Method for mounting a hydraulic braking apparatus on a bicycle, hydraulic braking apparatus and mounting tool
10371219 ยท 2019-08-06
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
F16D65/0043
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
B62L3/023
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B25H5/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
F16C1/26
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
B25G3/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
F16D65/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
B25B27/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B25G3/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B25H5/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A method for mounting a flexible tube associated with braking hydraulics on a bicycle between a braking control member and a braking member. The method provides a mounting cable for use in locating the flexible tube within a bicycle frame element while the ends of the flexible tube are exposed so a respective end can be connected to the control member and the braking member. The method simplifies the insertion process and reduces damage to the flexible tube. A tool for inserting the flexible tube is also provided.
Claims
1. A method for mounting a hydraulic braking apparatus on a bicycle, said hydraulic braking apparatus comprising: a control member, a braking member and a flexible tube for adducing braking liquid between said control member and said braking member, the bicycle comprising a bearing element with an internal cavity provided with an inlet opening and with an outlet opening for said flexible tube, said method comprising: a) fixing said control member to bicycle handlebars; b) fixing said braking member to said bearing element of bicycle; c) connecting a first free end of said flexible tube to one between said control member and said braking member; d) connecting an opposite second free end of said flexible tube to a mounting tool; e) providing a mounting cable; f) coupling the mounting cable to said mounting tool connected to said flexible tube; g) making said mounting cable pass through the internal cavity of said bearing element between said inlet opening and said outlet opening; h) pulling said mounting cable, so as to drag said flexible tube through the internal cavity of said bearing element between said inlet opening and said outlet opening; i) removing said mounting tool from said second free end of said flexible tube; j) connecting said second free end of said flexible tube to the other between said control member and said braking member.
2. The method according to claim 1, comprising the further step of: k) filling said flexible tube and an inner chamber of said one between said control member and said braking member with braking liquid, wherein the step k) is carried out after said step c) and before said step d).
3. The method according to claim 1, comprising the following further steps: l) filling an inner chamber of said other between said control member and said braking member with braking liquid; m) thereafter, plugging said inner chamber of said other between said control member and said braking member through a closing element; n) thereafter, removing said closing element and carrying out said step j).
4. A hydraulic braking apparatus to be mounted on a bicycle, said hydraulic braking apparatus comprising: a control member, a braking member and a flexible tube for adducing braking liquid between said control member and said braking member, said control member comprising a fixing portion to bicycle handlebars, said braking member comprising fixing members to a bearing element of the bicycle, wherein a first free end of said flexible tube is connected to one between said control member and said braking member, and an opposite second free end of said flexible tube is connected to a mounting tool, said mounting tool comprising a coupling portion to a mounting cable and a plugging portion inserted in said flexible tube, wherein said mounting tool has a transversal cross section no greater than a transversal cross section of said flexible tube.
5. The hydraulic braking apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a closing element to plug an inner chamber of the other between said control member and said braking member.
6. The hydraulic braking apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising braking liquid pre-inserted in the flexible tube and in one or both of the control and braking members.
7. A mounting tool for mounting a hydraulic braking apparatus on a bicycle, the mounting tool comprising: a coupling portion for a mounting cable, the coupling portion including a seat configured for housing an enlarged head of said mounting cable, and a plugging portion that has a plurality of substantially radial sectors and is configured for the insertion in a free end of a flexible tube of said hydraulic braking apparatus, the plugging portion including a plurality of circumferential indentations that are axially spaced from each other.
8. The mounting tool according to claim 7, wherein said seat comprises a transversal abutment wall for the enlarged head of said mounting cable, said transversal abutment wall comprising a through hole configured for being passed through by said mounting cable.
9. The mounting tool according to claim 8, wherein said transversal abutment wall comprises a substantially radial through slit, configured for being passed through by said mounting cable.
10. The mounting tool according to claim 7, wherein said coupling portion of said mounting tool comprises a ring configured for coupling said mounting cable.
11. The mounting tool according to claim 7, wherein said coupling portion is made on a portion of said mounting tool separable from another portion of said mounting tool where said plugging portion is made.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)
(1) Further features and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the description of preferred embodiments (method, hydraulic braking apparatus and mounting tool) thereof, for the sake of simplicity referring to a rear brake (but clearly also applicable to a front brake), made with reference to the attached drawings, where:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
(25) Initially with reference to
(26) The apparatus 10 comprises a control member 20 (
(27) The frame 100 comprises an internal cavity 102 provided with an inlet opening 104 and with an outlet opening 106 for the flexible tube 40. In
(28) The control member 20 comprises a fixing portion 22 to bicycle handlebars (not illustrated) and comprises a brake lever 24.
