JPH0236439B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an operating lever device for operating a bicycle transmission configured to change gears by changing a chain to a selected one of a plurality of different diameter sprockets.

[Conventional technology]

For example, in the case of a rear transmission (rear derailleur), a replacement frame that supports a guide pulley and a tension pulley is configured to move in the width direction of a multi-stage freewheel via a control mechanism such as a pantograph link mechanism. There is. When the chain runs in the forward direction, it is hung around the tension pulley and guide pulley before being hung around the freewheel, so if the above-mentioned changing frame is moved and the guide pulley is moved in the width direction of the freewheel, this chain is replaced by the sprocket located directly above the guide pulley. The rear derailleur is operated by rotating an operating lever connected to the rear derailleur by an operating cable. The operating lever usually has a cylindrical base having a cable winding groove and a finger hook arm extending in the radial direction from the cylindrical base, and rotates at the center of the cylindrical base with respect to the frame. movably supported. When the above-mentioned arm is rotated to rotate the cylindrical base, the operating cable is wound into the winding groove or unwound, so an axial movement is applied to the cable according to the amount of rotation of the arm. be done. Since the control mechanism such as the pantograph link mechanism described above is deformed according to the amount of axial movement of this operating cable, the rear derailleur replacement frame is positioned in the freewheel width direction according to the amount of rotation of the operating lever. You will be guided. When the lever is operated in this way, the frame moves continuously, but it takes a very long time to operate the lever to guide the frame to the optimal position for each sprocket, that is, the position directly below each sprocket. Requires high level of skill. For example, if the replacement frame is located between adjacent sprockets, the chain from the guide pulley to the freewheel will tilt, causing unpleasant gear noise. Therefore, the rider must finely adjust the lever to eliminate the gear noise and the accompanying chain vibration, and guide the replacement frame to the optimal position relative to the desired sprocket. In order to improve the poor operability of common bicycle gear shift levers, we have proposed a mechanism that incorporates a so-called click mechanism that locks the operating lever in stages at each rotation angle corresponding to each gear stage. has been done. According to this, at each rotating position where the frame is locked with a sense of moderation, the replacement frame or guide pulley is always guided to the optimal position for a predetermined sprocket, that is, the position directly below that sprocket. However, you can easily and accurately shift gears.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, with the above-mentioned shift operation lever with a click mechanism, if the length of the cable connecting it to the transmission is appropriate, anyone can easily, accurately and quickly shift the shift operation. If its actual length changes due to stretching, etc., there is a problem in that even if the lever is locked in stages, the replacement frame will be guided to a position shifted in the hub axis direction with respect to each sprocket of the multi-stage freewheel. . If the changing frame is misaligned with respect to each sprocket in this way, normal gear shifting operations will not be possible, and even if the chain is successfully changed to the desired sprocket, the chain will be tilted as it attempts to move from the guide pulley to the sprocket. , causing unpleasant gear noises or vibrations. Such problems can be solved by adjusting the length of the cable, but this adjustment requires considerable skill and time, and in the end, if the cable stretches while driving, it will actually become normal. It becomes impossible to continue driving with variable speeds. As a temporary solution to the above problem, JP-A-Sho
Publication No. 60-209377 discloses that a positioning member having a plurality of engagement recesses is provided on the inner periphery of the boss portion of the lever body, and is arranged so as to be biased toward the plurality of engagement recesses and not rotate around the lever axis. A positioning mechanism is constructed by providing an engaging body, and an operating mechanism is provided that can forcibly separate the engaging body from the positioning member against the biasing force thereof to release the positioning function state, and A bicycle gear shift operating device has been proposed that is configured to apply a certain amount of frictional resistance to a lever body. However, the following problem still remains with the mechanism disclosed in the above publication. That is, first, in order to release the positioning function state, it is necessary to displace the engaging body that is elastically biased toward the positioning member against the biasing force. The operating force is essential to release the positioning function, and extra force is required for the switching operation.Secondly, when the positioning function is released, the spring for biasing the engaging body is constantly compressed. Therefore, when setting the strength of each component, consideration must be given to ensuring that the spring can withstand the tension generated when the spring is compressed.
