Centering ring; method for reducing the risk of breakage of at least one thin-walled area of ​​a centering ring

Abstract

Centering ring (5) which can be arranged between a fork shaft (3) and a head tube (1), - with at least two thick-walled segments, namely at least a first thick-walled segment (15) and a second thick-walled segment (16), wherein the first thick-walled segment (15) has a side (23) facing a side (31) of the second thick-walled segment (16), - with at least one thin-walled segment which adjoins the first thick-walled segment (15) and / or the second thick-walled segment (16), characterized in that that the sides (23, 31) at least partially touch each other or are spaced apart from each other by a gap (37) having a gap dimension B (38) and the centering ring (5) has at least one movement limiter (24, 48) having at least one contact surface (32, 33, 41, 49, 50) and / or at least one end face (40), by means of which a drifting apart caused by the action of force and / or a drifting towards one another of the sides (23, 31) caused by the action of force is only possible until a certain gap dimension B (38) is reached.

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention is based on a centering ring, according to the preamble of claim 1, and a method for reducing the risk of breakage of at least one thin-walled region of a centering ring, according to the preamble of claim 12. In particular, the invention is based on a centering ring for handlebars of two- and three-wheeled vehicles, which is integrated in a steering head bearing (device for the coaxial bearing of shafts in bores) of the vehicle, wherein production-related diameter variations of the add-on parts are compensated and a play-free, concentric bearing of the components is achieved.

[0002] Centering rings for coaxial mounting of fork shafts are state-of-the-art. This creates a rotatable connection between the bicycle frame and the fork. State-of-the-art centering rings have a gap (slot) to allow for tolerance compensation of the components. This gap represents a weakening factor, as the centering ring, as an open C-shaped component, is not a self-contained disc (a closed, disc-shaped O), which offers greater stability.

[0003] A common bearing arrangement is standardized according to the so-called Standardized Headset Identification System (SHIS). This standardization for the identification of modern threadless headsets (ahead headsets), which use a claw mechanism instead of a steerer tube thread to adjust the bearing play, provides for three different installation positions (External Cup (EC), Zero Stack (ZS), Integrated Standard (IS)). While the bearing cups in the External Cup (EC) are located outside the head tube, the bearing cups in the Zero Stack (ZS) are pressed into the head tubes, and in the Integrated Standard (IS) they are integrated directly into the head tube, meaning the bearing cups are no longer visible from the outside. Centering rings can be used in all three installation positions.

[0004] To install a SHIS-standardized headset, roller bearings, typically angular contact ball bearings, are inserted into a bicycle frame using the Integrated Standard (IS). The centering ring is inserted into the upper roller bearing, and the fork is then pushed through the bore of the lower roller bearing and then through the bore of the centering ring. The centering ring is used in the upper bearing position because the upper centering ring, in particular, must be free of play, as the forces introduced by the handlebars are primarily absorbed by the upper unit.

[0005] State-of-the-art centering rings solve the problem of creating a rotatable connection between the bicycle frame, the fork, and the roller bearings. In modern bicycles, for example, brake lines, shift cables, or electrical wires are routed internally, which is why the centering ring must have a corresponding recess. Such a centering ring is disclosed in published patent application DE 10 2020 102 826 A1 and published patent application DE 10 2015 202 383 A1. Therefore, the centering rings for modern bicycles differ from conventional centering rings.

[0006] To enable a cable feedthrough in a centering ring, the centering ring must have additional features: firstly, a high wall thickness is necessary, which corresponds at least to the thickness of the cable to be fed through, and secondly, a cable insertion opening must be provided. This results in mechanical weak points on the centering ring, as the design creates thin-walled areas (thin-walled segments) in the area where the cable is routed. These thin-walled areas can break during operation, as wobble forces during operation of the two-wheeler lead to tensile and compressive forces within the centering ring. In addition, the thin-walled areas can be damaged during assembly, as the centering ring is not very resilient overall due to this weakening. Transport damage cannot therefore be ruled out, nor can damage due to careless assembly.In addition, a state-of-the-art centering ring has a gap (slot) that allows for tolerance compensation during assembly. This further increases the risk of damage during transport or assembly. One possible solution to stabilize the centering ring and thus reduce the risk of damage during transport, assembly, or use would be to increase the wall thickness in the weakened areas or to omit the gap. In the case without a gap, this would in turn mean that tolerance compensation is no longer possible. In practice, increasing the wall thickness is not possible, since increasing this wall thickness is directly linked to increasing the diameter of the head tube.

[0007] US patent application US 3,236,572 A also discloses a holding device for the cores of paper rolls. However, these holders cannot be used for the coaxial mounting of fork shafts.