(29) The braking member 30 comprises fixing members, in particular fixing screws 32 to the bicycle frame 100; these fixing screws 32 are per se conventional and are not illustrated in detail.
(30) As illustrated in
(31) In accordance with the present invention, the mounting tool 50 comprises a coupling portion 52 to a mounting cable 60 and a plugging portion 54 inserted in the second free end 44 of the flexible tube 40 (
(32) As illustrated in
(33) The coupling portion 52 of the mounting tool 50 comprises a seat 56 configured for housing an enlarged head 62 of the mounting cable 60.
(34) The seat 56 comprises a transversal abutment wall 58 for the enlarged head 62 of the mounting cable 60.
(35) The transversal abutment wall 58 comprises a through hole 58a configured for being passed through by the mounting cable 60.
(36) The through hole 58a is substantially coaxial to the plugging portion 54, along a longitudinal axis X of the mounting tool 50. The through hole 58a is therefore also coaxial to a longitudinal axis Y of the flexible tube 40, when the plugging portion 54 of the mounting tool 50 is inserted in the second free end 44 of the flexible tube 40 (
(37) The seat 56 also comprises a transversal bottom wall 59, opposite the transversal abutment wall 58, and a longitudinal connection wall 57 between the transversal abutment wall 58 and the transversal bottom wall 59. The longitudinal wall 57 comprises a substantially flat support surface 57a for the enlarged head 62 of the mounting cable 60.
(38) The transversal bottom wall 59 comprises a substantially flat surface 59a, facing towards the transversal abutment wall 58 and inclined towards it.
(39) The transversal bottom wall 59 comprises a substantially flat surface 59b, opposite the substantially flat surface 59a; the plugging portion 54 projects from the surface 59b.
(40) Preferably, the substantially flat surface 59a is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis X by an angle comprised between 5 and 40, including extreme values.
(41) The plugging portion 54 comprises a plurality of substantially circumferential indentations 54a.
(42) A cross section of the plugging portion 54 (
(43) The sawtooth-shaped longitudinal profile 54b of the plugging portion 54 further ensures an adequate hydraulic seal, thanks to the fact that the indentations 54a are circumferential.
(44)
(45) Elements of the mounting tool 50 of
(46) The mounting tool 50 of this second embodiment of the invention differs from the mounting tool 50 described above substantially in that it comprises two opposite longitudinal side walls 57b that depart from the longitudinal wall 57 and connect the transversal walls 58 and 59 on the two sides of the mounting tool 50.
(47)
(48) Elements of the mounting tool 50 of
(49) The mounting tool 50 of this third embodiment of the invention differs from the mounting tool 50 of the second embodiment of
(50) In particular, the plugging portion 54 of
(51) The sectors 154a are arranged in series and are spaced apart one another. The sectors 154a are grouped in mutually staggered groups 154b. In the example of
(52) The sectors 154a allow the insertion of the plugging portion 54 in the second free end 44 of the flexible tube 40 and oppose the disinsertion thereof, below a predetermined extraction force.
(53) The sectors 154a of the plugging portion 54 ensure an excellent mechanical seal, but they do not ensure the hydraulic seal, which is thus entrusted to just the end coupling between the transversal wall 59 and the flexible tube 40.
(54)
(55) Elements of the mounting tool 50 of
(56) The mounting tool 50 of this fourth embodiment of the invention differs from the mounting tool 50 of the third embodiment of
(57) Opposite walls 158c define the through slit 158b. The walls 158c are substantially flat and are mutually divergent, when moving away from the longitudinal axis X of the through hole 58a.
(58) The distance along the axis X between the transversal abutment wall 58 and the transversal bottom wall 59 of the mounting tool 50 of
(59)
(60) Elements of the mounting tool 50 of
(61) The mounting tool 50 of this fifth embodiment of the invention differs from the mounting tool 50 of the second embodiment of
(62) In particular, the transversal bottom wall 59 of the mounting tool 50 of
(63)
(64) Elements of the mounting tool 50 of
(65) The mounting tool 50 of this sixth embodiment of the invention differs from the mounting tool 50 of the other embodiments in that the coupling portion 52 comprisesinstead of the seat for the coupling to an enlarged head of the cablea ring 156, formed projecting from a transversal wall 159 and configured for receiving a portion 162 of the mounting cable 60, inserted in the ring 156 and folded on itself.
