JPS6122075Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention is a device for detecting and displaying the incorrect position of the tensioner of an external transmission (rear derailleur), which is provided to freely change the chain to a selected sprocket of a multi-stage freewheel when shifting a bicycle. Regarding.

Generally, this type of transmission is installed near a multi-stage freewheel that has multiple sprockets of different diameters.
By changing the relative position of the tensioner, which supports the guide roller and the tension roller so as to freely rotate, with respect to the freewheel via an operation wire, the chain can be changed to a selected sprocket to perform a speed change operation. It's summery. Further, a pantograph mechanism is generally used as a mechanism for changing the relative position of the tensioner with respect to the multi-stage freewheel by operating a wire. This includes a fixed member, a movable member facing the fixed member, and a pair of link members, and these four members are linked and connected to form a parallelogram. A tensioner is attached to the movable member and biased by a spring so as to pivot in the chain tensioning direction. Further, an operating wire connected to the operating lever is fixed to an appropriate portion of the pantograph mechanism so that the length of the diagonal of the parallelogram can be changed. Thus, by operating the gear shift operation lever at hand, the rider can move the tensioner of the transmission to a position that properly faces the selected sprocket.

However, conventional transmissions of this type have the following operational problems.

In other words, although the tensioner can be continuously displaced with respect to the multi-stage freewheel, the proper position of the tensioner for the selected sprocket is extremely limited, so the tensioner can be moved to the proper position accurately and quickly. It is very difficult to make the transition. In other words, it is most desirable for the selected sprocket, the tensioner's guide roller, and tension roller to always be located on the same plane, and for the chain to run on the same plane, in terms of running performance and protection of the transmission. It is not easy to strictly realize this.
However, if the tensioner shifts even slightly to the left or right, the chain will meander, causing gear noise, which will accelerate wear on the sprocket, tensioner, and chain, shortening their service life. Furthermore, although it is possible for the rider to correct the above-mentioned deviation by delicately operating the control lever, as mentioned above, the proper position of the tensioner is within an extremely limited range. In this case, since there are only five vertical planes on which the five sprockets are located, skill is required to perform the correction operation accurately and quickly. Furthermore, it is not desirable for safety to perform a gear shifting operation while checking the gear shifting position at a glance.

In order to solve this problem, lever devices have been proposed in which the lever stop position is preset in accordance with the proper position of the tensioner, and lever devices that display the number of gears depending on the amount of lever rotation. All of these had the problem that they would not operate properly if the operating wire was stretched or the wire attachment position was shifted.

The purpose of this invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, provide a device that detects and displays the inappropriate state of the tensioner in an external bicycle transmission, and facilitates the adjustment of the tensioner position. It is characterized in that the deviation from the position is directly detected by a detection means using electrical contact, and this detection signal is converted into sound and/or light and displayed.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

1 is a tensioner for an external transmission, that is, a rear derailleur R. As is well known, the external transmission is
so as to be located near the multi-stage freewheel F consisting of a plurality of sprockets S ₁ , S ₂ ...S _o of different diameters,
For example, it is attached to the outer end of the hub shaft via a suitable support piece. The tensioner 1 is attached to a spring S so as to pivot in a direction to remove slack in the chain C.
is constantly energized. Pantograph mechanism 2
Generally, it has a fixed member 3, a movable member 4 provided at a position opposite to the fixed member 3, and a pair of link members 5 and 6 that connect these two members 3 and 4, and these are linked and connected in a parallelogram shape. Configure. An outer wire (not shown) is attached to the link member 6 via a fixture 7, and an inner wire (not shown) is attached to the movable member 4 via a fixture 8, and these wires are manipulated to connect the parallel four sides. By changing the length of the diagonal line of the shape, the relative position of the tensioner 1 attached to the movable member 4 with respect to the freewheel F can be changed steplessly.

In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tensioner 1 has a support member 10. In the first embodiment shown in FIGS.
The support member 10 is pivotally supported by a shaft 9 fixed to a branch 4' that is integral with the movable member 4 of the pantograph mechanism 2, and is constantly pivoted by a spring S in a direction to remove slack in the chain C. energized to move. A first support shaft 11 is provided on the upper part of the support member 10, and a second support shaft 12 is provided on the lower part of the support member 10 so as to protrude parallel to the hub axis A.
As shown in FIG. 2, the sliding sleeve 13a is inserted into the sleeve, and the guide roller 14 and its protective frames 15a and 15b are mounted on the sleeve. At that time, the length of the sliding sleeve 13a is the same as that of the first support shaft 11.
The sliding sleeve, the guide roller 14 mounted thereon, and its protective frames 15a and 15b are integrally made to be able to move slightly in the axial direction on the first support shaft. On the other hand, the second support shaft 1
2, the tension roller 16 and its protective frames 17a, 17b are mounted so as to be immovable in the axial direction as usual.