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a centering ring which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and a method which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art for reducing the risk of breakage of at least one thin-walled region of a centering ring. The invention and its advantages

[0009] The centering ring according to the invention, with the features of claim 1, and the method according to the invention for reducing the risk of breakage of at least one thin-walled region of a centering ring, with the features of claim 12, have the advantage that the centering ring, which can be arranged between a fork shaft and a head tube, has at least two thick-walled segments, namely at least a first thick-walled segment and a second thick-walled segment, wherein the first thick-walled segment has a side facing one side of the second thick-walled segment, wherein the sides at least partially touch or are spaced from one another by a gap having a gap dimension, and the centering ring has at least one movement limiter having at least one contact surface and / or an end face,by which a force-induced drifting apart and / or a force-induced drifting towards each other of the sides is only possible until a certain gap is reached. A drifting apart or a drifting towards each other occurs in particular when the sides of the first and second thick-walled segments move away from or closer to each other in the radial direction and / or when the sides of the first and second thick-walled segments move relative to each other, particularly in the axial direction, from an opposite position to an at least partially opposite position or from an at least partially opposite position to an opposite position.

[0010] When the certain gap size is reached, the gap-changing movement(s) are slowed down or stopped.

[0011] The centering ring according to the invention can compensate for diameter variations of the attachments because the two facing sides of the first thick-walled segment and the second thick-walled segment touch each other or are spaced apart from each other by a gap. In addition, the centering ring according to the invention offers the possibility of a cable feedthrough. In order to at least minimize or eliminate the risk of damage associated with tolerance compensation and a cable feedthrough, e.g. during transport, assembly or use, the centering ring according to the invention has at least one movement limiter (connecting element) by which the centering ring according to the invention is stabilized, so that both, e.g., damage-free transport, damage-free assembly and long-term use without breakage of the centering ring according to the invention are ensured.To ensure this, the centering ring according to the invention has the ability to adapt to production-related diameter fluctuations of the connecting components. However, the radial expansion of the C-shaped centering ring required for this purpose is limited by at least one movement limiter such that when the gap reaches a maximum expansion to a certain gap size (maximum gap size) or when the gap reaches a minimum expansion to a certain gap size (minimum gap size, which in extreme cases means contact between the facing sides of the thick-walled segments), at least one movement limiter establishes a force transmission between two thick-walled segments of the centering ring according to the invention.Thus, tensile and compressive forces caused by wobble forces between the thick-walled segments of the centering ring according to the invention no longer have a destructive effect on a thin-walled area (thin-walled segment) of the centering ring, since this is only minimally compressed. Due to the at least one movement limiter, the centering ring according to the invention is not an open C-shaped component, as is known from the prior art, but corresponds in its geometric shape to a closed, disc-shaped O despite the gap or despite the touching sides of the thick-walled segments. Due to the at least one movement limiter, there is also the advantage that the centering ring according to the invention, which can be used in all three SHIS installation positions, is inherently stable, for example during handling, transport and assembly, so that it does not, like centering rings belonging to the prior art, e.g.can be damaged before assembly and may even be installed damaged.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the centering ring according to the invention, the side is arranged on the front side of the first thick-walled segment and / or the side is arranged on the front side of the second thick-walled segment.

[0013] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the centering ring according to the invention, at least one movement limiter is arranged on the side of the first thick-walled segment and / or at least one movement limiter is arranged on the side of the second thick-walled segment and / or at least one movement limiter is a separate component.

[0014] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the centering ring according to the invention, at least one thick-walled segment has at least one contact surface for at least one movement limiter.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment of the centering ring according to the invention, at least one contact surface is arranged in a cavity arranged on a thick-walled segment.

[0016] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the centering ring according to the invention, at least one groove is arranged on the movement limiter to form a tongue-and-groove connection between a movement limiter and a thick-walled segment, and correspondingly at least one tongue is arranged on the thick-walled segment, and / or at least one tongue is arranged on the movement limiter to form a tongue-and-groove connection between a movement limiter and a thick-walled segment, and correspondingly at least one groove is arranged on the thick-walled segment. Due to the tongue-and-groove connection, the movement limiter is suitable for stabilizing the centering ring according to the invention when subjected to a force in the axial direction, thereby preventing damage due to improper handling.

[0017] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the centering ring according to the invention, in order to form a tongue and groove connection between one movement limiter and another movement limiter, at least one groove is arranged on one movement limiter and correspondingly at least one tongue is arranged on the other movement limiter and / or in order to form a tongue and groove connection between one movement limiter and another movement limiter, at least one tongue is arranged on one movement limiter and correspondingly at least one groove is arranged on the other movement limiter.

[0018] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the centering ring according to the invention, the centering ring has a first thin-walled segment and a second thin-walled segment, wherein the first thin-walled segment adjoins the first thick-walled segment and the second thin-walled segment adjoins the second thick-walled segment.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment of the centering ring according to the invention, a thick-walled segment, namely a third thick-walled segment, is arranged between the first thin-walled segment and the second thin-walled segment.

[0020] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the centering ring according to the invention, one of the thick-walled segments has a connecting bore. This makes it possible to fix a thick-walled segment, in particular to the stem.

