Multiple pinion arrangement for a bicycle gear system with small pinions and adapter for attaching the multiple pinion arrangement to a driver

Abstract

Multiple pinion arrangement (10) with a plurality of pinions (141-14 10 ) with different numbers of teeth for mounting on a driver (16) provided on a rear wheel axle of a bicycle, comprising - a pinion assembly (12) on which at least a part of the plurality of pinions (141-14 1o ) is provided, and - an adapter (26) configured to attach the pinion assembly (12) to the driver (16), wherein the adapter (26) has a first coupling portion (30) configured to be attached to the driver (16) and a second coupling portion (34) configured to couple to the pinion assembly (12), wherein the second coupling portion (34) is configured to couple to the pinion assembly (12) such that, when coupled to the pinion assembly (12), it lies axially within the pinion assembly (12) and radially within the smallest pinion (141), and wherein the adapter (26) has a cylindrical portion between the first coupling portion (30) and the second coupling portion (34), wherein the cylindrical portion is configured with a cylindrical inner circumferential surface configured to guide the adapter (26) with a corresponding relatively large-area cylindrical surface section (23) of the driver (16).

Description

The present invention is a multiple sprocket assembly having a plurality of sprockets with different numbers of teeth, comprising the features of claim 1 for mounting to a rear axle of a bicycle. The invention further relates to a corresponding adapter for attaching the multiple sprocket assembly to a driver having the features according to claim 15 and to a rear wheel axle assembly for a bicycle having the features according to claim 26.Various systems are known in the art for mounting multiple sprocket assemblies for bicycle derailleurs to rear wheel axles. In a widely used system, a driver is rotatably mounted on the rear wheel axle of a bicycle via a bearing assembly. The driver is in torque-transmitting engagement with the hub shell via a one-way clutch and permits torque transmission in one rotational direction (driving direction), whereas it is rotationally decoupled from the hub shell in the other direction to provide one-way clutch. Usually, such a driver is provided with a spline toothing or a comparable profile on its outer circumferential surface in order to be able to attach individual pinions or an assembly consisting of a plurality of pinions in a torque-transmitting manner thereon. Such a solution is shown, for example, in the prior art in the document DE 199 15 436 A1. Comparable solutions are also shown in the documents JP S59-165 293 U, GB 2 177 628 A or EP 0 277 576 A2.A widely used solution is described in the document EP 1 342 657 B1. This document is considered as closest prior art to the subject matter of claim 1. It also shows a possibility for mounting smaller diameter pinions on a relatively massively designed driver. Although this system is widely used, it is increasingly limited and has considerable disadvantages. Thus, especially in the case of sophisticated bicycle gearshifts, as they are used in the meantime both in professional wheel sports and in recreational sports, the number of sprockets is becoming increasingly larger. In this case, in some cases relatively large gradations but in particular also relatively narrow gradations are used in order, for example, to enable an optimum translation when driving on flat terrain or when driving in the group with a constant stepping frequency. In either case, i.e., when narrow steps are provided with small steps or when large steps are to be provided, there is an increasing need for very small pinions, i.e., pinions with 10 teeth or less. However, such small pinions can no longer be mounted on a driver of the conventional type, so that auxiliary structures are required which usually require additional parts and are therefore of complicated construction and difficult to mount. Especially for the smaller diameter pinions, relatively complex entrainment profiles are required. As a whole, the adapter solution shown in this prior art involves the problem that a large number of different parts are required, which are complicated to assemble and entail a relatively large weight.A further disadvantage of this solution from the prior art is that, particularly because of the multi-part arrangement, the outer bearing has to be arranged further inward in the axial direction in the interior of the driver. This means that, especially when the chain rests on the smallest sprocket, there is a relatively large axial distance between the location of the chain engagement and thus the location of the force transmission and the bearing. This leads to undesired mechanical stress states and to an unfavorable force flow.Regarding the further prior art, reference is made to the documents DE 94 08 910 U1 and DE 600 22 250 T2.It is an object of the present invention to provide a driver for a multiple pinion arrangement of the type described at the beginning, an adapter and a rear wheel axle arrangement formed therewith, which take account of the problems described above and which can be formed with a significantly reduced weight with a significantly simplified construction.This object is achieved by a multiple pinion arrangement having the features of claim 1.Unlike the prior art, in which all the pinions usually engage the driver interacting with the multiple pinion arrangement according to the invention indirectly or directly via a corresponding external toothing profile, it was recognized in the present invention that it is not necessary for the entire driver to be provided with a corresponding external toothing, but rather that sections in the outer region of the driver can also be used to fix the adapter at least axially for mounting the pinion assembly. The torque transmission between the pinion assembly and the driver can also be effected spatially separated from the coupling section. The adapter preferably serves solely for fixing the pinion assembly in the axial and radial direction. This has the advantage that the sections of the pinion assembly used for torque transmission can be designed specifically for this purpose and the sections used for axial and radial fixing via the adapter can be matched accordingly to the requirements for axial fixing.Moreover, the variability for the use of different sprocket assemblies increases due to the particular adapter adjustment. A corresponding pinion assembly only needs to be provided with the suitable torque transmission section and can then be axially fixed with an adapter correspondingly matched to the pinion assembly, wherein the adapter engages the regions of the driver provided for this purpose. This makes it possible to use even pinion assemblies with very small pinions, which can be combined with conventional drivers not at all or only with considerable technical outlay.The driver for mounting to a rear wheel axle of a bicycle configured to mount the sprocket assembly according to the present invention on which a plurality of sprockets having different numbers