JP3445852B2 - Speed change device for bicycle - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bicycle gear shift operating device for operating a bicycle derailleur having a return spring via an operating cable.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a shift operating device is provided with an assist spring for urging and moving a shift operating member in a direction opposite to a direction in which the return spring is biased, and the return spring is opposite to a direction in which a derailleur is operated. When shifting gears in some directions, an assist spring assists the gear shifting operation so that the gear shifting operation can be performed lightly. However, for example, a gear shift operation tool is provided with a circular drum centered on the swing axis of the gear shift operation tool, and when the gear shift operation tool is operated, the drum section rotates to wind up the operation cable or rewind the operation cable. In addition, the assist spring is attached across the gear shift operation tool and the supporting member thereof to urge the gear shift operation tool to swing toward the low speed side.
The tension generated in the operation cable by the assist spring became stronger as the gear was shifted to the higher speed side. That is, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the tension CT1 generated in the operation cable by the assist spring changes relatively greatly as the shift operation tool moves.

[0003]

Conventionally, for example, a guide pulley for chain reshuffling is operated to a high speed side by a return spring, and the tension generated in the operation cable by the return spring causes a movement of the guide pulley. When the rear derailleur, which is relatively changed accordingly, is operated, the difference between the cable tension CT1 by the assist spring and the cable tension CT2 by the return spring becomes small on the high speed side as shown in FIG. However, it becomes large on the low speed side. In this type of gear shift operating device, when shifting to the deceleration side, the force obtained by subtracting the cable tension from the assist spring from the cable tension from the return spring is required as the gear shifting operation force. There was a large difference between the operating force for shifting and the operating force for shifting from the high speed side to the deceleration side. Further, when the derailleur is created, the tension generated in the operation cable by the return spring is configured to be constant or almost constant regardless of the movement of the guide pulley, and even if the derailleur is connected and operated, as shown in FIG. As shown, the difference between the cable tension CT1 by the assist spring and the cable tension CT2 by the return spring becomes relatively large on the low speed side, and the operating force for shifting to the deceleration side on the low speed side,
Although the difference from the operation force when shifting from the high speed side to the deceleration side is smaller than that in the case of FIG. 13, it still exists .

An object of the present invention is to lighten and connect the derailleur of the type in which the cable tension by the return spring changes and the type of constant or almost constant type, which are connected, at the high speed side and the low speed side. An object of the present invention is to provide a gear shift operation device that can perform gear shift operation with little or no difference in operating force.

[0005]

Means for Solving the Problems] For the bicycle gear shifting operation device according to claim 1 is a equipment you operated through the operation cable a bicycle derailleur that is equipped with return spring, performs a shift operation And the gear shifting operation tool for
An assist spring for biasing moves in a direction opposite to the direction to be urged moved by return springs, to Assist tension generated in the operating cable by a spring regardless of the operating position change of the speed change operation member constant or nearly constant Operation
The cable support that supports the cable and the gear shift operation tool are swung.
And a base member operably supported. That
The cable support is attached to the
It is currently supported and the operation cable is operated to shift gears.
Operation tool and pull the operation cable in a straight line.
Let

In carrying out the speed change device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the speed change operation tool is configured to be supported by the quadruple link mechanism so as to be movable in parallel, and is attached to the fixed link and the swing link of the link mechanism. You may employ | adopt the structure etc. which use a tension coil spring as an assist spring. The bicycle gear shifting operation device according to claim 2 is a contractor.
In the device of claim 1, the assist spring is different from the base member.
Torsion coil spring mounted over quick-acting tool
Is.

In carrying out the gear shift operation device according to the second aspect, a drum portion for winding and unwinding the operation cable is provided, and the drum portion is formed in a non-circular shape. Good. Claim
The bicycle gear shift operation device according to claim 3, wherein the device is a device according to claim 1.
In the, the gear shifting operation device is
Shift lever attached to the handlebar for swing operation
And the gears are distributed in the moving direction of the gear shift operation device.
Positioning body with two finger rest operation parts
And a plurality of positioning recesses that engage and disengage this positioning body.
Position to position the speed change operation tool at the operating position.
It also has a placement mechanism.

A bicycle gear shifting operation device according to a fourth aspect is
The device according to claim 3, wherein the base member is a brake lever.
Lever bracket to attach the to the bicycle handlebar
Is.

