Abstract: Electronic shifting systems, mechanisms and methods of using and/or controlling the systems to operate a bicycle that allows front and rear gear changer mechanisms to be controlled with only two switches. The switches can be arranged so that each hand is only required to operate one switch to shift the bicycle.

Abstract: A variable force tensioner (VFT) system that includes a primary piston split into two chambers disposed within a primary bore. The two chambers including a first low pressure chamber having a primary reservoir therein that feeds fluid through a check valve into a second high pressure chamber to control a biasing force on the primary piston. A piston bore clearance path can extend along a groove in the primary bore to feed oil back to the primary reservoir from the high pressure chamber.

Abstract: To provide a chain tensioner that can suppress oil leakage from a gap between a plunger bore and a plunger to achieve stable damping characteristics and that can avoid an increase in production cost, with a simple structure. The chain tensioner includes a packing member that is provided on an inner circumferential side of the plunger bore and that suppresses oil leakage from a cylindrical outer surface of the plunger. The plunger is provided with an oil leak passage that extends from an oil pressure chamber inside the plunger to the outside.

Abstract: A deformation passive sensor includes a system for detecting a variation in the distance between two points or regions of a structure, and a carrier having first and second parts configured to be fixed to the points or regions. The system includes a measuring assembly carried by the first part and actuatable only in one measurement direction in order to measure and store a measurement associated with at least one deformation in a measurement direction, and an actuating device including an intermediary assembly having an actuating member for actuating the measuring assembly, and an actuating assembly having a push part facing the intermediary assembly and configured such that the actuating member is moved with respect to the measuring assembly only when the second part moves in the measurement direction.

Abstract: An automatic control method suitable for a bicycle system is provided. The bicycle system has a gear ratio and a toque ratio formed by an auxiliary torque and a pedaling torque. The automatic control method includes following steps: sensing a pedaling cadence and the pedaling torque of the bicycle system in a riding state; setting a first cadence threshold and a second cadence threshold according to a preset pedaling cadence while the first cadence threshold is greater than the second cadence threshold; and determining whether the pedaling cadence is greater than the first cadence threshold or less than the second cadence threshold so as to set to increase or decrease the gear ratio. In addition, a bicycle system suitable for the automatic control method is also provided.

Abstract: A gearshift for a bicycle having an electric auxiliary drive including a stepped gear system which is embodied as a hub gear system or derailleur system, and an electromechanical actuator for triggering a gear change of the gear system. The electromechanical actuator has a shift control unit which can be or is connected via a data line to a drive control unit of the auxiliary electric drive, which shift control unit is designed to activate the actuator as a function of at least one state parameter transmitted to the shift control unit by the drive control unit, or as a function of an item of information derived from said state parameter.

Abstract: A bicycle control system may be configured to automatically control a bicycle, or components thereof. The bicycle control system may include a system control device configured to provide a simplified shifting system wherein large changes in speed associated with starting and stopping do not require the full attention of the automatic shifting system. The shifting system, or a system control device configured for controlling the shifting system, may be configured to determine when to enter an automatic shifting control mode, establish parameters for the automatic shifting of the automatic shifting control mode, and/or compare detected activities and values of the bicycle to the established parameters.

Abstract: A bicycle transmission control apparatus is provided that can perform a shift control according to the traveling environment of the bicycle. The bicycle transmission control apparatus includes a controller that operates a transmission according to a parameter that represents a traveling state of a bicycle and predetermined shifting conditions. The controller sets the predetermined shifting condition based on the parameter representing a running state of the bicycle and on a tilt angle of the bicycle.

Abstract: A method for prompting bicycle gear shifting includes collecting cycling data of a user during cycling, comparing the collected cycling data with cycling data samples in a preset gear shifting strategy library including correspondence relationships between preset gear shifting strategies and the cycling data samples, and when the collected cycling data matches one of the cycling data samples in the gear shifting strategy library, outputting the gear shifting strategy corresponding to the cycling data sample to the user.

