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US 6,559,564 B1Granted
Bicycle hub with generator and antilock functions
AssigneeShimano Inc.
InventorMinoru Itou
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bicycle hub includes a hub axle and a hub shell including a first tubular member having a first hub flange secured thereto and a separate second tubular member having a second hub flange secured thereto. Bearings are disposed between the hub shell and the hub axle for rotatably supporting the first tubular member and the second tubular member relative to the hub axle. A generator mechanism is housed in the first tubular member and adapted to generate electricity by rotation of the first tubular member relative to the hub axle, and a brake force adjusting mechanism is housed in the second tubular member and adapted to limit a maximum damping force of a brake.
Claims26
A bicycle hub comprising:
- a hub axle;
- a hub shell including:
- a first tubular member having a first hub flange secured thereto;
- and
- a separate second tubular member having a second hub flange secured thereto;
- bearings disposed between the hub shell and the hub axle for rotatably supporting the first tubular member and the second tubular member relative to the hub axle;
- a generator mechanism housed in the first tubular member and adapted to generate electricity by rotation of the first tubular member relative to the hub axle;
- a brake force adjusting mechanism housed in the second tubular member and adapted to limit a maximum damping force of a brake, wherein the brake force adjusting mechanism comprises:
- a brake force receiving member rotatably mounted relative to the hub axle for receiving a braking force from a brake mechanism;
- and
- a frictional coupler for forming a frictional link between the second tubular member and the brake force receiving member;
- wherein the frictional coupler prevents locking of the hub shell relative to the hub axle regardless of the force received by the brake force receiving member.
9 more elements
A bicycle hub comprising:
- a hub axle;
- a hub shell including:
- a first tubular member having a first hub flange secured thereto;
- a separate second tubular member having a second hub flange secured thereto;
- wherein the second hub flange is secured to the second tubular member such that the second tubular member and the second hub flange may be removed as a unit from the first tubular member while the first hub flange remains secured to the first tubular member;
- wherein the second tubular member is harder than the first tubular member;
- and
- a brake coupling member adapted to couple the second tubular member to a brake device;
- bearings disposed between the hub shell and the hub axle for rotatably supporting the first tubular member and the second tubular member relative to the hub axle;
- and
- a generator mechanism housed in the first tubular member and adapted to generate electricity by rotation of the first tubular member relative to the hub axle.
8 more elements
A bicycle hub comprising:
- a hub axle;
- a hub shell including:
- a first tubular member having a first hub flange secured thereto;
- a separated second tubular member having a second hub flange secured thereto;
- wherein the second tubular member is harder than the first tubular member;
- and
- a brake coupling member adapted to couple the second tubular member to a brake device;
- bearings disposed between the hub shell and hub axle for rotatably supporting the first tubular member and the second tubular member relative to the hub axle;
- a generator mechanism housed in the first tubular member and adapted to generate electricity by rotation of the first tubular member relative to the hub axle;
- a brake force adjusting mechanism housed in the second tubular member and adapted to limit a maximum damping force of a brake, wherein the brake force adjusting mechanism comprises:
- a brake force receiving member rotatably mounted relative to the hub axle for receiving a braking force from a brake mechanism;
- and
- a frictional coupler for forming a frictional link between the second tubular member and the brake force receiving member;
- and
- wherein the frictional coupler prevents locking of the hub shell relative to the hub axle regardless of the force applied to the brake force receiving member.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.