[0009]

[Operation] When the derailleur is shifted in the direction of operating against the return spring, the assist spring assists the application of the operating force, and the operating force that needs to be artificially added is reduced by the assist spring assist. You can shift gears. At this time, the cable tension of the return spring changes because the cable support part supports the operation cable so that the cable tension of the assist spring is constant or almost constant regardless of the operation position of the gear shift operation tool. When operating a derailleur of the type described above, the cable tension CT1 by the assist spring and the cable tension CT by the return spring are added to the tension relationship shown in FIG.
2, the shift operation can be performed while reducing the difference between the manual operation force required on the low speed side and the manual operation force required on the high speed side as compared with the conventional case shown in FIG. When operating a derailleur of the type in which the cable tension by the return spring is constant or almost constant, the cable tension CT1 by the assist spring is set to the tension relationship shown in FIG.
And the cable tension CT2 due to the return spring,
Compared with the conventional case shown in FIG. 15, the gear shift operation can be performed while reducing the difference between the manual operation force required on the low speed side and the manual operation force required on the high speed side as compared with the conventional case. When this type of derailleur is used, the cable tension from the return spring is the same as the cable tension from the assist spring, and if a derailleur that balances both tensions is used, the man-power required on the low speed side and the manpower required on the high speed side The shift operation can be performed in a state where there is no difference with the operating force or in a state where there is almost no difference.

The cable support and the outer case
To place and set the bull's holding part in an appropriate positional relationship
Cable tension by the assist spring is constant or
It becomes constant. When the configuration according to claim 2 is adopted, it is compact and easy to operate. That is, when the gear shift operating device is attached via the quadruple link mechanism, the gear shift operating device moves so as to move away from the vehicle body as a whole, and the hand becomes relatively hard to reach, or the whole gear operating device becomes relatively large. On the other hand, in addition to making the gear shifting operation device swingable,
If a torsion coil spring is used as the assist spring, for example, the gear shift operation tool can be operated simply by extending the fingers of the hand while holding the handlebar, or the gear shift operation device as a whole becomes relatively compact.

[0011] By adopting the configuration according to 請 Motomeko 3, it is possible to operate the gear shift operation device while holding the handle bar. Moreover, although the gear shift operation tool can be lightly operated by the assist spring, the gear shift operation can be performed while appropriately positioning the gear shift operation tool at the predetermined operation position by the positioning mechanism so as not to move too much beyond the operation target position. Furthermore, one of the two finger rest operation parts is located where the thumb is easy to operate, for example, the front side of the handlebar is located below the handlebar, and the other is where the index finger is easy to operate, such as the handlebar. It is placed so that it is located below the handlebar on the other side of the bar, and even when the gear shift operation tool has a relatively large actuation stroke and the operation stroke of the gear change operation tool is relatively large, Makes it possible to easily operate only one finger contact operation part with the thumb over the entire stroke, and when swinging forward, only the other finger contact operation part can be easily operated with the index finger over the entire stroke. Become.

When the structure according to claim 4 is adopted, compared with the case where the structure is attached to the handlebar separately from the brake lever, the speed change operation device is made compact, but the speed change operation tool has a grip portion of the handlebar. It is possible to make it easy to operate with a hand that supports the handlebar by approaching to.

[0013]

[Effects of the Invention] Even when operating a derailleur of the type in which the cable tension by the return spring changes, or operating a derailleur of the type in which the cable tension by the return spring is constant or almost constant, operation is performed with assistance from the assist spring. Not only can you do it, but you can operate without feeling the difference in the required operating force between the low speed side and the high speed side as much as before, and depending on the derailleur, you can operate without feeling the difference at all, both in terms of operating force and operation feeling. You can now easily change gears. Also, the cable support
And the placement of the outer cable holder
Cable tension can be kept constant or almost constant,
Comparison of setting the mounting structure of the cable
The structure can be made simple and can be made compact from this aspect as well.
Like

When the structure according to claim 2 is adopted, the gear shift operation device is easy to operate and is compact, so that the bicycle can be easily attached to the handlebar in a good appearance and can be constructed with high commercial value. . When employing the configuration according 請 Motomeko 3, by being able to properly operate the shift operating member in the operation target position, furthermore,
By using the thumb and forefinger separately,
Not only is it possible to shift gears favorably by the action of the assist spring while supporting the handlebars, but also the plane that aligns the shift gear to the operation target position even when there are many shift stages. From the viewpoint of handling of the gear shift operation tool, and also in terms of the ease of producing the operating force, the gear shift operation can be performed lightly.

