Patent Publication Number: US-11027717-B2

Title: Hydraulic bicycle system

Description:
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/799,237, filed Oct. 31, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/594,731, filed Jan. 12, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,827,968, the contents of which are herein incorporated in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to a hydraulic bicycle system. More specifically, this invention relates to a hydraulic bicycle component and/or a hydraulic hose assembly that are used in a hydraulic bicycle system. 
     An example of a hydraulic bicycle system is a hydraulic brake system. A typical hydraulic brake system includes a brake hand lever assembly that is fluidly coupled to a brake caliper assembly by a hydraulic hose assembly. To actuate the brake, the rider squeezes the hand lever. Through a cam or other linkage, this squeezing motion advances a primary piston down the axis of a hydraulic primary cylinder. This pressurizes and displaces hydraulic fluid in the chamber forward of the piston head. The chamber, and its fluid content, is in fluid communication with the fluid-filled hydraulic hose assembly by way of a hand lever assembly connection port. A remote end of the hydraulic hose assembly in turn is connected to another connection port on the housing of the caliper assembly. The caliper assembly contains at least one, and may contain several, secondary cylinders with secondary pistons that slide along the respective axes of their cylinders. This latter piston movement will be translated by the caliper assembly into a clamping force on the rim or disk. Hence, advancement of the piston within the primary cylinder pressurizes and displaces hydraulic fluid ahead of it, and this results in hydraulic fluid in the caliper assembly housing advancing piston(s) within their respective secondary cylinders. 
     An issue peculiar to hydraulic brake systems is the prevention or minimization of the introduction of air into the hydraulic brake lines, cylinders and fluid chambers. A consideration which hydraulic bicycle brake systems share with other hand-actuated bicycle controls is to reduce, as much as possible, the aerodynamic drag of the cables and hoses. To minimize such drag, designers seek to route the lines through the bicycle frame, through frame holes that are made as small as possible. In order to route a hydraulic brake hose, the hose must be separated from either the brake lever assembly or the brake caliper assembly and fed through frame entry and exit points. Given that the hydraulic brake system requires full fluid volume and a minimal quantity of entrapped air to function properly, the process of disconnecting and reconnecting the brake hose to the brake assembly(ies) should minimize the loss of brake fluid and entry of air into the system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the invention, a hydraulic bicycle component includes a housing having a cylinder, the cylinder defining a hydraulic fluid chamber; a hydraulic hose connection port fluidly connected to the hydraulic fluid chamber and adapted to be connected to a hydraulic hose assembly; an attachment member configured to affix the housing to a handlebar; a piston assembly including a piston slidably disposed within the cylinder, the piston configured to slide between a non-actuated position and an actuated position; a port valve configured to move between an open position permitting fluid communication between the hydraulic hose assembly and the hydraulic fluid chamber and a closed position inhibiting fluid communication between the hydraulic hose assembly and the hydraulic fluid chamber, the port valve moving to the open position responsive to the connection of the hydraulic hose assembly to the hydraulic hose connection port; and a spring disposed between the piston and the attachment member and configured to bias the port valve to the closed position. 
     Another aspect of the invention provides a hydraulic bicycle component including a housing having a cylinder, the cylinder defining a hydraulic fluid chamber; a hydraulic hose connection port formed coaxially with the cylinder and adapted to be connected to a hydraulic hose assembly; a piston assembly including a piston slidably disposed within the cylinder, the piston configured to slide between a non-actuated position and an actuated position; and a port valve configured to move between an open position permitting fluid communication between the hydraulic hose assembly and the hydraulic fluid chamber and a closed position inhibiting fluid communication between the hydraulic hose assembly and the hydraulic fluid chamber, the port valve moving to the open position responsive to the connection of the hydraulic hose assembly to the hydraulic hose connection port. 
     Yet another aspect of the invention provides a hydraulic component for a road bicycle including a road brake hand lever assembly; a hydraulic fluid chamber disposed within the road brake hand lever assembly; a connection port disposed within the road brake hand lever assembly and configured to be connected to a hydraulic hose assembly; and a port valve disposed within the connection port, the port valve configured to move between an open position permitting fluid communication between the hydraulic hose assembly and the hydraulic fluid chamber and a closed position inhibiting fluid communication between the hydraulic hose assembly and the hydraulic fluid chamber, the port valve moving to the open position responsive to the connection of the hydraulic hose assembly to the hydraulic hose connection port. 
