(19)
(11)EP 2 557 329 B1

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45)Mention of the grant of the patent:
29.07.2020 Bulletin 2020/31

(21)Application number: 12000437.9

(22)Date of filing:  24.01.2012
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC): 
F16D 41/30(2006.01)

(54)

Twin clutch hub

Doppelkupplungsnabe

Moyeu d'embrayage double


(84)Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

(30)Priority: 10.08.2011 TW 100214787 U

(43)Date of publication of application:
13.02.2013 Bulletin 2013/07

(73)Proprietors:
  • Lin, J.C.
    Sanmin 807 Kaohsiung City (TW)
  • Vivasports Co., Ltd.
    Seoul (KR)

(72)Inventor:
  • Seol, Marn Taek
    Kyung Gi-Do (KR)

(74)Representative: Zeitler Volpert Kandlbinder Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Partnerschaft mbB 
Herrnstrasse 44
80539 München
80539 München (DE)


(56)References cited: : 
EP-A2- 1 132 287
US-A1- 2011 168 511
US-A1- 2010 224 458
  
      
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION


    1. Field of the Invention



    [0001] The present invention relates to the field of bicycle, and in particular to a twin clutch hub, which features both great output of torque power provided by a ratchet wheel and gap-free non-loading transmission provided by a one-way roller clutch.

    2. The Related Arts



    [0002] To cope with high fuel price era and to suit the need of environment conservation and reduction of air pollution, using bicycle is now increasing. Further, large cities around the world are all ambitious in developing an easy-borrow-easy-return project for bicycles, which allows a user to borrow a bicycle at one site and to return the bicycle at another site in order to cut down the use of automobiles and motorcycles. Apparently, bicycle popularization is now upgraded to national level. In addition, besides being a transportation measure, the bicycle is also a measure of exercise, for pedaling a bicycle is actual a kind of exercise.

    [0003] Some of the currently available bicycles are provided wit a ratchet pawl based clutch and the ratchet pawl based clutch has a significant returning side tooth backlash. This lowers down the operation efficiency and also causes uncomfortable feeing. Further, such a significant returning side tooth backlash is of even greater influence on the vertical treading type bicycle pedals. Apparently, further improvement is desired.

    [0004] Furthermore, the bicycles that are currently available in the market do not use one-way roller clutches, simply because the one-way roller clutches can only stand for reduced torque powers. Consequently, the one-way roller clutch is of no use in situations where a great torque power is needed, such as uphill riding. An example of a known mechanism is provided in US 2010/224458 A1, which discloses a bicycle coasting mechanism that includes rolling element bearings that are elastically deformable to bring a driving body into contact with a driven body so as to transmit a sufficiently large load. However, the rolling element bearings function as a bearing for supporting co-axial relationship between a drive body and a driven body, and transmit no driving force between the two bodies. In one condition, a driving force is transmitted through a torque transmission system comprising ratchet teeth and pawls and, in another condition, when a sufficiently large driving force is applied, the rolling elements are compressed to have the drive body and the driven body in direct contact with each other for partly transmission of the driving force.

    SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION



    [0005] An objective of the present invention is to provide a twin clutch hub, which comprises a wheel axle of bicycle hub to which a one-way roller clutch and a ratchet pawl based clutch are mounted. A chain wheel seat is operatively coupled to a driving power of a toothed wheel of bicycle rear wheel. The chain wheel seat is operatively coupled to the ratchet pawl based clutch and the one-way roller clutch. The ratchet pawl based clutch and the one-way roller clutch are the respectively in operative coupling with the hub. When the ratchet pawl based clutch shows an angle of returning side tooth backlash that is greater than or equal to an angle of deformation of the one-way roller clutch, the one-way roller clutch is set to perform transmission and making the returning side tooth backlash approximating zero and when the angle of returning side tooth backlash of the ratchet pawl based clutch is less than or equal to the angle of deformation of the one-way roller clutch, the one-way roller clutch and the ratchet pawl based clutch cooperate the collectively drive the hub thereby realizing a high efficiency twin clutch hub. According to the present invention, the twin clutch hub comprises a hub casing, which is rotatably supported on and around a wheel axle, the hub casing having an end surface that is recessed to form a socket that receives and retains therein a pawl member; a clutch shaft, which is rotatably fit around and has an end received in and fixed to an inner circumferencial surface of the hub casing and an opposite end over which a one-way roller clutch is fit; and a chain wheel seat, which has an end forming a mounting section to which a toothed wheel is mounted, the chain wheel seat having an inner circumferential surface fitting over and fixed to the one-way roller clutch in such a way that the toothed wheel is engageable by the pawl member to collectively serve as a ratchet to form a complete ratchet wheel, wherein the chain wheel seat is directly coupled to the hub casing by the one-way roller clutch that transmits bicycle power from the chain wheel seat to the hub casing and the chain wheel seat is also directly coupled to the hub casing by the ratchet wheel that is formed of the engagement between the pawl member and the toothed wheel, wherein transmission of bicycle power is achievable such that when an angle of elastic deformation of the one-way roller clutch is smaller than or equal to a backlash of the ratchet wheel, with a returning side tooth backlash being zero, the chain wheel seat transmits the bicycle power through the one-way roller clutch, and, alternatively, when the angle of elastic deformation of the one-way roller clutch is greater than or equal to the backlash of the ratchet wheel, with a returning side tooth backlash being zero, the chain wheel seat transmits the bicycle power through a combination of the one-way roller clutch and the ratchet wheel.

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



    [0006] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

    Figure 1 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the present invention;

    Figure 2 is a perspective view, in an assembled form, of the embodiment of the present invention;

    Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention;

    Figure 4 is a cross-sectional illustrating transmission made with the embodiment of the present invention, in which the power of a chain wheel seat is transmitted through a one-way roller clutch to a hub, realizing a returning side tooth backlash approximating zero;

    Figure 5 is a cross-sectional illustrating transmission made with the embodiment of the present invention, in which the power of a chain wheel seat is transmitted through a one-way roller clutch and a ratchet wheel to a hub, realizing the greatest efficiency and making a returning side tooth backlash approximating zero;

    Figure 6 is a schematic view illustrating an application of the embodiment of the present invention, in which the power of bicycle is transmitted through crank arms, pedals, and a chain and chain wheel set; and

    Figure 7 is a schematic view illustrating an application of the embodiment of the present invention, in which the power of bicycle is transmitted through rocking arm pedals.


    DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT



    [0007] With reference to Figures 1-3, an exploded view, a perspective view, and a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention are respectively shown. The present invention provides a two clutch hub, which comprises a wheel axle 10, a hub casing 20, a clutch shaft 30, and a chain wheel seat 40, all these components will be further described.

    [0008] The hub casing 20 is supported on the wheel axle 10 by two bearings 11, 12 so that the hub casing 20 is allowed to freely rotate. The hub casing 20 has an end surface that is recessed and receives a ratchet pawl component 221 of a ratchet wheel 22 mounted therein.

    [0009] The clutch shaft 30 is fit over and coupled to the wheel axle 10 and the clutch shaft 30 is coupled to an inner circumferential surface 21 of the hub casing 20. The clutch shaft 30 has an outer circumferential surface to which a one-way roller clutch 31 is coupled. The one-way roller clutch 31 has opposite ends where two bearings 32, 33 are respectively mounted.

    [0010] The chain wheel seat 40 has an end forming a mounting section 41 to which a toothed wheel 222 of the ratchet wheel 22 is mounted. The chain wheel seat 40 has an inner circumferential surface 42 that is operatively coupled to the one-way roller clutch 31. The toothed wheel 222 is mounted beside the ratchet pawl component 221 of the ratchet wheel 22 to thereby constitute a complete ratchet wheel 22.