If the structure according to claim 4 is adopted, the gear bar can be easily assembled to the handle bar while the gear shift operation can be easily performed while supporting the handle bar.

[0016]

EXAMPLE As shown in FIG. 4, a gear shift operation device for a bicycle is provided by attaching a gear shift lever 21 or the like to a lever bracket 22 configured to attach a brake lever 5 near a grip portion of a handlebar 2. 20 are configured. As shown in FIG. 1, the gear shift operation device 20 is connected to a bicycle rear derailleur 10 including a guide pulley 11 and a return spring RS by an operation cable 3 including an outer cable 3a and an inner cable 3b, and a gear shift lever 21. By operating the rear derailleur 10 via the operation cable 3, the chain 4 is re-engaged with the seven rear gears for driving the rear wheels of the bicycle. The details are configured as follows.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the lever bracket 22 has a band portion 22a provided on the side opposite to the side where the brake lever 5 is located, fitted on the handlebar 2. It is configured to be attached to the handlebar 2 by tightening the attachment screw 22b. A support shaft member 24 configured to be tightened and fixed by a mounting screw 23, and a claw holder 25 configured to be tightened and fixed to the lever bracket 22 by the support shaft member 24 are attached to the lever bracket 22. The gear lever 2 is provided on the member 24.
1 is rotatably supported around the shaft core 24a of the support shaft member 24, and a cover body 26 that covers the base portion 21a of the speed change lever 21 is fixed to the end portion of the support shaft member 24 by spline engagement so as to be non-rotatable. It is configured to stop and is fixed by a mounting screw 27. The base 2 of the speed change lever 21
An assist spring AS, which is a torsion coil spring, is provided in 1a, an outer holder 28 for supporting the outer cable 3a of the operation cable 3 is provided in the cover body 26, and the transmission lever 21 is provided with a cable nipple 3.
The gear shift operation device 20 is configured by including a cable support portion 21b configured to connect the inner cable 3b of the operation cable 3 by receiving and supporting c.

That is, the gear shift lever 21 is mounted on the handlebar 2 so as to be reciprocally swingable around the shaft core 24a using the support shaft member 24 and the lever bracket 22 as a mounting member, and protrudes from the cover body 26 of the gear shift lever 21. It is operated by either one of the two finger-contact operation parts 21A and 21B provided so as to be dispersed in the moving direction of the shift lever 21 and located below the handlebar 2. That is, when operating the speed change lever 21 in the swinging direction D shown in FIG. 5, the thumb is put on the finger contact operation section 21A, and only the finger contact operation section 21A is used to operate over the entire stroke. When operating 21 in the swinging direction U shown in FIG. 5, the index finger is applied to the finger contact operation section 21B, and only the finger contact operation section 21B is used to operate over the entire stroke. Seven positioning recesses 21e provided in the positioning portion 21c of the speed change lever 21
And a positioning claw 29 made of resin attached to the claw holder 25 constitute a positioning mechanism for positioning the shift lever 21 at predetermined seven operating positions. A positioning ball or the like may be used instead of the positioning claw 29, and thus these are collectively referred to as a positioning body 29. That is, when the speed change lever 21 is oscillated, the operating portion 29a of the positioning claw 29 is disengaged from the positioning recessed portion 21e by this operating force, and when the operating portion 29a of the positioning claw 29 enters the positioning recessed portion 21e, the operation is caused. The gear shift lever 21 is positioned at a predetermined operation position by the engagement. That is, the shift lever 21 has the lowest speed first speed position in which the positioning recessed portion 21e located closest to one end of the seven positioning recessed portions 21e matches the operating portion 29a of the positioning claw 29, and the seven positioning portions. The positioning recessed portion 21e located closest to the other end of the recessed portion 21e moves to the 7th speed position, which is the highest speed and matches the operating portion 29a of the positioning claw 29. The cable support portion 21b is provided with the inner cable 3 as the speed change lever 21 moves to the low speed side.
b is pulled out from the outer cable 3a, and the inner cable 3b is extended to the derailleur side as the speed change lever 21 moves to the high speed side.
The inner cable 3b pulled out from the outer cable 3a is formed so as to be pulled linearly without being wound up. One end of the assist spring AS is locked to the lever bracket 22 by being locked to the mounting seat portion 25a of the claw holder 25 to the lever bracket 22,
The other end is locked to the base portion 21a of the shift lever 21 to urge the shift lever 21 to the first speed position. That is, the speed change lever 21 is urged by the return spring RS of the derailleur 10 in the direction opposite to the direction urged via the operation cable 3.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the speed change lever 21 moves from the 1st speed position to the 7th speed position, the cable support portion 21b as a support point for the inner cable 3b is
The shift lever 21 moves along an arcuate locus T centered on the swing axis 24a. Assist spring AS is placed on this locus T.
Therefore, when the assist operation force AF for swinging the shift lever 21 is generated, the cable tension CT1 is generated on the inner cable 3b extending between the cable support point 21b and the outer holder 28 due to the assist operation force AF. Assist operation force AF of this cable tension CT1
The ratio of the tension value to the inner cable 3 with respect to the straight line L passing through the swing shaft core 24a and the cable support point 21b.
Even if the assist operation force AF changes due to a change in the torsion of the assist spring AS by changing the inclination angle A of b, the cable support point 21b moves.
, The cable tension CT1 does not change, or does not change as much as the assist operation force AF. The inclination angle A is determined by setting the positional relationship between the cable support portion 21b of the shift lever 21 and the outer holder 28 of the cover body 26. Therefore, the cable support portion 21b and the outer holder 2
When 8 and 8 are arranged and set in an appropriate positional relationship, the cable tension CT1 generated in the inner cable 3b by the assist spring AS causes the speed change lever 21 to be at any speed position from the first speed position to the seventh speed position, and the first speed position. It is almost constant regardless of any speed position from the first speed position to the seventh speed position such as between the second speed position and between the fourth speed position and the fifth speed position, that is, any operation position in the entire operation area. . Based on this, the torsion coil spring shown in FIG. 9 is adopted as the assist spring AS, and the cable support portion 21b and the outer holder 28 are arranged and set in the positional relationship shown in FIG.
The almost constant cable tensions CT1-1 and CT shown in FIG.
1-2 is generated.