The positional deviation detection means of the tensioner 1 is composed of electrical contacts H, G, and L. Among these contacts, H is for detecting positional deviation on the high-speed side, and L is for detecting positional deviation on the low-speed side. Both of these contacts H and L are provided on supports protruding from the support member 10 so as to be located near the protective frame 15b. It is fixed to the piece 18. G is a ground contact fixed to an appropriate part of the protective frame 15b, and the contact H or the contact point is It is arranged so that it may contact L, respectively.

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the tensioner 1 according to the present invention.

In the first embodiment, only the guide roller 14 and its protective frames 15a, 15b are configured to be able to move slightly on the first support shaft, whereas in this embodiment, both the guide roller 14 and the tension roller 16 are configured to be able to move slightly on the first support shaft.
c, 15d together with the first support shaft 11 and the second support shaft 1
The difference is that the upper end of the sleeve 11 is integral with the upper end of the sleeve 13 and is configured to be slightly movable.
This is a sleeve similar to 3a.

Next, the effects of the first embodiment and the second embodiment will be explained.

As mentioned above, it is desirable for the tensioner of an external transmission to be able to position its guide roller and tension roller directly below a selected sprocket of the multi-stage freewheel, that is, on the same plane as the sprocket (see FIG. 1). ). In this way, since there is no relative positional deviation in the lateral direction of the sprocket, guide roller, and tension roller, the chain can mesh with the tension roller, guide roller, and sprocket in this order on the same plane with little resistance. By the way, although the tensioner can be moved steplessly by the pantograph mechanism, its proper position is only directly below each different diameter sprocket of the multi-stage freewheel, and furthermore, the proper position of the tensioner corresponding to each sprocket cannot be determined. The range of positions is extremely limited. In other words, the inappropriate range of the tensioner's movable range is overwhelmingly larger. Therefore, it has been extremely difficult for the rider to accurately guide the tensioner to the above-mentioned proper position. However, in the first and second embodiments, the two rollers 1 of the tensioner
Among the guide rollers 4 and 16, at least the guide roller 14 can be slightly movable together with its protective frame parallel to the hub shaft, and the relative movement of the protective frame of the guide roller with respect to the support member 10 attached to the movable member 4 of the pantograph mechanism is detected. This allows the rider to know in which direction the tensioner should be moved. If the rider operates a gear shift lever (not shown) to guide the tensioner to an appropriate position, the above-mentioned gear noise can be easily avoided. This will be explained in detail below.

Tensioner 1 position is multi-stage freewheel F
If the selected sprocket is shifted toward the high speed side, the chain C runs in a meandering manner as shown in FIG. 4, the guide roller 14 is pulled by the meandering chain C, and the support body The speed shifts to the slightly lower speed side (toward the left in the figure) relative to the current speed. At this time, the high-speed side positional deviation detection contact H, which does not move relative to the support 10, and the ground contact G, which is fixed to the protection frame and moves to the low-speed side relative to the support 10 together with the guide roller, come into contact, A detection signal H' is generated. On the other hand, if it deviates to the low speed side, as shown in FIG. Similarly to H, the low-speed side positional deviation detection contact L, which does not move relative to the support 10, and the ground contact G fixed to the protective frame come into contact and generate a detection signal L'. The rider confirms in which direction the tensioner 1 is shifted by the sound and/or light converted from the above signals H' and L' by an electric circuit (described later), and then moves the gear shift lever (not shown). This allows the position to be easily corrected by operation.

FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the device according to the invention. In this embodiment, a high-speed side deviation detection contact H and a low-speed side deviation detection contact L are provided near both sides of the chain C running between the guide roller 14 and the freewheel F, and the chain C is connected to the ground. When the tensioner 1 shifts to the high speed side, the guide roller 14 and the multistage freewheel F
The positional deviation of the tensioner 1 is detected so that the chain C running between the two contacts the high-speed side positional deviation detection contact H, and when the tensioner 1 deviates to the low-speed side, the chain C contacts the low-speed side positional deviation detection contact L. It constitutes a means.

