Rear hub thru-axle for human powered vehicle
A rear hub thru-axle is provided for a human powered vehicle. The rear hub thru-axle is basically provided with a first axle portion and a second axle portion. The first axle portion has a first hollow interior passage defining a first interior dimension. The second axle portion has a second hollow interior passage defining a second interior dimension. The first axle portion is connected to the second axle portion in an axial direction with respect to the rear thru-axle. The first interior dimension of the first hollow interior passage is larger than the second interior dimension of the second hollow interior passage.
1 . A rear hub thru-axle for a human powered vehicle, the rear hub thru-axle comprising:
a first axle portion having a first hollow interior passage defining a first interior diameter; and
a second axle portion having a second hollow interior passage defining a second interior diameter,
the first axle portion being connected to the second axle portion in an axial direction with respect to the rear hub thru-axle,
the first interior diameter of the first hollow interior passage being larger than the second interior diameter of the second hollow interior passage,
the first hollow interior passage of the first axle portion being configured to receive a battery, and
the second hollow interior passage of the second axle portion being configured to receive a circuit board on which a wireless communication unit is mounted,
the first axle portion having a first exterior surface defining a first exterior diameter and the second axle portion having a second exterior surface defining a second exterior diameter,
the first exterior diameter being larger than the second exterior diameter,
the second axle portion having an exterior thread for threadedly engaging with a fixing nut, or a fork or a frame,
the second exterior surface being disposed between the first exterior surface and the exterior thread, and
an axial length of the second exterior surface being longer than an axial length of the exterior thread.
2 . The rear hub thru-axle according to claim 1 , wherein
the first axle portion has a first axle length, the second axle portion has a second axle length, and the first axle length is larger than the second axle length.
3 . The rear hub thru-axle according to claim 1 , further comprising
an end cap removably attached to an open end of the first axle portion on an opposite side from the second axle portion.
4 . The rear hub thru-axle according to claim 1 , further comprising
a frame attachment structure attached to the first axle portion at an opposite side from the second axle portion.
5 . The rear hub thru-axle according to claim 4 , wherein
the frame attachment structure includes a frame engagement portion and an attachment bolt threadedly coupled to the frame engagement portion.
6 . A rear hub comprising the rear hub thru-axle according to claim 1 , and further comprising:
a hub body rotatably disposed around the first axle portion; and
a sprocket support body rotatably disposed around the second axle portion.
7 . The rear hub according to claim 6 , wherein
at least a portion of the second exterior surface extends to a position inside the hub body.
8 . The rear hub according to claim 7 , wherein
the rear hub thru-axle has a stepped shape between the first exterior surface and the second exterior surface and the stepped shape is disposed inside the hub body.
9 . The rear hub thru-axle according to claim 1 , wherein
a sensor is mounted on the circuit board.
10 . The rear hub thru-axle according to claim 9 , wherein
the sensor and the wireless communication unit are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction.
11 . The rear hub thru-axle according to claim 10 , wherein
an electronic controller is mounted to the circuit board between the sensor and the wireless communication unit.
12 . The rear hub thru-axle according to claim 1 , wherein
an antenna protrudes from the wireless communication unit.
13 . The rear hub thru-axle according to claim 12 , wherein
the antenna extends along the axial direction from the wireless communication unit.
14 . The rear hub thru-axle according to claim 1 , wherein
the rear hub thru-axle has a stepped shape between the first exterior surface and the second exterior surface and the second exterior surface spans from the first exterior surface to the exterior thread.
15 . A rear hub thru-axle for a human powered vehicle, the rear hub thru-axle comprising:
a first axle portion having a first hollow interior passage defining a first interior diameter; and
a second axle portion having a second hollow interior passage defining a second interior diameter,
the first axle portion being connected to the second axle portion in an axial direction with respect to the rear hub thru-axle,
the first interior diameter of the first hollow interior passage being larger than the second interior diameter of the second hollow interior passage,
the first hollow interior passage of the first axle portion being configured to receive a battery, and
the second hollow interior passage of the second axle portion being configured to receive a circuit board on which a wireless communication unit is mounted,
an antenna protruding from the wireless communication unit, the antenna extending along the axial direction from the wireless communication unit,
the antenna engaging with a sealing member provided inside the rear hub thru-axle.
16 . The rear hub thru-axle according to claim 15 , wherein
the sealing member is spaced apart from the circuit board toward an axial end of the rear hub thru-axle in the axial direction.