That is, when the speed change lever 21 is operated to the first speed position, the outer holder 28 and the cable support portion 21 are moved.
b is located at a position where a distance D1 = about 25.9 mm from the swing shaft center 24a of the speed change lever 21 and the speed change lever 21 is operated to the 7th speed position, the outer holder 28 and the cable are supported. The axis of the inner cable 3b extending to the portion 21b is the swing axis 24.
to be located at a distance D7 = about 29 mm from a,
The cable support portion 21b and the outer holder 28 are arranged and set. When the tension generated on the inner cable 3b is measured by the outer holder 28 when the gear shift lever 21 is operated while not acting on the gear shift lever 21 by removing the positioning claw 29 or the like, the cable tension CT1- shown in FIG. 1, CT1-2 were measured. That is, the cable tension CT1-1 is a value of 3.35 to 3.4 kgf in terms of the cable tension when the speed change lever 21 is operated to increase the speed from the first speed position to the seventh speed position.
The cable tension CT1-2 is the cable tension when the speed change lever 21 is decelerated from the 7th speed position to the 1st speed position.
The value was 72 to 2.68 kgf. The cable tension CT1-1 at the time of increasing the speed of the speed change lever 21 and the cable tension CT1-2 at the time of the deceleration operation are slightly different due to friction or the like. That is, even if the gear shift lever 21 is operated to any operation position over the entire operation area thereof, the assist spring AS generates a substantially constant tension CT1 of 2.68 to 3.4 kgf on the inner cable 3b.

The rear derailleur 10 is constructed as shown in FIGS. That is, a pair of left and right supporting bodies 14 to which the guide pulley 11 and the tension pulley 12 are attached via a chain guide 13 and a bracket body 15 configured to be bolted to the rear wheel fork 1 by a connecting plate portion 15a are provided. Swing links 16, 17
And the support 14 and the swing link 1
6, 17 and the bracket body 15 are configured to form a parallel quadruple link mechanism R1. Of the pair of left and right swing links 16, 17, an operating arm portion 16a extending from the right swing link 16 toward the left swing link 17 and a support 14 are tension coil springs. A return spring RS is attached, and a first tension spring S1 made of a torsion coil spring is installed in a portion of the bracket body 15 where the connecting plate portion 15a is rotatably connected around the axis B, and a chain guide of the support body 14 is provided. 1
A second tension spring S2, which is a torsion coil spring, is installed in a portion where 3 is rotatably connected about an axis P. The bracket body 15 is provided with an outer holder 18 for supporting the outer cable 3a of the operation cable 3, and the inner arm cable 3b of the operation cable 3 is fastened and connected to the operation arm portion 16a by a wire fixing screw 19. It has a support.