    [0011] The present invention relates to a bicycle hub, and especially, that allows of freewheeling of a bicycle freewheel in a single direction.

    [0012] The driving of the one-way freewheel is realized by having a pawl bar 2211 of the ratchet pawl component 221 engaging the toothed wheel 222 to allow driving power to be transmitted through the toothed wheel 222 and the ratchet pawl component 221 to the hub casing 20. And, during non-loaded reverse rotation, the pawl bar 2211 is pushed away by slopes of the toothed wheel 222 to allow the non-loaded rotation of the toothed wheel 222. For an example that the toothed wheel 222 has forty-one (41) teeth and six pawl bars 2211 are provided, the angle of returning side tooth backlash approximates 1.45 degrees. The greater the returning side tooth backlash is, the larger the impact acting on the pawl bar 2211 and the toothed wheel 222 will be. For vertical threading type pedals, the repeated driving power makes the returning side tooth backlash more significant and loss of power results. Also, there is also an imbalance and uncomfortable feeling in traveling.

    [0013] It would be idea if the returning side tooth backlash for the one-way direction of the returning side tooth backlash can be made approximating zero. The clutch provided in the present invention is to make use of the advantage of one-way roller clutch 31 of which the returning side tooth backlash is almost zero, and a ratchet wheel 22 that has better capability of supporting torque power is used in combination, so that the advantages of both are preserved. For regular riding, the returning side tooth backlash is set to zero and the one-way roller clutch 31 is used. In a situation where the torque power needs to be increased, the torque power transmitted through the one-way roller clutch 31 and that transmitted through the ratchet wheel 22 are combined, but with a returning side tooth backlash that approximates zero. The present invention converts the hub flywheel into a high efficiency twin clutch hub.

    [0014] When the hub flywheel uses combined torque power of the ratchet wheel 22 and the one-way roller clutch 31, the one-way roller clutch 31 provides the advantage that the returning side tooth backlash approximates zero and the ratchet wheel 22 provides the advantage that has better support to the torque power, whereby the combination is a twin clutch hub having high efficiency and returning side tooth backlash approximating zero.

    [0015] When the angle of elastic deformation of the one-way roller clutch 31 is smaller than or equal to the returning side tooth backlash of the ratchet wheel 22, transmission of power is made through the one-way roller clutch 31 having a returning side tooth backlash approximating zero to the freewheel.

    [0016] When the angle of elastic deformation of the one-way roller clutch 31 is greater than or equal to the returning side tooth backlash of the ratchet wheel 22, the transmission of power is made through a combination of the one-way roller clutch 31 and the ratchet wheel 22 to the freewheel. In respect of the design of the present invention, if the overloading angle of the one-way roller clutch 31 is set to 1.9 degrees, then the returning side tooth backlash of the ratchet wheel 22 is selected to 1.45 degrees, whereby in the 1.9 degree range, the one-way roller clutch 31 is always making transmission in such a condition that the returning side tooth backlash approximates zero. Before the one-way roller clutch 31 gets overloaded, the ratchet wheel 22 is put into operation to work with the one-way roller clutch 31 in order to prevent the occurrence of overloading and also to achieve high efficiency transmission.

    [0017] Referring to Figures 4 and 5, the chain wheel seat 40 transmits the power of the bicycle through the inner circumferential surface 42 of the chain wheel seat 40 and the one-way roller clutch 31 to allow the returning side tooth backlash for the transmission to approximate zero and can thus be transmitted through the clutch shaft 30 and the inner circumferential surface 21 of the hub casing 20 to reach the hub casing 20.

    [0018] Alternatively, the chain wheel seat 40 transmits the power of the bicycle through the inner circumferential surface 42 of the chain wheel seat 40 and the mounting section 41 of the chain wheel seat 40 and the toothed wheel 222 of the ratchet wheel 22 to have the one-way roller clutch 31 cooperating with the ratchet wheel 22 through the clutch shaft 30 and the inner circumferential surface 21 of the hub casing 20 to cooperatively rotate the hub casing 20 and make the returning side tooth backlash approximating zero and showing improved efficiency for transmission.

