Spiral Rotor Chain Shifting System
AssigneePatterson Bicycle Transmission LLC
InventorSam Patterson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanism for shifting a chain from one sprocket to another sprocket is disclosed herein. The mechanism preferably includes rotor assembly, a control element and a chain tensioner. The rotor assembly preferably has a conical shaped body with a chain slot having clearance windows and cam surfaces. The control element rotates the rotor assembly to shift the chain from one of the sprockets to another sprocket without lateral movement of the rotor assembly.
Claims22
A mechanism for shifting a chain from one of a plurality of sprockets mounted on a hub to another of the plurality of sprockets as the sprockets rotate about an axis defined by the hub, the mechanism comprising:
- a rotor assembly having a body, the rotor assembly disposed over the plurality of sprockets and connected to the hub, the body comprising a chain slot having a plurality of clearance windows and a plurality of cam surfaces, each of the plurality of clearance windows corresponding to one of the plurality of sprockets and each of the plurality of cam surfaces disposed between consecutive clearance windows of the plurality of clearance windows;
- a control element for rotating the rotor assembly to shift the chain from one of the plurality of sprockets to another of the plurality of sprockets;
- and
- a chain tensioner for maintaining tension on the chain.
A bicycle comprising:
- a frame;
- a handlebar connected to the frame, the handlebar having a handlebar actuator;
- a control cable connected at one end to the handlebar actuator;
- a hub connected to the frame;
- a plurality of sprockets mounted on the hub and rotating about an axis defined by the hub;
- a chain engaging at least one of the plurality of sprockets;
- a shift mechanism comprising
- a rotor assembly having a body, the rotor assembly disposed over the plurality of sprockets and connected to the hub, the body comprising a chain slot having a plurality of clearance windows and a plurality of cam surfaces, each of the plurality of clearance windows corresponding to one of the plurality of sprockets and each of the plurality of cam surfaces disposed between consecutive clearance windows of the plurality of clearance windows,
- a control spool for rotating the rotor assembly to shift the chain from one of the plurality of sprockets to another of the plurality of sprockets, the control spool connected to the control cable at another end of the control cable, and
- a chain tensioner for maintaining tension on the chain.
A method for shifting a chain from one of a plurality of sprockets mounted on a hub to another of the plurality of sprockets as the sprockets rotate about an axis defined by the hub, the mechanism comprising:
- actuating a shifter mechanism to move a chain from one of a plurality of sprockets mounted on a hub to another of the plurality of sprockets as the sprockets rotate about an axis defined by the hub;
- and
- moving the chain laterally along an axis defined by the hub while the shifter mechanism remains laterally fixed in order to shift the chain from one of the plurality of sprockets mounted on a hub to another of the plurality of sprockets.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.