[0021] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the centering ring according to the invention, at least one thin-walled segment serves as a cable duct. The cable duct allows electrical cables, cables, and / or hydraulic lines to be routed safely inside the frame.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention for reducing the risk of breakage of at least one thin-walled segment of a centering ring, wherein the centering ring has at least two thick-walled segments, namely at least a first thick-walled segment and a second thick-walled segment, wherein the first thick-walled segment has a side facing one side of the second thick-walled segment, wherein the sides at least partially touch or are spaced from one another by a gap having a gap dimension, and the centering ring has at least one movement limiter having at least one contact surface and / or an end face, by means of which a drifting apart of the sides caused by the application of force and / or a drifting towards one another caused by the application of force is only possible until a certain gap dimension is reached,wherein a drifting apart caused by the application of force and / or a drifting towards each other of the sides caused by the application of force is slowed down or stopped as soon as at least one contact surface of the movement limiter comes into contact with at least one contact surface arranged on a thick-walled segment or as soon as the front side of the movement limiter comes into contact with at least one contact surface arranged in a cavity arranged on a thick-walled segment, at least one of the movement limiters has at least two contact surfaces, namely a first contact surface and a second contact surface, so that a drifting apart caused by the application of force and / or a drifting towards each other of the sides caused by the application of force is slowed down or stopped,as soon as the first contact surface of the movement limiter comes into contact with at least one contact surface arranged on a first thick-walled segment and the second contact surface of the movement limiter comes into contact with at least one contact surface arranged on a second thick-walled segment.

[0023] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, at least one of the movement limiters has at least two contact surfaces, namely a first contact surface and a second contact surface, so that a drifting apart caused by the application of force and / or a drifting towards each other of the sides caused by the application of force is slowed down or stopped as soon as the first contact surface of the movement limiter comes into contact with at least one contact surface arranged on a thick-walled segment and the second contact surface of the movement limiter comes into contact with a contact surface arranged on a second movement limiter.

[0024] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, at least one of the movement limiters has at least one contact surface, so that a drifting apart caused by the application of force and / or a drifting towards each other of the sides caused by the application of force is slowed down or stopped as soon as at least one contact surface of the movement limiter comes into contact with at least one contact surface arranged on a second movement limiter.

[0025] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, a force transmission between two thick-walled segments of the centering ring is established at the latest when the certain gap dimension specified by the movement limiter(s) is reached.

[0026] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, the centering ring is used in a steering head bearing of a vehicle.

[0027] According to an additional advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, a centering ring according to one of claims 1 to 11 is used as the centering ring.

[0028] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the following description and the drawings. Drawings

[0029] Preferred embodiments of the subject matter according to the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. Fig. 1 an isometric exploded view of a steering head bearing, Fig. 2 a sectional view through the upper part of a steering head bearing, Fig. 3 a perspective sectional drawing through an upper bearing, Fig. 4 another perspective sectional drawing through an upper bearing, Fig. 5 a side sectional view through an upper bearing, Fig. 6 a section A from Fig. 5, Fig. 7 a perspective view of a centering ring according to the invention in the unassembled state, Fig. 8 a further perspective view of the centering ring according to the invention, according to Fig. 7, Fig. 9 a plan view of the centering ring according to the invention, according to Fig. 7, Fig. 10 a sectional view of the centering ring according to the invention, according to Fig. 9, Fig. 11 a perspective view of a centering ring according to the invention in the assembled state, Fig. 12 a plan view of the centering ring according to the invention, according to Fig. 11, Fig. 13 a sectional view of the centering ring according to the invention, according to Fig. 12, Fig. 14 a section C from Fig. 13, Fig. 15 a plan view of the upper bearing shown in section, according to Fig. 3, in the unloaded state, Fig. 16 a plan view of the upper bearing shown in section, according to Fig. 3, in the loaded state, Fig. 17 a plan view of the upper bearing shown in section, according to Fig. 16, in the loaded state, with the compression exaggerated, Fig. 18 the top view of the upper bearing shown in section, according to Fig. 16, in loaded condition, along with line EE, Fig. 19 a lateral sectional drawing, according to line EE of Fig. 18, Fig. 20 a sectional view of another embodiment of a centering ring according to the invention, Fig. 21 a sectional view of another embodiment of a centering ring according to the invention, Fig. 22 a sectional view of another embodiment of a movement limiter of a centering ring according to the invention, Fig. 23 a sectional view of another embodiment of a movement limiter of a centering ring according to the invention, Fig. 24 a sectional view of another embodiment of a centering ring according to the invention, Description of the embodiment

