Patent Application
20140265220
This application relates to a speed changing device for rider propelled vehicles using a chain drive and a sprocket nest with a plurality of different sized sprockets. The sprocket changing device is a derailleur system with a low profile reducing the required ground clearance and wheel diameter which is typically needed with the current derailleurs.
A rider propelled vehicle is generally understood to be typically a two wheeled vehicle with a front free rolling, steerable wheel and a rear free rolling, non-steerable wheel connected to each other by a frame including a rider platform positioned between the wheels on which the rider can support himself. To move, the rider can actuate pedals to provide rotational force on the rear wheel producing locomotion. This locomotion process has been employed for bicycles for quite some time as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 540,977 issued on Jun. 11, 1895.
The limitation to the initial bicycle design was that the pedals were connected to the drive wheel either directly or by a chain. However, this connection was typically a single gear connection. Attempts to improve the efficiency of the connection include the advent of the sprocket nest and derailleur system as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,535,950, issued on Oct. 27, 1970. As shown in this reference, the derailleur is disposed at or near the rear sprocket nest.
The derailleur system currently used in bicycles has been engineered to allow the chain to smoothly move to an adjacent sprocket within the sprocket nest at selected locations around each sprocket nest. Each sprocket is modified to provide clearance for chain shifting with a plurality of reduced sized chain pickup teeth with modified shape at selected locations on the sprocket, but with adjacent normally sized teeth providing adequate chain grip and strength around the rest of the sprocket's outer periphery or circumference.
The chain travels in a direction by a movement of the derailleur guiding the chain from the sprocket it is on and feeding the chain onto an adjacent larger sprocket when decreasing the speed or a smaller sprocket when increasing the speed.
The bicycle derailleur devices are physically mounted on the frame of the bicycle and its movement is generally operated by a guide wire or cable extending from a shifting lever, attached on the handle bar, to the derailleur. When the rider selects a new sprocket, the rider moves the lever moving the wire or cable which in turn repositions the derailleur to effect a sprocket change. The derailleur is a sophisticated device that has a fixed structure attached to the frame or rear axle and a movable structure that is held in position by at least one double pivot with multiple heavy duty springs that allow the movable elements to rotate or move in the path of a parallelogram created by two opposing plates hinged to move parallel relative to the other. This movement enables the chain guide portion of the derailleur to move relative to the sprocket nest, in a relatively uniform path, in relation to the guide and the sprockets while minimizing twisting the chain.
In order to function properly, the chain slack that exists when the chain is on the sprocket must be taken up. The amount of chain slack is reduced as the chain moves to larger sprockets. In bicycles, the derailleur chain guide system is positioned to extend well below the axle and frame. This enables the chain to serpentine through the low hanging derailleur guide system by having the chain extend well below the largest of the sprockets. Due to this limitation, derailleurs are not available for vehicles such as scooters which include much smaller wheels and tires and therefore have insufficient clearance for the typical derailleur.
Recently, a new generation of scooters and bicycles has been developed with reciprocating foot pedals, such as U.S. Pat. No. 8,128,111. These vehicles, particularly scooters, have frames that have a very low center of gravity making the vehicles more stable. The frames are so low to the ground that the prior art derailleurs conventionally positioned below the rear sprocket nest are virtually useless. Nevertheless, these vehicles need a shifting device to allow the rider to selectively change speeds. Further, positioning the derailleur adjacent to the rear sprocket nest is not advantageous for such a vehicle as a scooter.
Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide for a derailleur that can be used with a low profile vehicle such as a scooter or standing bicycle.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide for a derailleur that is contained with an area partially defined by the drive sprocket nest.
