Method and system for zero-resetting of a torque-measuring device, especially on a cycle or like vehicle

• US 5,018,392 A
• Filed: 03/16/1990
• Issued: 05/28/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ste Look
• Original Assignee: Ste Look
• Inventors: Mercat, Jean-Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Orsino, Joseph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Franklin V.
• Application Number:
  US07/494,320
• Time in Patent Office: 438 Days
• Field of Search: 73/379, 73/862.19, 73/862.34, 222/33, 222/32, 222/35, 280/734, 280/135, 272/73, 272/DIG. 5, 272/DIG. 6, 362/193, 224/130, 364/571.01
• US Class Current: 73/862.191
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 25/003 for measuring torque

Abstract

A method for zero-resetting of a device for measuring transmitted torque while a cycle is in motion consists in monitoring a phenomenon or a parameter which is normally variable during normal use of the cycle and which disappears or becomes constant when the driving wheel rotates on free-wheel motion. When the disappearance or the constant character of the phenomenon or parameter thus monitored is observed during a predetermined period of time, one initiates zero-resetting of the detector system or of the measuring system proper of the torque-measuring device. The device for carrying out the method includes on the one hand a monitor for the phenomenon or parameter and on the other hand a control which are operated in dependence on the signal emitted by the monitor and which are then capable of producing action on the detection system or the measuring system in order to reset either of these two systems to zero.

Claims

1. A method for zero-resetting of a device for measuring transmitted torque during use of a cycle equipped with said device and having a driving wheel fitted with a free-wheel mechanism, wherein:

a monitoring operation is applied to a phenomenon or a parameter which is normally variable during normal use of the cycle and which disappears or becomes constant when the driving wheel rotates in free-wheel motion, and

when the disappearance or the constant character of the phenomenon or of the parameter thus monitored is observed during a predetermined period of time, initiating zero-resetting of the torque-measuring device.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring operation is applied to the movement of rotation of the pedal crank gear of the corresponding cycle and wherein, in the event of disappearance of said movement during a given time interval, zero-resetting of the torque-measuring device is initiated.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring operation is applied to the curve of variation of the value measured by the torque-measuring device and wherein, in the event of a constant character of said curve during a given time interval, zero-resetting of said measuring device is initiated.

4. A system for automatic zero-resetting of a device for measuring transmitted torque which is fitted on a cycle having a driving wheel provided with a free-wheel mechanism, wherein said system comprises in combination:

means for monitoring a phenomenon or a parameter which disappears or becomes constant when the driving wheel rotates in free-wheel motion, these monitoring means being capable of emitting a predetermined signal when this event takes place during a given time interval, and

control means which operate in dependence on the signal emitted by said monitoring means and are then capable of producing action on the torque-measuring device in order to initiate zero-resetting of the torque-measuring device.

5. A system for automatic zero-resetting according to claim 4, wherein the monitoring means provided in said system consist of a motion sensor which is placed opposite to a pedal crank gear of the cycle in order to monitor a movement of rotation of said pedal crank gear and which is capable of emitting a given signal in the direction of the means for initiating the zero-resetting operation when said sensor no longer detects said movement of the pedal crank gear.

6. A system for automatic zero-resetting according to claim 4, wherein the monitoring means provided in said system consist of means for monitoring variations of the value measured by the torque-measuring device, said monitoring means being capable of emitting a given signal in the direction of the means for initiating the zero-resetting operation when said monitoring means detect that the measured value remains constant during a given time interval.