     The invention permits a hydraulic bicycle component, such as a brake hand lever assembly or a brake caliper assembly, to be filled with hydraulic fluid and shipped in this condition. A hydraulic bicycle component may be shipped to a customer in a separated format and re-assembled at system installation without compromising hydraulic bleed quality, and in a way which minimizes ingestion of air and fluid loss. The invention facilitates the routing of hydraulic lines through small-diameter internal passageways of a bicycle frame prior to their connection to the brake hand lever assembly and/or brake caliper assembly. Further, the invention may ensure proper insertion of the hydraulic hose assembly into the hydraulic bicycle component. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further aspects of the invention and their advantages can be discerned in the following detailed description, with reference to the drawings in which like characters denote like parts and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a mountain bike that may incorporate one embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a hydraulic bicycle system incorporating one embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a brake hand lever assembly, shown prior to connection to a hydraulic hose assembly; 
         FIG. 3A  is a magnified detail of  FIG. 3  showing a closed position of a port valve; 
         FIG. 3B  is a magnified detail of a port valve according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the brake hand lever assembly shown in  FIG. 2 , but showing a hydraulic hose assembly connected to the brake hand lever assembly; 
         FIG. 4A  is a magnified detail of  FIG. 4 , showing an open position of the port valve; 
         FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of a hose end member of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 4C  is a partial cross-sectional view of a hydraulic hose assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a magnified detail of a hydraulic hose assembly according to another embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6A  is an isometric view of a port valve suitable for use with the invention; 
         FIG. 6B  is a side view of the port valve shown in  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 6C  is a sectional view of the port valve shown in  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 6D  is a side view of the port valve shown in  FIG. 6A , the view being at ninety degrees to the view shown in  FIG. 6B ; 
         FIG. 6E  is a sectional view of the port valve shown in  FIG. 6A , the section taken substantially at 90 degrees from the section shown in  FIG. 6C ; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic section view of a port valve and valve cylinder end wall according to an alternative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic sectional view of a port valve and fluid chamber end wall according to a further alternative embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of a brake hand lever assembly in a condition as it might be provided to an end user; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a hydraulic hose assembly and a routing tool attached thereto; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the hydraulic hose assembly and the routing tool of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a side view with parts broken away of a “road bike” hydraulic hand lever assembly according to the invention; 
         FIG. 12A  is a magnified detail of  FIG. 12 ; and 
         FIG. 13  is a side view, with parts broken away, of a brake caliper assembly of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments of the invention will be described herein with reference to the drawings. It will be understood that the drawings and the description set out herein are provided for illustration only and do not limit the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto and any and all their equivalents. For example, the terms referred to bicycle components conventionally mounted to a bicycle and with the bicycle orientated and used in a standard fashion unless otherwise indicated. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , numeral  10  generally indicates a bicycle that may incorporate one embodiment of the present invention. The bicycle  10  generally includes a frame  12 , front and rear wheels  14 ,  16  rotatably attached to the frame  12 , and a drivetrain  18 . A front brake caliper assembly  20  is provided for braking the front wheel  14  and a rear brake caliper assembly  22  is provided for braking the rear wheel  16 . The drivetrain  18  includes a chain  24 , a front crank assembly  26  including crank arms  28  and a plurality of chainrings  30 , a front derailleur  32  attached to a seat tube  34  of the frame  12 , a rear sprocket assembly (not shown) coaxially mounted to the rear wheel  16  and a rear derailleur  38 . The rear brake  22  is operated by a rear brake lever  44  located on the handlebar  42 . The front brake  20  is operated by a rear brake lever (not shown) also located on the handlebar  42 . The forward riding direction is indicated by the direction of arrow “A”. While the illustrated bicycle  10  is a mountain bike, the present invention has applications to bicycles of any type, including road bikes and others, as well as bicycles with mechanical (e.g. cable, hydraulic, pneumatic) and non-mechanical (e.g. wired, wireless) drive systems. 