of teeth are provided may include:a torque receiving formation for torque transmitting coupling to the pinion assembly,a positioning portion for positioning the pinion gear assembly in a radial direction,an external thread formation onto which an adapter for axially fixing the pinion assembly can be screwed, andan output formation for transmitting a torque to a hub assembly of a rear wheel axle of a bicycle,wherein the external thread formation extends between the torque-absorbing formation and the positioning portion.This design offers many advantages, in particular a compact design with simple production and low weight.A further development of the invention provides a guide portion which is arranged between the torque-absorbing formation and the positioning portion, preferably adjacent to the external-thread formation. The guide section does not have to transmit forces or moments and also no tensile stresses and can therefore be designed with a relatively small wall thickness and thus lightweight. An advantage of this design is that the guide section enables reliable and error-free mounting of the adapter on the driver. The guide portion guides the adapter on the external thread formation when screwing it on and prevents the adapter from being tilted and erroneously screwed on, possibly damaging or destroying the external thread formation or the corresponding internal thread formation associated with the adapter.The external thread formation can be arranged close to the torque receiving formation, so that those regions in which torques and tensile stresses occur are locally concentrated and the driver can be formed correspondingly massive in these mechanically loaded regions. The remaining less heavily loaded regions can be made correspondingly lighter in weight.A further development of the driver provides an axial stop for the pinion assembly, which is formed adjacent to the torque-absorbing formation. Again, this stop serving for the transmission of force can also be arranged in the immediate vicinity of the external thread formation and the torque receiving formation, so that the forces and torques occurring can be locally concentrated.With regard to the aim of achieving a particularly compact configuration, a development of the driver according to the invention provides that the torque-absorbing formation extends only over a subsection of the axial length of the driver between the axial stop and the free end of the positioning section, preferably over a subsection which is less than a quarter, particularly preferably less than a fifth of this axial length of the driver. It has been found that the torque-absorbing formation, which serves as a torque-transmitting driver profile for the pinion arrangement, does not have to extend over the entire length or over a major part of the length of the driver, but that it is sufficient that the torque transmission takes place in a correspondingly massively formed small axial region. In this context, it can be provided that the subsection substantially corresponds to the axial length of the corresponding torque transmission formation of the pinion assembly.A further development of the driver provides that the external thread formation directly adjoins the torque receiving formation. As a result, axial forces which occur between the stop and the external thread formation serving for clamping with the adapter can be concentrated on a relatively short axial section instead of transmitting these over a longer axial section. In addition, this arrangement of the external thread formation offers the advantage that bearing surfaces or sections in which bearings have to be accommodated do not come into axial overlap with the external thread formation. They therefore remain unaffected by the external thread formation.A further development of the driver provides that the guide section is formed by a substantially cylindrical or slightly conical outer surface which is closed or provided with openings for weight saving. The configuration of the driver according to the invention thus allows the guide section to be configured specifically for its task of guiding the adapter during its mounting, in order to avoid faulty mounting in which, for example, the external thread formation on the driver or the corresponding thread formation on the adapter are damaged. Overall, an optimum positioning result of the pinion assembly on the driver can be achieved by using the guide section.In this connection, it can also be provided that the guide portion has a smaller maximum outer diameter than the torque-absorbing formation and the external-thread formation. Furthermore, it can be provided that at an end remote from the torque-absorbing formation, the positioning portion is provided, which is formed with a smaller outer diameter than the outer diameter of the guide portion. Such a guide section reduced in its outer diameter offers the advantage that even very small pinions can be provided on the multiple pinion arrangement, which is frequently problematic in conventional drivers. It is possible here for the guide section, reduced in its outer diameter, to be designed for receiving a bearing. In order to make it possible to accommodate larger bearings for accommodating larger loads, a further development of the invention provides that an enlarged inner diameter section is formed at an end remote from the torque-absorbing formation.A particular variant provides that the positioning section comprises a subsection of the outer circumferential surface of the bearing, which subsection protrudes axially from the driver, or is formed by the latter. In other words, it can thus be provided that the driver is formed at its end remote from the torque-absorbing formation with an inner diameter section for accommodating the bearing, which inner diameter section is formed so large that, in comparison with other embodiments, a positioning section formed integrally on the driver is completely omitted. The bearing partially accommodated in the driver and partially axially protruding therefrom forms with its outer bearing shell a protruding section which is then used as a positioning section. This has the advantage that the precisely manufactured outer surface of the outer bearing shell of the bearing partially protruding from the driver can be used as a geometrically exactly formed positioning section.With regard to the bearing arrangement, it can furthermore be provided that the driver is formed at its end close to the torque-absorbing formation with an inner diameter section for receiving a bearing.A further development of the invention provides that the pinion assembly can be premounted as a coherent assembly and can be braced with the driver via the adapter, wherein the adapter is formed with the first coupling section, via which it can be attached to the driver, and is formed with a second coupling section, with which it can be coupled or coupled with the pre-mounted pinion assembly.In contrast to the prior art, this refinement according to the invention has the substantial advantage that the pinion assembly can be premounted as a coherent assembly and can therefore be