[0030] Fig. 1 shows an isometric exploded view of a steering head bearing. The steering head bearing is installed in a head tube 1 of a vehicle frame (not shown here) and consists, in a known manner, of an upper steering head bearing arranged below a handlebar stem 2 of a handlebar of the vehicle in the head tube 1 and a lower steering head bearing arranged above the fork with fork shaft 3 of the vehicle (also not shown here). The upper steering head bearing has an upper bearing shell with an upper bearing 4 (upper roller bearing), which is mounted in the head tube 1 by means of a centering ring 5 (clamping ring) according to the invention. The lower steering head bearing consists of a base 6, which is struck onto the fork shaft 3, a lower bearing 7 (lower roller bearing) resting on the base 6, and a lower bearing shell, into which the lower bearing 7 is pressed with its outer ring.The lower bearing shell is pressed into the lower opening of the head tube 1. The fork stem 3 is guided through an inner ring of the lower bearing 7 and the inner ring of the upper bearing 4 and projects into the upper centering ring 5 according to the invention. A clamping claw 8 is driven into the upper opening of the fork stem 3, which transmits the steering torque applied by the rider to the vehicle's handlebars via the handlebar stem 2 to the fork. For the sake of completeness, the . Fig. 1 also shows the parts that connect the handlebar stem 2 to the fork and the head tube 1: the head tube 1 is covered by a cover 9 (spacer). The handlebar stem 2 is firmly connected to the fork tube 3 by means of a clamping cover 10 and an adjusting screw 11, and is rotatably connected to the head tube 1 without play. Additionally, spacer rings 12, which space the handlebar stem 2, an upper sealing ring 13, and a lower sealing ring 14 are used.

[0031] Fig. 2 shows a sectional view through the upper part of a steering head bearing.

[0032] Fig. 3 shows a perspective sectional view through an upper bearing 4. In this exemplary embodiment, the centering ring 5 according to the invention has three thick-walled segments, namely a first thick-walled segment 15, a second thick-walled segment 16, and a third thick-walled segment 17. A first thin-walled segment 18 is arranged between the first thick-walled segment 15 and the third thick-walled segment 17. A second thin-walled segment 19 is located between the second thick-walled segment 16 and the third thick-walled segment 17. The thin-walled segments 18 and 19 are designed as cable ducts 20, which have a cable insertion opening 21 and a connecting web 22, so that cables can be laid within the vehicle frame. It is also conceivable that the thin-walled design of a thin-walled segment is solely due to weight reduction.A movement limiter 24 is arranged on one side 23 of the first thick-walled segment 15, which in the present case is designed as the end face. In the assembled state or, as shown here, in the installed state of the centering ring 5 according to the invention, the movement limiter 24 protrudes into a cavity 25 arranged on the second thick-walled segment 16.

[0033] Fig. 4 shows a further perspective sectional view through an upper bearing 4. The centering ring 5 according to the invention has an inner surface 26 facing the fork shaft 3, an outer surface 27 facing the upper bearing 4 (upper roller bearing), an upper contact surface 28 on the front side facing the cover 9, and an inclined contact surface 29 adjacent to the outer surface 27. During use of the centering ring 5 according to the invention, radially acting forces and axially acting forces act on the centering ring 5 according to the invention. The radially acting forces are forces that act on the inner surface 26 and the outer surface 27. A radially acting force is an operating force introduced by a braking process or an operating force introduced by driving over obstacles.The axially acting forces are forces acting on the frontal, upper contact surface 28 and the inclined contact surface 29. Axially acting forces include internal forces introduced by the axial preload force of the headset, resulting axial forces caused by the bending of the fork, or wobble forces between the thick-walled segments—in the illustrated embodiment, between the first thick-walled segment 15, the second thick-walled segment 16, and the third thick-walled segment 17.

[0034] Fig. 5 shows a side sectional view through an upper bearing 4.

[0035] Fig. 6 shows a section A from Fig. 5. Between the centering ring 5 according to the invention and the fork shaft 3 there is a gap 30. The gap 30 is compensated by the functionality of the centering ring 5 according to the invention, so that there is no play between the components of the rolling bearing, the centering ring 5 according to the invention and the fork shaft 3.

[0036] Fig. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a centering ring 5 according to the invention in the unassembled state. In the unassembled state, the centering ring 5 according to the invention can be expanded, whereby the movement limiter 24 is located outside the cavity arranged on the second thick-walled segment 16, which is arranged on one side 31.

[0037] Fig. 8 shows a further perspective view of the centering ring 5 according to the invention, according to Fig. 7. The movement limiter 24, which may optionally be slightly resilient, has contact surfaces 32 and 33. When the movement limiter 24 is at least partially located in the cavity 25 in the assembled or mounted state, the contact surface 32 can be operatively connected or brought into operative connection with a contact surface 34 arranged in the cavity 25. Alternatively or additionally, when the movement limiter 24 is at least partially located in the cavity 25 in the assembled or mounted state, the contact surface 33 can be operatively connected or brought into operative connection with a contact surface 35 arranged in the cavity 25. The movement limiter 24 is therefore suitable for stabilizing the centering ring 5 according to the invention when subjected to a force in the axial direction, thereby preventing damage due to improper handling.