Abstract: A system for determining the shape of a surgical instrument includes an elongate instrument body having a selectively steerable distal tip, a pair of automatically controlled segments proximal to the selectively steerable distal tip, and a joint that couples the pair of adjacent automatically controlled segments together. An actuator changes an angle of the joint and a position encoder provides information associated with the joint angle. A controller receives the information associated with the angle of the joint and generates a three dimensional model of a shape of the instrument. A method for determining the three dimensional shape of an instrument includes providing axial position data to a controller, providing angular position data to the controller from a respective segment controller, and generating a three-dimensional model of a shape of said instrument using the axial position data and the angular position data.

Abstract: An electronically servo-assisted bicycle gearshift is disclosed, comprising a derailleur and control electronics to drive the derailleur in accordance with a table of command values, wherein the derailleur is configured to emit a derailleur model identification signal, and the control electronics is configured to receive the derailleur model identification signal and, if it has an available table of command values suitable for the derailleur model, to use it to drive the derailleur, if not, to prevent the actuation of the derailleur.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for suppressing a speed ripple occurring during an operation of an AC motor by using a torque compensator based on an activation function. The method includes the steps of calculating a speed error ?err based on a reference speed ?ref and an actual speed ?act; calculating a controller output Trm by using the speed error ?err as an input of a PI control and an operation of a compensated torque Tcom; and determining a torque variation based on the controller output Trm and a reference torque Tref and operating the torque variation in relation to an anti-windup gain Ka to use torque variation as an input of an integral (I) control. The method suppresses the speed ripple by compensating for the torque ripple through a controller which calculates the compensated torque by taking the signs of the speed error and the differential speed error into consideration.

Abstract: A chain tensioner includes a cylinder having a closed end, an internally threaded plunger axially slidable in the cylinder, a return spring biasing the plunger in the protruding direction from the cylinder, and a screw rod having an external thread in threaded engagement with the internal thread of the plunger. The portion of the screw rod protruding from the plunger abuts a rod seat provided in the cylinder. The screw rod has a rolled external thread and an intermediate portion protruding from the plunger and having an outer diameter smaller than the diameter of the root of the external thread. The screw rod has a forged contact surface, to be contacted with the rod seat, on the axial end face of the intermediate portion. The internal thread may be formed by pressing, and a pressed recess, corresponding to the internal thread, may be formed on the plunger's outer circumference.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for a vehicular drive system including a hydraulically operated belt-and-pulley type continuously variable transmission and a hydraulically operated frictional coupling device engaged for running of a vehicle, the hydraulic control system including: a first solenoid valve for regulating a belt-tensioning hydraulic pressure for tensioning a belt of the transmission, a second solenoid valve for regulating a transient coupling hydraulic pressure to be applied to the frictional coupling device in the process of an engaging action, a line-pressure regulating valve for regulating a line pressure used for hydraulically operated devices of the mechanism, and a hydraulic-circuit switching device operable to apply a control pressure of the second solenoid-operated valve to the line-pressure regulating valve after the frictional coupling device has been placed in a fully engaged state, and to apply a first control pressure of the first solenoid-operated valve to the line-pressure regulating va

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioning system (10) for an endless drive (1) of an internal combustion engine (2). In an operating mode, the piston (9) of the tensioning system (10), which is supplied with a hydraulic fluid, is supported against a tensioning rail (6) with a non-positive fit, with the rail pre-tensioning the traction drive element (4). If the hydraulic fluid in the tensioning system (10) is not sufficient, the tensioning rail (6) is supported on an elastic end stop (13a) of the system (10).

Abstract: A top/bottom pull front derailleur includes a base member, inner and outer links, a chain guide and a top/low adjustment mechanism coupled to the base member. The links are pivotally coupled between the base member and the chain guide. The inner link has a wire fixing part that can be used in top and bottom pull arrangements. The chain guide is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the base member. The adjustment mechanism includes top and low adjusting bolts with longitudinal bolt axes angled more than zero degrees relative to a plane of the bicycle frame. The adjustment mechanism is mounted rearwardly of single attachment portion of the outer link or between a pair of attachment portions of the outer link. The bolt axes are preferably angled about 45 degrees or about 90 degrees relative to the plane of the frame.