handled more easily as a whole during the mounting. The adapter can also be considerably simplified as a result. The adapter can then be designed such that it does not have to accommodate and support individual pinions or a subassembly of individual pinions. Instead, the adapter is designed such that it merely ensures the function of fixing the pinion assembly to the driver primarily axially (and optionally also radially). Since the pinion assembly is self-supporting, so to speak, it does not have to be additionally supported via the adapter relative to the driver, as is the case in the prior art in systems which require the assembly and fixing of individual pinions or pinion groups. It is understood that within the scope of the invention, drivers (as described above) which are advantageously matched specifically to the adapter are preferably used compared to conventional drivers.The torque transmission from the pinion assembly to the driver can also be made substantially simpler than is the case with a multipartite solution with partly individual pinions. The adapter can thus be designed functionally exactly for the singular function of positioning and fixing the pinion assembly in the axial direction and in the radial direction relative to the driver, which allows weight optimization. Thus, the adapter or components assigned to it can be provided, for example, with mating surfaces which position the pinion assembly in a defined position relative to the driver in the axial and / or radial direction. Conicityes can also be formed on the adapter, which ensure centering and bracing when the adapter is screwed tight. The torque transmission between the pinion assembly and the driver can take place independently of the adapter at another point of the pinion assembly.In particular, it can be provided that the adapter is formed in the region of its first coupling section and / or in the region of its second coupling section with a mating surface for radial and / or axial positioning relative to the pinion assembly and to the driver. It is possible here for the mating surface to be formed by a plastic body attached to the adapter, for example on the plastic ring. The plastic ring can be injection-molded onto the adapter. In this context, it can also be provided that the adapter is provided with local apertures, wherein the plastic compound extends through these local apertures. This variant ensures reliable fixing of the plastic body to the adapter and ensures that a corresponding plastic ring with suitable mating surfaces can be formed on both sides of the adapter, i.e. on the inner circumferential surface and on the outer circumferential surface.Different functions, as are adopted in the prior art according to EP 1 342 657 B1 by the adapter or by complex intermediate pinions mounted thereon, namely the positioning and torque-transmitting accommodation of individual pinions of smaller diameter, are eliminated in the present invention. Overall, a considerably simplified system is obtained which is clearly optimized with regard to weight saving.One embodiment variant of the invention provides that the adapter is designed in the form of a stepped tubular sleeve having a first diameter section with a first outer diameter and a second diameter section with a second outer diameter reduced compared to the first outer diameter. The first diameter section is matched to the diameter of the driver and the second diameter section is matched to the smaller-diameter regions of the pinion assembly. A massive, heavy design of the adapter can thereby be avoided.Preferably, in this embodiment variant of the invention, it can be provided that the first coupling section of the adapter is formed on its first diameter section. According to the invention, it is possible that the first coupling section is designed in the form of a thread formation, preferably an internal thread formation, which can be brought into engagement with a corresponding counter thread formation on the driver. The adapter can thus be screwed onto the driver via corresponding thread formations. This allows simple assembly with reliable permanent hold.In this context, it can furthermore be provided according to the invention that the driver and the adapter each have a contact surface which, when they are in mutual contact in the mounted state, define a predefined relative position in the axial direction and / or in the radial direction (centering) between driver and adapter.Furthermore, in this embodiment variant of the invention, it can be provided that the second coupling section is designed in the form of a threaded formation, preferably an external threaded formation, by means of which the multiple pinion arrangement can be braced with the adapter. The clamping can be effected, for example, by means of an additional nut which can be screwed onto the external thread formation on the second coupling section of the adapter and engages on the pinion assembly for axial positioning and clamping. It can be provided here that the second coupling section is arranged on the second diameter section of the adapter.As an alternative to a screw connection between the adapter and the pinion assembly, it is also possible to assign the adapter directly to the pinion assembly, for example to attach it by frictional engagement or positive engagement. In this connection, a preferred embodiment variant of the invention provides that the second coupling section is designed in the form of at least one retaining projection which can be brought into engagement with a corresponding retaining formation on the pinion assembly. The adapter is thus attached to the pinion assembly by a type of latching. The interaction between the retaining projection and the retaining formation can be realized by means of an undercut. This embodiment variant has several advantages. On the one hand, the pinion assembly no longer has to be axially braced on the smallest pinion by an additional nut. It should be noted that in the prior art, relatively high pressing forces can act upon the smallest pinion when axially braced, which is why the entire pinion assembly or parts thereof must be relatively massive and thus difficult to form. By the cooperation between the holding projection and the holding formation via an undercut, the pinion assembly can be better dimensioned and in particular only has to be designed to be correspondingly stable where the clamping forces actually act, i.e. in the region of the holding formation.In this context, it can be provided that the retaining projection is arranged at an axial end of the adapter, wherein the adapter is slotted multiple times axially at this axial end to form locking tabs. This makes it possible to plug the adapter, so to speak, into the pinion assembly and to latch it there, wherein during the latching the latching lugs can elastically spring radially inward because of the axial slot and then engage behind the retaining formation in a latching manner. In other words, it can be provided that the latching tabs are designed for latching into the retaining formation. The latching-in can be supported in that the retaining lugs are