Bicycle front fork

Abstract

The utility model discloses a bicycle front fork which comprises a stand pipe, a front fork leg, a front fork end located at the end of the front fork leg and a fork shoulder connected with the stand pipe and the front fork leg, and the stand pipe, the front fork leg, the front fork end and the fork shoulder are made of PBO fiber materials and formed after being soaked in epoxy resin. According to the front fork, the PBO fiber material and the epoxy resin are soaked and formed, the weight of the front fork can be obviously reduced, the strength and rigidity of the front fork are greatly improved, high-strength impact and stretching can be borne, and the front fork meets the high-strength riding and competitive requirements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of bicycles and discloses a bicycle front fork. Background Art

[0002] The bicycle front fork is a key component connecting the frame and front wheel. It not only affects the bicycle's stability and handling but also transmits shock and vibration. Traditional bicycle front forks are primarily made of materials such as aluminum alloy, steel, and carbon fiber. These materials offer a certain level of strength and rigidity, meeting the demands of ordinary riding. However, they have limitations in terms of lightweighting, vibration damping, and fatigue resistance. Especially in high-intensity riding and professional racing environments, the shock absorption and lightweight properties of the front fork significantly impact riding comfort and efficiency.

[0003] Aluminum alloy and steel front forks produce noticeable vibrations when subjected to impact, causing fatigue in the rider's arms and shoulders and affecting comfort during extended rides. While carbon fiber front forks offer improved shock absorption, their impact resistance and durability still have limitations. Furthermore, to enhance overall frame performance, there is a growing market demand for lightweight yet exceptionally strong fork materials. Utility Model Content

[0004] In order to solve the above problems, the utility model provides a bicycle front fork.

[0005] The technical solutions provided by this utility model are as follows:

[0006] A bicycle front fork comprises a seat tube, a front fork leg, a front fork end located at the end of the front fork leg, and a fork crown connecting the seat tube and the front fork leg. The seat tube, the front fork leg, the front fork end, and the fork crown are made of PBO fiber material and are formed after being impregnated with epoxy resin.

[0007] In some embodiments, the front fork legs are flat.

[0008] In some embodiments, the fork leg is bent to one side.

[0009] In some embodiments, the bending radius of the front fork leg is 340-350 mm.

[0010] In some embodiments, the seat tube, the fork legs, the fork ends, and the fork crown are integrally formed.

[0011] In some embodiments, the front fork end is a dropout, which is a closed-end dropout connected to the front wheel via a pair of twist-lock devices.

[0012] In some embodiments, the front fork leg is a hollow structure, and the front fork leg is filled with an elastic vibration absorbing layer, and the elastic vibration absorbing layer is made of a polymer material.

[0013] In summary, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0014] (1) The utility model adopts PBO fiber material and epoxy resin impregnation molding, which can not only significantly reduce the weight of the front fork, but also greatly improve the strength and rigidity of the front fork, and can withstand high-intensity impact and stretching, suitable for high-intensity riding and competitive needs.

[0015] (2) The front fork leg of the utility model has a hollow structure and is filled with an elastic vibration absorbing layer made of polymer. It can effectively reduce high-frequency vibrations from the ground during riding, making riding more stable and comfortable, and helping to relieve arm fatigue caused by long-term riding. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the front fork structure;

[0017] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the front fork side view;

[0018] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the riser cross-section structure.

[0019] The reference numerals are as follows:

[0020] 1. Seat tube; 2. Fork legs; 3. Fork tips; 4. Fork crown; 5. Dropouts; 6. Elastic vibration absorber. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In order to deepen the understanding of the present invention, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments and drawings. The embodiments are only used to explain the present invention and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] like Figure 1-3 As shown, the bicycle front fork of this embodiment includes a seat tube 1, front fork legs 2, a fork end 3 located at the end of the front fork legs 2, and a fork crown 4 connecting the seat tube 1 and the front fork legs 2. The seat tube 1 is used to connect to the bicycle frame, and the lower end of the front fork legs 2 is connected to the front wheel axle via the fork end 3. The fork crown 4 is used to stably connect the seat tube 1 and the front fork legs 2, thereby forming a complete front fork structure.

[0023] In this embodiment, the stem 1, fork legs 2, fork tips 3, and crown 4 are all made of PBO fiber material and impregnated with epoxy resin to form a single-piece structure. PBO fiber has extremely high tensile strength and toughness, is lightweight, and effectively absorbs impact energy. The epoxy resin not only enhances the overall strength of the structure but also firmly bonds the PBO fiber during the molding process, creating a robust, integrated front fork structure and enhancing its rigidity and durability.

[0024] PBO fiber is a high-strength, high-modulus composite material with excellent tensile strength and impact resistance. Combined with an epoxy resin impregnation process, PBO fiber is bonded with epoxy resin under high temperature and high pressure, allowing the fiber and resin to penetrate each other, forming a tightly sealed composite material. This treatment not only ensures the front fork's structural strength but also effectively resists external corrosion.

