IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0074014
(2005-03-07)
|
등록번호 |
US-7546909
(2009-07-01)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Campbell, Darren J.
- Jones, Christopher S.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Hayes Bicycle Group, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek SC
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
16 인용 특허 :
28 |
초록
▼
A lever assembly and a master cylinder are provided. The lever assembly includes a lever and an adjuster mechanism that changes the mechanical advantage of the lever. The reach of the lever relative to a handlebar can be adjusted. Both the mechanical advantage and reach of the lever can be adjusted
A lever assembly and a master cylinder are provided. The lever assembly includes a lever and an adjuster mechanism that changes the mechanical advantage of the lever. The reach of the lever relative to a handlebar can be adjusted. Both the mechanical advantage and reach of the lever can be adjusted without tools and while a vehicle including the same is operated. The master cylinder includes a reservoir in a clamp area. A reservoir bladder fits into the reservoir. A cover encloses the bladder and includes a vent opening making the bladder at atmospheric pressure such that air can move into the bladder and out of the bladder. The master cylinder can be bled without reorienting the master cylinder. A method of adjusting a mechanical advantage of a lever and a method of bleeding a braking system without reorienting the master cylinder are also provided.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A lever assembly comprising: (A) a lever including an input arm having a substantially fixed length and an output arm having a variable length, the output arm length being the distance between (1) a fulcrum about which the lever pivots and that is fixed with respect to a mast
What is claimed is: 1. A lever assembly comprising: (A) a lever including an input arm having a substantially fixed length and an output arm having a variable length, the output arm length being the distance between (1) a fulcrum about which the lever pivots and that is fixed with respect to a master cylinder body and (2) a contact surface of the lever and a force transmitting member, wherein the lever output arm (1) is moveable with respect to the fulcrum and (2) is configured to be pivotable about a master cylinder, the master cylinder having a master cylinder piston situated therein; (B) an adjuster mechanism that is housed within the lever and that pivots on the fulcrum, wherein movement of the adjuster mechanism moves the entire lever linearly with respect to the fulcrum along a longitudinal axis of an elongated slot, and changes a ratio of the output arm length to the input arm length; and (C) a push rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotally secured to the force transmitting member and the second end is pivotally secured to the master cylinder piston. 2. The lever assembly of claim 1, wherein the adjuster mechanism comprises: (A) a slider that pivots on the fulcrum; and (B) a thumbwheel coupled to the slider, wherein rotation of the thumbwheel slides the lever relative to the fulcrum to adjust the output arm length of the lever. 3. The lever assembly of claim 2, wherein the thumbwheel is threadably coupled to the slider. 4. The lever assembly of claim 1, wherein force exerted on the lever input arm exerts a pushing force from the lever output arm to a master cylinder. 5. The lever assembly of claim 1, further comprising a coupling mechanism that adjusts a distance of the lever relative to a handlebar. 6. The lever assembly of claim 5, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises: (A) a bushing having (1) a bore that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bushing, and (2) a flat that is perpendicular to the bore; and (B) sleeves configured to be received on ends of the bushing and including ears having an arcuate surface, wherein a push rod is received in the bore of the bushing and the arcuate surfaces of the ears. 7. The lever assembly of claim 6, further comprising a lever adjustment knob coupled to the push rod via the bushing, wherein the bushing is captured within the lever output arm, and wherein rotation of the lever adjustment knob moves the bushing helically along the push rod. 8. The lever assembly of claim 1, wherein the lever output arm actuates a master cylinder. 9. The lever assembly of claim 8, wherein the master cylinder piston has an end with a concave surface; and the second end of the push rod has a convex surface that is coupled to the concave surface via a ball and socket joint. 10. A method of adjusting a mechanical advantage of a lever comprising: (A) rotating a thumbwheel coupled to a slider that pivots on a fulcrum that is fixed with respect to a master cylinder body and housed within the lever, moving the lever with respect to the fulcrum by rotating the thumbwheel, the lever including an output arm, the output arm length being the distance between (1) the fulcrum and (2) a contact surface of the lever and a force transmitting member, the lever output arm being at least indirectly pivotally secured to one end of a push rod, and wherein an opposite end of the push rod is pivotally secured to a master cylinder piston situated in the master cylinder body; (B) sliding the entire lever linearly with respect to the fulcrum along a longitudinal axis of an elongated slot; and (C) adjusting a ratio of a length of the output arm of the lever to an input arm length of the lever. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the rotating step does not require locking the thumbwheel. 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising: (A) exerting a force on an input arm of the lever; and (B) applying a pushing force on a hydraulic master cylinder with an output arm of the lever. 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the rotating step can occur during operation of a vehicle. 14. A lever assembly comprising: (A) a lever that is pivotal about a fulcrum that is fixed with respect to a master cylinder body, the lever including an input arm having a substantially fixed length and an output arm having a variable length with respect to the fixed fulcrum, the output arm length being the distance between (1) the fulcrum and (2) a contact surface of the lever and a force transmitting member, wherein the lever output arm (1) is moveable with respect to the fulcrum and (2) is configured to contact the force transmitting member; and (B) an adjuster mechanism that is housed within the lever and that pivots on the fulcrum, wherein movement of the adjuster mechanism moves the entire lever linearly with respect to the fulcrum along a longitudinal axis of an elongated slot, and changes a ratio of the output arm length to the input arm length; (C) a push rod having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotally secured to the force transmitting member and the second end is pivotally secured to a master cylinder piston situated in the master cylinder body. 15. The lever assembly of claim 14, wherein the adjuster mechanism comprises: (A) a slider that pivots on the fulcrum; and (B) a thumbwheel coupled to the slider, wherein rotation of the thumbwheel slides the lever relative to the fulcrum to adjust the output arm length of the lever. 16. The lever assembly of claim 15, wherein the thumbwheel is threadably coupled to the slider. 17. The lever assembly of claim 14, wherein force exerted on the lever input arm exerts a pushing force from the lever output arm to a master cylinder. 18. The lever assembly of claim 14, further comprising a coupling mechanism that adjusts a distance of the lever relative to a handlebar. 19. The lever assembly of claim 18, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises: (A) a bushing having (1) a bore that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the bushing, and (2) a flat that is perpendicular to the bore; and (B) sleeves configured to be received on ends of the bushing and including ears having an arcuate surface, wherein a push rod is received in the bore of the bushing and the arcuate surfaces of the ears. 20. The lever assembly of claim 19, further comprising a lever adjustment knob coupled to the push rod via the bushing, wherein the bushing is captured within the lever output arm, and wherein rotation of the lever adjustment knob moves the bushing helically along the push rod. 21. The lever assembly of claim 14, wherein the lever output arm actuates a master cylinder. 22. The lever assembly of claim 21, wherein the master cylinder piston has an end with a concave surface; and the second end of the push rod has a convex surface that is coupled to the concave surface via a ball and socket joint.
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