Torque sensor device and power-assisted bicycle

Abstract

The invention relates to a torque sensor device and a power-assisted bicycle, and the torque sensor device comprises a five-way assembly which comprises a bearing sleeve which is provided with a first sleeving part; the first bearing is arranged in the first sleeving part in a sleeving mode, the middle shaft is arranged in an inner ring of the first bearing in a penetrating mode, and the middle shaft can rotate around an axis relative to the first sleeving part through the first bearing; the strain gauge is arranged in the radial direction of the middle shaft, a part of the peripheral surface of the first sleeving part is cut to form a cutting surface, and the strain gauge is arranged on the cutting surface; when the center shaft rotates around the axis, radial pressure can be applied to the cutting portion, with the cutting face, of the first sleeving portion through the first bearing, the cutting portion can deform in the tangential direction perpendicular to the radial direction, and the strain gauge can deform along with deformation of the cutting portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of bicycles, and in particular to a torque sensor device and a power-assisted bicycle. Background Art

[0002] The power-assisted bicycle is a new type of vehicle that uses a battery as an auxiliary power source, is equipped with a motor, and has a power assist system that can integrate human riding and motor assistance.

[0003] As the core component of the power-assisted bicycle, the torque sensor can sense the pedaling torque and pedaling frequency of the bicycle in real time, and use this as the input signal of the electric power-assisted system, so that the system can quickly output electric power that is strictly proportional to the rider's pedaling power, achieving an easy and labor-saving riding experience of "the bike follows your heart".

[0004] In traditional technology, the torque sensor needs to install the sensing device on the central axis. Since the central axis is a rotating component, the sensing device needs to be connected to the main control circuit wirelessly, resulting in a complex structure and high cost. Summary of the invention

[0005] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a torque sensor device and a power-assisted bicycle that can improve the above problems.

[0006] A torque sensor device, comprising:

[0007] A five-way assembly includes a bearing sleeve having a first sleeve portion;

[0008] A first bearing and a central shaft, wherein the first bearing is sleeved in the first sleeve portion, the central shaft is inserted into the inner ring of the first bearing, and the central shaft can rotate relative to the first sleeve portion around an axis through the first bearing;

[0009] A strain gauge, in the radial direction of the central axis, a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the first sleeve portion is cut to form a cut surface, and the strain gauge is installed on the cut surface;

[0010] When the central shaft rotates around the axis, radial pressure can be applied to the cut portion of the first sleeve portion having the cut surface through the first bearing. The cut portion can deform in a tangential direction perpendicular to the radial direction, and the strain gauge can deform along with the deformation of the cut portion.

[0011] In one embodiment, the shape of the cut surface is adapted to the shape of the strain gauge.

[0012] In one of the embodiments, the torque sensor device further includes a bonding member, and the strain gauge is bonded to the cut surface via the bonding member.

[0013] In one embodiment, the bearing sleeve further comprises a second sleeve portion connected to the first sleeve portion in the axial direction of the central shaft, and the central shaft is sleeved in the second sleeve portion;

[0014] The torque sensor device further comprises a circuit board, which is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the second sleeve portion, and the strain gauge is electrically connected to the circuit board via a wire.

[0015] In one embodiment, the strain gauge has a welding protrusion, and the wire is welded to the welding protrusion.

[0016] In one embodiment, the bearing sleeve further comprises a third sleeve portion, the third sleeve portion is arranged between the first sleeve portion and the second sleeve portion in the axial direction of the central shaft, and the outer diameter of the third sleeve portion is smaller than the outer diameters of the first sleeve portion and the second sleeve portion;

[0017] The first sleeve portion, the third sleeve portion and the second sleeve portion together form a receiving groove, and the wire is received in the receiving groove.

[0018] In one embodiment, the torque sensor further includes a Hall device and a magnetic ring, wherein the Hall device is mounted on the circuit board, and the magnetic ring is sleeved on the central axis, and the Hall device cooperates with the magnetic ring to detect the pedaling frequency of the central axis.

