Shaft system for attaching a wheel

p0001The present invention relates to a quick-release axle system for wheel mounting. In particular, the present invention relates to a quick-release axle system wheel mounting wherein the wheel spindle head by means of a conical seat in the corresponding dropout of a frame or fork is held.

p0002The following description of the present invention carried out using a thru-axle system for wheel attachment for a bicycle. The invention is thus not limited, and is, as is apparent to those skilled, on motorcycles or other objects which have devices for attaching wheels to apply.

p0003Thru axle systems for wheel attachment are known in the art. The document<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="EP1452435A"><text>EP 1452435</text></patcit> this represents the closest prior art according to the preamble of independent claim 1. In thru-axle systems of conventional design the dropouts of a fork or a frame of a bicycle usually have in on essential circular penetrations, inserted through the axis upon insertion of the wheel and by means of a fitting and / or a quick release mechanism is fixed to the dropouts. To facilitate insertion of the plug axis, the bushings at the dropouts and the axle of the hub usually has an inner diameter, which is approximately 0.5 mm to 2 mm larger than the outer diameter of the wheel spindle.

p0004Such thru-axle systems according to the prior art has been shown that caused by this difference in diameter axle clearance may result in the dropouts to instabilities of the wheel with respect to the fork or frame. This caused firstly by the stresses that occur during use of the bicycle, on the other hand, however, often also result from incorrect operation of the user during insertion and tightening of the wheel spindle and the wheel.

p0005To avoid such disadvantages shows <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="WO2005051753A"><text>WO 2005/051753</text></patcit> a thru-axle system, in which the axle pushed through a circular passage in a first dropout of a bicycle fork and screwed into the opposite second end by a failure arranged on the wheel spindle thread directly into this. The tubular running thru axle also has at its two ends on two longitudinal slits, so that the two ends are spread by the mutual pressing or drawing of cones upon actuation of the clamping mechanism. This axle clearance is reduced with respect to the dropouts and the result is a relatively fixed, positive connection between the wheel spindle and the fork or the frame of the bicycle.

p0006It appears, however, that this system is very sensitive to incorrect operation, particularly in a screwing with insufficient torque or a weak tightening the axle by means of the clamping mechanism, and also especially for professional and semi-professional still no sufficient stability of the seat of the wheel with respect to the fork or the bicycle frame is reached.

p0007Object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved quick-release axle system wheel mounting is available, which at least partially overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art and in particular enables a stable attachment of a wheel on a fork or a frame. Moreover, it is desirable to provide a quick release axle system wheel mounting is available, which has an increased operating safety and through which the risk of operating errors is minimized by the user.

p0008These and other objects are achieved by a floating axle system for wheel mounting according to the independent claim. 1 Preferred embodiments of the present invention are subject of the dependent claims.

p0009Accordingly, an inventive quick-release axle system wheel mounting an axle with a shaft portion on which is arranged in the installed state of the plug-in axis between a first and a second dropout dropout of a frame or fork and is supported by which the wheel hub. The intercept of the axis extends in a known manner by for indoor area of the hub through.

p0010The axle has at least one disposed at a first end portion of the radially projecting shoulder which serves in the installed state to transmit a parallel to the direction of the center axis of the axle acting force. This shoulder has the axis at the first end of the axle portion a relative to the shaft portion enlarged outer diameter (thru-axle head).

p0011The thru-axle system according to the invention also has at the first end opposite second end of the axle portion a thread on which the installation of the plug-in axis after passing the axis by performing the first dropout and arranged between the two dropouts hub in a purpose corresponding, at the second dropout arranged, thread is screwed.

p0012According to the invention the thru axle system on a pressing element, which is listed in the form of a ring and has a substantially centric implementation, through which in the installed state, at least a portion of the axle portion extends. The inner diameter of the ring in this case has a recess at which in the installed state comes the shoulder of the first end of the axle to the plant. Thereby, the acting parallel to the central axis of the wheel spindle motor is at least partially transferred to the pressure element.

