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US 6,726,586 B2Granted
Motorized bicycle actuator assembly
AssigneeShimano Inc.
InventorMasahiko Fukuda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A motorized bicycle actuator assembly has a motorized actuator unit arranged to operate a bicycle component. The motorized actuator unit has a drive train coupled to a reversible motor, and a position switch device or an overcurrent detecting circuit coupled to the motor to stop rotation of a drive axle of the drive train at first and second stop positions. The bicycle component is coupled to the drive axle to move a movable member between a first and second preset component positions that correspond to the first and second stop positions of the drive axle, respectively. First and second shock absorbing elements are arranged to cushion the drive train when the drive axle moves past the first and second stop positions of the drive axle, respectively.
Claims36
A motorized bicycle actuator assembly comprising:
- a motorized actuator unit including a motor, a drive train operatively coupled to said motor to rotate a drive axle of said drive train in a first rotational direction, and a control device operatively coupled to said motor to stop rotation of said drive axle of said drive train at a first stop position;
- and
- a first shock absorbing element operatively arranged to cushion movement of said drive train when said drive axle reaches said first stop position of said drive axle,
- said drive train including a drive gear configured and arranged to pivot about a pivot axis through a pivot range less than 360°, said drive gear including a stop surface configured and arranged to selectively contact a complementary abutment to prevent complete rotation of said drive gear about the pivot axis with said first shock absorbing element being disposed between said stop surface and said complementary abutment.
1 more element
A motorized bicycle actuator assembly comprising:
- a motorized actuator unit including a reversible motor, a drive train operatively coupled to said motor to rotate a drive axle of said drive train in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction, and a control device operatively coupled to said motor to stop rotation of said drive axle of said drive train at a first stop position;
- and
- a first shock absorbing element operatively arranged to cushion movement of said drive train when said drive axle reaches said first stop position of said drive axle,
- said drive train further having a first portion coupled to said reversible motor and a second portion coupled to said drive axle with rotational play formed between said first and second portions, and a spring operatively coupled between said first and second portions to take up said rotational play such that rotation of said drive train in said first rotational direction is directly transferred between said first and second portions of said drive train and rotation of said drive train in said second rotational direction is transferred between said first and second portions of said drive train through said spring.
1 more element
A motorized bicycle actuator assembly comprising:
- a motorized actuator unit including a reversible motor, a drive train operatively coupled to said motor to rotate a drive axle of said drive train in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction, and a control device operatively coupled to said motor to stop rotation of said drive axle of said drive train at a first stop position and a second stop position;
- a first shock absorbing element operatively arranged to cushion movement of said drive train when said drive axle reaches said first stop position of said drive axle;
- and
- a second shock absorbing element operatively arranged to cushion movement of said drive train when said drive axle reaches said second stop position of said drive axle, said first and second shock absorbing elements being arranged between said drive train and a housing of said motorized actuator unit,
- said first shock absorbing element being mounted on a first stop of said housing of said motorized actuator unit and said second shock absorbing element being mounted on a second stop of said housing of said motorized actuator unit.
2 more elements
A motorized bicycle actuator assembly comprising:
- a motorized actuator unit including a reversible motor, a drive train operatively coupled to said motor to rotate a drive axle of said drive train in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction, and a control device operatively coupled to said motor to stop rotation of said drive axle of said drive train at a first stop position and a second stop position;
- a first shock absorbing element operatively arranged to cushion movement of said drive train when said drive axle reaches said first stop position of said drive axle;
- and
- a second shock absorbing element operatively arranged to cushion movement of said drive train when said drive axle reaches said second stop position of said drive axle,
- said first and second shock absorbing elements being arranged between said drive train and a housing of said motorized actuator unit, said first and second shock absorbing elements being mounted on at least one of said drive train and said housing,
- said drive train including a plurality of gears with a drive gear mounted on said drive axle, said drive gear being a fan-shaped gear having a hub portion mounted on said drive axle and an arc shaped portion with a plurality of teeth located between first and second contact surfaces.
3 more elements
A motorized bicycle actuator assembly comprising:
- a motorized actuator unit including a motor, a drive train operatively coupled to said motor to rotate a drive axle of said drive train in a first rotational direction, and a control device operatively coupled to said motor to stop rotation of said drive axle of said drive train at a first stop position;
- and
- a first shock absorbing element operatively arranged to cushion movement of said drive train when said drive axle reaches said first stop position of said drive axle,
- said control device including an overcurrent detecting circuit operatively coupled to said motor to stop said motor upon said drive train reaching said first stop position due to detection of an overcurrent in said motor.
