Pedaling force measurement device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9322725-B2
Application number	US-201313959418-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2013
Priority date	Aug 28, 2012
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

A first pedaling force measurement device measures a plurality of pedaling force parameters acting on a first crank arm to one end of which a first pedal can be attached and to another end of which a crank shaft can be attached. The first pedaling force measurement device is provided with a strain-flexing part, a first parameter detection part and a first interference suppression part. Strain acting on the first crank arm is conveyed to the strain-flexing part. The parameter detection part is disposed on the strain-flexing part, and detects a plurality of parameters based on the strain being conveyed to the strain-flexing part. The interference suppression part suppresses interference in one parameter detected by the parameter detection part from the other parameters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pedaling force measurement device for measuring a plurality of parameters of pedaling force acting on a crank arm, the pedaling force measurement device comprising:
a strain-flexing part configured to receive a strain acting on the crank arm from pedaling, the strain-flexing part being disposed entirely on the crank arm;
a parameter detection part disposed on the strain-flexing part to detect the parameters from the strain acting on the strain-flexing part; and
an interference suppression part configured to suppress interference from one parameter detected by the parameter detection part from other ones of the parameters.

2. The pedaling force measurement device according to claim 1 , wherein
the parameter detection part comprises:
a second strain sensor configured to detect a second force component, corresponding to a crank arm longitudinal force component of a bending moment due to a load acting upon the crank arm from pedaling, as one of the parameters; and
a third strain sensor configured to detect a third force component, corresponding to a pedal axial direction force component of the bending moment due to the load acting upon the crank arm from pedaling, as one of the parameters.

3. The pedal force measurement device according to claim 2 , wherein
the parameter detection part comprises:
a first strain sensor configured to detect a first force component, corresponding to a rotational direction force component of the bending moment due to the load acting upon the crank arm from pedaling, as one of the parameters; and
a fourth strain sensor configured to detect a fourth force component, corresponding to a shear force the load acting upon the crank arm, as one of the parameters to determine an axial direction load position from pedaling.

4. The pedaling force measurement device according to claim 3 , wherein
each of the first through fourth strain sensors comprises at least vo strain gauge elements forming a Wheatstone bridge circuit.

5. The pedaling force measurement device according to claim 3 , wherein
each of the first through fourth strain sensors comprises four strain gauge elements forming a Wheatstone bridge circuit.

6. The pedaling force measurement device according to claim 5 , wherein
the strain-flexing part has a first surface, a second surface, a third surface and a fourth surface extending in a longitudinal direction of the crank arm;
the first surface and the fourth surface are substantially perpendicular to a shaft of the pedal; and
the second surface and the third surface are substantially parallel to the shaft of the pedal.

7. The pedaling force measurement device according to claim 6 , wherein
the strain-flexing part comprises a quadrangular prism.

8. The pedaling force measurement device according to claim 6 , wherein
the four strain gauge elements forming the third strain sensor are disposed on one of the first and fourth surfaces of the strain-flexing part;
the Wheatstone bridge circuit of the third strain sensor has a first pair of oppositely disposed strain gauge elements of the four strain gauge elements of the third strain sensor and a second pair of oppositely disposed strain gauge elements of the four strain gauge elements of the third strain sensor;
the first pair of oppositely disposed strain gauge elements being spaced from the second pair of oppositely disposed strain gauge elements in the longitudinal direction of the crank arm; and
the first and second pairs of oppositely disposed strain gauge elements being symmetrically disposed with respect to a longitudinal neutral axis of the strain-flexing part.

9. The pedaling force measurement device according to claim 6 , wherein
the four strain gauge elements forming the third strain sensor are disposed on one of the first and fourth surfaces of the strain-flexing part;
the Wheatstone bridge circuit of the third strain sensor has first, second, third and fourth strain gauge elements forming the four strain gauge elements of the third strain sensor;
the first and third strain gauge elements being oppositely disposed from each other in the Wheatstone bridge circuit of the third strain sensor, the second and fourth strain gauge elements being disposed between the first and third strain gauge elements;
the first and third strain gauge elements being symmetrically disposed with respect to a longitudinal neutral axis of the strain-flexing part and disposed at one end of the strain-flexing part; and
the second and fourth strain gauge elements being symmetrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal neutral axis of the strain-flexing part and disposed at the other end of the strain-flexing part.

10. The pedaling force measurement device according to claim 6 , wherein
the four strain gauge elements forming the first strain sensor are disposed on one end of the strain-flexing part;
the Wheatstone bridge circuit of the first strain sensor has first, second, third and fourth strain gauge elements forming the four strain gauge elements of the first strain sensor;
the first and third strain gauge elements being oppositely disposed from each other in the Wheatstone bridge circuit of the first strain sensor, the second and fourth strain gauge elements being disposed between the first and third strain gauge elements;
the first and third strain gauge elements being disposed on one of the second and third surfaces, while the second and fourth strain gauge elements being disposed on the other of the second and third surfaces;
the first and third strain gauge elements being symmetrically disposed with respect to a longitudinal neutral axis of the strain-flexing part; and
the second and fourth strain gauge elements being symmetrically disposed with respect to the longitudinal neutral axis of the strain-flexing part.

11. The pedaling force measurement device according to claim 6 , wherein
the four strain gauge elements forming the first strain sensor are disposed on one end of the strain-flexing part;
the Wheatstone bridge circuit of the first strain sensor has first, second, third and fourth strain gauge elements forming the four strain gauge elements of the first strain sensor;
the first and third strain gauge elements being oppositely disposed from each other in the Wheatstone bridge circuit of the first strain sensor, the second and fourth strain gauge elements being disposed between the first and third strain gauge elements;
the first and third strain gauge elements being disposed on one of the second and third surfaces, while the second and fourth strain gauge elements being disposed on the other of the second and third surfaces;
the first and third strain gauge elements being aligned in the longitudinal direction of the strain-flexing part; and
the second and fourth strain gauge elements being aligned in the longitudinal direction of the strain-flexing part.

12. The pedaling force measurement device according to claim 6 , wherein
the four strain gauge elements forming the second strain sensor are disposed on one end of the strain-flexing part;
the Wheatstone bridge circuit of the first strain sensor has first, second, third and fourth strain gauge elements forming the four strain gauge elements of the second strain sensor;
the first and third strain gauge elements being oppositely disposed from each other in the Wheatstone bridge circuit of the second strain sensor, the second and fourth strain gauge elements being disposed between the first and third strain gauge elements;
the first and third strain gauge elements being disposed on one of the first and fourth surfaces, while the second and fourth strain gauge elements being

Assignees

• Shimano Kk
• Minebea Co Ltd

Inventors

• Tetsuka Toshio
• Sato Satoshi
• Arai Toru
• Li Kui

Classifications

• G01L3/247 Primary

  by measuring and simultaneously multiplying tractive or propulsive force and velocity · CPC title

• G01L1/22 Primary

  using resistance strain gauges · CPC title

• G01L5/16

  for measuring several components of force · CPC title

• B62M3/00

  Construction of cranks operated by hand or foot · CPC title

• B62J45/411

  Torque sensors · CPC title