[0019] In one embodiment, the bottom bracket assembly further comprises a first bowl set and a bottom bracket tube, wherein the first bowl set is disposed in the bottom bracket tube;

[0020] The first sleeve portion is supported and disposed in the first bowl set. The strain gauge is located in the first bowl set and has a gap with an inner wall of the first bowl set.

[0021] In one embodiment, the bottom bracket assembly further includes a second bowl set and a second bearing, wherein the second bowl set is disposed in the bottom bracket tube and is spaced apart from the first bowl set in the axial direction of the middle shaft, the second bearing support is disposed in the second bowl set, and the middle shaft is passed through the inner ring of the second bearing;

[0022] One end of the bearing sleeve away from the first bearing extends into the second bowl set.

[0023] A power-assisted bicycle comprises a toothed disc, a crank, a flywheel, a chain and the torque sensor device as described above, wherein the toothed disc and the crank are connected to the central axis, and the chain is arranged on the toothed disc and the flywheel.

[0024] In the above-mentioned torque sensor device and power-assisted bicycle, the strain gauge is arranged on the cut surface of the bearing sleeve instead of being directly attached to the central axis. The movement of the central axis is transmitted to the strain gauge through the first bearing and the cut portion. In this way, the torque sensor device can be connected to the main control circuit in a wired manner, which not only ensures the simple structure of the torque sensor device, but also reduces the production cost compared to the wireless method. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 An axonometric diagram of a torque sensor device provided in one embodiment of the present application;

[0026] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An axonometric view of a portion of the structure of the torque sensor device shown in ;

[0027] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A side view of the torque sensor device shown in;

[0028] Figure 4 for Figure 3 AA cross-sectional view of the torque sensor device shown in ;

[0029] Figure 5 for Figure 4 BB plane cross-sectional view of the torque sensor device shown in;

[0030] Figure 6 for Figure 1 An axonometric view of a portion of the structure of the torque sensor device shown in ;

[0031] Figure 7 for Figure 4 CC section view of the torque sensor device shown in .

[0032] Description of reference numerals:

[0033] 100, torque sensor device; 10, bottom bracket assembly; 11, bearing sleeve; 111, first sleeve portion; 112, cut surface; 113, cut portion; 114, second sleeve portion; 115, third sleeve portion; 116, receiving groove; 117, fourth sleeve portion; 12, first bowl group; 13, bottom bracket tube; 14, second bowl group; 20, first bearing; 30, middle shaft; 40, strain gauge; 41, welding boss; 50, circuit board; 60, Hall device; 70, magnetic ring; 80, second bearing; 90, wire. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the following description, many specific details are set forth to facilitate a full understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without violating the connotation of the present invention, so the present invention is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0035] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" and the like indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the referred device or element must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0036] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Therefore, the features defined as "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the features. In the description of the present invention, the meaning of "plurality" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise clearly and specifically defined.

[0037] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise clearly defined. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0038] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or the first and second features are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, a first feature being "above", "above" or "above" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below", "below" or "below" a second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or simply means that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0039] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "disposed on" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be a central element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be a central element at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be the only implementation method.

[0040] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 An embodiment of the present application provides a power-assisted bicycle, including a torque sensor device 100, a chainring, a crank, a flywheel and a chain. The torque sensor device 100 includes a five-way assembly 10, a first bearing 20 and a middle shaft 30. The five-way assembly 10 includes a bearing sleeve 11, the bearing sleeve 11 has a first sleeve portion 111, the first bearing 20 is sleeved in the first sleeve portion 111, the middle shaft 30 is inserted into the inner ring of the first bearing 20, and the middle shaft 30 can rotate relative to the first sleeve portion 111 around an axis through a first axis. The chainring and the crank are connected to the middle shaft 30, and the chain is arranged on the chainring and the flywheel.

[0041] With the above arrangement, the pedaling torque of the rider tightens the chain between the chainring and the flywheel through the crank, and can cause the middle shaft 30 to form a force component and displacement in a first direction (one of the radial directions of the middle shaft 30, roughly parallel to the direction of the line connecting the middle shaft and the rear shaft). The torque detection component (described below) of the power-assisted bicycle detects the pedaling frequency and the cadence as the input signal of the electric power-assisted system, so that the system can quickly output the electric power-assisted power that is strictly proportional to the pedaling power of the rider, thereby achieving the purpose of ease and effort.

