Free-wheeling mechanism for bicycles

• US 4,046,238 A
• Filed: 02/03/1976
• Issued: 09/06/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hector Mendoza-Orozco
• Original Assignee: Hector Mendoza-Orozco
• Inventors: Mendoza-Orozco, Hector
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Samuel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burke, Allan R.
• Application Number:
  US05/655,033
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 192/64, 192/45, 192/35, 192/36, 192/47
• US Class Current: 192/45
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 41/34 with expandable or contractable clamping ring or band

Abstract

The present invention refers to improvements in a free-wheeling mechanism for bicycles of the kind including two fixed cones and one movable cone, mounted on an axle and so constituted as partially to provide races in which balls run; furthermore, the movable cone includes at one of its end portions a slotted head in which there rest rollers which are guided by a suitable device, which is also connected to the axle; and there is a hub in which the foregoing parts are housed with the exception of the end of the movable cone opposite the end having the slotted head; the improvements are holding means of the guide device which enable same to force the rollers into contact with the hub or prevent their contact therewith, depending on whether the wheel is to run under engagement or to turn freely without pedalling.

Claims

1. A free wheeling mechanism for a bicycle comprising an axle;

first and second fixed bearing cones mounted on respective end portions of said axle;

a movable cone formed with a recess accommodating said first cone, said movable cone and said first fixed cone defining a first raceway;

a hub through which said axle extends and which surrounds said second fixed cone and said movable cone, said hub and said second fixed cone defining a second raceway and said hub and said movable cone defining a third raceway;

ball bearings running in said raceways, whereby the movable cone is rotatable with respect to the axle and the hub is rotatable with respect to both the axle and the movable cone;

rollers positioned between the movable cone and the hub and displaceable between a position in which they couple the movable cone to the hub and a position in which they do not couple the movable cone to the hub;

a guide device for retaining said rollers between the movable cone and the hub, said guide device having an annular portion defining an opening through which the axle extends;

holding means having a sleeve mounted on the axle with one end coupled to one of said fixed cones, a cup fixed to the other end of the sleeve, which cup houses the annular portion of said guide device, and resilient connecting means for connecting said cup with said annular portion; and

a helical spring urging the annular portion of said guide device towards the movable cone.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve is keyed to said one fixed cone and is displaceable along the axle out of keying engagement with said one fixed cone, and said helical spring urges the sleeve into engagement with said one fixed cone.

3. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cup is formed with diametrically opposed slots which extend through the wall of the cup obliquely with respect to the diameter joining said slots, and wherein said connecting means comprise first and second clamps, each shaped as a spiral extending around said annular portion and having a bent end portion extending through one of said slots.

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 3, wherein said annular portion of the guide device is formed with annular, V-shaped grooves in which said spirals are mounted.