Bicycle derailleur with a motor disposed within a linkage mechanism

• US 7,290,458 B2
• Filed: 02/24/2004
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Original Assignee: Shimano Inc
• Inventors: Fukuda, Masahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson; Vicky A.
• Application Number:
  US10/708,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187050A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,351 Days
• Field of Search: 474/78, 474/79, 474/80, 474/81, 474/82, 474/83
• US Class Current: 74/82
• 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 9/1242 characterised by the linkage mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18512 Flexible connector type

Abstract

A bicycle derailleur comprises a base member, a movable member for supporting a chain guide, a first link member pivotably coupled to the base member and to the movable member through respective first and second link pins, a second link member pivotably coupled to the base member and to the movable member through respective third and fourth link pins, and a motor having a drive shaft that defines a drive shaft vector. The first through fourth link pins define edges of a phantom space, wherein straight continuous phantom lines connecting ends of the first through fourth link pins in a non-crossing manner define remaining edges of the phantom space. At least a part of the primary motor housing is disposed in the phantom space, and the drive shaft vector points away from a plane containing the second and fourth link pins.

Claims

1. A bicycle derailleur comprising:

a base member for attachment to a bicycle;

a movable member for supporting a chain guide;

a first link member pivotably coupled to the base member through a first link pin and pivotably coupled to the movable member through a second link pin;

a second link member pivotably coupled to the base member through a third link pin and pivotably coupled to the movable member through a fourth link pin;

wherein the first link pin, the second link pin, the third link pin and the fourth link pin define edges of a phantom space;

wherein straight continuous phantom lines connecting ends of the first link pin, the second link pin, the third link pin and the fourth link pin in a non-crossing manner define remaining edges of the phantom space;

a motor having a primary motor housing through which a drive shaft exits and defines a drive shaft vector that points away from the primary motor housing and toward a terminating end of the drive shaft;

wherein at least a part of the primary motor housing is disposed in the phantom space; and

wherein the drive shaft vector that points toward the terminating end of the drive shaft also points away from a plane containing the second link pin and the fourth link pin at a location where the drive shaft exits the primary motor housing.

2. The derailleur according to claim 1 wherein a relative angle between the drive shaft vector and a plane containing the second link pin and the fourth link pin is in a range between 45 degrees and 135 degrees when measured in a plane perpendicular to the first link pin, the second link pin, the third link pin and the fourth link pin.

3. The derailleur according to claim 1 wherein the drive shaft is coupled for moving the movable member through a gear connection.

4. The derailleur according to claim 3 wherein the gear connection comprises a gear reduction mechanism.

5. The derailleur according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the primary motor housing is disposed within the base member.

6. The derailleur according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the drive shaft is disposed within the base member.

7. The derailleur according to claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the primary motor housing is disposed within the base member, and wherein at least a portion of the drive shaft is disposed within the base member.

8. The derailleur according to claim 7 wherein the drive shaft is coupled for moving the movable member through a gear connection.

9. The derailleur according to claim 8 wherein the gear connection comprises a gear reduction mechanism.

10. The derailleur according to claim 7 wherein the entire primary motor housing is disposed within the base member, and wherein the entire drive shaft is disposed within the base member.

11. The derailleur according to claim 10 wherein the drive shaft is coupled for moving the movable member through a gear connection.