(66) This sixth embodiment of the mounting tool 50 does not require that the cable 60 has an enlarged head and therefore allows a simple cable 60 to be used.
(67)
(68) Components of the hydraulic braking apparatus 10 of
(69) The hydraulic braking apparatus 10 of this second embodiment of the invention differs from the hydraulic braking apparatus 10 of the first embodiment of
(70) As illustrated in
(71)
(72) In
(73) The inlet opening 34 is provided with a screw-tightening union 36 (per se known and not described in detail), wherein the piece of tube 80 is tightened before mounting. When mounting has taken place, the screw-tightening union 36 tightens the second free end 44 of the flexible tube 40.
(74) As shown in
(75)
(76) In the braking member 30 of
(77) The plug 90 comprises a plurality of substantially circumferential indentations 92.
(78) The indentations 92 form a sawtooth-shaped longitudinal profile, which allows the insertion of the plug 90 in the inlet opening 34 and opposes the disinsertion thereof, below a predetermined extraction force.
(79) The sawtooth-shaped longitudinal profile of the plug 90 also ensures an adequate hydraulic seal.
(80) In
(81) In other words, in
(82)
(83) Components of the hydraulic braking apparatus 10 of
(84) The hydraulic braking apparatus 10 of this third embodiment of the invention differs from the hydraulic braking apparatus 10 of the first or second embodiment of the previous figures substantially in that, as illustrated in
(85)
(86) As can be seen in
(87) The mounting of the hydraulic braking apparatus 10 on the bearing element (frame 100) of bicycle will now be described, which depends on the initial conditions of the apparatus itself.
(88) Initially, the braking apparatus 10 is as shown in
(89) The control member 20 can be immediately fixed to the bicycle handlebars, just as the braking member 30 can be immediately fixed to the bearing element of the bicycle (the frame 100, in case of rear brake). It is also possible to carry out one or both of these mountings at a later time.
(90) Then the mounting cable 60 is predisposed, inserting it through the hole 58a so that the enlarged head 62 abuts in the seat 56, against the transversal wall 58.
(91) The mounting cable 60 is then inserted in the internal cavity 102, through the inlet opening 104, and is driven in the internal cavity 102 until it comes out from the outlet opening 106.
(92) Once it has come out from the outlet opening, the mounting cable 60 is pulled so as to drag the mounting tool 50 and with it the flexible tube 40. Consequently, the flexible tube 40 is driven through the inlet opening 104, passes through the internal cavity 102 and comes out from the outlet opening 106.
(93) It is now possible to remove the mounting tool 50 from the second free end 44 of the flexible tube 40, furthermore taking care not to let the braking liquid escape (if present); for this purpose, it is possible to keep the end 44 raised and facing upwards, or it is possible to throttle the tube 40, with the hands or with a tool such as a caliper or similar. Moreover, the braking member 30 is predisposed for the connection with the free end 44 of the tube 40, removing the piece of tube 80. If the braking member 30 has also been previously filled with braking liquid, it is suitable to direct the inlet opening 34 upwards. In the case in which the length of the tube 40 is excessive for the specific bicycle on which the braking apparatus 10 is mounted, the excess portion is now cut.
(94) At this point, the end 44 of the tube 40 is connected to the braking member 30. In this entire series of operations it is possible for air to enter into the braking apparatus 10; in this case, it is thus suitable to bleed the air, in a per se known and conventional manner, using an opening or bleed valve (not illustrated) typically provided in the control member 20. Equally, it will be necessary to bleed air and possibly load braking liquid in the case in which the braking member 30 and/or the flexible tube 40 and/or the control member 20 have not been previously filled with braking liquid.
(95) Preferably, it can be made easier to pass the mounting cable 60 in the internal cavity 102 between the inlet opening 104 and the outlet opening 106 with the help of a guide tube (not illustrated). The guide tube is arranged in advance in the internal cavity 102 between the inlet opening 104 and the outlet opening 106, for example during the manufacturing of the bearing element such as the frame 100.
(96) In the case in which the braking apparatus 10 is the one shown in
(97) In the case in which the mounting tool 50 is the one shown in
(98) In the case in which the braking member 30 is the one shown in
(99) In the case in which the braking member 30 is the one shown in
(100) Of course, those skilled in the art can bring numerous modifications and variants to the method for mounting a hydraulic braking apparatus on a bicycle, to the hydraulic braking apparatus and to the mounting tool according to the present invention, in order to satisfy specific and contingent requirements. In particular, the features of the different embodiments of the invention can be combined with each other, even beyond what is explicitly illustrated.