US 5,392,668 AGranted

Actuating means for a multispeed cycle hub

AssigneeFichtel & Sachs AG

InventorGunter Nurnberger

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Abstract

An actuating mechanism for a multispeed cycle hub comprises a housing adapted to be attached to an end of a hub shaft. A first cam, a second cam, and a pinion having engaging teeth are received in the housing for conjoint rotation. An elongated rack element is mounted for movement along an axis in the housing and is adapted to be coupled to a speed-selection device by a force-transmission member and includes a row of teeth in driving engagement with the engaging teeth of the pinion. A first pivot lever is pivotally mounted in the housing in constant contact with the first cam so as to follow a pivoting motion defined by the shape of the first cam and engages one of two speedchange elements, which are coupled to the transmission in the hub, so as to move the first speed change element upon pivotal movement in response to rotation of the first cam. A second pivot lever is pivotally mounted in the housing in constant contact with the second cam so as to follow a pivoting motion defined by the shape of the second cam and engages the other of the two speed change elements so as to move the second speed change element upon pivotal movement in response to rotational movement of the second cam.

An actuating mechanism for a multispeed cycle hub having a hub axle with two hub ends defining an axis of rotation, a hub sleeve rotatably mounted on the hub axle, a transmission shiftable among several speeds received in the hub sleeve, at least one drive gear in driving connection with an input element of the transmission, at least one output element of the transmission in driving connection with the hub sleeve, a bore extending axially through the hub axle, two elongated compressionally rigid speed change elements received in the bore of the hub axle parallel to the axis of rotation and having inner ends coupled to the transmission for shifting between speeds and outer ends extending into a region proximate to one of the two hub ends, the actuating mechanism comprising:

a housing adapted to be attached to the one hub end,
a first cam, a second cam, and a pinion having engaging teeth, the first cam, second cam and pinion being connected to each other for conjoint rotation and forming a rotatable unit mounted in the housing for rotation about an axis,
an elongated rack element having a longitudinal axis and mounted in the housing for movement parallel to the longitudinal axis, the rack element being adapted to be coupled to a speed-selection device by a force-transmission member and including a row of teeth in driving engagement with the engaging teeth of the pinion,
a first pivot lever pivotably mounted in the housing in constant contact with the first cam so as to follow a pivoting motion defined by the shape of the first cam and engaging one of the two speed change elements so as to move the first speed change element upon pivotal movement in response to rotation of the first cam, and
a second pivot lever pivotally mounted in the housing in constant contact with the second cam so as to follow a pivoting motion defined by the shape of the second cam and engaging the other of the two speed change elements so as to move the second speed change element upon pivotal movement in response to rotational movement of the second cam.

2 more elements

Abstract

Claims23