That is, the guide pulley 11 is attached to the derailleur attachment portion 1a extending from the fork end portion of the rear wheel fork 1 by the parallel four-link mechanism R1 so as to reciprocate in the lateral direction of the vehicle body. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the guide pulley 11 has the lowest speed first gear position in which the chain 4 is hung on the lowest outer gear of the seven rear gears located at the innermost side of the vehicle body, and as shown in FIG. The top gear with the smallest outer diameter located on the outermost side of the vehicle is reciprocally moved in the lateral direction of the vehicle to reach the highest speed 7th position where the chain 4 is hung, and the pulling force of the inner cable 3a causes the smaller diameter side of the seven rear gears. From the high-speed side to the large-diameter side, the chain is switched from the high-speed side to the low-speed side,
The elastic restoring force of the return spring RS moves the seven rear gears from the large diameter side to the small diameter side to change the chain from the low speed side to the high speed side. One end of the first tension spring B1 is locked to the connecting plate portion 15a, and the other end thereof is locked to the bracket body 15 to move the bracket body 15 with respect to the rear wheel fork 1 around the axis B in the swinging direction BF. By urging, tension is applied to the chain 4 via the guide pulley 11 and the tension pulley 12. One end of the second tension spring B2 is locked to the support 14 and the other end of the second tension spring B2 is locked to the chain guide 13, so that the chain guide 13 is supported by the support 1.
4, the guide pulley 11 and the tension pulley 12 are biased in the swinging direction PF around the axis P.
Tension is applied to the chain 4 via.

In the rear derailleur 10, as shown in FIG. 8, when the guide pulley 11 moves in the moving range from the first speed position to the seventh speed position, the cable fixing screw 19 as the connecting point of the inner cable 3b is swung right. The link 16 and the bracket body 15 move along an arc locus T around the connecting pin axis X as the connecting center. If a return operating force RF for swinging the right swing link 16 due to the return spring RS is generated on the locus T, the inner cable 3b extending from the connecting point 19 to the outer holder 18 due to the return operating force RF. Cable tension C
T2 occurs. The ratio of the tension value of the cable tension CT2 to the return operation force RT is the inner cable 3b with respect to the straight line L passing through the connecting pin axis X and the connecting point 19.
When the inclination angle A is appropriately changed even if the return operation force RF is changed due to the change of the length of the return spring RS by changing the inclination angle A of the connection point 19, The cable tension CT2 does not change, or even if it changes, it does not change as much as the return operation force RF. The inclination angle A is determined by setting the positional relationship between the cable connection point 19 of the right swing link 16 and the outer holder 18 of the bracket body 15. Therefore,
By appropriately setting the positional relationship between the cable connection point 19 and the outer holder 18, the chain 4 is not wound around the guide pulley 11 and the tension pulley 12, and the chain pulley 4 is hung from the chain 4 and the reaction force is not applied. Then, the tension CT2 generated in the inner cable 3b by the return spring RS is
Is between the first speed position and the seventh speed position, between the first speed position and the seventh speed position such as between the first speed position and the second speed position, between the fourth speed position and the fifth speed position, That is,
It becomes constant or almost constant at any position over the entire movement area. Based on this, the right swing link 16
By arranging and setting the cable connection point 19 and the outer holder 18, the guide pulley 1 and the tension pulley 12 can be installed without hanging the chain 4.
In a state in which the chain 4 is re-engaged from the chain 4 and the reaction force is not applied, the inner cable 3b is connected to the guide pulley 11
The cable tension CT2 of 2.68 to 3.4 kgf is generated by the return spring RS regardless of the position.

