Shifting apparatus for a bicycle

Abstract: A shifting apparatus for a bicycle includes a takeup element for winding and unwinding a control cable, a first shift member (5) supported to be rotatable substantially along an outer periphery of a handlebar (1) for rotating the takeup element (4), a second shift member (7) supported by the handlebar (1) for rotating the takeup element (4) backward, and a positioning mechanism for retaining the takeup element (4) in a selected angular position. An interlock mechanism (20) is provided for interlocking the first shift member (5) and takeup element (4), such that the takeup element (4) is not always rotatable with the first shift member (5). This interlock mechanism (20) allows the first shift member (5) to remain still when the takeup element (4) is rotated backward in an unwinding direction.

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a shifting apparatus for a bicycle. More particularly, the invention relates to a shifting apparatus having a bracket adapted to be mounted to a handlebar of a bicycle, and a takeup element mounted to said bracket to be rotatable around the handlebar to wind or unwind a control cable that extends in a first direction from said takeup element. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART In a shifting apparatus of the type noted above, the shift member is rotatable about a handlebar axis. This feature provides the advantage of allowing the cyclist to operate the shift member while holding the handlebar. This type of shifting apparatus is known from German Utility Model Publication DE G 9212927, for example. The shifting apparatus disclosed in this publication includes a first shift member mounted on a handle to be rotatable about a handlebar axis, a cable takeup drum rotatable with the first shift member, a ring rotatable with the takeup drum and having a plurality of engaging recesses arranged circumferentially thereof, and a pivotable pawl supported on the handlebar or the like and biased in a direction to engage an engaging recess to control rotation in an unwinding direction of the takeup drum. A cable is wound on the takeup drum when the cyclist rotates the shift member in a direction to move an upper surface thereof toward the cyclist. When the rotation of the takeup drum reaches a predetermined angle, the pivotable pawl engages a next engaging recess of the ring. If the cyclist stops movement of his or her hand rotating the shift member, the takeup drum is maintained in a position of the predetermined angle, i.e. an operation to shift by one stage is completed with the cable taken up. To effect a shifting operation in the unwinding direction, the cyclist may push a lever connected to the other end of the pivotable pawl. Then, the pivotable pawl is disengaged from the engaging recess of the ring to cancel positioning of the takeup drum. At this time, the takeup drum is rotated in the unwinding direction by the cable pulled by a return spring of a derailleur. The pivotable pawl engages an immediately next engaging recess if the cyclist stops pushing the lever of the pivotable pawl immediately after commencement of rotation in the unwinding direction of the takeup drum. As a result, the takeup drum is stopped rotating, which completes the operation to unwind the cable to effect a shift by one stage. The pivotable pawl acts also as a control member for allowing rotation in the unwinding direction of the takeup drum. Thus, this pivotable pawl may be called herein a second shift member for expediency of description. In the above conventional apparatus, the first shift member and takeup drum are rigidly interconnected. This provides a low degree of structural freedom resulting in varied inconveniences noted below. In the above conventional structure, when the pivotable pawl acting as a second shift member is raised to allow the takeup drum to rotate in the unwinding direction, the first shift member must rotate with the takeup drum. In other words, when effecting a shifting operation in the unwinding direction, the cyclist must take the trouble of removing his or her hand from the first shift member in order not to interfere with rotation of the first shift member. Alternatively, the cyclist may leave the hand on the first shift member, but must deliberately rotate the first shift member. After all, the cyclist must inevitably take the trouble of helping the takeup drum to rotate in the unwinding direction simultaneously with an operation to raise the pivotable pawl. Thus, there is room for improving the structure so that the first shift member does not rotate with the takeup drum rotating in the unwinding direction. However, it has been difficult to realize such improvement while retaining the rigid connection between the first shift member and takeup drum. It is considered effective to incline the axis of rotation of the first shift member with respect to the handlebar axis as an improvement to enable a s natural and easy movement of the cyclist's hand in operating the rotation type first shift member. However, it has been difficult to implement this improvement while retaining the rigid connection between the first shift member and takeup drum. That is, in order to incline an axis of rotation of a rotatable member