Patent US4041788A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4041788A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical control for derailleur drive
Assignee: CALIFORNIA PROGRESSIVE PRODUCTS Inc
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Filing: 1975-07-30
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Granted: 1977-08-16
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Expires: 1995-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A control system for a chain carrier-idler assembly which positions and controls the drive chain shifting from one drive sprocket to another drive sprocket of the multiple sprocket cluster of a derailleur drive rear bicycle wheel mechanism. A chain carrier-idler assembly has its inboard or outboard motion controlled by the positioning of a "floating" gear from a neutral position to an inboard-drive or outboard-drive position. A movable lever arm (driven by a DC motor) carries the floating gear, and also carries a series of electrical contacts which connect and disconnect with contacts on a baseplate parallel to the lever arm, thus to energize or de-energize the motor. Another movable contact (representative of the position of the carrier assembly and drive chain) moves across a series of spaced fixed contacts representative of the location of each sprocket gear. A power source, rocker switch, and connecting circuitry are provided to upshift or downshift the drive chain. The cooperation of the fixed and movable electrical contacts with the drive motor and placement of the floating gear operate to adjust the duration of movement of the carrier assembly to the point where the new sprocket ratio is effectuated, at which moment the floating gear is driven back to neutral. Thus the gear-change operation is stopped automatically upon shift completion. The operator does not have to look or guess when to shut off the gear changing operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Nathan Vivien Nininger, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:26
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M9/00; B62M9/04; B62M9/06; B62M9/10; B62M9/12; B62M9/121; B62M9/122; B62M25/00; B62M25/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
In a derailleur gear changing system including a main drive sprocket, a plurality of rear sprocket gears, and a connecting drive chain, the combination comprising: a. means for laterally displacing said drive chain by means of power derived solely from the motion of said drive chain; b. control means to start the shifting of said chain displacing means, and to automatically shut off the shifting operation upon completion of a gear-ratio change.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
In a derailleur gear changing system including a main drive sprocket, a plurality of rear sprocket gears, and a connecting drive chain, the combination comprising: a. means for laterally displacing said drive chain by means of power derived solely from the motion of said drive chain; b. control means to start the shifting of said chain displacing means, and to automatically shut off the shifting operation upon completion of a gear-ratio change.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said control means includes: (b1) a battery, (b2) a motor, and (b3) electrical sensing means sensitive to the direction of and distance moved by said means for displacing said drive chain, said sensing means being operative to stop the lateral motion of said means for displacing said drive chain upon the proper displacement of said drive chain on the desired gear.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
203 words
A control system for a derailleur gear shift mechanism having a main drive sprocket, a plurality of rear sprocket gears, a drive chain, and means for laterally displacing said drive chain, the combination comprising: a. a power source; b. a drive means activated by said power source; c. a carriage assembly for laterally positioning said drive chain; d. a floating gear, positionable by said drive means, to connect or disconnect motive power to said carriage assembly resulting in lateral motion or stopped motion of said carriage assembly, said floating gear having a first, a second, and a neutral position; e. a first sensing means to sense the lateral position of said carriage assembly; f. a second sensing means to sense the first, second or neutral position of said floating gear; g. control circuitry to initiate a gear shift by causing said floating gear to move from neutral position to said first or second position, and then disconnecting said power source, thus permitting motive power from said drive chain to laterally move said carriage assembly and to place said drive chain on the next adjacent rear sprocket gear after which said power source is connected to drive said floating gear to its neutral position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
203 words
A control system for a derailleur gear shift mechanism having a main drive sprocket, a plurality of rear sprocket gears, a drive chain, and means for laterally displacing said drive chain, the combination comprising: a. a power source; b. a drive means activated by said power source; c. a carriage assembly for laterally positioning said drive chain; d. a floating gear, positionable by said drive means, to connect or disconnect motive power to said carriage assembly resulting in lateral motion or stopped motion of said carriage assembly, said floating gear having a first, a second, and a neutral position; e. a first sensing means to sense the lateral position of said carriage assembly; f. a second sensing means to sense the first, second or neutral position of said floating gear; g. control circuitry to initiate a gear shift by causing said floating gear to move from neutral position to said first or second position, and then disconnecting said power source, thus permitting motive power from said drive chain to laterally move said carriage assembly and to place said drive chain on the next adjacent rear sprocket gear after which said power source is connected to drive said floating gear to its neutral position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The control system of claim 3 wherein power from