JPH08127382A - Bicycle with automatic transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To improve drive operability so as to enhance safety by controlling a speed change mechanism in an inoperative condition in the case of inputting from a seating detecting means a signal of not seating a driver, by actuating the speed change mechanism based on speed information from a speed detecting means. CONSTITUTION: A speed of a vehicle is detected by a speed detecting means 20, and a seating condition in a saddle of a driver is detected by a seating detecting means 50. A signal from these speed detecting means 20 and seating detecting means 50 is input to a control part 5. In the control part 5, based on speed information from the speed detecting means 20, a speed change mechanism 10 is actuated also, in the case of inputting from the seating detecting means 50 a signal of not seating a driver, to control the speed change mechanism 10 in an inoperative condition. In this way, placing a driver in a hazardous condition due to a shock of gear change at stand-up stepping time can be prevented, to improve drive operability so as to enable safety to improve.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic transmission for a bicycle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, some bicycle transmissions are provided with a plurality of speed change gears, a derailleur for connecting the plurality of speed change gears to a chain, and a speed change wire connected to the derailleur. . In this device, the gear lever attached to the distal end of the gear shifting wire is manually operated to actuate the gear shifting wire in the longitudinal direction to select the gear position.

However, such a transmission has a drawback in that the deceleration and the gear shifting cannot be performed simultaneously because the brake lever is gripped during deceleration. Therefore, a device for automatically performing a shift operation has also been devised. For example, Actual Kaihei 2-1339
There is one described in No. 91. This automatic bicycle shifter pulls a shift wire in its length direction by a thrust of a solenoid generated according to the number of rotations of a bicycle tire to shift gears.

[0004]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention
The automatic transmission described in Japanese Patent No. 991 determines the timing of gear shift according to the rotational speed of the wheels. For this reason, even when the driver pedals the pedal in a standing posture by raising his / her waist from the saddle, so-called standing pedal, the driver automatically changes gears when the vehicle speed reaches the set speed. Since the weight of the driver is placed on the pedals when standing up, the foot may come off the pedals due to the shock of the change in the rotation speed of the pedals during a gear change, which is extremely dangerous. . Further, since the driver's driving posture is unstable when standing up, there is a problem that the driver loses his balance due to a shock transmitted from the pedal to the driver's body due to the gear change.

The present invention has been made in view of the above matters, and an object thereof is to provide a bicycle with an automatic transmission having good driving operability. It is also a technical object to provide a bicycle with an automatic transmission that improves safety.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle with an automatic transmission that shifts gears only when a driver is seated on a saddle.

[0007]

The present invention adopts the following means in order to solve the above problems. <Summary of the Invention> In a bicycle having a speed change mechanism, the present invention inputs speed detection means, seating detection means, signals from the speed detection means and seating detection means, and outputs an instruction signal to the speed change mechanism. And a control unit for

[Components] <Transmission mechanism> The transmission mechanism includes a plurality of speed change gears, a derailleur for chain-changing the plurality of speed change gears, a speed change wire connected to the derailleur, and a speed change wire. And a wire operating means for moving the. Further, the speed change mechanism may include an internal transmission, a speed change wire connected to the internal speed change transmission, and wire operation means for moving the speed change wire.

It is preferable that the wire operating means moves (displaces) an intermediate portion of the speed change wire in the wire intersecting direction to operate the speed change wire. Further, the wire operating means may move the shifting wire in the length direction thereof.

<Speed Detection Means> The speed detection means is a speed sensor for detecting the number of wheel rotations per unit time,
A speed sensor that detects the pedal rotation speed can be exemplified. An example of such a speed sensor is an electromagnetic pickup type speed sensor.

<Seat Detection Unit> The seat detection unit detects whether or not the driver is seated on the saddle. For example, a touch sensor, a sensor for detecting the displacement of the saddle, and a weight applied to the saddle are detected. The sensors can be exemplified, and each can be configured by using a resistance wire strain gauge, a piezoelectric element, or the like. The seating detection means may be provided inside the saddle or in the vicinity of the saddle.

The sensor for detecting the displacement of the saddle is provided with a resistance wire strain gauge along the saddle spring,
It can be configured to output a signal when the saddle receives a certain force or more. Further, the sensor for detecting the weight applied to the saddle can be configured by providing a load cell on a seat tube supporting the saddle. Further, a mechanical contact type sensor having a spring may be attached below the saddle.

