Abstract: A pressurized air supply system for providing pressurized air to an air powered derailleur of a bicycle having a bicycle frame. The system comprises an air pumping mechanism attached to the bicycle frame and adapted to supply pressurized air when actuated. Fluidly connected to the pumping mechanism and to the derailleur is a pressure reservoir of the system. The pumping mechanism is attached to the bicycle frame such that the passage of the bicycle over uneven terrain facilitates the actuation of the pumping mechanism and resultant charging of the pressure reservoir with pressurized air.

Abstract: A motor driven derailleur includes a base member; a movable member; and a linkage mechanism including a link member coupled to the base member and to the movable member so that the movable member moves relative to the base member, wherein the link member is pivotably coupled to one of the base member and the movable member through a first link coupling member. A motor is provided for rotating the first link coupling member, wherein the movable member moves relative to the base member in response to rotation of the first link coupling member.

Abstract: A speed control method and device for a bicycle, aimed at synchronously controlling both front and rear derailleurs to achieve predetermined sequential combinations of front and rear gears of front and rear gear systems, respectively, for a gradual and smooth increase/decrease of speed of the bicycle.

Abstract: In order to improve a gear change system for bicycle derailleur gears, comprising a first chain changer for shifting the chain to different chain wheels on the pedal-crank side, a second chain changer for shifting the chain to different pinions on the wheel side, and a gear change device with a first switching unit for the first chain changer and with a second switching unit for the second chain changer and with a manually operated switching element by means of which both switching units can simultaneously be actuated so that by means of the latter the chain can simply be shifted to chain wheel/pinion combinations selected for a gear sequence and from a switched gear a transition is possible only to the next closest gear in the gear sequence, in such a way that a great degree of ease and comfort in switching can be achieved with the least possible effort, it is proposed that the first chain changer is a mechanical chain changer mechanically controllable through the first switching unit, and that the second ch

Abstract: A control body is provided for mounting to a bicycle in close proximity to a handlebar for controlling a pulling and releasing of the transmission element. A first lever is mounted to the control body for movement which causes the control body to effect pulling of the transmission element, and a second lever is mounted to the control body for movement which causes the control body to effect releasing of the transmission element. The first lever and the second lever are mounted to the control body so that the handlebar is disposed between the first lever and the second lever when the shifter operating device is mounted to the bicycle. In a first embodiment both levers may be pivotally coupled to the control body for movement in a common plane, and the first lever may be adapted to move in a direction opposite to the movement in the second lever. In a second embodiment one lever may be pivotally coupled to the control body and the other lever may be coupled for linear movement relative to the control body.

Abstract: An automatic speed range shifter for bicycles is disclosed which produces a downshift when a predetermined pedal force is exceeded and which produces an upshift when a predetermined pedal rotational speed is exceeded. A pedal force sensor comprises a strain gage element on an arm supporting an idler sprocket for the chain. A pedal rotational speed sensor comprises a magnet/coil coacting with the pedal crank. A microcomputer receives inputs from the force and speed sensors and produces control signals for the automatic shifter. The automatic shifter comprises a front shifter actuator including a reversible electrical servo motor which is coupled by a cable with the front derailleur. It also comprises a rear shifter actuator with a reversible servo motor which is coupled by a cable with the rear derailleur.

Abstract: In combination, a bicycle having a frame and front and rear wheels and a bicycle gearing system which includes a movable bottom bracket mounted on the frame of the bicycle. A pedal axle is rotatably mounted in the bottom bracket. A chain extends between the front gear sprocket and a selected one of the rear gear sprockets. A rear derailleur is mounted on the frame generally adjacent and forward of the rear gear sprockets, the rear derailleur operative to engage the chain and shift the chain transversely relative to the frame. The chain is of a size and shape such that when the bottom bracket is in a forward position, the chain is tensioned, and when the bottom bracket is in the rearward position, the chain is detensioned. The chain is detensioned and the rear derailleur shifts the chain transversely relative to the frame such that the chain engages a different selected one of the rear gear sprockets.

Abstract: A display apparatus for a bicycle has a display panel (3). The display panel (3) includes a plurality of rear speed stage display sections (21-28) for displaying a speed stage of a rear derailleur. The rear speed stage display sections are formed of a plurality of sets of display elements. The display panel further includes a plurality of front speed stage display sections (29a-29c) for displaying a speed stage of a front derailleur. Each of the front speed stage display sections includes one set of display elements. An indicating device is provided for controlling one of the display elements in one set, thereby to indicate the speed stages of the front derailleur and rear derailleur.

Abstract: An automatic speed range shifter for bicycles is disclosed which produces a downshift when a predetermined pedal force is exceeded and which produces an upshift when a predetermined pedal rotational speed is exceeded. A pedal force sensor includes a strain gage element on an arm supporting an idler sprocket for the chain. A pedal rotational speed sensor includes a magnet/coil coacting with the pedal crank. A microcomputer receives inputs from the force and speed sensors and produces control signals for the automatic shifter. The automatic shifter includes a front shifter actuator including a reversible electrical servo motor which is coupled by a cable with the front derailleur. It also includes a rear shifter actuator with a reversible servo motor which is coupled by a cable with the rear derailleur.