    [0019] Referring to Figure 6, the chain wheel seat 40 is coupled to two pedals 50 through crank arms 50 for transmission of power. The crank arms 50 are coupled to a chain wheel 521 of a chain and chain wheel set 52 and an additional chain wheel 522 is fixed to the chain wheel seat 40 so that the two chain wheels 521, 522 are operatively connected to each other with a chain 523. Treading the two pedals 51 causes the crank arms 50 to rotate and the power is transmitted through the chain and chain wheel set 52 to drive the chain wheel seat 40.

    [0020] Referring to Figure 7, the chain wheel seat 40 can be alternatively provided with two rocking arm pedals 60 that are capable of vertical reciprocal movement. An end of each of the rocking arm pedals 60 is fixed to the chain wheel seat 40 and drives the chain wheel seat 40 to rotate.

    [0021] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.


    Claims

    1. A twin clutch hub, comprising:

    a hub casing (20), which is rotatably supported on and around a wheel axle (10) and characterized in that the hub casing (20) has an end surface that is recessed to form a socket that receives and retains therein a pawl member (221) ;

    a clutch shaft (30), which is rotatably fit around and has an end received in and fixed to an inner circumferencial surface (21) of the hub casing (20) and an opposite end over which a one-way roller clutch (31) is fit; and

    a chain wheel seat (40), which has an end forming a mounting section (41) to which a toothed wheel (222) is mounted, the chain wheel seat (40) having an inner circumferential surface (42) fitting over and fixed to the one-way roller clutch (31) in such a way that the toothed wheel (222) is engageable by the pawl member (221) to collectively serve as a ratchet to form a complete ratchet wheel (22), wherein the chain wheel seat (40) is directly coupled to the hub casing (20) by the one-way roller clutch (31) that transmits bicycle power from the chain wheel seat (40) to the hub casing (20) and the chain wheel seat (40) is also directly coupled to the hub casing (20) by the ratchet wheel (22) that is formed of the engagement between the pawl member (221) and the toothed wheel (222), wherein transmission of bicycle power is achievable such that when an angle of elastic deformation of the one-way roller clutch (31) is smaller than or equal to a backlash of the ratchet wheel (22), with a returning side tooth backlash being zero, the chain wheel seat (40) transmits the bicycle power through the one-way roller clutch (31), and, alternatively, when the angle of elastic deformation of the one-way roller clutch (31) is greater than or equal to the backlash of the ratchet wheel (22), with a returning side tooth backlash being zero, the chain wheel seat (40) transmits the bicycle power through a combination of the one-way roller clutch (31) and the ratchet wheel (22).


     


    Ansprüche

    1. Doppelkupplungsnabe, umfassend:

    ein Nabengehäuse (20), das drehbar auf und um eine(r) Radachse (10) gestützt ist und dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass das Nabengehäuse (20) eine Endoberfläche aufweist, die ausgespart ist, so dass sie eine Hülse bildet, die ein Sperrklinkenelement (221) darin aufnimmt und hält;

    eine Kupplungswelle (30), die drehbar um eine Innenumfangsoberfläche (21) des Nabengehäuses (20) eingepasst ist und ein Ende, das in der Innenumfangsoberfläche (21) des Nabengehäuses (20) aufgenommen und daran angebracht ist, und ein entgegengesetztes Ende aufweist, über das ein Rollengesperrefreilauf (31) eingepasst ist; und