1 more element
A motorized bicycle actuator assembly comprising:
- a motorized actuator unit including a reversible motor, a drive train operatively coupled to said reversible motor, and a control device operatively coupled to said reversible motor to stop rotation of a drive axle of said drive train at first and second stop positions;
- a bicycle component operatively coupled to said drive axle to move a movable member between a first preset component position and a second preset component position that correspond to said first and second stop positions of said drive axle, respectively;
- and
- at least one shock absorbing element operatively arranged to cushion movement of said drive train when said drive axle reaches at least one of said first and second stop positions of said drive axle,
- said drive train including a drive gear configured and arranged to pivot about a pivot axis through a pivot range less than 360°, said drive gear including a stop surface configured and arranged to selectively contact a complementary abutment to prevent complete rotation of said drive gear about the pivot axis with said at least one shock absorbing element being disposed between said stop surface and said complementary abutment.
2 more elements
A motorized bicycle actuator assembly comprising:
- a motorized actuator unit including a reversible motor, a drive train operatively coupled to said reversible motor, and a control device operatively coupled to said reversible motor to stop rotation of a drive axle of said drive train at first and second stop positions;
- a bicycle component operatively coupled to said drive axle to move a movable member between a first preset component position and a second preset component position that correspond to said first and second stop positions of said drive axle, respectively;
- and
- at least one shock absorbing element operatively arranged to cushion movement of said drive train when said drive axle reaches at least one of said first and second stop positions of said drive axle,
- said control device including a position switch device operatively coupled to said reversible motor to stop said reversible motor upon said drive train reaching one of said first stop position and said second stop position,
- said position switch device being arranged to detect movement of a drive gear mounted on said drive axle.
3 more elements
A motorized bicycle actuator assembly comprising:
- a motorized actuator unit including a reversible motor, a drive train operatively coupled to said reversible motor, and a control device operatively coupled to said reversible motor to stop rotation of a drive axle of said drive train at first and second stop positions;
- a bicycle component operatively coupled to said drive axle to move a movable member between a first preset component position and a second preset component position that correspond to said first and second stop positions of said drive axle, respectively;
- and
- at least one shock absorbing element operatively arranged to cushion movement of said drive train when said drive axle reaches at least one of said first and second stop positions of said drive axle,
- said at least one shock absorbing element including a first shock absorbing element mounted on a first stop of a housing of said motorized actuator unit and a second shock absorbing element mounted on a second stop of said housing of said motorized actuator unit.
2 more elements
A motorized bicycle actuator assembly comprising:
- a motorized actuator unit including a reversible motor, a drive train operatively coupled to said reversible motor, and a control device operatively coupled to said reversible motor to stop rotation of a drive axle of said drive train at first and second stop positions;
- a bicycle component operatively coupled to said drive axle to move a movable member between a first preset component position and a second preset component position that correspond to said first and second stop positions of said drive axle, respectively;
- and
- at least one shock absorbing element operatively arranged to cushion movement of said drive train when said drive axle reaches at least one of said first and second stop positions of said drive axle,
- said at least one shock absorbing element being mounted on at least one of said drive train and a housing of said motorized actuator unit,
- said drive train including a plurality of gears with a drive gear mounted on said drive axle,
- said drive gear being a fan-shaped gear having a hub portion mounted on said drive axle and an arc shaped portion with a plurality of teeth located between first and second contact surfaces.
4 more elements
A motorized bicycle actuator assembly comprising:
- a motorized actuator unit including a reversible motor, a drive train operatively coupled to said reversible motor, and a control device operatively coupled to said reversible motor to stop rotation of a drive axle of said drive train at first and second stop positions;
- a bicycle component operatively coupled to said drive axle to move a movable member between a first preset component position and a second preset component position that correspond to said first and second stop positions of said drive axle, respectively;
- and
- at least one shock absorbing element operatively arranged to cushion movement of said drive train when said drive axle reaches at least one of said first and second stop positions of said drive axle,
- said control device including a position switch device operatively coupled to said motor to stop said motor upon said drive train reaching said first stop position,
- said position switch device being arranged to detect movement of a drive gear mounted on said drive axle.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.