That is, the rear derailleur 10 and the gear shift operating device 20 are not connected to the vehicle body only by connecting them with the operation cable 3, or even if they are attached to the vehicle body, the guide pulley 11 and the tension pulley 12 are not wrapped around the chain 4 and the guide pulley 11 The chain 4 is placed in a state where the reaction force is not applied from the chain 4 and the positioning claw 29 is set to
When the gear shift lever 21 is operated in a state where
The speed change lever 21 has any speed position from the first speed position to the seventh speed position, any speed position from the first speed position to the seventh speed position such as between the first speed position and the second speed position or between the fourth speed position and the fifth speed position. Between the positions, that is, at any position over the entire operation area, the cable tension CT2 generated on the inner cable 3b by the return spring RS and the cable tension CT1 generated on the inner cable 3b by the assist spring AS. Are configured to be balanced.

In short, when shifting to the deceleration side, the shift lever 21 is operated in the swinging direction D shown in FIGS. Then, the shift lever 21 pulls the inner cable 3b, and the inner cable 3b moves the guide pulley 11 inside the vehicle body together with the tension pulley 12 while elastically deforming the return spring RS. As a result, the guide pulley 11 switches the chain 4 from the small diameter side to the large diameter side of the rear gear, and the shift speed is switched from the high speed side to the low speed side. At this time, even when the gear is switched from the first speed to the seventh speed, the tension CT2 by the return spring RS of the inner cable 3b and the tension C by the assist spring AS
The assist spring AS assists the operating force having a strength necessary for elastically deforming the return spring RS in balance with T1. Therefore, the chain reshuffling resistance that acts on the guide pulley 11 and the outer cable 3a of the operation cable 3
Therefore, the transmission lever 21 is operated by an artificial operation force against the friction of the inner cable 3b and the operation resistance of the positioning claw 29. When shifting to the speed-increasing side, the shift lever 21 is operated in the swing direction U shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.
Then, the shift lever 21 operates the inner cable 3b to be unwound, and the return spring RS elastically restores to move the inner pulley 3b so that the guide pulley 11 and the tension pulley 12 act on the pulleys 11 and 12 together. Move to the outside of the body against the reaction force.
As a result, the guide pulley 11 switches the chain 4 from the large diameter side to the small diameter side of the rear gear, and the shift speed is switched from the low speed side to the high speed side. At this time, when the gear is switched from the 1st speed to the 7th speed, the tension CT2 of the return spring RS of the inner cable 3b and the tension CT1 of the assist spring AS are balanced, and the assist spring AS is elastically deformed. The return spring RS assists the operation force of the required strength. Therefore, the shift lever 21 is operated by an artificial operation force against the friction between the outer cable 3a and the inner cable 3b of the operation cable 3 and the operation resistance of the positioning claw 29.

As shown in FIG. 7, an arrow-shaped pointer mark 31 is provided on a peripheral surface portion 21d of the transmission lever 21 which is exposed from the cover body 26 and faces rearward of the vehicle body. The wall portion 26a, which corresponds to the surface portion 21d and faces rearward of the vehicle body, is provided with seven numeral-type gear position indicators 32 ,.
The d and the wall portion 26a constitute an indicator 30 for displaying the shift speed. That is, the shift lever 21
When the rocking operation is performed, the peripheral surface portion 21d moves with respect to the wall portion 26a, and when the speed change lever 21 reaches a desired operation position from the 1st speed position to the 7th speed position, the pointer mark 31 indicates the 7 speed stages. .., which corresponds to the operation position of the gear shift lever 21, and knows which gear position display 32 the pointer mark 31 indicates. It is possible to determine which gear stage the shift operation has been performed. The shift lever 21 is used as a pointer member and the cover body 26 is used as a display board member to simplify the structure and create an indicator.

The set screw 33 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is
The set screw 33 is attached to the cover body 26 so that the tip end portion of the set screw 33 enters the recessed portion of the speed change lever 21 and engages with the speed change lever 21. The set screw 33 is
When the shift lever 21 is locked, the shift lever 21 is fixed at the seventh speed position. That is, when the rear derailleur 10 and the gear shift operation device 20 are assembled to the vehicle body and connected by the operation cable 3, the derailleur 10 is urged to the 7th speed position by the return spring RS.
Is performed while maintaining the 7th position against the assist spring AS in the deformed state in which the spring force is the strongest, the coupling work becomes easier. Therefore, when the operation cable 3 is connected, the set screw 33 is set to the operating position, and the connection operation can be performed easily without the need for a manual operation of maintaining the speed change lever 21 in the 7th position against the assist spring AS. Of. Then, when this connecting work is completed, the set screw 3
The gear shift lever 21 can be used by removing 3 or switching to a mounting position where the tip end of the gear shift lever 21 comes out and the locking action is released .