[0038] Fig. 9 shows a plan view of the centering ring 5 according to the invention, according to Fig. 7.

[0039] Fig. 10 shows a sectional view of the centering ring 5 according to the invention, according to Fig. 9.

[0040] Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of a centering ring 5 according to the invention in the assembled state. In the assembled state, as well as in the mounted state, the movement limiter 24 is located within the cavity arranged on the second thick-walled segment 16. A connecting bore 36 enables the thick-walled segment to be fixed, thereby creating a rigid connection to the stem. To establish the rigid connection, a pin, which is arranged on a side of the cover 9 facing the centering ring 5 according to the invention, is preferably inserted into the connecting bore 36. In the present embodiment, the third thick-walled segment 17 is fixed.

[0041] Fig. 12 shows a plan view of the centering ring 5 according to the invention, according to Fig. 11. Between side 23 of the first thick-walled segment 15 and side 31 of the second thick-walled segment 16, there is a gap 37 with a gap dimension of 38 x 38. It is also conceivable that sides 23 and 31 touch each other in the joined or assembled state.

[0042] Fig. 13 shows a sectional view of the centering ring 5 according to the invention, according to Fig. 12. The cavity 25 has a contact surface 39 which, provided the movement limiter 24, which has an end face 40, is designed long enough, serves as a stop for the end face 40 to decelerate or stop a counterclockwise rotational movement caused by a force acting on the first thick-walled segment 15 and / or a clockwise rotational movement caused by a force acting on the second thick-walled segment 16. This leaves a minimal gap between the first thick-walled segment 15 and the second thick-walled segment 16, which, depending on the design of the movement limiter 24, has a gap dimension 38 of ≥ 0 mm.The minimum gap with a gap dimension 38 of 0 mm is achieved when sides 23 and 31 touch before contact or upon contact of the end face 40 and the contact surface 39, whereby this contact additionally slows down or stops the rotational movement of the first thick-walled segment 15 and / or the second thick-walled segment 16. The minimum gap with a gap dimension 38 of > 0 mm is achieved when sides 23 and 31 do not touch upon contact of the end face 40 and the contact surface 39.

[0043] Fig. 14 shows a section C from Fig. 13. The movement limiter 24 has a contact surface 41 which, upon a clockwise rotational movement resulting from the action of a force on the first thick-walled segment 15 and / or a counterclockwise rotational movement resulting from the action of a force on the second thick-walled segment 16, can be brought into operative connection with a contact surface 42 arranged on the cavity 25, thereby decelerating or stopping the rotational movement. In the unloaded state, i.e., when no forces, in particular no wobble forces that lead to tensile and compressive forces between the first thick-walled segment 15, the second thick-walled segment 16, and / or the third thick-walled segment 17, act on the centering ring 5 according to the invention, a gap 43 is arranged between the contact surfaces 41 and 42.

[0044] Fig. 15 shows a plan view of the upper bearing 4 shown in section, according to Fig. 3, in the unloaded state. The gap 43 arranged between the contact surfaces 41 and 42 has a gap dimension D 44. The first thin-walled segment 18 has a first connecting web 45, and the second thin-walled segment 19 has a first connecting web 46.

[0045] Fig. 16 shows a plan view of the upper bearing 4 shown in section, according to Fig. 3, in the loaded state. In the loaded state, i.e. when forces, in particular wobble forces, which lead to tensile and compressive forces between the first thick-walled segment 15, the second thick-walled segment 16 and / or the third thick-walled segment 17, act on the centering ring 5 according to the invention, the gap dimension D 44 and the gap dimension B 38 change. An increase in the gap dimension D 44 causes the gap dimension B 38 to decrease, and a decrease in the gap dimension D 44 causes the gap dimension B 38 to increase. When the contact surfaces 41 and 42 touch, the gap 37 reaches its maximum gap dimension. If the end face 40 comes into contact with the contact surface 39, the gap 43 reaches its maximum gap dimension.

[0046] The action of forces, particularly wobble forces, leads, for example, to the first thick-walled segment 15 experiencing a circular force toward the third thick-walled segment 17. This operating force leads to compression of the first connecting web 45 arranged between them. In the case of centering rings belonging to the prior art, this compression leads to an overload and ultimately to the fracture of at least one connecting web. In contrast, tensile forces on a connecting web 22 do not pose a problem, since these forces, which arise during driving operation, are below the load limit.

[0047] The centering ring 5 according to the invention solves this problem by allowing only limited rotational movement between the first thick-walled segment 15 and the second thick-walled segment 16. The free movement of the two thick-walled segments relative to each other corresponds to the necessary distance to compensate for typical tolerance deviations of the connecting parts.