This limits the miniaturization of the entire operating device, resulting in increased weight or shortened lifespan. This invention was devised under the above circumstances, and uses a single lever device to lock the lever in stages at each predetermined rotation angle to easily and reliably move the transmission replacement frame to the desired position. There is a so-called click operable state in which the lever can be guided to the optimum position corresponding to the sprocket, and an infinitely operable state in which the lever can be rotated steplessly and held at that rotational position using frictional force. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that can be selected, that is easy to select, and that also achieves overall weight reduction, compactness, and extension of service life.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to solve the above problem, the present invention takes the following technical measures. That is, the present invention provides a lever main body including a cylindrical base having an operating cable fastening part and an operating cable winding groove on the outer periphery, and an arm extending in the radial direction from the cylindrical base. In a bicycle gear shift operation lever device supported by rotatably fitting a center hole into a lever shaft, (a) a plurality of engagement recesses are formed on one side, and
(b) a click plate provided to co-rotate with the cylindrical base; (c) a plate-shaped engaging body holding member that is freely provided in the engaging body holding member at a position corresponding to the engagement recess forming portion of the click plate, and a thickness of the engaging body holding member; (d) a spring biasing the click plate toward the engagement retention member; (e) on a side of the engagement retention member opposite the click plate; , a contact surface that can back up the engaging body, and a pressing surface that can substantially press the side surface of the cylindrical base, and the contact surface backs up the engaging body and pushes the engaging body against the lever shaft. a first position in which the pressing surface is fixed in the direction and the pressing surface does not substantially press the side surface of the cylindrical base; and a first position in which the pressing surface does not back up the engaging body and leaves the engaging body in a floating state. and a second position in which the pressing surface substantially presses a side surface of the cylindrical base;
An operating body substantially attached to the lever shaft;

[Effect]

When the operating body is operated to take the first position where its abutting surface backs up the engaging body and the pushing surface does not press against the cylindrical base, the outer diameter of the engaging body becomes larger than the thickness of the engaging body holding member. Because it is large,
This engaging body is held in a fixed position in the lever axial direction with a portion of the engaging body protruding toward the click plate from the side surface of the holding member. The engaging body is
It is fixedly held by an engaging body holding member that does not rotate relative to the lever shaft, while the click plate rotates together with the lever body, so when the lever is rotated, the click plate rotates around the lever axis relative to the engaging body. Rotate relative to. At this time, the engaging body sequentially engages with each engaging recess formed on the click plate biased by the spring, so that the lever body rotates through an angle corresponding to the interval between the respective engaging recesses. It is locked in stages with a sense of moderation. Moreover, when the operating body assumes the first position, its pressing surface does not substantially press the cylindrical base of the lever body, so the rotation of the lever requires the interaction between the engaging body and the engaging recess of the click plate. Only the resistance generated by the engagement relationship acts, so the lever can be operated easily. On the other hand, when the operating body is operated to take the second position where the contact surface does not back up the engagement body and the pushing surface presses the cylindrical base, the engagement body held by the engagement body holding member remains in a loose state in which it can freely move in the axial direction of the lever, and is not pressed against the click plate as in the case where the operating body assumes the first position. Therefore, even if the lever body is rotated in this state, the click action described above is not performed, and the lever body can be rotated steplessly. Furthermore, when the operating body assumes the second position, the pressing surface substantially presses the cylindrical base of the lever body, so that the operating body attached to the lever shaft and the lever rotating around the lever shaft are It is possible to provide a certain amount of frictional resistance with the main body.
Therefore, the operating lever can be held at any rotational position within its rotational angle range against the elasticity of the return spring of the transmission connected to the operating lever via the cable. .