[0028] As this, when to maintain the shift lever 21 adopts a set screw 33 to the seventh-speed position, compared to the case of maintaining the 7-speed position shift lever 21 by the positioning mechanism, the transmission of the positioning mechanism It becomes possible to weakly set the engagement force for positioning the lever 21 at a predetermined operation position. That is, the tension of the assist spring AS,
If there is a difference in tension between the return spring RS and the tension difference, the positioning mechanism operates as prescribed if the engagement force is set to such an extent that the shift lever 21 can be maintained in the operating position. When the tension of AS and the tension of the return spring RS are balanced, it is possible to prevent the gear shift lever 21 from moving due to vibration or the like, and it is possible to recognize that the gear shift lever 21 has reached a predetermined operation position. If the engagement force is set to a weaker degree, the positioning mechanism operates as prescribed .

The result of this can be the shifting operation resistance by the positioning mechanism so that it can shift operation lightly pressing as much as possible into small. The same effect can be obtained by using a pin, a key, or a stuffing body configured to be stuffed in a predetermined place such as between the shift lever and the cover body instead of the set screw 33. It is advisable to employ various stoppers configured to switch between the operating state and the releasing state.

[Other Embodiment] FIG. 11 shows a gear shift operating device 40 having another embodiment structure. That is, the base member 41 configured to be fixed to the handlebar 2 and the speed change lever 42 including the operation arm portion 42a are connected by the pair of swing links 43 and 44, and the base member 41 and the swing link 43 are connected. ，
44 and the shift lever 42 are configured to form a parallel four-link mechanism R2. A pair of swing links 43,
In order to support the outer cable 3a of the operation cable 3 on the speed change lever 42, an arm spring 44a extending from one of the swing links 44 and an assist spring AS, which is a tension coil spring, is attached to the base member 41. The outer holder 18 of the
4a is provided with a cable support portion 44b configured to connect the inner cable 3b of the operation cable 3 with the cable fixing screw 19. The base member 41 is a fixed link of the parallel quadruple link mechanism R2, and the shift lever 42 is a movable link of the parallel quadruple link mechanism R2, which enables the shift lever 42 to move with respect to the handlebar 2. . That is, the parallel four-series link mechanism R2 serves as a gearshift lever attachment mechanism, and the gearshift lever 42 is movably connected to the handlebar 2. Then, the shift lever 4
2 is operated to move, the swing link 44 and the shift lever 42
The relative swinging of and allows the inner cable 3b of the operation cable 3 to be extended or pulled. Further, when the shift lever 42 moves, the swing link 44 and the base member 41 relatively swing so that the distance between the assist spring connecting portion of the swing link 44 and the assist spring connecting portion of the base member 41 changes. As a result, the deformation of the assist spring AS due to the gear shift operation is enabled.

In the case of this link type speed change operation device 40, as shown in FIG. 12, the cable fixing screw 19 as the connecting point of the inner cable 3b is connected to the connecting pin as the connecting center of the swinging link 44 and the mounting member 41. It moves along an arcuate locus T about the axis X. When an assist operation force AF for swinging the swing link 44 due to the assist spring AS is generated on the locus T, the inner cable 3b extending between the cable connection point 19 and the outer holder 18 is generated due to the assist operation force AF. A cable tension CT1 is generated at. The ratio of the tension value of the cable tension CT1 to the assist operation force AF is determined by the connection pin axis X
By changing the inclination angle A of the inner cable 3b with respect to the straight line L passing through the cable connection point 19 and
Even if the cable connection point 19 moves and the assist operation force AF changes due to the change in the length of the assist spring AS, if the inclination angle A changes appropriately, the cable tension CT1
Does not change, or does not change as much as the assist operation force AF. The inclination angle A is determined by setting the positional relationship between the cable connection point 19 of the swing link 44 and the outer holder 18 of the speed change lever 42. From this, by appropriately setting the positional relationship between the cable support portion 44b and the outer holder 18,
The cable tension CT1 by the assist spring AS becomes constant or almost constant regardless of the change in the operating position of the shift lever 42. Further, in the case of this gear shift operating device, the specifications of the parallel quadruple link mechanism R2 are formed to be the same as the specifications of the parallel quadruple link mechanism R1 of the derailleur 10, and the tension of the inner cable 3b by the assist spring AS in the gear shift operating device 40 is set. C
T1 and the tension CT2 of the inner cable 3b due to the return spring RS in the derailleur 10 can be equalized and balanced.

