HUB

Abstract

A hub for bicycles including a hub axle, a hub shell, a rotor, and a toothed disk freewheel including a pair of interacting freewheel components namely, a hub-side freewheel component and a rotor-side freewheel component. The freewheel components each include axial engagement components for intermeshing with one another and are biased in the engagement position through a biasing device. The hub-side freewheel component is axially displaceably received in a threaded ring and is non-rotatably coupled with the hub shell in the driving direction. The rotor-side freewheel component is non-rotatably provided at the rotor for transmitting rotational movement from the rotor to the hub shell in the engagement position of the two freewheel components. The threaded ring is provided with a multiple thread and is screwed to a multiple thread of the hub shell.

Claims

1. A hub for at least partially muscle-powered vehicles and in particular two-wheeled vehicles having a hub axle and a hub shell and a rotor and a freewheel comprising: a pair of interacting freewheel components namely, a hub-side freewheel component and a rotor-side freewheel component; wherein the freewheel components each comprise axial engagement components for intermeshing with one another and are biased in the engagement position through at least one biasing device; wherein the hub-side freewheel component is axially displaceably received in a threaded ring and non-rotatably coupled with the hub shell and wherein the rotor-side freewheel component is non-rotatably provided at the rotor for transmitting rotational movement from the rotor to the hub shell in the engagement position of the two freewheel components; and the threaded ring is provided with a multiple thread and is screwed to a multiple thread of the hub shell.

2. The hub according to claim 1, wherein the threaded ring consists of a stronger material than does the hub shell.

3. The hub according to claim 1, wherein a multiple outer thread is formed on the threaded ring and a multiple inner thread, on the hub shell which are screwed to one another when mounted.

4. The hub according to claim 1, wherein a thread groove of at least one of the multiple threads shows a gradient of at least 1.5 mm.

5. The hub according to claim 1, wherein a thread groove of at least one of the multiple threads shows a gradient of at least 1.8 mm.

6. The hub according to claim 1, wherein a thread groove of at least one of the multiple threads shows a gradient of at least 2.5 mm or 3.0 mm or more.

7. The hub according to claim 1, wherein the multiple threads show two, three or more separate thread grooves aligned in parallel.

8. The hub according to claim 1, wherein the engagement components form one axial toothing each and wherein at least one of the two freewheel components is configured as a toothed disk.

9. The hub according to claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the freewheel component is configured U- or L-shaped and wherein the radial leg is provided with the engagement components.

10. The hub according to claim 1, wherein the freewheel component has a non-round outer contour and is received in a corresponding non-round inner contour of the threaded ring or of the rotor to be non-rotatable and axially displaceable.

11. The hub according to claim 1, wherein the biasing device is at least partially disposed in the interior of the freewheel component.

12. The hub according to claim 1, wherein the biasing device presses against the radial leg of the freewheel component in the axial direction.

13. The hub according to claim 1, wherein the engagement components of the rotor-side freewheel component is configured as an end toothing at the rotor.

14. The hub according to claim 1, wherein at least one freewheel component and the threaded ring consists of steel and the hub shell consists at least in part of at least one lightweight material such as light metal or a fibrous composite material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The figures show in:

[0029] FIG. 1 a schematic side view of a racing bicycle equipped with a hub according to the invention;

[0030] FIG. 2 a schematic side view of a mountain bike equipped with a hub according to the invention;

[0031] FIG. 3 a schematic cross-section of a first hub according to the invention;

[0032] FIG. 4 an enlarged detail from FIG. 3;

[0033] FIG. 5 an exploded view of the toothed disk freewheel of the hub according to FIG. 3; and

[0034] FIG. 6 another schematic cross-section of a hub of another exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] In FIG. 1, a vehicle 100 is illustrated in a schematic side view presently configured as a two-wheeled vehicle 50 and in particular as a racing bicycle. The bicycle 50 is at least partially muscle-powered and may be provided with an electric auxiliary drive.

[0036] The racing bicycle is illustrated in a simplistic side view and comprises a front wheel 51, a rear wheel 52 and a frame 53. A handlebar 56 serves as a control and may have different configurations. Apart from a racing handlebar configuration, other known configurations are conceivable as well. Beneath the saddle 57 a battery 58 may be provided which is employed in particular for electro-assisted two-wheeled vehicles. Generally speaking, such a battery 58 may be attached to the frame in other places or incorporated into the frame or received elsewhere.

