Bicycle steering assembly and bicycle

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of bicycles and discloses a bicycle steering assembly and a bicycle thereof, wherein the steering assembly comprises a frame head, a handlebar assembly and a front fork assembly, the frame head is provided with a first mounting hole, the front fork assembly is provided with a mounting groove, the frame head is connected with the front fork assembly by being matched in the mounting groove, bearings are arranged on the top and bottom surfaces of the frame head, a matching insert matched with the bearing on the lower side is arranged on the bottom groove wall in the mounting groove, the front fork assembly is matched with the bearings through the matching insert to be rotationally matched with the frame head, the handlebar assembly is provided with a rotating shaft, the outer diameter size of the rotating shaft is matched with the standard interface size of the handlebar assembly, the rotating shaft penetrates through the front fork assembly and is matched with the bearing insert on the upper side through the setting of a shaft shoulder, and the front fork assembly is press-connected with the rotating shaft; the application has the advantages of significantly reducing the windward width of the handlebar head and being compatible with the standard-size handlebar assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a bicycle steering assembly and a bicycle, belonging to the technical field of bicycles. Background Technology

[0002] Conventional road bikes and time trial bikes typically consist of a steering system comprised of a fork steerer tube, head tube, upper bearing, lower bearing, preload assembly, and stem. Traditional bicycles typically use a 28.6 mm outer diameter steerer tube. Because the steerer tube needs to pass through the head tube and also accommodate brake lines and shift cables (or electrical wires), the inner diameter of the steering bearing is limited by the following dimensions: 28.6 mm steerer tube + 6 mm cable + 6 mm cable = 40.6 mm. Considering the structural requirements of carbon fiber frame bearing housings, if approximately 2 mm of carbon fiber wall thickness is retained on each side of the bearing, the minimum front width of the head tube in a traditional structure is approximately: 40.6 mm + 2 mm wall thickness + 2 mm wall thickness = 44.6 mm.

[0003] The advantages of traditional structures are their maturity, reliability, and ease of assembly. However, their geometric limitations lie in the fact that the size of the steering bearing and its housing directly determines the local width of the head tube, while the through-type rudder tube and bearing housing further restrict the aerodynamic narrowing space of the head body. Even with aerodynamic optimization of the traditional head tube shape, its frontal width is still limited by the combined influence of the through-type 28.6 mm rudder tube, internal pipelines, steering bearing, and the wall thickness of the carbon fiber structure, making it difficult to further significantly reduce the frontal area.

[0004] Currently, some aerodynamic road bikes utilize elliptical, D-shaped, or airfoil-shaped steers. These steers significantly reduce the frontal width of the frontal area, optimizing airflow. When the bike travels at high speeds, these irregularly shaped steers more effectively "cut" the air, guiding it smoothly backward and reducing turbulence and low-pressure areas caused by airflow separation, thereby lowering overall air resistance. However, such solutions often require specialized stems, clamps, and irregularly shaped bearing inner rings or conversion parts. This results in poor direct compatibility with standard 28.6mm stems and necessitates addressing the clamping, torsion, and fatigue issues associated with non-circular cross-sections. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems in the prior art, the present invention provides a bicycle steering assembly and a bicycle.

[0006] The technical solution of the present invention is as follows: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a bicycle steering assembly, including a frame head, a handlebar assembly mounted on the frame head, and a front fork assembly. The frame head has a first mounting hole penetrating through it, and the front fork assembly has a mounting groove adapted to fit the frame head. The frame head connects to the front fork assembly by fitting into the mounting groove. Bearing seats are embedded in both the top and bottom surfaces of the frame head, and each bearing seat contains a bearing. The inner rings of both bearings communicate with the first mounting hole. The bottom of the mounting groove... The groove wall is provided with a mating insert that matches the bearing located on the lower side. The front fork assembly mates with the bearing located on the lower side through the mating insert to rotate with the head of the frame. The handlebar assembly is located above the front fork assembly. A pivot is provided inside the handlebar assembly. The outer diameter of the pivot is adapted to the standard interface size of the handlebar assembly. The bearings on both sides are coaxial with the pivot. The axis of the pivot is the only steering axis of the steering assembly. The pivot passes through the front fork assembly and mates with the bearing insert located on the upper side through a shoulder. The front fork assembly and the pivot are pressed together.

