Bicycle pedals

Abstract

To provide a pedal of a bicycle for more accurately detecting an actual and instantaneous tread force situation of a rider.SOLUTION: A pedal 100 of a bicycle includes a pedal body 10, a force detection unit 20, and a cover plate 30. The pedal body includes a recessed storage space. The force detection unit includes a bridge frame 21, a load arm 22, and a force sensor. The periphery of the bridge frame is fixed into the storage space. One end of the load arm is connected to the bridge frame, and the force sensor is installed in the bottom face of the load arm. The cover plate is movably installed in the storage space, and the bottom part of the cover plate is fixedly connected to the top face of the load arm.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bicycle pedal, and more particularly to a pedal that can be installed on the pedal of an electrically assisted bicycle. The pedal has a force detection mechanism that detects the force applied by the rider's foot and transmits the information to a control module of the electrically assisted bicycle to instantly provide assist power. [Background technology]

[0002] An electric assist bicycle is a bicycle that is primarily human-powered and supplemented by electric power. In order to understand the rider's needs and provide appropriate auxiliary power, sensors are required as a medium for transmitting information between the rider and the bicycle. The purpose of the sensors is to "understand the rider's actual movement status" and transmit that information to a control module, which ultimately allows the motor to provide the appropriate assist force at that time.

[0003] Existing electric assist bicycles have two main types of sensors: speed sensors and torque sensors. The disadvantage of speed sensors is that they have difficulty detecting changes in pedaling force due to changes in slope. Torque sensors detect the torque generated by the rider's pedaling, i.e., detect the pedaling force, and provide the appropriate assist force.

[0004] However, existing torque sensors are typically installed on the axle or central motor and cannot instantly sense the force applied to the pedals by the rider's feet.

[0005] Therefore, improving the structural design of an electric assist bicycle to more accurately detect the rider's actual pedaling force and provide an appropriate assist force instantly has become a challenge to be solved in the art. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The technical problem that the present invention aims to solve is to address the shortcomings of existing technology and provide a bicycle pedal that can more accurately detect the rider's actual and immediate pedaling force. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above technical problems, one technical solution adopted by the present invention is to provide a bicycle pedal, which includes a pedal body, a force detection unit, and a cover plate. The pedal body includes a recessed storage space. The force detection unit includes a bridge frame, a load arm, and a force sensor, and the periphery of the bridge frame is fixed within the storage space. One end of the load arm is connected to the bridge frame, and the force sensor is installed on the bottom surface of the load arm. The cover plate is movably installed within the storage space, and the bottom of the cover plate is fixedly connected to the top surface of the load arm. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] One beneficial effect of the present invention is that the bicycle pedal provided by the present invention comprises a pedal body, a force detection unit, and a cover plate. The force detection unit includes a bridge frame, a load arm, and a force sensor. One end of the load arm is connected to the bridge frame, and the force sensor is installed on the bottom surface of the load arm. The cover plate is movably installed within the accommodation space, and the bottom of the cover plate is fixedly connected to the top surface of the load arm. This allows the pedal to more accurately detect the rider's actual pedaling force, transmit the information to a control module, and provide an appropriate assist force through the motor.

[0009] In order to better understand the features and technical contents of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of the present invention and the accompanying drawings, which are provided for reference and explanation only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a three-dimensional assembly diagram of a bicycle pedal according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a three-dimensional exploded view of a bicycle pedal according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a partial exploded view of a bicycle pedal according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of a strain sheet according to the present invention; [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional assembly diagram of a bicycle pedal according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a bicycle pedal according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is another exploded view of a bicycle pedal according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 8. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. 8. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The following describes the embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can understand the merits and advantages of the present invention from the disclosure of this specification. The present invention can be implemented or applied in other different embodiments. Each detail in this specification can also be modified and changed equivalently based on various viewpoints or applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the drawings of the present invention are for simple and schematic illustration only and do not represent actual dimensions. The following embodiments will further explain the technical matters related to the present invention, but the disclosed contents do not limit the present invention.

[0012] [First embodiment] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, an embodiment of the present invention provides a bicycle pedal 100. The pedal includes a pedal body 10, a force detection unit 20, and a cover plate 30. The force detection unit 20 is installed within the pedal body 10, and the cover plate 30 partially covers one side of the pedal body 10. When a rider's foot presses down on the cover plate 30 with force, the force detection unit 20 comes into contact with the bottom of the cover plate 30.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2 , the pedal body 10 includes a connection portion 101 and a foot portion 102. The connection portion 101 is adjacent to the foot portion 102. More specifically, the pedal body 10 includes an inner wall 11, an outer wall 13, and a pair of side walls 12. The pedal body 10 has an accommodation space S, which is recessed inside the foot portion 102. More specifically, the accommodation space S is surrounded by the connection portion 101, the outer wall 13, and the pair of side walls 12. The accommodation space S is formed within the foot portion 102 but does not penetrate the pedal body 10. The connection portion 101 has a shaft hole 112 formed along the central axis X, which can accommodate a rotating shaft (not shown) and transmit signals from the force detection unit 20.

