Energy storage chain guide assembly and rear derailleur

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of energy storage type chain guide assembly and rear derailleur, comprising: chain guide member, configured to be rotatably connected with guide wheel and tensioner, and the tensioner is configured to tension the chain in the second direction, and the chain guide member has first load compartment inside;Generator, installed on the guide wheel and / or tensioner;Battery, detachably mounted in the first load compartment, and electrically connected with the generator;Wherein, the battery is configured to be inserted into the first load compartment in the second direction, to be mounted in the first load compartment.The chain guide assembly of the present application adopts an energy storage design, and the battery effectively avoids the base member and the movable member of the rear derailleur during installation and disassembly.Even if the chain guide member is rotated to any angle relative to the movable member, the battery still has sufficient operating space, taking into account the convenience of battery disassembly and reliability after installation, the wiring path is short, the wiring difficulty is low, and the convenience of the generator charging the battery and the battery powering the drive motor is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of bicycle technology, and particularly to a chain guide assembly and a rear derailleur. Background Technology

[0002] In an electronic rear derailleur, the drive motor acts as the electronic shifting actuator, responsible for driving the moving component to move relative to the base component. This allows the chain guide assembly to guide the chain to move accurately between different freewheels, thus achieving gear shifting. The chain guide assembly is rotatably mounted on the damper of the moving component, and the battery can power the drive motor, wireless communication module, and other electrical components.

[0003] Currently, batteries are usually mounted directly on the frame, which requires additional space in the frame. The limited space for installing and replacing batteries causes inconvenience, and the batteries are prone to coming loose when the bicycle is subjected to severe vibrations.

[0004] In addition, some electronic rear derailleurs may have a built-in generator on the tensioner or guide wheel to charge the battery. However, the battery is far from the generator and drive motor, making wiring difficult and charging and power supply inconvenient. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, this invention proposes an energy storage chain guide assembly that facilitates battery installation and replacement, prevents battery detachment, and provides convenient charging and power supply.

[0006] The present invention also proposes a rear derailleur having the above-mentioned energy storage chain guide assembly.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an energy-storing chain guide assembly having mutually perpendicular first and second directions, includes: a chain guide member configured to rotatably connect a guide wheel and a tension wheel, the axes of the guide wheel and the tension wheel both extending along the first direction, the tension wheel configured to tension a chain along the second direction, and the chain guide member having a first storage compartment inside; a generator mounted on the guide wheel and / or the tension wheel, the generator being used to convert the mechanical energy generated by the rotation of the guide wheel and / or the tension wheel into electrical energy; and a battery detachably mounted in the first storage compartment and electrically connected to the generator, the battery being used to store the electrical energy generated by the generator; wherein the battery is configured to be inserted into the first storage compartment along the second direction to achieve installation in the first storage compartment.