[0007] Furthermore, the first mounting hole is coaxially arranged with the rotating shaft.

[0008] Furthermore, the handlebar assembly is made of carbon fiber composite material and has a mounting structure. The mounting structure includes a second mounting hole, a cover groove above the second mounting hole, and a first clamping slot on one side wall of the second mounting hole. The shaft fits into the second mounting hole, and a insertion groove is provided on the top of the shaft. A insertion post is inserted into the insertion groove, and a first threaded hole is provided on the top of the insertion post. A cover plate is installed in the cover groove, covering the shaft. A clamping screw is provided on the cover plate and is locked in the first threaded hole to press the cover plate into the cover groove. A first locking screw is locked in the first clamping slot and passes laterally through the first clamping slot, so that the second mounting hole can be tightened to grip the shaft by adjusting the first clamping slot.

[0009] Furthermore, the fork assembly is made of carbon fiber composite material. The fork assembly has a clamping hole. The shaft passes through the clamping hole and engages with the bearing insert located on the upper side. A second clamping slot is provided on one side wall of the clamping hole. A second locking screw is locked into the second clamping slot. The second locking screw passes laterally through the second clamping slot, so that the second mounting hole can be tightened to grip the shaft by adjusting the second clamping slot.

[0010] Furthermore, the handlebar assembly is also provided with a connecting through hole, which is connected to the mounting groove. A locking rod moves through the connecting through hole, and a second threaded hole is provided at the bottom of the shaft. The end of the locking rod passing through the connecting through hole is locked in the second threaded hole.

[0011] Furthermore, the outer diameter of the locking rod is 8–12 mm.

[0012] Furthermore, the frame head is made of carbon fiber composite material, and the pivot is made of aluminum alloy.

[0013] Furthermore, the inner diameter of the first mounting hole is set to allow the locking rod, brake line, and gear shift cable to pass through simultaneously.

[0014] Furthermore, the steering assembly also includes a rest handlebar height adjustment lever, which is movably disposed through the handlebar assembly and the fork assembly, and the rest handlebar height adjustment lever is also connected to the handlebar assembly via a clamping clip.

[0015] Secondly, the present invention provides a bicycle, including a frame body made of carbon fiber composite material, and the aforementioned bicycle steering assembly is provided on the frame body.

[0016] The present invention has the following beneficial effects: This invention features bearing housings on the top and bottom walls of the frame head, with a bearing housed within each housing. Mounting slots and mating inserts that engage with the lower bearings are also incorporated into the fork assembly. This allows the fork assembly to rotate within the frame head via the mating inserts and the lower bearings, forming an externally hinged fork fixing structure. This allows the fork assembly connection and steering load transfer structure to be located outside the traditional through-type steerer tube structure, eliminating the need for the traditional 28.6mm steerer tube running through the entire frame head. Furthermore, by setting the outer diameter... The swivel is compatible with the standard handlebar assembly interface size, i.e., 28.6mm. The swivel shoulder engages with the bearing located on the upper side, allowing it to work with the aforementioned external hinged fork fixing structure to share steering positioning, bending, and torsional loads. This allows the swivel to not penetrate through the head of the frame like traditional steerer tube structures, while maintaining structural strength. This reduces the width of the head of the frame and allows it to remain compatible with traditional 28.6mm handlebar assembly interfaces. Compared to existing technologies, this technology has the advantage of significantly reducing the frontal width of the handlebar head while maintaining compatibility with standard-sized handlebar assemblies. Attached Figure Description

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a bicycle provided by the present invention; Figure 2 This is a magnified view of point A; Figure 3 A first exploded view of a bicycle steering assembly provided by the present invention; Figure 4 A second exploded view of the bicycle steering assembly provided by the present invention; Figure 5A comparison diagram of the bicycle provided by the present invention and a traditional bicycle with a steerer tube running through the entire front of the frame (the bicycle on the right in the figure is the bicycle provided by the present invention). Figure 6 Force diagram of the bicycle steering assembly provided by the present invention.