[0042] Continue reading Figure 2 The torque sensor device 100 further includes a strain gauge 40. In the radial direction of the central axis 30, a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the first sleeve portion 111 is cut to form a cut surface 112, and the strain gauge 40 is installed on the cut surface 112. Figure 3-Figure 5When the middle shaft 30 rotates around the axis, due to the force component and displacement in the first direction, the middle shaft 30 can apply radial pressure to the cut portion 113 of the first sleeve portion 111 having the cut surface 112 through the first bearing 20, and the cut portion 113 can be deformed in the tangential direction perpendicular to the radial direction, and the strain gauge 40 can be deformed following the deformation of the cut portion 113. Optionally, the strain gauge 40 is a bridge strain gauge, which uses the slight deformation of the metal sheet under the action of external force to change the resistance value, and measures the strain by converting it into voltage change through a bridge circuit. It can be understood that in some other embodiments, there is no limitation on the type of strain gauge 40, as long as it can produce deformation and can transmit signals to the circuit board 50 to measure the pedaling frequency and cadence.

[0043] It should be noted that the first sleeve portion 111 has a portion of the cut surface 112 that forms a cut portion 113. It should also be noted that the radial pressure is the normal pressure (radial pressure along the Figure 5 When the cut portion 113 is subjected to radial pressure, the cut portion 113 can be extended and deformed in both sides in the circumferential direction of the bearing sleeve 11 (the cut portion 113 is along the Figure 5 Since the strain gauge 40 is mounted on the cut surface 112 , the strain gauge 40 can deform along with the deformation of the cut portion 113 .

[0044] In the torque sensor device 100 provided in the embodiment of the present application, the strain gauge 40 is arranged on the cut surface 112 of the bearing sleeve 11, rather than being directly attached to the central axis 30. The movement of the central axis 30 is transmitted to the strain gauge 40 through the first bearing 20 and the cut portion 113. In this way, the torque sensor device 100 can be connected to the main control circuit in a wired manner, which not only ensures the simple structure of the torque sensor device 100, but also reduces the production cost compared to the wireless method.

[0045] In some embodiments, the shape of the cut surface 112 is conformed to the strain gauge 40. When the cut portion 113 is subjected to radial pressure, it can be extended and deformed to both sides in the circumferential direction of the bearing sleeve 11. Since the shape of the cut surface 112 is conformed to the strain gauge 40, the deformation of the cut portion 113 can be fully transmitted to the strain gauge 40 through the cut surface 112, so that the strain gauge 40 follows the deformation of the cut portion 113 and is deformed.

[0046] In some specific embodiments, the strain gauge 40 is a flat plate structure, and the cut surface 112 is a flat surface. In other specific embodiments, the strain gauge 40 is an arc-shaped curved structure, and the cut surface 112 is a curved surface that matches the shape of the strain gauge 40.

[0047] Furthermore, the torque sensor device 100 further includes a bonding member, and the strain gauge 40 is bonded to the cut surface 112 through the bonding member. The method of bonding the strain gauge 40 to the cut surface 112 through the bonding member is flexible, convenient, firm and reliable. Of course, in some other embodiments, the strain gauge 40 can also be fixed to the cut surface 112 by other methods, which are not limited here.

[0048] In some embodiments, see Figure 6 The bearing sleeve 11 further includes a second sleeve portion 114, which is disposed at one end of the first sleeve portion 111 in the axial direction of the central shaft 30, and the second sleeve portion 114 is connected to the first sleeve portion 111, and the central shaft 30 is sleeved in the second sleeve portion 114. Figure 2 The torque sensor device 100 also includes a circuit board 50, which is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the second set portion 114, and the strain gauge 40 is electrically connected to the circuit board 50 through the wire 90. The strain gauge 40 can change its resistance value by deformation, and send a signal to the circuit board 50 through the wire 90. The circuit board 50 converts the above signal into a voltage signal to the controller, and the motor of the power-assisted bicycle then outputs the corresponding power, which is proportional to the pedaling torque. The second set portion 114 is set to facilitate the installation and fixation of the circuit board 50.