【effect】

As described above, according to the bicycle gear shift operation lever device of the present invention, the lever body can be locked in steps with a sense of moderation at each predetermined rotation angle by a simple operation, so-called a click operable state; It is possible to select a continuously operable state in which the lever body can be held with frictional force at any rotation angle. As a result, as long as the length of the cable connecting the lever and the transmission is set optimally, the click mechanism allows anyone to easily move the transmission frame to each position corresponding to the specified sprocket. While it can be operated quickly and accurately,
Even if the cable length is inappropriate, the click function can be canceled by a simple operation of placing the operating body in the second position, and the transmission replacement frame can be finely adjusted. Moreover, the present invention is particularly configured so that the pressing surface of the operating body does not substantially press the side surface of the cylindrical base of the lever body when taking the first position, so that the lever has a click mechanism for the click function. Only resistance acts, and therefore the stepwise locking operation of the operating lever can be carried out more easily. In addition, in the present invention, from the state where the engaging body is backed up and its position in the lever axial direction is fixed,
The click function state is released by releasing the back-up and putting the engaging body in a floating state,
Since it is configured to shift to a stepless operable state, a positioning member (equivalent to a click plate) is used to position the engaging body against the elastic force that urges the engaging body.
Compared to the conventional configuration that adopts a method of forcibly separating the button from the button, firstly, there is no need for operating force to resist the elasticity, which makes it possible to transition from the click function state to the stepless operation state. Second, there is no need to set the strength of each member in consideration of the elasticity of the spring that is compressed and deformed in the stepless operable state, and the strength of each member can be reduced accordingly, reducing costs. It has the effect of reducing weight, reducing weight, and extending lifespan.

[Explanation of Examples]

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. Frame 1 for lower pipe etc. (including handle)
A fixed lever shaft 2 is protrudingly provided by brazing directly or via a clamp band, and a lever body 3 is rotatably supported on this. The lever shaft 2 has a round shaft portion 4 at the base and an oval cross-section portion 5 at the tip, and an axial screw hole 6 is bored in the tip surface. On the other hand, the lever body 3
has a cylindrical base 9 having a cable winding groove 7 on the outer periphery and a nipple receiving hole 8 connected to the cable winding groove 7, and an arm portion 10 extending radially outward from the cylindrical base. Be prepared. As shown in FIG.
and an outer large diameter portion 11b, and an inner small diameter portion 11.
A is supported by being fitted onto the lever shaft 2 via a lever shaft collar 12, which will be described later. The lever shaft collar 12 is a member fitted onto the lever shaft 2 such that it cannot rotate relative to the lever shaft 2.
4, a click plate support portion 15 adjacent thereto, and a tip portion 16 further adjacent thereto. As shown in FIG. 3, the base flange portion 13
The base washer 1 is fitted onto the mounting base of the lever shaft 2 so that its inner surface contacts the frame 1.
7 and the inner surface of the lever body 3. The support shaft portion 14 has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the inner small diameter portion 11a of the center hole 11, and a lever shaft 2.
It has a round pipe shape with an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the base round shaft part 4. The click plate support portion 15 has a cylindrical outer surface 19 that cooperates with the outer large diameter portion 11b of the center hole 11 to form an annular space 18.
The lever shaft collar 12 has a hole 20 with an oval cross section that corresponds to the oval cross section 5 of the lever shaft 2. Due to the fitting relationship between this hole 20 and the oval cross section 5, this lever shaft collar 12 is attached to the lever shaft 2. It becomes impossible to rotate relative to 2. The outer surface 21 of the tip 16 of the lever shaft collar 12 is formed into an oval shape in cross section, and the inner hole 22 thereof is continuous with the hole 20 of the click plate support part 15 and has an oval shape in cross section. The inner hole 22 is connected to the outer end surface 23 of this lever shaft collar 12.
However, the hole 20 or inner hole 22 at the back is opened slightly inward from the outer end surface.
On the opposing plane parts 24, 24, there is an operating body 3 to be described later.