The above objectives are accomplished by providing a low profile derailleur comprising: an attachment plate carried by a frame of a vehicle; a positioning angle included in the attachment plate; a transition rail attached to the attachment plate; a chain guide slidably attached to the transition rail, allowing the chain guide to move laterally in relation to an axis of a wheel carried by the frame, causing a chain connected to a drive sprocket nest to move from sprocket to sprocket within the sprocket nest; a spring biasing the chain guide in one direction and a cable for moving the chain guide in an opposite direction causing the chain to move from sprocket to sprocket; an inner surface included in the chain guide for contacting the chain when the chain guide moves the chain from a larger sprocket in the sprocket nest to a smaller sprocket in the sprocket nest; and, an outer surface included in the chain guide for contacting the chain when the chain guide moves the chain from a smaller sprocket in the sprocket nest to a larger sprocket in the sprocket nest.
The derailleur can be disposed in a shifting area defined by the perimeter of the largest sprocket of the drive sprocket nest. A lifting surface can be included for positioning the chain around its contacting sprocket so that the chain is in contact with over ½ the perimeter of the contacting sprocket. The lifting surface can be an idler.
The derailleur can include a slot in the chain guide for receiving the transition rail. The chain guide can travel along a path defined by a line intersecting the perimeter of the sprockets of the drive sprocket nest. The chain guide can be disposed forward a vertical line intersecting the axis of the drive sprocket nest.
A support plate can be attached to the outer surface and carried by the chain guide and a support wall attached to the support plate and carried by the chain guide. A gap can be defined between the transition plate and the outer surface.
The invention will be better understood with reference to the following drawings that are part of this specification:
Referring to
In order for the chain to be moved from one sprocket to another, derailleur 20 is carried by the frame and causes the chain to move laterally in a direction shown as 22. As the derailleur moves, the chain is forced from the current sprocket to the adjacent sprocket An attachment plate 24 is carried by the frame and secures the derailleur to the vehicle. The attachment plate can include an opening 26 that can receive a portion of the wheel axle. In one embodiment, the attachment plate is carried by the frame and offset from the wheel axle. In order to position the derailleur, the attachment plate can include a positioning angle 28 which positions a transition plate 30 having a transition rail 32 so that the transition rail is disposed along a plane 34. In one embodiment, plane 34 is defined by a line intersecting the perimeters of the sprockets in the drive sprocket nest.
A chain guide 36 is slidably carried by the transition plate so that it can move laterally along path 22. In one embodiment, the chain guide includes a slot 38 that received the transition rail allowing the chain guide to slide about the transition rail. The chain guide can include an inner surface 40 and an outer surface 42 so that the chain is disposed between the inner and outer surfaces. In one embodiment, the outer surface is attached to the chain guide by a support plate 52 (
When the tension is released from the cable, the spring 48 causes the chain guide to move in a direction opposite 46 including a directional vector opposite 46a causing the chain to move from a smaller sprocket to a larger sprocket in the drive sprocket nest. In one embodiment, the chain guide causes the chain to contact the sprocket in the drive sprocket nest at over ½ the perimeter. In this embodiment, the chain guide includes a lifting surface 50 (
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In one embodiment, a tension member is included having a tension arm 82, roller or sprocket 76 and tension spring 80 so that the chain is biased upward in a direction 78. In one embodiment the lowers point of the tension arm is even with or above line 70. The tension arm move upwards and downward as the chain move from sprocket to sprocket with the tension arm at its lowest point when the chain is on the largest sprocket of the sprocket nest.
One embodiment of the invention as described herein is directed to a scooter, as used herein, a scooter is a vehicle having typically two wheels, but could have three, but is so designed to have the rider standing on the pedals. The use of pneumatic tires, solid rubber or urethane tires does not change the device from a scooter to a bicycle. It is understood, however, the present invention with the addition of a seat for the rider, would take on the appearance of a pedal drive bicycle, as such the use of the present invention with a seat would also be considered within the scope of the present invention, but it must be appreciated that the maximum driving speed of the rear wheel is most easily performed standing. The vehicle can be motorized or non-motorized
While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Unless specifically stated, terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise.
Furthermore, although items, elements or components of the disclosure may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61790963 | Mar 2013 | US |
