# US 11,027,717 B2 · Hydraulic bicycle system

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- Number: US 11,027,717 B2
- Document ID: US11027717B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/527,275
- Filed: 2019-07-31
- Published: 2019-11-21
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-01-12
- Assignees: Sram, LLC
- Applicants: Sram, LLC
- Inventors: Adam Bradley; Paul Gallagher
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027717B2

## CPC

- B60T 17/043: {Brake line couplings, air hoses and stopcocks}
- B62L 3/02: for control by a hand lever (hand levers for control of cycles in general B62K23/06)
- B62L 3/023: {acting on fluid pressure systems}
- B62K 23/06: Levers
- F16L 29/02: with a cut-off device in one of the two pipe ends, the cut-off device being automatically opened when the coupling is applied
- B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
- B62L: BRAKES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES {(arrangements in cycles for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or ground-surface conditions B60T8/00)}
- B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE
- F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A normally closed port valve seals a hydraulic hose connection port of a hydraulic bicycle component. Connection of an end of a hydraulic hose assembly to the port opens the valve, placing the assembly's hydraulic fluid chamber in fluid communication with the interior of the hose assembly. A hydraulic cylinder of the assembly is in fluid communication with the chamber. A spring may be used to bias the valve to a closed condition.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hydraulic bicycle component comprising:
a housing having a cylinder, the cylinder defining a hydraulic fluid chamber;
a hydraulic hose connection port fluidly connected to the hydraulic fluid chamber and adapted to be connected to a hydraulic hose assembly;
an attachment member configured to affix the housing to a handlebar;
a piston assembly including a piston slidably disposed within the cylinder, the piston configured to slide between a non-actuated position and an actuated position;
a port valve configured to move between an open position permitting fluid communication between the hydraulic hose assembly and the hydraulic fluid chamber and a closed position inhibiting fluid communication between the hydraulic hose assembly and the hydraulic fluid chamber, the port valve moving to the open position responsive to the connection of the hydraulic hose assembly to the hydraulic hose connection port; and
a spring disposed in the hydraulic fluid chamber configured to bias the port valve to the closed position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hydraulic bicycle component of claim 1, wherein the port valve is disposed in the housing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The hydraulic bicycle component of claim 2, wherein the hydraulic fluid chamber and the hydraulic hose connection port are formed by the housing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The hydraulic bicycle component of claim 1, wherein the port valve is disposed in the hydraulic fluid chamber.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The hydraulic bicycle component of claim 4, wherein the spring is further configured to bias the piston to the non-actuated position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The hydraulic bicycle component of claim 1, further comprising a separate spring configured to bias the piston to the non-actuated position.

### Claim 7

A hydraulic bicycle component comprising:
a housing having a cylinder, the cylinder defining a hydraulic fluid chamber;
a hydraulic hose connection port formed coaxially with the cylinder and adapted to be connected to a hydraulic hose assembly;
a piston assembly including a piston slidably disposed within the cylinder, the piston configured to slide between a non-actuated position and an actuated position;
a port valve configured to move between an open position permitting fluid communication between the hydraulic hose assembly and the hydraulic fluid chamber and a closed position inhibiting fluid communication between the hydraulic hose assembly and the hydraulic fluid chamber, the port valve moving to the open position responsive to the connection of the hydraulic hose assembly to the hydraulic hose connection port; and
a spring disposed in the hydraulic fluid chamber configured to bias the port valve to the closed position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The hydraulic bicycle component of claim 7, wherein the spring is a coil spring disposed coaxially with the cylinder.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The hydraulic bicycle component of claim 7, wherein the port valve includes a valve sealing member sealing the hydraulic hose connection port when the port valve is in the closed position.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The hydraulic bicycle component of claim 7, wherein the hydraulic fluid chamber includes an end wall, a valve sealing member disposed on the end wall, the valve sealing member sealing to the port valve when the port valve is in the closed condition.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The hydraulic bicycle component of claim 7, wherein the hydraulic hose connection port includes a hydraulic hose connection bore adapted to receive the hydraulic hose assembly, an inner end of the hose connection bore defined by a port external wall, the hydraulic fluid chamber having an end wall opposed to the connection port external wall, a connection port passage formed between the connection port external wall and the end wall of the hydraulic fluid chamber;
the port valve having a base and a shaft forwardly extending from the base into the connection port passage, the shaft having a free end opposed to the base and a sidewall extending from the base to the free end, a first valve port opening on the free end of the shaft and extending rearwardly into the shaft, at least one second valve port opening on the sidewall of the shaft and intersecting the first valve port;
a forward face of the base sealing with the end wall of the hydraulic fluid chamber when the port valve is in the closed position, a length of the shaft from the free end to the base being greater than a length of the connection port passage, the free end protruding into the hose connection bore when the port valve is in the closed condition, the at least one second valve port occluded by a sidewall of the connection port passage when the port valve is in the closed position; and
the free end of the shaft adapted to be pushed by a hydraulic hose assembly end face to displace the port valve rearwardly to the open position, the forward face of the base unsealing from the end wall of the hydraulic fluid chamber when the port valve moves to the open position, the at least one second port being in fluid communication with the fluid chamber when the port valve is in the open position.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The hydraulic bicycle component of claim 11, wherein the forward face of the base of the port valve includes an elastomeric O-ring radially surrounding the shaft and adapted to seal against the hydraulic fluid chamber end wall.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The hydraulic bicycle component of claim 12, wherein a circumferential groove is cut into the forward face of the base to seat the O-ring.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The hydraulic bicycle component of claim 11, wherein the end wall of the hydraulic fluid chamber has a labyrinth surface, the forward face of the base of the port valve having a mating labyrinth surface.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The hydraulic bicycle component of claim 11, wherein the end wall of the hydraulic fluid chamber is tapered, the forward face of the base of the port valve having a mating taper.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The hydraulic bicycle component of claim 11, wherein the at least one second port is one of a plurality of second ports of the port valve each intersecting the first port of the port valve, each of the second ports opening on the shaft sidewall at a different location.