IP Library Granted Patent US 11,279,442
Granted Patent B2
US 11,279,442 · App. 16/008,031 · Granted Mar 22, 2022

Sprocket support body and bicycle rear hub assembly

Inventor: Tomonari Oka (Sakai, JP)
Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
B62M9/12B60B27/0031B60B27/023B60B27/04B60B27/047
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,279,442
App. No.
16/008,031
Granted
Mar 22, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sprocket support body is rotatably mounted on a hub axle of a bicycle rear hub assembly. The sprocket support body comprises at least ten external spline teeth configured to engage with a bicycle rear sprocket assembly. Each of the at least ten external spline teeth has an external-spline driving surface and an external-spline non-driving surface.

Claims (66)

1. A sprocket support body rotatably mounted on a hub axle of a bicycle rear hub assembly, the sprocket support body comprising:

at least ten external spline teeth configured to engage with a bicycle rear sprocket assembly, each of the at least ten external spline teeth having an external-spline driving surface and an external-spline non-driving surface, wherein

one tooth of the at least ten external spline teeth has a first circumferential spline size,

other teeth of the at least ten external spline teeth each have a second circumferential spline size that is smaller than the first circumferential spline size,

a radially outermost end of the one tooth has a circumferential width that is greater than a circumferential width of a radially outermost end of each of the other teeth of the at least ten external spline teeth, and

each of the external-spline driving surfaces of the at least ten external spline teeth including the one tooth and the other teeth having identical profiles and each of the external-spline non-driving surfaces of the at least ten external spline teeth including the one tooth and the other teeth having identical profiles.

2. The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein

the external-spline driving surface has a first external-spline-surface angle defined between the external-spline driving surface and a first radial line extending from a rotational center axis of the bicycle rear hub assembly to a radially outermost edge of the external-spline driving surface, and

the first external-spline-surface angle is equal to or smaller than 6 degrees.

3. The sprocket support body according to claim 2 , wherein

the external-spline non-driving surface has a second external-spline-surface angle defined between the external-spline non-driving surface and a second radial line extending from a rotational center axis of the bicycle rear hub assembly to a radially outermost edge of the external-spline non-driving surface, and

the second external-spline-surface angle is equal to or smaller than 6 degrees.

4. The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein

at least one of the at least ten external spline teeth has an axial spline-tooth length that is equal to or smaller than 27 mm.

5. The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein

a total number of the at least ten external spline teeth ranges from 22 to 24.

6. The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein

the at least ten external spline teeth have a first external pitch angle and a second external pitch angle different from the first external pitch angle.

7. The sprocket support body according to claim 6 , wherein

the first external pitch angle ranges from 13 degrees to 17 degrees, and

the second external pitch angle ranges from 28 degrees to 32 degrees.

8. The sprocket support body according to claim 6 , wherein

the first external pitch angle is half of the second external pitch angle.

9. The sprocket support body according to claim 6 , wherein

the first external pitch angle ranges from 13 degrees to 17 degrees.

10. The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein

each of the at least ten external spline teeth includes the external-spline driving surface to receive a driving rotational force from the bicycle rear sprocket assembly during pedaling,

the external-spline driving surface includes

a radially outermost edge,

a radially innermost edge, and

a radial length defined from the radially outermost edge to the radially innermost edge, and

a total of the radial lengths of the external-spline driving surfaces of the at least ten external spline teeth is equal to or larger than 7 mm.

11. The sprocket support body according to claim 10 , wherein

the total of the radial lengths of the external-spline driving surfaces ranges from 11 mm to 14 mm.

12. The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein

the one tooth is circumferentially symmetric with respect to a reference line extending from a rotational center axis to a circumferential center point of the radially outermost end of the one tooth in a radial direction with respect to the rotational center axis.

13. The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein

the at least ten external spline teeth has an external-spline major diameter that is equal to or smaller than 34 mm.

14. The sprocket support body according to claim 13 , wherein

the external-spline major diameter is equal to or smaller than 33 mm.

15. The sprocket support body according to claim 13 , wherein

the external-spline major diameter is equal to or larger than 29 mm.

16. The sprocket support body according to claim 1 , wherein

the at least ten external spline tooth has an external-spline minor diameter that is equal to or smaller than 32 mm.

17. The sprocket support body according to claim 16 , wherein

the external-spline minor diameter is equal to or smaller than 31 mm.

18. The sprocket support body according to claim 16 , wherein

the external-spline minor diameter is equal to or larger than 28 mm.

19. A bicycle rear hub assembly comprising:

a hub axle;

a hub body rotatably mounted on the hub axle about a rotational center axis of the bicycle rear hub assembly; and

the sprocket support body according to claim 1 .

20. The bicycle rear hub assembly according to claim 19 , further comprising

a freewheel structure including

a first ratchet member including at least one first ratchet tooth, and

a second ratchet member including at least one second ratchet tooth configured to engage with the at least one first ratchet tooth in a torque transmitting manner, wherein

the first ratchet member is configured to engage with one of the hub body and the sprocket support body in a torque transmitting manner,

the second ratchet member is configured to engage with the other of the hub body and the sprocket support body in a torque transmitting manner, and

at least one of the first ratchet member and the second ratchet member is movable relative to the hub axle in an axial direction with respect to the rotational center axis.

21. A sprocket support body rotatably mounted on a hub axle of a bicycle rear hub assembly, the sprocket support body comprising:

at least ten external spline teeth configured to engage with a bicycle rear sprocket assembly, each of the at least ten external spline teeth having an external-spline driving surface and an external-spline non-driving surface, wherein

one tooth of the at least ten external spline teeth has a first circumferential spline size,

other teeth of the at least ten external spline teeth each have a second circumferential spline size that is smaller than the first circumferential spline size,

a radially outermost end of the one tooth has a circumferential width that is greater than a circumferential width of a radially outermost end of each of the other teeth of the at least ten external spline teeth,

the one tooth of the at least ten external spline teeth is circumferentially symmetric with respect to a first reference line extending from a rotational center axis to a first circumferential center point of the radially outermost end of the one tooth of the at least ten external spline teeth in a first radial direction with respect to the rotational center axis, and

at least one of the other teeth of the at least ten external spline teeth is circumferentially symmetric with respect to a second reference line extending from the rotational center axis to a second circumferential center point of the radially outermost end of the at least one of the other teeth of the at least ten external spline teeth in a second radial direction with respect to the rotational center axis.

Continuity (3)
Division 15851785 · Dec 22, 2017
Continuation In Part 15712407 · Sep 22, 2017
Related Publication 20190092427A1 · Mar 28, 2019
Cited By (6)
US 12,285,972 US 12,286,194 US 12,286,195 US 12,420,889 US 12,503,197 US 12,617,491