p0013By the inner recess of the pressure element, this preferably has two different inner diameters, the smaller internal diameter faces towards the second end of the axle portion and the larger inside diameter is preferably selected so that the pressure element with slight play can be pushed over the plug-in axis head.

p0014The pressing has also on the second end of the axle portion side facing on its outer diameter, a relative to the centerline of the wheel spindle inclined and especially tapered contact surface on which, arranged in the installed state on a corresponding thereto on the first dropout, contact surface is applied.

p0015The pressing of the quick-release axle system of the invention effected in conjunction with the corresponding thereto bearing surface of the first dropout a self-centering and essentially play-free seating of the axle. In particular, through axle system of the invention ensures the execution of the pressure element as a separate from the axle element in the sense of a sleeve through which extends the shaft portion of the axle through that when screwing in the wheel spindle acting between the contact surface and the contact surface friction not to the possibly false impression the user performs, the axle is already tightened with the necessary torque, even if this is not the case. Thus, in this way, the risk of operator errors are reduced.

p0016Finally thru axle system of the invention made possible by the patch to the axis presser problem-solving of the screwed plug axis in the case of corrosion between the contact surface of the pressing member on one side and the contact surface of the dropout on the other, since the contact area between the shoulder of the shaft and the return of the pressure element is significantly smaller than that between the sloping contact surface and the corresponding thereto bearing surface.

p0017In the present invention, the annular pressure element with respect to the central axis of the axis is substantially and at least partially slotted in parallel, or the ring-shaped pressure element is substantially parallel to a relative to the central axis of the axis skewed axis at least partially slotted, or along a relative to the central axis of the axle at least partially spiraling curve.

p0018These embodiments allow a further improvement of the seat and the centering of the thru-axle system of the invention in the first dropout because when screwing the plug axis the pressure element is slightly compressed by the acting thereon forces, which in addition to the at least partially form-fitting contact of the pressure element on the first dropout a positive connection between the pressure element and the axle or the thru-axle head is manufactured.

p0019Preferably, the outer diameter of the first end of the axis in the region of the projecting shoulder and especially in the region of the larger diameter of the axis of a recess, into which an O-ring can be arranged or is arranged such that the O-ring substantially stationary is fixed on the shaft and at least one projecting part of the cross section of the O-ring material over the outer diameter of the axle. An arrangement of an O-ring on the shaft makes it possible that the manner of a sleeve about the axis pushed pressure element is held by a flexible deformation of the O-ring during insertion also relative to the axis, so that if on the one hand against loss of the pressure element is and on the other a play-free arrangement of the pressure element on the axis.

p0020The use of a flexible material for the O-ring allows nevertheless, in the case of slotted pressing members that during the screwing between the pressure element and the axis is a frictional connection and thus a particularly backlash fixing the axle into the dropout. In a preferred embodiment, the inner diameter of the pressure element has a recess for the outer diameter of the axis corresponding groove in which the O-ring intervenes in deferred pressure element and its content with respect to further improving the axis.

p0021In a further preferred embodiment, the pressure surface has at least one recess, into which a second O-ring can be arranged or is arranged such that a part of the cross section of the O-ring material over the contact surface protrudes.

p0022By this embodiment the friction between the pressure surface and the contact surface is further reduced up to the moment at which the transmitted to the pressing force of the O-ring material is sufficiently deformed when screwing the plug-in axis, so that an essentially positive overlay between takes place the contact surface and the contact surface.

p0023In this way, the screwing of the axis for the user is further facilitated, but only up to the moment of a full-surface contact of the contact surface at the contact surface. Particularly in the case of using a slotted pressure element is thereby ensured that the axle is tightened with an adequate torque, whereby a play-free fixation of the axis and thus reliable recording of the wheel in the fork or in the frame is ensured. The risk of incorrect operation by the user is further reduced.

