BICYCLE DERAILLEUR

• US 20200130779A1
• Filed: 10/24/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano (Singapore) Pte., Ltd. (Shimano Inc)
• Original Assignee: Shimano (Singapore) Pte., Ltd. (Shimano Inc)
• Inventors: MA, Yun
• Granted Patent: US 11,167,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/1248 characterised by the use of biasing means, e.g. springs; Arrangements thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/125 Mounting the derailleur on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/126 Chain guides; Mounting thereof

Abstract

A bicycle derailleur comprises a base member, a movable member, a chain guide, and a resistance applying structure. The chain guide is rotatably coupled to the movable member about a pivot axis. The resistance applying structure includes a rotational one-way clutch and an elastic portion. The rotational one-way clutch includes a first engagement member and a second engagement member. The first engagement member has a first axially facing surface and a first engagement profile provided to the first axially facing surface. The second engagement member has a second axially facing surface and a second engagement profile provided to the second axially facing surface. The elastic portion is provided to at least one of the first axially facing surface of the first engagement member and the second axially facing surface of the second engagement member.

Claims

1. A bicycle derailleur comprising:

a base member configured to be mounted to a bicycle frame;

a movable member movably coupled to the base member;

a chain guide rotatably coupled to the movable member about a pivot axis; and

a resistance applying structure configured to apply rotational resistance to the chain guide, the resistance applying structure including;

a rotational one-way clutch including a first engagement member and a second engagement member, the first engagement member and the second engagement member being configured to be rotatable about the pivot axis, the first engagement member having a first axially facing surface and a first engagement profile provided to the first axially facing surface, the second engagement member having a second axially facing surface and a second engagement profile provided to the second axially facing surface, the first engagement profile and the second engagement profile being configured to engage with each other in an engagement state of the first engagement member and the second engagement member, the first axially facing surface and the second axially facing surface being configured to face each other in an axial direction with respect to the pivot axis; and

an elastic portion provided to at least one of the first axially facing surface of the first engagement member and the axially facing surface of the second engagement member.

2. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1, wherein

the first engagement profile includes at least one first engagement pawl,

the second engagement profile includes at least one second engagement pawl configured to engage with the at least one first engagement pawl, and

the elastic portion is provided to the at least one first engagement pawl.

3. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 2, wherein

the at least one first engagement pawl includes a plurality of first engagement pawls.

4. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 3, wherein

at least one pawl of the plurality of first engagement pawls engages with the at least one second engagement pawl in the engagement state of the first engagement member and the second engagement member, and

another pawl of the plurality of first engagement pawls is free of an engagement with the at least one second engagement pawl in the engagement state of the first engagement member and the second engagement member.

5. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 2, wherein

the at least one second engagement pawl includes a plurality of second engagement pawls.

6. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 3, wherein

the at least one second engagement pawl includes a plurality of second engagement pawls, and

a total number of the plurality of first engagement pawls is smaller than a total number of the plurality of second engagement pawls.

7. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1, wherein

the first engagement member has an annular shape, and

the second engagement member has an annular shape.

8. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1, wherein

the first engagement profile includes a plurality of first engagement pawls, and

the plurality of first engagement pawls is spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction with respect to the pivot axis.

9. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 8, wherein

the plurality of first engagement pawls is equally spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction with respect to the pivot axis.

10. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 9, wherein

a total number of the plurality of first engagement pawls is an even number.

11. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1, wherein

the first engagement member includes a first base body including the first axially facing surface,

the first engagement profile includes at least one first engagement pawl, and

the at least one first engagement pawl is integrally provided with the first base body as a one-piece unitary member.

12. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1, wherein

the resistance applying structure includes a resistance applying member configured to apply rotational resistance to the second engagement member.

13. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 12, wherein

the resistance applying structure includes a resistance control member configured to be operatively coupled to the resistance applying member so as to change the rotational resistance applied from the resistance applying member.

14. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 13, wherein

the resistance applying member is configured to apply first rotational resistance to the second engagement member in a first state where the resistance control member is in a first position, and

the resistance applying member is configured to apply second rotational resistance to the second engagement member in a second state where the resistance control member is in a second position different from the first position, the second rotational resistance being different from the first rotational resistance.

15. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 13, wherein

the resistance control member configured to gradually change the rotational resistance applied by the resistance applying member as a position of the resistance control member varies.

16. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 2, wherein

the at least one first engagement pawl protrudes toward the second engagement member in the axial direction.

17. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 2, wherein

the at least one first engagement pawl is elastically deformed by a first deformation amount in the axial direction while the chain guide rotates relative to the movable member in a first rotational direction about the pivot axis,

the at least one first engagement pawl is elastically deformed by a second deformation amount in the axial direction while the chain guide rotates relative to the movable member in a second rotational direction about the pivot axis,

the first rotational direction is a reverse direction of the second rotational direction in a circumferential direction with respect to the pivot axis, and

the first deformation amount is larger than the second deformation amount.

18. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 17, wherein

the at least one first engagement pawl is elastically deformed by the at least one second engagement pawl while the chain guide rotates relative to the movable member in the first rotational direction about the pivot axis.

19. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 2, wherein

a total number of the at least one second engagement pawl is equal to or larger than 15 and is equal to or smaller than 40.

20. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 2, wherein

a total number of the at least one first engagement pawl is equal to or larger than one and is equal to or smaller than eight.