Hub for a bicycle wheel allowing the determination of the driving torque and of the power generated by the cyclist

A method for determining the driving torque implementing a hub for a bicycle wheel having a hub that includes a longitudinal axis, a central body intended to be mounted to rotate freely about a central shaft, the longitudinal axis being intended to be coaxial to the central shaft, lateral flanges intended for the fastening of an end of wheel spokes, among which a torque lateral flange intended for the fastening of at least one portion of the transmission spokes transmitting the torque from the hub to the rim, strain gauges and/or pairs of strain gauges mounted directly on the torque lateral flange in zones where the forces applied to the spokes are concentrated, said strain gauges being arranged in such a way as to deliver signals making it possible to determine the driving torque of the wheel, a rim, at least transmission spokes of which one end is attached to the torque lateral flange and another end is fastened to the rim, the method comprising:

• a) collecting signals from the strain gauges,
• b) determining the driving torque from signals from strain gauges and from a relationship determined beforehand connecting the signals of the gauges and a first sensitivity of each strain gauge or pair of strain gauges to a tangent force resulting from the driving torque according to the angular position of the wheel hub, a second sensitivity of each strain gauge or pair of strain gauges to a front force resulting from the weight of the cyclist according to the angular position of the wheel hub, and a third sensitivity of each strain gauge or pair of strain gauges to a lateral force resulting from the inclination of the wheel hub according to the angular position of the wheel hub.

A method for monitoring the state of the transmission spoke tensions of a wheel having a hub that includes a longitudinal axis, a central body intended to be mounted to rotate freely about a central shaft, the longitudinal axis being intended to be coaxial to the central shaft, lateral flanges intended for the fastening of an end of wheel spokes, among which a torque lateral flange intended for the fastening of at least one portion of the transmission spokes transmitting the torque from the hub to the rim, strain gauges and/or pairs of strain gauges mounted directly on the torque lateral flange in zones where the forces applied to the spokes are concentrated, said strain gauges being arranged in such a way as to deliver signals making it possible to determine the driving torque of the wheel, a rim, at least transmission spokes of which one end is attached to the torque lateral flange and another end is fastened to the rim, the method comprising the steps:

• collecting signals from gauges or pairs of gauges,
• comparing said signals,
• if the difference between the value of at least one signal and the values of the other signals is greater than a given threshold, a tension differential in at least one transmission spoke in respect is diagnosed,
• determining of the at least one transmission spoke having a tension differential with respect to the others,
• modifying the tension of said at least one transmission spoke,
• verifying the tension of the transmission spokes.