Control system for adjusting bicycle gear ratios

• US 5,254,044 A
• Filed: 10/07/1991
• Issued: 10/19/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anderson, Paul M.
• Original Assignee: Anderson, Paul M.
• Inventors: Anderson, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britts, Ramon S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schoeppel, Roger J.
• Application Number:
  US07/772,163
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 474/70, 474/78, 474/80, 474/103, 474/109, 180/231, 280/261, 280/236, 364/426.04, 475/297, 475/299
• US Class Current: 474/70
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/00 Actuators for gearing speed-change mechanisms specially adapted for cycles rider operated controls for cycles in general B62K23/00; gearing speed change mechanisms F16H
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/122 electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/1244 limiting or positioning the movement

Abstract

A bicycle has front and rear wheels, a sprocket coupled to a pedal crank, a sprocket gear, gears on the rear wheel and a gear chain extending around the sprocket gear and an individual one of the rear wheel gears. The chain is adjustably coupled to the individual gears on the rear wheel to respectively increase and decrease the gear ratio relative to the sprocket gear for sprocket speeds above the upper limit and below the lower limit. The upper limit is adjustable as by initially operating up and down switches together within a particular time limit and then operating the up switch for upper limit increments or the down switch for upper limit decrements. The sequence may then be repeated for lower limit adjustments. The movement of a particular number of sprocket ribs past a detector and the time for such movement are measured and processed to determine the sprocket speed. When the sprocket is rotating continuously at a speed below the lower limit, as when coasting downhill, the gear ratio is not changed. The system power is discontinued for no sprocket movement for a continuous time greater than the limited time.

Claims

1. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels and a sprocket and a pedal crank for driving the sprocket and a gear chain in engagement with the sprocket and a plurality of gears on the rear wheel, the chain being adjustable in position relative to the gears on the rear wheel to provide an engagement between individual ones of the gears and the gear chain,

means operative in an automatic mode and operatively coupled only to the sprocket and the frame for determining the speed of the sprocket at each instance, and

means operative in the automatic mode and responsive at each instance only to the determination of the sprocket speed for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to maintain the speed of the sprocket within particular limits.

2. In a combination as set forth in claim 1,

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to obtain the coupling of a higher gear to the gear chain when the speed of the sprocket is determined to be above a first particular value.

3. In a combination as set forth in claim 1,

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to obtain the coupling of a lower gear to the gear chain when the speed of the sprocket is determined to be below a particular value.

4. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels and a sprocket and a pedal crank for driving the sprocket and a gear chain in engagement with the sprocket and a plurality of gears on the rear wheel, the chain being adjustable in position relative to the gears on the rear wheel to provide an engagement between individual ones of the gears and the gear chain,

means operative in an automatic mode and operatively coupled to the sprocket for determining the speed of the sprocket at each instance, and

means operative in the automatic mode and responsive at each instance to the determination of the sprocket speed for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to maintain the speed of the sprocket within particular limits,

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to obtain the coupling of a higher gear to the gear chain when the speed of the sprocket is determined to be above a first particular value,

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to obtain the coupling of a lower gear to the gear chain when the speed of the sprocket is determined to be below a particular value,

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the first particular value to a first new value, and

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the second particular value to a second new value.

5. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels and a pedal crank and a sprocket coupled to the pedal crank and a gear on the sprocket and a plurality of gears on the rear wheel and a chain for coupling individual ones of the gears on the rear wheel to the gear on the sprocket,

means operative in the automatic mode and operatively coupled to the sprocket for determining the speed of the sprocket at each instance,

means operative in the automatic mode and responsive to the speed of the sprocket at each instance for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to select individual ones of the gears on the rear wheel for coupling to the gear chain to maintain the speed of the sprocket within particular limits, and

means operative in the automatic mode and responsive to the speed of the sprocket below a particular value lower than the particular limits for maintaining the coupling between the gear on the sprocket and the selected one of the gears on the rear wheel without any adjustment.

6. In a combination as set forth in claim 5,

means operative in the automatic mode and responsive to the movement of the sprocket at a first particular limit of the sprocket speed for adjusting the coupling of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to reduce the speed of the sprocket below the first particular limit, and

means operative in the automatic mode and responsive to the movement of the sprocket at a second particular limit of the sprocket speed for adjusting the coupling of the chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to increase the speed of the sprocket above the second particular limit,

the second particular limit being below the first particular limit.

