Selector for a bicycle derailleur and derailleur equipped with such a device
AssigneeAgence Nationale de Valorisation de la Recherche (ANVAR)
InventorPierre Bonnard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a selector device for the remote control of the position of a member 4 relative to a support 3 through a control means 8 acting at one end of a flexible traction coupling, particularly a cable 11, whose other end is connected, through connection means L, to said member 4. The connection means L comprise: a piece p provided with notches c whose number is at least equal to the number of positions to be given to said member 4; and means E, G, for moving the piece p, adapted to cooperate with the notches of this latter in response to the movements of the control means.
Claims32
A selector device, especially for a bicycle or a similar chain driven vehicle, for controlling the position of a chain guide in relation to a support to pass a drive chain from one sprocket to a sprocket of a different diameter, through a control means acting at one end of a flexible coupling, the other end of which is connected, by connecting means, to said chain guide, wherein said connecting means between the chain guide and the end of the flexible coupling comprises the following:
- defining movement of the control means between a mean position and a first end position as movement of a first type, movement from said mean position to said first end position is a first phase of movement of the first type and a return of the control means from the first end position back to the mean position is a second phase of movement of the first type, and defining movement of the control means between said mean position and a second end position as movement of the second type, movement from said mean position to the second end position is a first phase of movement of the second type, and a return of the control means from the second end position back to the mean position is a second phase of movement of the second type,
- a piece provided with notches, the number of notches being at least equal to the number of positions to be given to said chain guide, said piece being connected to one of the two elements formed by the chain guide and the support,
- first ratchet means having a pawl, an arm controlling movement of the pawl, said arm pivotably mounted on the other one of the two said elements, the end of the flexible coupling being attached to said arm, said first ratchet means cooperating with said piece in response to said movement of the control means of the first type,
- second ratchet means adapted to cooperate with the piece in response to said movement of the control means of the second type,
- said first and second ratchet means allowing a relative movement notch by notch between the chain guide and the support,
- and connecting means provided between the said arm and the second ratchet means in order to control movement of the second ratchet means in response to movement of the arm.
A selector device for the remote control of the position of a member relative to a support, through a control means acting at one end of a flexible coupling whose other end is connected, by connecting means, to said member, wherein said connecting means between the member and the end of the flexible coupling comprise:
- a piece provided with notches whose number is at least equal to the number of positions to be given to said member;
- moving means for moving the piece arranged to cooperate with the notches of this latter in response to the movements of the control means, said piece being connected to one of the two elements formed by the member or the support, whereas the moving means are connected to the other one of these two elements, the moving means being arranged so that in response to a movement between the support and the member in a first direction, and, in response to a movement of a second type of the control means, said moving means ensure a relative movement between the support and the member in a second direction opposite the first direction,
- movement of the first type of control means corresponding to a movement of said control means in a first phase from a mean position to a first end position and in a second phase from the first end position back to the mean position, whereas the movement of the second type corresponds to a movement of this control means in a first phase from the mean position to a second end position and in a second phase from the second end position back to the mean position,
- said device being a bicycle derailleur, wherein said member is formed by or is connected to a guide of the chain of the bicycle, whereas the control means is formed by a control lever of the derailleur, and including at the lever of the control means, a means for displaying the position of said member, said display means comprising a rotary graduated drum mounted on the pin of the lever, this drum comprising, on the same side as the lever, a track provided with two sets of inverted teeth, the circular base of the lever comprising first and second drive means adapted to rotate the drum by means of the lever, solely during the first phase of a movement of the first type or of the second type, the drum remaining motionless during the second phase of these movements.
A selector device for a chain driven vehicle for controlling the position of a chain guide to in turn select one of a plurality of different diameter coaxial sprockets to drivingly engage the chain, comprising:
- the arrangement wherein said chain guide is movable stepwise in one direction to move the chain to successively larger sprockets, and said chain guard is movable stepwise in the opposite direction to move the chain to successively smaller sprockets,
- a control lever located remote from the chain guide and operatively connected thereto via a flexible coupling, the control lever having a mean position, and two end positions on opposite sides from said mean position,
- a moving means operatively connected on the one hand to the flexible coupling and on the other hand to the chain guide, said moving means comprising means for moving the chain guide, (a) through a plurality of steps to successively larger sprockets, but only one step at a time upon each movement of the control lever from the mean position to the first end position and back to the mean position;
- and (b) to move the chain through a plurality of steps to successively smaller sprockets, but only one step at a time, upon each movement of the control lever from the mean position to the second end position and back to the mean position,
- and including a means located at the control lever for displaying the position of said chain guide,
- the display means comprising a rotary graduated drum mounted on the pin of the lever, this drum comprising, on the same side as the lever, a track provided with two sets of inverted teeth, the circular base of the lever comprising first and second drive means adapted to rotate the drum by means of the lever, solely during movement of the control lever from said mean position to each of said end position, while remaining motionless as the lever moves from said end positions back to said mean position.
A selector drive for a chain driven vehicle for controlling the position of a chain guide to in turn select one of a plurality of different diameter coaxial sprockets to drivingly engage the chain, comprising:
- the arrangement wherein said chain guide is movable stepwise in one direction to move the chain to successively larger sprockets, and said chain guard is movable stepwise in the opposite direction to move the chain to successively smaller sprockets,
- a control lever located remote from the chain guide and operatively connected thereto via a flexible coupling, the control lever having a mean position, and two end positions on opposite sides from said mean position,
- and a moving means operatively connected on the one hand to the flexible coupling and on the other hand to the chain guide, said moving means comprising means for moving the chain guide, (a) through a plurality of steps to successively larger sprockets, but only one step at a time upon each movement of the control lever from the mean position to the first end position and back to the mean position;
- and (b) to move the chain through a plurality of steps to successively smaller sprockets, but only one step at a time, upon each movement of the control lever from the mean position to the second end position and back to the mean position,
- said moving means comprising a piece having notches and operatively connected to the chain guide such that movement of the piece in one direction moves the chain guide and hence the chain to engage larger diameter sprockets, and movement of the teeth in the opposite direction moves the chain guide, and hence the chain, to engage small diameter sprockets, and a pair of ratchet means operatively engaging the flexible coupling with the notches of the piece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.