Ste Look

Look S.a.

Look, Inc.

Ste Look Rue De La Pigue

Jean-Pierre Mercat

Roland Bardin

Jean-Pierre Couturet

Thierry Wunderlich

The invention relates to a front fork (10) for cycles, made of composite material, comprising two fork arms (12, 14) which unite to form an upper fork head (18). The fork head (18) comprises two rearwardly directed projections, an upper projection (30) and a lower projection (28). The two projections carry pivot portions (36, 38) which cooperate with complementary pivot portions (32, 34) provided on the steering head (24) of the frame. The fork arms (12, 14) are formed substantially linear and their centrelines are arranged at least generally in a plane in which the centreline of the fork head (18) also extends. This plane is located forwardly of the steering axis (YY) at a distance which depends on the dimensions of the cycle and is suitable to ensure the stability of the cycle.

Front cycle fork made of composite material

Safety binding heelpiece for skis

Cycle computer

A steplessly variable transmission is described in which a driving element and a driven element are adjustable eccentrically to one another and are coupled via pivotal levers which are journalled on one element and can be brought into force transmitting clamping engagement with the other element via coupling shoes. In the context of this series connection the two change speed units are inversely combined with an eccentric positioning device being provided which either jointly actuates the members with the ring tracks associated with the coupling elements or the members with the coupling elements. The force transmitting zones of engagement of the two units are angularly displaced relative to one another and the eccentricities of the two units and also the lever arms associated with the coupling elements can be so selected that ideal transmission ratios result which are largely free of fluctuations.

Steplessly variable transmission

An apparatus for the measurement of the drive torque exerted on a drivable wheel and/or parameters associated therewith in which the measurement parameters are determined in dependence on the relative rotation of two parts disposed in the drive and the relative rotation is mechanically multiplied and increased prior to forming electrical measurement values.

Apparatus for the measurement of drive torques

The driving element and driven element of the speed variator are rotatably mounted on two parallel axes, one of which is displaceable with respect to the other. These two elements are connected to each other by a series of driving crank-arms, one end of which is pivotally coupled to one element at different points of a circle having the same axis whilst the opposite end is intended to be coupled with the other element at a point of a circle having the same axis as that other element by a unidirectional coupling. These couplings consist of shoes pivotally mounted on the corresponding ends of the driving crank-arms and being each capable of jamming in turn on a circular track provided on the corresponding element of the variator whilst the other shoes slide on the track, all the driving crank-arms being intended to revolve in the same diametral plane or in two parallel planes.

Speed variator with jamming shoes

A method for zero-resetting of a device for measuring transmitted torque while a cycle is in motion consists in monitoring a phenomenon or a parameter which is normally variable during normal use of the cycle and which disappears or becomes constant when the driving wheel rotates on free-wheel motion. When the disappearance or the constant character of the phenomenon or parameter thus monitored is observed during a predetermined period of time, one initiates zero-resetting of the detector system or of the measuring system proper of the torque-measuring device. The device for carrying out the method includes on the one hand a monitor for the phenomenon or parameter and on the other hand a control which are operated in dependence on the signal emitted by the monitor and which are then capable of producing action on the detection system or the measuring system in order to reset either of these two systems to zero.

Method and system for zero-resetting of a torque-measuring device,

Detectors consisting of electric strain gages placed on one end of a bicycle wheel spindle and incorporated in the wheel hub are connected to an electric circuit which includes an apparatus for indicating the value of torque transmitted by the wheel. The strain gages can be influenced only by variations in the force applied to the spindle end in the horizontal plane which passes through the center of the spindle. There is thus measured only the horizontal component of the shearing force applied to the wheel spindle, from which it is possible to deduce the value of torque transmitted to the wheel. Instead of being fixed directly on one end of the wheel spindle, the strain gages can be fixed on a member which is associated with the spindle end, the member being capable of bending or undergoing deformation in the horizontal plane which passes through the center of the wheel spindle.

Method for measuring the torque transmitted to the driving wheel of a

The hub (3) of the bicycle (1) is connected to a chain-driven sprocket (10, 12) through a sleeve (11) carrying the sprocket(s), and through a driving mechanism which comprises a driving member (15) slidable inside the sleeve (11) and driven in rotation by this sleeve, and a driven member (16) slidable on the fixed axle (8) of the hub. The driving member (15) and the driven member (16) which is linked to the hub (3) through a free-wheel device (19, 24, 25) both carry cams (27) producing an axial thrust which pushes these members (15, 16) apart when they are rotated. This axial thrust is applied through a thrust bearing (33-36) to a sensing device comprising a strain gauge (29) mounted on a flexible non-rotating disk (28) carried on the fixed axle (8). Signals from the sensor are processed by a measuring and display device (6) attached to the handlebar, so that the rider may know at all times the value of the torque transmitted to the wheel.

Driving wheel for a bicycle or the like, including a sensor for

The driving wheel of a bicycle or moped is fitted with radial spokes for ready detection of angular divergence between hub and rim under the action of torque. The angular position of the hub is detected by means of a perforated disk having openings which pass in front of a photoelectric sensor. A hoop attached to the rim is provided with rectangular notches which also pass in front of a photoelectric sensor. The signals produced by the sensors are sent to an electronic unit for computing the torque from the time interval by which the hoop lags with respect to the disk. In addition, detection of the passage of disk openings serves to calculate the speed which is displayed together with the power obtained by electronic multiplication of the torque by the speed.

Growing community of inventors

Chateau-Renault, France

Jean-Pierre Mercat