Power operated gear change assembly for bicycles

A power operated gear change assembly for bicycles, comprising an endless chain, a plurality of sprocket pinions arranged coaxially to one another, having different diameters and selectively engageable by said endless chain, a derailleur displaceable into a plurality of positions each corresponding to engagement of the chain with a respective sprocket pinion, a powered actuator for performing displacement of the derailleur through said plurality of positions, manual control means for operating said actuator, detecting means for detecting displacement of the derailleur, and control means operatively associated to said detecting means and controlling operation of said actuator, wherein the powered actuator is a d.c. electric motor with associated power supply accumulator, and wherein:

• the electric motor is directly fitted on the derailleur,
• the detecting means comprise an electromechanical transducer device arranged in a remote position relative to the derailleur and having a movable member, and a transmission member interconnecting said movable member of the transducer device and the derailleur;
• the derailleur of the gear change comprises a stationary body adapted to be fixed to a bicycle frame, a rocker arm movable body, and an articulated parallelogram assembly connecting the rocker arm to the body, and
• said electric motor is arranged along a diagonal of said articulated parallelogram assembly.

A power operated gear change assembly for bicycles, comprising an endless chain, a plurality of sprocket pinions arranged coaxially to one another, having different diameters and selectively engageable by said endless chain, a derailleur displaceable into a plurality of positions each corresponding to engagement of the chain with a respective sprocket pinion, a powered actuator for performing displacement of the derailleur through said plurality of positions, manual control means for operating said actuator, detecting means for detecting displacement of the derailleur, and control means operatively associated to said detecting means and controlling operation of said actuator, wherein the powered actuator is a d.c. electric motor with associated power supply accumulator,

• wherein the electric motor is directly fitted on the derailleur;
• wherein the detecting means comprise an electromechanical transducer device arranged in a remote position relative to the derailleur and having a movable member, and a transmission member interconnecting said movable member of the transducer device and the derailleur;
• and
• further comprising a front derailleur with associated sprocket wheels arranged coaxially to one another, having different diameters and adapted to be selectively engaged by said endless chain, said front derailleur being displaceable into a plurality of positions each corresponding to the engagement of the chain with a respective sprocket wheel, a second powered actuator for performing displacement of the derailleur through said plurality of positions, manual control means for operating said second actuator, and control means of said second actuator, wherein said second actuator is a d.c. electric motor with associated power supply accumulator and is directly fitted on the front derailleur.

A power operated gear change assembly for bicycles, comprising an endless chain, a plurality of sprocket pinions arranged coaxially to one another, having different diameters and selectively engageable by said endless chain, a derailleur displaceable into a plurality of positions each corresponding to engagement of the chain with a respective sprocket pinion, a powered actuator for performing displacement of the derailleur through said plurality of positions, manual control means for operating said actuator, detecting means for detecting displacement of the derailleur, and control means operatively associated to said detecting means and controlling operation of said actuator, wherein the powered actuator is a d.c. electric motor with associated power supply accumulator, and wherein:

• the electric motor is directly fitted on the derailleur,
• the detecting means comprise an electromechanical transducer device arranged in a remote position relative to the derailleur and having a movable member, and a transmission member interconnecting said movable member of the transducer device and the derailleur;
• and
• said manually operable control means comprises at least two control members adapted to be associated with a control lever assembly of a bicycle brake, and means for pulse generation operatively connected to said control means.

A power operated gear change assembly for bicycles, comprising an endless chain, a plurality of sprocket pinions arranged coaxially to one another, having different diameters and selectively engageable by said endless chain, a derailleur displaceable into a plurality of positions each corresponding to engagement of the chain with a respective sprocket pinion, a powered actuator for performing displacement of the derailleur through said plurality of positions, manual control means for operating said actuator, detecting means for detecting displacement of the derailleur, and control means operatively associated to said detecting means and controlling operation of said actuator, wherein the powered actuator is a d.c. electric motor with associated power supply accumulator, and wherein:

• the electric motor is directly fitted on the derailleur,
• the detecting means comprise an electromechanical transducer device arranged in a remote position relative to the derailleur and having a movable member, and a transmission member interconnecting said movable member of the transducer device and the derailleur;
• and
• said electric accumulator is designed so as to be housed within a bicycle frame or handle bar.

A power operated gear change assembly for bicycles, comprising an endless chain, a plurality of sprocket pinions arranged coaxially to one another, having different diameters and selectively engageable by said endless chain, a derailleur displaceable into a plurality of positions each corresponding to engagement of the chain with a respective sprocket pinion, a powered actuator for performing displacement of the derailleur through said plurality of positions, manual control means for operating said actuator, detecting means for detecting displacement of the derailleur, and control means operatively associated to said detecting means and controlling operation of said actuator, wherein the powered actuator is a d.c. electric motor with associated power supply accumulator, and wherein:

• the electric motor is directly fitted on the derailleur,
• the detecting means comprise an electromechanical transducer device arranged in a remote position relative to the derailleur and having a movable member, and a transmission member interconnecting said movable member of the transducer device and the derailleur;
• and
• said manually operable control means comprise wireless transmission means, such as radio or infrared ray remote controls.

A power operated gear change assembly for bicycles, comprising an endless chain, a plurality of sprocket pinions arranged coaxially to one another, having different diameters and selectively engageable by said endless chain, a derailleur displaceable into a plurality of positions each corresponding to engagement of the chain with a respective sprocket pinion, a powered actuator for performing displacement of the derailleur through said plurality of positions, manual control means for operating said actuator, detecting means for detecting displacement of the derailleur, and control means operatively associated to said detecting means and controlling operation of said actuator, wherein the powered actuator is a d.c. electric motor with associated power supply accumulator, and wherein:

• the electric motor is directly fitted on the derailleur,
• the detecting means comprise an electromechanical transducer device arranged in a remote position relative to the derailleur and having a movable member, and a transmission member interconnecting said movable member of the transducer device and the derailleur;
• and
• further comprising photovoltaic cell means for recharging said electric accumulator.