Bicycle drive unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9533736-B2
Application number	US-201414510118-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2014
Priority date	Oct 9, 2014
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

A bicycle drive unit includes a motor, which outputs assist force in correspondence with human-powered drive force applied to a crankshaft, and a housing, in which the motor is arranged. The housing includes a coupler, to which a derailleur can be coupled.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bicycle drive unit comprising:
a motor that outputs assist force in correspondence with human-powered drive force applied to a crankshaft; and
a housing on which a coupler is arranged, wherein the coupler includes a coupling mechanism to which a derailleur is coupled in a removable manner, and the coupling mechanism includes an adjustment section configured to adjust a coupling position of the derailleur relative to the coupler, and the housing on which the coupler is arranged is formed separately from a bicycle frame and is nonrotatable with respect to the bicycle frame.

2. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the coupler is formed separately from the housing.

3. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the coupler is coupled to the housing in a removable manner.

4. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the coupler is coupled to the housing by a fastening member.

5. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the coupler includes an end portion that contacts an outer surface of the housing, and the end portion includes an additional adjustment section configured to adjust a position of the coupler relative to the housing.

6. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 5 , wherein the additional adjustment section allows for adjustment of the position of the coupler in at least a direction in which the crankshaft extends.

7. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 5 , wherein the additional adjustment section includes an elongated hole or a plurality of holes.

8. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the coupler is formed integrally with at least a portion of the housing.

9. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment section allows the position of the derailleur to be adjusted in at least a direction extending toward the crankshaft and a direction extending away from the crankshaft.

10. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment section includes an elongated hole or a plurality of holes.

11. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 1 ; wherein the coupler is configured to couple to a link shaft of a link mechanism included in the derailleur.

12. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 11 , wherein
the link mechanism includes an outer link and an inner link, and
the coupler includes a hole or a groove that receives the link shaft to which the outer link and the inner link are coupled.

13. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the housing includes an output portion configured to couple to a plurality of front sprockets.

14. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 13 , wherein the output portion and the crankshaft are coaxial.

15. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein
the coupler includes a first portion coupled to the housing, a second portion configured to couple to the derailleur, and a connecting portion connecting the first portion and the second portion;
the connecting portion includes a first side surface and a second side surface, which is a surface on a side opposite to the first side surface;
the first portion is formed on the same side as the first side surface; and
the second portion is formed on the same side as the second side surface.

16. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 1 , further comprising the crankshaft arranged on the housing.

17. The bicycle drive unit according to claim 1 , further comprising the derailleur to which the coupler is coupled.

18. A bicycle drive unit comprising:
a motor that outputs assist force in correspondence with human-powered drive force applied to a crankshaft;
a housing on which a coupler, the motor and the crankshaft are mounted; and
two plates mounted on the housing to form a slot therebetween, wherein
the slot is configured to solely and exclusively receive a chain to guide the chain,
the coupler includes a coupling mechanism to which the two plates are coupled in a removable manner,
the coupling mechanism includes an adjustment section configured to adjust a coupling position of the two plates relative to the coupler, and
the housing on which the coupler is arranged is formed separately from a bicycle frame and is nonrotatable with respect to the bicycle frame.

19. A bicycle drive unit comprising:
a housing configured to rotatably support a crankshaft;
a motor mounted on the housing and configured to output assist force in correspondence with human-powered drive force applied to the crankshaft; and
a coupler arranged on the housing and including a coupling mechanism to which a front derailleur is coupled in a removable manner, wherein the housing on which the coupler is arranged is formed separately from a bicycle frame and configured to be attached on the bicycle frame and is nonrotatable with respect to the bicycle frame.

20. A bicycle drive unit comprising:
a motor that outputs assist force in correspondence with human-powered drive force applied to a crankshaft;
a housing including an output portion configured to couple to a plurality of front sprockets; and
a coupler arranged on the housing and configured to couple to a derailleur, wherein
the output portion projects from one wall of the housing located in the direction in which the crankshaft extends, and
the coupler is located proximate to the one wall.

Assignees

• Shimano Kk

Inventors

• Watarai Etsuyoshi
• Shahana Satoshi
• Noda Shinichiro

Classifications

• B62M6/55

  power-driven at crank shafts parts · CPC title

• H02K5/22

  Auxiliary parts of casings not covered by groups H02K5/06-H02K5/20, e.g. shaped to form connection boxes or terminal boxes · CPC title

• B62M9/135 Primary

  Mounting the derailleur on the frame · CPC title