     One embodiment of a hydraulic bicycle system is shown in  FIG. 2  and is indicated generally at  100 . The hydraulic bicycle system  100  is a hydraulic brake system that includes hydraulic bicycle components, in this embodiment a brake hand lever assembly  102  and a brake caliper assembly  106 , and a hydraulic hose assembly  104 . Alternatively, the hydraulic bicycle system may be a hydraulic suspension system or hydraulic shifting system. In operation, fluid chambers in components  102  and  106 , and the interior of hose assembly  104 , are filled with a continuous phase of hydraulic fluid. The illustrated brake hand lever assembly  102  is of the “mountain bike” type. The invention has application to other types of bicycles, as will be described in more detail later. The illustrated caliper assembly  106  is commonly found on “mountain bikes” as shown in  FIG. 1  as caliper assemblies  20 ,  22  that compress a disk  17  circumferentially mounted around an axle of the bicycle wheels  14 ,  16 . However, the present invention also has application to rim brake hydraulic caliper assemblies, of the type having calipers which compress a rim of the wheel between them. 
     The brake hand lever assembly  102  has a hand lever  108  that pivots around a pivot  110 . The hand lever assembly  102  is adapted to be affixed to a bicycle handlebar by an attachment member or clamp  112 . The illustrated “mountain bike” type assembly  102  further has a hydraulic fluid reservoir  114 . Brake assembly  102  has a hydraulic hose connection port  116  which is adapted to receive an end of the hydraulic hose assembly  104 . 
     The hydraulic hose assembly  104 , here shown in an interrupted view so that only its ends are illustrated, fluidly connects the hand lever assembly  102  with the caliper assembly  106 . A first end of the hydraulic hose assembly  104  is connected to the hydraulic hose connection port  116  while a second, remote end is connected to a hydraulic hose connection port  118  of the caliper assembly  106 . In one embodiment of the invention, a port valve (described below) is provided only for hydraulic hose connection port  116 , while no such port valve is provided for hydraulic hose connection port  118 . In an alternative embodiment, a port valve  262  may also be provided for hydraulic hose connection port  118 , see  FIG. 11 . Accordingly, the present invention may have a port valve in only one of the brake hand lever assembly and the brake caliper assembly or both. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the brake hand lever assembly  102  generally includes a housing  101 , a piston assembly  103  and port valve assembly  105 . The housing  101  includes an attachment portion  112  adapted to be attached to the handlebar  42  ( FIG. 1 ). The housing  101  further includes a cylinder  200  that defines a hydraulic fluid chamber  204  and the hydraulic hose connection port  116  adapted to be connected to the hydraulic hose assembly  104 . The hand lever  108  pivots around a pin or pivot  110  fixed to housing  101 . In the illustrated embodiment, the hand lever  108  has two structural components: a blade  122  and a cam  124 . The blade  122  pivots around a pivot  126  that is offset from pivot  110 . A hand lever adjustment mechanism  128  includes a screw  130  that spaces an end  132  of the cam  124  from pivot  126 , thereby adjusting the position of the blade  122  relative to the handlebar (not shown) on which the hand lever assembly  102  is mounted. A surface  134  of the cam  124  cams against a roller  136 . The roller  136  is mounted on a follower  138  that pivots around a follower pin  140 . 
     The piston assembly  103  is operatively connected to the follower  138 . The piston assembly  103  generally includes a piston  206 , a pushrod  142 , a hollow cap member  144  and front and rear umbrella seals  214 ,  216 . The pushrod  142  includes a rear end articuably connected to the follower  138 . A front end of the pushrod  142  is seated within the hollow cap member  144  that itself is slidably received within a piston bore or cylinder  200 . 
     A front wall  202  of the cap member  144  defines a rear end wall of the cylinder  200  in which the piston  206  is slidably disposed. Since the hydraulic bicycle component illustrated in  FIG. 3  is a hand lever assembly, the piston  206  is a primary piston. In operation, the rider pulls the blade  122  toward the handlebar (not shown), or upward and to the right in  FIG. 3 , and through the linkage described above advances the primary piston  206  from the illustrated non-actuated position to an actuated position in which the piston  206  is forwardly displaced within cylinder  200 , or to the left in  FIG. 3 . 
     In this embodiment, the housing  101  includes a fluid reservoir  114  that is fluidly connected to the cylinder  200  by a timing port  210  and a compensating port  212 . Other embodiments may lack this reservoir. The piston  206  is equipped with circumferential, elastomeric umbrella seals  214  and  216  that slidably engage a sidewall  218  of the cylinder  200 . 