The end outwardly directed flange 2 of the inwardly extending sleeve 26 of 9
Axial recessed grooves 24a, 24a are formed to receive the peripheral edge of the shaft 7 and allow its axial movement. Then, the tip portion 16 having an oval cross section
As shown in Figure 2, the end face 2
A square shaft portion 28 is formed by cutting off the arched portions at both ends in the long axis direction of 3 in a step-like manner by a predetermined amount, and a shaft connected to the cylindrical outer surface 21 of the distal end portion 16 is attached to the base of the square shaft portion 28. Stepped portion 2 consisting of a flat surface in the right angle direction
9,29 are formed. A click mechanism 30, which is a feature of the present invention, is incorporated into the annular space 18 surrounded by the lever shaft collar 12 and the outer large diameter portion 11b of the center hole 11 of the lever. As shown in detail in FIG. 8, this click mechanism 30 has five engagement recesses 31 arranged in an arc shape at predetermined angles on one surface thereof.
a, 31b...31e, and 31a', 31
b', . It includes engaging bodies 33, 33' that are held in position relative to the lever shaft 2. In this example, since two engaging bodies 33 are arranged to face each other in the diametrical direction of the lever shaft, the engaging recesses are also formed in two groups facing each other across the center of the click plate 32. . In this example, as shown in FIG. 9, the click plate 32 also has a click pattern different from the click pattern of the engagement recesses formed on the one surface, that is, six engagement recesses 3 on each other surface.
1f, 31g...31k, and 31f', 31
Two groups of engagement recesses consisting of g'...31k' are formed. In this way, on the user side,
By reversing this click plate 32, two types of click patterns can be selected to correspond to changes in the number of freewheel gears.The manufacturer also offers two types of shift operation lever devices for different numbers of gears. The click plate to be assembled can be shared as a single component, reducing component costs. The click plate 32 is a substantially donut disk-shaped member that is rotatably fitted onto the click plate support portion 15 of the lever shaft collar 12, and an engaging piece 34 formed on the outer circumference of the click plate 32 is inserted into the center hole of the lever body. By engaging with the engagement recesses 35 formed in the lever body, that is, the cylindrical base 3
Rotates with 3. The engaging bodies 33, 33' are held on the lever shaft by an engaging body holding member 36 which is fitted on the distal end portion 16 of the lever shaft collar 12, which has an oval cross-section, so as to be non-rotatable and slidable in the axial direction. The lever is held at a fixed position in the circumferential direction so as to be freely movable in the axial direction of the lever. That is, this engaging body holding member 36 is
As shown in FIG. 2, an oval-shaped center hole 37 that can fit into the tip 16 of the lever shaft collar 12;
Two engaging body holding holes 38, 38 are provided for holding the two engaging bodies 33, 33' so as to be movable in the lever axial direction, and the center hole 37 is connected to the oval tip 16.
is fitted in a relatively non-rotatable manner. The plate thickness of this engaging body holding member 36 is set to be smaller than the outer diameter of the engaging bodies 33, 33' held thereby. An operating body 39 is disposed outside the engaging body holding member 36 that loosely holds the two engaging bodies 33, 33'. This operating body 39 is formed into a cap shape with an inwardly extending sleeve 26, and the inner surface of the cap 42 has a back-up plate to prevent the engaging bodies 33, 33' from moving outward in the lever axial direction. contact surfaces 40, 40, and a concave portion 4 that allows the engaging bodies 33, 33' to retreat without backing up.
