Planar ratchet assembly for human-powered vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12049932-B2
Application number	US-202117141567-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 5, 2021
Priority date	Jan 5, 2021
Publication date	Jul 30, 2024
Grant date	Jul 30, 2024

Abstract

A planar ratchet assembly is provided for a human-powered vehicle, and includes a first ratchet member and a second ratchet member. The first ratchet member includes an axial surface defining a plurality of first serrated teeth having a first driving surface and a first non-driving surface. At least one of the first non-driving surfaces includes a convex curved surface that has a radius of curvature of at least 0.5 mm. The second ratchet member includes an axial surface defining a plurality of second serrated teeth having a second driving surface and a second non-driving surface. The first ratchet member and the second ratchet member rotate together in a driving direction. At least one of the first ratchet member and the second ratchet member moves in an axial direction to permit relative rotation between the first ratchet member and the second ratchet member in a non-driving direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A planar ratchet assembly for a human-powered vehicle, the planar ratchet assembly comprising:
a first ratchet member including a first axial surface defining a plurality of first serrated teeth, the first serrated teeth having a first driving surface, a first non-driving surface and a first tooth tip, the first tooth tips connecting corresponding ones of the first driving surfaces and the first non-driving surfaces, at least one of the first non-driving surfaces including a first convex curved surface that has a first radius of curvature of at least 0.5 mm; and
a second ratchet member including a second axial surface defining a plurality of second serrated teeth, the second serrated teeth having a second driving surface, a second non-driving surface and a second tooth tip, the second tooth tips connecting corresponding ones of the second driving surfaces and the second non-driving surfaces, at least one of the second non-driving surfaces including a second convex curved surface that has a second radius of curvature of at least 0.5 mm,
the first ratchet member and the second ratchet member being configured to rotate together about a rotational axis in a driving direction where the first driving surfaces contact the second driving surfaces, and at least one of the first ratchet member and the second ratchet member being movable in an axial direction of the rotational axis to permit relative rotation between the first ratchet member and the second ratchet member about the rotational axis in a non-driving direction where the first non-driving surfaces and the second non-driving surfaces slidably contact each other,
the at least one of the first non-driving surfaces including a first planar surface extending at least in the axial direction, the first tooth tips including a first flat surface extending substantially perpendicularly with respect to the axial direction, and the first convex curved surface connecting the first planar surface and the first flat surface.

2. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first radius of curvature is at least 1.0 mm.

3. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 2 , wherein
the first radius of curvature is at least 1.5 mm.

4. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one of the first non-driving surfaces further includes a first planar surface.

5. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one of the first non-driving surfaces further includes a first concave curved surface.

6. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 5 , wherein
the first convex curved surface is located between the first tooth tip and the first concave curved surface of the at least one of the first non-driving surfaces.

7. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 5 , wherein
the at least one of the first non-driving surfaces further includes a first planar surface connecting the first convex curved surface and the first concave curved surface.

8. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 5 , wherein
the first convex curved surface and the first concave curved surface for the at least one of the first non-driving surfaces are continuous without a planar surface therebetween.

9. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one of the first non-driving surfaces has a first tilt angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis that is greater than zero degrees and that is twenty-five degrees or less.

10. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
the first tilt angle is twenty degrees or less.

11. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 9 , wherein
the first tilt angle is sixteen degrees or less.

12. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
at least one of the first tooth tips includes a first flat surface.

13. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first ratchet member further includes a first root surface between adjacent ones of the first serrated teeth.

14. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 13 , wherein
the second ratchet member further includes a second root surface between adjacent ones of the second serrated teeth, and
at least one of the first tooth tips is spaced from the second root surfaces where the first driving surfaces are engaged with the second driving surfaces.

15. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first serrated teeth include an outer surface having an aluminum alloy.

16. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the second radius of curvature is at least 1.0 mm.

17. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 16 , wherein
the second radius of curvature is at least 1.5 mm.

18. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one of the second non-driving surfaces further includes a second planar surface.

19. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one of the second non-driving surfaces further includes a second concave curved surface.

20. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 19 , wherein
the second convex curved surface is located between the second tooth tip and the second concave curved surface of the at least one of the second non-driving surfaces.

21. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 19 , wherein
the at least one of the second non-driving surfaces further includes a second planar surface connecting the second convex curved surface and the second concave curved surface.

22. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 19 , wherein
the second convex curved surface and the second concave curved surface for the at least one of the second non-driving surfaces are continuous without a planar surface therebetween.

23. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one of the second non-driving surfaces has a second tilt angle with respect to a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis that is greater than zero degrees and that is twenty-five degrees or less.

24. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 23 , wherein
the second tilt angle is twenty degrees or less.

25. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 23 , wherein
the second tilt angle is sixteen degrees or less.

26. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
at least one of the second tooth tips includes a second flat surface.

27. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the second ratchet member further includes a second root surface between adjacent ones of the second serrated teeth.

28. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 27 , wherein
the first ratchet member further includes a first root surface between adjacent ones of the first serrated teeth, and
at least one of the second tooth tips is spaced from the first root surfaces where the first driving surfaces are engaged with the second driving surfaces.

29. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the second serrated teeth include an outer surface having an aluminum alloy.

30. The planar ratchet assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the first ratchet member has a total number of the first serrated teeth arranged in a first ring having a first out

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Oka Tomonari

Classifications

• B60B27/023

  specially adapted for bicycles · CPC title

• B60B2900/133

  Noise · CPC title

• B60B2200/47

  Physical activity equipment, e.g. leisure or sports articles · CPC title

• B60B2360/104

  Aluminum · CPC title

• B60B2900/212

  Damage · CPC title