Bicycle Brake Shift Device Mechanical Position Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional bicycle brake and shift operation devices require expensive cycle computers to display shift positions, making it costly to provide visible shift position information to riders.

Innovation Solution

A brake and shift operation device with a shift position display portion mechanically interlocked with the rotational movement of a winding body, eliminating the need for a separate display device by integrating the display within the device, allowing shift positions to be displayed inexpensively and visibly on the drop handle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a rotational position sensor and cycle computer are used to display shift positions, then shift position display capability is improved, but device cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshift position informationVSAvoiddevice cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The brake and shift operation device displays shift positions using its own mechanical components (winding body, indicator, scale) without requiring an external cycle computer. The winding body's rotational position directly drives the display mechanism, allowing the device to serve its own information display needs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The shift position display function is extracted from the expensive cycle computer and integrated directly into the brake and shift operation device through mechanical interlocking components, eliminating the need for separate electronic display equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Loss of information

If a separate cycle computer is provided for displaying shift positions, then shift position visibility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshift position visibilityVSAvoiddisplay system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shift position display function is merged with the brake and shift operation device by integrating the winding body, indicator, and scale into a unified mechanical system. The winding body's rotation is directly coupled to the indicator mechanism, combining braking, shifting, and display functions in one device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The brake and shift operation device performs multiple functions: brake operation through lever pivoting, shift operation through positioning mechanism, and shift position display through the mechanical indicator system. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate display equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP1762483B1Bicycle brake and shift operation device
Publication Date: 2009.11.25 SHIMANO INC
  • EP1762483B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1762483B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1762483B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention is provided to enable the displaying of shift positions in a brake and shift operation device mounted to a drop handle in an inexpensive manner. The bicycle brake and shift operation device 110a is a device mounted on a drop handle 112 of a bicycle, and includes: a bracket 10, a lever member 12, a winding body 14, a positioning mechanism 16, and a shift position display portion 18. The bracket 10 is mounted on the drop handle 112. The lever member 12 is a member that is pivotally supported by the bracket 10. The winding body 14 is mounted to be rotationally movable on a support shaft 20 provided on the lever member 12, and engages with a shift cable 115r. The positioning mechanism 16, supported by the lever member 12, is a mechanism for positioning the winding body 14 to positions that correspond to a plurality of shift positions of a rear derailleur 97r. The shift position display portion 18 is mechanically interlocked with the rotational movement of the winding body 14 to display shift positions.