[0008] It has at least the following beneficial effects: This chain guide assembly adopts an energy storage design. By setting a first loading compartment inside the chain guide component and detachably installing the battery in the first loading compartment, the battery is specifically configured to be inserted into the first loading compartment along a second direction. The second direction is specifically the direction in which the tensioner pulley tensions the chain and is perpendicular to the extension direction of the tensioner pulley's axis. This allows the battery to effectively avoid the base component and moving component of the rear derailleur during installation and removal. Even if the chain guide component rotates to any angle relative to the moving component, the battery still has sufficient operating space, significantly improving the convenience of installing and replacing the battery. After the battery is installed, when the bicycle experiences severe bumps, if the tension wheel, chain guide, and battery have an inertial tendency to move rapidly in the second direction, the chain tension itself will hinder the movement of the tension wheel and chain guide. Since this direction is consistent with the battery's insertion direction, there is no risk of the battery detaching from the first storage compartment. If the tension wheel, chain guide, and battery have an inertial tendency to move rapidly in the opposite direction (i.e., the direction of chain slack), the chain guide itself is rotatably mounted on a damper, which provides a buffering effect, reducing the risk of the battery detaching from the first storage compartment in this direction. This ensures the battery is not easily detached, balancing the convenience of battery installation and removal with the reliability of the installed battery. Furthermore, the first storage compartment is spatially close to the guide wheel, tension wheel, and drive motor, resulting in a small straight-line distance between the battery and the generator, and between the battery and the drive motor. This leads to shorter wiring paths, lower wiring difficulty, and improved convenience for the generator to charge the battery and for the battery to power the drive motor.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, it further includes: a switch element movably connected to the guide chain member, the switch element having a buckle, the battery having a slot, and an elastic element disposed between the switch element and the guide chain member, the elastic element acting on the switch element and engaging the buckle in the slot to prevent the battery from disengaging from the first cargo compartment in the opposite direction of the second direction.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the switch member is slidably connected to the guide chain member along a third direction, wherein the third direction, the first direction, and the second direction are mutually perpendicular, the elastic member is configured as a compression spring extending along the third direction, and the latch is disposed on the side of the switch member away from the elastic member along the third direction.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the switch member is located between the battery and the guide wheel in the third direction, the switch member has an actuation part for driving the switch member to slide along the third direction, and the actuation part is disposed on the side of the guide chain member away from the tension wheel in the first direction.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the battery includes a casing and a battery cell, the battery cell being enclosed within the casing, and the slot being formed on the casing.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the generator is an AC generator, the conductor chain member has a second cargo compartment inside, a circuit board is installed in the second cargo compartment, a rectifier circuit is provided on the circuit board, the rectifier circuit is electrically connected between the generator and the battery, and the rectifier circuit is configured to convert the AC power generated by the generator into DC power to charge the battery.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the circuit board is detachably mounted to the second cargo compartment, and the circuit board is configured to be inserted into the second cargo compartment in the opposite direction to the second direction to achieve mounting in the second cargo compartment.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the generator is mounted on the tensioning wheel, and the circuit board is located between the tensioning wheel and the battery in a third direction, wherein the third direction, the first direction, and the second direction are mutually perpendicular.

[0016] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the circuit board is further provided with a charging interface and a charging circuit. The charging interface is used to connect to an external power source, and the charging circuit is electrically connected between the charging interface and the battery, and is configured to draw power from the external power source to charge the battery.

[0017] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a rear derailleur includes: a base member configured to be mounted on a frame; a movable member movably connected to the base member; a drive motor configured to drive the movable member to move relative to the base member; and a chain guide assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the chain guide member is rotatably connected to the movable member in a second direction or the opposite direction to the second direction, and the battery is electrically connected to the drive motor to provide stored electrical energy to the drive motor.

[0018] It has at least the following beneficial effects: This rear derailleur balances the convenience of battery removal and installation with the reliability after installation, resulting in a small straight-line distance between the battery and the alternator, as well as between the battery and the drive motor, a short wiring path, and low wiring difficulty, thereby improving the convenience of the alternator charging the battery and the battery supplying power to the drive motor.

[0019] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the rear derailleur in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the chain guide assembly in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure in which the battery and circuit board are respectively inserted into the first and second cargo compartments in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a partial structural diagram of the chain guide component in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Reference numerals: 1. Base component; 2. Movable component; 3. Drive motor; 4. Damper; 5. Chain guide assembly; 51. Chain guide component; 51. First cargo compartment; 511. Second cargo compartment; 512. Guide wheel; 52. Tensioner wheel; 53. Battery; 54. Slot; 541. Housing; 542. Generator; 55. Switch; 56. Buckle; 561. Actuator; 562. Elastic component; 57. Circuit board; 58. Charging interface; 581. Chain; 6. Detailed Implementation

[0022] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0023] In the description of this invention, the use of terms such as first, second, and third is for the purpose of distinguishing technical features only, and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated or the order of the technical features indicated.

[0024] In the description of this invention, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "set up," "install," and "connect" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0025] Reference Figures 2 to 4 The present invention discloses an energy storage chain guide assembly 5, which includes a chain guide component 51, a guide wheel 52, a tension wheel 53, a battery 54, and a generator 55.

[0026] The chain guide component 51 is configured to rotatably connect the guide wheel 52 and the tension wheel 53. The axes of both the guide wheel 52 and the tension wheel 53 extend along a first direction. The guide wheel 52 and the tension wheel 53 can rotate relative to the chain guide component 51 around their own axes to rotate synchronously with the chain 6. (Refer to...) Figure 1 The chain guide component 51 is rotatably mounted on the damper 4 and can drive the guide wheel 52 and the tension wheel 53 to rotate together around the rotation center of the damper 4 to tension or relax the chain 6. The tension wheel 53 is configured to tension the chain 6 along a second direction, and the first direction and the second direction are perpendicular to each other.

