Electrically operated derailleur that re-engages a disengaged derailleur force overload clutch
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling a derailleur, wherein the derailleur includes a motor that drives a drive member, a driven member driven by the drive member, and a clutch having a first element that disengages from a second element when substantial resistance exists in a power transmission path between the drive member and the driven member, wherein the apparatus for controlling the derailleur comprises:
- a re-engage command receiving circuit that receives a re-engage command signal to re-engage the first element with the second element when the first element is disengaged from the second element; and
a re-engagement circuit that re-engages the first element with the second element in response to the re-engage command signal;
wherein the re-engagement circuit comprises a re-engagement detecting circuit that detects when the first element re-engages with the second element.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A derailleur includes a motor that drives a drive member, a driven member driven by the drive member, and a clutch having a first element that disengages from a second element when substantial resistance exists in a power transmission path between the drive member and the driven member. An apparatus for controlling the derailleur comprises a re-engage command receiving circuit and a re-engagement circuit, wherein the re-engage command receiving circuit receives a re-engage command signal to re-engage the first element with the second element when the first element is disengaged from the second element, and the re-engagement circuit re-engages the first element with the second element in response to the re-engage command signal.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling a derailleur, wherein the derailleur includes a motor that drives a drive member, a driven member driven by the drive member, and a clutch having a first element that disengages from a second element when substantial resistance exists in a power transmission path between the drive member and the driven member, wherein the apparatus for controlling the derailleur comprises:
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a re-engage command receiving circuit that receives a re-engage command signal to re-engage the first element with the second element when the first element is disengaged from the second element; and a re-engagement circuit that re-engages the first element with the second element in response to the re-engage command signal; wherein the re-engagement circuit comprises a re-engagement detecting circuit that detects when the first element re-engages with the second element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for controlling a derailleur, wherein the derailleur includes a motor that drives a drive member, a driven member driven by the drive member, and a clutch having a first element that disengages from a second element when substantial resistance exists in a power transmission path between the drive member and the driven member, wherein the apparatus for controlling the derailleur comprises:
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a re-engage command circuit that provides a re-engage command signal, wherein the re-engage command circuit comprises; a parameter sensor that senses an operational parameter associated with at least one of the drive member or the driven member; a disengagement determining circuit operatively coupled to the parameter sensor to determine when the operational parameter does not correspond to an expected value; and a re-engage command signal providing circuit operatively coupled to the disengagement determining circuit to provide the re-engage command signal when the disengagement determining circuit determines that the operational parameter does not correspond to the expected value; a re-engage command receiving circuit that receives the re-engage command signal to re-engage the first element with the second element when the first element is disengaged from the second element; and a re-engagement circuit that re-engages the first element with the second element in response to the re-engage command signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A bicycle derailleur apparatus comprising:
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a base member adapted to be mounted to a bicycle frame; a movable member that rotatably supports a chain guide; a linkage mechanism coupled between the base member and the movable member; a motor that drives a drive member; a driven member driven by the drive member; a clutch having a first element that disengages from a second element when substantial resistance exists in a power transmission path between the drive member and the driven member; a re-engage command receiving circuit that receives a re-engage command signal to re-engage the first element with the second element when the first element is disengaged from the second element; and a re-engagement circuit that re-engages the first element with the second element in response to the re-engage command signal; wherein the re-engagement circuit comprises a re-engagement detecting circuit that detects when the first element re-engages with the second element.
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Specification