with respect to the handlebar axis, it would be necessary to form a separate support mounted on the handlebar for supporting the rotatable member. Where the first shift member and takeup drum are rigidly interconnected, the axis of rotation of not only the first shift member but the takeup drum must be inclined. The inclined support of the rotatable member must support both the first shift member and takeup drum. Furthermore, the takeup drum constantly withstands the biasing force applied by the return spring of the derailleur through the cable. In time of a shifting operation, the takeup drum receives an additional load of shifting a chain through the cable. Thus, a high degree of strength would be required of the inclined support for supporting the first shift member rigidly connected to the takeup drum. An inclined support having a high degree of strength and a long span for supporting both the takeup drum and first shift member can hardly be realized without losing compactness of the entire shifting apparatus and without raising the cost. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a basic construction of an improved shifting apparatus for a bicycle easy to operate. Such a construction includes a mechanism for inhibiting a first shift member from rotating when a takeup drum rotates in an unwinding direction to relieve the cyclist of the necessity to remove his or her hand from the first shift member. Further, such a construction may include a first shift member inclined with respect to a handlebar axis to enable a natural and easy movement of the hand in operating the first shift member. Such a shift member should be realized simply and at low cost while retaining compactness of the entire shifting apparatus. Further, the shifting apparatus should ensure a safe and smooth shifting by the control cable in a first and second direction from the takeup element. The above object is fulfilled, according to the present invention, by a shifting apparatus for a bicycle according to claim 1. A clutch may be provided for interlocking the first shift member and takeup drum. This is made possible by the structural freedom that the first shift member and takeup drum are not rigidly interconnected. The clutch produces the effect that the first shift member does not rotate when the takeup drum is rotated in an unwinding direction by the second shift member. That is, when operating the second shift member, the cyclist need not take the trouble of removing his or her hand from the first shift member not to interfere with rotation of the first shift member. The cyclist can operate the second shift member while gripping the handlebar with the entire palm of the hand. This enables shifting operations to be carried out in a stable manner during a bicycle run. According to a further feature of the present invention a holder may be mounted in proximity to the takeup element for receiving the control cable through said holder in the second direction. This holder being mounted to said bracket and the plurality of guide rollers are positioned between said holder and said takeup element to smoothly guide the inner cable of the control cable in the first and second direction from said takeup element. Preferably the plurality of guide rollers consists of three rollers. Furthermore, the shifting apparatus according to the invention comprises an external shift member adapted to rotate coaxially around said handlebar wherein rotation of said shift member around the handlebar is communicated to the takeup element. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken with reference to the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a plan view of a shifting apparatus for a bicycle according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of the shifting apparatus of Fig. 1 showing a speed stage indicator. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the shifting apparatus of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side view of a clutch for interlocking a takeup element to a first shift member of the shifting apparatus of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an explanatory view of a positioning mechanism and a straight-through return stopper mechanism for acting on the takeup element, showing a positioning pawl and a return stopper pawl engaging a ratchet tooth. Fig. 6 is an explanatory view showing the takeup element rotated backward from the position shown in Fig. 5, with the return stopper pawl remaining in engagement and the positioning pawl disengaged from the ratchet tooth. Fig. 7 is an explanatory view of an interlock mechanism between a second shift lever and the takeup element in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is an explanatory view of a declutching mechanism in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, a bicycle handlebar 1 supports a lever bracket 3 fixed tight thereto and having a brake lever 2. The lever bracket 3 includes a takeup element 4 mounted in a proximal portion thereof, a first shift member 5 disposed to a side of the takeup element 4, and a speed indicator 6 disposed rearwardly and having numeric speed stage marks A. The lever bracket 3 further includes a second shift lever 7 and a wire receiving case 3a arranged in a forward