[0014] The cover plate 30 is movably installed above the storage space S. The cover plate 30 includes an outer plate 31 and a protruding base 32, and the protruding base 32 is located on the bottom surface of the outer plate 31. In this embodiment, the protruding base 32 is smaller than the top opening of the storage space S and can move up and down within the storage space S.

[0015] In this embodiment, the cover plate 30 for detecting force can be installed on only one side of the pedal body 10. The bottom plate 15 of the foot 102 of the pedal body 10 has a balancing function, so that the cover plate 30 of the pedal body 10 is always kept facing upward, allowing the rider to apply force to the pedal body 10. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cover plate and the force detection unit can also be installed on both sides of the pedal body 10.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the force detection unit 20 includes a bridge frame 21, a load arm 22, and a force sensor 23. The periphery of the bridge frame 21 is fixed within the accommodation space S. One end of the load arm 22 is connected to the bridge frame 21. The bridge frame 21 and the load arm 22 are formed from a single metal plate, such as stainless steel. As shown in FIG. 3 , the force sensor 23 is installed on the bottom surface of the load arm 22. The bottom of the cover plate 30 is fixedly connected to the top surface of the load arm 22. In this embodiment, the bridge frame 21 forms a U-shaped groove 210 that surrounds the load arm 22. The load arm 22 is formed in a cantilever shape. The direction of the load arm 22 is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the bicycle pedal 100. In other words, the direction of the load arm 22 is approximately parallel to the direction of the rider's sole.

[0017] However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the bridge frame and the load arms can be configured as an E-shape, in which case the bridge frame is U-shaped and the load arms are connected to the center of the bridge frame. Alternatively, the bridge frame and the load arms can be configured as a T-shape, in which case the bridge frame is I-shaped and the load arms are connected to the center of the bridge frame.

[0018] Specifically, the method for fixing the bridge frame 21 in this embodiment is as follows. The pedal body 10 includes a pair of mounting spacers 14, which are located within the accommodation space S. In this embodiment, the pair of mounting spacers 14 are arranged in a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the pedal and each protrude inward from the inner surface of the outer wall 13. Both sides of the bridge frame 21 are fixed to the pair of mounting spacers 14, and the load arm 22 is positioned between the pair of mounting spacers 14 so as to be able to flexibly deform.

[0019] In this embodiment, the bridge frame 21 is secured to the bicycle pedal 100 by a pair of second screw rods 25. The pair of second screw rods 25 securely connect both sides of the bridge frame 21 to the pair of mounting spacers 14. The pair of second screw rods 25 extend upward from the pedal body 10, pass through the pair of mounting spacers 14, and are screwed into both sides of the bridge frame 21. After assembly, the bicycle pedal 100 will have the three-dimensional cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The role of the second screw rods 25 is to secure both sides of the bridge frame 21 to the pedal body 10 and provide a fulcrum. The second screw rods can also be secured to the bridge frame 21 from the side using other fasteners.

[0020] In this embodiment, the pair of mounting spacers 14 divide the accommodation space S into two parts. The accommodation space S is divided into an upper half space S1 and a lower half space S2. The lower half space S2 is located between the pair of mounting spacers 14, and the upper half space S1 is located above the pair of mounting spacers 14. The width (along the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis) of the upper half space S1 is wider than the width (along the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis) of the lower half space S2. The bridge frame 21 is fixed to the upper half space S1, and the load arm 22 flexibly deforms toward the lower half space S2.

[0021] The bicycle pedal 100 of this embodiment further includes a connecting plate 33. The connecting plate 33 is connected between the cover plate 30 and the force detection unit 20. A protruding base 32 is provided on the bottom surface of the cover plate 30, and the connecting plate 33 is disposed between the top surface of the load arm 22 and the bottom surface of the protruding base 32. The protruding base 32 is movably positioned within the accommodation space S.

[0022] To secure the force detection unit 20 to the cover plate 30, this embodiment further includes a pair of first screw rods 24. The pair of first screw rods 24 penetrate the load arm 22 and the connecting plate 33 from the bottom surface of the load arm 22, and are screwed into the protruding base 32 of the cover plate 30. In this embodiment, the first screw rods 24 do not protrude from the top surface of the cover plate 30. After assembly, the bicycle pedal 100 will look like another three-dimensional cross-sectional view shown in Figures 6 and 7.