[0018] The reference numerals in the figure are as follows: 1. Frame head; 2. Handlebar assembly; 3. Fork assembly; 4. First mounting hole; 5. Mounting slot; 6. Bearing; 7. Mating insert; 8. Axle; 9. Shoulder; 10. Second mounting hole; 11. Cover groove; 12. First clamping slot; 13. Insertion slot; 14. Insertion post; 15. First threaded hole; 16. Cover plate; 17. Compression screw; 18. First locking screw; 19. Compression hole; 20. Second clamping slot; 21. Second locking screw; 22. Connecting through hole; 23. Locking rod; 24. Second threaded hole; 25. Aerial handlebar height adjustment rod; 26. Clamping clamp; 27. Frame body. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0020] Example: Please refer to Figure 1 This embodiment provides a bicycle, including a frame body 27 made of carbon fiber composite material. The frame body 27 has a bicycle steering assembly for steering. Traditional bicycle steering assemblies typically use a steerer tube with an outer diameter of 28.6 mm. Since the steerer tube needs to pass through the head tube and also provide passageways for brake lines and shift cables (or electrical wires), the inner diameter of the corresponding steering bearing 6 is limited by the following dimensions: 28.6 mm steerer tube + 6 mm cable + 6 mm cable = 40.6 mm. Considering the structural requirements of the carbon fiber frame bearing 6, if approximately 2 mm of carbon fiber wall thickness is retained on each side of the bearing 6, the minimum frontal width of the head tube in the traditional structure is approximately: 40.6 mm + 2 mm wall thickness + 2 mm wall thickness = 44.6 mm. Therefore, even with aerodynamic optimization of the traditional head tube shape, its frontal width is still limited by the through-type 28.6 mm steerer tube, internal cables, the steering bearing 6, and the wall thickness of the carbon fiber structure, making it difficult to further significantly reduce the frontal area.

[0021] Therefore, this embodiment provides a bicycle steering assembly with a specific structure, which can eliminate the space restriction of the 28.6 mm steer tube running through the entire head tube of the frame while maintaining compatibility with the traditional 28.6 mm handlebar assembly 2 interface, and further reduce the lateral dimensions of the upper and lower bearings 6 and the head tube body.

[0022] However, reducing the size of bearing 6 and shortening the head tube of the frame may lead to the following problems: 1. The radial reaction force and overturning load borne by bearing 6 are more concentrated; 2. The contact stress of the bearing raceway and rolling elements may increase; 3. Local bending and torsional stresses in structures used for rotation may increase; 4. The localized compressive, shear, and interlaminar stresses experienced by the frame crown may increase; Therefore, this embodiment provides a bicycle steering assembly that can re-establish a reliable steering support, fork connection, and load transfer path while significantly reducing the head tube width. Please refer to... Figure 2 and 3 The bicycle steering assembly provided in this embodiment specifically includes the following structure: The frame head 1 is made of carbon fiber composite material and is installed on the frame body 27 using a one-piece molding process. Handlebar assembly 2, which is made of carbon fiber composite material, is mounted on the head of the frame 1; The front fork assembly 3, made of carbon fiber composite material, is mounted on the front end of the frame 1. The frame head 1 has a first mounting hole 4 that penetrates through it, and the front fork assembly 3 has a mounting groove 5 that matches the frame head 1. The frame head 1 is connected to the front fork assembly 3 by fitting into the mounting groove 5. Bearing seats 6 are embedded in the top and bottom surfaces of the frame head 1, and each bearing seat 6 contains a bearing 6. The inner rings of the bearings 6 on both sides are connected to the first mounting hole 4. The bottom wall of the mounting groove 5 has a mating insert 7 that matches the bearing 6 located on the lower side. The front fork assembly 3 rotats with the bearing 6 located on the lower side through the mating insert 7.