[0048] If, for example, wobble forces occur during operation that lead to excessive compression of one connecting web 22 or both connecting webs 22, the two thick-walled segments engage with each other and are operatively connected, allowing a tensile force to be transmitted between the first thick-walled segment 15 and the second thick-walled segment 16. This prevents overloading of the connecting web 22 or the connecting webs 22, since the two thick-walled segments are limited in their ability to move relative to each other. As a result, the third thick-walled segment 17 and the connecting web 22 or the connecting webs 22 are not compressed, thus preventing damage to the centering ring 5 according to the invention.

[0049] Fig. 17 shows a plan view of the upper bearing 4 shown in section, according to Fig. 16, in the loaded state, with a compression 47 exaggerated. The third thick-walled segment 17 is connected to the handlebar stem 3 in a rotationally fixed manner via the connecting bore 36. If, for example, a wobbling force leads to a circular movement of the first thick-walled segment 15 in a clockwise direction, the first thick-walled segment 15 moves towards the third thick-walled segment 17. The first connecting web 45 is arranged between the first thick-walled segment 15 and the third thick-walled segment 17. The first thick-walled segment 15 is operatively connected to the second thick-walled segment 16, as a result of which tensile forces can be transmitted. Since the second thick-walled segment 16 is operatively connected to the third thick-walled segment 17 via the second connecting web 46, as a result of which tensile forces can be transmitted, an equilibrium of forces prevails.A damaging wobble force on the first thick-walled segment 15 thus does not lead to the breakage of the first connecting web 45 of the first thin-walled segment 18. The first connecting web 45 is at most slightly compressed.

[0050] Fig. 18 shows the top view of the upper bearing 4 shown in section, according to Fig. 16, in loaded condition, along with line EE.

[0051] Fig. 19 shows a lateral sectional view, according to line EE of Fig. 18.

[0052] Fig. 20 shows a sectional view of another embodiment of a centering ring 5 according to the invention. In contrast to the Fig. 13 shown centering ring 5 according to the invention has the Fig. 20, the centering ring 5 according to the invention has only one thin-walled segment, namely the first thin-walled segment 18, and only two thick-walled segments, namely the first thick-walled segment 15 and the second thick-walled segment 16. In this exemplary embodiment, the second thick-walled segment 16 is fixed to the handlebar stem 2 by means of the connecting bore 36.

[0053] Fig. 21 shows a sectional view of another embodiment of a centering ring 5 according to the invention. In contrast to the Fig. 13 shown centering ring 5 according to the invention, the one shown in Fig. 21, the centering ring 5 according to the invention has only one thin-walled segment, namely the second thin-walled segment 19, and only two thick-walled segments, namely the first thick-walled segment 15 and the second thick-walled segment 16. In this exemplary embodiment, the first thick-walled segment 15 is fixed to the handlebar stem 2 by means of the connecting bore 36.

[0054] Fig. 22 shows a sectional view of another embodiment of a centering ring 5 according to the invention. In contrast to the embodiments shown so far, the centering ring 5 according to the invention has two movement limiters 24, whose respective contact surfaces 41 can be brought into operative connection with one another in order to slow down or stop a rotary movement of a thick-walled segment or several thick-walled segments. It is also conceivable for such an embodiment to be equipped with only one thin-walled segment. It is also conceivable for a tongue and groove connection to be arranged between the movement limiters 24, which is suitable for stabilizing the centering ring 5 according to the invention when subjected to a force in the axial direction, thereby preventing damage due to improper handling.

[0055] Fig. 23 shows a sectional view of another embodiment of a movement limiter 48 of a centering ring 5 according to the invention. In this case, the movement limiter 48 is designed as a separate component having contact surfaces 49 and 50, through which the movement limiter 48 can be brought into operative connection with contact surfaces 42 arranged on thick-walled segments and / or with contact surfaces arranged on other movement limiters 24, namely the contact surfaces 41, 49, or 50, and / or with contact surfaces arranged on other movement limiters 48, namely the contact surfaces 49 or 50. In addition, the movement limiter 48 has end faces 40, through which the movement limiter 48 can be brought into operative connection with contact surfaces 39 arranged on thick-walled segments.

[0056] Fig. 24 shows a sectional view of a further embodiment of a centering ring 5 according to the invention. The centering ring 5 according to the invention has three movement limiters, namely two movement limiters 24 and one movement limiter 48, wherein one movement limiter 24 is arranged on the thick-walled segment 15 and one movement limiter 24 is arranged on the thick-walled segment 16 and the third movement limiter 48 is designed as a separate component which has contact surfaces 49 and 50, by means of which the movement limiter 48 can be brought into operative connection with the contact surfaces arranged on the other movement limiters 24, namely the contact surfaces 41, in order to brake or stop a rotary movement of one or more thick-walled segments.

[0057] It is also conceivable for such an embodiment to be equipped with only one thin-walled segment. It is also conceivable for a tongue and groove connection to be arranged between the movement limiters 24 and 48, which is suitable for stabilizing the centering ring 5 according to the invention when a force is applied in the axial direction, thereby preventing damage due to improper handling. It is also conceivable for only one movement limiter 24 arranged on a thick-walled segment to be used, and for the movement limiter 48, designed as a separate component, to protrude with one end into a cavity arranged on another thick-walled segment, whereby it can be brought into operative connection with its contact surface 49 or 50 with a contact surface 42 arranged there, or with its end face 40 with a contact surface 39 arranged there.

