power-driven at crank shafts parts
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/122 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/132 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof

Abstract

A bicycle transmission system comprises a first input device, a transmission, an assist device, and a controller. The first input device is configured to receive a first input operation from a user. The transmission is configured to transmit a pedaling torque to a wheel at a current gear ratio among a plurality of gear ratios. The assist device is configured to assist a rotation of the wheel at a current assist ratio among a plurality of assist ratios. The controller is configured to change the current gear ratio into a predetermined gear ratio without changing the current assist ratio based on the first input operation in a first condition. The controller is configured to change the current gear ratio into a predetermined gear ratio and change the current assist ratio into a predetermined assist ratio based on the first input operation in a second condition.

Claims

1. A bicycle transmission system comprising:

a first input device configured to receive a first input operation from a user;

a transmission having a plurality of gear ratios and configured to transmit a pedaling torque to a wheel at a current gear ratio among the plurality of gear ratios;

an assist device having a plurality of assist ratios and configured to assist a rotation of the wheel at a current assist ratio among the plurality of assist ratios; and

a controller configured to change the current gear ratio into a predetermined gear ratio without changing the current assist ratio based on the first input operation in a first condition, the controller being configured to change the current gear ratio into a predetermined gear ratio and change the current assist ratio into a predetermined assist ratio based on the first input operation in a second condition different from the first condition.

2. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to change the current assist ratio into a predetermined assist ratio without changing the current gear ratio based on the first input operation in a third condition different from the first condition and the second condition.

3. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 1, wherein

the controller is configured to set a first predetermined gear ratio as the current gear ratio based on the first input operation in the first condition to change the current gear ratio into the first predetermined gear ratio,

the controller is configured to set a second predetermined gear ratio as the current gear ratio and set a first predetermined assist ratio as the current assist ratio based on the first input operation in the second condition to respectively change the current gear ratio and the current assist ratio into the second predetermined gear ratio and the first predetermined assist ratio, and

the controller is configured to control the transmission and the assist device based on the current gear ratio and the current assist ratio that are newly set.

4. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 1, wherein

the controller has control data and is configured to change the current gear ratio into a predetermined gear ratio based on the first input operation and the control data in the first condition, and

the controller is configured to change the current gear ratio into a predetermined gear ratio and change the current assist ratio into a predetermined assist ratio based on the first input operation and the control data in the second condition.

5. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 4, wherein

the control data comprises combination information that represents predetermined combinations of the plurality of gear ratios and the plurality of assist ratios.

6. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 5, wherein

the control data comprises order information that represents an order of control by the controller concerning the combination information.

7. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 6, further comprising:

a setting device via which the user is to change the order information.

8. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 1, wherein

the first input device is configured to receive an upshifting operation as the first input operation and is configured to receive a downshifting operation as the first input operation,

the controller is configured to change the current gear ratio into a predetermined gear ratio without changing the current assist ratio based on one of the upshifting operation and the downshifting operation in the first condition, and

the controller is configured to change the current gear ratio into a predetermined gear ratio and change the current assist ratio into a predetermined assist ratio based on one of the upshifting operation and the downshifting operation in the second condition.

9. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 8, wherein

the controller has control data and is configured to change the current gear ratio into a predetermined gear ratio without changing the current assist ratio based on the control data and one of the upshifting operation and the downshifting operation in the first condition, and

the controller is configured to change the current gear ratio into a predetermined gear ratio and change the current assist ratio into a predetermined assist ratio based on the control data and one of the upshifting operation and the downshifting operation in the second condition.

10. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 9, wherein

the control data comprises combination information that represents predetermined combinations of the plurality of gear ratios and the plurality of assist ratios, and

the predetermined combinations selectable based on the upshifting operation are equal to the predetermined combinations selectable based on the downshifting operation.

11. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 9, wherein

the control data comprises combination information that represents predetermined combinations of the plurality of gear ratios and the plurality of assist ratios, and

the predetermined combinations selectable based on the upshifting operation are at least partly different from the predetermined combinations selectable based on the downshifting operation.

12. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 1, wherein

the first condition comprises a condition that the current gear ratio is between a first gear ratio of the plurality of gear ratios and a second gear ratio of the plurality of gear ratios,

the first gear ratio is smaller than a maximum gear ratio of the plurality of gear ratios, and

the second gear ratio is larger than a minimum gear ratio of the plurality of gear ratios.

13. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second input device configured to receive a second input operation from the user; and

a mode selector via which the user is to select one of a first mode and a second mode, wherein

the controller controls the transmission and the assist device based on the first input operation in the first mode regardless of the second input operation,

the controller controls the transmission based on the first input operation in the second mode regardless of the second input operation, and

the controller controls the assist device based on the second input operation in the second mode regardless of the first input operation.

14. A bicycle transmission system comprising:

a first input device configured to receive a first input operation from a user;

a transmission having a plurality of gear ratios and configured to transmit a pedaling torque to a wheel at a current gear ratio among the plurality of gear ratios;

an assist device having a plurality of assist ratios and configured to assist a rotation of the wheel at a current assist ratio among the plurality of assist ratios; and

a controller configured to change the current gear ratio into a predetermined gear ratio without changing the current assist ratio based on the first input operation in a first condition, the controller configured to change the current assist ratio into a predetermined assist ratio without changing the current gear ratio based on the first input operation in a third condition different from the first condition.

15. A bicycle transmission system comprising:

a first electrical input part configured to receive a first operation from a user;

a transmission having a plurality of gear ratios and configured to transmit a pedaling torque to a wheel at a current gear ratio among the plurality of gear ratios;

an assist device having a plurality of assist ratios and configured to assist a rotation of the wheel at a current assist ratio among the plurality of assist ratios; and

a controller operatively connected to the first electrical input part and configured to change the current gear ratio based on the first operation in a first condition, the controller being configured to change the current assist ratio based on the first operation in a second condition different from the first condition.

16. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 15, wherein

the controller is configured to change the current gear ratio and the current assist ratio based on the first operation in the second condition.

17. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 15, wherein

the controller is configured to change the current gear ratio without changing the current assist ratio based on the first operation in the first condition.

18. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a second electrical input part configured to receive a second operation from the user, wherein

the controller is operatively connected to the second electrical input part,

the controller is configured to change the current gear ratio based on the second operation in a fourth condition, and

the controller is configured to change the current assist ratio based on the second operation in a fifth condition.

19. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 18, wherein

the controller is configured to change the current gear ratio and the current assist ratio based on the second operation in the fifth condition.

20. The bicycle transmission system according to claim 18, wherein

the controller is configured to change the current gear ratio without changing the current assist ratio based on the second operation in the fourth condition.