Gearshift control device for a chain and sprocket transmission system

• US 7,563,186 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Issued: 07/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mavic S.A.S. (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Salomon SA (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cauvin, Bertrand, Mercat, Jean-Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Siconolfi; Robert A
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAU, TERRY C
• Application Number:
  US11/289,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20060116227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 474/2, 474/58, 474/70, 474/71, 474/78, 474/80, 474/82, 745/94
• US Class Current: 474/78
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 25/08 with electrical or fluid transmitting systems
• CPC Class Codes: B62M 9/12 the chain, belt, or the like being laterally shiftable , e.g. using a rear derailleur

Abstract

A gearshift control device for a chain and sprocket transmission system including a gearshift member that is movable along a transverse direction relative to the plane defined by the chain, a shaft, a first driving element having a drive member that is non-centered or non-concentric with respect to the axis of the shaft, a second positioning element of the derailleur with an indexing device, a third control element mounted to rotate freely about the shaft with a blocking device, and a transmission element having a member for connection with the first driving element, the second positioning element and the third control element, the transmission element being operably between the first driving element, the second positioning element, and the third control element.

Claims

1. A gearshift control device for a chain and sprocket transmission system, said device comprising:

a gearshift member movable along a direction transverse relative to a plane defined by the chain, said gearshift member comprising an indexing arm;

a shaft extending along an axis;

a first element comprising a driving element mounted to rotate continuously about the shaft by action of an external movable component;

said driving element having a rotatable drive member, non-centered or non-concentric with respect to the axis of the shaft, said drive member adapted to generate a periodical movement during rotation of said drive member;

a second element comprising a positioning element mounted for rotation about the shaft and adapted to displace said indexing arm of the gearshift member;

an indexing device defining a plurality of angular stable, but non-blocked positions of said positioning element about the shaft;

a third element comprising a control element mounted for free rotation about the shaft;

at least one blocking device for momentarily blocking the rotation of the control element about the shaft;

a transmission element between the driving element, the positioning element, and the control element;

the transmission element being mounted for rotation, in a non-concentric manner, relative to said shaft;

the transmission element bearing three connecting members arranged at a distance from one another, said three connecting members comprising;

a first connecting member, said first connecting member comprising tracking member connected to the driving element;

a second connecting member connected by a pivotable connection to the positioning element; and

a third connecting member connected by a pivotable connection to the control element;

the gearshift control device functioning such that, as the driving element is rotationally driven by said external movable component, the positioning element is retained in an angular stable position by the indexing device, and the control element is not blocked by the blocking device, the transmission element is actuated with an oscillating movement relative to the connection with the positioning element via the second connecting member, the control element being actuated with a rotational alternating movement about the shaft via the third connecting member, and upon a momentary blocking of the control element by the blocking device, the transmission element is actuated with a movement relative to the connection with the control element via the third connecting member, the positioning element being actuated with a rotation about the shaft via the second connecting member.

2. A gearshift control device according to claim 1, wherein:

the driving element is a pulley rotatable about the axis of the shaft;

the drive member of said first element is a groove that is non-concentric relative to the shaft and located in a surface of the pulley;

the transmission element is a ring having a projecting pin engaged in the groove.

3. A gearshift control device according to claim 1, wherein:

the drive member of said first element is a hub or is a collar off-centered relative to the axis of the shaft; and

the transmission element is a rocker or is a ring rotationally mounted on the off-centered hub or collar, respectively.

4. A gearshift control device according to claim 1, wherein:

the drive member is a pin off-centered relative to the axis of the shaft; and

the transmission element is a bar having a slot, the pin extending through said slot.

5. A gearshift control device according to claim 1, wherein:

on the transmission element, the second connecting member and the third connecting member are spaced from one another and substantially at equal distance from the first, tracking connecting member.

6. A gearshift control device according to claim 1, wherein:

the positioning element comprises a rotor rotationally mounted about the shaft, said rotor having a periphery borne by a cam for driving the indexing arm of the movable gearshift member.

7. A gearshift control device according to claim 1, wherein:

the positioning element comprises a rotor connected to the transmission element by a connecting member, and a motive wheel bearing the indexing arm of the gearshift member, the rotor and the motive wheel being rotationally mounted about the shaft and connected to one another by an angular compensation spring.

8. A gearshift control device according to claim 7, wherein:

the indexing device of the positioning element includes two indexing pistons and three channeled zones;

the first piston cooperates with a channeled zone for indexing the rotor; and

the second piston cooperates with a channeled zone of the motive wheel and a channeled zone for locking the rotor.

9. A gearshift control device according to claim 1, wherein:

the gearshift member is a pulley supported by a deformable parallelogram structure including linkage members and a base connected to one another by articulation axes;

the indexing arm is rotationally affixed to a stirrup mounted on the articulation axis between one of the linkage members and the base;

the stirrup straddles a linkage member; and

an adjusting mechanism adapted to adjust angular deviation between the stirrup and the linkage member.

10. A gearshift control device according to claim 1, wherein:

the control element comprises peripheral teeth, each of the teeth having a sloping blocking surface and a non-blocking surface for engagement with two blocking pawls.

11. A gearshift control device according to claim 10, wherein:

each of the pawls is connected to a radial cam groove of a cam.

12. A gearshift control device according to claim 11, wherein:

the cam is driven by a motor having two directions of rotation.

13. A gearshift control device according to claim 12, wherein:

the cam has an axial ramp followed by an axial tracking finger for returning the cam to a median angular position.