said power source is used solely for changing the position of said floating gear from neutral to a first or second position, or from said first or second position back to the neutral position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a derailleur gear changing mechanism including a main drive sprocket, a plurality of rear sprocket gears, a carrier assembly with means for laterally shifting the drive chain with power solely derived from motion of the drive chain, a control system for changing the gear ratio comprising: a. floating gear positionable from a neutral position to a first or second position to cause said lateral shifting means to be driven toward the inboard or outboard direction; b. means for positioning said floating gear into the said first, second or neutral position; c. means to automatically control the duration of said floating gear in its first or second position before returning it to neutral position, said duration being terminated upon placement of said drive chain on the desired rear sprocket gear.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
130 words
In a derailleur gear changing mechanism including a main drive sprocket, a plurality of rear sprocket gears, a carrier assembly with means for laterally shifting the drive chain with power solely derived from motion of the drive chain, a control system for changing the gear ratio comprising: a. floating gear positionable from a neutral position to a first or second position to cause said lateral shifting means to be driven toward the inboard or outboard direction; b. means for positioning said floating gear into the said first, second or neutral position; c. means to automatically control the duration of said floating gear in its first or second position before returning it to neutral position, said duration being terminated upon placement of said drive chain on the desired rear sprocket gear.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
135 words
The control system of claim 5 wherein said means for positioning said floating gear includes: b1. a power source; b2. a directional starting switch; b3. a drive means; b4. a movable lever for holding said floating gear, said lever being moved in response to said drive means; b5. a first sensing means representative of the amount of motion imparted to said lateral shifting means, wherein after a proper amount of motion is delivered, the said first sensing means initiates reversal of said drive means to cause said movable lever to position said floating gear in neutral position, thus stopping any further motion of said lateral shifting means; b6. a second sensing means representative of the position of said floating gear, and operative to shut off said drive means after each position-change of said floating gear.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
The control system of claim 6 wherein said first sensing means includes: b5.1. a plurality of fixed contacts representative of the position of each rear sprocket gear; b5.2. a movable contact representative of the position of the drive chain carried by said lateral shifting means; and wherein said second sensing means includes: b6.1. a first plurality of fixed electrical contacts mounted adjacent said movable lever; b6.2. a second plurality of contacts mounted on said movable lever.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a derailleur mechanism providing for the capability of gear-ratio change, and constituting a main drive sprocket, a drive chain, a plurality of rear sprocket gears, and a carriage unit able to move said drive chain laterally when a positionable actuating gear is connected thereto, a control system for automatically stopping the lateral motion of said carriage unit and drive chain when the desired gear shift has been accomplished, the combination comprising: A1. an electrical power source; A2. a drive means powered by said power source; A3. a directional switch for starting a gear change cycle; a. means to laterally shift said drive chain with motive power derived solely from said drive chain; b. a positionable actuating gear positionable to cause said lateral shift means to move inboard or outboard; c. means for changing said positionable gear from one position to another, said changing means being driven by said drive means; d. means for sensing the position of said positionable gear; e. means for shutting off said drive means at the completion of each position change of said positionable gear; f. means for reversing said drive means upon the completion of the gear shift, thus to stop lateral motion of said lateral shift means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a derailleur mechanism providing for the capability of gear-ratio change, and constituting a main drive sprocket, a drive chain, a plurality of rear sprocket gears, and a carriage unit able to move said drive chain laterally when a positionable actuating gear is connected thereto, a control system for automatically stopping the lateral motion of said carriage unit and drive chain when the desired gear shift has been accomplished, the combination comprising: A1. an electrical power source; A2. a drive means powered by said power source; A3. a directional switch for starting a gear change cycle; a. means to laterally shift said drive chain with motive power derived solely from said drive chain; b. a positionable actuating gear positionable to cause said lateral shift means to move inboard or outboard; c. means for changing said positionable gear from one position to another, said changing means being driven by said drive means; d. means for sensing the position of said positionable gear; e. means for shutting off said drive means at the completion of each position change of said positionable gear; f. means for reversing said drive means upon the completion of the gear shift, thus to stop lateral motion of said lateral shift means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3919891A
Cited
US3863512A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-08-15 | 1981-02-14 | 1981-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-15 | 1985-02-14 | 1985-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-15 | 1989-02-14 | 1989-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |