Suspension enhancing hub and rear derailleur assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024369112-A1
Application number	US-202418777043-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 18, 2024
Priority date	Nov 26, 2018
Publication date	Nov 7, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly. The decoupling hub assembly has an axle and a hub shell rotationally positioned about the axle. A controller provides automatic activation/deactivation signals to an inductor. The decoupling hub assembly has a bearing rotationally positioned about the axle and a cassette body assembly, having a plurality of teeth, rotationally positioned about the bearing. One or more pawls are provided to engage with at least some of the teeth of the cassette body assembly and a seal is used to contain the pawls within the decoupling hub assembly. A cassette body assembly is coupled with the ratchet ring and an end cap is used to prevent a contaminant from entering into the decoupling hub assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly comprising:
an axle; a hub shell rotationally positioned about said axle; a bearing rotationally positioned about said axle; a cassette body assembly rotationally positioned about said bearing, said cassette body assembly having at least one tooth therein; an inductor comprising at least one pawl to selectively engage or disengage with said at least one tooth of said cassette body assembly; a selective disengagement of said at least one pawl from said at least one tooth of said cassette body assembly will cause said electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly to enter a freewheel state; a selective engagement of said at least one pawl with said at least one tooth of said cassette body assembly will cause said electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly to enter a force transfer state; a controller to provide at least one signal to said inductor, wherein said at least one signal is generated by a manual input provided by a user of a vehicle including said electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly, said at least one signal causing said inductor to engage or disengage said at least one pawl with said at least one tooth of said cassette body assembly; a seal to contain said at least one pawl within said electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly; a ratchet ring; and an end cap coupled with said cassette body assembly, said end cap configured to prevent entry of contaminant into said electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly.

2 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 1 , wherein said hub shell is rotationally positioned about said axle on a non-drive side of said electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly.

3 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 1 , wherein said bearing is rotationally positioned about said axle on a drive side of said electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly.

4 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
said controller to provide at least one activation signal; and said inductor to receive said at least one activation signal and engage said at least one pawl with said at least one tooth of said cassette body assembly.

5 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
said controller to provide at least one deactivation signal; and said inductor to receive said at least one deactivation signal and disengage said at least one pawl from said at least one tooth of said cassette body assembly.

6 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
said controller to provide a plurality of activation signals; said controller to provide a plurality of deactivation signals; and said inductor to receive said plurality of activation signals and said plurality of deactivation signals and engage or disengage said at least one pawl with said at least one tooth of said cassette body assembly in accordance therewith.

7 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
said cassette body assembly having a plurality of teeth therein; and said inductor comprising a plurality of pawls, said plurality of pawls to selectively engage or disengage with at least two of said plurality of teeth of said cassette body assembly.

8 . An electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly comprising:
an axle; a hub shell rotationally positioned about said axle; a bearing rotationally positioned about said axle; a rachet ring rotationally positioned about said bearing, said ratchet ring having at least one tooth therein; at least one pawl to selectively engage or disengage with said at least one tooth of said ratchet ring, a selective disengagement of said at least one pawl from said at least one tooth of said ratchet ring will cause said electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly to enter a freewheel state, and a selective engagement of said at least one pawl with said at least one tooth of said ratchet ring will cause said electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly to enter a force transfer state; and a mechanical device coupled with said at least one pawl, said mechanical device to engage or disengage said at least one pawl with said at least one tooth of said cassette body assembly.

9 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 8 , wherein said mechanical device further comprises:
a plurality of stepper motors coupled with said at least one pawl.

10 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 8 , wherein said mechanical device further comprises:
a stepper motor; a plurality of linkages coupled with said stepper motor and said at least one pawl.

11 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 8 , wherein said mechanical device further comprises:
a solenoid coupled with said at least one pawl.

12 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
said hub shell rotationally positioned about said axle on a non-drive side of a wheel; and said bearing rotationally positioned about said axle on a drive side of said wheel.

13 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a controller to provide at least one automatic activation signal; and said mechanical device to receive said at least one automatic activation signal and engage said at least one pawl with said at least one tooth of said ratchet ring.

14 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a controller to provide at least one automatic deactivation signal; and said mechanical device to receive said at least one automatic deactivation signal and disengage said at least one pawl from said at least one tooth of said ratchet ring.

15 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a controller to provide a plurality of automatic activation signals; said controller to provide a plurality of automatic deactivation signals; and said mechanical device to receive said plurality of automatic activation signals and said plurality of automatic deactivation signals and engage or disengage said at least one pawl with said at least one tooth of said ratchet ring in accordance therewith.

16 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
at least one sensor to provide an input to said controller, said input causing said controller to automatically provide said at least one automatic signal to said mechanical device.

17 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 16 , wherein said at least one sensor is selected from a group of sensors consisting of: an accelerometer, an optical detection device, and an image capturing device.

18 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
said ratchet ring having a plurality of teeth therein; and said mechanical device comprising a plurality of pawls, said plurality of pawls to selectively engage or disengage with at least two of said plurality of teeth of said ratchet ring.

19 . The electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly of claim 8 , further comprising:
a seal to contain said at least one pawl within said electronic automatically decoupling hub assembly; a cassette body assembly coupled with said rachet ring;

Assignees

• Fox Factory Inc

Inventors

• Choltco-Devlin Evan Michael
• Fitzsimmons Mark Stephen
• Allinger Wesley E

Classifications

• F16D2500/1107

  Vehicles · CPC title

• F16D2121/20

  using electromagnets · CPC title

• F16D27/09

  and with interengaging jaws or gear-teeth · CPC title

• F16D41/26

  with provision for altering the action · CPC title

• F16D48/064 Primary

  Control of electrically or electromagnetically actuated clutches (F16D48/062, F16D48/068 take precedence) · CPC title