provided with chamfers for creating corresponding inlet slopes.In order to be able to mount the adapter more easily, a development of the invention provides that it has an engagement formation which is designed for transmitting a torque for mounting purposes. In this context, it is possible for the engagement formation to be provided directly on the adapter or on a mounting ring which can be coupled to the adapter in a torque-transmitting manner. According to the first alternative, a radial toothing or a spur toothing or another mechanical engagement profile can therefore be formed directly on the adapter. In both cases, an assembly tool can be brought into engagement with the respective application aperture.In the case of a separate mounting ring, the latter can be provided with radial projections which engage in a torque-transmitting manner in the axial slots between the latching lugs. The mounting ring is thus coupled to the adapter in a torque-transmitting manner.With regard to the mounting ring, it is furthermore possible according to the invention for it to be provided with contact surfaces for the radial and / or axial positioning of the pinion assembly relative to the driver. In contrast to the embodiments described above, the radial and / or axial positioning of the pinion assembly can therefore also be completely or partially taken over by the mounting ring.A further development of the invention provides that the pinion assembly is provided with a support ring which is coupled to the driver in a torque-transmitting manner for transmitting torque between the pinion assembly and the driver. This support ring can thus be designed to be correspondingly massive in order to meet the requirements of torque transmission to the driver. The rest of the pinion assembly can then be made correspondingly lighter. One or more terminating pinions can then be formed or attached to the supporting ring.According to the invention, a tubular clamping element can also be provided, which is designed as an axial stop between the support ring of the pinion assembly and the adapter and / or the pinion assembly. In certain embodiments, this tubular clamping element serves as an axial stop for the adapter or for the pinion assembly during the clamping with the driver. This makes it possible to prevent the pinion assembly itself from being tensioned too strongly and being undesirably deformed in the process.According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, which can be combined with the possibilities for development described above, it can furthermore be provided that the adapter engages around at least one bearing accommodated in the driver. The bearing can also be inserted into the adapter, wherein the adapter is then screwed with an external thread into the driver or with an internal thread onto the latter.The invention further relates to the adapter as such for attaching a pinion assembly to the driver of a multiple pinion assembly according to the preceding description, wherein the adapter is formed with a first coupling section via which it can be attached to the driver and with a second coupling section with which it is coupled or couplable to the pinion assembly. The adapter may have individual, combinations or all adapter-specific features which have been explained above. In particular, it is possible for the second coupling section to be formed at an end of the adapter that is slotted multiple times axially. Furthermore, as already explained above, it is possible for the adapter to have an engagement formation or to be coupled in a torque-transmitting manner to an engagement formation which is designed for the torque-transmitting attachment of an assembly tool.Finally, the invention relates to a rear wheel axle arrangement for a bicycle having a rear wheel axle which is designed for attachment to a bicycle frame, a hub body rotatably mounted on the rear axle, a multiple sprocket arrangement of the type described above cooperating with a drive chain, and a torque transmission arrangement, for example a freewheel, for directionally selectively transmitting a torque from the multiple sprocket arrangement to the hub body in order to drive the hub body, wherein the multiple sprocket arrangement is rotatably mounted on the rear wheel axle.The invention is explained below by way of example with reference to the attached figures. They represent: FIG. 1 is an axle-containing sectional view of an embodiment variant of a rear wheel axle arrangement with a multiple pinion arrangement; FIG. 2 shows a corresponding sectional view of the adapter; FIG. 3 shows a corresponding axis-containing sectional view of the driver; FIG. 4 shows a three-dimensional view of the driver in a single-part illustration; FIG. 5 is an axle-containing sectional view of a second embodiment of the rear wheel axle assembly with a multiple pinion assembly; FIG. 6 shows a corresponding axis-containing sectional view of the adapter of the second embodiment variant; FIG. 7 shows a three-dimensional view of the adapter of the second embodiment variant; FIG. 8 shows a corresponding axis-containing sectional view of the driver of the second embodiment variant; FIG. 9 shows a three-dimensional view of the driver of the second embodiment variant in an individual part illustration; FIG. 10 is an axle-containing partial sectional view of a third embodiment variant of the rear wheel axle arrangement with a multiple pinion arrangement; FIG. 11 shows a corresponding axis-containing sectional view of the adapter of the third embodiment variant; FIG. 12 shows a corresponding axis-containing sectional view of a mounting ring of the third embodiment variant; FIG. 13 is a front view of the mounting ring of the third embodiment; FIG. 14 is an axis-containing sectional view of the driver of the third embodiment; and FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of the invention with an advantageously designed driver; FIGS. 16 and 17 show different representations of the driver; FIG. 18 shows an alternative configuration of the driver according to FIG. 17 for accommodating a larger bearing; FIG. 19 is a partial sectional view of another embodiment of the invention with an advantageously designed adapter; FIG. 20 shows an axis-containing sectional view of the adapter as a blank; FIGS. 21 and 22 show different sectional representations of the adapter in different sectional planes, and FIG. 23 is a cut-away perspective view of the adapter.In FIG. 1, a multiple pinion arrangement according to the invention is shown in an axle-containing section and is denoted generally by 10. This comprises a pinion assembly 12, on which a plurality of pinions 14 1 to 14 10 with different diameters and different numbers of teeth are formed. The pinion assembly 12 is integrally formed as a unitary assembly that can be handled as a component during assembly. Even if the pinion assembly 12 itself can consist of several individual parts, these are firmly connected after assembly and so to speak form a self-supporting unit.The pinion assembly 12 is mounted on a driver 16 shown in the single part illustration in Figures 3 and 4. This driver 16 can be mounted