[0037] In the bicycle according to FIG. 1, the tire 60 is configured as a tubeless tire and is for example glued onto the rim 61. The rims 61 of the front wheel 51 and the rear wheel 52 are each connected with the hub via spokes 59. The rear wheel 52 is provided with a hub 1 according to the invention as the rear wheel hub.

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates a mountain bike as the bicycle 50 in a simplistic side view comprising a front wheel 51, a rear wheel 52, a frame 53, a sprung front fork 54 and a rear wheel damper 55. In this exemplary embodiment, disk brakes are provided. The rear wheel 52 is also provided with a hub 1 according to the invention.

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a simplistic cross-section of an inventive hub 1 for a bicycle 50 according to FIG. 1 or FIG. 2.

[0040] The hub according to the invention is provided with a hub axle 2 presently configured hollow and a hub shell 3 presently configured one-piece which comprises two hub flanges 26 for fastening the spokes. In other configurations the hub shell 2 may be configured multipart and for example be provided with a separate hub sleeve to which separate hub flanges 26 are fastened. It is also possible to configure the hub as a straight pull hub where no conventional hub flanges are provided.

[0041] The rotor 4 receives at least one sprocket, and in particular receives a sprocket cluster having multiple sprockets. Selecting a corresponding sprocket allows variation in the driving gear ratio as desired.

[0042] The hub shell is supported in the two axial end regions of the hub shell relative to the hub axle 2 through a roller bearing 27. The rotor is likewise supported relative to the hub axle 2 by means of two bearings 27.

[0043] A freewheel 5 is provided here which is configured as a toothed disk freewheel. The freewheel transmits the driving torque to the hub shell while, for example in downhill rides or the like a decoupling of the rotational movements of the hub shell and the rotor may occur.

[0044] In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the freewheel 5 is provided with two freewheel components 6 and 7 each provided with axial engagement components 8, 9 which in the engagement position 10 illustrated in FIG. 3 are engaged with one another.

[0045] In the exemplary embodiment, the two freewheel components 6, 7 are each configured as a toothed disk 16 or 17, preferably showing identical architecture. The engagement components 8 and 9 each form an axial toothing 18 (cf. FIG. 5) on the front faces of the freewheel components 6, 7 respectively toothed disks 16, 17.

[0046] The cross-section of each of the toothed disks is generally about U-shaped, the geometry of the toothed disks 16 and 17 resulting from combining a perforated disk or washer and a sleeve. The axial toothing 18 is provided at the axial front face of the perforated disk.

[0047] It is also possible to configure the toothed disks solid and provided with an inner hollow cylindrical aperture. These toothed disks have engagement components (in particular in the shape of teeth) configured on one front face and on the other front face a biasing device 11 or 12 acts for biasing the two freewheel components 6, 7 in the engagement position 10.

[0048] The freewheel component 6 configured as a toothed disk 16 is accommodated in the hub component 23 configured as a threaded ring 32 to be axially displaceable and non-rotatable. To this end, the toothed disk 16 comprises an external toothing engaging in a corresponding internal toothing of the threaded ring 32 so as to allow axial movement while prohibiting rotational movement of the toothed disk 16 relative to the threaded ring 32.

[0049] One advantage of the separate threaded ring 32 is that the threaded ring 32 is made of a harder and more robust material than the hub shell 3. Since the threaded ring 32 shows a relatively small volume the total weight of the hub is only slightly increased while the service life of the hub is clearly extended.

[0050] The radially outside surface of the threaded ring 32 is provided with a multiple thread 34, presently with two separate, axially spaced apart thread grooves 34a and 34b as the enlarged detail shows. The multiple thread 34 of the threaded ring 32 is screwed to a matching multiple internal thread 35 in the hub shell 3. The multiple internal thread 35 comprises two thread grooves 35a and 35b.

[0051] The gradient R of the thread grooves of the threads 34 and 35 in this exemplary embodiment is 2.0 mm (or else 3.0 mm), while the pitch P is 1.0 mm (or 1.5 mm). This means that the same pitch P shows double the gradient R such that the axial forces exerted on the hub shell by the threaded ring in the axial direction are considerably lower than in the prior art where the threaded ring was screwed into the hub shell by a single thread.