[0027] It should be explained that the second direction is the tangential direction of the rotation of the tensioning wheel 53 and the guide chain component 51 around the rotation center of the damper 4, specifically... Figure 1 The clockwise rotation direction of the tensioning wheel 53 and the guide chain component 51 is shown.

[0028] The guide chain component 51 differs from the thin-plate structure used in existing outer and inner guide plates; instead, it adopts a three-dimensional structure, forming an internal space, as shown in the reference. Figure 3 The guide chain component 51 has a first cargo compartment 511 inside.

[0029] Reference Figure 4 The generator 55 is mounted on the guide wheel 52 and / or the tension wheel 53. The generator 55 is used to convert the mechanical energy generated by the rotation of the guide wheel 52 and / or the tension wheel 53 into electrical energy. Specifically, the generator 55 can be mounted only on the guide wheel 52 or the tension wheel 53, or the generator 55 can be mounted on both the guide wheel 52 and the tension wheel 53.

[0030] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 The battery 54 is detachably installed in the first cargo compartment 511 and electrically connected to the generator 55. The battery 54 is used to store the electrical energy generated by the generator 55. It should be noted that the battery 54 can be electrically connected to the drive motor 3 to provide the stored electrical energy to the drive motor 3. The battery 54 can also provide power to other electrical components such as the wireless communication module.

[0031] Reference Figure 3 During the installation of battery 54, battery 54 is configured to be inserted into first cargo compartment 511 in the second direction to achieve installation in first cargo compartment 511.

[0032] Reference Figures 1 to 3The chain guide assembly 5 adopts an energy storage design. The second direction is specifically the direction in which the tension wheel 53 tensions the chain 6, and is perpendicular to the extension direction of the axis of the tension wheel 53. This allows the battery 54 to effectively avoid the base component 1 and the movable component 2 of the rear derailleur during installation and removal. Even if the chain guide component 51 rotates to any angle relative to the movable component 2, the battery 54 still has sufficient operating space, which significantly improves the convenience of installing and replacing the battery 54.

[0033] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 After the battery 54 is installed, when the bicycle experiences severe bumps, if the tension wheel 53, the chain guide 51, and the battery 54 have an inertial tendency to move rapidly in the second direction, the tension of the chain 6 itself will hinder the movement of the tension wheel 53 and the chain guide 51. This direction is consistent with the insertion and installation direction of the battery 54, so there is no risk that the battery 54 will detach from the first cargo compartment 511. If the tension wheel 53, the chain guide 51, and the battery 54 have an inertial tendency to move rapidly in the opposite direction of the second direction (i.e., the direction of slack chain 6), since the chain guide 51 itself is rotatably mounted on the damper 4, the damper 4 can provide a buffering effect, reducing the risk that the battery 54 will detach from the first cargo compartment 511 in this direction, ensuring that the battery 54 is not easily loosened, thus balancing the convenience of battery 54 installation and removal with the reliability after installation.

[0034] In addition, refer to Figure 1 The first cargo compartment 511 is spatially close to the guide wheel 52, tension wheel 53 and drive motor 3, which makes the straight-line distance between the battery 54 and the generator 55 and between the battery 54 and the drive motor 3 small, the wiring path short, reduces the length of the wiring harness and the complexity of the wiring, and makes the wiring easier. This improves the convenience of the generator 55 charging the battery 54 and the battery 54 supplying power to the drive motor 3. It also effectively reduces electromagnetic interference and energy loss during transmission, which is conducive to improving the response speed and stability of charging and power supply control, and significantly improves the efficiency and reliability of charging and power supply.

[0035] In some embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to... Figures 2 to 4 The chain guide assembly 5 also includes a switch 56, which is movably connected to the chain guide member 51. Specifically, the switch 56 can be rotatably connected to the chain guide member 51 or slidably connected to the chain guide member 51. The switch 56 has a buckle 561, and the battery 54 has a slot 541. An elastic member 57 is provided between the switch 56 and the chain guide member 51. The elastic member 57 acts on the switch 56 and causes the buckle 561 to be engaged in the slot 541, so as to prevent the battery 54 from disengaging from the first cargo compartment 511 in the opposite direction of the second direction, thereby achieving the installation and locking of the battery 54.

[0036] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 When the battery 54 needs to be removed, the operator actuates the switch 56 and causes the latch 561 to disengage from the slot 541, thus releasing the battery 54 from its restraint and allowing it to be easily removed.