<Control Unit> In the case where the control unit operates the speed change mechanism based on the speed information from the speed detecting unit and the seating detecting unit inputs a signal indicating that the driver is not seated. Are configured to control the speed change mechanism to an inoperative mode.

Then, the control unit controls the transmission mechanism to the operating mode when a signal indicating that the driver is seated is input from the seating detection means while controlling the transmission mechanism to the inoperative mode. Can be configured to return to.

Further, the control section may operate the transmission mechanism only when a signal indicating that the driver is seated is input from the seating detection means. The control unit is configured to have a central processing unit (CPU), a read / write memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an input / output device (I / O), and a bus connecting these. Good.

[0016]

The control unit controls the speed change mechanism to change the gear position according to the vehicle speed based on the signal from the speed detecting means.

Further, when the control section inputs a signal indicating that the driver is not seated from the seating detection means,
The transmission mechanism is controlled to be inoperative so that the gear position is not changed.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The bicycle with an automatic transmission according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of speed change gears 32, a rear derailleur 34 for changing the chain 8 to the plurality of speed change gears 32, a speed change wire 4 connected to the rear derailleur 34, and a speed change wire. The wire operating means 10 for displacing (moving) 4 and the manual operating means 9, the speed sensor 20, the seating sensor 50 as the seating detecting means, the signals from the speed sensor 20 and the seating sensor 50, and the wire operation The control unit 5 outputs a signal to the means 10.

One end of the shifting wire 4 is connected to the rear derailleur 34. In addition, the speed change wire 4
The other end of is connected to a gear lever 9 which is a manual operation means. By moving the rear derailleur 34 in the axial direction of the wheels, the chain 8 is switched between the plurality of speed change gears 32 mounted on the rear wheel shaft 31, and the speed is changed. The rear derailleur 34
Has a tension pulley 34a for adjusting the tension of the chain 8 and a jockey pulley. The chain 8 is hooked on the chain ring 46 on the front side.

The wire operating means 10 is connected to the connecting tool 11 and a connecting tool 11 that connects the shifting wire 4 so that the shifting wire 4 can move in the lengthwise direction in the middle of the shifting wire 4. It includes an operating cable 12 that operates, a motor 13 that pulls or loosens the operating cable 12, and a power supply 7 that supplies electric power to the motor 13. Then, the motor 13 includes the operating cable 12 and the connecting member 11
The transmission wire 4 is pulled or returned in the right angle (orthogonal) direction of the wire via the. Further, the motor 13 is constituted by an ultrasonic motor, and is not rotated by the operating force from the speed change wire 4 but is rotated only when a drive command is issued from the control section 5. The connecting member 11 has an intermediate portion in a range in which the shifting wire 4 is stretched (an intermediate portion in a range between the other end of the shifting wire 4 and a wire guide ring provided near the crankshaft 41). ) Is attached to.

The speed sensor 20 is composed of a magnetic detector 21 attached to the seat stay 25 and a ferromagnetic material 22 attached to the spokes on the rear wheel side. Then, each time the ferromagnetic body 22 approaches the magnetic detection unit 21 (that is, each time the wheel makes one rotation) as the rear wheel 3 rotates, the magnetic detection unit 21 emits a pulse signal. .

The seating sensor 50 is installed on the saddle 5 by the driver.
5 is a sensor for detecting whether or not the user is seated in
As shown in, the saddle 55 is attached near the rear spring 57. The seating sensor 50 has a piezoelectric element and outputs a signal to the control unit 5 when a load of a certain amount or more is applied to the saddle.

The control unit 5 includes a central processing unit (CP
U), read / write memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), input / output device (I / O),
These are connected by a bus. The I / O is connected to the speed sensor 20, the seating sensor 50, and the wire operating means 10 (FIG. 1).

The RAM stores set values for each gear position shown in FIG. The ROM stores an execution program to be described later. The transmission of the present embodiment is equipped with a gear position sensor that detects the gear position and outputs a signal to the control unit 5.

6 and 7, the operation of depressing the pedal 44 when the driver is seated on the saddle 55 and when the driver is not seated (standing posture) will be compared. First, when the driver is seated on the saddle 55 and traveling, as shown in FIG. 6, the pedaling force applied to the pedal 44 is a force f only by the pedaling force of the driver, and the pedal 4
The load range during one rotation of the crankshaft 4 about the crankshaft 41 is also about 90 degrees.