[0049] Furthermore, the strain gauge 40 has a welding protrusion 41, and the wire 90 is welded to the welding protrusion 41 to facilitate the electrical connection between the wire 90 and the strain gauge 40.

[0050] For further information, see Figure 6 The bearing sleeve 11 further includes a third sleeve portion 115, which is disposed between the first sleeve portion 111 and the second sleeve portion 114 in the axial direction of the central axis 30, and the outer diameter of the third sleeve portion 115 is smaller than the outer diameters of the first sleeve portion 111 and the second sleeve portion 114. The first sleeve portion 111, the second sleeve portion 114 and the third sleeve portion 115 together form a receiving groove 116, and the wire 90 is received in the receiving groove 116. Specifically, the wire 90 has a first connecting portion, a middle portion and a second connecting portion, the first connecting portion is connected to the circuit board 50, the second connecting portion is connected to the strain gauge 40, and the middle portion is received in the receiving groove 116. This arrangement allows the wires 90 to be arranged neatly.

[0051] See also Figure 7The torque sensor device 100 also includes a Hall device 60 and a magnetic ring 70. The Hall device 60 is mounted on the circuit board 50, and the magnetic ring 70 is sleeved on the middle shaft 30. The Hall device 60 cooperates with the magnetic ring 70 to detect the pedaling frequency of the middle shaft 30. Specifically, a through hole is provided on the second sleeve portion 114, and the Hall device 60 is penetrated into the interior of the bearing sleeve 11 through the through hole to cooperate with the magnetic ring 70 to detect the pedaling frequency of the middle shaft 30. The Hall device 60 is a magnetic sensor based on the Hall effect, which can detect the change of the magnetic field of the magnetic ring 70 and convert it into an electrical signal, so as to detect the pedaling frequency of the middle shaft 30, so as to send a signal to the circuit board 50, and then send it to the controller after being processed by the circuit board 50, so that the motor of the power-assisted bicycle can output a corresponding frequency, which is proportional to the pedaling frequency.

[0052] Continue reading Figure 4 The bottom bracket assembly 10 further includes a first bowl assembly 12 and a bottom bracket tube 13. The first bowl assembly 12 is disposed in the bottom bracket tube 13. The first sleeve portion 111 is supported and disposed in the first bowl assembly 12. The strain gauge 40 is located in the first bowl assembly 12 and has a gap with the inner wall of the first bowl assembly 12. In this way, the first bowl assembly 12 plays a role in supporting the bearing sleeve 11, and the arrangement of the first bowl assembly 12 will not hinder the strain gauge 40 from generating strain.

[0053] Furthermore, the bottom bracket assembly 10 further includes a second bowl assembly 14 and a second bearing 80. The second bowl assembly 14 is disposed in the bottom bracket tube 13 and is spaced apart from the first bowl assembly 12 in the axial direction of the middle shaft 30. The second bearing 80 is supported and disposed in the second bowl assembly 14, and the middle shaft 30 is disposed in the inner ring of the second bearing 80. The end of the bearing sleeve 11 away from the first bearing 20 extends into the second bowl assembly 14. Specifically, the bearing sleeve 11 includes a fourth sleeve portion 117. The fourth sleeve portion 117 is connected to the end of the second sleeve portion 114 away from the third sleeve portion 115. Part of the fourth sleeve portion 117 extends into the second bowl assembly 14. In this way, the middle shaft 30 rotates relative to the bottom bracket assembly 10 through the first bearing 20 and the second bearing 80. The first bearing 20 and the second bearing 80 jointly support the middle shaft 30, thereby ensuring the stability of the rotation of the middle shaft 30. At the same time, since part of the fourth sleeve portion 117 extends into the second bowl assembly 14 , the probability of dust entering the second bearing 80 through the second bowl assembly 14 is reduced.