1, 41 (FIGS. 4 and 6). The abutting surfaces 40, 40 are provided at two locations in the diametrical direction of the shade 42, corresponding to the engaging bodies 33, 33', and the concave portions 41, 41 are perpendicular to the diameter through which the abutting surfaces 40, 40 pass. provided on the diameter. In the illustrated example, by fixing a metal backing plate 39b in which notches functioning as the recessed portions 41, 41 are formed to the inner surface of the cap of the operating body main body 39a made of resin, the above-mentioned contact surface is substantially 40 and concave portions 41, 41. Then, as clearly shown in FIG. 5, an oval-shaped recess 43 having the same shape as that for receiving the oval-shaped tip 16 of the lever shaft collar 12 is formed near the center of the inner surface of the cap 42. . The recess 43 is formed so that its long axis coincides with the diameter passing through the centers of the contact surfaces 40, 40. In addition, the above-mentioned contact surfaces 40, 40
also functions as a pressing surface 44 that can substantially press the outer surface of the lever main body 3, as will be described later. Then, the operating body 39 forcibly pushes the sleeve 26 into the inner hole 16 of the lever shaft collar 12, and then screws the bolt 45 inserted into the sleeve 26 from the outside into the threaded hole 6 of the lever shaft 2. As a result, it is substantially attached to the lever shaft 2. FIG. 3 shows the operating body 39 in a first position where its contact surfaces 40, 40 back up the engaging bodies 33, 33' and its pressing surface 44 does not substantially press the outer surface of the lever body 3. Indicates the state in which . That is, in this state, as shown in FIG. 5, the long axis of the oval-shaped recess 43 is perpendicular to the long axis of the oval-shaped tip 16 of the lever shaft collar 12, and therefore the recess is The portion 43 accommodates only the tip corner shaft portion 28 of the lever shaft collar 12, and is configured such that the opposite edges 43a, 43a of the concave portion abut against the step portions 29, 29 of the oval tip portion 16. There is. The positions of the stepped portions 29, 29 in the lever axial direction are such that when the operating body 39 is prevented from moving in the lever axial direction by the stepped portions 29, 29,
The abutting surfaces 40, 40 back up the engaging bodies 33, 33' so that a portion thereof protrudes from the inner surface of the holding member 36, and the pushing surface 44 pushes the engaging bodies 33, 33' up against the lever body 3.
It is set so as not to press the outer surface of the
Therefore, even if the bolt 45 that presses the operating body 39 inward is tightened, the tightening force will not act as a pressing force on the outer surface of the lever body. In addition, the reference numerals 46 and 47 in the figure refer to the click plate 3.
This is a disc spring that elastically pushes the lever 2 outward in the axial direction of the lever. When the lever body 3 is rotated while the operating body 39 assumes the first position shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the click plate 32 rotates together with the lever body 3, and the engaging bodies 33, 33' rotate the lever body 3. Since the click plate 32 is held at a fixed position around the axis, the engaging recesses 31a, 31b...31e, and 31a', 31b'...31e' are sequentially engaged with the engaging bodies 33, 33'. Therefore, the operating lever 3 is locked in stages at predetermined angles determined by the engaging recess. Therefore, at this time, the lever 3 is locked in stages with a sense of moderation at each predetermined angle, and as long as the cable length is set appropriately, the transmission replacement frame can be locked to each corresponding freewheel. accurately guided to the position directly below the sprocket. Further, at this time, since the pressing surface 44 of the operating body 39 is substantially separated from the outer surface of the lever body 3, only resistance by the click mechanism acts on the rotation of the lever 3, and therefore, The lever can be rotated with a lighter operating force. In addition, in the embodiment, the click plate 32
In this case, the surface on which the engagement recess for the fifth stage is formed is the engagement body 3.
3, 33' direction, but when this is assembled upside down, the surface on which the 6-stage engagement recesses shown in FIG. 9 are formed faces the engaging bodies 33, 33' side. In this way, it can be made compatible with a 6-stage freewheel. On the other hand, FIG. 6 shows that the operating body 39 has a second position in which the contact surfaces 40, 40 do not back up the engaging bodies 33, 33', and the pressing surface 44 substantially presses the outer surface of the lever body 3. Shows the position. When the operating body 39 assumes the first position shown in FIG.
To take the second position shown in the figure, loosen the bolt 45 slightly and move the operating body 39 slightly axially outward to prevent the recess 43 from engaging with the tip corner shaft 28 of the lever shaft collar 12. The oval-shaped recess 43 and the oval-shaped tip 16 of the lever shaft collar 12 are released and rotated 90 degrees so that the long axes of the oval-shaped recess 43 and the oval-shaped tip 16 of the lever shaft collar 12 are aligned with each other. It is pushed inward in the axial direction so as to accommodate the portion 16, and the bolt 45 is tightened. As shown in FIG. 6, if the oval tip 16 and the depth of the recess 43 are set sufficiently long,
can be moved axially inwardly until its pressing surface 44 substantially abuts the outer surface of the lever body 3 via the engaging body holding member 36 . Then, the recessed portions 41, 41 on the inner surface of the operating body 39 are connected to the engaging body 3.
