Hub for an at least partially muscle-powered bicycle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11485173-B2
Application number	US-202017066263-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 8, 2020
Priority date	Jul 26, 2016
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

A hub for a bicycle includes a hub shell and an axle device. The hub shell is supported rotatably relative to the axle device by way of bearing devices. A bearing device is configured as a roller bearing, and includes two bearing rings with rolling members disposed between, and is sealed axially outwardly. Between the bearing rings, the roller bearing includes a modular unit, at which a sealing unit is configured for laterally sealing the roller bearing, and including guide units protruding laterally inwardly from the modular unit for guiding the rolling members.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hub for an at least partially muscle-powered bicycle, comprising:
a hub axle and an axle device;
the hub shell being supported rotatably relative to the axle device by way of bearing devices;
wherein at least one bearing device is configured as a roller bearing, comprising two bearing rings with rolling members disposed between, and being sealed axially outwardly;
between the bearing rings at least one roller bearing receives a modular unit, at which a sealing unit is configured for laterally sealing the roller bearing; and
comprising guide units protruding laterally inwardly from the modular unit for guiding the rolling members;
wherein the modular unit comprises an annular unit which is connected with the sealing unit that is configured in a washer shape, and
wherein the sealing unit rests against, making contact with, both of the bearing rings for sealing.

2. The hub according to claim 1 , characterized in that at least one roller bearing is configured narrow, and the axial width of the roller bearing is narrower than 1.7 times the diameter of a rolling member of the roller bearing, so as to increase the axial distance between the roller bearings and to obtain a wider support.

3. The hub according to claim 1 , wherein a bearing ring is configured as an inner ring, and wherein the other of the bearing rings is configured as an outer ring, and wherein the rolling members are axially received between the modular units.

4. The hub according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the axial width of a roller bearing to the diameter of a rolling member is between 1.2 and 1.6.

5. The hub according to claim 1 , wherein the bearing rings protrude axially outwardly to both sides beyond the modular units.

6. The hub according to claim 1 , wherein at least one roller bearing comprises two modular units on opposite axial sides of the roller bearing, and wherein the guide units are at least partially resilient and lock in the final position during mounting.

7. The hub according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the guide units extend in the axial direction over between 50% and 80% of the axial width of at least one bearing ring.

8. The hub according to claim 1 , wherein the guide units comprise rounded guide surfaces facing away from one another for rolling members, wherein the guide surfaces facing away from one another guide one rolling member each, and wherein the guide unit comprises two guide members protruding from the modular unit, between which a recess in the shape of a groove is formed, and wherein at least one recess is configured in the interior of the guide unit.

9. The hub according to claim 1 , wherein an axial elevation for separating the rolling members is configured between two guide units on the axially inside surface of the annular unit, and wherein at least one guide surface is configured on the axial elevation.

10. The hub according to claim 1 , wherein the two modular units are identical in construction and interlock at an offset when mounted.

11. The hub according to claim 1 , wherein at least one modular unit consists at least partially of a plastic.

12. The hub according to claim 1 , wherein at least one bearing ring consists at least partially of a material taken from a group of materials comprising steel, ceramics, and metal matrix composites.

13. The hub according to claim 12 , wherein at least one bearing ring is configured as a hybrid bearing ring and consists at least partially of steel and at least partially of ceramics.

14. The hub according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing surfaces of the bearing rings are ground.

15. The hub according to claim 1 , wherein the axial width of at least one of the roller bearings, given an external diameter between 20 mm and 40 mm, is less than 6.5 mm.

16. The hub according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the roller bearings is designed for a permanent speed of less than 1000 U/min.

17. The hub according to claim 1 , comprising a rotor rotatably supported relative to the hub axle by at least two rotor bearings configured as roller bearings,
and a freewheel device having two interacting freewheel components namely, a hub-side freewheel component and a rotor-side freewheel component,
wherein the two freewheel components each comprise axial engagement elements and are movable relative to one another in the axial direction at least between a freewheel position and an intermeshing engagement position,
wherein the hub-side freewheel component provides for defined accommodation of a roller bearing to support the hub shell relative to the hub axle,
wherein an attachment portion and a centering portion are configured in the hub shell,
and wherein an attachment area and a centering area are configured on the hub-side freewheel component,
and wherein the attachment area is connected with the attachment portion, and wherein the centering area is centered on the centering portion.

18. The hub according to claim 1 , comprising a freewheel unit comprising a freewheel component, a support unit and at least one spring unit,
wherein the freewheel component comprises a tubular body section extending around a central axis and configured hollow, showing a non-round outer contour for non-rotatable and axially displaceable coupling, and a front surface with axial engagement components,
and wherein the spring unit urges the freewheel component and the support unit apart in an axial direction of the central axis,
wherein the freewheel component, the support unit and the spring unit form an assembly suitable for pre-assembly, and wherein the spring unit is attached to the freewheel component and to the support unit.

19. The hub according to claim 1 ,
wherein the hub shell is supported rotatably relative to the axle device by way of bearing devices configured as hub bearings,
comprising a rotor rotatably supported relative to the axle device by at least two rotor bearings,
and a freewheel device having two interacting freewheel components namely, a hub-side freewheel component and a rotor-side freewheel component,
wherein the two freewheel components each comprise axial engagement elements and are movable relative to one another in the axial direction at least between a freewheel position and an intermeshing engaging position, wherein in the engaging position a driving torque can be transmitted in a direction of drive rotation,
wherein the hub-side freewheel component comprises an axial body section which is provided with a thread and is screwed into the hub shell by means of a thread, and wherein the hub-side freewheel component comprises an axial annular surface on which the axial engagement elements are formed at least in part,
the rolling members of a hub bearing show a defined accommodation inside the hub-side freewheel component to support the hub shell relative to the axle device, and wherein the hub-side freewheel component comprises at least one tool contour which couples to an adapted tool for releasing the screw connection of the hub-side freewheel component with the hub shell.

20. The hub according to claim 1 , wherein the hub shell is supported rotatably relative to the axle device with bearing devices configured as hub bearings, comprising a rotor rotatably supported relative to the axle device with at least two rotor bearings, and a freewheel device having a pair of interacting freewheel components namely, a hub-side freewheel component and a rotor-side freewheel component,
wherein the two freewheel components each comp

Assignees

• Dt Swiss Inc

Inventors

• Walthert Martin
• Spahr Stefan

Classifications

• F16C19/06 Primary

  with a single row or balls · CPC title

• B60B2380/14

  Roller bearings · CPC title

• B60B27/047

  comprising a freewheel mechanisms · CPC title

• F16C2226/74

  with snap-fit, e.g. by clips · CPC title

• F16C33/62

  Selection of substances · CPC title