Bidirectional variable speed operator, actuator and variable speed system

Abstract

A two-way transmission system 300 for a pedal propelled vehicle, comprising: a two-way transmission operator 100 comprising a two-way cable drum 120 fixed to a transmission handle, the two-way cable drum comprising a first drum, a second drum and a third drum 130, 140, 150; a two-way transmission actuator 200; a first transmission cable and a second transmission cable 310, 320 comprising transmission cables interconnecting the two-way transmission operator and the two-way transmission actuator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to gear shifting, particularly to gear shifting in pedal-driven vehicles (e.g., bicycles). More specifically, this invention relates to a gear shift operator, a gear shift actuator, and a gear system including such a gear shift operator and gear shift actuator. Background Technology

[0002] In today's market, two-way derailleurs are far less common than one-way derailleurs. However, two-way derailleurs offer many advantages over one-way derailleurs using a single-line system. While it's generally possible to apply more torque, riding a bicycle with a one-way gear system typically allows for greater torque to be applied to the shifter in one direction (e.g., forcing the shifter to a lower gear in one direction), while the torque in the opposite direction depends on the spring force of the gear system in that direction, such as when shifting to a higher gear. Typically, derailleur gears are one-way and include a return spring. Furthermore, most hub-integrated multi-speed derailleurs are also one-way.

[0003] US 6055882A discloses a one-way twist-grip shifter for a bicycle with a twist grip, the twist grip including an outer grip portion and an inner twist portion.

[0004] WO2012128639A1 and WO2020130841 disclose a two-way multi-speed gear system for pedal-driven vehicles and are configured to be operated by a two-way transmission system.

[0005] WO2017149396A2 discloses a hydraulic bidirectional gear system, including a pair of separate hydraulic thumb actuators and corresponding bidirectional hydraulic gear actuators.

[0006] However, riders have different preferences; while thumb controls perform well for many riders, some prefer twist controls.

[0007] Torsional shift actuators are well-known for use in unidirectional shifting systems, but are not easily adapted to bidirectional actuators. Similarly, unidirectional actuators, which interact with unidirectional actuators, are quite different from bidirectional actuators because they are essentially return springs in one direction.

[0008] Although transmission systems with bidirectional gear units that change speed via a reciprocating torsional actuator are known, they are expensive to manufacture due to their internal complexity and relatively large weight.

[0009] One objective of this invention is to address the problem of large investments in manufacturing tools, while reducing the weight of the gear system on the manipulator and actuator sides. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The present invention relates to a bidirectional speed changer operator, a corresponding bidirectional speed changer actuator, and a bidirectional speed changer system including such an operator and actuator, according to the independent claims.

[0011] Compared to prior art, the transmission system has one or more of the following advantages.

[0012] First, due to the design of the components, the production line for manufacturing bidirectional transmission operators, bidirectional transmission actuators, and bidirectional transmission systems is simpler than the production line used for prior art systems.

[0013] Therefore, it reduces initial and ongoing production costs.

[0014] This allows for the production of smaller series of components and custom-made components, such as those for different wire connections.

[0015] Furthermore, the present invention has the advantage of reducing the weight of both the shift operator and the shift actuator. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 The bidirectional speed changer 100 according to a specific embodiment of the present invention is depicted in exploded view form.

[0017] Figure 2 Depicting in the form of a partially exploded diagram Figure 1 The same speed changer 100.

[0018] Figure 3 Depicting in isometric view Figure 1 The speed changer in the middle.

[0019] Figure 4a , Figure 4b and Figure 4c Describe in more detail Figure 1 The outer spool plate.

[0020] Figure 5a , Figure 5b and Figure 5c Describe in more detail Figure 1 The middle reel.

[0021] Figure 6a , Figure 6b and Figure 6c Describe in more detail Figure 1 The inner coil.

[0022] Figure 7 A bidirectional variable speed actuator 200 according to a specific embodiment of the present invention is depicted in an isometric view.

[0023] Figure 8Depicting Figure 7 Exploded view of the variable speed actuator.

[0024] Figure 9 This view depicts a cross-sectional view of the speed change actuator in a plane perpendicular to the through-hole of the wire spool 220. Furthermore, the view depicts the speed change shaft 400 of the multi-speed gear system, wherein the external teeth of the speed change shaft mesh with the internal teeth of the wire spool. The depicted speed change shaft is hollow, thereby allowing a through bolt 410 to pass through the speed change shaft and the speed change actuator assembly.