The present invention can be applied to a gear shift operation device for a front derailleur as well as for a rear derailleur. As a type of gear shift operating device to be attached to the handlebar, the lever bracket 22 is configured to be supported and attached to the handlebar 2 together with the brake lever 5, and a dedicated attaching member different from the lever bracket 22 is provided.
Alternatively, the brake lever 5 may be separately attached to the handlebar 2 for implementation. In place of the speed change levers 21 and 42, the speed change operation is performed by adopting a rotary operation body that is rotatably fitted on the handle bar to form a grip portion of the handle bar and operates the derailleur via an operation cable. The present invention can be applied to the case of configuring the device. Therefore, these gear shift levers and rotary operation bodies are collectively referred to as gear shift operation tools 21 and 42, and the lever bracket 22
Is referred to as a base member 22.

In addition to the derailleur in which the return spring is configured to operate the chain changing member to the high speed side, the return spring is used to operate in the derailleur configured to operate the chain changing member to the low speed side. The present invention can also be provided in the case of a gear shift operating device configured as described above. In this case, the assist spring is configured to bias the speed change operation tool to the high speed side.

In addition to using the gear shift operating device according to the present invention to operate a derailleur in which the cable tension by the return spring maintains a constant or almost constant value and is balanced with the cable tension by the assist spring, In order to operate a derailleur in which the cable tension by the spring is constant or almost constant but does not balance with the cable tension by the assist spring, or the derailleur in which the cable tension by the return spring changes with the shift,
The gear shift operating device according to the present invention may be used.

It should be noted that although reference numerals are given in the claims for convenience of comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the configurations of the accompanying drawings by the entry.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a rear derailleur operating state of a shift lever.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a rear derailleur operating state of a shift lever.

[Figure 3] Side view of the entire rear derailleur

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the entire shift operating device.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a shift operating device.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a gearshift lever mounting portion of the gearshift operating device.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an indicator of the gear shift operating device.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of cable tension.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of an assist spring.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of cable tension.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of a shift operating device according to another embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of cable tension.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional cable tension relationship.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of a cable tension relationship when the shift operating device according to the present invention is used.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional cable tension relationship.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a cable tension relationship when the shift operating device according to the present invention is used.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 handlebar 3 operation cable 5 Brake lever 10 derailleur 21, 42 gear shifting operation tool 21b, 44b cable support 21e Positioning recess 22 Base member 29 Positioning body RS return spring AS Assist spring CT1 cable tension

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bicycle gear shift operation device for operating a bicycle derailleur (10) equipped with a return spring (RS) through an operation cable (3), comprising a gear shift operation tool for performing a gear shift operation. 21, 42) and the speed change operation tool (21, 42) to the return spring (R).
S), an assist spring (AS) that is urged to move in a direction opposite to the direction in which the operation cable (3) is urged by the assist spring (AS).
A cable support portion (2) for supporting the operation cable (3) so that the tension generated in the operation cable is constant or almost constant regardless of the change in the operation position of the speed change operation tool (21, 42).
1b, 44b) and a base for swingably supporting the speed change operation tool (21).
And a cable member (22), wherein the cable support portion (21b) is a base member (22).
It is supported by rocking operation by the
Connect the operation cable (3) to the speed change operation tool (21).
And pull the operation cable (3) in a straight line.
A bicycle gear shifting operation device , which is a cable supporting portion . 2. A pre-Symbol Assisted spring (AS) is a torsion coil spring mounted over said base member (22) and said speed change operation member (21), the bicycle shift operating device according to claim 1. 3. The shift operation tool (21) is a shift lever attached to the bicycle handlebar (2) by the base member (22) so as to be swingable, and
It is provided with two finger contact operation parts (21A) and (21B) which are distributed in the movement direction of the speed change operation tool, and a positioning body (29) and a plurality of positioning bodies (29) to be engaged and disengaged. With the individual positioning recesses (21e),
The speed-change operating member further includes a positioning mechanism for positioning the operating position (21), the bicycle shift operating device according to claim 1. 4. The bicycle shift operating device according to claim 3 , wherein the base member (22) is a lever bracket for attaching the brake lever (5) to the bicycle handlebar (2).