Patent Publication Number: US-2013233667-A1

Title: Reinforcement structure for bearings in bicycle hub

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a reinforcement structure, and more particularly, to a reinforcement structure for bearings of a bicycle hub assembly by preventing the bearings from being shifted axially to reinforce the structural strength of the hub assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is a hub located between the rear wheel and the clusters and a ratchet structure is located between the clusters and the hub so as to be the driving device for the rear wheel. 
     The conventional ratchet device generally includes a ratchet portion at one end of the ratchet sleeve and a ratchet ring is mounted to the outside of the ratchet portion. The ratchet ring has ratchets located at the inside thereof and the ratchets are located corresponding to the ratchet portion. The ratchet ring is fixed to the inside of the hub and an axle extends through the hub and the ratchet device so that the ratchet device is located at one end of the hub. Multiple bearings are located between and the ratchet sleeve, the inside of the hub and the axle to allow the ratchet sleeve to drive the hub. 
     The bearings located between the hub, the ratchet sleeve and the axle can be positioned on the outside or on the inside. 
     Taiwan Utility Model Application No. 099200971 discloses a hub which is a hollow the tubular hub and includes a groove, a resilient member, a bearing and a ratchet ring, wherein the groove is axially defined in the inside of one end of the hub. The resilient member, the bearing and the ratchet ring are engaged with the groove in sequence. The resilient member contacts the inner end of the groove and biases the bearing. The bearing has a hole defined axially therethrough. The ratchet ring has a central hole and a toothed face is defined in a recessed area of the inside of the central hole. A ratchet sleeve is located at an end of the hub and a support protrusion and a ratchet portion extend from the end having the ratchet sleeve. The ratchet portion has multiple ratchets which are located corresponding to the toothed face. An axle extends through the ratchet sleeve and is connected to the hub. The axle has one end extending through the ratchet sleeve and is rotatable relative to the ratchet sleeve. 
     Taiwan Utility Model Application No. 100213358 discloses a hub which has two reception holes defined in two ends thereof and an axle extends through the hub. The axle has two connection sections which are located corresponding to the reception holes of the hub. A frame has two slots defined respectively in two ends thereof and one of the slots has the first bearing received therein and the other slot receives the second bearing. The connection section of the axle extends through the frame and the two bearings. The frame is connected in series to the reception hole of the hub and the first bearing is located close to the end with the reception hole. The second bearing is located remote from the reception hole. The axle has a stepped portion which is located corresponding to the second bearing. A cap is connected of the slot where the second bearing is located so that the second bearing is positioned between the cap and the stepped portion. A washer is mounted to the axle and located close to the first bearing. A third bearing is located in the reception hole where the frame is located. The washer is sandwiched between the first and third bearings. 
     For Taiwan Utility Model Application No. 099200971, the bearing is located in the groove and the outside of the ratchet sleeve, the resilient member prides a force applied to the bearing from the inside toward the outside of the hub so as to ensure that the bearing is positioned. The ratchet sleeve therefore can be precisely positioned without being affected by the accumulated tolerances. For Taiwan Utility Model Application No. 100213358, the axle includes an annular step and the frame has the stepped portion, and the washer is located between the bearings, so that the bearing is positioned between the annular step, the stepped portion and the washer. The first bearing is installed in the slot of the frame and mounted to the axle. 
     The bearing for Taiwan Utility Model Application No. 099200971 is mounted outside of the ratchet sleeve and located in the groove of the hub, and the resilient member is located between the bearing and the groove. When the ratchet sleeve rotates and the axle is applied by a force which slightly deforms the axle, the force from the resilient member is not sufficient to prevent the bearing from being shifted by the lateral forces on two sides of the bearing. Besides, when assembling the axle, two nuts are tightly connected to two ends of the axle and when the threading forces to the two nuts are not controlled properly, the bearing cannot be smoothly operated and is easily damaged. The bearing of Taiwan Utility Model Application No. 100213358 is not affected by lateral forces, however, the bearing is simply engaged within the frame and the axle extends through the bearing. Although there is the washer on the outside of the frame, the washer is not strong enough to stop the movement of the bearing, when the frame rotates, the axle is applied by a significant force which deforms the axle slightly and the bearing shifts linearly along the axle. The movement makes the bearing be easily damaged and/or drop from the axle. 
     The present invention intends to provide a reinforcement structure for bearings of a bicycle hub assembly to improve the shortcomings of the conventional hubs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a reinforcement structure for bearings of a bicycle hub assembly and comprises a hub and an axle extends through the hub. A connection portion is defined in one end of the hub. A hollow ratchet sleeve has a transmission portion located on one end thereof and a bearing is located in the end of the ratchet sleeve wherein the transmission portion is located. Multiple slots are defined in the outside of the transmission portion. The axle extends through the ratchet sleeve and the bearing. A ratchet unit has multiple ratchet teeth and a ratchet ring, wherein the ratchet teeth are located in the slots. An annular resilient member is mounted to the transmission portion and the ratchet teeth which partially protrude from the slots. The ratchet ring is connected to the connection portion. The ratchet ring has multiple ratchet slots defined in the inner periphery thereof and the ratchet teeth are engaged with the ratchet slots. A positioning unit has a positioning member located on one side of the bearing so as to stop the bearing. 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a reinforcement structure for bearings of a bicycle hub assembly and comprises a positioning unit which has a positioning member engaged with a groove in the ratchet sleeve and the positioning member stops on one side of the bearing. When the axle rotates, the bearing is stopped from shifting axially to protect the bearing. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a reinforcement structure for bearings of a bicycle hub assembly, wherein the positioning unit has a positioning part which is connected to the ratchet sleeve. The two ends of the positioning part support the ratchet sleeve and the bearing relative to the axle so as to reinforce the structural strength of the bearing. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a reinforcement structure for bearings of a bicycle hub assembly, wherein the ratchet sleeve and the positioning part are made by different materials so as to reduce the weight and reinforce the strength of the hub assembly. 
     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view to show the hub assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of the hub assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view to show the second embodiment of the hub assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of the second embodiment of the hub assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view to show the third embodiment of the hub assembly of the present invention, and 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the third embodiment of the hub assembly of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the reinforcement structure for bearings of a bicycle hub assembly of the present invention comprises a hub  10 , a ratchet sleeve  20  connected with the hub  10 , a ratchet unit  30  and a positioning unit  40  connected to one end of the ratchet unit  30 . 
     An axle  11  extends through the hub  10  and a connection portion  12  is defined in one end of the hub  10 . The connection portion  12  has a connection periphery  13  and a connection section  14 , wherein the connection periphery  13  is located close to the open end of the hub  10  and the connection section  14  has multiple axial protrusion or axial recesses. 
     The ratchet sleeve  20  is a hollow sleeve and has a transmission portion  21  located on one end thereof. Multiple slots  22  are defined in the outside of the transmission portion  21  and a shoulder  23  is formed in the inner periphery of the transmission portion  21 . A first bearing  24  is located in the transmission portion  21  and the first bearing  24  contacts the shoulder  23 . The ratchet sleeve  20  has an annular flange  25  extending from the outer periphery thereof and a positioning section  26  is located between the flange  25  and the transmission portion  21 . A second bearing  27  is mounted to the positioning section  26  and the flange  25  contacts the second bearing  27 . The axle  12  extends through the ratchet sleeve  20  and the first bearing  24 . A third bearing  27  is located between the first end of the axle  11  and the ratchet sleeve  20 , and a fourth bearing  15  is located between the second end of the axle  11  and the hub  10 . 
     The ratchet unit  30  has multiple ratchet teeth  31  and a ratchet ring  33 . The ratchet teeth  31  are located in the slots  22 . An annular resilient member  32  is mounted to the transmission portion  21  and the ratchet teeth  31  which partially protrude from the slots  22 . The resilient member  32  provides a return force to the ratchet teeth  31 . The first ratchet ring  33  has a second connection portion  331  on the outside thereof and the second connection portion  331  is located corresponding to the connection section  14 . The second connection portion  331  has multiple axial recesses or axial protrusions so as to be connected with the connection section  14 . The ratchet ring  33  has multiple ratchet slots  332  defined in the inner periphery thereof and the ratchet teeth  31  are engaged with the ratchet slots  332 . 
     The positioning unit  40  has a positioning groove  41  defined in the transmission portion  21  and located close to the open end of the positioning groove  41 . A positioning member  42  is engaged with the positioning groove  41  so as to stop the first bearing  24 . The positioning member  42  is a C-clip. 
     When the axle  11  rotates, the force due to the rotation tends to move the first bearing  24  along the axial direction of the axle  11  and the positioning member  42  stops the potential movement of the first bearing  24 . 
     When assembling, the first ratchet ring  33  is connected to the first connection portion  12  on one end of the hub  10  and the first bearing  24  is installed in the ratchet sleeve  20 . The positioning member  42  is engaged with the positioning groove  41  to contact one side of the first bearing  24 . The second bearing  27  is mounted onto the ratchet sleeve  20  and the ratchet teeth  31  are engaged with the slots  22 . The axle  11  extends through the ratchet sleeve  20  to engage the ratchet teeth  31  with the ratchet slots  332  of the first ratchet ring  33 . The third and fourth bearings  28 ,  15  are respectively connected to two ends of the axle  11 . 