[0023] As shown in Figure 3, the force sensor 23 is, for example, a strain sensor. The force sensor 23 includes a strain sheet 231, an outer cover layer 232, and a measurement lead 233. The strain sheet 231 is attached to the bottom surface of the load arm 22. The outer cover layer 232 covers the strain sheet 231 and is made of, for example, a waterproof resin. The measurement lead 233 is connected to the strain sheet 231, passes through the pedal body 10, and is connected to a bicycle control unit (not shown).

[0024] As shown in FIG. 4, the force detection method of this embodiment is as follows. The strain sheet 231 includes a base 2311, a sensitivity grid 2312, and a covering layer 2313. The sensitivity grid 2312 is made of a metal wire with a width of 0.01 to 0.05 mm, wound in a grid pattern, and attached to the insulating base 2311. The base of the strain sheet 231 is firmly fixed to the force measurement point on the bottom surface of the load arm 22, and the covering layer 2313 is attached to the upper surface of the sensitivity grid 2312 to provide a protective function. Both ends of the sensitivity grid 2312 are connected to measurement leads 233. When the load arm 22 is subjected to a force and stress is generated, the sensitivity grid 2312 also deforms, resulting in a change in electrical resistance.

[0025] The operating principle of the strain sheet 231 is based on the stress effect, and according to its material, it is classified into wire strain sheet, foil strain sheet, and metal film strain sheet. When the sensitivity grid 2312 is mechanically deformed by the action of an external force, its length L changes, and the electrical resistance also changes accordingly. This phenomenon is called the "stress effect."

[0026] Base 2311 of strain sheet 231 is attached to load arm 22 to be measured, and when load arm 22 receives an external force due to a pedaling force, strain occurs, which causes a change in the electrical resistance value of strain sheet 231. The magnitude of the external force can be determined by measuring the change in the electrical resistance value of strain sheet 231. The relationship between the electrical resistance value of strain sheet 231 and the change in electrical resistance is given by the following equation 1. ΔR / R=GF×ε …………(Formula 1)

[0027] Here, R is the electrical resistance of the strained sheet, and ΔR is the change in electrical resistance when strained. GF (gauge factor) is the strain coefficient that indicates the sensitivity of the strained sheet. Typically, the strain coefficient GF of copper-nickel alloy and nickel-chromium alloy strained sheets is about 2. ε means stress, also known as the length strain value.

[0028] Transforming the above equation 1 gives the following: ε=(ΔR / R) / GF …………(Formula 2)

[0029] Also, ε=ΔL / L …………(Equation 3)

[0030] Here, L is the length of the material before the external force is applied, and ΔL is the change in length of the material caused by the external force.

[0031] The force acting on the pedal is applied to the force sensor 23 through the cover plate 30. The force sensor 23 undergoes elastic deformation, resulting in a change in the impedance of the force sensor 23. The measurement lead 233 amplifies the minute analog voltage or current signal in an amplifier circuit, then outputs the analog signal to an A / D converter, which converts the analog signal into a digital signal and processes it in a processor.

[0032] [Second embodiment] 8 to 12, an embodiment of the present invention provides a bicycle pedal 100a. This embodiment differs from the above-described embodiments mainly in its shape and internal spatial arrangement. The pedal of this embodiment has a substantially hexagonal shape. The bicycle pedal 100a of this embodiment includes a pedal body 10a, a force detection unit 20a, and a cover plate 30a.

[0033] As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the pedal body 10a is generally hexagonal, with both side walls 12a slightly tapered outward. The pedal body 10a includes a pair of mounting spacers 14, which are located within the storage space S and adjacent to the side walls 12a. A shaft housing 16 is provided in the center of the pedal body 10a and connects the inner wall 11 to the outer wall 13. The shaft housing 16 can house a transmission mechanism (not shown). This transmission mechanism refers to the power and signal transmission mechanism previously filed by the applicant, which can continuously and instantly transmit power and signals to the bicycle control unit while the pedal is rotating. The shaft housing 16 can have several through holes (not shown) that can be used to route the wiring of the force detection unit 20a through the shaft housing 16. The bottom plate 15a faces the cover plate 30a and extends slightly upward from both sides of the shaft housing 16. The bottom plate 15a is provided with slits 150 which allow liquid to drain downwards.

[0034] The force detection unit 20a is similar to the previously described embodiment, with the bridge frame 21 being slightly extended and spanning the pair of mounting spacers 14 described above.

[0035] A pair of receiving holes 160 are provided at the top of the shaft center receiving portion 16 to provide operating space for the pair of first screw rods 24 of the force detection unit 20a and ensure space for the load arm 22 to deform downward. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The receiving holes 160 can be omitted by reducing the height of the nuts of the first screw rods 24 or by reducing the size of the shaft center receiving portion 16.