p0024In a preferred embodiment of the quick-release axle system of the invention that the second dropout arranged thread is designed in the form of an internally threaded sleeve, which is preferably used in the dropout rotatably. Preferably the sleeve is arranged in the internal thread, in which during the assembly of the axis arranged at the second end of the outer diameter thread of the sleeve or with respect to the central axis of the shaft is screwed with respect to running eccentric. It is hereby possible by rotating the sleeve with screwed-in or near the screwed plug-in axis to adjust the position of the axis relative to the two dropouts and thereby compensate for dimensional tolerances in the manufacture of the fork or of the frame, whereby an exact straight running of the wheel can be ensured.

p0025In a further preferred embodiment, the first dropout arranged contact surface is designed as inner surface of a sleeve which is used for example by plugging or screwing into the first dropout envisaged implementation. In this way it is possible to contact surfaces which have been damaged, for example by corrosion or mechanical stress, replace and simplify beyond the production of forks or frames, which have correspondingly shaped bearing surfaces for use with quick-release axles according to the present invention. Finally, it allows this embodiment also, at least in a subset of available on the market forks or frame of conventional construction to enable the use of the quick-release axle system according to the invention with all its advantages by employing a corresponding sleeve.

p0026Preferably, the axis of the through axle system according to the thru-axle head an Allen or Torx, or a similar device for attaching a tool to, with which the axle can be inserted and tightened. Here both Allen and Torx have the advantage that they are customary and common tools in the bicycle industry, which also allow transfer sufficiently large torques to the axle problems.

p0027However, it should also be noted that through axle system of the invention may be provided with other means for inserting and tightening the axle, such as wing nuts, rotatably mounted lever, particularly in the manner of a quick release system, hex nuts and the like.

p0028Preferably, the outer part of the second end of the axle portion to a tapered cross-section, so that the axis thereby at its outer end has a tapered shape. This insertion of the plug-in axis is facilitated in the implementation of the first dropout and particularly the interior of the hub as well as the screw into the second on dropout thread provided.

p0029In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the intercept of the axis is made of a tubular material which is preferably in the range of the first and / or second end of the axle has an increased material thickness, so that in the region of the pressure element, as well as in the region of the thread which tensile, compression, shear and transverse forces in the use of the bicycle by a correspondingly increased thickness be sufficiently absorbed.

p0030It allows the use of tubular material for the axis nevertheless, to achieve a weight reduction with respect to axes, which consist of a solid material with almost constant stability of the axis. Nevertheless, it is to manufacture the axle portion of the axle from a solid material in the sense of the present invention.

p0031In one embodiment of the invention, to facilitate insertion of the shaft at its second end a conical pointed cap is provided. Preferably, this cap is placed on the assembly, so that passing the axis by performing the first dropout and the interior of the wheel hub and the insertion is facilitated in the thread at the second dropout. In a further development of this embodiment is the possibility of detaching of the corresponding cap, thereby allowing for the same functionality, a further weight reduction after assembly.

p0032More preferably, the thru-axle system according to the invention wheel mounting has at least one more, at least partially longitudinally slotted annular pressure element, which is provided with a relative to the central axis of the axle tapered contact surface that comes in a corresponding thereto bearing surface of the wheel hub to the system after installation. This results in a play-free, positive or non-positive fastening of the hub on the axle between the two dropouts.

p0033By screwing and tightening the wheel spindle in the second dropout one along the central axis of the wheel spindle acting force is applied to the at least one pressing element, whereby this is pressed against the at least one corresponding contact surface of the hub and the taper of the contact surface deformation of at least one pressure element takes place. This results in a positive connection between the at least one pressure element and the axle. Particularly preferably, the hub is provided on both sides with such further pressure elements so that a play-free and more stable seat of the wheel hub and thus the wheel of dropouts is achieved with respect.

p0034Preferably, the angle of taper of the pressure faces and / or the contact surfaces of the floating axle system according to the invention between 20 and 70 ° relative to the central axis of the axle, respectively, preferably between 30 and 60 ° and particularly preferably between 40 and 50 °. Preferably, the taper angle of the pressing surfaces and the contact surfaces thereby substantially the same size.