Abstract: An pneumatic tensioner apparatus is disclosed, the apparatus including: a main drive belt; a chuck assembly, suspended from the main drive belt, having a spinning member and a drive contact portion; a first frictional drive belt in a first track, the first frictional drive belt in contact with the drive contact portion operative to spin the chuck assembly; and a first tension adjusting device having at least one pneumatic tension adjustment member operative to apply pressure to the first frictional drive belt tangentially to the drive contact portion.

Abstract: A blade-type chain tensioner (10, 110) is provided including a shoe (30, 130) adapted to impart tension to a chain (16), a blade spring (28, 128) engaging the shoe (30, 130), a piezoelectric strain element (35, 135) coupled to the blade spring (28, 128) or the shoe (30, 130), and a circuit (34, 137) adapted to receive a voltage or voltage data signal generated by a sensor (33, 133) coupled to the blade spring and shoe assembly (28/30, 128/130) in response to a vibration having a predetermined frequency or frequency band occurring in the blade spring and shoe assembly (28/30, 128/130), wherein the circuit (34, 137) is adapted to operably interact with the piezoelectric strain actuator element (35, 135) to induce a vibratory moment therein effective to reduce the vibration of the chain tensioner (10, 110).

Abstract: A system and method for detecting wear and the beginning of the mechanism of belt failure. A sensor (5) detects when a self tracking drive belt (1) tracks off center due to the asymmetrical wear (3) of the belt (1). The sensor (5) may be a simple mechanical or optical switch which is activated upon contact or a complex system which can detect the relative movement of the belt (1) when the belt (1) tracks to either side of the pulley (4). An audible or electrical signal indicates that the belt (1) needs to be changed.

Abstract: A belt tracking system for an endless belt having left and right opposed edges, the belt driven in a first direction by a belt drive system. The tracking system includes a set of periodic belt indicia formed on the belt along one or more axes aligned with the first direction. A sensor system tracks movement of the belt in a lateral direction transverse to the first direction and senses the set of belt indicia to provide sensor system signals. An actuator system effects movement of the belt in the lateral direction, the actuator system responsive to the sensor system signals for nominally maintaining a position of the belt relative to the transverse direction. A controller is responsive to the sensor system signals for detecting that the belt has tracked outside an allowable belt movement range and taking protective actions to prevent the belt from damage due to undesired lateral tracking movement. A belt indicia sensor can optionally be employed to calibrate a belt drive system.

Abstract: A traveling screen system has a traveling screen guided about a multiplicity of support and guide rollers. A scanning device scans a transverse position of the traveling screen and an adjusting device adjusts the angular orientation of at least one of the support and guide rollers. The adjusting device is supported on one side on a displaceable bearing block which is supported on a carriage. Between the control device for the bearing block of the displaceable roller and the scanning device, a coupling is provided by which a return of the control motion of the roller to the scanning device is effected. The coupling is formed by a Bowden cable, by a hydraulic circuit with control cylinders, or by an electric circuit with control devices.

Abstract: A device for actively steering and tensioning a web as it moves along a predetermined path is described. The web is partially wrapped around a rotatable guide roller. A first end of the guide roller is carried on a tiltable support member. The opposite end is attached to a pivotal bearing. A non-contact sensor is positioned to detect lateral misalignment of the web. A control device responsive to the sensor controls the tilting of the support member thereby to correct for lateral misalignment of the web. Pressure devices exert a predetermined pressure on each end of the guide roller independently of the position of the tiltable support member, to push the guide roller towards the web to generate the desired tension.

Abstract: A system for controlling the front derailleur of a bicycle is described, in which electronic control mechanism are provided for displaying the identifying number of the selected front gear on an electronic display, on the basis of the position of the movable control member for controlling the front derailleur, as detected by sensor mechanism, according to a correlation law which is different depending upon whether the chain is being shifted towards greater gears or smaller gears.

Abstract: A belt steering apparatus for controlling inclined movement of the belt in, for example, a printer. The belt steering apparatus includes a first frame supporting a cylindrical roller having a predetermined portion which contacts an endless rotating belt, a second frame hinged to the center of the first frame, and a sliding member capable of sliding linearly, installed at one side of the first frame, and having an upper surface supporting a rotary shaft formed at one end of the roller, inclined from the direction of linear movement by a predetermined angle. A rack gear is provided on one side of the sliding member, and a pinion gear is connected to a rotary shaft of a motor mounted to the first frame, contacting a predetermined portion of the rack gear to linearly move the sliding member. Thus, the roller is easily tilted to forcibly raise and lower one side of the roller, and the pressure transferred from the belt can be withstood reliably.

