Actuation device and telescopic apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11524737-B2
Application number	US-201916414858-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2019
Priority date	Sep 6, 2018
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

An actuation device for a human-powered vehicle comprises a base member, a movable member, and an actuator. The movable member is movably provided on the base member. The actuator is configured to be actuated by stimulation including at least one of electric stimulation and heat stimulation so as to move the movable member relative to the base member in a first direction by pulling the movable member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A telescopic apparatus for a human-powered vehicle, comprising:
an actuation device including
a base member,
a movable member movably provided on the base member, and
an actuator configured to be actuated by stimulation including at least one of electric stimulation and heat stimulation so as to move the movable member relative to the base member in a first direction by pulling the movable member, wherein the actuator is configured to deform to pull the movable member in accordance with the stimulation; and

a hydraulic structure including a valve configured to control a fluid communication state between a first hydraulic chamber and a second hydraulic chamber, wherein
the movable member is movable relative to the hydraulic structure to operate the valve.

2. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the actuator is configured to be actuated by the stimulation so as to move the movable member relative to the base member in a second direction different from the first direction.

3. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

4. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the actuator includes a shape-memory alloy configured to deform to pull the movable member in accordance with the stimulation.

5. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the actuator includes a nylon fiber configured to deform to pull the movable member in accordance with the stimulation.

6. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the actuator includes an actuation wire configured to vary a total length of the actuation wire to pull the movable member in accordance with a change in the stimulation.

7. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein
the actuation wire is configured to decrease the total length of the actuation wire to pull the movable member in accordance with an increase in the stimulation, and
the actuation wire is configured to increase the total length of the actuation wire to release a pulling force of the actuation wire in accordance with a decrease in the stimulation.

8. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising
an adjustment structure configured to adjust a tension of the actuation wire.

9. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 6 , further comprising
a positioning structure configured to maintain a position of the movable member.

10. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein
the actuation wire is configured to pull the movable member from a first initial position to a first actuated position, and
the positioning structure is configured to position the movable member relative to the base member in the first actuated position after the actuation wire pulls the movable member from the first initial position to the first actuated position.

11. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein
the positioning structure includes a lock member engageable with the movable member to position the movable member in the first actuated position.

12. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
the movable member includes a first engagement part, and
the lock member includes a second engagement part engageable with the first engagement part to position the movable member in the first actuated position.

13. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein
the actuator includes an additional actuation wire configured to vary a total length of the additional actuation wire to move the movable member in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

14. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising
an additional adjustment structure configured to adjust a tension of the additional actuation wire.

15. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein
the additional adjustment structure includes
an adjustment portion provided on the base member, the adjustment portion being coupled to the additional actuation wire,
a threaded hole provided on the adjustment portion, and
an adjustment member threaded into the threaded hole so as to change relative position between the adjustment portion and the base member.

16. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein
the additional actuation wire configured to disengage the second engagement part from the first engagement part.

17. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein
the lock member is movably coupled to the base member between
a lock position where the second engagement part is engaged with the first engagement part, and
a release position where the second engagement part is disengaged from the first engagement part, and

the additional actuation wire is configured to move the lock member from the lock position to the release position relative to the base member.

18. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 17 , wherein
the positioning structure includes a release member movable relative to the movable member between
a second initial position where the lock member is positioned in the lock position, and
a second actuated position where the release member is engaged with the lock member to position the lock member in the release position.

19. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein
the additional actuation wire includes
a first additional wire end portion coupled to the base member,
a second additional wire end portion opposite to the first additional wire end portion, the second additional wire end portion being coupled to the base member, and
an additional intermediate portion provided between the first additional wire end portion and the second additional wire end portion, the additional intermediate portion being coupled to the release member.

20. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein
the additional actuation wire is configured to pull the release member from the second initial position to the second actuated position in the second direction.

21. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 20 , wherein
the additional actuation wire is configured to decrease the total length of the additional actuation wire to pull the release member in accordance with an increase in the stimulation, and
the additional actuation wire is configured to increase the total length of the additional actuation wire to release a pulling force of the additional actuation wire in accordance with a decrease in the stimulation.

22. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein
the base member includes a groove extending along the first direction,
the actuation wire is provided in the groove, and
the groove includes an inclined groove inclined relative to the first direction.

23. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein
the groove includes a first groove and a second groove which is separate from the first groove, and
at least one of the first groove and the second groove includes the inclined groove.

24. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 23 , wherein
the first groove faces in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction, and
the second groove faces in the third direction.

25. The telescopic apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the base member includes a thermal conductor having electric insulation.

26. The telescopic apparatus according to

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Sakagawa Yuki
• Shirai Toyoto
• Miki Yoshimitsu

Classifications

• F15B15/149

  Fluid interconnections, e.g. fluid connectors, passages · CPC title

• B62K19/36

  for attaching saddle pillars, e.g. adjustable during ride · CPC title

• B62J1/06 Primary

  Saddles capable of parallel motion up and down · CPC title

• B62J2001/085

  Seat pillars having mechanisms to vary seat height, independently of the cycle frame · CPC title

• F15B15/16

  of the telescopic type · CPC title