portion. These components constitute a shifting apparatus for a bicycle which forms a unit with the brake lever. A control cable 8 connected at one end thereof to a derailleur (not shown) has an outer tube supported at the other end by an outer holder 9 attached to the wire receiving case 3a. An inner wire 8a at the other end extends from the outer holder 9, as guided by a plurality of guide rollers 10 arranged inside the wire receiving case 3a, into the proximal portion of the lever bracket 3 to be connected to the takeup element 4. The takeup element 4 is rotatable forward or backward by the first shift member 5 and second shift lever 7 to pull or relax the inner wire 8a The cyclist may effect a shifting operation while checking, with ease by looking at the indicator 6, a speed stage to which the derailleur is switched. As shown in Fig. 3, the takeup element 4 and first shift member 5 are formed tubular to be rotatably mounted on a support sleeve 11 formed integral with the proximal portion of the lever bracket 3. The takeup element 4 and first shift member 5 are retained in place by a stopper ring 12. The support sleeve 11 is a tubular body coaxially mounted on the handlebar 1 for supporting the first shift member 5 inwardly of a grip 13 fixed to the handlebar 1. The first shift member 5 is rotatable by the thumb of a hand holding the grip 13 about the handlebar 1 using a handlebar axis X as its rotational axis. The takeup element 4 also is rotatable about the handlebar 1 using a handlebar axis X as its rotational axis. As shown in Fig. 3, the second shift lever 7 is pivotably attached to a support shaft 14 of the lever bracket 3. The shift lever 7 automatically returns to a neutral position N to contact a lever stopper 15 under the biasing force of a return spring 16. When the lever bracket 3 is assembled to the handlebar 1, the support shaft 14 is disposed forwardly of the handlebar 1 and has an axis Y thereof extending vertically. That is, as shown in Fig. 1, the second shift lever 7 is formed as a swing lever having a control portion 7a thereof located forwardly of the handlebar 1 and pivotable about the axis Y by the first finger of the hand holding the grip 13. Thus, the control portion 7a may be operated with the first finger while the thumb of the same hand is kept on the grip 13 or first shift member 5, with the other fingers and palm resting on the grip 13 for stability. The first shift member 5 and second shift lever 7 are operable to rotate the takeup element 4 through a construction shown in Figs. 3 through 8. A clutch 20 for transmitting torque from the first shift member 5 to the takeup element 4 includes a pair of clutch pawls 18 pivotably supported on the first shift member 5 through support axes 17, and a clutch gear 19 splined to one end of the takeup element 4 to be rotatable therewith. Each of the clutch pawls 18 is biased by a spring 21 to engage any one of a plurality of teeth of the clutch gear 19. The first shift member 5 is restrained from moving toward the takeup element 4 by an annular fixed plate 22 placed in contact with a plate mounting shoulder formed on the support sleeve 11 between the takeup element 4 and first shift member 5. A friction plate 23 and a brake spring 24 are press fit between the fixed plate 22 and first shift member 5. These friction plate 23 and brake spring 24 constitute a brake 25 for applying a fixed, light braking force to the first shift member 5. Consequently, the shift member 5 is rotatable only by a force exceeding this braking force. The friction plate 23 is splined to the support sleeve 11 not to be rotatable but only slidable relative thereto. The brake spring 24 biases the friction plate 23 into constant contact with an end surface of the first shift member 5. Thus, the first shift member 5 receives braking action, based on friction, of the brake 25. As shown in Fig. 3, an unwind spring 26 is mounted in an annular hollow formed in a takeup drum portion 4a of the takeup element 4. The unwind spring 26 is connected at one end thereof to the lever bracket 3, and at the other end to the takeup element 4. The unwind spring 26 is elastically deformable by a rotation in a winding direction of the takeup element 4. This elastic deformation produces an elastic restoring force to bias the takeup element 4 in an unwinding direction. An operation of the second shift lever 7 is transmitted to the takeup element 4 through an interlock mechanism 30. The interlock mechanism 30 includes the unwind spring 26, a release plate 27 relatively rotatably mounted between the drum portion 4a of the takeup element 4 and the clutch gear 19, a pair of declutching members 28 arranged between the release plate 27 and the clutch gear 19, and an interlocking rod 29 for interlocking the second shift lever 7 and release plate 27. As shown in Fig. 5, a positioning mechanism 35 for maintaining the takeup element 4 in a selected rotational position includes a ratchet wheel 31 mounted between the drum portion 4a of the takeup element 4 and the release plate 27 to be rotatable therewith through spline engagement, and a positioning pawl 34 pivotably attached to the lever bracket 3 through a support axis 32 and biased by a spring 33 to engage one of teeth 31a of the ratchet wheel 31. As also shown