in a manner known per se on a rear wheel axle of a bicycle, not shown. In a region 18, an arrangement for transmitting the torque from the driver 16 or the pinion assembly 12 to a freewheel device and from there to a hub body (both not shown) of a rear wheel axle arrangement can be mounted. The driver 16 may be of conventional design and, in particular, may include provisions to be compatible with previously known, commercially available conventional systems. In particular, the driver 16 has an external toothing 17 for torque-transmitting accommodation of the pinion assembly 12. The driver 16 further has an annular radial projection 19 which serves with an axial stop surface 21 for the axial positioning of the pinion assembly 12.At its right-hand end in FIG. 1, the driver 16 is provided with a portion 20 whose outer diameter is reduced. At this portion, an externally threaded formation 22 is provided, which terminates in a shoulder 24 with an outer circumferential surface 25 designed as a mating surface. Screwed onto this portion 20, which is reduced in its outer diameter, in the assembled state is a sleeve-shaped adapter 26, which is shown in a sectional view in FIG. 2 in an individual part illustration. For this purpose, the adapter 26 has a first section 28 with a large diameter, on which an internal thread formation 30 is formed. This internal thread formation 30 is adjoined by an inner circumferential surface 29 which is designed as a mating surface and is designed with the corresponding mating surface 25 on the driver 16 for the radial positioning of the adapter 26 relative to the driver 16.The first section 28 terminates in an end face 32 which, in the assembled state shown in FIG. 1, is in defined contact with the shoulder 24 and thus determines the axial position of the adapter 26 relative to the driver 16. The adapter 26 further comprises a second section 34 having a smaller diameter than the first section 28.An external thread formation 38 is provided on the portion 34 with a smaller diameter. In the assembled state according to FIG. 1, a clamping nut 40 is screwed onto the latter. The clamping nut 40 has on its outer circumferential surface a plurality of recesses 42 on which a tool can engage in order to exert a torque on the clamping nut 40 for clamping during assembly. The clamping nut 40 abuts with a lateral contact surface 44 on an axial end surface 46 of the pinion assembly 12 facing it. By tightening the clamping nut 40, the pinion assembly 12 can be positioned and clamped in the axial direction.In FIG. 1, a tube element 50 can also be seen, which is axially supported with one end 52 on a support ring 54 of the pinion assembly 12 and with another end 56 within the pinion assembly 12 on one of the smaller pinions, namely on the pinion 14 2. The force flow in the axial direction applied by the tightening of the nut 40 thus extends via the two small pinions 14 1 and 14 2, the tubular element 50 onto the support ring 54 and from there onto the driver 16.Note that the pinion assembly 12 is composed of the separate support ring 54 on which the largest pinion 14 10 is integrally formed, and a sub-assembly of the remaining pinions 14 1 to 14 9, and the pipe member 50 which is inserted before the support ring 54 is mounted. As already stated, the support ring 54 is firmly connected to the subassembly of the remaining pinions 14 1 to 14 9 for example by pressing, riveting, adhesive bonding or the like. The support ring 54 has an internal toothing as the torque transmission section, which corresponds to the external toothing 17 of the driver 16, and serves for torque transmission between the pinion assembly 12 and the driver 16.Finally, FIG. 1 also shows the bearing 55, which is arranged in the driver 16 in a bearing recess formed for this purpose with a mating surface 57 with an exact fit and is provided for mounting the driver 16 on the rear wheel axle, not shown.The assembly of the entire system is relatively simple. The adapter 26 shown in FIG. 1 is screwed onto the driver 16 and fixed. The pinion assembly 12 is then pushed onto the driver 16. Finally, the clamping nut 40 is screwed on and tightened until the tube element 50 serves as a defined stop, so to speak.Overall, a system results which is considerably simplified compared to the prior art and can be designed to be substantially lighter than, for example, the complex multipart system according to the closest prior art. However, this system can be combined with existing driver solutions that have been used for a long time, so that it is also possible to place pinion assemblies with pinions with very small numbers of teeth on such drivers according to the prior art.Figs. 5 to 9 show a second embodiment of the invention. To avoid repetitions, the same reference numerals are used for components of the same type or having the same effect as in the first embodiment. In the following, only the differences from the first embodiment will be discussed.It can again be seen that an external thread formation 22 is attached to the driver 16. This external thread formation 22 is followed by a thread-free section 20. The adapter 26 is in turn provided with a section 28 on which an internal thread formation 38 is provided. Unlike in the first embodiment variant according to FIG. 1, the adapter 26 is not supported with its end face 32 in the axial direction on the driver 16, but rather on the pipe element 50 (see FIG. 5 ).Another difference between the first embodiment of FIG. 1 and the second embodiment of FIG. 2 is how the adapter 26 is coupled to the pinion assembly 12. The adapter 26 has a section 60 with an enlarged diameter, with an outer circumferential surface 61 for radial positioning and a shoulder-like contact surface 62. This section 60 engages in a radial recess 64 in the pinion assembly 12, which recess forms an undercut, as it were. The contact surface 62 abuts a corresponding counter-contact surface 66 and ensures that the pinion assembly 12 cannot slide off over the contact surface 62 in the axial direction in the assembled state. At this point, the clamping forces act when the pinion assembly 12 is clamped by the driver. This is better for the force flow than in the prior art, in which the pinion assembly is clamped onto the driver at the smallest pinion by means of a clamping element, which leads to an unfavorable effect of partially high clamping forces precisely at the smallest pinion. It should be noted that the adapter 26 is not pressed into this radial recess 64, but is accommodated therein with little play, so that the adapter 26 can be rotated relative to the pinion assembly 12.The inner circumferential surface 65 arranged to increase the elasticity of the adapter at the distance a from the mating surface 61 interacts with a corresponding outer circumferential surface 67 (see FIG. 8 ) for radial positioning. The outer circumferential surface 67 is preceded by a slight conicity 69.An additional difference from the first embodiment in the second embodiment according to FIGS. 5 to 9 is that the adapter 26 no longer has an externally threaded formation on its (smaller-diameter) section 34, because an