192 clutches and power-stop control – Clutches – Velocipede free wheel
Reexamination Certificate
2001-08-03
2003-05-06
Rodriguez, Saul (Department: 3681)
192 clutches and power-stop control
Clutches
Velocipede free wheel
C301S110500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06557684
ABSTRACT:
Priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 or 35 U.S.C. §365 is claimed to German Patent Application No. 198 56 627.1 filed Dec. 8, 1998 and Patent Cooperation Treaty Application No. PCT/EP99/09650 filed Dec. 8, 1999.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a freewheel hub which is especially suitable for bicycles. However, this is not the only possible use; freewheel hubs of this kind may also be employed as drive for wheelchairs and other muscle-driven or non-muscle-driven vehicles and contrivances. For purposes of simplification, however, the invention will be described in the following with sole regard to its use with bicycles, whereby said description shall not in any way be deemed restrictive for the invention's realm of application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Freewheel hubs for bicycles are frequently realized with a ratchet freewheel in which rotatably mounted ratchet pawls are arranged between two rotating members and which effect a form-fit connection between these two members in one rotational direction and in the other rotational direction, the idle direction, move into a position in which no transmission of force can transpire between said rotating members.
The demands placed on such freewheel hubs are very high especially in the field of high performance sports, but not limited solely thereto.
On one hand, the freewheel hub must reliably take up intense forces; on the other hand, it must also function reliably, even over prolonged periods of time. Furthermore, the friction induced in the hub, in drive mode as well as in idle mode, must be as low as possible.
It is customary in the fields of professional and semi-professional cycling to service such hubs prior to every or almost every use. Therefore, it is also necessary that the hub be easily dismantled and reassembled.
It is therefore the task of the present invention to provide a freewheel hub especially for bicycles which withstands the most extreme loads, has low frictional values, provides reliable and sound operation, and which can be easily maintained.
This task is solved in accordance with the present invention by the object of claim
1
, claim
17
or claim
18
.
Preferred embodiments of the invention constitute the subject matter of the subclaims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a bicycle hub with a high operational reliability and durability which is easy to maintain and which attains, upon transmission of force, a reliable, durable and form-fit connection combined with low frictional loss, for example even during a downhill ride when the pedal crank is in idle.
The hub according to the present invention comprises a hub axle, a hollow hub shell arranged concentrically thereto, a rotator arranged concentrically to said hub axle and on which at least one gear may be arranged, and a ratchet pawl freewheel means.
Roller bearings are utilized to support the individual components. The roller bodies of one or of all roller bearings are disposed at a predetermined distance from one another. Preferably standardized, respectively industrially fabricated, roller bearings are used according to, for example, DIN or ISO norms. The use of such roller bearings precludes the need for adjusting bearing play, a procedure which is costly and vulnerable to mistakes. In the bicycle industry such roller bearings are also known by the term “industrial bearings” as such bearings are usually industrially fabricated and are standardized.
Employing roller bearings or industrial bearings for bearing purposes has numerous advantages since the standard of quality of such industrially fabricated bearings is usually very high by virtue of the large number of pieces produced. A defective worn bearing can be simply and quickly replaced. The use of standardized bearings allows for acquiring high quality replacements quickly and at reasonable cost throughout virtually the entire world.
The rear wheel hub according to the present invention further comprises a freewheel means provided with ratchet pawls which is configured in such a way that rotator torque in the forward drive direction is transmitted to the hub shell, whereby the freewheel means is essentially configured radially so that upon a change in position of pawl, a frictional or form-fit connection is attained between the rotator and the hub shell.
The hub according to the present invention has numerous advantages.
The utilization of such roller bearings in which the roller bodies of a bearing are arranged at a predetermined distance to one another grants a high degree of reliability and durability to the inventive hub. It is specifically due to the individual roller bodies having a certain, usually fixed, spacing to one another that an inadvertent and frictional contact of the individual roller bodies can be avoided, a situation which can lead to increased wear and even deterioration of the roller bodies. With increasing wear, the outer contour of roller bodies may possibly deviate from their ideal, which can lead to cracking and waving of the races; this situation can conceivably destroy the entire hub.
Through the utilization of roller bearings preferably having an inner ring and an outer ring, between which balls, cylinders, cones or needles are usually retained in a bearing cage, an especially high degree of reliability and durability is achieved in the hub according to the present invention.
Industrially fabricated roller bearings ensure a high degree of quality and durability. Employing roller bearings having an inner ring and an outer ring has the result that a deterioration of a roller bearing does not usually lead to a progressive destruction of the hub, since the replacing of the complete roller bearing also encompasses replacing the inner and outer roller bearing race. In conventional bicycle hubs, a cone-shaped section on the hub axle often serves as the inner roller bearing race, while the outer race is formed in the hub shell. Upon deterioration of the roller bodies due to exceeding of their operating life or due to penetration of dust, the entire hub can thus be rendered unusable.
In a further preferred embodiment of the bicycle hub according to the present invention, the hub has a hollow hub axle which is so configured, in contrast to conventional hub axles, that the ratio, the difference respectively, between the outer and inner diameter is small, respectively the well thickness of the hollow hub axle is relatively thin, preferably between 0.5 and 3 mm and especially preferred between 1.7 and 2.3 mm; preferably at approximately 2 mm.
In a further preferred embodiment of the bicycle hub according to the present invention, at least two adjacently arranged roller bearings are utilized at one bearing position, instead of the just one roller bearing customarily utilized in conventional bicycle hubs. The utilization of two roller bearings at one position where normally only one roller bearing would be used has the advantage that the stress loaded on the individual bearing is smaller and thereby bearings of smaller outer diameter may be used compared to when only one bearing is used at this position. A reduction in bearing outer diameter leads to less material volume and, consequently, to a reduction in the total hub weight. This is of particular importance in sporting circles, but certainly not limited solely thereto.
The utilization of such a hollow hub axle or the use of two roller bearings at positions where normally only one roller bearing would be used is described in detail in the parallel application of the same applicant (attorney's file No. 4582P197), which was filed with the German Patent Office on the same day as the present application and which describes a bicycle hub. The description, figures and entire contents of said application is consequently integrated herewith into the disclosure of the present application.
It is furthermore possible to mount one or several of the roller bearings utilized for bearing as floating bearings, in particular as axially floating bearings, whereby the fitting accuracy of said
Jäger Gerrit
Spahr Stefan
Rodriguez Saul
Spencer Fane Britt & Browne LLP
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