Industrial Technology Research Institute

Yuh-Ming Hwang

Chung-Ping Chiang

Chan-Hua Feng

Jack Huang

Chang-Dau Yan

Pai-Hsiang Hsu

A free wheel rotary body structure for use in a bicycle is disclosed. It includes a free wheel kernel having a pair of axially extending ratchet pawl bearings at diametrically opposite positions relative to each other and a pair of ring grooves. The rotary body structure also includes first and second sets of one-way clutches. Each of the one-way clutches includes a c-spring and a pair of ratchet pawls. The pair of c-springs are received in the pair of ring grooves, respectively, of the free wheel kernel, and the pairs of ratchet pawls are received in the diametrically opposing pawl bearings, respectively, of the free wheel kernel. The pair of ratchet pawls in the first set of one-way clutch are of different shapes and dimensions from the pair of ratchet pawls in the second set of one-way clutch, so as to form phase difference when one of each pair of the ratchet pawls is engaged with the ratchet teeth groove of the free wheel housing.

Free wheel rotary body structure of a bicycle

A bicycle speed changing apparatus comprises a support means, a cable winding means, a fixation plate, a high gear shifting means, a retaining mechanism, a low gear shifting means, and a transmission mechanism. The support means is fastened with the handlebar of a bicycle. The low gear shifting means has a low turning rod connected with the support means by a first retrieving spring and provided with a first braking portion. The cable winding means is connected with the support means by a torsion spring. The fixation plate is provided with a second braking portion. The high gear shifting means has a high turning rod fastened with the fixation plate by a second retrieving spring. The retaining mechanism has a shaft fastened pivotally with the support means and the fixation plate. The shaft is provided with an engaging means and a first cam, a first ratchet portion and a third braking portion. The shaft is connected with the support means by a first pressing spring so as to cause the first cam, the first ratchet portion and the third braking portion to become engaged with the first braking portion, the first engaging portion, and the third cam of the high gear shifting means at the time when the first cam, the first ratchet portion and the third braking portion are set at a neutral position. The transmission mechanism has a shaft fastened pivotally with the high turning rod and provided with a braking member, a second cam and a second ratchet portion. When at a neutral position, the second cam is engaged with the second braking portion. When the high turning rod is actuated, the second ratchet portion is engaged with the second engaging portion.

Bicycle speed changing apparatus

The present invention relates to a bicycle speed change lever apparatus which is mounted near the handlebar of a bicycle. A lever apparatus is used for pushing a ratchet member, allowing the ratchet member to produce a positive or negative rotation, which further drives a cable-pulling member, thus allowing the cable to be tightened or relaxed by the cable-pulling member to accomplish an in or back shift. A position maintaining mechanism is also provided for effectuating the shift change, and the cable is allowed to maintain a certain amount of tension. The speed change lever apparatus eases the shifting operation and makes the in shift or back shift more precisely controlled.

Speed change lever apparatus for use in bicycles

A gear shifting device for a multi-speed bicycle includes a sleeve member having a flange to one side of which a drum housing is connected and to another side of which a rotary grip member is connected by means of a locking and returning device. A ratchet wheel is put over and around the sleeve member within the drum housing, a transmission steel cord reel is connected to one side of the ratchet wheel and is fixed to the sleeve member by a pullback spring. Two ratchet pawls are separately pivotally connected to the rotary grip member and the sleeve member, each having a pawl spring fixedly connected thereto to cause a pawl end of each ratchet pawl to normally contact the ratchet teeth of the ratchet wheel. A lever member is used for pushing the ratchet pawls is located within the drum housing and has a push lever extending through a slot formed on the drum housing and two projections for pushing the two ratchet pawls. The gear shifting mechanism is associated with a handlebar grip of the multi-speed bicycle, to enable a rider to easily rotate the rotary grip member or press the push lever of the lever member with a thumb to change the gearing of the bicycle.

Growing community of inventors

Chung-Shing Village, Taiwan

Yuh-Ming Hwang