[0058] Fig. Figure 25 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a centering ring 5 according to the invention in the unassembled state. In the unassembled state, the centering ring 5 according to the invention can be expanded, whereby the movement limiter 24 is located outside the cavity 25 arranged on the second thick-walled segment 16, which is arranged on one side 31. In contrast to the Fig. 7 shown centering ring 5 according to the invention, the one shown in Fig. 25, the movement limiter 24 does not have a locking hook but rather a spherical head 51. Other geometric shapes of the movement limiter 24 would also be conceivable, having contact surfaces that can be brought into operative connection with contact surfaces arranged within the cavity 25, whereby a damaging force acting on one or more thick-walled segments does not lead to the breakage of a thin-walled segment. In the assembled, as well as in the mounted state, the movement limiter 24 is located within the cavity 25 arranged on the second thick-walled segment 16. It is also conceivable for such an embodiment to be equipped with only one thin-walled segment, whereby the third thick-walled segment 17 would be omitted.

[0059] Fig. 26 shows a sectional view of the centering ring 5 according to the invention, according to Fig. 25, in the assembled state. A connecting bore 36 enables the fixation of a thick-walled segment, thereby creating a rigid connection to the stem. To establish the rigid connection, a pin, which is arranged on a side of the cover 9 facing the centering ring 5 according to the invention, is preferably inserted into the connecting bore 36. In the present embodiment, the third thick-walled segment 17 is fixed. It would also be conceivable for the sides 23 and 31 to touch in the assembled or mounted state, so that no gap 37 is present.The cavity 25 has a contact surface 39 which, if the movement limiter 24 having an end face 40 is designed long enough, serves as a stop for the end face 40 in order to slow down or stop a counterclockwise rotary movement resulting from the action of force on the first thick-walled segment 15 and / or a clockwise rotary movement resulting from the action of force on the second thick-walled segment 16.

[0060] Fig. 27 shows a plan view of the centering ring 5 according to the invention, according to Fig. 26. Between side 23 of the first thick-walled segment 15 and side 31 of the second thick-walled segment 16, there is a gap 37 having a gap dimension of 38 x 38. It would also be conceivable for sides 23 and 31 to touch each other in the joined or assembled state. Reference number list 1 head tube (bicycle frame) 2 handlebar stem 3 Fork tube 4 Upper camp 5 Centering ring (clamping ring) 6 Floor 7 Lower bearing 8 clamping claw 9 covers 10 clamping lids 11 Adjusting screw 12 spacer ring 13 Upper sealing ring 14 Lower sealing ring 15 First thick-walled segment 16 Second thick-walled segment 17 Third thick-walled segment 18 First thin-walled segment 19 Second thin-walled segment 20 cable entry 21 Cable entry opening 22 connecting bridge 23 Page 24 movement limiters 25 cavity 26 Inner surface 27 Outer surface 28 Upper contact surface 29 Inclined contact surface 30 gap 31 pages 32 contact surface 33 Contact surface 34 contact surface 35 contact surface 36 connection hole 37 gap 38 gap B 39 Contact surface 40 front side 41 Contact surface 42 contact surface 43 gap 44 gap D 45 First connecting bridge 46 Second connecting bridge 47 Compression 48 movement limiters 49 contact surface 50 contact area 51 ball head