[0052] The multiple threads basically also reduce retention. Reduced retention is advantageous since in operation the threaded ring keeps driving into the hub shell such that automatic detachment is excluded.

[0053] According to the FIGS. 3 and 4, the bearing 27 for supporting the hub shell is radially partially surrounded by the threaded ring 32 on the rotor side. A direct radial contact is not required and is as a rule not present. The threaded ring 32 in particular does not provide a bearing seat. The bearing seat (with correspondingly lower tolerances) is configured in the hub shell 3. It is as a rule provided with a force fit into which the bearing 27 is pressed.

[0054] The other of the freewheel components 7 in the present exemplary embodiment is configured as a toothed disk 17, and also comprises a non-round outer contour and in particular an external toothing which is disposed in a corresponding internal toothing of the rotor 4 to be non-rotatable but axially displaceable.

[0055] In all the configurations, the rotor and the hub shell are disposed fixedly spaced apart in the axial direction in (normal) operation.

[0056] Each of the two toothed disks 16, 17 is urged toward one another in the axial direction by means of a biasing device 11 or 12 configured as a coil spring to have the axial toothings 18 of the two toothed disks engage with one another. In this way, a torque transmission from the rotor to the hub shell 3 is enabled in the driving direction, while in the reversed rotational direction the teeth of the toothed disks 8, 9 are urged away from one another against the force of the biasing devices 11, 12, gliding past one another on their tooth flanks.

[0057] For sealing, a seal 30 is provided between the rotor 4 and the hub shell 3 which can presently comprise a contactless labyrinth seal and/or a contacting elastomeric seal to keep moisture and dust and the like away from the freewheel 5.

[0058] One of the ends is provided with an adapter ring 28 and the other of the ends with an adapter ring 29 which are pushed onto the hub axle 2 and which at their extreme ends comprise regions suitable to be pushed into the dropouts of a bicycle fork or a bicycle frame. A quick release not illustrated in FIG. 3 may for example serve for fastening. It is likewise possible to use a through axle for fastening wherein the adapter rings 28 and 29 are as a rule not required or not in this shape.

[0059] The adapter ring 28 presently comprises a double-flange seal 31 acting as a double labyrinth seal and showing high efficiency. The adapter ring 29 may be configured in analogy and be provided with a double-flange seal.

[0060] The bearings 27 used are preferably commercially available roller bearings provided with an outer ring, an inner ring and rolling members disposed in-between. The rolling members are preferably retained by a holding device such as a rolling member cage or the like. Particularly preferably, the axial ends of the roller bearings show seals for protecting the interior of the roller bearing. The seals may be elastomeric seals. The bearings used are preferably deep-groove ball bearings.

[0061] A clear inner diameter of the freewheel components 6, 7 is in particular not larger than twice or three times or four times the axial width 13 of the toothed disk 16. This ensures a secure seat of the toothed disk 16 in the threaded ring 32 and prevents possible tilting of the toothed disk 16 in moving back and forth. This will further increase the reliability of the toothed disk freewheel.

[0062] For reinforcement, a radial bulge 33 may be provided as is presently illustrated in broken lines. The bulge 33 may be configured inwardly at the hub axle 2. It is also possible to provide the bulge 33 radially outwardly.

[0063] The clamping forces in the frame are dissipated by the inner rings of the bearings 27, the sleeves 36 and 37 and by a part of the hub axle 2 into which the clamping force is introduced and outlet through radial bulges on the bearings 27 for supporting the hub shell 3. The clamping forces are outlet at the outwardly ends through the adapter rings 28 and 29.

[0064] In the FIGS. 4 and 5, the toothed disk freewheel is illustrated in an enlarged cross-section or in an enlarged, exploded view for better illustration of the details.

[0065] FIG. 4 shows the region of the threaded ring 32 in an enlarged illustration. Additionally, and again enlarged, a detail showing the multiple threads 34, 35 in the threaded ring 32 and the hub shell 3 is illustrated. By way of their thread grooves 34a and 34b, the two multiple threads 34, 35 engage the thread grooves 35a and 35a in the hub shell to securely receive the threaded ring 32 in the hub shell. The multiple threads provide for reliable guiding and secure retention of the threaded ring 32 in the hub shell 3.