in Fig. 5, a straight-through return stopper mechanism 37 is provided to prevent overshooting of the takeup element 4 when rotated in the unwinding direction by operation of the second shift lever 7. This mechanism 37 includes a return stopper pawl 36 pivotably attached to the support axis 32 and the ratchet wheel 31. Thus, in a normal situation where the cyclist takes no control action, the clutch 20 is engaged by action of the pawl springs 21. At the same time, the positioning mechanism 35 has the positioning pawl 34 engaging a tooth 31a of the ratchet wheel 31 to hold the takeup element 4 against rotation in the unwinding direction. In this condition, the first shift member 5 is operable to rotate the takeup element 4 only when the first shift member 5 is rotated in a direction F to move an upper surface thereof toward the cyclist. When the first shift member 5 is rotated in the direction F, the clutch 20 transmits the torque of the first shift member 5 to the takeup element 4, whereby the takeup element 4 is rotated in a direction C to wind the inner wire 8a thereon. With this rotation, the ratchet wheel 31 rotatable with the takeup element 4 rotates while pushing out the positioning pawl 34 and return stopper pawl 36 by camming action occurring from a shape of the tooth 31a. With rotation by each pitch of the takeup element 4 to shift the derailleur by one stage, the positioning pawl 34 engages a tooth 31a next to the tooth 31a engaged previously, whereby the positioning mechanism 35 becomes operative again. When the first shift member 5 is operated to rotate the takeup element 4 in the winding direction, the takeup element 4 may be rotated, if desired, straight to a position where the positioning pawl 34 engages the last tooth 31a of the ratchet wheel 31. The derailleur may be shifted only by one stage, or by two or more stages. For example, the derailleur may be shifted from the lowest speed to the highest speed or vice versa by rotating the takeup element 4 straight through. On the other hand, the takeup element 4 may be rotated in the unwinding direction by swinging the second shift lever 7 toward the handlebar 1 from neutral position N. With this operation, as shown in Fig. 7, the interlocking rod 29 interlocking the second shift lever 7 and release plate 27 pulls a control arm 27a of the release plate 27, whereby the release plate 27 is rotated in a direction Z from the position shown in Fig. 7. As a result, a pair of control pins 27b provided on the release plate 27 move from inoperative positions shown in solid lines in Fig. 8 to operative positions shown in phantom lines, to push free ends of the declutching members 28, respectively. Each declutching member 28 is attached at the other end to the lever bracket 3 through a pivot pin 38. Consequently, both declutching members 28, based on the above pushing action, swing about the pivot pins 38 away from the takeup element 4. That is, the declutching members 28 move from clutch engaging positions shown in solid lines in Fig. 8 to clutch disengaging positions shown in phantom lines, to push pins 18a of the clutch pawls 18, respectively, whereby the clutch pawls 18 become disengaged from the clutch gear 19. Thus, the clutch 20 is now disengaged. However, even though the clutch 20 is disengaged, the takeup element 4 does not rotate in the unwinding direction yet. This is based on the operation of the straight-through return stopper mechanism 37 described next. As shown in Fig. 7, the release plate 27 includes a release arm 27c having a distal end thereof situated between an arm 34a of the positioning pawl 34 and an arm 36a of the return stopper pawl 36. With the rotation in the direction Z of the release plate 27, the release arm 27c moves from an inoperative position shown in Fig. 7 to an operative position shown in Fig. 5. That is, the release 5 arm 27c pushes the arm 26a of the return stopper pawl 36 whereby the return stopper pawl 36 swings to move a tip end thereof to a position between teeth 31a of the ratchet wheel 31. As a result, as shown in Fig. 5, the straight-through return stopper mechanism 37 becomes operative. When, subsequently, the takeup element 4 is rotated in the unwinding direction, the takeup element 4 is rotated only by one pitch corresponding to shifting by one speed stage of the derailleur. That is, in the condition shown in Fig. 5, a tip end of the positioning pawl 34 remains in contact with the tooth 31a of the ratchet wheel 31, so that the takeup element 4 remains incapable of rotating in the unwinding direction. When the second shift lever 7 is further swung toward the handlebar 1, the release plate 27 is further rotated in the direction Z to move the release arm 27c to an operative position shown in Fig. 6. At this time, the release arm 27c pushes the arm 34a of the positioning pawl 34 whereby the positioning pawl 34 becomes disengaged from the tooth 31a of the ratchet wheel 31. When the positioning pawl 34 becomes disengaged from the tooth 31a, the return stopper pawl 36 remains operative to stop the ratchet wheel 31 rotating to a large extent. However, in the state shown in Fig. 6, the ratchet wheel 31 has already rotated slightly in the unwinding direction, and so the tooth 31a engaged by the positioning pawl 34 a short