Torque sensor for a bicycle bottom bracket assembly

A torque sensor for a bicycle bottom bracket assembly having a bottom bracket axle comprising:

• an axle supporting member for supporting the axle for rotation around a support axis, wherein the axle supporting member has a first sensor mounting location and a second sensor mounting location spaced apart from the first sensor mounting location in a radial direction of the axle supporting member;
• a first pressure sensor for placement at the first sensor mounting location;
• a second pressure sensor for placement at the second sensor mounting location;
• and
• wherein each first pressure sensor and second pressure sensor senses a nonelectromagnetic physical force directed against it from the axle.

A torque sensor for a bicycle bottom bracket assembly having a bottom racket axle comprising:

• an axle supporting member for supporting the axle for rotation around a support axis, wherein the axle supporting member includes:
• a first sensor mounting location;
• a second sensor mounting location spaced apart from the first sensor mounting location in the direction of the support axis;
• a third sensor mounting location spaced apart from the first sensor mounting location in a radial direction of the axle supporting member;
• and
• a fourth sensor mounting location spaced apart from the third sensor mounting location in the direction of the support axis;
• a first pressure sensor for placement at the first sensor mounting location;
• a second pressure sensor for placement at the second sensor mounting location;
• a third pressure sensor for placement at the third sensor mounting location;
• a fourth pressure sensor for placement at the fourth sensor mounting location;
• and
• wherein each first pressure sensor, second pressure sensor, third pressure sensor and fourth pressure sensor senses a nonelectromagnetic physical force directed against it from the axle.

A torque sensor for a bicycle bottom bracket assembly comprising:

• an axle having an axle axis;
• a first bearing including a plurality of first rollers disposed on the axle;
• a second bearing including a plurality of second rollers disposed on the axle;
• wherein the first bearing is spaced apart from the second bearing in a direction of the axle axis;
• a tubular bearing housing surrounding the axle so that the first bearing and the second bearing are disposed between the axle and the bearing housing and so that the axle is rotatably supported in the bearing housing;
• a first tubular member disposed at a first end of the bearing housing;
• a second tubular member disposed at a second end of the bearing housing;
• a first pressure sensor disposed between the first tubular member and the bearing housing;
• and
• wherein the first pressure sensor senses a nonelectromagnetic physical force directed against it from the axle.

A torque sensor for a bicycle bottom bracket assembly comprising:

• an axle having an axle axis;
• a first bearing including a plurality of first rollers disposed on the axle;
• a second bearing including a plurality of second rollers disposed on the axle;
• wherein the first bearing is spaced apart from the second bearing in a direction of the axle axis;
• a tubular bearing housing surrounding the axle so that the first bearing and the second bearing are disposed between the axle and the bearing housing and so that the axle is rotatably supported in the bearing housing;
• a first tubular member disposed at a first end of the bearing housing;
• a second tubular member disposed at a second end of the bearing housing;
• a first pressure sensor disposed between the first tubular member and the bearing housing;
• wherein the first pressure sensor senses a physical force directed against it from the axle;
• wherein the first tubular member is disposed about an outer peripheral surface of the bearing housing, and wherein the first pressure sensor is disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the first tubular member and the outer peripheral surface of the bearing housing so that the first pressure sensor senses physical forces applied to it from between the tubular member and the bearing housing.

A torque sensor for a bicycle bottom bracket assembly comprising:

• an axle having an axle axis;
• a first bearing including a plurality of first rollers disposed on the axle;
• a second bearing including a plurality of second rollers disposed on the axle;
• wherein the first bearing is spaced apart from the second bearing in a direction of the axle axis;
• a tubular bearing housing surrounding the axle so that the first bearing and the second bearing are disposed between the axle and the bearing housing and so that the axle is rotatably supported in the bearing housing;
• a first tubular member disposed at a first end of the bearing housing;
• a second tubular member disposed at a second end of the bearing housing;
• a first pressure sensor disposed between the first tubular member and the bearing housing;
• a second pressure sensor disposed between the second tubular member and the bearing housing;
• wherein the first pressure sensor and the second pressure sensor sense physical forces directed against them from the axle;
• wherein the first tubular member is disposed about an outer peripheral surface of the bearing housing;
• wherein the second tubular member is disposed about the outer peripheral surface of the bearing housing;
• wherein the first pressure sensor is disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the first tubular member and the outer peripheral surface of the bearing housing;
• wherein the second pressure sensor is disposed between an inner peripheral surface of the second tubular member and the outer peripheral surface of the bearing housing;
• wherein the first pressure sensor senses physical forces applied to it from between the first tubular member and the bearing housing;
• and
• wherein the second pressure sensor senses physical forces applied to it from between the second tubular member and the bearing housing.

A torque sensor for a bicycle bottom bracket assembly comprising:

• an axle having an axle axis;
• a first bearing including a plurality of first rollers disposed on the axle;
• a second bearing including a plurality of second rollers disposed on the axle;
• wherein the first bearing is spaced apart from the second bearing in a direction of the axle axis;
• a tubular bearing housing surrounding the axle so that the first bearing and the second bearing are disposed between the axle and the bearing housing and so that the axle is rotatably supported in the bearing housing;
• a first tubular member disposed at a first end of the bearing housing;
• a second tubular member disposed at a second end of the bearing housing;
• a first pressure sensor disposed between the first tubular member and the bearing housing;
• wherein the first pressure sensor senses a physical force directed against it from the axle;
• wherein the first tubular member has a threaded outer peripheral surface, and wherein the second tubular member has a threaded outer peripheral surface.

A torque sensor for a bicycle bottom bracket assembly comprising:

• an axle having an axle axis;
• a first bearing including a plurality of first rollers disposed on the axle;
• a second bearing including a plurality of second rollers disposed on the axle;
• wherein the first bearing is spaced apart from the second bearing in a direction of the axle axis;
• a tubular bearing housing surrounding the axle so that the first bearing and the second bearing are disposed between the axle and the bearing housing and so that the axle is rotatably supported in the bearing housing;
• a first tubular member disposed at a first end of the bearing housing;
• a second tubular member disposed at a second end of the bearing housing;
• a pressure sensor disposed between the first tubular member and the bearing housing;
• a sensor mounting member having a sensor mounting location, wherein the sensor mounting member is disposed between the bearing housing and the first tubular member;
• and
• wherein the pressure sensor is disposed at the sensor mounting location.