Bicycle hub assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11628686-B2
Application number	US-202016845800-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 10, 2020
Priority date	Oct 7, 2016
Publication date	Apr 18, 2023
Grant date	Apr 18, 2023

Abstract

The bicycle hub assembly includes a hub axle, a hub body, a bearing unit, a lock member, and a tool engagement member. The bearing unit is configured to rotatably support the hub body around the hub axle with respect to the rotational center axis. The bearing unit includes an outer race, an inner race and a plurality of rolling members. The lock member prevents the inner race of the bearing unit from rotating relative to the hub axle. The lock member has an outer peripheral surface. The tool engagement member is configured to rotate the inner race of the bearing unit relative to the hub axle. The tool engagement member has an inner peripheral surface. The inner peripheral surface of the tool engagement member is disposed radially outwardly relative to the outer peripheral surface of the lock member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle hub assembly comprising:
a hub axle having a first end, a second end opposite to the first end in an axial direction parallel to a rotational center axis of the bicycle hub assembly and an axle threaded portion formed on at least one of the first end and the second end;
a hub body rotatably supported around the hub axle with respect to the rotational center axis;
a bearing unit configured to rotatably support the hub body around the hub axle with respect to the rotational center axis and including an outer race, an inner race and a plurality of rolling members disposed between the outer race and the inner race, the inner race having a first torque-transmitting portion and a bearing threaded portion configured to threadedly engage with the axle threaded portion of the hub axle;
a lock member configured to prevent the inner race of the bearing unit from rotating relative to the hub axle in a fully assembled state where the bearing unit and the lock member are mounted to the hub axle, the lock member having a first tool-engagement portion and a lock-member threaded portion configured to threadedly engage with the axle threaded portion, the lock member having an outer peripheral surface; and
a tool engagement member configured to rotate the inner race of the bearing unit relative to the hub axle in a state where the inner race is threaded onto the hub axle and having a second tool-engagement portion and a second torque-transmitting portion configured to engage with the first torque-transmitting portion of the inner race, the tool engagement member having an inner peripheral surface, wherein
the inner peripheral surface of the tool engagement member is disposed on and in direct contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lock member.

2. The bicycle hub assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first tool-engagement portion includes a plurality of first tool-engagement linear surfaces.

3. The bicycle hub assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the second tool-engagement portion includes a plurality of second tool-engagement linear surfaces.

4. The bicycle hub assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the second tool-engagement portion is disposed between the inner race of the bearing unit and the first tool-engagement portion of the lock member in the axial direction.

5. The bicycle hub assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the second tool-engagement portion is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the tool engagement member.

6. The bicycle hub assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first tool-engagement portion is disposed on an outer peripheral surface or an inner peripheral surface of the lock member.

7. A bicycle hub assembly comprising:
a hub axle having a first end, a second end opposite to the first end in an axial direction parallel to a rotational center axis of the bicycle hub assembly and an axle threaded portion formed on at least one of the first end and the second end;
a hub body rotatably supported around the hub axle with respect to the rotational center axis;
a bearing unit configured to rotatably support the hub body around the hub axle with respect to the rotational center axis and including an outer race, an inner race and a plurality of rolling members disposed between the outer race and the inner race, the inner race having a bearing threaded portion configured to threadedly engage with the axle threaded portion of the hub axle; and
a lock member configured to prevent the inner race of the bearing unit from rotating relative to the hub axle in a fully assembled state where the bearing unit and the lock member are mounted to the hub axle, the lock member having a first tool-engagement portion and a lock-member threaded portion configured to threadedly engage with the axle threaded portion, the lock member having an outer peripheral surface, wherein
the inner race of the bearing unit includes an inner race body and an axially extending part having a second tool-engagement portion spaced apart from the first tool-engagement portion in the axial direction, the second tool-engagement portion having an inner peripheral surface, and
the inner peripheral surface of the second tool-engagement portion is disposed on and in direct contact with the outer peripheral surface of the lock member.

8. The bicycle hub assembly according to claim 7 , wherein
the first tool-engagement portion includes a plurality of first tool-engagement linear surfaces.

9. The bicycle hub assembly according to claim 7 , wherein
the second tool-engagement portion includes a plurality of second tool-engagement linear surfaces.

10. The bicycle hub assembly according to claim 7 , wherein
the second tool-engagement portion is disposed between the inner race body of the inner race and the first tool-engagement portion of the lock member in the axial direction.

11. The bicycle hub assembly according to claim 7 , wherein
the second tool-engagement portion is disposed on an outer peripheral surface of the axially extending part.

12. The bicycle hub assembly according to claim 7 , wherein
the first tool-engagement portion is disposed on an outer peripheral surface or an inner peripheral surface of the lock member.

13. A bicycle hub assembly comprising:
a hub axle having a first end, a second end opposite to the first end in an axial direction parallel to a rotational center axis of the bicycle hub assembly and an axle threaded portion formed on at least one of the first end and the second end;
a hub body rotatably supported around the hub axle with respect to the rotational center axis;
a bearing unit configured to rotatably support the hub body around the hub axle with respect to the rotational center axis and including an outer race, an inner race and a plurality of rolling members disposed between the outer race and the inner race, the inner race having a first torque-transmitting portion and a bearing threaded portion configured to threadedly engage with the axle threaded portion of the hub axle;
a lock member configured to prevent the inner race of the bearing unit from rotating relative to the hub axle in a fully assembled state where the bearing unit and the lock member are mounted to the hub axle, the lock member having a first tool-engagement portion and a lock-member threaded portion configured to threadedly engage with the axle threaded portion, the lock member having a radially outermost surface; and
a tool engagement member configured to rotate the inner race of the bearing unit relative to the hub axle in a state where the inner race is threaded onto the hub axle and having a second tool-engagement portion and a second torque-transmitting portion configured to engage with the first torque-transmitting portion of the inner race, the tool engagement member having an inner peripheral surface, wherein
the inner peripheral surface of the tool engagement member is disposed on the radially outermost surface of the lock member.

14. A bicycle hub assembly comprising:
a hub axle having a first end, a second end opposite to the first end in an axial direction parallel to a rotational center axis of the bicycle hub assembly and an axle threaded portion formed on at least one of the first end and the second end;
a hub body rotatably supported around the hub axle with respect to the rotational center axis;
a bearing unit configured to rotatably support the hub body around the hub axle with respect to the rotational center axis and including an outer race, an inner race and a plurality of rolling members disposed between the outer race and the inner race, the inner race having a

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Nakajima Jun
• Koshiyama Kazuki

Classifications

• B60B2360/10

  Metallic materials · CPC title

• B60B2310/305

  by screwing · CPC title

• B60B27/0078

  characterised by the fixation of bearings · CPC title

• B60B2360/104

  Aluminum · CPC title

• B60B27/026

  comprising quick release devices · CPC title