     A front end  220  of the primary piston  206  is convexly curved in this illustrated embodiment. A helical compression spring  222  is disposed within fluid chamber  204 , and partially within cylinder  200 . A rear end of the spring  222  contacts the piston  206 . 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates the hydraulic hose connection port  116  and related structure in more detail. A frustoconical transition surface  224  joins cylinder  200  to a port valve cylinder  226 . Port valve cylinder  226 , which in this embodiment is sized to slidably receive the port valve assembly  105 . The port valve assembly  105  includes a port valve  236  having a valve base  240  and a valve shaft  242 . The valve base  240  terminates in a forward (in this view, left) direction by an end wall  228 . The connection port  116  may include a hydraulic hose connection bore  230  that is sized to receive an end of the hydraulic hose assembly  104  and certain terminating structure as will be hereinafter described. The hose connection bore  230  terminates in a port external wall  232 . A relatively restricted connection port passage  234  extends from port external wall  232  to end wall  228 . 
       FIG. 3A  shows the port valve  236  in a closed or sealed position, in which a forward face  238  of the valve base  240  seals against the end wall  228  of the valve cylinder  226 . The valve shaft  242  forwardly extends from the forward face  238  of the valve base  240  to a free end  237  of the shaft  242 . A length of the shaft  242  from its junction with the base  240  to its free end  237  is chosen to be longer than a length of the connection port passage  234 . Therefore, the free end  237  of the valve shaft  242  will protrude into the hose connection bore  230 . A forward end of the spring  222  contacts or is joined to a rear surface of the valve base  240 , biasing the valve  236  to the closed position shown. A rear end of the spring  222  contacts or is operatively connected to the front end  220  of the piston  206 , acting to bias the piston  206  to a non-actuated position. In other embodiments, the single spring  222  could be replaced with separate port valve and piston-biasing springs. 
       FIGS. 4 and 4A  show the hand lever assembly  102  after the hydraulic hose assembly  104  has been connected to it. The hydraulic hose assembly  104  generally includes a hose  245  having a bore  251 , a hose end member  246  and a hose sealing member or olive  252 , see  FIG. 4C . The hose end member or hose barb  246  includes a head portion  243  extending beyond an end  239  of the hose  245  and a stem portion  244  disposed in the hose bore  251 . An end surface of the head portion  243  constitutes a contact surface  248  of the hose assembly  104 . The retaining ring or snap ring  247  is disposed in a circumferential groove  249  in a radially exterior surface  255  of the head portion  243 , see  FIGS. 4B and 4C . The snap ring  247  protrudes beyond the radially exterior surface  255  of the head portion  243 . The hose assembly  104  is assembled by inserting the hose barb  246  into the bore  251  of the hose  245 . An end wall  253  of the head portion  243  of the hose barb  246  abuts the end  239  of the hose  245 . Then, the hose  245  and barb  245  are inserted through a compression member or nut  250  and then through the olive  252 . While the hose barb  246  is passing through the olive  252 , the snap ring  247  is deflected radially inward until it passes through the olive  252  and then deflects radially outward, securing the olive  252  behind the snap ring  247 . A first extent of the olive  252  is disposed about a radially exterior surface  257  of the end  239  of the hose  245  and a second extent is disposed about the radially exterior surface  255  of the head portion  243  of the hose barb  246 . 
     This hose assembly  104  is then inserted the hose connection bore  230 , an interior sidewall which is threaded. A terminal section  254  of the hose connection bore  230  is frustoconical and provides a surface against which olive  252  can be deformed or crushed. Once the hose assembly  104  is inserted, the compression nut  250  is threaded into the bore  230 , axially deformably displacing the olive  252  against surface  254  and the snap ring  247 . The snap ring  247  inhibits the olive  252  from deformably displacing beyond the contact surface  248  of the hose barb  246  to inhibit the olive  252  from interfering with the secure connection of the hydraulic hose assembly  104  to the hydraulic hose connection port  116 . As the compression nut  250  continues to tighten, the pressure on the snap ring  247  causes the hose assembly  104  to be fully inserted into the connection port  116 . After connection is completed, the contact surface  248  abuts external wall  232 , and pushes the free end of valve shaft  242 , and therefore the entire body of the valve  236 , rearwardly, or to the right in this  FIG. 4A . This unseals the forward face  238  of valve base  240  from the end wall  228 . In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the retaining ring  247  may be eliminated by threadably connecting a hose sealing member or an olive  530  to a hose end member or a hose barb  532 . The hose barb  532  includes a head portion  540  extending beyond an end  239  of the hose  245  and a stem portion  542  disposed in the hose bore  251 . The olive  530  may include threads  534  on an interior surface to mate with threads  536  on an exterior surface of the hose barb  532 . The threaded connection between the olive  530  and the hose barb  532  inhibit the olive  530  from deformably displacing beyond a contact surface  538  of the hose barb  532  when the hose assembly  104  is connected to the hydraulic hose connection port  116 , thereby ensuring displacement of the port valve  236  to the open position. 