     The positioning member  42  is engaged with the positioning groove  41  to contact one side of the first bearing  24  to prevent the first bearing  24  from shifting toward the axial direction of the ratchet sleeve  20 , while the first bearing  24  is rotatable relative to the axle  11 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the second embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The positioning unit  40  has a first position part  50  which is a tubular part and has a first connection part  51  on a first end thereof. The second ratchet ring  34  has a neck  342  and a second connection portion  341 . The second connection portion  341  has multiple axial recesses or axial protrusions so as to be connected with the connection section  14 . The neck  342  is located corresponding to the connection periphery  13  and has smooth outer surface. The second ratchet ring  34  has multiple slots  343  in the inner periphery thereof. The first position part  50  is a tubular part and has a first connection part  51  on the first end thereof and a shoulder  52  is formed in the first connection part  51 . The first bearing  24  is located in the first connection part  51  and the shoulder  52  contacts one side of the first bearing  24 . A positioning groove  43  is defined in the first connection part  51  and located remote from the shoulder  52 . A positioning member  42  is engaged with the positioning groove  43  so as to stop the first bearing  24 . The first position part  50  has a second connection part  53  on the second end thereof. The ratchet sleeve  20  has a third connection part  29  located therein and connected to the second connection part  53 . The second and third connection parts  53 ,  29  have threads so as to be connected with each other. The ratchet sleeve  20  and the first positioning part  50  are two parts and made by different materials, the material of the ratchet sleeve  20  is harder than that of the first positioning part  50 . The ratchet sleeve  20  can be made by aluminum or other metallic material so as to reduce the weight. The first positioning part  50  can be made by iron, stainless steel to have better strength. The neck  342  of the second ratchet ring  34  is designed to increase the length of the slots  343  to have better durable feature. The two ends of the first positioning part  50  support the ratchet sleeve  20  and the first bearing  24  relative to the axle  11  so that the axle  11  can bear higher load. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the third embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. The positioning unit  40  has a second position part  60  which is a tubular part and has a first connection part  61  on the first end thereof. A shoulder  62  is formed in the inner periphery of the first connection part  61  and the first bearing  24  is located in the first connection part  61 . The shoulder  62  contacts the first bearing  24 . A positioning groove  43  is defined in the first connection part  61  and located remote from the shoulder  62 . A positioning member  42  is engaged with the positioning groove  43  so as to contact the other side of first bearing  24 . The second position part  60  has the transmission portion  63  and a second connection part  65  on the second end thereof. The transmission portion  63  has multiple slots  64  defined in the outer periphery thereof so that the ratchet teeth  31  are engaged with the slots  64 . The ratchet sleeve  20  has a third connection part  29  located therein and connected to the second connection part  65 . The second and third connection parts  65 ,  29  have threads so as to be connected with each other. The ratchet sleeve  20  and the second positioning part  60  are two parts and are made by different materials, the material of the second positioning part  60  is harder than that of the ratchet sleeve  20 . The ratchet sleeve  20  can be made by aluminum or other metallic material so as to reduce the weight. The second positioning part  60  can be made by iron, stainless steel to have better strength. 
     The positioning member  42  of the positioning unit  40  is engaged with the inside of one end of the ratchet sleeve  20  and contacts one side of the first bearing  24 , so that when the axle  11  rotates and applies the force to the first bearing  24 , the first bearing  24  does not move axially along the ratchet sleeve  20 , so that the first bearing  24  is protected. The positioning unit  40  further has a position part connected with the ratchet sleeve  20  and the first bearing  24  is located in the positioning part. The two ends of the position part support the first bearing  24  and the ratchet sleeve  20  relative to the axle  11 . 
     The ratchet sleeve  20  and the second positioning part  60  are made by different materials. The ratchet sleeve  20  is made by lighter material so as to reduce the weight. The second positioning part  60  is made by harder material than that of the ratchet sleeve  20  to have better strength. The neck  342  of the second ratchet ring  34  is designed to increase the length of the slots  343  to have larger contact area and have better durable feature. 
     The positioning member  42  of the positioning unit  40  is engaged with the inside of one end of the ratchet sleeve  20  and contacts one side of the first bearing  24  so as to prevent the first bearing  24  from axially moving along the ratchet sleeve  20 . The first bearing  24  is therefore protected. The positioning unit  40  further has a positioning part for being connected with the ratchet sleeve  20 . The ratchet sleeve  20  and the positioning part are made by different materials to have light weight and strong strength. 
     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.