time ago is now slightly displaced in the unwinding direction from the tip end of the positioning pawl 34. Thus, the takeup element 4 remains still if the second shift lever 7 remains in the position to which it has been swung. When the cyclist releases the second shift lever 7 to allow the shift lever 7 to return to the neutral position N, the return stopper pawl 36 automatically becomes disengaged from the tooth 31a, and the positioning pawl 34 catches the next tooth 31a also automatically and substantially at the same time. Thus, with a series of operations to swing and return the second shift lever 7, the positioning mechanism 35 is capable of retaining the takeup element 4 in place after the takeup element 4 has rotated by one pitch. In this embodiment, the second shift lever 7 is operable only to rotate the takeup element 4 in the unwinding direction. Each time the second shift lever 7 is swung from the neutral position N, the interlock mechanism 30 shown in Figs. 3 and 7 causes the takeup element 4 to rotate in a direction D under the forces of the unwind spring 26 and inner wire 8a, to unwind the inner wire 8a. The straight-through return stopper mechanism 37 allows the takeup element 4 to rotate only by one pitch to shift the derailleur by one stage. Then, the positioning mechanism 35 retains the takeup element 4 in that rotational position. When the takeup element 4 rotates in the unwinding direction, the declutching members 28 of the interlock mechanism 30 disengage the clutch 20 so that the rotation of the takeup element 4 is not transmitted to the first shift member 5. Further, since the brake 25 applies a minor braking force to the first shift member 5, the cyclist need not hold the first shift member 5 against rotation. Consequently, the cyclist may operate the second shift lever 7 to rotate the takeup element 4 in the unwinding direction while keeping his or her hand on the first shift member 5 remaining still. The cyclist may keep the palm of his or her hand on the grip 13, with the thumb touching the first shift member 5. In this steady gripping condition, the cyclist may operate the second shift lever 7. Since the first shift member 5 does not rotate during operation of the second shift lever 7, the cyclist need not take the trouble of moving the thumb to present no interference with the pivotal movement of the second shift lever 7. The speed indicator 6 is attached to the lever bracket 3 to be rotatable about an axis extending substantially perpendicular to the handlebar axis X. The speed indicator 6 includes a rotatable member 6a having the speed marks A, and a fixed member 6b attached to the lever bracket 3 for covering the rotatable member 6a. The fixed member 6b is formed of a transparent material to enable a visual observation of the speed marks A. The rotatable member 6a is rotatable with the takeup element 4 through engagement with a gear 4b (shown in Fig. 3) formed at an end of the takeup element 4. When the takeup element 4 reaches a selected rotational position, one of the speed marks A corresponding to the selected speed stage of the derailleur moves to a position opposed to a pointer 6c provided on the fixed member 6b as shown in Fig. 2, thereby to indicate the selected speed stage.

Claims: A shifting apparatus for a bicycle comprising: a lever bracket (3) adapted to be mounted to a handlebar (1) of a bicycle, said lever bracket includes a wire receiving case (3a); a takeup element (4) mounted to said lever bracket (3) for rotation around the handlebar (1), wherein said takeup element (4) is adapted to pull and release a control cable (8) that extends in a first direction from said takeup element (4); a first shift member (5) for rotating the takeup element (4) in at least one direction; and a second shift member (7) for rotating the takeup element (4) in at least a direction opposite to the one direction, characterized in that a plurality of guide rollers (10) for guiding the control cable (8) from a second direction to the first direction, wherein the second direction is different from the first direction, wherein the plurality of guide rollers (10) is arranged inside the wire receiving case (3a). A shifting apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a holder (9) is mounted in proximity to said takeup element (4) for receiving said control cable (8) through said holder (9) in the second direction. A shifting apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said holder (9) is mounted to said lever bracket (3). A shifting apparatus according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the plurality of guide rollers (10) are positioned between said holder (9) and said takeup element (4). A shifting apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the plurality of guide rollers (10) consists of three rollers. A shifting apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an external shift member adapted to rotate coaxially around said handlebar (1) wherein rotation of said shift member around the handlebar is communicated to the takeup element (4).

Inventors: HARA NOBUKATSU, HARA, NOBUKATSU, HARA, NOBUKATSU, C/O SHIMANO INC.
Applicants: SHIMANO KK, SHIMANO INC.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: B62M25
IPC codes: B62M25, B62K23