additional clamping nut is no longer required. However, the adapter 26 has radially inwardly projecting projections 68 on its portion 34 of smaller diameter, on which projections a tool can engage in a torque-transmitting manner for mounting purposes.In this embodiment variant, the pinion assembly comprises the support ring 54 designed for transmitting torque to the driver with its integrally formed largest pinion 14 10( terminating pinion), the subassembly comprising the pinions 14 1 to 14 9, the pipe element 50 introduced in advance and the adapter 26 introduced in advance. During this screwing-on, the adapter 26 rotates relative to the subassembly comprising the pinions 14 1 to 14 9.This therefore results in a comparatively simple, lighter and in particular conceivable simple assembly. Both embodiments have the advantage that a pinion assembly with very small pinions and thus low numbers of teeth can be used. The second embodiment variant according to FIGS. 5 to 9 has the further advantages that the use of an additional clamping nut is no longer required. This makes it possible that no further contact forces act on the smallest sprocket, which could impair its elasticity during the transmission of force from the chain. In addition, by omitting the clamping nut, practical disadvantages associated therewith can be avoided, such as the requirement for additional installation space for the clamping nut, Moreover, an undesired interaction of an assembly tool inserted into the outer profile of the clamping nut with the teeth of the sprocket during assembly or during operation, an undesired interaction of the outer profile of the clamping nut with the chain resting on the smallest sprocket can be avoided.FIGS. 10 to 13 show a further embodiment variant which is based on the second embodiment variant according to FIGS. 5 to 9. The differences from this second embodiment variant will be discussed below.The driver 16 according to the third embodiment variant is designed similar to the driver of the second embodiment variant, wherein, however, the external thread 22 is displaced further to the left in the axial direction. The essential differences lie in the design of the adapter 26 and in the attachment of an additional mounting ring 70.The adapter 26 again has an internal thread 30 in its region 28. At its right-hand end in FIG. 11, it has a circumferential projection 60 with a contact surface 62 and a circumferential chamfer 63. it can be seen in FIG. 11 that the adapter 26 is provided at its axial end with a plurality of axial slots 72, which radially break through the adapter 26 beyond the circumferential projection 60 and thus create individual latching lugs 74. The axial slots 72 allow the locking tabs 74 to spring elastically radially inward. The latching lugs 74 are provided with a circumferential chamfer 75 in order to facilitate the latching process.FIGS. 12 and 13 show the mounting ring 70, which has two ring-like sections 80 and 82, which are connected to one another via a connecting section 84. The outer ring section 80 has an external toothing 86 with radially protruding projections 86 on its outer periphery. The number and the dimensioning of the projections 86 and their arrangement are matched exactly to those of the slots 72 in the adapter 26, so that the mounting ring 70 can be inserted into the adapter 26 in such a way that the projections 86 engage with a greater or lesser fit in the slots 72. However, a radial clearance 88 (see FIG. 10 ) is created between the mounting ring 70 and the inner circumferential surface of the tabs 74 to ensure that the tabs 74 can spring radially inward. On the inner circumferential surface, the mounting ring 70 has a toothing 68, as has already been explained with reference to FIG. 5.The inner circumferential surface 89 of the outer ring section 80 is designed as a mating surface which is provided for the radial positioning of the mounting ring 70 relative to the driver. It sits with an exact fit on the outer circumferential surface 25 on the section 20 of the driver 16.The inner ring portion 82 of the mounting ring 70 is provided with a mating surface 91 that positionally cooperates with an inner circumferential surface 93 on the pinion assembly 12 for radial positioning. In addition, a stop surface 95 is also provided on the inner ring section 82, which is used for the axial positioning of the pinion assembly relative to the driver. This interacts with a corresponding end face 97 of the driver 16.The assembly of this third embodiment is similar to that of the second embodiment. First, the adapter 26 is screwed onto the driver 16. The mounting ring 70 is then inserted into the adapter 26 so that the projections 86 engage in the slots 72. The pinion assembly 12 is then pushed on and finally locked with the locking lugs 74. The chamfer 63 facilitates positioning and plugging on. The radial play between mounting ring 70 of latching lugs 74 permits a corresponding elastic deformation of the lugs 74 during the latching.Finally, a torque-transmitting engagement can be made with the toothing 68 on the inner circumferential surface of the mounting ring 70 with a mounting tool, so that the mounting ring 70 and with this the adapter 26 can be rotated for screwing it onto the external thread 30. As a result, the pinion assembly 12 can be clamped onto the driver 16 in the axial direction, wherein the corresponding axial forces take place via the interaction of the two surfaces 62 and 66 between the adapter 26 and the pinion assembly 12.FIGS. 15 to 17 show a further embodiment of the invention, wherein the same reference numerals have again been used for components of the same type or having the same effect as in the preceding description of the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 14.The embodiment according to FIGS. 15 to 17 is distinguished by a particularly advantageously designed driver 16 which is mounted on an axle 11. This driver 16 in turn has the annular radial projection 19 with its axial stop surface for the axial positioning of the pinion assembly 12. Directly adjacent to the radial projection 19, the external toothing 17 extends over a relatively small length section for the transmission of torque between the pinion assembly 12 and the driver. The external thread formation 22 extends adjacent to the external toothing 17. in terms of the arrangement, the driver 16 according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 15 to 17 is similar to the driver according to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 14. If, as shown in FIG. 15, the adapter 26 is screwed on to the pinion assembly 12 and fixed by tightening the screw connection, tensile forces occur in the driver 16 only in the region between the annular portion 19 on account of its stop function and the threaded portion 22. The region in which these tensile forces occur is dimensioned to be relatively small in the axial direction and is formed to be stable due to the toothing 17.A relatively large-area cylindrical section 23 extends in the axial direction adjacent to the external thread formation 22, which cylindrical section interacts with a