As shown in the figure, if the tensioner 1 is deviated to the high speed side (rightward in Figure 6), the chain C
Contact H for high-speed side deviation detection contacts and outputs a detection signal.
H' is generated, and conversely, when the tensioner 1 is deviated to the low speed side (to the left in FIG. 6), the chain C and the low speed side deviation detection contact L come into contact and generate a detection signal L'.

FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram common to each of the embodiments described above, and is constructed so that the signals H' and L' can be converted into generation of a buzzer sound and blinking of a lamp. Note that this circuit diagram is only an example for implementing the present invention, and if the positional deviation is indicated only by a buzzer sound, or by only a blinking lamp, or by a buzzer sound and a blinking lamp. Various embodiments can be considered as desired, such as a case in which both methods are used.

In the above circuit diagram, for example, when a high-speed side positional deviation detection signal H' is inputted, the signal passes through a timer circuit T1a (FIG. 8A) and then is converted into a pulse signal by a differentiating circuit P ( Figure 8 b). The timer circuit T1a stabilizes the waveform of the input signal H' sent to the differential circuit P and the AND gate ANDa, so that the circuit operates normally even when the contacts H and G are in bad contact or intermittently in contact. It is provided to make it function. Next, the pulse signal is converted into a rectangular wave that continues for a certain period of time by a timer circuit T2 consisting of a monostable multivibrator (Fig. 8C), and furthermore, the rectangular wave is made into an intermittent wave by an oscillation circuit S1 consisting of an astable multivibrator. It is converted into a rectangular wave (Fig. 8 D). This intermittent square wave signal is then sent to the lamp side and the buzzer side. The intermittent square wave signal sent to the lamp side is amplified by the lamp drive circuit La, causing the lamp LH to blink, and the intermittent square wave signal sent to the buzzer side is further set to a desired pitch frequency. The signal is divided by an oscillation circuit S2a consisting of an astable multivibrator and converted into a signal with an intermittent comb-shaped waveform (FIG. 8E), and then amplified by a buzzer drive circuit BZ to make a buzzer B sound.

Incidentally, among the pair of oscillation circuits S2a and S2b provided before the buzzer drive circuit, the high-speed side oscillation circuit S
By setting the frequency of the oscillation circuit S2a high and the frequency of the low-speed side oscillation circuit S2b low, it is possible to distinguish whether the tensioner is displaced toward the high-speed side or toward the low-speed side based on the difference in pitch of the sound. This is convenient because it can be done.

In addition, the indicator lamps LH, LL and the buzzer B normally operate while the contacts H and G or the contacts L and G provided on the tensioner are in contact with each other. By interposing gates ANDa and ANDb,
As mentioned above, even if each contact point (H and G or L and G) is in continuous contact, the operation of the indicator lamps LH, LL and buzzer B is discontinued after a certain period of time, thereby wasting power. is prevented. That is,
Lamps LH, LL and buzzer B are connected to each contact point (H
and G or L and G) are in contact with each other, or the time set in the timer circuit T2, whichever is shorter.

Said conversion circuit, high speed side position deviation indicator lamp
As shown in Figure 1, the LH, low-speed position misalignment indicator lamp LL, and buzzer B are arranged on the surface of a casing fixed to an appropriate part of the bicycle frame so that the rider can easily see them. There is.

According to the tensioner incorrect position detection and display device configured as described above, it is possible to detect whether the tensioner is deviated from the proper position for each sprocket of the multi-stage freewheel toward the high-speed side or the low-speed side. It can be detected by extremely simple means. That is, for example, rather than detecting by providing the same number of pairs of detecting bodies (e.g., a light emitting body and a light receiving body) for each of the sprockets on the bicycle frame, a movable member of a pantograph mechanism that moves relative to the bicycle frame and the like are used. The guide roller and its protective frame are attached so as to be movable relative to the support member attached to the support member, and the relative movement of the protection frame with respect to the support member is detected by electrical contact, so the detection object is attached to one location. Moreover, it is possible to detect whether the position is shifted to the high speed side or the low speed side.

The rider can confirm the positional deviation of the tensioner detected in this way by the lamp shown on the display device or the sound produced by the buzzer, and can easily guide the tensioner to the proper position by operating the transmission. It is convenient to use a combination of visual display using a lamp and audible display using a buzzer to ensure that the positional deviation of the tensioner is recognized, but one or the other can be omitted if desired. It is.