     The position of port valve  236  in  FIGS. 4 and 4A  puts the hydraulic fluid chamber  204  in fluid communication with the bore  251  of hose  245 . Pushing valve shaft  242  rearwardly uncovers second valve ports  256  (described in more detail below). In this embodiment, the port valve  236  is the only valve moved to place the hydraulic hose assembly  104  in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid chamber  204  responsive to the connection of the hydraulic hose assembly  104  to the hydraulic hose connection port  116 . As seen in  FIG. 2A , when the port valve  236  is in the closed position, the second valve ports  256  are disposed within the connection port passage  234  and are therefore occluded thereby. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 2, 2A, 3 and 3A , the cylinder  200 , transition surface  224 , port valve cylinder  226 , hose connection bore  230  and connection port passage  234  are all coaxial. Also, in this embodiment, a valve fluid chamber  258  which includes valve cylinder  226  is contiguous with the hydraulic fluid chamber  204 . In other embodiments the hydraulic fluid chamber  204  and the valve fluid chamber  258  could be separated from each other or disposed at an angle to each other. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , the caliper assembly  106  includes the hydraulic hose connection port  118  and a port valve assembly  260  that may be identical in structure to the port valve assembly  105  of the brake hand lever assembly. The valve assembly  260  includes a port valve  262  that operates similar to the port valve  236 . The port valve  262  moves between an open position that places the hose assembly  104  in fluid communication with a hydraulic fluid chamber  264 , and a closed position that seals the connection port  118 . The port valve  262  opens when an end of the hydraulic hose assembly is inserted into a hose connection bore  266  thereby placing the hydraulic hose assembly in fluid communication with the hydraulic fluid chamber  264 . The port valve  262  is biased toward the closed position by a spring  268 . The spring  268  may also bias a secondary piston (not shown) that is slidably disposed in the same hydraulic fluid chamber  264 . 
     One embodiment of port valve  236  is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 6A-6E . A valve sealing member  400 , in this embodiment an elastomeric O-ring, is seated in a circumferential groove  402 . Groove  402  is cut into the forward face  238  of the base  240  and radially surrounds the valve shaft  242 . The O-ring seals against the fluid chamber end wall  228  when the valve  236  is in the closed position. In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 3B , a valve sealing member  430  or elastomeric O-ring could instead or in addition be provided on fluid chamber end wall  228 , which would then seal to the forward face  238  of the valve  236  when the valve  236  is moved to the closed position. 
     A first valve port  404  may be formed as a cylindrical bore coaxial with connection port passage  234 , and opens onto the free end  406  of the valve shaft  242 . A diameter of the first valve port  404  can be chosen to be no less than an interior diameter of the hose barb  246 , so as not to inhibit flow rate. The free end  406  presents a flat surface which is adapted to abut the end face  248  of the hose barb  246  when the hose assembly  104  is affixed inside hose connection bore  230 . The first valve port  404  intersects with at least one second valve port  408 , which in turn opens on the sidewall  410  of the shaft  242 . In the illustrated embodiment, there are two such second valve ports  408  opening on different locations of the shaft sidewall  410 , and they are formed by a single cylindrical bore formed orthogonally to a cylindrical bore forming first valve port  404 . To increase fluid flow, each second valve port  408  has, at its opening onto sidewall  410 , a concavely arcuate chamfer  412 . 