[0037] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 In some embodiments, the switch 56 is specifically slidably connected to the guide chain member 51 along a third direction. The third direction, the first direction, and the second direction are perpendicular to each other. The third direction can also be the arrangement direction between the tension wheel 53 and the guide wheel 52. The elastic member 57 is configured as a compression spring extending along the third direction. The buckle 561 is disposed on the side of the switch 56 away from the elastic member 57 along the third direction.

[0038] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 The switch 56 is located between the battery 54 and the guide wheel 52 in the third direction. The switch 56 has an actuating part 562, which is used to drive the switch 56 to slide in the third direction and compress the elastic member 57 so that the buckle 561 disengages from the slot 541, thereby realizing the function of conveniently removing the battery 54.

[0039] The actuator 562 can be operated by the operator. The actuator 562 is located on the side of the chain guide member 51 away from the tension wheel 53 in the first direction and on the outer side of the bicycle in the left and right direction. This makes it convenient for the operator to see and quickly operate the actuator, ensuring that the battery 54 can be easily and quickly removed.

[0040] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 4 The battery 54 includes a casing 542 and a battery cell. The battery cell is enclosed within the casing 542, which is capable of withstanding pressure and impact to protect the battery cell. Furthermore, the casing 542 can be partially exposed outside the first cargo compartment 511. (Refer to...) Figure 4 The card slot 541 is specifically located on the outer casing 542.

[0041] In some embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to... Figures 2 to 4 The generator 55 is an AC generator. The chain member 51 has a second cargo compartment 512 inside. A circuit board 58 is installed in the second cargo compartment 512. A rectifier circuit is provided on the circuit board 58. The rectifier circuit is electrically connected between the generator 55 and the battery 54. The rectifier circuit is configured to convert the AC power generated by the generator 55 into DC power to charge the battery 54.

[0042] By integrating the circuit board 58 and the battery 54 together on the conductor component 51, the wiring path from the generator 55 to the rectifier circuit and from the rectifier circuit to the battery 54 is shortened, reducing the length of the wiring harness and the complexity of the wiring, and also effectively reducing electromagnetic interference and energy loss during AC transmission.

[0043] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The circuit board 58 is detachably installed in the second storage compartment 512, which facilitates the maintenance or replacement of the circuit board 58. The circuit board 58 is configured to be inserted into the second storage compartment 512 in the opposite direction of the second direction, so that the circuit board 58 can be installed in the second storage compartment 512. This allows the circuit board 58 to effectively avoid the base component 1 and the movable component 2 of the rear derailleur during installation and removal, providing ample operating space and significantly improving the convenience of installing and replacing the circuit board 58.

[0044] Reference Figures 2 to 4 The generator 55 is mounted on the tensioning wheel 53, and the circuit board 58 is located between the tensioning wheel 53 and the battery 54 in the third direction. The third direction, the first direction, and the second direction are all perpendicular to each other. By placing the circuit board 58 between the generator 55 and the battery 54, the response speed and stability of the charging control are improved, significantly enhancing charging efficiency and reliability. At the same time, it also achieves a compact structural layout.

[0045] In some embodiments, refer to Figure 2 and Figure 3 The circuit board 58 also includes a charging interface 581 and a charging circuit. The charging interface 581 is used to connect to an external power source. Specifically, the charging interface 581 can be a USB interface, a Type-C interface, or a magnetic charging interface. The charging circuit is electrically connected between the charging interface 581 and the battery 54 and is configured to draw power from an external power source to charge the battery 54. This provides a dual-path charging design for the battery 54, allowing the bicycle to generate its own electricity using the chain 6 while riding and charge the battery 54. It can also quickly replenish the battery 54's power through an external power source when the bicycle is parked, ensuring that the battery 54 always has sufficient power to supply components such as the drive motor 3 and the wireless communication module. Even in the event of prolonged low-speed riding or generator failure, the user can still manually charge the battery through the charging interface 581, improving the reliability of energy storage and the user experience.

[0046] In some other embodiments, the circuit board 58 may be integrated with the battery 54.

[0047] Reference Figure 1 The present invention also discloses a rear derailleur, including a base component 1, a movable component 2, a drive motor 3, and a chain guide component 5 as described in the above embodiments.