corresponding cylindrical inner circumferential surface for guiding the adapter 26. This surface portion 23 also serves as a guide surface for the adapter 26 and the pinion assembly 12 mounted thereon during assembly. The adapter 26 can be securely plugged onto the driver 16 and screwed onto it with a certain radial clearance via this guide surface 23, without the adapter 26 tilting relative to the driver 16 or even oblique screwing on damaging the thread formations 22 and 30. It should be appreciated that both the driver and the adapter can be made of lightweight aluminum, which material is relatively easily deformable. It is precisely for this reason that the guide surface 23 is advantageous. At the axial end of the surface section 23, the driver 16 is formed with the shoulder 24 and ends in the diameter-reduced projection with the outer circumferential surface 25, which in turn serves as a fitting surface for the adapter 26 for radial positioning. Radially within this region, the mating surface 57 is provided for receiving the radial bearing 55.FIG. 18 shows an alternative embodiment to this, in which an end face 24 is provided instead of a shoulder 24, and the axial section of the driver 16 reduced in its outer circumferential surface and serving for positioning the adapter 26 has been omitted at its axial end. Instead, the radially inner mating surface 57 has been radially enlarged to accommodate a larger diameter bearing 55 that projects one axial portion from the driver 16. This protruding axial section forms with its precisely formed outer circumferential surface the mating surface 25 which can be used for positioning the adapter.FIGS. 19 to 23 show a further embodiment of the invention, wherein again the same reference numerals have been used for components of the same type or having the same effect as in the preceding description of the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 to 18.The embodiment according to FIGS. 19 to 23 corresponds substantially to the embodiment according to FIGS. 15 to 18 and is characterized by an advantageously designed adapter 26. This adapter 26 has a plastic body 100 in its right end region, which is arranged near the mating surface 25 in the assembled state. This plastic body 100 provides an annular plastic casing 102, 104 both on the outer circumferential surface and on the inner circumferential surface of the adapter 26.As can be seen in FIG. 20, the adapter body 26 is formed slightly conically as a blank in this region and has radial apertures 106 arranged at regular angular spacings. The two plastic rings 102, 104 are situated in the region of these radial apertures 106. They are integrally connected to one another by webs 108 which extend through the apertures 106. Thus, the two plastic rings 102, 104 can be injection molded onto the adapter blank according to FIG. 20 and integrally molded onto the adapter 26.The two plastic rings 102, 104 are formed with mating surfaces 110, 112, which each extend parallel to the longitudinal axis A and with a surface section orthogonal to the longitudinal axis A. Mating surface 112 on inner plastic ring 104 serves to radially and axially position adapter 26 relative to driver 16.The two plastic rings 102, 104 make it possible with relatively little outlay to compensate tolerances in the interface with the adjacent component and to provide suitable positioning or fitting surfaces with respect to those components which come into contact with the adapter.In the embodiments according to FIGS. 5 to 23, further advantages result compared to the prior art:The pressing forces on the small pinion via an additional clamping nut can be avoided by the locking.The further disadvantages associated with the clamping nut, such as additional installation space or an undesired interaction with the chain or the smallest sprocket during operation or during assembly, can also be avoided.The pinion assembly can be dimensioned in a correspondingly stable manner, in particular in the region of the latching, but can be made weaker in other regions and thus more weight-saving.Special positioning mating surfaces for the driver and the pinion assembly for centering and receiving radial loads can also be provided.The driver can also be significantly improved with regard to its structure and its weight compared to the prior art.For clamping, it has an external thread and has a corresponding entrainment profile for transmitting torque also in the region of the smaller pinions, which prevents unfavourable tension states.The arrangement of the bearing within the pinion assembly is subject to significantly less restrictions.In particular, the embodiments according to FIGS. 15 to 23 are advantageous due to the advantageous concentration of the tensile forces occurring in the region of the relatively massively formed toothing 17.Overall, all exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a wide variety of advantages over the prior art. The individual components have been clearly optimized compared to the prior art and cooperate with their individual features in such a way that overall a lighter, more easily mountable and stable system results.

Claims

A multiple sprocket assembly (10) having a plurality of sprockets (14 1-1410) with different numbers of teeth for mounting to a driver (16) provided on a rear wheel axle of a bicycle, comprising - a sprocket assembly (12) on which at least a portion of the plurality of sprockets (14 1-141o) is provided, and - an adapter (26) configured to mount the sprocket assembly (12) to the driver (16), the adapter (26) having a first coupling portion (30) configured to be mounted to the driver (16) and a second coupling portion (34) configured to be coupled to the sprocket assembly (12), wherein the second coupling section (34) for coupling to the pinion assembly (12) is designed such that, when coupled to the pinion assembly (12), it lies axially within the pinion assembly (12) and radially within the smallest pinion (14 1) and wherein the adapter (26) has a cylindrical section between the first coupling section (30) and the second coupling section (34), wherein the cylindrical section is designed with a cylindrical inner circumferential surface which interacts with a corresponding relatively large-area cylindrical surface section (23) of the driver (16) for guiding the adapter (26).Multiple pinion arrangement (10) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the adapter (26) has, at its end close to the second coupling section (34), a retaining projection (60) for cooperation with a retaining formation on the pinion assembly (12), wherein a contact surface (62) is provided on the retaining projection (60), by means of which contact surface the adapter (26) axially secures the pinion assembly (12) when coupled to the latter.Multiple pinion arrangement (10) according to Claim 2, characterized in that the retaining projection (60) on the adapter (26) is a circumferential retaining projection (60) for cooperation with a retaining formation on the pinion assembly (12).The multiple pinion assembly (10) of claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the retaining