[0054] Another embodiment of the present application further provides a torque sensor device 100 included in the above-mentioned power-assisted bicycle. Since the above-mentioned power-assisted bicycle has beneficial effects, the torque sensor device 100 has the same beneficial effects, which will not be described in detail here.

[0055] The technical features of the above-described embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above-described embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0056] The above-mentioned embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present invention, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be pointed out that, for ordinary technicians in this field, several variations and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the patent of the present invention shall be subject to the attached claims.

Claims

1. A torque sensor device, characterized in that: include: A five-way assembly (10) comprises a bearing sleeve (11), wherein the bearing sleeve (11) has a first sleeve portion (111); A first bearing (20) and a central shaft (30), wherein the first bearing (20) is sleeved in the first sleeve portion (111), the central shaft (30) is inserted into the inner ring of the first bearing (20), and the central shaft (30) can rotate relative to the first sleeve portion (111) around an axis through the first bearing (20); A strain gauge (40), wherein in the radial direction of the central axis (30), a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the first sleeve portion (111) is cut to form a cut surface (112), and the strain gauge (40) is mounted on the cut surface (112); When the central shaft (30) rotates around the axis, radial pressure can be applied to the cut portion (113) of the first sleeve portion (111) having the cut surface (112) through the first bearing (20); the cut portion (113) can be deformed in a tangential direction perpendicular to the radial direction, and the strain gauge (40) can be deformed along with the deformation of the cut portion (113).

2. The torque sensor device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The shape of the cut surface (112) is conformally adapted to the strain gauge (40).

3. The torque sensor device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The torque sensor device also includes a bonding member, and the strain gauge (40) is bonded to the cut surface (112) via the bonding member.

4. The torque sensor device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bearing sleeve (11) further comprises a second sleeve portion (114) connected to the first sleeve portion (111) in the axial direction of the central shaft (30), and the central shaft (30) is sleeved in the second sleeve portion (114); The torque sensor device further comprises a circuit board (50), wherein the circuit board (50) is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the second sleeve portion (114), and the strain gauge (40) is electrically connected to the circuit board (50) via a wire (90).

5. The torque sensor device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The strain gauge (40) has a welding protrusion (41), and the wire (90) is welded to the welding protrusion (41).

6. The torque sensor device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The bearing sleeve (11) further comprises a third sleeve portion (115), wherein the third sleeve portion (115) is arranged between the first sleeve portion (111) and the second sleeve portion (114) in the axial direction of the central shaft (30), and an outer diameter of the third sleeve portion (115) is smaller than an outer diameter of the first sleeve portion (111) and the second sleeve portion (114); The first sleeve portion (111), the third sleeve portion (115) and the second sleeve portion (114) together form a receiving groove (116), and the wire (90) is received in the receiving groove (116).

7. The torque sensor device according to claim 4, characterized in that: The torque sensor further comprises a Hall device (60) and a magnetic ring (70); the Hall device (60) is mounted on the circuit board (50); the magnetic ring (70) is sleeved on the central axis (30); the Hall device (60) cooperates with the magnetic ring (70) to detect the pedaling frequency of the central axis (30).

8. The torque sensor device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The five-way assembly (10) further comprises a first bowl set (12) and a five-way tube (13), wherein the first bowl set (12) is arranged in the five-way tube (13); The first sleeve portion (111) is supported and arranged in the first bowl assembly (12); the strain gauge (40) is located in the first bowl assembly (12) and has a gap with the inner wall of the first bowl assembly (12).

9. The torque sensor device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The five-way assembly (10) further comprises a second bowl set (14) and a second bearing (80), wherein the second bowl set (14) is arranged in the five-way tube (13) and is spaced apart from the first bowl set (12) in the axial direction of the middle shaft (30), the second bearing (80) is supported in the second bowl set (14), and the middle shaft (30) is passed through the inner ring of the second bearing (80); One end of the bearing sleeve (11) away from the first bearing (20) extends into the second bowl assembly (14).

10. A power-assisted bicycle, characterized in that: It comprises a toothed disc, a crank, a flywheel, a chain and a torque sensor device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the toothed disc and the crank are connected to the middle shaft (30), and the chain is arranged on the toothed disc and the flywheel.

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