Abstract: A bicycle shift control device includes a pedaling force determining unit for determining a pedaling force exerted on a pedaling member and a shift stage determining unit which determines an optimum shift stage of a bicycle transmission from the pedaling force. In a more specific embodiment, the shift control device includes a memory that stores first and second pedaling force values for a shift stage of the bicycle transmission, wherein the second pedaling force value is greater than the first pedaling force value, and first and second traveling speed values for the shift stage of the bicycle transmission, wherein the second traveling speed value is greater than the first traveling speed value.

Abstract: A chain tension control apparatus for preventing a chain chattering in a power transmission system including main and subordinate sprockets and a chain connecting the main and subordinates sprockets. The apparatus maintains a chain tension by sensing a chain release and accordingly driving an electromagnet in accordance with a compensation signal that responds to chain release factors, and the chain tension in the apparatus is maintained by disposing a permanent magnet adjacent to the chain, thereby preventing chain vibration and noise from occurring.

Abstract: A fuzzy logic control method for controlling an electrical motor aided, manually powered vehicle is disclosed which is used to assist a rider of the vehicle. The vehicle comprises a gear transmission for driving the vehicle, a manually powered operator for receiving a manual force inputted by the rider for manual operation of the gear transmission, a servo motor for generating a torque output, a reduction gear and a clutch for coupling the torque output of the motor to the gear transmission, a brake for reducing speed of the vehicle, a force sensor for sensing the manual force applied by the rider to the manually powered operator, a speed sensor for sensing speed of the vehicle, a brake sensor for sensing on and off of the brake; and a motor sensor for sensing output of the motor.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the sheave pitch diameter of a variable speed mechanism includes an output shaft, a linking member, an upper urging rod, a lower urging rod, and a motor. The device can be operated easily and safely such that the speed changing information is quantified and displayed.

Abstract: A hydraulic tensioner with a sealing element to provide fluid leakage from a fluid filled chamber. The tensioner includes a housing having a fluid filled chamber and a hollow piston slidably received within the chamber and biased in a protruding direction by a spring. A sealing element is positioned in a groove in the piston or is mounted in the inner wall of the chamber. The sealing element is discontinuous so as to permit the passage of fluid from the fluid filled chamber to outside of the hydraulic tensioner. Fluid leakage is limited and controlled by discontinuity size of the sealing element.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical system for shifting gears on a multi-gear bicycle or other human-powered vehicle includes a closed loop derailleur position control system using circuitry for measuring derailleur position. Shifting gears is accomplished automatically based on rider cadence or manually using signals supplied by hand operated switches. The system calculates gear ratios based on bicycle speed and cadence and then sorts the gear ratios in order from lowest to highest. During automatic operation, the system calculates a cadence from bicycle speed and gear ratio, determines if the calculated cadence is within predetermined limits set by the rider, and it changes the gear ratio if the calculated cadence is not within the predetermined limits.

Abstract: A powered control device for speed change in a bicycle comprises an electric motor directly mounted onto the rear derailleur and is provided with an encoder for detecting the position of the rear derailleur.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical system for shifting gears on a multi-gear bicycle or other human-powered vehicle includes a closed loop derailleur position control system using circuitry for measuring derailleur position. Shifting gears is accomplished automatically based on rider cadence or manually using signals supplied by hand operated switches. The system calculates gear ratios based on bicycle speed and cadence and then sorts the gear ratios in order from lowest to highest. During automatic operation, the system calculates a cadence from bicycle speed and gear ratio, determines if the calculated cadence is within predetermined limits set by the rider, and it changes the gear ratio if the calculated cadence is not within the predetermined limits.