7. In a combination as set forth in claims 5 or 6,

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the first particular limit of the sprocket speed at which the gear chain is adjusted in position relative to the gears on the rear wheel to reduce the sprocket speed, and

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the second particular limit of the sprocket speed at which the gear chain is adjusted in position relative to the gears on the rear wheel to increase the sprocket speed.

8. In a combination as set forth in claim 7,

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the rotational angle through which the sprocket rotates to obtain a determination of the sprocket speed.

9. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels and having a pedal crank and a sprocket coupled to the pedal crank and having gears coupled to the rear wheel and having a gear coupled to the sprocket and having a gear chain extending around the gear on the sprocket and individual ones of the gears on the rear wheel,

means operative in an automatic mode and operatively coupled to the sprocket for determining the speed of rotation of the sprocket at each instance,

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel in accordance with the determination of the speed of rotation of the sprocket to adjust the ratio of the gear chain coupled to the gear on the rear wheel relative to the gear on the sprocket, and

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the angle though which the sprocket rotates to obtain each determination of the speed of rotation of the sprocket.

10. In a combination as set forth in claim 9 wherein

the sprocket has a plurality of angularly spaced ribs and wherein

the speed-determining means counts a particular number of the ribs on the sprocket in the automatic mode and determines the period of time for producing a particular count and wherein

the angle-adjusting means adjusts the number of sprocket ribs rotated past a particular position in the automatic mode to obtain each particular count.

11. In a combination as set forth in claim 9,

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel upon each occurrence of a first particular speed of the sprocket rotation to increase the gear ratio between the gear on the rear wheel and the gear coupled to the sprocket;

and

means for adjusting the chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel upon each occurrence of a second particular speed of the sprocket rotation to decrease the gear ratio between the gear on the rear wheel and the gear coupled to the sprocket,

the second particular speed being less than the first particular speed.

12. In a combination as set forth in claim 11,

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the first and second particular speeds while the pedal crank is being rotated.

13. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels and having a pedal crank and a sprocket coupled to the pedal crank and having gears coupled to the rear wheel and having a gear coupled to the pedal crank and having a gear chain extending around the gear on the pedal crank and individual ones of the gears on the rear wheel,

first means operative in an automatic mode and operatively coupled to the sprocket for determining the speed of the sprocket at each instance,

second means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the coupling of the gear chain relative to the individual gears on the rear wheel in accordance with the determination of the sprocket speed,

third means operative in the automatic mode for disabling the gear adjusting means for sprocket speeds of rotation below a first particular value to maintain, while coasting, the gear ratios set before the beginning of the coating,

fourth means operative in the automatic mode for enabling the operation of the first, second and third means, and

means operative in the automatic mode for discontinuing the enabling by the fourth means of the operation of the first, second and third means upon the occurrence of a zero sprocket speed for a time greater than a particular period of time.

14. In a combination as set forth in claim 13,

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel, upon the determination of a sprocket speed greater than a second particular value, to increase the gear ratio of the gear on the rear wheel relative to the gear on the pedal, and

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel, upon the determination of a sprocket speed lower than a third particular value, to decrease the gear ratio of the gear on the rear wheel relative to the gear on the pedal crank,

the second particular value being greater than the first and third particular values and the third particular value being greater than the second particular value.

15. In a combination as set forth in claim 14,

means operative in the automatic mode for changing the second particular value during the rotation of the pedal crank, and

means operative in the automatic mode for changing the third particular value during the rotation of the pedal crank.

16. In a combination as set forth in claim 13,

means for converting the adjustment of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to a manual operation, and

means for preventing an adjustment of the second and third particular values during the manual adjustment of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel.

17. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels and having a sprocket and a pedal crank operatively coupled to the sprocket for driving the sprocket and having a gear on the sprocket and having a plurality of gears on the rear wheel and having a gear chain operatively coupled to the gear on the sprocket and individual ones of the gears on the rear wheel, the gear chain being adjustable relative to the gears on the rear wheel to provide for the coupling of the gear chain to the individual ones of the gears on the rear wheel,

first means operative in an automatic mode for providing for an adjustment of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel upon a rotary speed of the sprocket above a first particular value to increase the ratio between the individual one of the gears on the rear wheel relative to the gear on the sprocket and to decrease the sprocket speed, and

second means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the first particular value while the first means is operative to provide the adjustment of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel.

