# US 11,112,322 B2 · Bicycle and spider capable of measuring power

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- Number: US 11,112,322 B2
- Document ID: US11112322B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/542,404
- Filed: 2019-08-16
- Published: 2021-02-18
- Granted: 2021-09-07
- Earliest claimed: 2019-08-16
- Assignees: Giant Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
- Inventors: Chih-Kai Chang; Ching-Yao Lin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11112322B2

## CPC

- B62M 9/105: {involving front sprocket chain-wheels engaged by the chain, belt or the like}
- G01L 5/0095: {measuring work or mechanical power}
- B62J 45/411: Torque sensors
- B62J 45/421: at the pedal crank
- B62J 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- B62M 3/16: Accessories
- G01L 3/108: {involving resistance strain gauges}
- G01L 3/1457: {involving resistance strain gauges}
- B62J 45/40: Sensor arrangements (sensors for control of electrically assisted cycles B62M6/50); Mounting thereof
- F16H 55/30: Chain-wheels
- F16H 55/303: {for round linked chains, i.e. hoisting chains with identical links}
- B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16)
- G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G)
- B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

A bicycle has a spider including a torque input section and at least one torque output section; a crank assembly coupled with the spider through the torque input section and applying an input torque to the spider; a chainring mounted to the spider through the at least one torque output section and receiving an output torque from the spider; a gauge disposed and oriented generally along a tangential direction or a quasi-tangential direction with respect to the torque input section and the at least one torque output section; and a circuitry coupled to the gauge and receiving a signal from the gauge.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A bicycle, comprising:
a spider including a torque input section and at least one torque output section;
a crank assembly coupled with the spider through the torque input section and applying an input torque to the spider;
a chainring mounted to the spider through the at least one torque output section and receiving an output torque from the spider;
a gauge disposed and oriented generally along a tangential direction or a quasi-tangential direction with respect to the torque input section and the at least one torque output section; and
a circuitry coupled to the gauge and receiving a signal from the gauge;
wherein the spider has at least one arm portion and a central portion, and the at least one arm portion does not radially extend from the central portion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the tangential direction is defined as a direction along an external common tangent or an internal common tangent to the torque input section and the at least one torque output section, and the quasi-tangential direction is defined as a direction along a line whose slope is between slopes of the external common tangent and the internal common tangent.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the tangential direction is defined as a direction along an external common tangent and an internal common tangent to a circle with a radius of 10 to 100, preferably 30 to 45, millimeters from a center of the torque input section and a circle with a radius of 4 to 6, preferably 5, millimeters from a center of the at least one torque output section, and the quasi-tangential direction is defined as a direction along a line whose slope is between slopes of the external common tangent and the internal common tangent.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the spider has at least one arm portion and a central portion, and the torque input section is located at the central portion and the at least one torque output section is located at the at least one arm portion, and wherein the at least one arm portion is asymmetric with respect to a line from a center of the torque input section to a center of the at least one torque output section.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the at least one arm portion is clockwise or counterclockwise obliquely extending from the central portion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The bicycle of claim 1, wherein an external common tangent to the torque input section and the at least one torque output section forms an angle with a line from a center of the torque input section to a center of the at least one torque output section and the angle ranges from 3 to 75, preferably 30 to 45, degrees.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The bicycle of claim 1, wherein the gauge is attached on a flat surface of the spider, and a normal line of the flat surface forms an angle with a plane of the chainring and the angle ranges from 0 to 180 degrees.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The bicycle of claim 7, wherein the flat surface of the spider is formed on a convex or concave of the spider and aligned with the tangential direction or the quasi- tangential direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The bicycle of claim 1, wherein pure tensile or compressive stress occurs on where the gauge is disposed.

### Claim 10

A spider, comprising:
a central portion including a torque input section;
at least one arm portion including at least one torque output section and outward extending from the central portion; and
a gauge, disposed and oriented generally along a tangential direction or a quasi-tangential direction with respect to the torque input section and the at least one torque output section and generating a signal in response to torque transmission from the torque input section to the at least one torque output section;
wherein the at least one arm portion does not radially extend from the central portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The spider of claim 10, the tangential direction is defined as a direction along an external common tangent or an internal common tangent to the torque input section and the at least one torque output section, and the quasi-tangential direction is defined as a direction along a line whose slope is between slopes of the external common tangent and the internal common tangent.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The spider of claim 10, wherein the tangential direction is defined as a direction along an external common tangent and an internal common tangent to a circle with a radius of 10 to 100, preferably 30 to 45, millimeters from a center of the torque input section and a circle with a radius of 4 to 6, preferably 5, millimeters from a center of the at least one torque output section, and the quasi-tangential direction is defined as a direction along a line whose slope is between slopes of the external common tangent and the internal common tangent.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The spider of claim 10, wherein the at least one arm portion is asymmetric with respect to a line from a center of the torque input section to a center of the at least one torque output section.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The spider of claim 10, wherein the at least one arm portion is clockwise or counterclockwise obliquely extending from the central portion.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The spider of claim 10, wherein an external common tangent to the torque input section and the at least one torque output section forms an angle with a line from a center of the torque input section to a center of the at least one torque output section and the angle ranges from 3 to 75, preferably 30 to 45, degrees.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The spider of claim 10, wherein the gauge is attached on a flat surface of the spider, and a normal line of the flat surface forms an angle with a main plane of the spider and the angle ranges from 0 to 180 degrees.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The spider of claim 16, wherein the flat surface of the spider is formed on a convex or concave of the spider and aligned with the tangential direction or the quasi-tangential direction.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The spider of claim 10, wherein pure tensile or compressive stress occurs on where the gauge is disposed.