[0025] Figure 10 Depicting a bidirectional transmission system 300, including a bidirectional transmission actuator 200 Figure 3 A two-way shifter 100. A first shift cable 310 and a second shift cable 320, each with multiple internal cables, are interconnected. The shifter 100 is typically located at the end of the handlebars, while the shift actuator is located near the wheel hub of a pedal-driven vehicle. The first and second shift cables may extend along a portion of the frame and / or extend partially inside the frame. Detailed Implementation

[0026] In the following description, various examples and specific embodiments of the invention are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the invention by those skilled in the art. The specific details described in the context of the various specific embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings are not intended to be construed as limiting. Rather, the scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims.

[0027] The specific examples described below are numbered with "EM" placed first. Additionally, subsidiary specific examples defined with respect to the numbered specific examples are described. Unless otherwise stated, any specific example that can be combined with one or more numbered specific examples may also be directly combined with any subsidiary specific examples of the mentioned numbered specific examples.

[0028] EM 01: A two-way gear shifter 100 for a handlebar of a pedal-driven vehicle, comprising:

[0029] The housing 110, having a cylindrical extension 112, is configured to be mounted on the handle;

[0030] A gear shift lever 160 is rotatably mounted on the cylindrical extension, wherein the gear shift lever includes:

[0031] The bidirectional cable reel 120 fixed to the gear shift lever includes a first reel 130, a second reel 140, and a third reel 150.

[0032] In the first subsidiary example, the first reel 130 and the third reel 150 are the same.

[0033] In a second subsidiary embodiment that can be combined with the first subsidiary embodiment, the second reel 140 is disposed between the first reel 130 and the third reel 150.

[0034] In a third subsidiary embodiment that can be combined with the second subsidiary embodiment, the first reel 130, the second reel 140, and the third reel 150 each have a first side 130a, 140a, 150a and a second side 130b, 140b, 150b, respectively, wherein the first side of the first reel is the same as the first side of the third reel, the second side of the first reel is the same as the second side of the third reel, and the first side of the second reel is the same as the second side plate, wherein the first side of the first reel faces the second side of the second reel and the first side of the third reel faces the first side of the second reel.

[0035] In a fourth subsidiary embodiment that can be combined with any of the aforementioned subsidiary embodiments, the first reel, the second reel, and the third reel have through holes for the cylindrical extension, wherein the through hole of the second reel has a smaller diameter than the through holes of the first reel and the second reel.

[0036] In the fifth subsidiary embodiment, which can be combined with the fourth subsidiary embodiment, the diameter of the through hole of the second reel corresponds to the outer diameter of the cylindrical extension.

[0037] In this way, improved support for the rotary gear shifter can be obtained.

[0038] In a sixth subsidiary embodiment that can be combined with any of the above embodiments, the housing includes a clamp configured to hold the housing on a handle, wherein the clamp includes a first clamp portion 116a and a second clamp portion 116b.

[0039] The first clamping part can be integral with the housing, and the second clamping part can be clamped to the first clamping part with screws 114.

[0040] In a seventh subsidiary embodiment that can be combined with any of the above embodiments, the housing 110 includes a through hole having corresponding cable stops 117a, 117b.

[0041] In an eighth embodiment that can be combined with any of the above embodiments, the bidirectional shifter includes an end stop mechanism configured to prevent the shift lever from rotating a full revolution.

[0042] In the ninth embodiment, which is subordinate to the eighth embodiment, the stop mechanism includes a groove in the second side of the third reel and a protrusion in the housing extending into the groove, wherein the groove extends in the position of the protrusion by a range smaller than a full circle.

[0043] The protrusion could be, for example, a metal nail.

[0044] EM 02: The bidirectional speed changer 100 according to EM 01, wherein the cable reel includes: a first speed changer cable connector and a second speed changer cable connector, configured to be connected to the first speed changer cable and the second speed changer cable respectively, wherein the cable reel is configured to pull the first speed changer cable when the speed changer handle is rotated in a first direction, and to pull the second speed changer cable when the speed changer handle is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0045] In the first subsidiary example, the first wire connector includes a first wire connection portion in a first reel and a second wire connection portion in a second reel.

[0046] In the second subsidiary example, the second wire connector includes a first wire connection portion in the third reel and a second wire connection portion in the second reel.

[0047] In the third subsidiary example, the first wire connecting portion and the second wire connecting portion face each other to form the first wire connector and the second wire connector.