Abstract: This invention relates to a shifter for the actuation of derailleurs on bicycles with an integrated transition distance for shifting the chain from a smaller sprocket to the next larger sprocket by means of a detent element. The detent element interacts with a detent spring which detent spring is permanently fastened to the housing. The return of the shifting system into the correct position of the derailleur over the desired larger sprocket is no longer left exclusively to the return spring of the derailleur by means of a Bowden cable, but is assisted by a transition spring which is coupled to the detent spring in the shifter.

Abstract: A control device for controlling at least one adjustment member, in particular an electrical chain transfer of a bicycle, is proposed. The control device comprises a signal transmitter which is disposed at a location distant from the at least one adjustment member and which can be set by a user into a plurality of shift settings, in particular gears, for setting the at least one adjustment member into a plurality of operational positions, and at least one signal line for transmitting signals between the signal transmitter and the respective adjustment member.

Abstract: A power operated gear change assembly for bicycles, which includes a gear change whose derailleur is displaceable by an electric geared motor and associated power supply accumulator, operated through a manual control device or detector for detecting the derailleur displacement, and a control circuit for controlling operation of the electric geared motor. The electric geared motor is directly fitted on the derailleur of the gear change, and the detector includes a transducer device placed in a remote position relative to the derailleur of the gear change and operatively connected thereto through a transmission device. The electric accumulator is rechargeable by means of a dynamo-electric unit incorporated in the derailleur of the gear change.

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 derailleur includes a relatively long, torsion-resisting bar extending below and generally along one of the two rear wheel-supporting bicycle frame members. The front end of said bar is held by a fastener secured to the bicycle frame adjacent the housing of the pedalling axle. The holder prevents the bar from rotating about its long axis. The rear end of the bar is movable transversely of the frame member by a remote control actuator. The rear end of said bar carries a drive chain idle transfer and a chain take-up device which serve to transfer the drive chain from one to another rear drive sprocket, while taking up the slack in the chain. The chain take-up device preferably comprises an elongated member supported by and extending alongside the bar, movable longitudinally along said bar and carrying at its rear end a drive chain engaging idle sprocket. The elongated member is biased rearwardly.

Abstract: A particularly satisfactory derailer type bicycle can be constructed using front and rear derailer mechanisms in connection with the pedals and the rear wheel of the bicycle, respectively, and a control cable which operates these two mechanisms in synchronism with one another. This control cable is used so as to rotate a cam of the front derailer mechanism in order to cause shifting of the bicycle chain between the gears in this mechanism. Similarly the cable is used to concurrently rotate a cam of the rear mechanism so as to cause shifting of the bicycle chain between the gears of this mechanism. The cam as the rear derailer mechanism formed to facilitate the shifting action achieved by causing the chain of the bicycle to be moved slightly past and then back into a position corresponding to a gear of the rear mechanism.

Abstract: In a double assembly for bicycle speed control including a first lever for operating a rear derailleur by means of a control cable in order to shift an endless drive chain from one rear sprocket to a selected rear sprocket of a multiple freewheel, and a second lever for operating a front derailleur by means of a further control cable in order to shift the chain from one front sprocket to another front sprocket of a chainwheel, pivotal motion of the first lever causes synchronous sliding motion of the second lever through a motion converting mechanism so as to automatically center a guide cage of the front derailleur over a chain line thereby to prevent the chain from hitting the inside of the guide cage.

Abstract: An easy to operate control means for shifting gears on dual shift bicycles is described. The control means is constructed so that the front and rear derailleurs of a dual shift bicycle are controlled together to shift to any selected gear from any engaged gear with a single operator action. The design permits the operator to preselect the new gear to be used while continuously pedaling in the present gear, with the actual gear change being made at the operator's discretion. The design also facilitates a rapid series of up shifts or down shifts without requiring intervening gear selections.

Abstract: Complementary relatively stationary pulleys having axially oppositely stepped diameter portions form a variable speed drive between a motor coupled with one stepped pulley and a driven device coupled with the oppositely stepped pulley such as the spindle of a drill press on which the device is mounted. A transmission belt for the stepped pulleys is bodily shifted with an associated belt tensioning idler pulley, a belt shaper guide, and a compression belt former selectively to position the belt in alignment with chosen diameter portions of the two stepped pulleys to effect a desired speed change while the belt is in a deformed state out of contact with the stepped pulleys, following which the belt is retensioned to engage it with the chosen stepped portions of the complementary stepped pulleys.

Abstract: A speed changing device for a bicycle comprises a lever unit and a winding unit. The lever unit has a control lever, a first winding body carrying a first control wire connected to a front or rear derailleur, and an engagement for selectively transmitting rotation of the control lever to the first winding body. The winding unit has a second winding body having an engaging portion engageable with the engaging means and carrying a second control wire connected to the other derailleur, and is detachably mounted to the lever unit by means of a coupling.