p0035The axis or the axis portion, the pressing, the threaded sleeve and the other elements of the thru-axle system according to the invention are preferably at least partially made of a material which is selected from the group consisting of metals and metal alloys, preferably light metals such. As aluminum and aluminum alloys contains, in particular aluminum-titanium alloys, and carbon fiber materials, plastics and, in particular fiber-reinforced plastics and composite materials of these materials and combinations thereof. It is preferred, where appropriate, to use different materials for the axis, the pressing elements, the threaded sleeve and / or the further elements of the plug-axis system of the invention to avoid a concern of the same materials to each other, giving or undesired creaking noises, elevated or reduced friction, corrosion cetera, may result.

p0036Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the figures and the claims. Show it:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>an inventive plug-axis system in the installed state;</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>different views of a first embodiment of a pressure element of a thru-axle system of the invention;</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>different views of a second embodiment of a pressure element of a thru-axle system of the invention;</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>different views of a third embodiment of a pressure element of a thru-axle system of the invention;</dd><dt>Fig. 5</dt><dd>a first embodiment of an axle of a wheel spindle system according to the present invention;</dd><dt>Fig. 6</dt><dd>a second embodiment of an axle of a wheel spindle system according to the present invention; </dd><dt>Fig. 7</dt><dd>an embodiment of a further biasing member for mounting a wheel hub on the axle of a wheel spindle system according to the present invention.</dd></dl>

p0037In the context of the following description of the figures, like reference numerals in various figures, identical elements or elements with similar functions.

p0038An inventive quick-release axle system wheel mounting according <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> has an axle 11, which extends at least partially between the first dropout 1 and the second dropout 2 a fork or frame. The first dropout 1 has a substantially circular implementation, through which the shaft portion 11 of the axis 10 runs.

p0039At the first end of the axle portion 11, the axis of a shoulder 12, whereby the outer diameter of the shaft 10 is increased in this area compared to the outer diameter of the extending between the dropouts shaft portion.

p0040At the second end of the axle portion 11, the axle 10 a thread 16 which is screwed into a used at the second dropout 2 threaded sleeve. 5 By screwing and tightening the axle 10 of the construction of a parallel to the direction of the central axis 3 force acting between the two dropouts occurs 1.2, through which a here between arranged hub is held 60th

p0041The threaded sleeve 5 is inserted in the second dropout 2 rotatable and can herein be rotated by means of an Allen wrench. The arranged in the threaded sleeve 5 thread, which is provided for screwing the axle 10, the circumference of the threaded sleeve 5 is arranged with respect to slightly eccentrically, so that upon rotation of the threaded sleeve 5, the central axis 3 of the axis 10 on a cone with a very low diameter is moved.

p0042To facilitate the passage of the shaft 10 by conducting the dropout 1 and screwing the thread 16 into the threaded sleeve 5, the second end of the axle portion of a tapered outside diameter 40th The axis 10 of the thru-axle system in accordance<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> is made to save weight of a tubular material, a hexagon socket 13 is arranged in the region of half shaft head, which allows the insertion of an appropriate tool for screwing and tightening the axle.

p0043The thru-axle system in accordance <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> a pressure element 20 is provided which has an internal recess 23, on which the shoulder 12 abuts the axle. In this way, along the central axis 3 of the axle acting force from the shoulder 12 is transmitted to the pressing member 20, the central axis 3 of the inclined contact surface 22 is pressed against the contact surface 4 relative.