3, 33', the back-up of the engaging bodies 33, 33' by the contact surface 40 is also released, and the engaging bodies 33, 33' are held in the engaging body holding holes 38, 38 of the engaging body holding member 36. and the recessed portion 4
1 and 41, it simply moves around in the space formed by 1 and 41. Note that the depth of the recessed portions 41, 41 is the sum of the depth and the thickness of the engaging body holding member 36.
Needless to say, it should be set to be larger than the outer diameter of 33. Therefore, in this state, even if the click plate 32 is elastically pressed against the engagement body holding member 36, the engagement recesses 31a, 31b...31e, and 31a', 31b'...31e of the click plate 32 ' is the engaging body 3
3, 33' to perform a click action. Since the pressing surface 44 of the operating body 39 substantially presses the outer surface of the lever main body 3, the lever main body 3 is pinched between the flange 13 of the lever shaft collar 12 and the pressing surface 44. The sliding friction force generated on each clamping surface provides a certain resistance to its rotation. As described above, the bicycle gear shift operation lever device of the present invention allows the lever to be operated by a simple operation with a light resistance that is only the resistance caused by the engagement between the engagement body of the click mechanism and the engagement recess. It is possible to select a state in which the lever can be rotated steplessly with a constant frictional resistance by canceling the click function. Of course, the scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. In the embodiment, in order to prevent the two members that are fitted into each other from rotating relative to each other, a means is adopted in which the shaft and the hole with the oval cross section are fitted into each other, but if the shaft and the hole cannot be rotated relative to each other, the shaft and The shape of the hole to be fitted does not matter. Further, in the embodiment, a steel ball is selected as the engaging body, but it may be something like a roller. Furthermore, by making the lever body and the click plate slightly movable relative to each other in the circumferential direction, or by making the engaging body slightly movable relative to the engaging body holding member in the circumferential direction, a so-called overshift operation is made possible. You can also do that.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is a perspective view showing the components in an exploded state.
The figure is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line -- in Figure 1 with the operating body in the first position, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line - - in Figure 3, and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line - - in Figure 3. Figure 6 is Figure 1 with the operating body in the second position.
7 is a sectional view taken along the line -- in FIG. 3, FIG. 8 is a front view of the click plate, and FIG. 9 is a rear view of the click plate. 2...Lever shaft, 7...Cable winding groove, 9
... Cylindrical base, 11 ... Center hole, 31 ... Engagement recess, 32 ... Click plate, 33, 33' ...
...Engaging body, 36... Engagement body holding member, 39... Operating body, 40... Abutting surface, 44... Pushing surface.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A lever body comprising a cylindrical base having an operating cable fastening part and an operating cable winding groove on the outer periphery, and an arm extending in the radial direction from the cylindrical base, A bicycle gear shift operation lever device supported by rotatably fitting a center hole of a base into a lever shaft, comprising: (a) a plurality of engagement recesses formed on one side;
(b) a click plate provided to co-rotate with the cylindrical base; (b) a portion of the click plate facing the surface on which the engagement recess is formed that is substantially non-rotatable with respect to the lever shaft; (c) a plate-like engaging body holding member that is loosely held at a position corresponding to the engagement recess forming portion of the click plate in the engaging body holding member; and (c) a thickness of the engaging body holding member; (d) a spring biasing the click plate toward the engagement retaining member; (e) on a side of the engaging retaining member opposite the click plate; , a contact surface capable of backing up the engaging body, and a pressing surface capable of substantially pressing the side surface of the cylindrical base, wherein the contact surface backs up the engaging body and pushes the engaging body against the lever shaft. a first position in which the pressing surface is fixed in the direction and the pressing surface does not substantially press the side surface of the cylindrical base; and a first position in which the pressing surface does not back up the engaging body and leaves the engaging body in a floating state. and a second position in which the pressing surface substantially presses a side surface of the cylindrical base;
A bicycle gear shift operating lever device, comprising: an operating body substantially attached to a lever shaft;