[0025] The bicycle front fork of this embodiment is manufactured using vacuum forming or compression molding techniques. Specifically, PBO fibers are soaked in epoxy resin for pretreatment before being placed in a mold. Curing is performed at high temperatures, and proper temperature and pressure control ensures a strong bond between the fibers and the resin, thereby maintaining the stability and toughness of the fork structure.

[0026] Furthermore, the front fork utilizes a one-piece molded structure. That is, the seat tube 1, fork legs 2, dropouts 3, and crown 4 are all manufactured in a single molding process. This significantly enhances the fork's overall rigidity and impact resistance. This one-piece molded structure avoids stress concentration caused by the assembly of multiple components, ensuring the fork's stability in a variety of challenging road conditions.

[0027] In some embodiments, the front fork legs 2 are designed to be flat. This flat design not only enhances the fork's wind resistance but also provides improved aerodynamics during riding. Compared to traditional round fork legs 2, flat fork legs 2 effectively reduce riding resistance, thereby improving the vehicle's overall speed performance.

[0028] The sideways curvature of the front fork leg 2 helps improve the front fork's shock absorption. Specifically, this sideways curvature provides a degree of flexibility, helping to absorb ground impact and thereby mitigate vibrations experienced by the rider. According to the preferred design of this embodiment, the curvature radius of the front fork leg 2 is 340-350mm, balancing structural strength with shock absorption performance, thereby ensuring riding comfort.

[0029] In some preferred embodiments, the front fork end 3 is designed as a closed-end dropout 5, connected to the front wheel via a pair of twist-lock mechanisms. The closed-end dropout 5 structure provides a more stable axle fixation, preventing the risk of the front wheel falling off during intense riding or vibrations. The twist-lock mechanism facilitates removal and installation of the front wheel, simplifying vehicle maintenance and enhancing ease of use.

[0030] Furthermore, the front fork leg 2 is hollow and filled with an elastic vibration-absorbing layer 6. Made of a polymer material, this layer 6 exhibits excellent flexibility and vibration absorption properties. The hollow structure of the front fork leg 2 reduces the weight of the front fork, while the elastic vibration-absorbing layer 6 effectively absorbs high-frequency vibrations generated during riding, enhancing riding comfort.

[0031] In summary, the present application provides a bicycle front fork that is lightweight, high-strength and has excellent vibration absorption effect. Through the application of a composite material of PBO fiber and epoxy resin, a high-performance front fork design is achieved, which is suitable for bicycle riding under various road conditions, especially high-intensity riding and racing environments.

[0032] It should be noted that any implementations not shown or described in the drawings or the main text of the specification are known to those skilled in the art and are not described in detail. In addition, the above definitions of the various elements and methods are not limited to the various specific structures, shapes, or methods mentioned in the embodiments.

[0033] It should also be noted that while examples of parameters including specific values ​​may be provided herein, these parameters do not need to be exactly equal to the corresponding values, but rather may approximate the corresponding values ​​within acceptable error tolerances or design constraints. Directional terms mentioned in the embodiments, such as "upper," "lower," "front," "back," "left," "right," "inner," and "outer," are merely references to the directions in the accompanying drawings and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0034] The foregoing description shows and describes preferred embodiments of the present invention. As previously mentioned, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the form disclosed herein and should not be construed as excluding other embodiments. Instead, the present invention can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and can be modified within the scope of the present invention as taught herein or through the techniques or knowledge of the relevant art. Modifications and variations made by those skilled in the art that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention are intended to be protected by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A bicycle front fork, characterized in that: The invention comprises a seat tube (1), a front fork leg (2), a front fork end (3) located at the end of the front fork leg (2), and a fork shoulder (4) connecting the seat tube (1) and the front fork leg (2); the seat tube (1), the front fork leg (2), the front fork end (3), and the fork shoulder (4) are made of PBO fiber material and are formed after being impregnated with epoxy resin.

2. The bicycle front fork according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front fork leg (2) is flat.

3. The bicycle front fork according to claim 2, characterized in that: The front fork leg (2) is bent to one side.

4. The bicycle front fork according to claim 3, characterized in that: The bending radius of the front fork leg (2) is 340-350 mm.

5. The bicycle front fork according to claim 1, characterized in that: The seat tube (1), the front fork leg (2), the front fork end (3), and the fork shoulder (4) are integrally formed.

6. The bicycle front fork according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front fork end (3) is a hook (5), and the hook (5) is a closed type and is connected to the front wheel through a pair of twist lock devices.

7. The bicycle front fork according to claim 1, characterized in that: The front fork leg (2) is a hollow structure, and the front fork leg (2) is filled with an elastic vibration absorbing layer (6), and the elastic vibration absorbing layer (6) is made of polymer material.

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