[0023] The handlebar assembly 2 is positioned above the front fork assembly 3. A pivot 8, made of aluminum alloy, is fixedly installed inside the handlebar assembly 2 to provide sufficient strength. The pivot 8 is specifically fixedly installed inside the handlebar assembly 2 using the following structure: The handlebar assembly 2 is provided with a mounting structure, which includes a second mounting hole 10, a cover groove 11 located above the second mounting hole 10, and a first clamping slot 12 located on one side wall of the second mounting hole 10. Both the cover groove 11 and the first clamping slot 12 are connected to the second mounting hole 10. A pivot 8 is fitted into the second mounting hole 10. A insertion groove 13 is provided on the top of the pivot 8, and a insertion post 14 is fixedly inserted into the insertion groove 13. The top of the insertion post 14 is not extended out of the insertion groove 13. A first threaded hole 15 is provided on the top of the insertion post 14. A cover plate 16 is fitted into the cover groove 11, covering the pivot 8 for protection. A clamping screw 17 is provided on the cover plate 16, which is locked into the first threaded hole 15 to press the cover plate 16 tightly into the cover groove 11, thereby ensuring that the cover plate 16 is not prone to falling off. A first locking screw 18 is locked into the first clamping slot 12. The first locking screw 18 passes through the first clamping slot 12 laterally, so that the second mounting hole 10 can be tightened on the shaft 8 by adjusting the first clamping slot 12, thereby realizing the fixed installation of the shaft 8 and the handlebar assembly 2.

[0024] The outer diameter of the pivot 8 is 28.6 mm, which matches the standard interface size of the handlebar assembly 2. The bearings 6 on both sides and the first mounting hole 4 are coaxial with the pivot 8. The axis of the pivot 8 is the only steering axis of this steering assembly; that is, when this steering assembly is steering, its steering axis is solely the axis of the pivot 8. The pivot 8 passes through the front fork assembly 3 and engages with the upper bearing 6 insert via a shoulder 9. The shoulder 9 and the pivot 8 are manufactured using a one-piece molding process. To ensure that the handlebar assembly 2 can drive the front fork assembly 3 to rotate accordingly, the front fork assembly 3 and the pivot 8 are press-fitted together. The specific press-fitting connection structure is described below: The front fork assembly 3 has a clamping hole 19. The pivot 8 passes through the clamping hole 19 and engages with the upper bearing 6 insert. A second clamping slot 20 is provided on one side wall of the clamping hole 19. A second locking screw 21 is locked into the second clamping slot 20. The second locking screw 21 passes laterally through the second clamping slot 20, so that the second mounting hole 10 can be tightened on the pivot 8 by adjusting the second clamping slot 20, thereby achieving a clamping connection between the front fork assembly 3 and the pivot 8. This allows the front fork assembly 3 to rotate when the handlebar assembly 2 rotates, causing the pivot 8 to rotate relative to the frame head 1 under the action of the upper bearing 6.

[0025] To further improve the structural strength of this steering assembly, in this embodiment, the handlebar assembly 2 is also provided with a connecting through hole 22, which is connected to the mounting groove 5. A locking rod 23 moves through the connecting through hole 22. The outer diameter of the locking rod 23 is 8-12mm, preferably 10mm. A second threaded hole 24 is provided at the bottom of the pivot 8. The end of the locking rod 23 passing through the connecting through hole 22, i.e., the top end, is locked in the second threaded hole 24. When the locking rod 23 is locked in the second threaded hole 24, the end of the locking rod 23 away from the second threaded hole 24, i.e., the bottom end, is pressed against the handlebar assembly 2. The setting of the locking rod 23 not only further strengthens the connection between the front fork assembly 3 and the handlebar assembly 2, but also provides a new path for force transmission, thereby improving the structural strength of this steering assembly.

[0026] To ensure subsequent installation requirements, the inner diameter of the first mounting hole 4 should be set to allow the locking rod 23, brake oil pipe and gear cable (or wire) to pass through simultaneously.

[0027] To improve the practicality of this steering assembly, in this embodiment, the steering assembly also includes a handlebar height adjustment rod 25, which is movably disposed through the handlebar assembly 2 and the fork assembly 3. The handlebar height adjustment rod 25 is also connected to the handlebar assembly 2 by a clamping clip 26 to achieve the required height adjustment.