[0048] In the fourth subsidiary example, the first wire connector and the second wire connector have a semi-cylindrical shape.

[0049] EM O3: According to the bidirectional speed changer 100 of EM O1 or EM O2, the first side 130a, 150a of the first reel 130 and the first side 140a and the second side 140b of the third reel 150 respectively include the first side line guide path portion 132 of the first reel, the first side line guide path portion 152 of the third reel, the first side line guide path portion 142 of the second reel, and the second side line guide path portion 143 of the second reel.

[0050] In the first subsidiary example, the first side guide path portion 132 of the first disc is symmetrically identical to the second side guide path portion 143 of the second disc, and the first side guide path portion 152 of the third disc is symmetrically identical to the first side guide path portion 142 of the second disc.

[0051] In the second specific example, the first side guide path portion 132 of the first reel and the second side guide path portion 143 of the second reel form a first circumferential groove in the wire reel. The first side guide path portion 152 of the third reel and the first side guide path portion 142 of the second reel form a second circumferential groove in the wire reel.

[0052] In the third subsidiary example, the first circumferential groove and the second circumferential groove are configured to guide and support the first line and the second line, and they have a constant radius in a 90-degree partition in a section perpendicular to the groove.

[0053] In the fourth specific example,

[0054] EM 04: A bidirectional shifter 100 according to any one of EM 01 to EM 03 includes a screw 170, wherein the bidirectional reel 120 includes a plurality of through holes and the shift lever 160 includes a plurality of holes, wherein the screw passes through the through holes and is fixed in the holes.

[0055] In the first subsidiary embodiment, the first reel and the second reel each include a first rotation guide member 134 and a second rotation guide member 145, configured to determine the relative rotational position of the first reel and the second reel. The third reel and the second reel each include a first rotation guide member 154 and a first rotation guide member 144, configured to determine the relative rotational position of the third reel and the second reel.

[0056] According to any one of EM 01 to EM 04, a bidirectional gear shifter 100 includes a shift lever 160 comprising a grip portion 161 and a support portion 162, wherein the support portion is at least partially cylindrical and configured to rotate about the cylindrical portion, wherein the grip portion is located radially outward of the support portion.

[0057] In the first specific example, the gripping portion is press-fitted onto the support portion. Alternatively, the gripping portion and the support portion can be manufactured by overmolding the gripping portion onto the support portion.

[0058] In a second subsidiary embodiment, the bidirectional speed changer includes a locking element 113 configured to lock the support portion to the cylindrical portion in the longitudinal direction.

[0059] The support portion may be made of, for example, a plastic material, and the grip portion may be made of a relatively soft plastic material.

[0060] EM A1: A bidirectional variable speed actuator 200 for a pedal-driven vehicle, comprising:

[0061] Casing 210,

[0062] A bidirectional wire reel 220 is disposed in a housing 210 and configured to rotate a multi-speed gear transmission shaft 400, wherein the wire reel and the housing have multiple through holes, wherein the through holes of the wire reel are configured to hold the transmission shaft.

[0063] In the first subsidiary example, the housing includes a first removable housing element 211a and a second removable housing element 211b.

[0064] In the second subsidiary example, the first housing element is configured to be detachably mounted on the outside of the first housing element along the opening direction.

[0065] In a third subsidiary example, the first housing element and the second housing element are at least partially cylindrical, wherein the outer diameter of the second housing element corresponds to the inner diameter of the first housing element.

[0066] EM A2: The bidirectional variable speed actuator 200 of EM A1 includes an extended housing 212 fixed to the housing 210.

[0067] In the first subsidiary embodiment, the extended housing includes a first cable conditioner 230 and a second cable conditioner 240.

[0068] In the second specific example, the cable conditioner is configured to pivot in a direction parallel to the plane of the cable reel.

[0069] In a third subsidiary example, the extended housing includes a first barrel nut and a second barrel nut, wherein the cable adjuster is fixed to the barrel nut.

[0070] In the fourth subsidiary embodiment, the extended housing includes a first housing element 212a and a second housing element 212b.

[0071] In the fifth subsidiary example, the first housing element and the second housing element are made of metal plates.

[0072] In the fifth subsidiary embodiment, the first housing element 212a is configured to be at least partially detachably mounted inside the second housing element 212b.

[0073] In the sixth subsidiary embodiment, the first barrel nut and the second barrel nut are locked between the first housing element and the second housing element.