Abstract: A bicycle has front and rear wheels, a sprocket coupled to a pedal crank, a sprocket gear, gears on the rear wheel and a gear chain extending around the sprocket gear and an individual one of the rear wheel gears. The chain is adjustably coupled to the individual gears on the rear wheel to respectively increase and decrease the gear ratio relative to the sprocket gear for sprocket speeds above the upper limit and below the lower limit. The upper limit is adjustable as by initially operating up and down switches together within a particular time limit and then operating the up switch for upper limit increments or the down switch for upper limit decrements. The sequence may then be repeated for lower limit adjustments. The movement of a particular number of sprocket ribs past a detector and the time for such movement are measured and processed to determine the sprocket speed. When the sprocket is rotating continuously at a speed below the lower limit, as when coasting downhill, the gear ratio is not changed.

Abstract: A gear shifting system for use on a derailleur equipped bicycle having automatic and manual modes of operation. A microcontroller is mounted to the bicycle frame. Sensors are also mounted to the frame to allow the microcontroller to determine the most efficient gear ratio based on the bicycle velocity and the user pedaling rate in the automatic mode of operation. Servomotors mounted to the bicycle frame are responsive to the outputs to drive the bicycle derailleur and provide the most efficient gear ratio. A control panel mounted to the bicycle handlebars allows the user to select either the automatic or manual operating mode, the latter allowing manual activation of the gear shifters through the microcontroller and servomotors. The microcontroller has at least two input capture functions responsive to bicycle velocity and the cadence, in the automatic mode, and two output compare functions which adjust the derailleurs accordingly.

Abstract: The bale-forming belt for wrapping crop upon itself to form a cylindrical bale within a baling chamber of a round baler is automatically maintained in a straight tracking condition, despite an uneven supply of crop entering across the width of the baler, by a tracking control that is responsive to uneven tension across or the mistracking of the belt for effecting radial adjustment of one end of one or more of the rolls supporting the belt.

Abstract: An electro-mechanical system for shifting gears on a multi-gear bicycle or other human-powered vehicle includes a closed loop derailleur position control system using a circuitry for measuring derailleur position. Shifting gears is accomplished automatically based on rider cadence or manually using signals supplied by hand operated switches. The system calculates gear ratios based on bicycle speed and cadence and then sorts the gear ratio in order from lowest to highest. During automatic operation, the system calculates a cadence from bicycle speed and gear ratio, determines if the calculated cadence is within predetermined limits set by the rider, and it changes the gear ratio if the calculated cadence is not within the predetermined limits.

Abstract: A device for providing extremely accurate tracking and control of a continuous belt or web driven by at least one roller such as a paper transport belt for an electrostatic plotter, printer or the like includes a method for cancelling out the effect of belt edge irregularities by sampling the irregularities in the edge of a belt at precise positional intervals for an initial rotation of the belt and storing the sampled values as elements in a reference array. The reference array is corrected to include an error component representative of linearly increasing measurement of error for each of said array elements due to lateral shifting of the belt. During subsequent operation, the lateral displacement of the belt is continuously scanned for each of said positional intervals with respect to a corresponding element of the array.

Abstract: A tensioner for toothed belts comprises a hydraulic fluid filled cylinder having a piston with a rod projecting out of the cylinder and engaging a pivoted arm with a roller at one end for engaging the belt. A spring within the cylinder urges the rod in the projecting direction, and a check valve carried by the piston allows the rod to project rapidly to take up slack in the belt. Hydraulic fluid, however, flows through the small clearance between the piston and the cylinder wall as the rod retracts, and therefore limits the rate of retraction. A path is provided between seals surrounding the rod to route air directly to the reservoir so that it does not enter the fluid chambers within the cylinder. The piston material is chosen to expand more rapidly than the cylinder with increasing temperatures to reduce variations in leak-down time.

Abstract: A belt system of the type having a transparent belt entrained about a pair of support rollers which includes an improved alignment apparatus having a plurality of opaque flags positioned along an edge of the belt and shaped to taper in a transverse dimension, an encoder for detecting movement of the belt about the rollers and generating a signal proportional in frequency to the speed of the belt, a fixed photodetector which senses the passage of a portion of the flag through a narrow window so that the time of passage is determined by the position of the belt and flag relative to the sensor, an adjusting roller actuated by a stepper motor which laterally positions the belt relative to the support rollers, and a microprocessor which determines the position of the belt from the number of pulses generated during a period of time in which the sensor detects the passage of a flag and actuates the stepper motor to position the tracking roller to shift the belt laterally in response to the number of pulses counted.