Furthermore, since the tensioner is quickly guided to the proper position, gear noise can be kept to a minimum, reducing wear on the chain, tensioner and freewheel, and extending service life.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show embodiments of the present invention; Fig. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the first embodiment, Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view showing the main parts of the first embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the second embodiment. 4 and 5 are diagrams for explaining the operation, FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of the third embodiment, FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram for processing the detection signal, and FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the configuration and operation of the third embodiment. FIG. 7 is a waveform diagram of signals in A, B, C, D, and E. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Tensioner, 2... Pantograph mechanism, 10... Support body, 11... First support shaft, 12...
...Second support shaft, 14...Guide roller, 15a, 1
5b, 15c, 15d...Roller protection frame,
16...Tension roller, A...Hub axle, C...
...Chain, F...Multi-stage freewheel, H...
Contact for detecting positional deviation on the high-speed side, L: Contact for detecting positional deviation on the low-speed side, G: Ground contact.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] (1) The chain is constructed by changing the relative axial position of a tensioner having a guide roller and a tension roller with respect to the multi-stage freewheel, and changing the route of the chain away from the guide roller and toward the multi-stage freewheel. In a bicycle external derailleur configured to change the sprocket to a desired sprocket, the tensioner is provided with a detection means for substantially detecting the inclination of the chain in the hub axis direction from the guide roller toward the sprocket. an electric circuit that processes the detection signal of the
A display device is provided in an appropriate part of the vehicle body to receive the above detection signal and visually or audibly display a state in which the tensioner is deviated from the proper position corresponding to each sprocket. An improper position detection and display device for a tensioner in an external bicycle transmission, characterized by: (2) The support member 10 is pivoted to the shaft 9 fixed to the support piece 4' which is integral with the movable member 4 of the external transmission, while being constantly biased by the spring S in the direction of removing slack in the chain C. Support member 10
A first support shaft 11 is attached to the upper part of the frame, and a second support shaft 12 is attached to the lower part of the
A guide roller 14 and its protective frames 15a, 15b are attached to the first support shaft 11 so as to be able to move slightly in the axial direction, while a tension roller 16 and its protection frames 17a, 15b are installed on the second support shaft. 17b is attached so as to be immovable in the axial direction to constitute the tensioner, and a contact H for high-speed side displacement detection and a contact L for low-speed side displacement detection are provided on the branch 18 fixed to an appropriate part of the support member 10, and a ground Protective frame 15 for contact G
When the tensioner 1 is moved to the high speed side, the ground contact G will be connected to the contact H.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the detecting means is configured such that the ground contact G comes into contact with the contact L when there is a position shift on the low speed side. (3) The support member 10 is pivoted to the shaft 9 fixed to the support piece 4' which is integral with the movable member 4 of the external transmission, while being constantly biased by the spring S in the direction of removing slack in the chain C. Support member 10
A first support shaft 11 is attached to the upper part of the frame, and a second support shaft 12 is attached to the lower part of the
are provided protrudingly, respectively, and the first support shaft 11 and the second support shaft 1
2, guide roller 14, tension roller 1
6, and the protective frame 1 that should protect both rollers.
5c and 15d are integrally attached so that they can move slightly in the axial direction to constitute the tensioner, and the high-speed side positional deviation detection contact H and the low-speed side position deviation detection contact H are attached to the branch piece 18 fixed to an appropriate part of the support member 10. A side position deviation detection contact L is provided, and when the tensioner 1 moves toward the high speed side, the ground contact G fixed to the protective frame 15a becomes the high speed side position deviation detection contact H, and when the tensioner 1 moves toward the low speed side, the low speed side position deviation is detected. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the detection means is configured to contact the contact points L, respectively. (4) The contact H for detecting positional deviation on the high-speed side and the contact L for detecting positional deviation on the low-speed side are provided near both sides of the chain C, slightly separated from each other, and the chain is used as a ground contact, so that when the tensioner 1 shifts to the high-speed side, the guide roller 14 The chain C running between the freewheel F and the multi-stage freewheel F contacts the contact H for detecting positional deviation on the high-speed side, and when the tensioner 1 shifts to the low-speed side, the chain C contacts the contact L for detecting positional deviation on the low-speed side. The device according to claim 1 of the utility model registration, which constitutes a detection means.