[0074] EM S1: A bidirectional transmission system 300 for a pedal-driven vehicle, comprising:

[0075] Bidirectional speed changer 100 according to any one of EO1 to EO5

[0076] Bidirectional variable speed actuator 200 according to any one of EM1 to EM2

[0077] The first gear cable 310 and the second gear cable 320 include a gear cable that interconnects the bidirectional gear shifter and the bidirectional gear shift actuator.

[0078] In the first subsidiary example, the bidirectional transmission system includes a transmission shaft 400 configured to be disposed in a multi-speed gear system.

[0079] In the second subsidiary example, the gearshift shaft 400 is hollow and configured to allow through bolts 410 for securing the wheel hub to the frame of the pedal-driven vehicle.

[0080] In the exemplary embodiments, various features and details are shown in combination. The fact that a particular example describes several features should not be construed as implying that these features must necessarily be included together in all embodiments of the invention. Rather, features described with reference to different embodiments should not be construed as mutually exclusive. As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, embodiments combining any subset of the features described herein and not explicitly interdependent have been considered by the inventors and are intended as part of the disclosure. However, an explicit description of all these embodiments would not aid in understanding the principles of the invention, and therefore, for simplicity or brevity, some feature arrangements have been omitted.

Claims

1. A two-way gear shifter (100) for a handlebar of a pedal-driven vehicle, comprising: The housing (110) has a cylindrical extension (112) configured to be mounted on the handle. A shift lever (160) is rotatably mounted on the cylindrical extension. The shift lever includes a bidirectional cable reel (120) fixed to the shift lever. The bidirectional cable reel (120) includes a first reel, a second reel, and a third reel (130, 140, 150), wherein the first reel and the third reel (130, 150) are identical, and the second reel (140) is disposed between the first reel and the third reel (130, 150). The first reel, the second reel, and the third reel have through holes. The shift lever (160) includes a hole, and a screw (170) passes through the through hole and is fixed to the hole in the shift lever (160), thereby fixing the bidirectional cable reel (120) to the shift lever (160). Cable stops (117a, 117b) are arranged on the housing (110).

2. The bidirectional speed changer (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The first reel, the second reel, and the third reel (130, 140, 150) each have a first side and a second side (130a, 130b; 140a, 140b; 150a, 150b), wherein the first side of the first reel is the same as the first side of the third reel, the second side of the first reel is the same as the second side of the third reel, and the first side of the second reel is the same as the second side, wherein the first side of the first reel faces the second side of the second reel, and the first side of the third reel faces the first side of the second reel.

3. The bidirectional speed changer (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The first reel, the second reel, and the third reel have through holes for the cylindrical extension, wherein the through hole of the third reel has a smaller diameter than the through holes of the first reel and the second reel.

4. A bidirectional variable-speed actuator (200) for a pedal-driven vehicle, comprising: Outer shell (210) A bidirectional cable reel (220) is disposed in the housing (210) and configured to rotate a multi-speed gear transmission shaft (400), wherein the bidirectional cable reel and the housing have a plurality of openings, wherein the openings of the bidirectional cable reel are configured to hold the transmission shaft, wherein the bidirectional transmission actuator (200) includes an extension housing (212) fixed to the housing (210), wherein the extension housing includes a first cable adjuster (230) and a second cable adjuster (240), wherein the first cable adjuster (230) and the second cable adjuster (240) are configured to pivot in a direction parallel to the plane of the bidirectional cable reel.

5. The bidirectional variable speed actuator (200) according to claim 4, wherein, The housing includes a detachable first housing element (211a) and a detachable second housing element (211b), wherein the first housing element is configured to be detachably mounted outside the second housing element along the direction of the opening.

6. The bidirectional variable speed actuator according to claim 4 or 5, wherein, The extended housing includes a first housing element and a second housing element (212a, 212b), wherein the first housing element and the second housing element are made of metal plates.

7. A bidirectional transmission system (300) for a pedal-driven vehicle, comprising: - The bidirectional speed changer (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3. - The bidirectional variable speed actuator (200) according to any one of claims 4 to 6. The first and second speed change cables (310, 320) include multiple speed change lines that interconnect the bidirectional speed change operator and the bidirectional speed change actuator.

8. The bidirectional transmission system according to claim 7, wherein, The gearshift shaft (400) is hollow and configured to allow through bolts (410) to secure the wheel hub to the frame of the pedal-driven vehicle.

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