Bicycle derailleur chain damper
OwnerRyan G. Guthrieinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A damper that functions in cooperation with the chain take-up to introduce improved smoothness during bicycle operation. The hydraulic damper is a cylinder that has a spring driven piston mounted in it. The spring is controlled by a fluid within the cylinder. This fluid smoothes out or otherwise controls jerky or other unwanted vibration by applying fluid forces to the take-up piston so that a relatively constant pressure is applied against the drive chain. This allows that chain to flow over the sprockets and chain slides without, looseness, unintentional gear shifts or objectionable noise.
Claims13
A derailleur, for a bicycle having a rear sprocket and a chain, comprising:
- a) a chain pulley cage pivot, pivotably attached to said bicycle;
- b) a means for moving said chain over said derailleur;
- and
- c) a means for damping vibration of said chain over said derailleur, whereby said means for damping acts upon said chain pulley cage pivot.
A derailleur, for a bicycle having a rear sprocket and a chain, comprising:
- a) a chain tension pulley cage pivot, pivotably attached to said bicycle, said chain tension pulley cage pivot including a housing and a control shaft;
- b) a means for moving said chain over said derailleur;
- and
- c) a rotary damper, operably attached to said control shaft of chain tension pulley cage pivot arm.
A derailleur, having a chain tension pulley cage, for a bicycle having a rear sprocket and a chain, comprising:
- a) a chain tension pulley cage pivot, pivotably attached to said bicycle, said chain pulley cage pivot arm including a housing and a control shaft;
- b) a chain tension pulley cage, in operable communication with said chain tension pulley cage pivot;
- c) a bracket, in operable communication with said housing;
- c) a means for moving said chain through said derailleur;
- and
- d) a fluid-filled piston damper, operably attached to said derailleur such that said fluid-filled piston damper acts upon said chain tension pulley cage pivot when said bicycle is in operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.