[0028] With the aforementioned configuration, the bicycle steering assembly provided in this embodiment allows the front fork assembly 3 to rotate with the frame head 1 by engaging with the insert 7 and the bearing 6 located on the lower side, thus forming an external hinged front fork fixing structure. This allows the connection and steering load transmission structure of the front fork to be arranged outside the traditional through-type steerer tube structure. By setting the bearings 6 distributed vertically, the specific dimensions of the bearings 6 on both sides can be differentiated according to the load they bear and space requirements to ensure the structural strength of this steering assembly. The locking rod 23 allows for... The bearings 6 on both sides form a continuous and stable axial preload closed loop; by using an aluminum alloy-supported pivot 8, and having the pivot 8's shoulder 9 engage with the bearing 6 located on the upper side, it can work with the aforementioned external hinged fork fixing structure to jointly bear steering positioning, bending and torsional loads. This allows the pivot 8 to not need to penetrate the frame head 1 as in the traditional steerer tube structure, thus reducing the width of the frame head 1, and due to the 28.6 mm pivot 8, it can still be compatible with the traditional 28.6 mm handlebar assembly 2 interface.

[0029] The minimum frontal width of the bicycle steering assembly with frame head 1 provided in this embodiment can be controlled as follows: 8-12 mm locking rod 23 + 6 mm tubing + 6 mm tubing + 2 mm carbon fiber wall thickness + 2 mm carbon fiber wall thickness = 24-28 mm.

[0030] Compared to the conventional structure's minimum width of 44.6 mm, its minimum width can be reduced by 16.6 to 20.6 mm. The reduction in local width is even greater when compared to a conventional 1.5-inch head tube with approximately 52 mm bearings and including external structural allowances.

[0031] Please refer to Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a comparison diagram of the bicycle provided in this embodiment and a traditional bicycle with a steerer tube running through the entire head 1 of the frame. The bicycle on the right in the diagram is the bicycle provided in this embodiment. Figure 5 It is evident that the width of the bicycle frame head 1 provided in this embodiment is significantly narrower, resulting in a smaller windward surface.

[0032] Please refer to Figure 6 , Figure 6 This is a force diagram of the bicycle steering assembly provided in this embodiment.

[0033] In the diagram, the red arrow indicates the closed loop of the axial preload of the locking rod 23. The axial pressure pressing path it bears is: shaft 8 → inner ring of the upper bearing 6 → frame head 1 → inner ring of the lower bearing 6 → front fork assembly 3. Its seat reaction force is: outer ring of the two bearings 6 → frame body 27. From this closed loop, it can be seen that the locking rod 23 can ensure the fit of the two bearings 6.

[0034] In the diagram, the green arrows represent the reaction force of the bearings 6 on both sides and the load-bearing capacity of the frame body 27. The transmission path is from the bearings 6 on both sides to the frame body 27.

[0035] In the diagram, the blue arrow indicates the torque transmission of the handlebar assembly 2. The torque transmission path is: handlebar assembly 2 → pivot 8 → locking rod 23 → front fork assembly 3.

[0036] In the diagram, the yellow arrows indicate the transmission of bending moment when the bicycle is braking / impacted. The transmission path is as follows: bending moment input from the front fork assembly 3 → locking rod 23 → inner ring of bearings 6 on both sides → rolling elements of bearings 6 on both sides → outer ring of bearings 6 on both sides → frame body 27. The reaction forces of bearings 6 on both sides are opposite, which can form an anti-bending couple.

[0037] Therefore, in the bicycle steering assembly provided in this embodiment, the bearings 6 on both sides form an anti-bending couple through opposite supporting reaction forces. The locking rod 23 establishes an axial preload connection between the fork assembly 3 and the pivot 8. Steering torque, braking load, and impact load are all transmitted through a clearly defined path: rotating component → bearing 6 → frame body 27. This avoids the entire load being borne by a single thin-walled component, providing a foundation for structural strength and stiffness. Thus, the bicycle steering assembly provided in this embodiment can still meet the target strength, stiffness, and fatigue life even after reducing the width of the frame head 1.