p0044In the region of the plug head of the axle axis 10, the latter has a recess 14 for receiving an O-ring 15 which engages on the pressure element 20 in a prescribed therein, corresponding groove 24 at the inner diameter of the pressure element. In this way can be 10 effectively prevents the unscrewing and removing the axis that the pressure element 20 disengages from the axle 10th

p0045In the region of with respect to the central axis 3 sloping pressure surface 22 has the pressure element 20 has a further recess 25 for receiving an O-ring 30. By this O-ring has a full-surface contact of the contact surface 22 is the screwing and tightening the axle 10 allows the bearing surface 4 only from the moment at which sufficiently strongly deformed the unassembled outstanding on the pressure surface 22 material of the O-ring 30 or . was flattened. Thus it can be ensured that the torque with which the axis has been tightened for a secure and tight fit of the axis is sufficiently large.

p0046<figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> shows a first embodiment of a pressing member of the plug-axis system of the invention, wherein in <figref idrefs="f0002">Fig. 2 a)</figref> a longitudinal slit 21 is seen, which extends substantially parallel to the central axis 3 of the shaft 10 in deferred pressing member 22nd In this embodiment, the biasing member 20 not having an inner diameter has still the pressing surface 22 a groove for receiving an O-ring on the inner recess 23 such that thereto the shoulder 12 of the axis 10 in the installed state plan rests flat and by this way the shoulder 12 is transmitted a force acting substantially along the center axis 3 of force on the pressure element.

p0047<figref idrefs="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> shows another embodiment of a pressure element 22 of the floating axle system of the invention, which substantially corresponds to the pressure element in accordance with <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> corresponds, however, this embodiment has the inner diameter of the first end of the axle 10 facing side of the pressure element a recess 24, in which a arranged on the axis 10 ring engages when pushing the pressure element on the axis 10 to prevent accidental loosening of the pressure element 22 to avoid from the axis 10 and to ensure a central seat of the pressure element 20th

p0048As in the case of the pressure element according to <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> allows the slotting 21 that the pressure element according <figref idrefs="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> is slightly deformed when screwing and tightening the axle 10 and thereby a positive connection between the shaft 10 and the pressure element 20 results.

p0049<figref idrefs="f0004">Fig. 4</figref> shows another embodiment of a pressure element of a plug-axis system of the invention, which the pressing member 20 according to <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> equivalent. This pressure element is different from the pressure element according<figref idrefs="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> by one arranged in the region of the contact surface 22 recess 25, which serves to receive an O-ring 30th The groove 25 is designed so that the cross section of the O-ring material at least partially protrudes in the unmounted state, the pressure surface 22 to during the screwing and tightening of the axle 10 the frictional resistance between the pressure surface 22 and the contact surface 4 of the first dropout 1 reduce until the deformation of the O-ring 30 is sufficiently progressed so that a plane surface contact of the contact surface 22 is at the contact surface. 4

p0050<figref idrefs="f0005">Fig. 5</figref> shows an embodiment of an axle 10 of a floating axle system of the invention, wherein the inner diameter of the tubular axle 10 is reduced in the region of the thread 16, so that there is an increased material thickness for receiving a correspondingly higher forces is achieved. In the area of ​​the first end of the axle 10, a hexagon socket 13 is provided for receiving an appropriate tool with larger dimensions, thereby initiating a greatly increased torque is made possible on the axis during tightening.

p0051<figref idrefs="f0006">Fig. 6</figref> shows one of the <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> corresponding embodiment of an axle 10, a tapered, substantially tapered cap 17 is disposed at the second end of the axle, which the facilitated performing the axis 10 by conducting the first dropout 1 and the interior of the wheel hub 60 and a simplified screwing allows in the second on dropout arranged threaded.

p0052<figref idrefs="f0007">Fig. 7</figref> shows another, disposed between the first and second dropout in intercept 11 pressure element 50, which has a relative to the axis 3 tapered contact surface 51 which rests in the installed state of the hub-side bearing surface 61st By screwing and tightening the axle 10 is transmitted along the central axis 3 acting in the direction of the hub center force on the pressure element 50, whereby this is slightly compressed due to its longitudinal slot, and thereby a positive connection between the shaft portion 11 and the pressing element 50 results. In this way, the hub 60 without play and securely fixed to the shaft portion 11 and this ensures an improved mounting of the wheel with respect to the fork or frame.