Sprocket support body and bicycle rear hub assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019092427-A1
Application number	US-201816008031-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 14, 2018
Priority date	Sep 22, 2017
Publication date	Mar 28, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A sprocket support body is rotatably mounted on a hub axle of a bicycle rear hub assembly. The sprocket support body comprises at least ten external spline teeth configured to engage with a bicycle rear sprocket assembly. Each of the at least ten external spline teeth has an external-spline driving surface and an external-spline non-driving surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A sprocket support body rotatably mounted on a hub axle of a bicycle rear hub assembly, the sprocket support body comprising:
at least ten external spline teeth configured to engage with a bicycle rear sprocket assembly, each of the at least ten external spline teeth having an external-spline driving surface and an external-spline non-driving surface.

2 . The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein
the external-spline driving surface has a first external-spline-surface angle defined between the external-spline driving surface and a first radial line extending from a rotational center axis of the bicycle rear hub assembly to a radially outermost edge of the external-spline driving surface, and the first external-spline-surface angle is equal to or smaller than 6 degrees.

3 . The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein
the external-spline non-driving surface has a second external-spline-surface angle defined between the external-spline non-driving surface and a second radial line extending from a rotational center axis of the bicycle rear hub assembly to a radially outermost edge of the external-spline non-driving surface, and the second external-spline-surface angle is equal to or smaller than 6 degrees.

4 . The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein
at least one of the at least ten external spline teeth has an axial spline-tooth length that is equal to or smaller than 27 mm.

5 . The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein
a total number of the at least ten external spline teeth ranges from 22 to 24.

6 . The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least ten external spline teeth have a first external pitch angle and a second external pitch angle different from the first external pitch angle.

7 . The sprocket support body according to claim 6 , wherein
the first external pitch angle ranges from 13 degrees to 17 degrees, and the second external pitch angle ranges from 28 degrees to 32 degrees.

8 . The sprocket support body according to claim 6 , wherein
the first external pitch angle is half of the second external pitch angle.

9 . The sprocket support body according to claim 6 , wherein
the first external pitch angle ranges from 13 degrees to 17 degrees.

10 . The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the at least ten external spline teeth includes an external-spline driving surface to receive a driving rotational force from the bicycle rear sprocket assembly during pedaling, the external-spline driving surface includes
a radially outermost edge,
a radially innermost edge, and
a radial length defined from the radially outermost edge to the radially innermost edge, and
a total of the radial lengths of the external-spline driving surfaces of the at least ten external spline teeth is equal to or larger than 7 mm.

11 . The sprocket support body according to claim 10 , wherein
the total of the radial lengths of the external-spline driving surfaces ranges from 11 mm to 14 mm.

12 . The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein
at least one of the at least ten external spline teeth is circumferentially symmetric with respect to a reference line extending from a rotational center axis to a circumferential center point of a radially outermost end of the at least one of the at least ten external spline teeth in a radial direction with respect to the rotational center axis.

13 . The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least ten external spline teeth has an external-spline major diameter that is equal to or smaller than 34 mm.

14 . The sprocket support body according to claim 13 , wherein
the external-spline major diameter is equal to or smaller than 33 mm.

15 . The sprocket support body according to claim 13 , wherein
the external-spline major diameter is equal to or larger than 29 mm.

16 . The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least ten external spline tooth has an external-spline minor diameter that is equal to or smaller than 32 mm.

17 . The sprocket support body according to claim 16 , wherein
the external-spline minor diameter is equal to or smaller than 31 mm.

18 . The sprocket support body according to claim 16 , wherein
the external-spline minor diameter is equal to or larger than 28 mm.

19 . A bicycle rear hub assembly comprising:
a hub axle; a hub body rotatably mounted on the hub axle about a rotational center axis of the bicycle rear hub assembly; and the sprocket support body according to claim 1 .

20 . The bicycle rear hub assembly according to claim 19 , further comprising
a freewheel structure including
a first ratchet member including at least one first ratchet tooth, and
a second ratchet member including at least one second ratchet tooth configured to engage with the at least one first ratchet tooth in a torque transmitting manner, wherein
the first ratchet member is configured to engage with one of the hub body and the sprocket support body in a torque transmitting manner, the second ratchet member is configured to engage with the other of the hub body and the sprocket support body in a torque transmitting manner, and at least one of the first ratchet member and the second ratchet member is movable relative to the hub axle in an axial direction with respect to the rotational center axis.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Oka Tomonari

Classifications

• B60B27/023 Primary

  specially adapted for bicycles · CPC title

• B60B27/0031

  of the axial type, e.g. front teeth · CPC title

• B60B27/047 Primary

  comprising a freewheel mechanisms · CPC title

• B62M9/10

  involving different-sized wheels, {e.g. rear sprocket chain wheels} selectively engaged by the chain, belt, or the like {(bicycle hubs rotatably arranged on axle B60B27/023)} · CPC title

• B60B27/04

  housing driving means, e.g. sprockets · CPC title