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US 2024/0002014 A1Published application
Crank assembly for a bicycle
OwnerLance A. Heitzinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A crank assembly for a bicycle includes a crank axle, crank arms mounted to the crank axle to rotate the crank axle, a carrier shaft slidably mounted on the crank axle and configured to slide relative to the crank axle, and a sprocket mounted on the carrier shaft. A position sensor determines a relative position of a diametric axis of the sprocket relative to a central longitudinal axis of the crank arm at an end of a power stroke. Further, an actuator is operatively coupled to the carrier shaft to slide the carrier shaft, and a controller is configured to actuate the actuator to slide the carrier shaft relative to the crank axle based on input from the position sensor to change a start time of the power stroke of the sprocket.
Claims20
A crank assembly for a bicycle, the crank assembly comprising:
- a crank axle having a central axis and configured to rotate about the central axis;
- a pair of crank arms mounted to the crank axle and arranged on opposite ends of the crank axle, the pair of crank arms are configured to facilitate the rotation of the crank axle;
- a carrier shaft slidably mounted on the crank axle and configured to slide in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis of the crank axle and relative to the crank axle;
- a sprocket mounted on the carrier shaft, wherein the sprocket rotates to move the bicycle in response to a rotation of the crank axle;
- a position sensor to determine a relative position of a diametric axis of the sprocket relative to a central longitudinal axis of at least one crank arm of the pair of crank arms at an end of a power stroke of the sprocket;
- an actuator operatively coupled to the carrier shaft and configured to slide the carrier shaft relative to the crank axle;
- and
- a controller arranged in communication with the position sensor and the actuator and configured to actuate the actuator to slide the carrier shaft relative to the crank axle based on input from the position sensor to change a start time of the power stroke of the sprocket.
5 more elements
A bicycle, comprising:
- a frame;
- a front wheel and a rear wheel supported on the frame;
- a crank axle having a central axis and configured to rotate about the central axis;
- a pair of crank arms mounted to the crank axle and arranged on opposite ends of the crank axle, the pair of crank arms are configured to facilitate the rotation of the crank axle;
- a carrier shaft slidably mounted on the crank axle and configured to slide in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis of the crank axle and relative to the crank axle;
- a sprocket mounted on the carrier shaft, wherein the sprocket rotates to move the bicycle in response to a rotation of the crank axle;
- an inclination sensor to determine an inclination of a terrain of travel of the bicycle;
- a position sensor to determine a relative position of a diametric axis of the sprocket relative to a central longitudinal axis of at least one crank arm of the pair of crank arms at an end of a power stroke of the sprocket;
- an actuator operatively coupled to the carrier shaft and configured to slide the carrier shaft relative to the crank axle;
- and
- a controller arranged in communication with the inclination sensor, the position sensor, and the actuator and configured to actuate the actuator to slide the carrier shaft relative to the crank axle based on input from the inclination sensor and position sensor to change a start time of the power stroke of the sprocket.
8 more elements
A crank assembly for a bicycle, the crank assembly comprising:
- a bracket adapted to be coupled to a frame of the bicycle to enable a mounting of the crank assembly to the frame;
- a crank axle rotatably mounted to the bracket and having a central axis and configured to rotate about the central axis;
- a pair of crank arms mounted to the crank axle and arranged on opposite ends of the crank axle, the pair of crank arms are configured to facilitate the rotation of the crank axle;
- a carrier shaft slidably mounted on the crank axle and configured to slide in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis of the crank axle and relative to the crank axle;
- a sprocket mounted on the carrier shaft, wherein the sprocket rotates to move the bicycle in response to a rotation of the crank axle;
- an inclination sensor to determine an inclination of a terrain of travel of the bicycle;
- a position sensor to determine a relative position of a diametric axis of the sprocket relative to a central longitudinal axis of at least one crank arm of the pair of crank arms at an end of a power stroke of the sprocket;
- an actuator operatively coupled to the carrier shaft and configured to slide the carrier shaft relative to the crank axle;
- and
- a controller arranged in communication with the inclination sensor, the position sensor, and the actuator and configured to actuate the actuator to slide the carrier shaft relative to the crank axle based on input from the inclination sensor and position sensor to change a start time of the power stroke of the sprocket.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.