    einen Kettenradsitz (40), der ein Ende aufweist, das einen Montageabschnitt (41) bildet, an dem ein Zahnrad (222) montiert wird, wobei der Kettenradsitz (40) eine Innenumfangsoberfläche (42) aufweist, die derart über den Rollengesperrefreilauf (31) passt und an diesem angebracht ist, dass das Zahnrad (222) durch das Sperrklinkenelement (221) in Eingriff genommen werden kann, so dass diese zusammen als Sperrvorrichtung zur Bildung eines vollständigen Sperrrads (22) dienen, wobei der Kettenradsitz (40) durch den Rollengesperrefreilauf (31), der eine Fahrradleistung von dem Kettenradsitz (40) zu dem Nabengehäuse (20) überträgt, direkt mit dem Nabengehäuse (20) gekoppelt ist, und der Kettenradsitz (40) auch durch das Sperrrad (22), das aus dem Eingriff zwischen dem Sperrklinkenelement (221) und dem Zahnrad (222) gebildet wird, direkt mit dem Nabengehäuse (20) gekoppelt ist, wobei die Übertragung der Fahrradleistung dadurch erreichbar ist, dass dann, wenn ein Winkel der elastischen Verformung des Rollengesperrefreilaufs (31) kleiner als das Spiel des Sperrrads (22) oder mit diesem identisch ist, wobei ein Rückkehrseitenzahnspiel Null ist, der Kettenradsitz (40) die Fahrradleistung durch den Rollengesperrefreilauf (31) überträgt, und alternativ, wenn der Winkel der elastischen Verformung des Rollengesperrefreilaufs (31) größer als das Spiel des Sperrrads (22) oder mit diesem identisch ist, wobei ein Rückkehrseitenzahnspiel Null ist, der Kettenradsitz (40) die Fahrradleistung durch eine Kombination des Rollengesperrefreilaufs (31) und des Sperrads (22) überträgt.


     


    Revendications

    1. Moyeu à double embrayage, comprenant :

    un boîtier de moyeu (20) qui est supporté avec faculté de rotation sur et autour d'un axe de roue (10) et caractérisé en ce que le boîtier de moyeu (21) présente une surface terminale qui est évidée pour former un socle qui reçoit et retient à l'intérieur un élément de loquet (221) ;

    un arbre d'embrayage (30) qui est engagé avec faculté de rotation autour de et qui a une extrémité reçue dans et fixée sur une surface circonférentielle intérieure (21) du boîtier de moyeu (20) et une extrémité opposée par-dessus laquelle est engagé un embrayage à galets unidirectionnel (31), et

    un siège de roue à chaîne (40), qui présente une extrémité formant une section de montage (41) sur laquelle est montée une roue dentée (222), le siège de roue à chaîne (40) ayant une surface circonférentielle intérieure (42) engagée sur et fixée à l'embrayage à galets unidirectionnel (31) de telle façon que la roue dentée (222) est susceptible d'être engagée par l'élément de loquet (221) afin de servir collectivement à titre de cliquet et former une roue à cliquet complète (22), dans lequel le siège de roue à chaîne (40) est directement couplé au boîtier de moyeu (20) par l'embrayage à galets unidirectionnel (31) qui transmet à une bicyclette une puissance depuis le siège de roue à chaîne (40) du boîtier de moyeu (20) et le siège de roue à chaîne (40) est également directement couplé au boîtier de moyeu (20) par la roue à cliquet (22) qui est formée par l'engagement entre l'élément de loquet (221) et la roue dentée (222), dans lequel la transmission à une bicyclette de la puissance est réalisable de telle façon que lorsqu'un angle de déformation élastique de l'embrayage à galets unidirectionnel (31) est inférieur ou égal à un jeu de la roue à cliquet (22), de sorte qu'un jeu d'une dent côté retour est égal à zéro, le siège de roue à chaîne (40) transmet à la bicyclette la puissance via l'embrayage à galets unidirectionnel (31) et, alternativement, quand l'angle de déformation élastique de l'embrayage à galets unidirectionnel (31) est supérieur ou égal au jeu de la roue à cliquet (22), de sorte qu'un jeu d'une dent côté retour est égal à zéro, le siège de roue à chaîne (40) transmet la bicyclette la puissance via une combinaison de l'embrayage à galets unidirectionnel (31) et de la roue cliquet (22).


     




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    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description