[0038] The above description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the content of the present invention's specification and drawings, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bicycle steering assembly, comprising a frame head (1), a handlebar assembly (2) mounted on the frame head (1), and a fork assembly (3), characterized in that: The frame head (1) is provided with a first mounting hole (4) that penetrates the frame head (1). The fork assembly (3) is provided with a mounting groove (5) that is adapted to the frame head (1). The frame head (1) is connected to the fork assembly (3) by fitting into the mounting groove (5). Bearing (6) seats are embedded on the top and bottom surfaces of the frame head (1). Each bearing (6) seat is provided with a bearing (6). The inner rings of the bearings (6) on both sides are connected to the first mounting hole (4). The bottom wall of the mounting groove (5) is provided with a mating insert (7) that is adapted to the bearing (6) located on the lower side. The fork assembly (3) is mated with the bearing (6) located on the lower side by mating with the mating insert (7) to rotate with the frame head (1). The handlebar assembly (2) is located above the fork assembly (3). A pivot (8) is provided inside the handlebar assembly (2). The outer diameter of the pivot (8) is adapted to the standard interface size of the handlebar assembly (2). The bearings (6) on both sides are coaxially arranged with the pivot (8). The axis of the pivot (8) is the only steering axis of the steering assembly. The pivot (8) passes through the fork assembly (3) and cooperates with the bearing (6) on the upper side through the setting of the shoulder (9). The fork assembly (3) and the pivot (8) are pressed together.

2. A bicycle steering assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first mounting hole (4) is coaxial with the rotating shaft (8).

3. A bicycle steering assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The handlebar assembly (2) is made of carbon fiber composite material. The handlebar assembly (2) is provided with a mounting structure, which includes a second mounting hole (10), a cover groove (11) provided above the second mounting hole (10), and a first clamping slot (12) provided on one side wall of the second mounting hole (10). The rotating shaft (8) is fitted into the second mounting hole (10). The top of the rotating shaft (8) is provided with a plug groove (13). A plug post (14) is inserted into the plug groove (13). The top of the plug post (14) is provided with a first threaded hole (15). A cover plate (16) is installed inside the cover groove (11). The cover plate (16) is arranged to cover the rotating shaft (8). A clamping screw (17) is provided on the cover plate (16). The clamping screw (17) is locked in the first threaded hole (15) so that the cover plate (16) is pressed into the cover groove (11). A first locking screw (18) is locked in the first clamping gap (12). The first locking screw (18) passes through the first clamping gap (12) laterally so that the second mounting hole (10) can be tightened on the rotating shaft (8) by adjusting the first clamping gap (12).

4. A bicycle steering assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fork assembly (3) is made of carbon fiber composite material. The fork assembly (3) has a clamping hole (19). The shaft (8) passes through the clamping hole (19) and enters the fork assembly (3) to cooperate with the bearing (6) insert located on the upper side. A second clamping slot (20) is provided on one side wall of the clamping hole (19). A second locking screw (21) is locked in the second clamping slot (20). The second locking screw (21) passes through the second clamping slot (20) laterally, so that the second mounting hole (10) can be tightened on the shaft (8) by adjusting the second clamping slot (20).

5. A bicycle steering assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The handlebar assembly (2) is also provided with a connecting through hole (22), which is connected to the mounting groove (5). A locking rod (23) moves through the connecting through hole (22), and a second threaded hole (24) is provided at the bottom of the shaft (8). The end of the locking rod (23) passing through the connecting through hole (22) is locked in the second threaded hole (24).

6. A bicycle steering assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that: The outer diameter of the locking rod (23) is 8-12 mm.

7. A bicycle steering assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The frame head (1) is made of carbon fiber composite material, and the pivot (8) is made of aluminum alloy material.

8. A bicycle steering assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner diameter of the first mounting hole (4) is set to allow the locking rod (23), brake oil pipe and gear cable to pass through simultaneously.

9. A bicycle steering assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The steering assembly also includes a handlebar height adjustment lever (25), which is movably disposed through the handlebar assembly (2) and the fork assembly (3). The handlebar height adjustment lever (25) is also connected to the handlebar assembly (2) by means of a clamping clip (26).

10. A bicycle, characterized in that: Includes a frame body (27) made of carbon fiber composite material, and the frame body (27) is provided with a bicycle steering assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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