Bicycle Shifting Method Using Segmented Electronic Derailleur Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bicycle shifting methods are complex and prone to damaging shifting parts, especially when simultaneously changing gear ratios on front and rear chain rings, leading to rough pedaling and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing electronic derailleurs controlled by a controller with a gear-ratio table to adjust gear ratios along distinct speed-increasing and laborsaving paths, reducing repetitive and harsh shifting actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the controller controls both front and rear electronic derailleurs to simultaneously change the location of the chain on chain rings according to the gear ratio, then the gear ratio adjustment is achieved, but the repetitive changing actions cause the derailleurs to move the chain to a great extent, resulting in rough pedaling and potential damage to shifting parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gear ratio adjustment process into two distinct phases: a first phase where only the rear electronic derailleur is controlled to move the chain between rear chain rings, and a second phase where only the front electronic derailleur is controlled to move the chain between front chain rings. This segmentation prevents simultaneous operation of both derailleurs, reducing repetitive movements and mechanical stress on shifting parts while maintaining effective gear ratio adjustment.
2Ease of operation
If the derailleurs are controlled to sequentially change the location of the chain on the chain rings around the same location, then the gear ratio can be adjusted, but the front and rear derailleurs move the chain to a great extent, causing rough pedaling action
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the gear shifting operation into sequential phases: first adjusting the rear derailleur to achieve the desired gear ratio change, then adjusting the front derailleur if needed. This sequential segmentation prevents excessive chain movement that would occur with simultaneous adjustment, thereby reducing pedaling roughness while maintaining operational simplicity through electronic control.
Data Source
AI summary
A bicycle shifting method suitable for controlling a gear ratio of a front chain ring and a rear chain ring of the bicycle is provided. The bicycle has a front electronic derailleur, a rear electronic derailleur, a controller, and a controlling switch, and the controller stores a gear-ratio table. The bicycle shifting method includes following steps. The controlling switch is triggered to generate a corresponding signal. One or both of the electronic derailleurs are controlled by the controller according the signal. When the signal is a speed-increasing signal, the controller controls the electronic derailleurs to increase the gear ratio along a speed-increasing path of the gear-ratio table. When the signal is a laborsaving signal, the controller controls the electronic derailleurs to decrease the gear ratio along a laborsaving path of the gear-ratio table. The speed-increasing path is different from the laborsaving path.