Bicycle derailleur and bicycle rear derailleur

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12043345-B2
Application number	US-202217993837-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 23, 2022
Priority date	Sep 11, 2020
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

A bicycle derailleur comprises a base member, a movable member, a motor unit, and a controller. The controller is configured to control the motor unit to rotate an output shaft of the motor unit at a first maximum voltage during a first shifting operation of the chain in a first shifting direction. The controller is configured to control the motor unit to rotate the output shaft of the motor unit at a second maximum voltage during a second shifting operation of the chain in a second shifting direction. The first maximum voltage is different from the second maximum voltage. The bicycle derailleur is configured to receive electricity from an electric power source configured to supply electricity to an assist driving unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A bicycle derailleur comprising:
a base member;
a movable member configured to be movably coupled to the base member, the movable member being movable relative to the base member from a second gear position to a first gear position to move a chain in a first shifting direction, the movable member being movable relative to the base member from the first gear position to the second gear position to move the chain in a second shifting direction which is an opposite direction of the first shifting direction;
a motor unit configured to move the movable member relative to the base member between the first gear position and the second gear position; and
a controller configured to control the motor unit to rotate an output shaft of the motor unit at a first maximum voltage during a first shifting operation of the chain in the first shifting direction, the controller being configured to control the motor unit to rotate the output shaft of the motor unit at a second maximum voltage during a second shifting operation of the chain in the second shifting direction, the first maximum voltage being different from the second maximum voltage,
the bicycle derailleur being configured to receive electricity from an electric power source configured to supply electricity to an assist driving unit.

2. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
a gear ratio is defined as a quotient obtained by dividing a total tooth number of a bicycle front sprocket by a total tooth number of a bicycle rear sprocket,
the gear ratio includes a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio that is smaller than the first gear ratio,
the gear ratio changes from the second gear ratio to the first gear ratio in the first shifting operation,
the gear ratio changes from the first gear ratio to the second gear ratio in the second shifting operation, and
the first maximum voltage is higher than the second maximum voltage.

3. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to control electric power supply to the motor unit at a first amount of electric power in a state where the motor unit moves the movable member relative to the base member in the first shifting operation,
the controller is configured to control electric power supply to the motor unit at a second amount of electric power in a state where the motor unit moves the movable member relative to the base member in the second shifting operation,
the first amount of electric power is different from the second amount of electric power, and
the first amount of electric power is larger than the second amount of electric power.

4. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 1 , wherein
the controller is configured to change at least one of the first maximum voltage and the second maximum voltage based on power-source information relating to an electric power source configured to supply electric power to the bicycle derailleur,
the power-source information includes a remaining level of the electric power source, and
the controller is configured to reduce higher one of the first maximum voltage and the second maximum voltage if the remaining level of the electric power source is lower than a remaining-level threshold.

5. A bicycle derailleur comprising:
a base member;
a movable member configured to be movably coupled to the base member, the movable member being movable relative to the base member from a second gear position to a first gear position to move a chain in a first shifting direction, the movable member being movable relative to the base member from the first gear position to the second gear position to move the chain in a second shifting direction which is an opposite direction of the first shifting direction;
a motor unit configured to move the movable member relative to the base member between the first gear position and the second gear position; and
a controller configured to control the motor unit to rotate an output shaft of the motor unit at a first maximum voltage during a first shifting operation of the chain in the first shifting direction, the controller being configured to control the motor unit to rotate the output shaft of the motor unit at a second maximum voltage during a second shifting operation of the chain in the second shifting direction, the first maximum voltage being different from the second maximum voltage,
the bicycle derailleur being configured to wirelessly communicate with an additional derailleur.

6. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 5 , wherein
a gear ratio is defined as a quotient obtained by dividing a total tooth number of a bicycle front sprocket by a total tooth number of a bicycle rear sprocket,
the gear ratio includes a first gear ratio and a second gear ratio that is smaller than the first gear ratio,
the gear ratio changes from the second gear ratio to the first gear ratio in the first shifting operation,
the gear ratio changes from the first gear ratio to the second gear ratio in the second shifting operation, and
the first maximum voltage is higher than the second maximum voltage.

7. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 5 , wherein
the controller is configured to control electric power supply to the motor unit at a first amount of electric power in a state where the motor unit moves the movable member relative to the base member in the first shifting operation,
the controller is configured to control electric power supply to the motor unit at a second amount of electric power in a state where the motor unit moves the movable member relative to the base member in the second shifting operation,
the first amount of electric power is different from the second amount of electric power, and
the first amount of electric power is larger than the second amount of electric power.

8. The bicycle derailleur according to claim 5 , wherein
the controller is configured to change at least one of the first maximum voltage and the second maximum voltage based on power-source information relating to an electric power source configured to supply electric power to the bicycle derailleur,
the power-source information includes a remaining level of the electric power source, and
the controller is configured to reduce higher one of the first maximum voltage and the second maximum voltage if the remaining level of the electric power source is lower than a remaining-level threshold.

9. A bicycle rear derailleur comprising:
a base member;
a movable member configured to be movably coupled to the base member, the movable member being movable relative to the base member from a second gear position to a first gear position to move a chain in a first shifting direction, the movable member being movable relative to the base member from the first gear position to the second gear position to move the chain in a second shifting direction which is an opposite direction of the first shifting direction;
a motor unit configured to move the movable member relative to the base member between the first gear position and the second gear position; and
a controller configured to control the motor unit to rotate an output shaft of the motor unit at a first maximum voltage during a first shifting operation of the chain in the first shifting direction, the controller being configured to control the motor unit to rotate the output shaft of the motor unit at a second maximum voltage during a second shifting operation of the chain in the second shifting direction, the first maximum voltage being different from the second maximum voltage.

10. The bicycle rear derailleur according to claim 9 , wherein
a gear ratio is defined as a quotient obtained by dividing a total tooth number of a bicycle

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Fujimoto Naoki
• Tachibana Katsuhiro
• Yamada Yutaro

Classifications

• B62J43/30

  for providing power to equipment other than for propulsion · CPC title

• B62M25/08

  with electrical or fluid transmitting systems · CPC title

• B62M2025/006

  with auxiliary shift assisting means · CPC title

• B62M9/1242

  characterised by the linkage mechanisms · CPC title

• B62M9/132

  electrically or fluid actuated; Controls thereof · CPC title