[0048] The base component 1 is configured to be mounted on the frame and serves as the fixed part of the rear derailleur; the movable component 2 is movably connected to the base component 1, and the drive motor 3 is configured to drive the movable component 2 to move relative to the base component 1; the chain guide component 51 is rotatably connected to the movable component 2 in a second direction or the opposite direction of the second direction. Specifically, a damper 4 is mounted on the movable component 2, the chain guide assembly 5 is rotatably mounted on the damper 4, and the battery 54 is electrically connected to the drive motor 3 to provide the stored electrical energy to the drive motor 3.

[0049] This rear derailleur balances the ease of removing and installing the battery 54 with its reliability after installation. It minimizes the straight-line distance between the battery 54 and the generator 55, as well as between the battery 54 and the drive motor 3, resulting in shorter wiring paths and lower wiring difficulty. This improves the convenience of the generator 55 charging the battery 54 and the battery 54 supplying power to the drive motor 3. It also effectively reduces electromagnetic interference and energy loss during transmission, which helps improve the response speed and stability of charging and power supply control, and significantly enhances the efficiency and reliability of charging and power supply.

[0050] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above 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.

[0051] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the spirit of the present invention. All such equivalent modifications or substitutions are included within the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. An energy storage chain guide assembly having a first direction and a second direction that are perpendicular to each other, characterized in that, include: A chain guide component is configured to rotatably connect a guide wheel and a tension wheel, the axes of the guide wheel and the tension wheel both extending along the first direction, the tension wheel being configured to tension the chain along the second direction, and the chain guide component having a first cargo compartment inside; A generator is mounted on the guide wheel and / or the tension wheel, and the generator is used to convert the mechanical energy generated by the rotation of the guide wheel and / or the tension wheel into electrical energy; A battery is detachably installed in the first cargo compartment and electrically connected to the generator, the battery being used to store the electrical energy generated by the generator; The battery is configured to be inserted into the first cargo compartment along the second direction to achieve installation in the first cargo compartment.

2. The energy storage chain guide assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A switch is movably connected to the guide chain component. The switch has a buckle, and the battery has a slot. An elastic element is provided between the switch and the guide chain component. The elastic element acts on the switch and causes the buckle to engage in the slot, thereby preventing the battery from detaching from the first cargo compartment in the opposite direction of the second direction.

3. The energy storage chain guide assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The switch element is slidably connected to the guide chain member along a third direction. The third direction, the first direction, and the second direction are perpendicular to each other. The elastic element is configured as a compression spring extending along the third direction. The buckle is disposed on the side of the switch element away from the elastic element along the third direction.

4. The energy storage chain guide assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The switch is located between the battery and the guide wheel in the third direction. The switch has an actuation part for driving the switch to slide along the third direction. The actuation part is disposed on the side of the chain guide member away from the tension wheel in the first direction.

5. The energy storage chain guide assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The battery includes a casing and a battery cell, the battery cell being enclosed within the casing, and the slot being formed on the casing.

6. The energy storage chain guide assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The generator is an AC generator. The chain guide has a second cargo compartment inside. A circuit board is installed in the second cargo compartment. A rectifier circuit is provided on the circuit board. The rectifier circuit is electrically connected between the generator and the battery. The rectifier circuit is configured to convert the AC power generated by the generator into DC power to charge the battery.

7. The energy storage chain guide assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The circuit board is detachably mounted to the second cargo compartment and is configured to be inserted into the second cargo compartment in the opposite direction to the second direction, thereby achieving installation in the second cargo compartment.

8. The energy storage chain guide assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that, The generator is mounted on the tensioning wheel, and the circuit board is located between the tensioning wheel and the battery in the third direction. The third direction, the first direction, and the second direction are all perpendicular to each other.

9. The energy storage chain guide assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, The circuit board is also provided with a charging interface and a charging circuit. The charging interface is used to connect to an external power source, and the charging circuit is electrically connected between the charging interface and the battery, and is configured to draw power from the external power source to charge the battery.

10. A rear derailleur, characterized in that, include: Base components, configured to be mounted on the vehicle frame; A movable component, which is movably connected to the base component; A drive motor is configured to drive the movable member to move relative to the base member; According to any one of claims 1 to 9, the chain guide member is rotatably connected to the movable member in the second direction or the opposite direction of the second direction, and the battery is electrically connected to the drive motor to provide stored electrical energy to the drive motor.

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