# US 6,293,882 B1 · Operating force compensating apparatus for a bicycle transmission > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 6,293,882 B1 - Document ID: US6293882B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/459,252 - Filed: 1999-12-10 - Granted: 2001-09-25 - Earliest claimed: 1999-12-10 - Assignees: Shimano Inc. - Inventors: Satoshi Kitamura; Kazuhiro Fujii - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6293882B1 ## CPC - B62M 25/08: with electrical or fluid transmitting systems - B62M 9/122: electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) ## Abstract A motor drive apparatus for a bicycle transmission includes a support; an interface member for coupling to a transmission actuating member that exerts a first force having a first force component in a first direction, wherein the interface member is mounted to the support for rotation around a rotational axis; a motor for coupling to the interface member; and a biasing mechanism for exerting a second force on the interface member having a second force component in a second direction opposite the first direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A motor drive apparatus for a bicycle transmission comprising: a support; an interface member for coupling to a transmission actuating member that exerts a first force having a first force component in a first direction, wherein the interface member is mounted to the support for rotation around a rotational axis; a motor for moving the interface member; and a biasing mechanism for exerting a second force on the interface member having a second force component in a second direction opposite the first direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the biasing mechanism exerts the second force at a force applying location on the interface member. ### Claim 3 A motor drive apparatus for a bicycle transmission comprising: a support; an interface member for coupling to a transmission actuating member that exerts a first force having a first force component in a first direction, wherein the interface member is mounted to the support for rotation around a rotational axis; a motor for coupling to the interface member; a biasing mechanism for exerting a second force on the interface member having a second force component in a second direction opposite the first direction; wherein the biasing mechanism exerts the second force at a force applying location on the interface member; and a cam having a cam surface for varying the second force applied to the interface member by the biasing mechanism. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the cam varies the force applying location relative to the rotational axis. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the cam is rotatably coupled to the support, and wherein the motor rotates the cam. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the cam includes a cam slot forming the cam surface, and wherein the interface member includes a cam follower that engages the cam slot. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a gear disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the cam. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising a gear reduction mechanism disposed between the motor and the gear. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the cam follower comprises a roller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a position sensor for providing a signal indicating a position of the cam. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the interface member includes an actuating member connector for connecting to the transmission actuating member. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the actuating member connector is radially spaced apart from the rotational axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the actuating member connector includes a cable connector for connecting to the transmission actuating member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the interface member includes a cable winding surface located in close proximity to the cable connector. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the interface member comprises a lever. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the interface member includes a cam follower for engaging the cam surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the cam follower is located at a radial position between the actuating member connector and the rotational axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the interface member comprises a lever. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the cam follower is located at an intermediate portion of the lever between the actuating member connector and the rotational axis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The apparatus according to claim 17 wherein a first axis extending between the rotational axis and the force applying location is inclined relative to a second axis extending between the rotational axis and the cam follower. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the biasing mechanism comprises a spring having a first end retained relative to the support and a second end retained relative to the interface member. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the spring exerts the second force along a spring axis. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The apparatus according to claim 22 wherein the spring axis is radially spaced apart from the rotational axis. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the interface member comprises a lever.