18. In a combination as set forth in claim 17,

third means operative in the automatic mode and responsive to a rotary speed of the sprocket below a second particular value for preventing any adjustment of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel, the second particular value being lower than the first particular value.

19. In a combination as set forth in claim 18,

fourth means operative in the automatic mode and responsive to a zero rotary speed of the sprocket for longer than a particular period for disabling adjustments by the first means of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel and adjustments by the second means of the sprocket speed.

20. In a combination as set forth in claim 17,

means for discontinuing the operation of the first and second means to provide for a manual adjustment of the gears on the rear wheel.

21. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels, a pedal crank, a sprocket coupled to the pedal crank, a gear coupled to the sprocket, a plurality of gears coupled to the rear wheel and a gear chain extending in a closed loop around the sprocket gear and an individual one of the gears on the rear wheel,

first means operative in an automatic mode and operatively coupled to the sprocket for determining the rotary speed of the sprocket at each instance,

second means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel in accordance with the rotary speed of the sprocket to maintain the sprocket speed within particular limits, and

third means operative in the automatic mode for overriding the adjustment by the second means of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel in the automatic mode in accordance with the sprocket speed to obtain a manual adjustment of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel.

22. In a combination as set forth in claim 21,

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the angle of rotation of the sprocket during which each determination of the rotary speed of the sprocket is made to obtain the adjustment of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel in accordance with the sprocket speed.

23. In a combination as set forth in claim 22,

processing means,

the second means being operatively coupled to the processing means in the automatic mode for adjusting the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel in accordance with the rotary speed of the sprocket to maintain the speed of the sprocket within the particular limits,

the third means being operatively coupled to the processing means for overriding the second means and for obtaining a manual adjustment of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel.

24. In a combination as set forth in claim 21,

means operative in the automatic mode for preventing any adjustment of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel from being made during the rotary movement of the sprocket wheel at a speed below a second particular limit,

the second particular limit being lower than the particular limits.

25. In a combination as set forth in claim 24,

power supply means,

the first and second means receiving power from the power supply means,

the first and second means being operative in the automatic mode during the supply of power to the first and second means from the power supply means, and

means operative in the automatic mode for interrupting the supply of power to the first and second means in the automatic mode when the rotary movement of the sprocket is stopped for greater than a particular period of time.

26. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels, a pedal crank, a sprocket coupled to the pedal crank, a gear coupled to the sprocket, a plurality of gears coupled to the rear wheel and a gear chain extending in a closed loop around the sprocket gear and an individual one of the gears on the rear wheel and adjustable relative to the gears on the rear wheel,

first means operative in an automatic mode and operatively coupled to the sprocket for determining the sprocket speed at each instance,

second means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel in accordance with the sprocket speed to maintain the sprocket speed between upper and lower limits,

first and second switches for respectively adjusting the upper and lower limits,

third means responsive in the automatic mode to a first sequence of operation of the first and second switches within a particular time limit for adjusting the upper limit, and

fourth means responsive in the automatic mode to a second sequence of operation of the first and second switches within the particular time limit for adjusting the lower limit.

27. In a combination as set forth in claim 26,

fifth means responsive to an operation of the first switch, without a simultaneous operation of the second switch, to discontinue the operation of the second and third means and to adjust the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel in a manual mode for increasing the gear ratio between the gears on the rear wheel and the gear on the sprocket, and

means responsive to an operation of the second switch, without a simultaneous operation of the first switch, to adjust the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel in the manual mode for decreasing the gear ratio between the gears on the rear wheel and the gear on the sprocket.

28. In a combination as set forth in claims 26 or 27,

means operative in the automatic mode for preventing the gear chain from being adjusted relative to the gears on the rear wheel when the sprocket speed is below a particular value,

the particular value of the sprocket speed being lower than the lower limit.

29. In a combination as set forth in claim 28,

means operative in the automatic mode for discontinuing operation in the automatic mode when the sprocket is stopped for greater than a particular period of time.

30. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels, a pedal crank, a sprocket coupled to the pedal crank, a gear coupled to the sprocket, a plurality of gears coupled to the rear wheel and a gear chain extending in a closed loop around the sprocket gear and an individual one of the gears on the rear wheel and adjustable relative to the gears on the rear wheel,

first means operative in an automatic mode for adjusting the position of the sprocket chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel when the sprocket speed is above an upper limit or below a lower limit,

first and second actuatable switches,

second means operative in the automatic mode for providing for an adjustment in the upper limit upon an actuation of the first and second switches in a first particular sequence within a first particular time limit and for providing for an adjustment in the lower limit upon an actuation of the first and second switches in a second particular sequence within the particular time limit,

third means operative in the automatic mode and responsive to the actuation of the first and second switches in the first particular sequence within the first particular time limit for adjusting the upper limit, and

fourth means operative in the automatic mode and responsive to the actuation of the first and second switches in the second particular sequence for adjusting the lower limit.

31. In a combination as set forth in claim 30,

fifth means discontinuing the operation of the first, second, third and fourth means and for converting the adjustment of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to a manual mode.

32. In a combination as set forth in claim 30,

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the amount of angular rotation of the sprocket in determining the adjustment, if any, to be made in the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel for sprocket speeds above the upper limit or below the lower limit.

33. In a combination as set forth in claim 30,

the sprocket having a plurality of ribs,

the means for adjusting the chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel being responsive to the automatic mode to the average rotary speed of the sprocket during the rotary movement of a particular number of ribs on the sprocket past a particular position, and

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the number of ribs for movement past the particular position in determining the average rotary speed of the sprocket.

34. In a combination as set forth in claim 30,

means operative in the automatic mode for preventing the gear chain from being adjusted relative to the gears on the rear wheel for rotary sprocket speeds less than a particular value,

the particular value of the sprocket speed being less than the lower limit.

35. In combination,

a bicycle having a frame, a front wheel, a rear wheel mounted on the frame, a pedal crank, a sprocket coupled to the pedal crank, a plurality of gears coupled to the rear wheel and a gear chain extending around the gear on the sprocket and an individual one of the gears on the rear wheel and adjustably positioned relative to the gears on the rear wheel,

first means operative in an automatic mode and operatively coupled to the gear chain for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel,

second means operative in the automatic mode and operatively coupled only to the sprocket and the frame for determining the speed of the sprocket, and

processing means responsive to the determination by the second means of the speed of the sprocket for operating the first means to adjust the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel for maintaining the speed of sprocket rotation within particular limits.

36. In combination,

a bicycle having a frame, a front wheel and a rear wheel mounted on the frame, a sprocket coupled to the pedal crank, a plurality of gears coupled to the rear wheel and a gear chain extending around the gear on the sprocket and an individual one of the gears on the rear wheel,

first means operatively coupled to the gear chain for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel,

second means operatively coupled to the sprocket for determining the speed of the sprocket, and

processing means responsive to the speed of the sprocket for operating the first means to adjust the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel for maintaining the speed of sprocket rotation within particular limits

third means manually operative to obtain an adjustment of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel,

the third means being operatively coupled to the first means to provide for a manual operation of the first means in adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel in accordance with the manual operation of the third means,

the processing means being responsive to the manual operation of the third means for discontinuing the operation of the processing means.

37. In combination,

a bicycle having a frame, a front wheel and a rear wheel mounted on the frame, a sprocket coupled to the pedal crank, a plurality of gears coupled to the rear wheel and a gear chain extending around the gear on the sprocket and an individual one of the gears on the rear wheel,

first means operatively coupled to the gear chain for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel,

second means operatively coupled to the sprocket and the frame for determining the speed of the sprocket, and

processing means responsive to the speed of the sprocket for operating the first means to adjust the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel for maintaining the speed of sprocket rotation within particular limits,

the third means being manually operative in a first mode to obtain an adjustment by the first means of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel,

the third means being manually operative in a second mode to obtain an adjustment by the processing means of the particular limits of the sprocket speeds at which the gear chain is adjusted relative to the gears on the rear wheel.

38. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels and a sprocket and a pedal crank for driving the sprocket and a gear chain in engagement with the sprocket and a plurality of gears on the rear wheel, the gear chain being adjustable in position relative to the gears on the rear wheel to provide an engagement between individual ones of the gears and the gear chain,

first means operative in an automatic mode and operatively coupled to the sprocket for determining the speed of the sprocket at each instance,

second means operative in the automatic mode and responsive at each instance to the determination of the sprocket speed for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to maintain the speed of the sprocket within upper and lower limits,

third means including switching means operative in a first relationship in the automatic mode for adjusting the upper and lower limits, and

fourth means including the switching means operative in a second relationship for converting the adjustment of the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to a manual mode, and

fifth means responsive to the operation of the fourth means including the switching means in the second relationship for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel in accordance with such operation of the switching means.

39. In a combination as set forth in claim 38,

the third means including the switching means operative in a third relationship following the operation of the switching means in the first relationship for changing one of the upper and lower limits in a first direction and including the switching means operative in a fourth relationship following the operation of the switching means in the first relationship for changing the one of the upper and lower limits in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

40. In a combination as set forth in claim 39,

the third means including the switching means operative again in the third relationship following the operation of the switching means in the first relationship for changing the other one of the upper and lower limits in the first direction and operative again in the fourth relationship following the operation of the switching means in the first relationship for changing the other one of the upper and lower limits in the first and second operative directions.

41. In a combination as set forth in claim 38,

the fifth means being responsive to the operation of the fourth means including the switching means in a first mode of the second relationship for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel in a first direction and being responsive to the operation of the fourth means including the switching means in a second mode of the second relationship for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

42. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels and a sprocket and a pedal crank for driving the sprocket and a gear chain in engagement with the sprocket and a plurality of gears on the rear wheel, the gear chain being adjustable in position relative to the gears on the rear wheel to provide an engagement between individual ones of the gears and the gear chain,

signal producing means disposed on one of the sprocket and the frame,

a sensor disposed on the other one of the sprocket and the frame and responsive only to the signal producing means to produce signals in accordance with the rotation of the sprocket relative to the frame, and

first means operative in an automatic mode and responsive only to the signals from the sensor for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to maintain the speed of rotation of the sprocket within particular limits.

43. In a combination as set forth in claim 42,

means operative in the automatic mode for initializing the operation of the bicycle with the upper and lower limits set at values corresponding to the upper and lower limits in the previous operation of the bicycle in the automatic mode.

44. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels and a sprocket and a pedal crank for driving the sprocket and a gear chain in engagement with the sprocket and a plurality of gears on the rear wheel, the gear chain being adjustable in position relative to the gears on the rear wheel to provide an engagement between individual ones of the gears and the gear chain,

a sensor disposed on an individual one of the sprocket and the frame,

signal producing means disposed on the other one of the sprocket and the frame to energize the sensor in accordance with the rotation of the sprocket relative to the frame, and

first means operative in an automatic mode and responsive only to the signals from the sensor for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to maintain the speed of rotation of the sprocket within particular limits,

second means operative in the automatic mode for preventing any adjustment in the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel when the sprocket is at a speed lower than a particular speed, the particular speed being lower than the lower one of the particular limits, and

third means responsive to the non-rotation of the sprocket for a particular period of time for discontinuing the operation of the bicycle in the automatic mode.

45. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels and a sprocket and a pedal crank for driving the sprocket and a gear chain in engagement with the sprocket and a plurality of gears on the rear wheel, the gear chain being adjustable in position relative to the gears on the rear wheel to provide an engagement between individual ones of the gears and the gear chain,

a sensor disposed on an individual one of the sprocket and the frame,

signal producing means disposed on the other one of the sprocket and the frame to energize the sensor in accordance with the rotation of the sprocket relative to the frame, and

first means operative in an automatic mode and responsive only to the signals from the sensor for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to maintain the speed of rotation of the sprocket within particular limits, and

second means for discontinuing the operation of the first means and for converting the operation of the bicycle to a manual mode where the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel is adjusted manually.

46. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels and a sprocket and a pedal crank for driving the sprocket and a gear chain in engagement with the sprocket and a plurality of gears on the rear wheel, the gear chain being adjustable in position relative to the gears on the rear wheel to provide an engagement between individual ones of the gears and the gear chain,

a sensor disposed on an individual one of the sprocket and the frame,

signal producing means disposed on the other one of the sprocket and the frame to energize the sensor in accordance with the rotation of the sprocket relative to the frame,

means operative in an automatic mode and responsive only to the signals from the sensor for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to maintain the speed of rotation of the sprocket within particular limits, and

second means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the upper and lower limits in which the sprocket rotates without providing for an adjustment in the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel.

47. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels and a sprocket and a pedal crank for driving the sprocket and a gear chain in engagement with the sprocket and a plurality of gears on the rear wheel, the gear chain being adjustable in position relative to the gears on the rear wheel to provide an engagement between individual ones of the gears and the gear chain,

first means disposed on one of the sprocket and the frame to provide a signal,

sensor means disposed on the other one of the sprocket and the frame and responsive to the signal from the first means during the rotation of the sprocket relative to the frame for producing signals in accordance with the rotation of the sprocket relative to the frame,

means operative in an automatic mode and responsive to the signals from the sensor means for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to maintain the speed of rotation of the sprocket within upper and lower limits, and

means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the upper and lower limits of the sprocket speed of rotation.

48. In a combination as recited in claim 47,

means operative in the automatic mode for disregarding the upper and lower limits of sprocket speed when the sprocket is rotating at a speed below a particular value, the particular value of speed being below the lower limit of sprocket speed.

49. In a combination as set forth in claim 47,

means operative in the automatic mode for discontinuing the operation of the bicycle in the automatic mode when the sprocket has a zero speed for a time greater than a limited period of time.

50. In a combination as set forth in claim 47,

means operative in the automatic mode for initializing the operation of the bicycle with the upper and lower limits existing at the end of the previous operation of the bicycle in the automatic mode.

51. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels and a sprocket and a gear chain in engagement with the sprocket and a plurality of gears on the rear wheel, the gear chain being adjustable in position relative to the gears on the rear wheel to provide an engagement between individual ones of the gears and the gear chain,

first means disposed on one of the sprocket and the frame to provide a signal,

sensor means disposed on the other one of the sprocket and the frame and responsive to the signal from the first means during the rotation of the sprocket relative to the frame for producing signals in accordance with the rotation of the sprocket relative to the frame,

means operative in an automatic mode and responsive to the signals from the sensor means for adjusting the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel to maintain the speed of rotation of the sprocket within upper and lower limits,

means including switching means operative in the automatic mode in a first relationship for adjusting the upper and lower limits, and

means including the switching means operative in the automatic mode in a second relationship different from the first relationship for converting to a manual operation the adjustment in the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel and for adjusting the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel in accordance with the operation of the switching means in the second relationship.

52. In a combination as set forth in claim 51,

means operative in the automatic mode for disregarding any rotation of the sprocket at a speed below a particular value in connection with any adjustment in the position of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel, the particular value being below the upper and lower limits.

53. In a combination as set forth in claim 52,

means operative in the automatic mode for the operation of the bicycle in the automatic mode when the sprocket has a zero speed for a limited period of time.

54. In a combination as set forth in claim 52,

means operative in the automatic mode for initializing the operation of the bicycle with the upper and lower limits existing at the end of the previous operation of the bicycle in the automatic mode.

55. In combination,

a bicycle having front and rear wheels and having a sprocket and a pedal crank operatively coupled to the sprocket for driving the sprocket and having a gear on the sprocket and having a plurality of gears on the rear wheel and having a gear chain operatively coupled to the gear on the sprocket and individual ones of the gears on the rear wheel, the gear chain being adjustable relative to the gears on the rear wheel to provide for the coupling of the gear chain to the individual ones of the gears on the rear wheel,

first means operative in an automatic mode for providing for an adjustment of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel upon a rotary speed of the sprocket below a first particular value to decrease the ratio between the individual one of the gears on the rear wheel relative to the gear on the sprocket and to increase the sprocket speed, and

second means operative in the automatic mode for adjusting the first particular value, during the operation of the first means in the automatic mode, in providing the adjustment of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel.

56. In a combination as set forth in claim 55,

third means operative in the automatic mode and responsive to a rotary speed of the sprocket below a second particular value for preventing any adjustment of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel, the second particular value being lower than the first particular value.

57. In a combination as set forth in claim 56,

fourth means operative in the automatic mode and responsive to the rotary speed of the sprocket below the second particular value for longer than a particular period for disabling adjustments by the first means of the gear chain relative to the gears on the rear wheel and adjustments by the second means of the sprocket speed.

58. In a combination as set forth in claim 55,

means for discontinuing the operation of the first and second means in the automatic mode and for providing for a manual adjustment of the gears on the rear wheel.