protrusion (60) is formed with a plurality of slots (72) for forming locking tabs (74).Multiple pinion arrangement (10) according to one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the retaining projection (60) interacts in 1) with the pinion assembly in the region of the smallest pinion (14.Multiple pinion arrangement (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the driver (16) comprises: - a torque-receiving formation (17) for torque-transmitting coupling to the pinion assembly (12), - a positioning section (25) for positioning the pinion assembly in the radial direction, - an external thread formation (22), onto which the adapter (26) can be screwed for axially fixing the pinion assembly (12) by means of an internal thread formation (28), and - an output formation (18) for transmitting a torque to a hub arrangement of a rear wheel axle of a bicycle, characterized in that the external thread formation (22) extends between the torque-receiving formation (17) and the positioning section (23).Multiple pinion arrangement (10) according to Claim 6, characterized bya guide section (25) on the driver (16), which guide section is arranged between the torque-absorbing formation (17) and the positioning section (23).Multiple pinion arrangement (10) according to Claim 6 or 7, characterized byan axial stop (19) on the driver (16) for the pinion assembly (12), which stop is formed adjacent to the torque-absorbing formation (17).Multiple pinion arrangement (10) according to one of Claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the torque-absorbing formation (17) on the driver (16) extends only over a subsection of the axial length of the driver (16) between the axial stop (19) and the free end of the positioning section, preferably over a subsection which is less than a quarter, particularly preferably less than a fifth of this axial length of the driver (16).Multiple pinion arrangement (10) according to Claim 9, characterized in that the subsection on the driver (16) corresponds substantially to the axial length of the corresponding torque transmission formation of the pinion assembly.Multiple pinion arrangement (10) according to one of Claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the external thread formation (22) on the driver (16) directly adjoins the torque-absorbing formation (17).Multiple pinion arrangement (10) according to one of Claims 7 to 11da, characterized in that the guide section (23) on the driver has a smaller maximum outer diameter than the torque-absorbing formation (17) and the external-thread formation (22).Multiple pinion arrangement (10) according to one of Claims 6 to 12, characterized in that the positioning section (25), which is formed with a smaller outer diameter than the outer diameter of the guide section (23), is provided at an end remote from the torque-absorbing formation (17) of the driver (16).Multiple pinion arrangement (10) according to one of Claims 6 to 13, characterized in that the adapter (26) is provided with a conical section close to its second coupling section (34).An adapter (26) for attaching a sprocket assembly (12) of a multiple sprocket assembly according to any preceding claim to a driver (16) provided on a rear wheel axle of a bicycle, the adapter (26) having a first coupling portion (30) adapted for attachment to the driver (16) and a second coupling portion (34) adapted for coupling to the sprocket assembly (12), the second coupling portion (34) adapted for coupling to the sprocket assembly (12) such that when coupled to the sprocket assembly (12) it lies axially within the sprocket assembly (12) and radially within the smallest sprocket (14 1) and wherein the adapter (26) has a cylindrical portion between the first coupling portion (30) and the second coupling portion (34), wherein the cylindrical section is formed with a cylindrical inner circumferential surface which cooperates with a corresponding relatively large-area cylindrical surface section (23) of the driver (16) for guiding the adapter (26).Adapter (26) according to claim 15, characterised in that the coupling section (34), with which it is coupled or couplable to the pinion assembly (12), is formed as a section of smaller diameter, the outer diameter of which is smaller than that of the section of the adapter (26), with which the adapter (26) engages around the driver (16) in the axial region of at least one pinion of the pinion assembly and is screwable or screwed onto the threaded formation.Adapter (26) according to claim 16, characterised in that the adapter (26) is formed in the region of its coupling section (34) and / or in the region of its further coupling section (30) with a mating surface (110, 112) for radial and / or axial positioning relative to the pinion assembly (12) and to the driver (16).Adapter (26) according to claim 17, characterised in that the mating surface (110, 112) is formed by a plastic body (100) attached to the adapter (26).Adapter (26) according to claim 18, characterised in that the plastic body (100) comprises at least one plastic ring (102, 104) which is injection-moulded onto the adapter (26), preferably extends through apertures (106) in the adapter (26).Adapter (26) according to one of Claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the adapter (26) has, at its end close to the coupling section (34), a retaining projection (60) for cooperation with a retaining formation on the pinion assembly, wherein a contact surface (62) is preferably provided on the retaining projection (60), via which contact surface the adapter (26) can be coupled or coupled to the pinion assembly (12).Adapter (26) according to claim 20, characterised in that the retaining projection (60) on the adapter (26) is a circumferential retaining projection (60) for cooperation with a retaining formation on the pinion assembly (12).Adapter (26) according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in that the holding projection (60) is formed with a plurality of slots (72) for forming latching lugs (74).Adapter (26) according to one of Claims 20 to 22, characterized in that the retaining projection (60) interacts 1) with the pinion assembly in the region of the smallest pinion (14.Adapter (26) according to one of claims 15 to 23, characterised in that the adapter is made of aluminium.Adapter (26) according to one of claims 15 to 24, characterised in that the adapter (26) is provided with a conical section near its second coupling section (34).Rear wheel axle arrangement for a bicycle, having - a rear wheel axle which is designed for fastening to a bicycle frame, - a hub body which is rotatably mounted on the rear axle, - a multiple sprocket arrangement (12), which interacts with a drive chain, according to one of Claims 1 to 14 having a driver (16), - an adapter according to one of Claims 15 to 25 for attaching the sprocket assembly (12) of the multiple sprocket arrangement to the driver (16), and - a torque transmission arrangement for directionally selectively transmitting a torque from the multiple sprocket arrangement to the hub body in order to drive the hub body.

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