US 4,946,425 AGranted

Electromechanical bicycle gear shift mechanism

AssigneeVilliger Sohne AG Cigarrenfabriken

InventorRene Buhlmann

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Abstract

A bicycle gear shift mechanism (8) to be actuated by an electric motor (m) has a carrier for an actuator member (S) comprising a tensioning arm (29) of a derailleur or a shift plunger of a hub gear transmission. According to the invention, the carrier comprises a cursor (27) slidably displaceable on at least two spaced parallel guides (26) mounted at stationary positions with respect to a housing (18). According to a further aspect, a control circuit for the bicycle gear shift mechanism to be actuated by a DC motor comprises a first and a second power control circuit (70,71) controlled by first and second flip-flop circuits (60, 61) the set inputs of which are connected to switches (68, 69) for shifting to higher or lower gear ratios, and the reset inputs of which are adapted to by activated via a switch (65) which is responsive to the gear-engaged state of the gear shift mechanism.

Claims13

Dependent claims

An electromechanical bicycle gear shift mechanism (8) comprising a housing (18) secured to a frame and carrying an electric motor (M), a carrier for a shift actuator member (S) in the form of a tensioning arm (29) of a derailleur or a shifting plunger of a hub gear transmission, said carrier being mounted in said housing for reciprocating displacement parallel to the wheel axis, a drive transmission member adapted to be driven by the electric motor (M) and operatively connected to said carrier, and an electric circuit for said electric motor (M) adapted to be controlled through a gear shift selector (11), characterized in that said carrier is a cursor (27) slidably mounted in said housing (18) on at least two mutually spaced parallel guides (26) fixedly connected to said housing (18), the side of said cursor (27) facing towards said shift actuator member (S) being provided with a preferably integrally formed extension (28) extending through a sliding seal gasket (35) in a sidewall (16) of said housing (18) facing towards the wheel (4).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.