[0066] As can be clearly seen in FIG. 4, the threaded ring shows at its axially outwardly end a slightly enlarged (and here) circumferential flange 38 at the axially inwardly end of which a stopper 38a is formed which rests against a corresponding stopper 39a of a radial shoulder 39 in the hub shell 3. This configuration results in a (narrower) gap 40 remaining at the inner axial end of the threaded ring between the inner axial end of the threaded ring 32 and the body of the hub shell 3. This configuration again contributes to limiting the axial forces acting on the hub shell.

[0067] FIG. 5 is an exploded view wherein the outer radius 14 of the axial toothings 18 is not larger than double the axial width 13 of the toothed disks 16, 17. The size of the axial width 13 of the toothed disks 16, 17 is at least 30% or 40% or half the outer radius 14 of the axial toothings 8 respectively 9.

[0068] FIG. 5 shows two simplistic thread grooves 34a and 34b on the outer surface of the threaded ring 32 which combined form a multiple thread 34.

[0069] FIG. 6 shows another exemplary embodiment of a hub according to the invention, the architecture of which is substantially the same as that of the hub according to the invention according to FIG. 3. Therefore, like or similar parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0070] The hub 1 in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 6 is provided with a hub axle 2 and a hub shell 3 equipped with hub flanges 26. The hub shell 3 is supported rotatably relative to the hub axle 2 through two bearings 27. The rotor is likewise rotatably supported relative to the hub axle by means of two bearings 27.

[0071] Between the hub shell 3 and the rotor 4 a freewheel 5 is provided which in turn comprises freewheel components 6 and 7. A contactless and/or contacting sealing may be provided between the rotor 4 and the hub shell 3.

[0072] In this exemplary embodiment, the freewheel components 6 and 7 are not configured identical but differently. While the freewheel component 6 is configured as a toothed disk 16, the freewheel component 7 is configured as an end toothing at (in particular integrally with) one axial end of the rotor. In this way the axial end of the rotor 4 with the axial toothing 18 provided thereat is in engagement with the axial toothing 18 of the toothed disk 16.

[0073] The toothed disk 16 is biased in the axial direction toward the rotor 4 by a biasing device 11 presently configured as a coil spring such that the teeth of the axial toothings 18 are as a rule engaged with one another.

[0074] In the exemplary embodiment, the bearings 27 provided to support the hub shell 3 adjacent to the toothed disk 16 are for example inserted by means of force fit.

[0075] In FIG. 3, a threaded ring 32 for receiving the toothed disk 16 is equipped with a multiple external thread 34 which is screwed with a corresponding multiple internal thread 35 in the hub shell 3.

[0076] The enlarged detail beneath FIG. 6 schematically shows the region of the intermeshing multiple threads 34 and 35 wherein for the sake of simplicity two thread grooves are indicated at the threads 34 and 35. Again the gradient of each of the thread grooves 34a, 34b and 35a, 35b is twice that of a single thread. The pitch of the thread remains the same though. This leads to decreased axial loads acting on the hub shell 3 such that the wall thicknesses of the hub shell may be reduced. This reduces the total weight and it is also possible to reduce air drag since, for example the cross-sectional area may be reduced.

[0077] On the whole the invention provides an advantageous hub 1 which provides a lower weight combined with increased rigidity and enhanced durability.

[0078] While a particular embodiment of the present hub has been described herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference numerals: 1 hub 2 hub axle 3 hub shell 4 rotor 5 freewheel 6 freewheel component 7 freewheel component 8 engagement component 9 engagement component 10 engagement position 11 biasing device 12 biasing device 13 axial width 14 outer radius 15 radial extension 16 toothed disk 17 toothed disk 18 axial toothing 19 inner diameter 20 radial leg 21 axial leg 22 outer diameter 23 hub component 24 hub component 25 outer radius 26 hub flange 27 bearing 28 adapter ring 29 adapter ring 30 seal 31 double flange seal 32 hub component, threaded ring 33 bulge 34 thread 34a thread groove 34b thread groove 35 thread 35a thread groove 35b thread groove 36 sleeve 37 sleeve 38 flange 38a stopper 39 shoulder 39a stopper 40 gap 50 bicycle 51 front wheel 52 rear wheel 53 frame 54 fork 55 rear wheel damper 56 handlebar 57 saddle 58 battery 59 spoke 60 tire 61 rim 100 vehicle