Claims

[1] Centering ring (5) which can be arranged between a fork shaft (3) and a head tube (1), - with at least two thick-walled segments, namely at least a first thick-walled segment (15) and a second thick-walled segment (16), wherein the first thick-walled segment (15) has a side (23) facing a side (31) of the second thick-walled segment (16), - with at least one thin-walled segment adjacent to the first thick-walled segment (15) and / or the second thick-walled segment (16), characterized by , that the sides (23, 31) at least partially touch each other or are spaced apart from each other by a gap (37) having a gap dimension B (38) and the centering ring (5) has at least one movement limiter (24, 48) having at least one contact surface (32, 33, 41, 49, 50) and / or at least one end face (40), by means of which a drifting apart caused by the action of force and / or a drifting towards one another of the sides (23, 31) caused by the action of force is only possible until a certain gap dimension B (38) is reached. [2] Centering ring (5) according to claim 1, characterized by that the side (23) is arranged on the end face of the first thick-walled segment (15) and / or the side (31) is arranged on the end face of the second thick-walled segment (16). [3] Centering ring (5) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized bythat at least one movement limiter (24) is arranged on the side (23) of the first thick-walled segment (15) and / or at least one movement limiter (24) is arranged on the side (31) of the second thick-walled segment (16) and / or at least one movement limiter (48) is a separate component. [4] Centering ring (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one thick-walled segment has at least one contact surface (39) for at least one movement limiter (24, 48). [5] Centering ring (5) according to claim 4, characterized by that at least one contact surface (39) is arranged in a cavity (25) arranged on a thick-walled segment. [6] Centering ring (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that, in order to form a tongue and groove connection between a movement limiter (24, 48) and a thick-walled segment, at least one groove is arranged on the movement limiter (24, 48) and correspondingly at least one tongue is arranged on the thick-walled segment and / or at least one tongue is arranged on the movement limiter (24, 48) and correspondingly at least one groove is arranged on the thick-walled segment. [7] Centering ring (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that, in order to form a tongue and groove connection between one movement limiter (24, 48) and another movement limiter (24, 48), at least one groove is arranged on one movement limiter (24, 48) and correspondingly at least one tongue is arranged on the other movement limiter (24, 48) and / or at least one tongue is arranged on one movement limiter (24, 48) and correspondingly at least one groove is arranged on the other movement limiter (24, 48). [8] Centering ring (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that the centering ring (5) has a first thin-walled segment (18) and a second thin-walled segment (19), wherein the first thin-walled segment (18) adjoins the first thick-walled segment (15) and the second thin-walled segment (19) adjoins the second thick-walled segment (16). [9] Centering ring (5) according to claim 8, characterized by that a thick-walled segment, namely a third thick-walled segment (17), is arranged between the first thin-walled segment (18) and the second thin-walled segment (19). [10] Centering ring (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that one of the thick-walled segments has a connecting bore (36). [11] Centering ring (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that at least one thin-walled segment is a cable bushing (20). [12] Method for reducing the risk of breakage of at least one thin-walled segment of a centering ring (5) arranged between a fork shaft (3) and a head tube (1), wherein the centering ring (5) has at least two thick-walled segments, namely at least a first thick-walled segment (15) and a second thick-walled segment (16), wherein the first thick-walled segment (15) has a side (23) facing a side (31) of the second thick-walled segment (16), characterized by , that the sides (23, 31) at least partially touch each other or are spaced apart from each other by a gap (30) having a gap dimension B (38) and the centering ring (5) has at least one movement limiter (24, 48) having at least one contact surface (32, 33, 41, 49, 50) and / or at least one end face (40), by means of which a drifting apart caused by the application of force and / or a drifting towards each other of the sides (23, 31) caused by the application of force is only possible until a certain gap dimension B (38) is reached, wherein a drifting apart caused by the application of force and / or a drifting towards one another of the sides (23, 31) caused by the application of force is slowed down or stopped as soon as at least one contact surface (32, 33, 41, 49, 50) of the movement limiter (24, 48) comes into contact with at least one contact surface (34, 35, 42) arranged on a thick-walled segment or as soon as the end face (40) of the movement limiter (24, 48) comes into contact with at least one contact surface (39) arranged in a cavity (25) arranged on a thick-walled segment. [13] Method according to claim 12, characterized byin that at least one of the movement limiters (48) has at least two contact surfaces (41), namely a first contact surface (49) and a second contact surface (50), so that a drifting apart caused by the application of force and / or a drifting towards one another of the sides (23, 31) caused by the application of force is slowed down or stopped as soon as the first contact surface (49) of the movement limiter (48) comes into contact with at least one contact surface (42) arranged on a first thick-walled segment (15) and the second contact surface (50) of the movement limiter (48) comes into contact with at least one contact surface (42) arranged on a second thick-walled segment (16). [14] Method according to claim 12 or claim 13, characterized byin that at least one of the movement limiters (48) has at least two contact surfaces (41), namely a first contact surface (48) and a second contact surface (49), so that a drifting apart caused by the application of force and / or a drifting towards one another of the sides (23, 31) caused by the application of force is slowed down or stopped as soon as the first contact surface (48) of the movement limiter (48) comes into contact with at least one contact surface (42) arranged on a thick-walled segment and the second contact surface (50) of the movement limiter (48) comes into contact with a contact surface (41) arranged on a second movement limiter (24, 48). [15] Method according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterized bythat at least one of the movement limiters (24, 48) has at least one contact surface (41, 49, 50), so that a drifting apart caused by the application of force and / or a drifting towards one another of the sides (23, 31) caused by the application of force is slowed down or stopped as soon as at least one of the contact surfaces (41, 49, 50) of the movement limiter (24) comes into contact with at least one contact surface (41, 49, 50) arranged on a second movement limiter (24, 48). [16] Method according to one of claims 12 to 15, characterized by that at the latest when the certain gap dimension B (38) specified by the movement limiter(s) (24, 48) is reached, a force transmission is established between two thick-walled segments of the centering ring (5). [17] Method according to one of claims 12 to 16, characterized by that the centering ring (5) is used in a steering head bearing of a vehicle. [18] Method according to one of claims 12 to 17, characterized by that a centering ring (5) according to one of claims 1 to 11 is used as the centering ring (5).

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