     The valve base  240  has a circular margin  414  that is slidably engaged with the sidewall of the port valve cylinder  226  ( FIGS. 2A and 3A ). Axially aligned cut-outs  416  promote fluid flow between the second valve ports  408  and the hydraulic fluid chamber  204 . A radius cut  420  may be made in the valve base  240  to seat a rear end of the helical compression spring  222 . 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  illustrate two alternative embodiments of a port valve. In  FIG. 7 , a port valve  500  has a base  502  that is disposed within a valve cylinder or hydraulic fluid chamber  504 . A shaft  506  of the valve  500  extends forwardly (here, to the right) from the valve base  502 . The shaft  506  is slidably received within a connection port passage  508 . A forward face  510  of the base  502  is formed as a labyrinth, and this labyrinth mates, when the valve  500  is in the closed position, with a corresponding labyrinth  512  formed on the fluid chamber end wall  514 . In an open position as shown, second ports  516  of the valve  500  become uncovered and permit fluid communication to and from the hydraulic fluid chamber  504 . 
     In  FIG. 8 , a port valve  600  has a base  602  with a forward face  604  that is formed as a convex cone or taper. An end wall  606  of the hydraulic fluid chamber  608  has a mating, concave cone or taper. When the valve  600  is in the closed position, the surfaces  604 ,  606  will seal with each other, inhibiting flow to and from the second valve ports  610 . 
       FIG. 9  is a sectional view of a hydraulic brake hand lever assembly  102  in a condition in which it might be shipped to or otherwise provided to an end user. The hydraulic fluid chamber  204  inside assembly housing  208  is filled with hydraulic fluid. The valve  236  is urged by spring  222  to its closed position, sealing in the hydraulic fluid. A compression nut  250  is inserted into hose connection bore  230 . Over the compression nut  250  is installed an elastomeric or other thermoplastic cap  700 . An inner bore  702  of the cap fits over the compression nut  250 . An outer bore  704  of the cap fits over an outer sidewall of the hydraulic hose connection port  116 . In assembling or re-assembling a hydraulic brake system, the end user removes the cap  700  and inserts the hydraulic hose assembly. Twisting the compression nut  250  completes the connection. 
     Looking to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , a routing member or fishing tool  270  is provided to route the hydraulic hose assembly  104  between the brake hand lever assembly  102  and the brake caliper assembly  106  through the bicycle frame  12 . The routing member  270  includes a head portion  272  and a stem portion  274 . The head portion  272  includes an opening  276  for receiving a pulling member such as a wire or cable (not shown). The pulling member is used to pull the routing member  270  and the hydraulic hose assembly  104 , attached thereto, through the frame  12 . To prevent the hydraulic fluid from leaking out of the hose  245 , the head portion  272  includes a forward face  278  having a sealing member  280 , in this embodiment an O-ring, which seals against the hose barb  246 . The stem portion  274  has external threads  282  threadably engaged with mating internal threads  284  on the hose barb  246  (see  FIG. 4C ). When routing of the hydraulic hose assembly  104  through the frame  12  is complete, the routing member  270  is threadably detached from the hose barb  246  to permit connection of the hose assembly  104  to the connection port  116  of the brake hand lever assembly  102 . 
     Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 12 and 12A . A hydraulic road brake hand lever assembly  800  has a hydraulic hose connection port  116  and associated port valve  236  that can be identical in structure to that used in the mountain bike hand lever assembly  102 . The location of the connection port  116  is proximate to the location of an attachment member or clamp  802 . The valve  236  is shown in a closed position as biased by spring  222 . A forward end of the spring  222  can be operatively connected to a master piston (not shown) and the master piston and valve  236  can reside in the same hydraulic fluid chamber  804 . The present invention also has application to road rim brake caliper assemblies. In an alternative embodiment for a road brake hand lever assembly, the connection port  116  may not be located proximate the attachment member  802 . 
     In summary, a hydraulic brake assembly has been shown and described featuring a port valve associated with the hydraulic hose connection port. Technical advantages in here from positioning a valve cylinder and a piston cylinder on the same axis in the same fluid chamber, and in sharing a biasing spring. The port valve enhances the ability to ship the hydraulic brake assembly as a separate unit as pre-filled with hydraulic fluid, and more easily permits the routing of hydraulic brake lines through the bicycle frame while minimizing air ingestion during connection. 
     While illustrated embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated in the appended drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto but only by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.