[0036] The cover plate 30a of this embodiment is characterized in that it covers the entire top surface of the pedal body 10a. The cover plate 30a has a substantially hexagonal shape and includes an outer plate 31 and a protruding base 32.

[0037] In this embodiment, the shaft center accommodating portion 16 penetrates the entire pedal 100a, extending from the inner wall 11 to the outer wall 13. This allows a longer transmission shaft to be accommodated, enabling the pedal 100a to withstand greater torque. Furthermore, the pedal 100a has a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape along the axis of the shaft center accommodating portion 16, which is suitable for aluminum extrusion molding techniques. Furthermore, adding some post-processing makes manufacturing more efficient.

[0038] [Beneficial Effects of the Embodiments] One beneficial effect of the present invention is that the bicycle pedal provided by the present invention comprises a pedal body, a force detection unit, and a cover plate. The force detection unit includes a bridge frame, a load arm, and a force sensor. One end of the load arm is connected to the bridge frame, and the force sensor is installed on the bottom surface of the load arm. The cover plate is movably installed within the accommodation space, and the bottom of the cover plate is fixedly connected to the top surface of the load arm. This allows the pedal to more accurately detect the rider's actual pedaling force, transmit the information to a control module, and provide an appropriate assist force via the motor.

[0039] The above disclosure is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and does not limit the scope of the claims of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent technical modifications made based on the contents of the specification and accompanying drawings of the present invention shall be included in the scope of the claims of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 100, 100a: Pedals 10, 10a: Pedal body 101: Connection part 102: Tread 11: Inner wall 112: Shaft hole 12, 12a: Side wall 13:Outer wall 14: Mounting spacer 15, 15a: Bottom plate 150:Slit 16: Shaft center housing 20: Force detection unit 21: Bridge frame 210: U-shaped groove 22: Load arm 23: Force sensor 231: Strain sheet 2311: Bass 2312: Sensitivity Grid 2313: Covering layer 232: outer cover layer 233: Measuring lead wire 24: First screw rod 25: Second screw rod 30: Cover plate 31:Outer plate 32:Protrusion stand 33: Connection board S: Containment space S1: Upper half space S2: lower half space X: Central axis L: Length

Claims

1. A pedal body including a recessed storage space; a force detection unit including a bridge frame whose periphery is fixed within the accommodation space, a load arm formed in a cantilever shape with one end connected to the bridge frame and the other end being a free end, and a force sensor installed on a bottom surface of the load arm; a cover plate movably installed in the receiving space, the bottom of which is fixedly connected to the top surface of the load arm, thereby concentrating force on the free end of the load arm; Equipped with A bicycle pedal, characterized in that: a connecting plate connected between the cover plate and the force detection unit, a protrusion base provided on the bottom surface of the cover plate, the connecting plate positioned between the top surface of the load arm and the bottom surface of the protrusion base, the protrusion base movably positioned within the accommodating space, the pair of first screw rods passing through the load arm and the connecting plate from the bottom surface of the load arm and screwed into the protrusion base of the cover plate.

2. 2. The bicycle pedal of claim 1, wherein the pedal body includes a pair of mounting spacers and a pair of second screw rods, the pair of mounting spacers are located within the storage space, both sides of the bridge frame are respectively fixed to the pair of mounting spacers, the load arm is located between the pair of mounting spacers so as to flexibly deform, the pair of second screw rods fixedly connect both sides of the bridge frame to the pair of mounting spacers of the pedal body, the storage space includes an upper half space and a lower half space, the lower half space is located between the pair of mounting spacers and is located above the pair of mounting spacers, the bridge frame is fixed to the upper half space, and the load arm flexibly deforms toward the lower half space.

3. 3. The bicycle pedal of claim 2, wherein the bridge frame forms a U-shaped groove, the U-shaped groove surrounding the load arm, and the direction of the load arm is perpendicular to the rotational axis direction of the bicycle pedal.

4. A pedal body including a recessed storage space; a force detection unit including a bridge frame whose periphery is fixed within the accommodation space, a load arm formed in a cantilever shape with one end connected to the bridge frame and the other end being a free end, and a force sensor installed on a bottom surface of the load arm; a cover plate movably installed in the receiving space, the bottom of which is fixedly connected to the top surface of the load arm, thereby concentrating force on the free end of the load arm; Equipped with A bicycle pedal, wherein the force sensor includes a strain sheet, an outer cover layer, and a measurement lead, the strain sheet is attached to the bottom surface of the load arm, the outer cover layer covers the strain sheet, the measurement lead is connected to the strain sheet and passes through the pedal body, the pedal body includes an inner wall and an outer wall, and an axis accommodating portion is provided inside the pedal body, and the axis accommodating portion extends from the inner wall to the outer wall.

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