On the other hand, when the driver runs in a standing state without sitting on the saddle 55, as shown in FIG. 7, the pedaling force applied to the pedal 44 is the pedaling force due to the leg force of the driver and the weight of the driver. Is the combined force F and. The load range during which the pedal 44 makes one rotation around the crankshaft 41 is about 140 degrees. Therefore, in order to operate the transmission mechanism, it is understood that the seated state shown in FIG. 6 is preferable because the pedaling force of the pedal 44 is relatively small and the transmission can be performed stably.

Next, the operation process in the control unit 5 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flow of the execution program in the control unit 5. When the power is turned on by the driver's operation, the initial settings are made in step 101, and then the wheel speed is calculated based on the signal from the speed sensor 20 in step 102 to select the gear position corresponding to the vehicle speed. It Here, the selection of the gear position corresponding to the vehicle speed refers to FIG.
As shown in the map of, for example, when the gear position is 1st speed and the vehicle speed is 5 km / h, the gear position is selected as the 2nd speed, and when the 2nd speed state is 10 km / h, the 3rd speed is selected. . In addition, when the speed is 13 km / h in the third speed, the second speed is selected, and when the speed is 8 km / h in the second speed, the first speed is selected.

Next, at step 103, it is judged whether or not the driver is seated on the saddle 55 based on the signal from the seat sensor 50. When the driver is seated on the saddle 55, the control section 5 operates the wire operating means 10 in step 104 to change the gear position to that in step 1 above.
Change to the gear position selected in 02. In addition,
In step 104, if the current gear position detected by the gear position detection sensor and the gear position selected in step 102 are the same, the wire operating means 10 is not operated.

On the other hand, when the driver is not seated on the saddle 55 in step 103, the driver is in a standing state, and therefore the routine from step 103 to step 102 is performed, and the vehicle is Even if the speed of gear change is reached, no gear change is performed. In addition, from step 104, step 1
02 circulation routine.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the gear change is performed only when the driver is seated on the saddle, so that the driver is in a dangerous state due to the shock of the gear change when standing up. Can be prevented.

Further, since no excessive force is applied to the transmission mechanism, deterioration of the transmission mechanism can be reduced.

[0032]

According to the present invention, the seating detecting means is provided,
Since the transmission mechanism is not operated when the driver is not seated (standing up), it is possible to provide a bicycle with an automatic transmission device having good driving operability.
Further, it is possible to provide a bicycle with an automatic transmission with improved safety.

Furthermore, since gear shifting is not performed in the state where an excessive load is applied to the transmission mechanism, deterioration of the transmission mechanism can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the transmission of the embodiment is attached to a bicycle.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an execution program in the control unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a map in which a vehicle speed and a gear position are associated with each other in the control unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which the seating sensor of the embodiment is attached to a saddle.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a pedal depression operation in a seated state of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a pedal depression operation in a standing state of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 ・ ・ Rear wheel 4 ・ ・ Gear wire 5 ・ ・ Control unit (ECU) 7 ・ ・ Power supply 8 ・ ・ Chain 9 ・ ・ Manual operating means (gear lever) 10 ・ ・ Wire operating means 11 ・ ・ Connecting tool 12 ・ ・Operating cable 13 Motor 20 Speed sensor 21 Magnetic detection unit 22 Magnetic body 25 Seat stay 31 Rear wheel shaft 32 Speed change gear 34 Rear derailleur 34a Tension pulley 41 Crankshaft 44 · · Pedal 46 · · Chainring 50 · · Seat sensor (seating detection means) 55 · · Saddle 57 · · Rear spring (saddle spring)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Eiji Shindo 5-4-71 Higashi, Hanyu City, Saitama Prefecture Akebono Brake Central Technical Research Institute

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a bicycle having a speed change mechanism, speed detecting means for detecting a speed of a vehicle, seating detecting means for detecting a seating state of a driver on a saddle, and signals from the speed detecting means and the seating detecting means. And a control unit that outputs an instruction signal to the speed change mechanism, the control unit actuates the speed change mechanism based on speed information from the speed detection unit, and the driver is seated by the seating detection unit. A bicycle with an automatic transmission, wherein the transmission mechanism is controlled to an inoperative state when a signal indicating that the transmission is not performed is input.